Karissa Tunis

Tips For Traveling With Children Post Pandemic

Tips For Traveling With Children Post Pandemic

We have been longing for a sense of normal. But traveling and meeting people for the holidays could become really complicated with the pandemic still doing rounds. There are new variants emerging and several nations are still struggling with the rising number of cases. Even with more people getting vaccines and booster shots, there are children under the age of 5 who have not been vaccinated yet.

Even if the children are wearing masks but are unvaccinated, they are at the risk of getting infected in transit or during travel. However, if you decide to travel, there are some things you can do to lower the risk.

For more on this topic, check out the full Travel Tips collection

Should you take the car or plane?

It is important to limit contact with the public. This is why traveling by car if you have a young child is a good idea. When taking breaks at the rest stop or the gas station, it’s recommended to keep the mask on and use hand sanitizer. Maintain distance from others and consider carrying your own snacks. You can make the car journey smoother for your little one with a comfortable car seat and head supports for car seats for them to take a nap.

However, if you are headed to a destination where driving is not possible, you should consider taking a direct flight so that you do not walk through different airports to change planes. Do not eat or drink on the flight if it is less than two hours. Since babies and infants cannot be masked in the flight, it is best to avoid taking one unless absolutely necessary.

Protect yourself while traveling in the car

When you consider all the options, you will realize that it is the safest to take a car. But in order to avoid riding with the germs, there are several precautions you will have to take. You need to start by cleaning and disinfecting the vehicle well and keep the hand sanitizer in your car so that you can use it whenever you make a stop.

Limit the number of people in your vehicle since it is not possible to sit six feet apart. But you must ensure that everyone is wearing a mask in the car. Before you stop for food or gas, designate a runner for the task and have a couple of people who are not at high risk go in and grab snacks. Ensure that they mask up and clean their hands before they get back in the car.

Protect yourself at the hotel

When you are headed out of town, you will need a place to rest. Whether you opt for a hotel or a rental home, you need to stay safe. The privacy of a vacation rental home might be appealing at this time. You must speak to the property managers about the social distancing, hygiene, and safety rules. If you are choosing to stay in a hotel, look into the cleaning protocol. Choose a hotel that has high safety and maintenance standards.

Protect yourself on a cruise

Ship travel is not a zero-risk activity. And if you are traveling with kids, it is best avoided. But if you have to take the cruise, you should remain up to date with the vaccination doses, and get a viral test done three days after the cruise.

How to plan your travels with children

Several countries have opened up and they do not have a vaccination requirement to enter. So, if you are excited about taking the much-awaited trip with your little ones, there are some things to keep in mind. It is best to travel within your country so that you are well aware of the current status of the virus and vaccination.

When traveling as a family, take a car and choose a vacation rental. This will help avoid meeting other people in common spaces like the gym or pool. You can easily find luxurious rentals that fulfill all your needs. If possible, head to destinations like jungle retreats. Or consider glamping since you do not have to meet a lot of people here.

Remember to carry all the essentials including masks, sanitizers, snacks for your journey, water, and medications. If you have recently recovered from Covid-19 and are taking any medications, remember to carry them with you.

Traveling with Kids Conclusion

Traveling with kids can be exciting and equally overwhelming. Your entire trip could turn into a horrible experience if something goes wrong. And now that you are headed on a trip after two long years, there is nothing you want to risk. Consider the age of your child and speak to their doctor before you plan the trip. Do not forget that children below five are unvaccinated and they are at constant risk of catching the virus.

For more on this topic, check out the full Travel Tips collection

Self Care Tips for Parents

Parenting can really take it out of you. Kids need lots of attention, and it can sometimes feel like your needs take a back seat. To help you design a great self-care regime, consider these tricks and tips. Keep reading below for self care tips for parents.

For more on this topic, check out the full Self Care collection

Self Care Tips for Parents

Use a journal

According to Positive Psychology, journaling is helpful to ‘enhance your sense of well-being and reduce symptoms of depression.’ Journaling has plenty of benefits, such as:

Journaling can boost your mood.
Can help you to express gratitude.
Can help you to express an emotional or traumatic event.
Journaling can help you to relax and improve your sleep.

