My little guy would rather drink anything but water, unless of course it’s bedtime (that’s the only time he wants to drink it…”more, mmmore, mmmorre water, please”). Getting kids to drink plenty of water goes beyond saving money at the grocery store. Drinking water is about health.

Actually, water is essential for good health. The body is made up of mostly water–our blood and organs contain water. Water helps regulate the body, remove waste, maximize efficiency, rejuvenate and protect, among other functions. Drinking too little water can lead to dehydration. Exercise and activity (think sweat, urination) can also lead to dehydration. Dehydration can interfere with overall healthy functioning, performance, and possibly result in illness.

Since, you’ve probably already lost your kids on these points, and you’ve probably already tried explaining the importance of drinking water a zillion times, here’s an approach to getting your kid to drink H2O.

1. Remind them that even if they don’t feel thirsty, they may need to drink water.

2. Tell them to look for clues (like a detective!). Urine color is a good indicator of hydration status (a yellow color and strong odor may indicate your kid needs to drink more water). Keep in mind headaches might also be associated with dehydration.

3. Give them a totally cool water bottle to keep with them throughout the day. Suggest that your kid play a game with the bottle. Whenever they “see” the bottle they have to take a sip from it. My kids love SIGG Kids Bottles and actually beg me for water refills!

4. Be that good influence. If you child sees you drink water, they will probably be more inclined to want to drink it.

As always, be sure to talk with your pediatrician or family doctor if you have any concerns about your child’s health or water consumption.

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It won’t be long before bicycle fever strikes, if it hasn’t already in your area. Here a bike, there a trike, everywhere a bike or bicycle trailer. If you’re hoping to join the biking crowd this season, with or without your child in tow, you probably know what purpose bike helmets serve. But do you know how to properly wear a helmet or how to ensure one is properly positioned on a child?

Many people think they know how a helmet should fit, but it’s surprising how many people wear them or place them on a child’s head incorrectly. Thanks to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, here is what a correct fit looks like. Helmets should fit snugly and shouldn’t obstruct vision. Even if you’re pulling a little one around in a trailer, you’ll want to ensure the helmet is snug and doesn’t flop around (back and forth or side to side) on the child’s head–a matter of safety and comfort for both child and parent.

Have any tips for biking with children in tow? If so, leave a comment and let other parents know how you do it!

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If you thought glass baby bottles were old school, think again. Glass baby bottles are making a comeback. Babylife is just one company to reintroduce glass baby bottles, only with a modern safety sleeve that helps prevents breakage. BornFree and Dr. Brown’s make glass bottles, too.

Why the glass craze? In light of recent concerns about exposure to chemicals in plastic bottles (leaching), manufacturers are responding to the growing demand for plastic alternatives by offering glass bottles that are bisphenol A, phthalate, PVC and polycarbonate-free. Now, parents have more choices than ever when it comes to baby bottles. Even fashionable and totally funky glass bottles!

If you’re looking for a baby shower gift that has eco-chic mama written all over it, glass bottles are it!

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When I noticed a little scratch on my infant’s face last night, I thought time to trim those itty bitty nails. I know some parents cringe just thinking about clipping baby nails. Personally, it’s not the act of trimming that bothers me. It’s trying to hold my little one still during the process. I feel like such a brute holding each finger before the clipper, knowing that my baby wants nothing to do with the process. Oh, in case you’re wondering, I’ve tried the “clip while they sleep trick”–it does work! But, sometimes when there is a serious sharp nail offender, you simply can’t wait for your bundle of joy to fall asleep. After all, it’s heartbreaking to see a scratched up face–and know you could have likely prevented the scratches!

As luck would have it, last night I clipped all but two of my baby’s nails–neither of us could see the job through. This morning my baby woke up with multiple scratches. Yikes. Guilt.

Hindsight is 20/20, right? Well, wish I had tried a Snappi Nail Clipper. Apparently, the butterfly holds a baby’s interest during the mini manicure. Plus, the design conceals the sharp edges and collects the nail clippings, making safer and easier clipping sessions.

Have a wee lil’ manicure tip of your own to share with other squeamish (or not so) parents of little ones?

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Wondering if it’s worth spending money on a fancy schmancy mobile for your infant’s crib? Well, that depends. In my parenting of three experience, I’ve discovered that mobiles really do stimulate and entertain infants, some more than others. Hmmm, guess that probably means the experts know what they’re talking about when they say mobiles are great for development.

While there are so many mobile options to choose from, non-motorized, homemade mobiles to the hi-tech variety, I personally give Tiny Love’s Mobile Line two thumbs up. As infants, my children loved the Tiny Love Symphony-in-Motion Mobile that I attached to their crib.

