Here is our handy Diaper Bag Checklist. Print it our and stow it in the pocket for a quick reference before you leave the house. It makes restocking your diaper bag a snap.

Check out our Newborn Stomach Capacity chart. We made it so new parents can visualize how much their new babies are eating – and what to expect with feeding and diapers in the first few months.

Getting back into a routine after the fun of summer can be hard. Whether you are going back to work after vacation, going back to school, or starting fall play school, we have tips to make the transitions easier.

1. Build out your morning routine for success.

Include a wake-up alarm, breakfast, some time for brushing har and teeth, and getting dressed.

Ask Alexa to play wake-up music like “Morning in the Rainforest,” by Go, Diego, Go.

Try a visual chart like Skidules to help small children get everything done in order.

 Get moving with a morning walk or some yoga for kids.

2. Bring back the bedtime routine – and start early.

Having a set family dinnertime, followed by bath time, a story, and a song – or a similar routine – makes the bedtime routine a long, wind-down process. By starting early, you start signaling to your child’s body that it is time to go to sleep – and you avoid putting wide-awake children into bed and then having trouble getting them to fall asleep. Sleep hygiene – or sticking to a routine – is very important.

3. Clean out your car and your bag – and restock them for success.

Fun in the sun can mean your car gets fun of sand, dirt, collected leaves, dirty clothes, and uneaten snacks. Take an afternoon to clean it all out, and maybe run your car through a carwash with a vacuum station. That will make driving to activities a happier experience for you, and you’ll have everything you need to celebrate fall.

4. Get organized with tools.

Whether you work best with Google Calendar, use a paper planner book, or work best with a bulletin board wall calendar, take some time to sharpen your focus on the coming months. Feeling secure in the plan makes each day easier.  

5. Put technology to good use.

Google Calendar, iCal, and reminder apps like Microsoft To-Do, and Notes are easy tools to use on-the-go from your phone.

Online grocery ordering and repeat delivery services can take the stress of running out of essentials.

Last, Boomerang is a Gmail extension tool that allows you to email future you to remember things that may be to long for a calendar note. For example, after each holiday, you might email yourself for the following year on what worked – and what didn’t.

When toddlers are developmentally becoming more independent and communicative , they will start to show signs of readiness for potty training. By following their lead, you’ll know when the best and easiest time is to start potty training! 5 classic signs your child is ready to start using the potty are:

1. They show interest in the toilet.
2. Begin telling you when they need to be changed, and are uncomfortable in wet or dirty diapers.
3. Their bowel movements are consistently at the same time.
4. They can undress themselves, or get undressed with minimal help.
5. They stay dry for 2 hours at a time.

You’ll know they aren’t ready to start potty training if your child isn’t showing these signs and remember – it isn’t a race!

To help make potty training easier, take the Virtual Potty Training Workshop!

Miss Kirsten gives her 10 tips on making the transition to playschool happy, empowering, and smooth.

1. Read about it! Reading about characters going to school for the first time helps children relate to the unknown. Talking to your child about what looks fun, friendly, or scary can help work out feelings before you even enter the classroom. Also, if you have memory books of your first days of school, bring those out. Looking at picturess of Mommy and Daddy in school when you were their age is special.
2. Do a practice run. If you are planning to start playschool, visiting the classroom – even just the building – can make the drop-off feel more familiar to your child.
3. When dropping off, try to resist the urge to linger if your child is upset. Most often, a clean break ends up being easier for the child, who can then be distracted by being engaged in an activity, and comforted by a teacher. Drawing out the impending break from a parent can sometimes be worse. You can always stick around outside the classroom out of sight to make sure they settle in.
4. Send in the lovey for comfort. Having something familiar from home to comfort them is an easy way to help then feel safe.
5. Dress them for success. Wearing a favorite superhero shirt, a locket with a family picture, or new light-up sneakers can act as the feather to Dumbo’s flight. Let them choose – the more choices they have, the more in control they will feel.
6. Tell them what to expect and build in a routine. Going over the plan for the day every morning at breakfast gives toddlers a feeling of control. Talking about what will happen during the day so they know what day they have playschool, and what they do before and after it helps them emotionally prepare for it. A simple picture board, like the magnetic Schkidules one, can make it fun.
7. Set up a playdate with friends they will be joining in class. Friendly faces in the classroom always helps.
8. Send them with a full belly. Resist the urge to celebrate with sugary donuts and instead make the healthiest breakfast they will eat. Maybe dress it up with fun shapes for the special day, but keep it healthy so they aren’t going into class on a sugar high – with the impending low looming over the teacher.
9. Plan a celebration after the first day. The promise of a trip to the ice cream shop or the playground after school can make the start of playschool more exciting. It is especially useful if you use their trip to playschool as a bonus: “Now that you are a big play schooler, I bet you’ll be super at helping me bake your cake!”
10. Tell them you are proud of them. Tell them they are big, strong, smart, independent, and ready to learn like a big kid. Use empowering language to build them up. If you can present it that they are going to school because they are eager instead of you are forcing them to go is incredibly empowering for them.

