Setting Your Child's Future: Decisions to Make Early On

 Beginning your road of parenting your child can be like building the foundation for their future success and wellbeing. Although parenting doesn't come with a manual, early decisions you make in regard to education, values and health can have profound ramifications on their future development and success.

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Timing Is Everything 

For parents, identifying the "right time" to make important decisions can feel like trying to catch lightning in a bottle. But starting early to consider specific aspects is key in setting your child's course towards development. From daycare facilities and early educational approaches, laying a strategic plan can be confusing. Contemplating these matters early can relieve pressure so you can focus on nurturing their innate talents.

The Education Enigma: Schooling and Beyond

Education is unquestionably important to creating a bright future, yet many parents struggle with the education puzzle. Should parents consider schooling options while their child is still learning their ABCs? Absolutely. Exploring educational frameworks early can give your child a significant edge over others in public or Montessori or Waldorf settings. Researching schools is also important. Visiting them can help determine which best meet your family values, the right environment will not only teach, but form creativity and critical thinking as well.

Understanding Childcare Options: Montessori and Other Approaches

Parents have many childcare options at their disposal when choosing childcare, each offering its own distinct philosophy and methodology. Montessori education focuses on child-centered learning, where children are allowed to explore and discover at their own pace in an enriched learning environment. This approach forms independence, critical thinking skills and a love of knowledge acquisition. More traditional childcare centers may follow more regimented curricula with direct teaching methods and set schedules. These programs typically focus on meeting standard educational milestones and group activities. Other popular approaches such as Reggio Emilia's project-based learning and collaboration approach, or Waldorf education's emphasis on imagination and creativity within a home setting may also provide beneficial educational choices that best align with parents' values and the child's developmental needs. 

Health and Lifestyle Decisions: Building Strong Habits

Strong health practices from an early age are invaluable in setting the course for future wellness. Encouraging nutritious eating and physical activities such as hiking, dance classes or backyard soccer not only helps prevent childhood obesity but can establish lifelong practices of good health as well. Start exploring nutritious food early, while making eating fun rather than chore-like. Choosing an excellent pediatrician is just as important to developing lifelong healthy practices.

Values and Morality: Shaping Ethical Beings

It cannot be stressed enough the importance of instilling values and moral principles into children from an early age. Academic preparation and financial security may be important, but teaching your child strong ethical compass are equally so. Show kindness, empathy, independence as traits to help build their leadership capabilities for future leadership positions. Model authentic action so your child may witness authenticity as part of an environment where integrity can not only be appreciated but actively practiced by all involved.

Financial Foundations: Protect Their Future

Education and upbringing can be expensive. Establishing a college fund early on or identifying suitable investments early can make an enormous difference when tuition bills start piling up. Setting up 529 plans, savings bonds or any other means will ensure you're ready for educational costs as they come up. Also, teaching children basic saving principles from an early age instills financial literacy that will serve them in adulthood.

Savings Accounts or Stocks? 

When considering investments for your child's future, it is important to carefully weigh both safety and potential for growth. When making this choice, both must be carefully considered in terms of safety and growth potential. Savings accounts provide an ideal, low-risk place for consumers to keep money, with guaranteed returns even if they are modest under current low interest rate conditions. They allow easy access to funds during emergencies while typically not outstripping inflation which erodes purchasing power over time. On the other hand, investing in stocks offers greater returns as history shows that stock markets typically experience long-term growth. However, investing in stocks also involves higher risks and volatility, making returns unpredictable in the short term. Reducing risk while investing for long-term goals such as college funds may necessitate selecting both options to provide optimal balance. 

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Conclusion

Setting your child's future doesn't happen overnight, it's an evolving road with obstacles, surprises, and triumphs. By carefully considering each decision early and making them for important aspects that affect their  development, you will provide your child with a safety net to protect them. Remember that early years don't just involve setting rules but opening windows of opportunity that might come their way unexpectedly too.

Can You Help Your Child Give Their All To The Sport?

