Category: Kids

Quiet a Fussy Baby

Is your baby crying because he is hungry? If your baby is fussing and rooting around with his mouth looking for a breast or bottle, he is probably hungry. If you are not sure, try feeding him. If he takes a few sips and then wriggles away, go on to the next step.
Is your baby crying because she has a wet or dirty diaper? This is probably the second most common reason for a baby to cry. Check your baby’s diaper and change it if necessary. If the diaper doesn’t stop the baby from crying, try the next step.
Is your baby crying because he is too hot? New parents feeling cautious and protective tend to overbundle babies. If your baby is wearing more layers than you, try removing a layer, or extras such as his cap, mitts or booties. On the other hand, if your house is really chilly, make sure he is not crying because he is too cold. If temperature is not the reason your baby is crying, it’s on to the next step.
Is your baby crying because she’s uncomfortable or ill? Check to make sure your baby is not lying on anything and her clothing is not too snug or turned funny (sideways pajama bottoms would make you cranky, too!). Does your baby prefer to be swaddled, but she’s come unwrapped? If everything checks out, look for signs of illness or teething. Does she have a temperature? Does she bear down on your finger with her gums? Does she have a runny nose, cough or other symptoms? Some baby Tylenol and a call to the doctor might be in order. But if she seems fine, consider the next step.
Is your baby crying because he is overstimulated? If your baby has spent a long period of time in a new or different environment or around a lot of people, lights, or noise, he may be crying because he needs a break. Remember, this world is brand new to your baby so give him time to take it all in. If your surroundings have not changed, on to the next step.
Is your baby crying because she is colicky or gassy, or just tired? If your baby ate recently, see if she needs to burp. Sometimes one good belch is all it takes. If you suspect colic, there are many safe home remedies you can try. White noise, the sound of a fan, a washing machine or a radio dial set to static, sooths some colicky babies. Warm mint tea is another colic remedy many moms report successful. If your baby is tired, she might cry as well. Try sitting with her in a dark, quiet room, holding her and rocking her. If this doesn’t work either, go immediately to the next step.
Ask for help. Let your spouse hold the baby for a while. Call Grandma to come and work her charms. Request assistance from your dear next door neighbor. If you are a sleep-deprived parent and your baby just won’t stop crying, you can feel overwhelmed. And guess what? Your baby might sense your frustration and stress and cry. Get off the merry-go-round and take a short, well-deserved break.

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Edible Specimins

Before we begin, let’s be clear about what we’re trying to accomplish, with a few ground rules for the project:

1. What good is a specimen jar if you can’t serve it at dinner?The contents of the jars should be genuinely edible, made out of real food. Plastic snakes and spiders are right out.

2. Make it tasty. While the appearanceof the specimen jars may cause loss of appetite, the scent, by contrast, should be simply mouth watering. There are many ways to get there. Specimen jars can be prepared as an antipasto course (e.g., with preserved vegetables), as a soup appetizer, as a palate cleanser between courses, or a dessert course, depending on the ingredients chosen.

3. Work within the comfort zone of your guests. If your guests are super-omnivores, eager to eat the most challenging ingredients that you can get your hands on– whether that’s brains or balut or something far worse –then go right ahead. However, the point of this project is to make a dish that looks intimidating but actually consists of friendly ingredients. It’s possible to make a truly scary looking set of specimen jars that is (for example) strictly vegan or passes the even stricter dietary requirements that your child may present.

Cake Batter Crispy Treats

3 tablespoons butter

1 10-ounce bag of mini marshmallows

1/4 cup yellow cake mix

6 cups rice krispies cereal

1 1.75-ounce container of sprinkles

Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat and add marshmallows. Stir until they begin to melt, adding in cake mix one spoonful at a time so its combined. Stir in cereal so it is completely coated with marshmallow mixture. Sprinkle in half of the sprinkles and mix. Press into a baking dish (any size will do) and top with remaining sprinkles. Let sit for about 30 minutes before cutting. I find spraying a knife with nonstick spray helps to cut them.

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Chocolate Covered Frogs

They’re not REAL frogs….

Melt your chocolate in a double boiler. It needs to be real, pure chocolate. We like Ghirardelli 60% bittersweet chips. They’re readily available, not too expensive, and have excellent texture. You’ll want just enough to coat your frogs. Too much chocolate with a finite amount of crunchy bits will leave a poor crunch density.

Add the Pop Rocks and stir them into the chocolate. Use lots of Pop Rocks; As many as you dare. They’ll crackle a bit when you stir them in, but don’t worry, there will still be plenty of crunch.

Coat your frogs and place them on parchment paper on a cookie sheet. A chocolate fork works great for this, but regular forks work, too.

Chill in the refrigerator until they solidify, preferably in a sealed container to prevent condensation issues.

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