How Learning Sign Language Benefits your Baby

At Over the Moon, you will see us instructors pairing our speech with sign language during our classes. We also offer a Sign Language class for babies and their caregivers.  Many people think of sign language only as an alternative method of communication for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or nonverbal. But it is actually quite beneficial to teach typically developing babies sign language as well! Read on to learn three reasons why learning sign language can be enriching for all babies and their caregivers.

1. Sign language boosts speech and language development.
We often hear the concern that teaching babies sign language will slow down speech development. Actually the opposite is true! When babies learn a spoken language (like English) paired with some sign language, they are using both sides of their brain while learning new words. The more pathways we create when learning, the more places in our brain we are establishing to retrieve the word later. In other words, using both sides of the brain makes for stronger memory and recall! Evidence shows that learning sign can boost IQ, accelerate emotional development, strengthen fine motor skills and hand eye coordination and help with early literacy skills.

2. Sign language can reduce frustration for our kiddos.
When we teach our babies basic signs we are giving them a way to communicate their needs months before they are able to express themselves through speech. A baby can sign for ‘milk’ as early as 8 months but may not be able to say the word milk until several months later. While other babies rely on crying to communicate that they are hurt, hungry, or thirsty, babies who learn sign can tell their caregivers what they want while also boosting their language skills!

3. Quality Bonding Time
Sign language classes provide a great outlet for babies to bond with their caregivers. Over the Moon’s sign language classes offer a knowledgeable instructor, fun curriculum and a community of caregivers all eager to learn sign and to connect with their babies.   It is a wonderful place to create precious memories, and this sweet time can be invaluable for babies and the ones who love them. 

Happy holidays! Here is my favorite gingerbread play dough recipe:

1 cup of flour
1tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 cup salts
1 tbsp cream of tartar
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tbsp nutmeg
1 tbsp cinnamon
I cup water

Mix all ingredients together and cook in a saucepan until it forms a ball. I like to double the recipe because I’m usually making enough for two kids.

This play dough is great for all five senses, and an especially wonderful activity to work on fine motor skills. Playdough is fun on it’s own, but below are some age-appropriate ideas for adding in extra fun (with adult supervision).

For 1-2 years old you can provide rolling pins and plastic cookie cutters and/or stampers. 

For 2-4 years old you can provide the above items and also try plastic practice scissors, as well as plastic cutting tools.

For 4 years and up, provide large googley eyes, cut up pipe cleaners, and buttons for you little ones to use and create their own gingerbread man. 

*The dollar store is a great place to find trays, plates, little holiday containers, and plastic cookie cutters!!

Music is a great motivator. It motivates athletes in the gym, party-goers to dance, and entire nations to salute the flag. You can use it to motivate your toddler in a happy, encouraging way. You can either sing the songs yourself, of ask Alexa to play each song when you need them.

1. The Clean-Up Song by Shari Sloane is a happy two-and-a-half-minute song that encourages children to help pick up. If you want to add some excitement, try to get your kids to race to get the room clean before the song ends.
2. This is the Way We Brush Our Teeth by Little Baby Bum walks children through the steps of brushing teeth, and takes about tow-minutes – which is how long you should brush.
3. Morning in the Rainforest by Go, Diego, Go Live is our family’s favorite wake-up song and starts the day with a fresh, energized vibe.
4. The Daniel Tiger Potty Song has all the instructions for using the potty in one simple, catchy tune.
5. One Little Finger Tap Tap Tap – gives toddlers power over their own body when they interact with a new baby in a fun way. You can encourage them to touch the baby’s toes with one finger. The focus stays on the toddler and engages the baby, too, in a safe way.