If you’re not sure how to get started with a journal, you may want to try a journaling app. Applications like Reflectly and Grateful include lots of journaling exercises.

Practice meditation

Studies indicate that meditation is useful to improve our mental health. Mediation can help you to relax and become more mindful. Mediation can be used to challenge negative thought patterns, and focus on the positives. To learn about mediation, try meditation podcasts like One Mind with Morgan Dix, or The Mindful minute podcast. Both of these tools are perfect for beginners. Once you learn the ropes, you can reflect on which style of meditation you like best.

Allow yourself alone time

Life as a parent can be incredibly busy and sometimes stressful. You might feel like you don’t get any time to yourself. Challenge yourself to reclaim that alone time. Hire a babysitter every once in a while, and treat yourself to a kid-free day! Think about the activities that you enjoy doing by yourself. You might like to visit museums, go hiking, read books, or enjoy the theatre. Spending time alone can help you to unwind, reflect, and even learn new things. After a day by yourself, you’ll feel calm and refreshed.

[Read: 101 Self Care Ideas for Busy Moms]

Brief acts of self care

When you’re rushed off our feet it can feel hard to make time for self-care. The good news is, you don’t need lots of time to spare. There are so many brief acts of self-care which are so worthwhile. For a few ideas, consider these:

Spend ten minutes doing a yoga video on YouTube.
Take fifteen minutes to write a poem or a short story.
Make a delicious smoothie out of your favorite fruits.
Dance to a song you love.
Spend ten minutes practicing aromatherapy.

Keep on top of health checks

Parents spend lots of time concerned about the health of their kids, but it’s important to focus on your own health too. Remember to book in regular health checks, from Lively hearing tests to eye tests and the dentist. . If you’re facing oral health issues, restorative dentistry services can help.

From your physical health to your mental health it’s important to create a good self-care routine. Set yourself small self-care goals, whether it’s about your diet, or an exercise target. To avoid burnout, it’s so important to take good care of yourself.

For more on this topic, check out the full Self Care collection

Separating Your Work and Home Lives for Healthier Approach

Keeping your work and home lives separate can be tough. Especially when you work from home. If you live and work in the same place, it’s often difficult to stop your home life from leaking into your work and vice versa. But, by keeping them separate, you can find that you feel less stress. That you can be more productive at work. And that you’re able to focus on what matters most when you’re not working. It may not always feel easy to separate the two, but making an effort to do so can deliver plenty of benefits to your life as a whole. Continue reading below to learn how to separate your work and home lives.

For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection

Seek Support for Any Issues

When you have personal issues, it can be hard to concentrate on your work. Similarly, when something stressful is happening at work, it can affect your home life. When you’re having any kind of issue, seeking the right support can help to make it easier to deal with. More and more companies are offering the services of workplace chaplains to provide support for their employees’ health and well-being. In your personal life, you might reach out to friends, family, or a professional, such as a therapist or pastor. You can get support from many different places to help you deal with all kinds of issues.

Physically Separate Work and Home

Creating a physical separation between your work and home life can also help you to be healthier when you’re working from home. It makes it easier to put work away at the end of the day and come back to it when you’re ready. Having a separate workspace is useful but it’s not the only thing that you can do. You can also make sure you limit your work to certain devices. Don’t set up your work email on your personal devices if you want to make sure they don’t interrupt you at inconvenient times.

Take a Step Back from Coworkers

Spending all day in communication with your coworkers can wear you down. It can even feel different from being in an office because you’re constantly receiving emails and messages or getting on a call for a meeting. If it’s too much, taking a step back from communicating with them all the time can benefit you. The first thing to do is ensure they’re not contacting you outside of your work hours. You can also try to reduce the number of meetings you have and even let your coworkers know when the best time to get in touch is.