 The benefits of a child getting into sports are well-known by this point. Aside from encouraging them to get fit and keeping them active, it helps them form friendships, it develops new discipline and talents, and it teaches them how to strive to attain more. As such, as a parent, you may want to do nothing more than support their involvement in their sport, but how do you do that? We have a few ideas below.

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Establish a Healthy Lifestyle

Building a healthy lifestyle is fundamental to helping your child excel in sports. Encourage balanced nutrition, regular sleep, and, importantly, good hydration. Staying hydrated is critical for peak physical performance, especially during demanding practices. Modeling these habits yourself can show your child how to prioritize wellness, which positively impacts both their athletic and personal life. Healthy lifestyle habits are a lot easier to keep up when you have someone doing the same beside you, especially if you make rules of not keeping junk food in the household.

Help Them Commit to Practicing

Consistent practice is key to improvement in any sport. Encourage your child to build a steady practice routine, supporting them by setting a dedicated schedule that doesn’t feel overwhelming. Offer encouragement and show interest in their progress, discussing what they’re learning and which skills they’re focused on. Providing a supportive structure can help them stay committed while allowing for growth and enjoyment. Being able to provide the transport that they need to reach their practice sessions can help as well. Just try to avoid becoming their schedule keeper. It can make it feel like more a chore if you enforce it too hard.

Support the Team

A supportive parent is invaluable to any sports team. Volunteer to help out with the team’s needs, from organizing events to providing supplies like professional lineup cards. Showing up in this way demonstrates that you’re invested in the team’s success, not just your child’s individual achievements. Your involvement fosters a sense of teamwork and belonging, which in turn motivates your child to stay dedicated to the sport. Ask your child’s coach if there’s anything that you can provide to help the team. If it’s a school team then resources are likely stretched thin so you may be able to help a lot more than you would think.

Be Their Parent, Not Their Coach

While it’s tempting to give coaching advice, remember that your primary role is as their parent. Your job is to offer emotional support, encouragement, and comfort. Avoid critiquing their performance; let their coaches handle the technical feedback. Focusing on being a supportive parent creates a positive environment where they feel valued for who they are rather than just their performance. The blurring of the lines can put a lot of pressure on your child, so be sure to avoid that.

There’s a lot that parents can do to be supportive of their sporty children. Keep the above in mind if you ever ask yourself if there’s more that you could be doing to be involved.

5 Creative Family Dinner Ideas for Picky Eaters

 Mealtime with picky eaters isn't always a fun challenge for everyone, especially when factors like hearing loss and sense of taste come into play. But with a little creativity and tenacity, you can whip up dinners that everyone in the family will just love. Here are five fun ideas that can turn dinner into an enjoyable experience for even the fussiest eaters.

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1. DIY Pizza Night

This one is fun and limtless for everyone involved! Let everyone create their own personal pizzas- with or without pineaplles. All you have to do is set up a toppings bar with a variety of ingredients like veggies, cheeses, and meats and this way, each family member can choose exactly what they want or don't want. And don’t forget about dessert pizzas! A family favourite

2. Taco Tuesday with a Twist

Tacos are always a family favorite because they’re easy to customize and they are so delicious. Offer soft and hard shell options and let everyone fill their own- and make sure there is enough for those that really like to dig in and get their hands dirty. Include a range of fillings from seasoned meats to beans and veggies. You might also want to consider offering some milder or more flavorful options, especially if someone in the family has hearing loss, which can sometimes be accompanied by changes in taste preferences. This ensures everyone has something they’ll enjoy and nobody feels left out.

3. Breakfast for Dinner

Sometimes, switching up the routine can make dinner more exciting and memorable. Breakfast for dinner is a hit with kids and adults alike- especially if there is bacon and french toast involved. Or maybe you like fluffy choc chip pancakes, scrambled eggs, and of course everything crispy. You can even add some fruit or yogurt on the side for a balanced meal or to create a sense of a dessert.

4. Build-Your-Own Salad

Salads don’t have to be boring! Set out a variety of greens, toppings, and dressings so each person can create their own masterpiece. This is a great way to sneak in some veggies while allowing everyone to have control over what goes on their plate. For family members who might be dealing with hearing loss and related sensory changes, offering a mix of textures and flavors can make the meal more enjoyable.