If your family is celebrating summertime with vacations away from home, we have a few tools to check out. Its difficult for moms and dads to get much-needed relaxation on vacations, and this gear will help.

1. This Britax Travel Cart turns your carseat into a stroller – which is key for air travel.

2. These double-sided bed rails make any hotel bed safe for your toddler if they can’t sleep in a pack and play.

3. RoadID makes children’s ID bracelets and shoe tags to ensure your child is safe if they do get lost. They have room on them for medical information as well as contact information.

4. Pack Infant Tylenol and Infant Motrin on trips so you don’t have to go hunting in a strange town with a sick baby. To ensure they don’t leak, use Itzy Ritzy Wet Bags,  which work for baby shampoo and sunscreen, too.

5. La Roche Posay’s Mineral-sunscreen is my favorite, picardin-based bug spray is proven more effective than DEET unless you are traveling to the tropics and it is safer for kids. Also, this essential oil-based hand sanitizer keeps the germs abroad away from your kids.

6. Welly’s Quick Fix first aid kit is tiny, airline-approved, and has fun colors.

7.  Use Amazon Prime to ship snacks, diapers, wipes, formula, and other extras directly to your hotel so you don’t have to pack them.  

For more ideas, check out our post on road trips with toddlers! 

1.    Sunscreen

Made with ingredients you can feel good about, Young Living’s Mineral Sunscreen Lotion provides protection against UVA and UVB rays without harsh chemical ingredients. With hypoallergenic ingredients and skin-loving essential oils including Helichrysum, Carrot Seed, and Sacred Frankincense, this gentle, reef-safe sunscreen rubs on smoothly, so you can effortlessly apply it when you’re outdoors.

  2.  Insect Repellent 

Before you buy an insect repellent at the store, check to see if it contains DEET. If it does, you’re going to want to put it back on the shelf. DEET is a registered pesticide, and a member of the toluene chemical family. Toluene is an organic solvent used in rubber, plastic cements, and paint removers. DEET is absorbed through the skin and passes through the blood. DEET-free insect repellent is tested to repel mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas using 100% naturally derived, plant -based ingredients. It smells great and goes on smooth!

 3.  Citrus 

Summer and citrus go hand and hand. Grab a citrus oil like orange, grapefruit, lemon, or lime and add it to your water bottle for a refreshing drink on the go. Young Living offers a whole line of Essential Oils called the Vitality Line which are safe for ingestion.

 4.  Thieves Products

Thieves is an exclusive blend of Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiata, Rosemary, and Lemon Essential oil. Thieves has many benefits and is used in a lot of personal care and home cleaning products. The Thieves spray is perfect to carry in your purse to remove sunscreen and sand off little hands.

 5.  Ningxia Red

A shot of Young Living’s superfood drink each morning will get you through the hot, summer days with plant-based ingredients. It’s refreshing and super healthy. 

 6. LLP

Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint Essential Oils – the magical seasonal support blend. Diffuse these oils or put them in a roller with coconut oil and apply directly to your skin to get you through allergy season.

 7.  Chapstick

Keep your lips hydrated and happy with all natural lip balms, like Lavender, Cinnamint, or Grapefruit.

 8.  Wipes

Mom life requires wipes on hand at all times. Once you try Seedlings Wipes, you’ll never go back to any another brand. They are so soft, thick, and you only need one to change a diaper, remove make up, or clean your hands. They are completely biodegradable and non-toxic. 

 9.  Lavender Everything

From Lavender Essential Oil, to Lavender Lotion, to Lavaderm, turn to all things Lavender for skin support this summer. It soothes skin ailments from cuts and bruises, to sunburns and more. 

 10.  Rose Essential Oil

Not only does rose have an amazing, uplifting scent, but it is also great for your skin.  Try Rose Ointment for dry or sunburned skin. You will be amazed with the results. 