Get Away from Home

If you can, getting out of the house can really help you. For anyone who doesn’t need to be at home, finding somewhere else to work is a good way to separate your work from home. But if you need to stay home, you might be able to find opportunities to take breaks and get outside or to do things outside of your home when you’ve finished working.

Separating your work and home life helps you to manage both parts of your life in a healthier way.

For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection

It’s Time To Clean Up Your Computer: Tips To Get It Done Efficiently

Owning a computer is a necessity in this day and age. Your computer is where you live in the digital world. You likely conduct a large portion of your socialization, household management, and work via your personal computer. As you are so reliant on this ubiquitous piece of technology, you need to ensure that it will continue working well for you. Here are some tips on how to clean up your computer with ease.

For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection

Make More Space on the Computer

Is your computer running out of space? If you rely on your computer to store personal documents, work files, and creations or photographs then you need more space. When you have additional space on a computer, you obviously have more room to store essential items. In addition, a computer that is not filled to capacity with excessive files will run quicker and more efficiently.

Get the job done right the first time by utilizing the storage tab to clear out space and clean things up on your computer. When you prioritize the efficiency of your workhorse of a computer, you ensure it will run well when you need it to.

[Read: 9 Ways to Be More Productive While Working From Home]

Physically Clean the Computer

Simply by using your computer, it will get dirty. Between fingerprints, daily dust that floats through the air, food crumbs, and animal hair, your computer’s components will need a physical cleaning from time to time.

Use caution when caring for and cleaning any technological device. Use water sparingly, if at all. If you need to use liquid, apply it directly to a lint-free microfiber cloth and not on the computer itself. Make sure you only use lint-free fabrics as ones prone to leaving particles behind will add more dust and debris to your computer instead of removing it.

Watch this video for guidance on how to easily clean your laptop.

Backup Your Files

You have multiple important files floating around on your computer. If you lost them, it would be a problem to try and recover them. Instead of worrying about what could happen, back them up.

Backing up files is a seamless task when you use an external hard drive. Select one that has a sufficient amount of space for your current and anticipated future storage needs. Another option is to use a cloud service to house your valuable files. With a cloud backup, your essential information is secure in an online environment.

While you are working on your myriad files, remember to secure your pictures, too. Pictures are notorious for taking up too much space on your computer and increasing lag time. They are precious memories that can never be replaced. In addition to removing them from your computer to increase performance, you should back them up for posterity.

Conclusion for Cleaning Up Your Computer

You rely on your computer for so many essential (and entertaining) activities. It must function properly whenever you need to use it. Make it a priority to learn some new skills and clean your computer today. You will be so glad you took the time to take care of everything the next time you log on.

For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection

How To Save Money When You’re A Parent

How To Save Money When You’re A Parent

Being a parent comes with a great many rewards. It’s wonderful to see our children grow and thrive, becoming their own person with their own personalities and ideas. Yet there is one thing that parenting doesn’t do; it doesn’t make you rich. In fact, being a parent can be very expensive. Even if you’re not constantly showering your little one with gifts and finery, the basics will soon add up.

Is it possible to save money when you’re a parent? We all know it’s important to put money aside for the future. But can it be done when you have a child or children to take care of too? The answer is yes, it can. It might be hard. And it might take a good deal of discipline. But it is certainly possible to save money when you’re a parent. Here are the ways you can get started.

For more on this topic, check out the full Saving Money collection

Fix Your Finances

We can all get into debt; it’s an easy thing to do. And something that most of us don’t even think about at the time. We think we need money for this thing or that, so we borrow it. The problem is when it comes time to pay it back, it can suddenly feel like it’s too much. We might borrow more to pay off the first debt, and the problem then spirals out of control.

Ideally, before you have children, but certainly once you do, it’s a good idea to put your finances in order. If you have borrowed too much and you’re having problems, getting a consolidation loan could be exactly the help you need. They will be able to help you get back on track when it comes to payments and debt. If the problems are worse, it’s wise to speak to an expert who can offer more advice.

If you can manage your debt, then try to work out a payment plan so that you can pay things off more quickly. That way, you will have more money to spend on your children’s basic needs (and some more fun things!) when you need it.