5. Homemade Quesadillas

Quesadillas are quick, easy, and endlessly customizable. Use different cheeses, add in some cooked chicken or veggies, and serve with a side of salsa or guacamole. This is a simple dish that can be adjusted to suit varying taste preferences, making it ideal for families where some members might experience a reduced sense of taste.

With these ideas, you can create meals that cater to everyone’s preferences, ensuring that even the pickiest eaters look forward to dinner. By offering a variety of options and flavors, you’ll make mealtime a breeze.

Family Safety Online - Tips Every Parent Should Know

 Keeping kids safe online does not have to be too time-consuming. The devices, apps, and programs can help you a lot, and you can keep track of any online profiles they have if you know their passwords. Here are some top tips and strategies for keeping your children safe when they use the family PC or any other online device. They can help keep your information safe too.

Make A Kids Profile On Your PC

This is a top tip for both of you. Create a user profile just for your kids and lock out certain elements or remove programs you do not want them to have access to. This lets you keep your profile too, and it can remain untouched. You can check on your kid's profile and web browsing history and also install monitoring programs if you wish.

Protecting them in this way also protects your PC activity and your private documents and email access. You may enjoy playing some classic casino games online at Jackpot Casino or play their live casino games. Having a personal profile means they do not have access to your gaming, personal documents, or programs, protecting everyone.

Keep The Screen Where You Can See It

Parenting requires a lot of different delicate balances. You want your children to grow up to be confident and independent, but you also need to keep a careful eye over them to protect them from danger and threats. This is true online as well as in the physical world. 

Make sure you can get a parent’s eye view of the screen from a distance. Give your kids a little leeway and let them do what they want to do on the computer but keep checking what they are up to. When things get loud or go quiet, that is usually a sign they are up to something they should not be. 

Communicate With Them

Talk to your children about online safety and let them know they have to take care when using the internet and the computer. This should include both communicating and interacting with strangers online, avoiding some common pitfalls. They need to be careful what they click on.

Kids are as vulnerable to spam and malware as the rest of us, and a little education goes a long way. Teach them some basic safety rules, and lay down some ground rules for online behavior and how to act around the PC.

No Social Media Until They Are Teenagers

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media services have age restrictions on accounts. A good rule of thumb is to not let your kids join a social network until they are a teenager. Even kids' versions of apps and websites can make them vulnerable to online threats.

When they do get old enough, you will have to decide how to introduce your kids to social media. Facebook is a good first step as you can monitor their profile more easily and keep an eye on their friend group.

Follow these steps, and you should have plenty of control over your young children’s online activity without having to stay over their shoulders. Their self-confidence will benefit, and so will your time management.

Weekend In the Woods With The Kids, Family Time

 With technology at our fingertips, it's hard to tear families away from their gadgets and get them outside. But unplugging and spending time together in nature have tons of benefits for both children and adults. So if you're looking for ideas on how to spend a fun weekend in the woods with your kids, look no further! This blog post will provide tips on everything from camping to hiking to enjoying nature crafts and also give you some great ideas for family-friendly activities that will keep everyone entertained all weekend long. So pack your bags and get ready for some outdoor fun!

1) Camping:

Camping is a great way to spend quality time with your family and bond with nature. It's also a fantastic way to teach kids about Leave No Trace principles and how to respect the outdoors. When camping with kids, be sure to pack plenty of activities to keep them occupied, as well as snacks and food that everyone will enjoy. And, of course, don't forget the marshmallows for roasting over the campfire!

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2) Hiking:

One of the best ways to explore the woods is by taking a hike together as a family. Kids will love getting out and seeing all the different plants and animals, and you can even turn it into a learning experience by teaching them about different species of trees or birds along the way. If your kids are young, be sure to bring along a carrier or pack so they can take a break when needed. And always remember to pack plenty of water and snacks!

3) Nature Crafts:

Another great way to spend time in the woods with your kids is by doing some nature crafts together. There are tons of different ideas out there, but some of our favourites include making leaf rubbings, painting with rocks, and creating woodland creature puppets out of sticks and leaves. These activities not only get kids interacting with nature, but they'll also have a blast being creative and using their imaginations.