Together, the Over The Moon community raised $850 for EmpowerHER, a non-profit organization with the mission to empower, support and connect girls of all ages who have experienced the early loss of their mothers. 

Over The Moon Parenting’s mission is to support growing families on the South Shore of Boston, and this local cause is very near and dear to us. Every day we see the growing bonds of mothers and their babies, and it is our privilege to give back to girls who have lost their moms.

We hosted a raffle, with generous donations from Sarah Hinchey Photography, Deluxe Bar, The Zen Den, Scentsy, Ambrosia Day Spa, The Juice Barn, Young Living Essential Oils, Paper Crane Acupuncture, Stacey Hugues’ Rodan and Fields, Restore Your Core Rehab, and Courtney Bulman’s Beauty Counter.

This is the second year we have run a fundraiser for EmpowerHER for Mother’s Day, and last year we raised $800. We strongly believe in building up our community, and look forward to running another fundraiser for this amazing organization next year for Mother’s Day.

One of the wisest things Margaret, my mother’s group teacher, told me was that a mother can’t nurture a baby when she isn’t feeling cared for herself. Self care for moms is incredibly important, and often gets overlooked in the myriad of tasks that go along with parenthood. Here is a list of ideas to pamper yourself so you can be your best for yourself and for your whole family.

1. Start counseling early if you are feeling down, stressed out, or angry about something. Talking your feelings out with a professional or a trusted friend is necessary for feeling heard, grounded, supported, and for gaining solid advice.
2. Schedule a girls night. Being a mom doesn’t leave much room for going out with friends, but it becomes doubly important once you have children. If you can swing it, go in on a hotel room so you can sleep in the next morning.
3. Take some time to do some reading. Relaxing into a good book is therapeutic and gives your mind a much-needed break from the laundry list of chores around the house. Don’t forget about audiobooks – they are a great way to keep up on new releases if you also need to get chores like folding laundry dishes, or errands done.
4. Book a fitness class. We offer Mom and Baby Barre, Mom and Baby Yoga, Parent and Child Yoga, and prenatal fitness classes. Getting your heart pumping with a group of friends is good for your health, self esteem, and happiness. If you can’t access a gym with childcare, try a stroller workout or workout video at home.
5. Get back into a hobby you enjoyed before babies. Gardening, hiking, fishing, painting, knitting, cooking, and playing the piano are all great ways to relax. Pottery and sewing classes, horseback riding and volunteering are also great ways to get out of the house and take some time for yourself. Having just a little time to yourself can be so rewarding – you’ll feel refreshed when you get back home and have a much better attitude when you have to conquer the bedtime routine.
6. Manicures and pedicures, hair cuts or blowouts, facials, and massages are all soothing ways to pamper yourself. We love Ambrosia day spa next door, but even doing a simple sheet mask and a deep conditioner on your hair can feel luxurious.
7. Take a walk. It is simple yet soothing to get out of the house and take a stroll around the neighborhood. Babies who don’t like strollers often enjoy carriers, and if you have a dog, they will appreciate the outing, too. Spring makes everyone happier, and saying a quick hello to friendly neighbors is always nice.
8. Go on errands by yourself. A Target or Home Goods trip sans kids can be life-giving.
9. If you aren’t ready to hire a babysitter yet and have some alone time outside the house, try a mother’s helper and take some time to update your closet or reorganize your kitchen while knowing your children are cared for in another room.
10. Schedule your own check-ups because your health is important, too! Yearly physical exams, dental cleanings, ObGyn appointments, and eye exams should all be on your calendar. And don’t forget to do your monthly breast exams.
11. Getting into a dinner rut is so easy, but break out with cooking classes or a meal delivery service. Services like Hello Fresh, Sun Basket or Blue Apron allow you to choose what you want to make, deliver the ingredients right to your door, and instruct you through making each meal so you don’t have to think about coming up with varied menu options or remembering ingredients in the market.
12. Get some sleep. There isn’t a mom alive that couldn’t use more Zs. Sleep in, go to bed early, or take an afternoon nap.
13. Buy yourself some flowers – or have them delivered. Trader Joe’s always has lovely, relatively inexpensive flowers.
14. Go shopping for clothes and shoes that fit and make you feel good about yourself. After my two pregnancies, my feet grew 2 1/2 sizes. I needed a whole new shoe selection, but was just living in slip-ons until my mom made me go shopping. Don’t wait for an intervention – go now because you deserve to look and feel as cute as your kiddos.
15. Go on a date with your partner. Spending some time just the two of you is really important for your family. Go see a movie, have dinner, or try mini-golf. Getting dressed up and flirting a little will make you feel more like a person and less like a walking snack dispenser.

