10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Giving Birth

1. Light sleepers do not need to splurge on baby monitors.

2. Every baby is different. Repeat: EVERY BABY IS DIFFERENT. Just because your friend, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, whoever thinks that something is "best for your baby," it doesn't mean it's the best for your baby. Go with your gut.

3. It takes time to feel comfortable leaving the house with a baby. Try "baby steps" (no pun intended!) like going for a walk to get the mail, walking around the block the next day, then taking a trip to the mall.

4. A nursery doesn't have to have matching Winnie The Pooh bedsheets. Trust me, the baby doesn't care and when you haven't slept in weeks - or months - you don't give a damn either!

5. If you have a newborn and you see baby food-related items on sale, don't stock up.

6. Before you give birth, try to make meals in advance and freeze them.

7. Don't feel like you need to entertain guests when you have a newborn. Invite people over when YOU are ready.

8. Ask for help. You're only human. If someone offers to help out, take the offer.

9. Leave the dishes for later. Honestly, if you have the chance to nap, take it! The dishes can wait.

10. It's okay to cry. You don't have to hide your feelings if you're frustrated - all new moms feel the same!

Can anyone else add more to this list?

The Minimalist Guide to Christmas Shopping for Kids in Ontario

I KNOW it's only September, but in the blink of an eye, you know it'll be Christmas! So now's a great time to announce that the Samko & Miko Toy Warehouse sale in Toronto and Markham is happening!

You'll find some cool deals on toys and books by Hasbro, Disney, Fisher-Price, Crayola, etc, and I know a lot of moms (and grandmas) swear by this sale.

Here are the details:

Date: Sept 21-Dec 22, 2013

Hours: 
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Wed: 10am-4pm
Thurs: 10am-8pm
Fri: 10am-8pm
Sat: 10am-5pm
Sun: 11am-5pm
 
Locations: Click here to find the closest one to you

Have you been here before? What did you think?

Infant CPR: Is it worth $40?

Here’s a special post from my guest blogger, NewMamaKira – tell me what you think!

No, this is not NewMamaKira's baby

 
A few weeks ago, I enrolled myself in an infant CPR class at the Toronto store Baby On The Hip and it cost $40.

So why did I decide to take the course rather than stock up on $40 worth of baby stuff? Well, with being on mat leave for a year, I would have the most face-to-face time with my son; hence higher probability of being present if an emergency was to happen. I wanted to have the knowledge to equip myself to handle these situations and to act calm and react in a swift and responsive manner. 

So was it really worth it? Actually, yeah, it was great. It was taught by a Toronto EMS paramedic and upon completion of the course, I had a certificate from the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Not bad for an hour-and-a-half course, am I right? 

This is what the course covered: 

• How to assess and do CPR if a loss of consciousness occurs for infants, toddlers and adults.

• What to do if your infant, toddler or an adult is choking.

• How to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). 

And of course, the class was hands-on and we practiced with dummies of both infants and adult sizes.

As for the logistics of the day, they don’t recommend bringing your baby because they don’t provide childcare. (Which makes sense.) However it was just short enough for me to get back home without providing too much stress on my hubby! 

These are techniques a parent wishes he or she never wants to use. But in an emergency situation, it’s good to know how to react to either your own child or someone else’s. While $40 is a lot and I could’ve bought a mega pack of Pampers instead, infant CPR knowledge is priceless.

Click here if you want to learn more about workshops available at Baby On The Hip.  

Need a break? Here's a free event for the whole family

As my two-year-old daughter was attempting to achieve front rolls in the Erin Meadows Library, this notice caught my eye.

Honestly, it had me a Starbucks coffee... and cake. If you can't read it, some of the highlights include:

• Games
• Arts and crafts
• Starbucks coffee and tea
• Family storytime
• Cake! Cake! Cake!

Also, Magician Scott Dietrich will be there, but I believe admission to that magic show is $3.

It's happening on September 7, 10am-4pm.

Erin Meadows Library is located at 2800 Erin Centre Blvd., Mississauga, Ont.

Any free events coming up in your area? Post them below to share.