4) Picnicking:

What could be more perfect than enjoying a lovely picnic lunch surrounded by nature? Pack up some sandwiches, snacks, and that easy mashed potatoes recipe with cold meats and drinks and head out to a nearby park or forest. Let the kids run around and explore while you relax and enjoy the scenery. And don't forget to save some room for dessert!

5) Geocaching:

Geocaching is a great way to combine spending time outdoors with a bit of friendly competition. Families can search for hidden "caches" that contain treasures using GPS coordinates. It's a perfect activity for kids of all ages and a great way to explore new areas.

In conclusion, there are tons of great ways to spend a weekend in the woods with your kids. Whether you're camping, hiking, picnicking, or doing nature crafts, your family is sure to have a blast spending time together outdoors. And who knows, you might even find that you all enjoy it so much that you want to make it a regular weekend activity!

4 Ways to Find the Right Caretaker for Your Kid

 One of the most important decisions you will ever make is choosing a caretaker for your child. It is not only an emotional decision but also a financial one. You have to consider the cost of hiring a nanny or caretaker and the benefits they can provide your child. Even if it’s just a babysitter for the night, this is going to be a big deal. So, how can you find someone reliable? While there are services like Berry Family Services, are there ways to find individual caretakers for children? Here is everything you need to know!

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1. Ask family and friends for recommendations for a caretaker

There are many ways to find a caretaker for your loved one but the most common way is to ask family and friends for recommendations. Plus, the people that you know, like family and friends, are the best source of referrals for caretakers. But when you need a specific type of caretaker, it can be difficult to find the right person. You can even ask them questions like:

- What is your experience with this person?

- What kind of care do they provide?

- How much does their service cost?

2. Check the qualifications of caretaker agencies

Daycare centers are great places for children to spend their day. It is important that the center you choose is a quality one. There are some things to look for in a quality daycare center, such as cleanliness and safety, staff-child ratio, and activities offered. You could also just read up on Google reviews to see what the reviews say there too. You can’t always have good caring capabilities, especially if you have a job or a lot going on your plate. So that’s why it’s so important to find a good caretaker.

When going to a daycare or a similar facility, asking questions is important. Some of these questions can include:

1) What are your qualifications?

2) What is your experience in childcare?

3) What do you expect from me as a daycare provider?

4) How can I help you, and what are my expectations of me as a daycare provider?

5) How can I be helpful to you as a daycare provider?

3. Ask for referrals from other parents

One of the best ways to get a referral is going to be through asking other parents. Are there any parents that are in a similar situation as you? Whether they have a child that’s special needs or one that requires just some extra attention, then this is going to be very important.

4. Check out the websites

There are plenty of websites out there, such as Care.com, that you could take a look at. However, try to use these websites with a grain of salt, as the legitimacy could be blurred.

Overall, while it can be challenging to find the right caretaker for your little one, it’s all going to come down to research. You may need to ask around or even ask for help. But in general, your little one deserves the best care in the world!

Alternative Burial Arrangements You May Want to Know About

 Alternative Burial Arrangements You May Want to Know About

Losing a loved one is quite a huge loss. So naturally, you’ll need time to grieve and mourn the deceased. However, before you can conduct a public viewing of your loved one, there are several things you have to do first. You’ll need to take care of documents, settle the bills, and then take care of funeral arrangements. It can all be overwhelming, so you might need to coordinate with a reputable funeral home to help you with everything you need.

It is important to honor your deceased relative with a proper burial. However, know that there are other ways aside from the traditional ground burial that you and your family can explore for your loved one. You can coordinate with an industry leader like those at www.carrollandcarrollfunerals.co.uk to determine the options available and the attendant costs. They have years of experience and are ready to assist clients in various capacities. 

Here are a few alternative options for burial arrangements.

Cremation

One of the more popular alternative funeral options is cremation. The funeral home would subject the corpse to high heat, leaving only the deceased’s ashes. The ashes are then collected and placed inside an urn. Family members can bring the urn home or place it in a columbarium as the final resting place. 