[Read: Painless Ways to Save Money and Maximize Your Budget]

Plan Meals In Advance

One of the simplest ‘tricks’ when it comes to saving money when you’re a parent is to plan your meals in advance. When you do this, you will know exactly what is being cooked and when, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You will also know what snacks to have in the house. If there is a special event coming up, you can ensure you have what you need for that too.

The most useful part about planning your meals in advance is that you can budget accordingly. If you have less money one week and more the next, you can buy items that fit with that budget. This way, you won’t be tempted to borrow money or get into additional debt.

Planning in advance isn’t just about knowing what you are going to cook on a certain night. It means you can take an accurate shopping list with you when you go grocery shopping, ensuring that you only buy what is necessary. This saves you money buying things that may even just get put in the trash because you couldn’t use them before the expiration date. Plus, if you have clubs and hobbies to fit around (for you and the children), or you’re working late some nights, or whatever other situations you need to work around in life, you can design a meal plan that works. It’s good for the budget, and it means less stress for you as a parent.

[Read: 7 Ways to Avoid Food Waste and Save Money]

Buy Reusable Items

It may initially be cheaper to buy disposable items such as paper towels and one-use diapers. But over time, having to buy more and more of these items again and again, the price can really add up. It’s much better for your budget in the long term to buy reusable items instead.

There is more work involved, we can’t pretend otherwise. Using cloth diapers and towels, for example, means more laundry, and they’re not quite so convenient when you are out and about. However, in terms of your budget, they are perfect. The longer you are able to use these reusable items, the less money you’ll need to spend, and even when you do have to replace them, they won’t cost anywhere near as much as the money you were able to save by not purchasing disposable versions.

As an added benefit, these reusable items are so much better for the environment. Rather than sending baby wipes and diapers to landfill, you will be washing and reusing your own. If everyone took a similar step, the difference would be incredible.

Sell What You No Longer Need

As mentioned above, children grow out of clothes, toys, and other items after a time. Sometimes they do so before you’ve even had a chance to really use them – this is especially true of baby clothing which might be left sitting in a closet with the tags still on because babies grow so quickly.

If you have items you no longer need, you could consider giving them away; it’s a technique we’ve already listed about how to save money. However, if you would rather make some money, then there is no reason why you shouldn’t sell those unwanted and sometimes unused items. Depending on what you are selling and the condition it is in, you could make a fair amount of money. Remember, you won’t ever get back what you paid for it (assuming you bought it new – if you bought it used or were given it then that is a different situation) so it’s not about trying to make a profit, but any cash you can get that will then go towards something else that you and your children need will be useful.

[Read: How to Start Consigning – Tips & Advice for the Beginner Consignor]

Could Work Help Out?

If you are working and you haven’t checked out the schemes in place to help parents, then it’s important you do. Although some companies don’t advertise the fact very much, many will actually offer childcare vouchers to help with the cost of childcare. This will benefit the company in the long term because it means they can get their employees back to work sooner. So it’s certainly something to look into since childcare is likely to be the most expensive part of raising children, at least until they are old enough for school.

Even if your place of work doesn’t offer this voucher system, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other options. You might try a nanny share, which will halve your childcare costs, or perhaps there will be some days when family and friends can help out. Look into all your options, and you might be surprised at how much money you can save compared to full-time childcare.

Make Sure You Treat Yourself

Although you’ll want to save money where you can when you’re a parent, it’s also important to treat yourself from time to time. Saving in all the ways mentioned above and only spending money on your child is fine – but it’s not sustainable. Why is this? The reason is that you’ll burn out quickly if you don’t take care of yourself.

Self-care is a crucial component of parenthood. As the old saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty jug. This is true. If you’re not at one hundred percent, you won’t be able to give one hundred percent either. So treat yourself once in a while. Get that new hair color you want because you’ll feel great when you do (just remember to get shampoo designed for color treated hair as well). Buy some tickets to see your favorite singer perform. Book a babysitter and go out for some fun. Do what you need to do to keep yourself happy, even if it means spending a little of what you saved.