How do I know? The captivating characters and classical musical stimulation instantly soothed them. Long after it was time for the mobile to come out of the crib for safety reasons, the detachable musical box continued to provide my children comfort.

My children weren’t the only ones who liked Tiny Love. When I had a problem with a mobile part, Tiny Love’s customer service department happily sent me a replacement. As for value, that Symphony-in-Motion mobile oversaw the first months of three newborns. I think that says something right there.

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Age: birth +

April 3, 2008: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) announced a voluntary recall of approximately 144,000 units of Children’s Sunglasses imported by StyleMark Inc., of Ormand Beach, FL. The recalled sunglasses have “Main Street Drag” characters on the bottom of one lens, and Style No. DI25K7116 is printed on the left temple.

According to CPSC, “Surface paint in the orange lettering on the temples of the sunglasses contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.”

The sunglasses were sold between October 2007 and March 2008 at stores nationwide.

For more information about the recall, check out the CPSC news release here.

At first there were nanny cams. Now parents can look to sites like I Saw Your Nanny to make sure their nanny isn’t behaving badly. Reading about nanny sightings–tales of good and bad–is incredibly eye opening…even emotionally grueling.

As helpful as gadgets and technology can be in evaluating the trustworthiness of a babysitter, there’s simply no substitute for “old school” safeguards, like quality interviews, reference checks, and babysitter refigerator notes, for peace of mind.

Wondering what sort of questions to ask a prospective nanny or sitter? Here’s a start?

1. Ask tell me about yourself.
2. Why are you interested in this job?
3. Why do you want to care for children?
4. Do you have child care experience? If so, discuss.
5. How do you deal with conflict?
6. What do you enjoy most about working with children?
7. What annoys you?
8. What’s your discipline style?
9. How do you envision your day-to-day routine?
10. What did you like the most/least in your last position?

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Have you ever noticed how cute toddler fingers look when they’re perfecting their fine motor skills doing that little pincer grasp? Well, if you’re looking for a healthy snack besides Cheerios to put in those handy toddler friendly Snack ‘n Serve Cups, maybe Snikiddy, the new line of kid-friendly organic food products, is worth checking out. I stumbled across Snikiddy Rockin’ Ranch Puffs today at a grocery store. I admit, I’ve yet to taste test the product, and convincing my kids to try an alternative to Pirate’s Booty is going to take some serious coaxing. But just knowing another healthy snack exists for my kids rocks my parenting world.

Sure gotta’ love food companies that turn out parent approved products!

www.snikiddy.com

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Thanks to growing interest in environmental health, sustainability and non-toxic living, environmentally friendly cleaning products are now hitting mainstream store shelves. Even boxstore giant Walmart carries the new natural, biodegradable “Green Works” line from Clorox.

If you have children, ditching toxic household cleaners in favor of eco-friendly alternatives makes a lot of sense, and not just because of obvious Mr. Yuck reasons. Removing toxins from your home means less exposure to neurotoxins, irritants and potential health hazards like carcinogens. Less exposure to toxins may mean overall improved health.

While it is entirely possible to create your own natural and effective cleaners at home (check out Green Living’s 5 Basics for Non-Toxic Cleaning) or Whole Food’s Clean & Green recipes), you might just love these no fuss eco-friendly labels.

1. Seventh Generation. Seventh Generation makes a huge line of great eco-friendly cleaning products. I especially love Seventh Generation’s Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner (and I’m a former Windex fan). No streaks. No harsh fumes.

2. Clorox Green Works. According to the company, “Green Works” labeled products are eco-friendly, plant and mineral based products and free of harsh chemicals.

3. Sun and Earth. An affordable line of natural cleaners. I used Sun and Earth products for years, before I fell in love with Seventh Generation.

4. BabyGanics. A safe line of all-natural cleaners designed with children and home health in mind. BabyGanics also makes a streak-free Glass & Surface Cleaner and an Organic Floor Cleaner.

For additional recommendations, check out Healthy Child, Healthy World.

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It’s the day of pranks. If you’re looking for some G Rated family silliness, check out FamilyFun’s April Fools’ Pranks Galore. I know I’m up for the Time Warp. There are many things I hope to–actually need to– accomplish today, like shopping for a birthday present for a second grader, planning a birthday party for my preschooler, and grocery shopping.

If you’re like me and crave a few extra minutes in the day to get things done (and don’t have time to fool around), check out this list of 50 Best Mom Blogs to discover how other parents manage the zillion things on their to-do lists.

Show and Tell Time. Do you turn to a favorite “mom blog” or website when you’re looking for strategies to better manage the demands of family, work, and life?

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