Resomation

One of the emerging alternative funeral options is resomation, which subjects the body to an alkali and water-based solution under high pressure, leaving water and bone ashes. The water is then discharged back into the ecosystem, which is akin to spreading the ashes. The bone ashes are placed inside an urn. It's considered an eco-friendly alternative process. 

Tree planting

One burial alternative is to plant a seed with the ashes. Then, you can take care of the tree as it grows, and it will be a reminder of the deceased life.

Memorial diamonds

Another way that you can memorialize your loved ones is by turning their ashes into a memorial diamond. The process subjects the deceased’s ashes to high pressure resulting in a diamond which you can turn into a keepsake or jewelry. Your loved ones wouldn’t be too far away when you think of them. 

Coral reef burial

Should the deceased be a nature-lover, one of the best ways to honor their memory is by using their ashes to make a coal reef. The deceased ashes are placed in a coral mold and deposited underwater for a coral reef burial. So, they’ll live forever under the sea with the fishes and other creatures they dearly love. 

Space burials

Perhaps one of the most extreme alternatives out there to memorializing your life is the concept of space burials. Space burials entail the launching of the deceased’s ashes into space. A rocket will take the ashes into space, and the remains will be released into the vast emptiness. It is also one of the most expensive, but there are companies ready to lend a hand should you decide to do this.

Endnote

Losing a loved one is always painful. However, there are different burial alternatives you and your family can explore to honour their memory. 

 

Making Sure You Meet Your Kids’ Nutritional Needs

 

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When you have children, you take full responsibility for their health, happiness and well-being. At the end of the day, they are entirely dependent on you and it’s up to you to ensure that all of their needs are being met at all times. This can feel like a lot, but it’s one of the basic responsibilities of being a parent. Of course, there are countless areas you can focus on when it comes to catering to your kids’ preferences and needs, but one area you should take into consider is their diet. You need to make sure that your little ones are eating the right amounts, eating the right foods and receiving all the nutrients their bodies need to grow and thrive. Here’s some information that can help you with this.

Making Sure Your Kids Are Eating the Right Amount

Start out by making sure that your kids are eating the right amount of food. They should be having three meals a day, as well as some healthy snacks in between. This will fuel them, giving them energy for school, play and other activities they engage with on a routine basis. Generally speaking, infants and young children can generally self-regulate the amount of calories they need each day. They may ask for more if they’re hungry or not want to finish meals if they’re already full. Avoid forcing your children to finish meals they don’t want. If you have concerns that your child wants too much or too little, visit a doctor or nutritionist who will be able to help you further. In general, it is recommended that one year olds should have roughly 900 kcal per day. 2 to 3 year olds should have 1000 kcal per day. Girls ages 4 to 8 should have 1200 kcal a day, while boys of the same age should consume roughly 1400 kcal per day. Girls aged 9 to 13 are recommended 1600 kcal a day, while boys in this age bracket are recommended 1800 calories a day. Finally, girls aged 14 to 18 require 1800 kcal a day, while boys of this age group require 2200 kcal a day.

Balanced Meals

It’s not enough to simply eat the right amount. Your child needs to be eating the right kinds of foods too. This means a healthy, balanced diet that provides your child with all of the food groups in moderation. Focus on ensuring your kids get their five a day when it comes to fruit and vegetables and consider kids multivitamins to make up for occasional shortfalls.

Junk Food

Junk food is often advertised towards kids. Bright and bold packaging with characters can draw in little ones more than adults. But it’s up to you to limit the amount of junk food, fast food and foods with high saturated fat, salt and sugar levels for your children. While these foods are okay on occasion, they shouldn’t form a regular part of your children’s diet.

Hopefully, some of the suggestions above will make all the difference when it comes to managing your kids’ diets well!

What You Need To Think About Before Bringing A Dog Into Your Home

 You might be thinking about bringing a dog into your home. This isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. It is a huge responsibility to own a dog and you need to think about it long and hard before coming to any sort of decision. Dogs are a lifetime commitment and not just for a couple of months. They will need to be walked in all weathers, which people often forget about. Take a look below to find out other things you need to consider and think about before going out to buy a dog. 