For more on this topic, check out the full Saving Money collection

How to Keep Your Children Safe at Home

August 5, 2022

Making your home safe for your kids is something that every parent thinks about. You always want to make sure that your home is a haven where your children will not come to any harm in. To make your home as safe as possible there are a few things you need to do. These things are not necessarily difficult, but you will need to make a genuine effort to take the time to do them. Some of them you can do yourself and others you will need to employ someone to assist you. Here is a look at what you need to know.

For more helpful resources, check out the full Home Safety collection

Beware of Water

A lot of children drown because unexpected water sources were left lying around. You want to make sure that you remove any forms of water that could be detrimental. After you have finished using a bathtub make sure you empty it immediately and do not leave it unsupervised. If you have a pool in your backyard, be careful too. Get a covering for your pool and always make sure that your child is supervised when they are near the pool.

Safe Stairs and Windows

Stairs are a well-known safety hazard that you need to ensure you take care of to prevent your child from having an accident. You should have a safety gate at the top or bottom of your stairs to keep your child from falling. Make sure that you put a stair runner in place, this will help prevent your child from taking any unnecessary falls. Ensure that you also have security measures in place for your windows as well. Always double-check to make sure that you lock the windows securely and also that the locks are secure.

Install Security Systems

These days installing a security system in your home is not that difficult. There are security cameras that you can even install in light bulb sockets around your home. This will help to ensure that your children are kept safe at all times. If you live in an apartment you might want to consider installing a video intercom system. Some apartments may already have this in place. This way you can see who is asking to be let into your apartment or your building before you let them in. This can make a significant impact on the safety of your child and your entire family.

Cover Sockets

One of the things you can do to ensure that your child is kept safe is to use cord holders to organize your electrical cords. Cords that are all jumbled and scattered can become a hazard. What’s more, children may be more enticed to touch them and the results can be dangerous if there are raw wires you don’t know about. You can also get covers for sockets to help prevent electrocution.

Stay Safe At Home

Keeping your home safe for your child is something that should always be a priority. You need to make sure that you are taking the time to be consistent about keeping your home safe.

For more helpful resources, check out the full Home Safety collection

Teaching from Home: 35 Free Printables for Teachers and Parents

Parents, teachers, and students have had to make big changes to how they teach and learn. Below we have put together 35 free printables for teachers and parents who are currently teaching from home.

Parents, teachers, and students have continued to adapt to new ways of learning! Whether your family is homeschooling, doing a cyber school option, or participating in virtual learning days when there is inclement weather throughout the school year – we have some helpful resources to share. The printable packet below includes helpful tips an daily planners to make your life a bit easier this school year!

Created and written by Karissa Tunis
For more on this topic, check out the full Back to School collection

Teaching from Home Printables

Distance Learning Resources

Whether you are a teacher, a parent, a caregiver, a tutor, or the student; you will surely find something helpful within this distance learning packet. Included are:

Tips for Teachers
Advice for Parents
Strategies for Teaching at Home
Lesson Planners
Subject Planners
Student Reviews
And a couple different book report templates

Family Resources for Staying Home

Be sure to check out our Staying Home collection. Here you can find even more free printables and resources to help you navigate this crazy time, and figure out how to thrive at home. Below are some of the topics that you can explore to help your family.

RESOURCES FOR STAYING HOME

Co-Owner: Karissa Tunis

Karissa Tunis is the co-owner of both the parenting website Adore Them and the family event company Milestone Family Expos. Through these ventures she is able to share inspiring, heartfelt insight with large audiences within local communities and across the country! Her knack for all-things-organization allows her to balance content creation, brand partnerships, and event planning without losing sight of what she wants for her own family. Despite her busy schedule, Karissa also makes it a priority to spend quality time with her husband and three children. You will often find her volunteering at her children’s schools, cheering them on from the soccer sidelines, or enjoying the great sites of Charleston, SC with her family.