Have more ideas? Please share them below or one our Facebook page!

Its no wonder new motherhood is so stressful. The day after I delivered my son, I had a sobbing-on-the-floor crisis because I had used prescription deodorant and was worried that I had poisoned my milk supply. (I hadn’t. Deodorant is a-okay.) But the life-or-death feeling of every decision, antiperspirant included, is overwhelming. The weight of motherhood is heavy. New moms groups help.

Becoming a mother is a transformative, incredible, and joyful experience that can also be overwhelming, intimidating, and lonely. Talk to any mom, and she will tell you that her “village” is what got her through those early months parenthood. Your first day alone with your baby, your first night after vaccines, your first car ride with a screaming infant – nothing helps to build you up like a mom village.

And finding answers to questions can be sticky. Sometimes, you don’t want to ask family because- let’s face it – relationships are tough. Sometimes the questions around episiotomies, sex after birth, and weight gain are embarrassing. Sometimes, imaging the answer to “is this normal,” is daunting.

In addition, many women are healing from c-sections or tough deliveries, juggling career challenges and changes, and don’t get nearly enough rest and self-care.

I started my first mother’s group with Margaret when my older son, Beau, was 10 days old. Beau is now in Kindergarten and I still call those same women when I have to figure out a rash, a problem at school, or if I’m just having a rough day – along with the celebrations and hilarious stories. My “mom squad” is as much my rock now as it was when I was navigating latching.

That’s why Over The Moon always has new mother’s groups on the calendar, and added a FREE VIRTUAL weekly breastfeeding drop-in group on Tuesdays at 1p.m. We know it is your village that gets you through, and we want to help you build yours.

In a new moms group and in the drop-in group, the woman next to you is just like you, with the same struggles, questions, and joys. And you’ll get through by helping each other through.

Over the Moon Parenting is happy to share our latest list of thoughtfully selected gift suggestions for young children from newborns through the preschool years. We have provided samples of toys and other gifts we love which are safe and appropriate for each range of development. You can find most of these toys, and so many more, at local toy store, The Toy Box in Hanover. We suggested gifts that will appeal to children over time, promote creative and open-ended play, and support developing skills. Please feel free to share this list with friends, grandparents, aunts, and uncles!

Newborn to 6 Months:

• • Rattles and Mouthing Toys such as Munch Mitt baby teething mitten, NogginStik Rattle Clutching Toy and Sophie Giraffe

• • Soft Blocks such as Earlyears Squeak n’ Stack blocks

• • Books/Cards with High Contrast Color such as Black & White, Usbourne- Baby’s First Touchy Feely and Wee Gallery Art Cards

• • Tummy Time Helpers such as Earlyears My First Water Mat and Sassy Floor Mirror

• Easy Grasp Ball such as Skip Hop Roll Around Toy or Eebo Noisy Ball

6 to 12 Months:

• • Rattles and Mouthing Toys such as Haba Clutching Toy Magica and Green Toys My First Keys

• • Stacking Play such as Tobbles Neo, Manhattan Toy Brilliant Bear Magnetic Stacker and soft blocks listed above

• • Fine Motor and Cognitive Toys such as Kid-O Activity Board, Fat Brain Toys Dimpl and Melissa & Doug Jumbo Knob Puzzles

• • Sensory Balls such as Edushape Sensory Balls

• • Puppets such as Folkmanis Puppets and Haba Musical Elephant Puppet

• • Active Play such as ball pit with balls from Lakeshore Learning and Peek-A-Boo Tunnel by Schylling Toys