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Is The Time Right?

This is a question not many people think about. They just assume that any time is the right time to own a dog. Not quite true, if you are working long hours and you simply don’t have a lot of free time then it may not be the right time for you to own a puppy or a dog. New dogs need time to adjust and this needs to be done with someone around the majority of the time. If you can’t put aside necessary training hours for your dog then it may be time to put those plans on hold for the time being. 

Do You Have The Space?

Dogs can take up a lot of room and space in your home, especially larger breeds. You need to ensure you have enough space for them to run about and burn off excess energy. Ideally, you don’t want them doing zoomies around your home, potentially destroying it in the process. You need to have a decent-sized garden or be prepared to take them out for long walks at several points throughout the day. Gardens are ideal for dogs as they can come and go as they please throughout the day. 

How Much Budget Do You Have? 

Dogs are not cheap and you need to make sure that money will always be available as and when your dog needs it. It isn’t just the initial cost of buying the dog that you need to think about. You will also need pet insurance that you pay for monthly. Vet bills, including vaccinations and worming treatments. Dog food will also need to be catered for, finding the best one for your pet may take some time. Walmart fresh dog food is available for you to purchase and is a favorite within the doggy community. Make sure you are putting money aside for all eventualities and you should be fine. 

Which Breed Do You Want? 

Finally, if you have decided that now is the right time to get a dog then you need to decide on which breed to get. This takes a lot of time and research. You need to think about whether you are going to have children in your home, either now or in the future. If so, you need to get a dog that is family-friendly and gentle. There are quizzes you can take to decide on the type of dog that will fit in best with your setup. You could also search for dogs with the best temperament to find one. 

Surprisingly Simple Ways To Stop Your Mountain Of Used Baby Stuff From Building

 

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It’s not until we become parents that we truly realize just how much stuff accumulates when there’s a baby in the house. After all, the theory is that newborns don’t need a great deal. Unfortunately, while there is truth to that statement, the stuff that they do need can be bulky, not to mention that it builds up surprisingly fast throughout their first year or so of life. Given that this period often passes in a blur, many unprepared parents then look up to find themselves quite literally buried by baby stuff or using entire rooms and attic spaces for the sole purpose of storing those used baby items.

Given that you’re only going to keep on accumulating more things into your child’s second year (and, let’s be honest, every year after that), this is by no means a sustainable way of doing things, and it highlights the need to think about the best ways to stop that mountain of baby stuff from ever building in the first place. This can save you a world of stress when you simply don’t need it, as well as ensuring that your home is always far clearer than it would be.

The question is, what exactly are the best hassle-free ways to fight that mountain, and how can you put them into practice for results that stop you from ever having to scale to its top?

Step 1: Develop a system early on

Too often, we make the mistake of not having any storage system in place for our old baby clothes, etc. until they’re already taking up space. Unfortunately, this can result in piles of unsorted clothes and old toys that range across so many ages that you don’t even know where to begin. Given that you’re already an overworked parent, it’s therefore not at all unusual to take one look at this build-up and close the door to deal with it another day. Then, before you know it, you have that much-dreaded mountain on your hands. 

This is precisely the escalation that you’re reading this article to avoid, and the best way to do that is to put at least some kind of storage system in place as early as possible. Ideally, adding this to your list of things to do after finding out you're pregnant means that you won’t even need to worry during those already busy newborn days. Even better, you can find ways to correlate this with your baby prep in general. For instance, you may find it useful to label some storage containers with ages newborn, 3-6 months, and so on. Then, you’ll be able to see exactly what you’ve got ready for baby, as well as keeping those boxes on hand for when your new youngster grows out of each age range. 

