Toddler

Photo by AshBayGrammy

The earthquake in Haiti has me thinking a lot about all those poor kids in orphanages—and all those who just become orphans. I guess that's why I've been reading a lot about adoption this week. Some stories are inspiring, some informative, and others, downright depressing. Here are some links I Iove (or at least recommend).

Photo by Celeste825

My two-year-old still sleeps in a crib, but I'm thinking it's almost time for a bed: She loves blankets and pillows and she's unlikely to fall out. Though it's likely she will get out of her own volition making going-to-bed time even more difficult than it already is. Sigh.

It's time for a Mom Confession -- because, let's face it, we're real mothers and sometimes it doesn't work the way the parenting books say it should.

This Week's Confession:

I don't put my toddler to bed until around midnight so that she sleeps later in the morning. I get more housework done that way. — anonymous 

Photo from Pottery Barn Kids

Checked out the Dr. Seuss collection at Pottery Barn Kids, after reading CafeMom nicoledlee's post: A Dr. Seuss Nursery in Design on a Dime Moms.

Super cute — and right now it's on sale.

It's time for a Mom Confession -- because, let's face it, we're real mothers and sometimes it doesn't work the way the parenting books say it should.

This Week's Confession:

I've given my kid Benedryl to ensure an early bedtime because I just couldn't take it anymore. I needed sleep but I've only done it once or twice and only a small amount. — anonymous

Photo by sgr123

Oh...what to do with the adorable crib set once baby outgrows it?

I recently came across this awesome idea from CafeMom sgr123 in the Susie Homemaker group.

This smart mom repurposed her daughter's baby bedding into pretty accents for her toddler-ized room.

Photo by faithfulmomof1

Can you find the sleeping child in the photo?

Oh, yes, there she is ... to the left of Mickey Mouse and due south of Pink Pig. And I think she's being kissed by Mr. Brown Bear over in the upper left corner.

This little girl is a year old. My daughter is 4 and I allow her two stuffed animals with her in her toddler bed at night.

Photo by amybuddy45

I've always had trouble getting my toddlers to stay in their beds and rooms at bedtime, but never anything like this!

One anonymous CafeMom's 4 and 2 year old boys have been destroying the house at night:

"At least once a week they will both wake up in the middle of the night and bring food from the kitchen to their rooms. They'll open every piece and spray it across the room,'' she says.

"Often times they empty out the closets, as well. One morning I woke up at 2 a.m. with a jar of rice all over my 2 year old's room, mixed in with some Kool-Aid powder (didn't even know that I had that) with every single toy out of the closet. Then I walked into my 4 year old's room and he had all of his plastic kiddie forks all over the floor and in the peanut butter jar, and a pack of crackers crushed into the carpet."

Photo by Kscwrcsmom

I've heard of countless ways to get children to give up the pacifier. But none are quite as creative as these binky weaning methods from MomLogic:

• In Denmark, toddlers donate their old pacifiers to the zoo...Why?