Contact: Karissa@AdoreThem.com

How to Protect Your Kids After a Car Accident? 6 Tips to Help You

When it comes to protecting your kids, you want to make sure that you have everything covered. From car seats and booster seats, to making sure they’re always buckled in. There are a lot of things to think about when it comes to keeping them safe in the car. In addition, there are also steps you can take after an accident to ensure their safety. Here are six tips for protecting your kids after a car accident.

For more on this topic, check out the full Tough Times collection

1. Seek Legal Advice

If you’ve been in a car accident, one of the first things you should do is seek legal advice. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to help you understand your rights and options. As well as represent you in court if necessary. For example, if the other driver was at fault, you may be able to file a personal injury claim to recover damages.

Additionally, if your child was injured in the accident, a lawyer can help you file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Make sure to consult with a car accident lawyer in Sacramento if you have any questions or need assistance. A lawyer can also help you negotiate with the insurance company to get the best possible settlement for your child’s injuries. Make sure to consider all of your options before accepting any settlement from the insurance company.

2. Get Your Child Checked Out By a Doctor

If your child was in the car during the accident, it’s important to get them checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. Even if they don’t seem to be injured, there could be internal injuries that are not immediately apparent. A medical professional will be able to properly assess your child and ensure that they are okay. Injuries such as whiplash can take days or weeks to manifest, so it’s important to get your child checked out, even if they seem fine.

3. Watch for Signs of Stress

After an accident, it’s common for both adults and children to experience stress and anxiety. If your child was in the car during the accident, they may be particularly traumatized by the experience. Be on the lookout for signs of stress, such as nightmares, bedwetting, clinginess, or changes in appetite. If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to talk to your child about what happened and help them process the experience. You may also want to consider seeking professional help for them if the stress is severe.

Mental Health Issues That Can Arise After a Car Accident

Mental health issues are not uncommon after a car accident. It’s estimated that about one in three people who are involved in a serious car accident will experience some form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can manifest itself in some ways, including flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and depression. If you notice any changes in your child’s mood or behavior after the accident, it’s important to seek professional help.

4. Keep a Record of Expenses

If your child was injured in the accident, you’ll likely incur a lot of expenses related to their care. From medical bills to missed work, these expenses can add up quickly. It’s important to keep a record of all expenses related to the accident, as you may be able to recover them from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Make sure to save all receipts, invoices, and cancelled checks, as well as any other documentation you have related to the expenses.

Specific Medical Expenses You Should Expect

Medical expenses after a car accident can include both the immediate costs of care, such as ambulance rides and emergency room visits, as well as the long-term costs of treatment, such as physical therapy and rehabilitation. If your child was injured in the accident, you may also incur child care expenses if you have to miss work to care for them. Additionally, if your child’s injuries are severe, you may have to make modifications to your home to accommodate their needs.

5. File an Insurance Claim

If your child was injured in the accident, you’ll need to file an insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. This can be a complicated and time-consuming process. So it’s important to have an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side. They can help you gather the necessary evidence and documentation. As well as negotiate with the insurance company to get you the compensation you deserve.

Possible Insurance Claims After a Car Accident

There are a few different types of insurance claims you can file after a car accident, depending on the circumstances. If your child was injured, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. This type of claim can help you recover damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Additionally, if your child was killed in the accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. This type of claim can help you recover funeral and burial expenses, as well as loss of companionship damages.

6. Seek Compensation for Your Child’s Injuries

If your child was injured in the accident, you may be able to seek compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you assess your claim and determine what compensation you may be entitled to. Additionally, if your child is under 18, you may also be able to seek damages for their future medical expenses and lost earnings potential. Also, if your child was killed in the accident, you may be able to seek compensation for funeral and burial expenses, as well as loss of companionship damages.

How to Protect Your Kids After a Car Accident Conclusion

It’s important to take the necessary steps to protect your child after a car accident. From seeking legal advice to filing an insurance claim, there are several things you can do to ensure that your child is taken care of. If you have any questions about what you should do after an accident, be sure to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. They can help you understand your rights and options, as well as guide you through the process of seeking compensation for your child’s injuries.