• Early Creative Play such as WeeCanToo veggie and fruit paint with roll of paper

1 to 2 years:

• • Cause and Effect Toys such as Early Melodies Pound and Tap Bench, Mini Spinny Clutching Toy, and Push and Go Inchworm

• • Stacking Toys such as Haba Stack and Learn Blocks, Djeco Topanifarm (Nesting/Stacking Boxes) , Green Toys Block Set and all those mentioned above

• • Chunky Puzzles and Shape Sorters such as Djeco Felt and Wood Puzzles, Melissa & Doug Take Along Shape Sorter and Green Toys My First Shape Sorter

• • Musical Instruments such as Hohner instruments and Remo drums

• • First Pretend Play such as Kidoozie Snug and Hug Baby Doll and Corolle Bath Baby Doll

• • Active Play such as Radio Flyer Classic Walking Wagon, Brio Pull Toys and Pewi Y-Bike Walking Buddy

• Creative Play such as Crayola Pip Squeak Markers and Jumbo Crayola crayons with a roll of paper

2 to 3 years:

• • Dramatic/Open-Ended Play such as train table, play kitchen and accessories like Hape’s My Coffee Machine and Melissa & Doug Ice Cream Counter, road/town rug with vehicles, doctor kit like Learning Resources Doctor Set, baby dolls like Corolle, Melissa & Doug Dress-Up sets

• • Building Toys such as Smart Max sets, Melissa & Doug Wooden Unit Block set, Lego Duplo Block sets

• • Puzzles such as Melissa & Doug Beginner Pattern Blocks, Djeco Puzzles Duos, Melissa & Doug Chunky Jigsaw Puzzles

• • Creative Play such as an easel and chubby paint brushes with non-toxic washable paints and a smock, large stickers like Melissa & Doug Sticker Collection books, Do-A-Dot Markers

• Indoor Active Play such as small round trampoline with handle, Rody Toy, Whirlee Ride-On, Bilibo toy

3 & 4 years (and beyond):

• • Dramatic/Open-Ended Play such as everything mentioned above plus animal and dinosaur figurines like those from Collecta by Briar or Schleich

• • Puzzles and Problem-Solving Toys such as Ravensburger 24 or 48-piece floor puzzles and Brio Take Along Labyrinth

• • Building and Manipulating Toys such as Magna-Tiles, Plus-Plus BIG Tube, Light Stax JUNIOR Classic and everything mentioned above

• • Creative Play such as Kwik Stix Solid Tempera Paint Sticks, beginner scissors such as Alex squeeze scissors or Crayola safety scissors

• Active Play such as Spooner Board, Micro Mini Deluxe Scooter, Ezyroller

It’s getting colder outside, and that can get tricky with little ones. Here are some cold weather tips for babies, toddlers and preschoolers to keep little hands and feet safe and warm this winter.

1. Remember to take coats off in the car. Jackets impair the way seatbelts fit and in the event of an accident, they can slip out. It can be a pain to be constantly taking off and putting on coats, but it’s worth it.
2. Also, when using an infant carseat, resist using any “Bundle-me”-like blankets that will impair how snug the seat belt fits. Instead, choose a carseat cover that doesn’t interfere with buckles.
3. Use a needle and thread to tack gloves at the end of a turtleneck or long-sleeve shirt. That way, toddlers who are fond of taking gloves off can’t lose them. (By tacking them instead of sewing them the whole way around the sleeve, you can just flip them back to get hands out for snack and potty time.)
4. Pack extra gloves, hats, and a coat in your trunk for just-in-cases and wet weather.
5. When buying snow pants, aim for the “bib” type that cover the torso for extra snow protection.
6. Look for flannel or fleece-lined jeans for colder days at the playground.
7. Take extra care with fireplaces, candles, hot beverages, and Christmas tree lights.
8. Remember to apply lotion after every bath and on little faces during extra cold and dry days to prevent chapped skin.
9. Consider using a humidifier during the drier months in the nursery and playrooms to help breathing and skin. Essential oil drops can make it extra soothing.
10. Give yourself extra time to get to and from appointments and play dates. The roads can get icy, and bundling up adds a minute or two to the commute time, too.

Add your ideas in the comments!