Step 2: Research your options for removal

Unless you’re planning on having more children (in which case, sustainable storage solutions are a must!), you’re best off getting rid of used baby items as soon as you’ve filled a storage container or moved into a new age range. Luckily, there are countless ways to do this, and most of them don’t require all that much effort on your part. For one thing, asking around any pregnant friends, or those that you know are making plans of this nature will most likely see you getting rid of the vast majority of stuff. Even if there’s no pregnancy on the horizon, don’t hesitate to ask around – most likely, your friends will know someone who could use the extra! If you have no luck here, then there are also plenty of additional routes to consider online, many of which could see you earning some semi-decent cash for cast-offs. Great platforms for selling high-quality second-hand baby items especially include – 

• eBay

• thredUP

• Toycycle

• Kidizen

• And more

Simply make sure that you set up a profile in the early days, and get into the habit of uploading items before you put them into storage so that they never have a chance to creep up on you. 

Step 3: Put everything away in pristine condition

Considering that you’re finished with them and ready for them to stop cluttering up your house, it’s often tempting to put items away without properly cleaning them. After all, you can do that another day! In reality, though, storing clothes that need a wash, or even a stroller that’s covered in the usual wear and tear of snacks, spit-ups, and so on, can both damage the quality of those items, and make it less likely that you’ll ever get around to getting rid. After all, cleaning one thing is bad enough – cleaning a whole attic full of stuff just isn’t something that you have time for!

Luckily, you can save yourself time by making sure that every single item you have in storage is cleaned and ready to go for the fast turnaround that you’re ultimately aiming to achieve here. The effort that you spend on putting that one load of used clothes straight in the washing machine, or deep cleaning a stroller that’s no longer a good fit, will most certainly save you work in the long run. Not to mention that, if you’re going down the sales route, this proactive cleaning focus can see you getting far more money, as well as guaranteeing good reviews that make it easier for you to get rid of similar items fast in the future. 

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Step 4: Operate on an in-out basis

Despite your best efforts, used baby items can still build surprisingly quickly considering how often you’ll need to update things like your baby’s wardrobe. In fact, with entire outfit overhauls necessary every three months or so for that first year, you could end up with a whole mountain of stuff in less than six months if you aren’t careful. 

To avoid this, it’s always worth approaching used baby items with an in-out mindset. In other words, every single time that you bring new wardrobe sizes, etc. into the house, make a distinct effort to get rid of the size that came before it, and to not buy anything more until you’ve achieved that goal! It may seem strict, but setting yourself this rule makes it impossible for these items to build, buying you time to get rid without panic, and making sure that you never have more to deal with than you can manage. 

Step 5: Take inventory once in a while

While most of us are used to taking inventory at work, few of us apply the same thinking to our home lives. Yet, when it comes to the potentially mammoth task of sorting used baby items, this simple process can become invaluable for helping you to keep your sanity and your space. 

After all, if you don’t know what you’ve got, then it’ll be impossible to effectively impose things like the in-out rule discussed above. Not to mention that, even if you think you know everything that you need to organize/reduce, it’s all too easy to forget even entire boxes of clothes that could then end up as the basis for a build-up if you aren’t careful. 

Luckily, taking even a basic inventory of things like age ranges every few months is all you need to offset this risk and is a process that couldn’t be simpler if you’ve got a decent storage system in place as mentioned. This way, you can always keep track of what needs to go first, what’s newest to your storage setup, and what’s happening with everything in between. 

Step 6: Don’t let yourself get sentimental

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So, you’re prepped, ready, and armed with all of the platforms/know-how to keep used baby stuff under control. Only, then you see the first babygro your newborn ever wore or that coat that they took to their first meeting with the family. Suddenly, you’re overwhelmed with emotions, and can’t shake the feeling that you need to keep every last scrap of it for the sake of memories.

In reality, though, there are very few things that warrant keeping simply for sentimental value. After all, even if you did keep every memorable outfit, you’d likely look at them once every twenty years and coo before putting them back to clutter your home again. With this in mind, our last and perhaps most crucial pointer is to stop yourself from being sentimental about items that, ultimately, have served their purpose. By all means, keep things like the odd handmade piece, or perhaps even that first sleeper that you can’t part with. But, be strict with yourself, and make sure that you’re limiting what you keep to these few special instances before you’ve got an avalanche on your hands.

It’s by no means easy to stop a mountain of baby stuff from building at some stage, but taking it one step at a time with these tips in mind should at least help you to keep your home that bit clearer, and more manageable, for your baby’s first year and beyond.