For more on this topic, check out the full Tough Times collection

Avoiding Parental Burnout

Avoiding Parental Burnout

Having kids is something that the vast majority of us would never change. They are the light of our lives. Our world revolves around them and we’d do anything for them. But that’s not to say that parenting is a breeze all of the time. In fact, a lot of the time, parenting is straight up difficult. There’s no guide on how to do it correctly. Instead, we’re left to our own devices, choosing what we feel is right for our kids as we go along. We have to make decisions concerning their wellbeing every day. We have to monitor their safety consistently. And we have to alter our lifestyle to accommodate theirs.

So it’s no surprise that parenting can be tiring or draining. But it’s important that you only let parenting take over your life so far. You don’t want to experience parental burnout. Here’s some more information and advice on the topic to help you make informed decisions that are right for both you and your little ones, giving everyone the best experience in the long run.

For more on this topic, check out the full All About Moms or Self Care collections

What Is Parental Burnout?

Let’s start out by considering what parental burnout actually is. Parental burnout is a form of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion that you can experience as a result of the ongoing (or “chronic”) stress that we can all experience as a direct result of parenting. It can show itself in a variety of different ways. You may find that you get upset, become irritable, are angry or experience a host of other negative emotions from the feeling of becoming overwhelmed. You may become forgetful, anxious, confused, guilty, unmotivated or lonely as these feelings go on. It’s important that you understand that this is very common, should you ever experience it. Parental burnout doesn’t meant that you are an inadequate or bad parent. It simply means that you are human. The good news is that parental burnout is manageable, temporary and can be overcome.

Combatting Parental Burnout

Fortunately, there are a host of different ways to combat parental burnout. It’s important that you look into your options and put some of them into play to make life that little bit easier for yourself. Here are just a few different options that you might like to try out. Each could make all the difference, so is definitely worth looking into!

Talking to Your Partner

If you are in a relationship and share childcare, it’s important to make sure that the split of responsibility is balanced. If you find that you are doing a lot more than your partner, it may be time to talk to them. Let them know how you’re feeling. And let them know that they need to pick up a fairer share of responsibility. This can help to make everything more manageable.

[Read: NavigatingNavigating Marriage]

Building a Support Network

You should build a support network around yourself. This will lift a weight from your shoulders and can help you to help other parents too. Support networks can take your children off your hands for a few hours in the form of a playdate or doing the school run. Then you can return the favor at another time. This could be family, friends, other parents from school or other trusted individuals.

Taking Time to Yourself

You need to take time to yourself to do the things you enjoy. This could be a relaxing bath. It could be going to the cinema. It could be having friends around and making this cadillac margaraita. Whatever will allow you to let your hair down and relax, it’s important to make time for it.

Childcare

You don’t necessarily only need to make use of childcare when you’re going to work. Do you have an event you need to attend? Childcare can come in useful for simply having a break. There are plenty of forms of it out there. From babysitters to kids clubs and activities that will entertain and occupy your kids for a few hours or even a day.

[Read: Childcare Options]

Further Support

If you find that you’re struggling regardless of a good support network and childcare options, you may be suffering from an underlying condition that is impacting you mood or experiences of day to day parenting. It’s a good idea to reach out to your doctor, who will be able to diagnose any underlying mental health conditions and provide you with the support you may need. This could be anything from medication, to therapy, counseling, or a combination of approaches.

Hopefully, some of the information above will help you to better understand parental burnout and to manage it in a way that suits you.

For more on this topic, check out the full All About Moms or Self Care collections

How To Take Care of Your Little One’s Skin

How To Take Care of Your Little One’s Skin

When you are a parent you worry about your little one at all times, so if you notice that they suddenly start to suffer with skin problems or allergies then of course the first thing you are going to be is concerned. However you can reduce your stress levels by implementing a good skin care routine and visiting a doctor if you think the problem is more serious. So if you are in need of some useful advice on how to take care of your little one’s delicate skin, then look no further than our useful guide.

For more on this topic, check out the full Baby’s First Year collection

Use Gentle Body Showers and Soaps

When you are bathing your little one ideally you want to be using a product that contains no strong fragrances or harsh ingredients. This is going to be better for their skin. It will also help to prevent a breakout or any allergies to emerge. It might be tempting to opt for the really colorful kid friendly packaging and tropical fragrances, but really you just want something simple that is not going to cause any irritation to their delicate skin. So it is worth shopping around for a bathing product that has as few ingredients as possible, and that is not going to be harsh on their skin. This will help prevent any skin irritation or rashes.

Include Moisturizers and Creams Into Bath Routine

Keeping your child’s skin hydrated will be useful so that their skin is in the best possible condition. The sun, swimming, playing, and washing can easily dry out your child’s skin on a day to day basis. So in order to keep their skin in optimum condition, you can use a moisturizer to help maintain a lovely soft complex. It will hydrate and soften any dry skin. Which will also help to prevent further patches of dryness or irritation from occurring. So try to implement using moisturizing creams into their bed and bath time routines from early on so that you are doing all you can to look after their skin.

Allergy Proof Your Home

If you can prevent skin reactions or allergies from emerging in the first place, then it will certainly be a relief to your little ones. They will then be less likely to suffer from unpleasant skin problems. The more you can allergy proof your home, the less likely they could be to develop skin irritations. Environmental factors can have an impact on their ability to develop skin problems or irritations. It is best to clean or dust your home as much as possible. Use an air purifying unit and ensure that your home is well ventilated. You can also incorporate house plants such as aloe vera into your home. They are renowned for their soothing properties when you do suffer from skin irritation. And they can also act as a great air purifying plant at the same time.

Implement a Good Healthy Diet

Ensuring that your little one gets the best possible diet is important when you are raising your child. A good diet can also have more of a positive effect on their general wellbeing and skincare than you think. So it is good if early on in their routine you can introduce healthy foods such as avocados, oily fish rich in omega 3 (mackerel, salmon, herring) sweet potatoes and broccoli. This way they are getting a nutrient rich diet that is going to really benefit them. The quality of food they eat can help to contribute to well maintained skin and a healthy complex.

If you can easily incorporate more vegetables and fruits into their diet, it will have a more positive effect on the welfare of their skin. So it is certainly worth doing. It might require a bit more planning in advance when food shopping and organizing your family meals, but it will be worth the effort! Especially if it means your child will reap the beneficial rewards.

Protect Their Skin From The Sun

Whenever the weather is hot, sunny and bright you really should be protecting your child’s skin from the harmful effects of sun exposure. This is because their skin is much more delicate when they are younger. So if the sun is shining and the temperature feels very hot, it is best to use a high factor sunscreen to protect from the harmful UV rays. Early sun exposure for your little one can have damaging effects later on in life. These effects can potentially include skin cancer, if you are not careful when they are young. So it is best to slather on the sunscreen which contains a high factor so that you are doing all you can to protect their delicate skin from the sun rays.

See a Doctor If Something Is Not Right

Although it is easy to start self diagnosing by reading up about skin conditions on the internet and allergies, essentially it is always a good idea to go and see a professional doctor in person. If you have concerns, it is best to have your little one examined in person. This will ensure that a medically trained professional can take a look at their skin in person and determine whether they have a sensitive skin allergy to a product in your home or a treatable medical condition. You could identify Is Eczema Contagious? Everything You Need To Know by finding out more information from a medically trained professional.

They will also be able to detect other more serious problems that require prescribed medication in order to treat their skin condition. So definitely get in contact with a doctor as opposed to self diagnosing. Otherwise you could make your little one’s skin problem even worse and they will suffer for longer than necessary.

Overall with a bit of organization and careful planning you can easily try to incorporate these useful steps into your child’s routine. This will ensure that you are doing what you can to look after your child’s skin as best as possible.

For more on this topic, check out the full Baby’s First Year collection