18 books you absolutely have to read with your 2 year old

We LOVE to read around here. We've been reading to Emma ever since she was born. When Emma was one, we read hundreds of books with her, and created this list of the top 100 books to read with your one year old.

But sometimes it's hard to guess

The 100 best books for 1 year olds

When my daughter, Emma, turned one, I started asking my friends and searching the Internet for the best book recommendations for toddlers. I compiled a list of over 200 books, and we steadily read through that list all year long. As we went, we added new books that we found and loved, and removed the ones we weren't crazy

A perfectly packed diaper bag: Toddler version

A few months ago, I published a post called A Perfectly Packed Diaper Bag. It's my most popular post to date. I dumped out all of my diaper bag essentials, photographed them, and created a free printiable checklist to keep you and your newborn organized

Get organized with a weekly to do list

UPDATE: 2021 Planner and calendar pages available here. :) 

I heard somewhere that successful people don't have to do lists. Instead, they schedule their "to dos" on specific days of their calendars. When those days come- they get it done!

That idea has stuck with me. I like it. But

Digital Christmas Card List

Are you planning on sending out Christmas cards this year? If so, who will you be sending them to? Do you have everyone's updated addresses? Do you know the exact number of cards and stamps you will need for your list? How will you make sure you aren't forgetting anyone?

For me, the answer to all of these questions is a digital spreadsheet that is 100% customizable, editable, and simple to use year after year. This baby saves me TONS of time every Christmas season. So today I thought I'd share so that you can use it, too!

What to pack in your baby's daycare bag: A free printable checklist

Welcome to another post in my Perfectly Packed series! Be sure to check out my other posts in the series as well! Please note that posts in this series include affiliate links.  

A few days ago I shared a post about how to pack the perfect daycare bag. 

Today I promised that I would share a free printable checklist for you. So here it is: woo hoo! I divided this list into two sections: things that you can pack once and leave at daycare ("to stay") and things that you need to bring every day ("to go".) 

What to pack in your pumping bag: a free, printable checklist

Welcome to another post in my Perfectly Packed series! Be sure to check out my other posts in the series as well! Please note that posts in this series include affiliate links.  

A few days ago I shared a post about how to pack the perfect pumping bag. Check it out!

As promised, today I'm sharing a free printable checklist to help make sure you don't forget anything on your way out the door. Because I know that you mamas are super busy! 

What to pack in you diaper bag: A free printable checklist

At my baby shower, we played a scattergories-inspired game where we had to name things you had to put in a diaper bag that began with certain letters. I struggled. I knew you were supposed to carry diapers in your diaper bag, but I was having trouble thinking what else my sweet little baby could possibly need. . .

Now that I have Emma, I have trouble not packing the entire nursery every time I leave the house. So much could happen. I could need so many different things. . .
Today I'm sharing with you my "What to pack in your diaper bag" checklist.

Will you need every single one of these items every time you leave the house? Probably not. For example, I only pack bottles if I'm dropping my little one off at the sitter's. I don't always bring snacks and toys, depending on where we're going. But I love being able to do a quick scan on my way out the door just to make sure I'm not missing something essential.

I divided the checklist into 4 categories:

1. Restock when used: These are items that you'll have to replace if you use them, like diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, etc. I check this category the most often, since these things are the most often forgotten. (Or I get somewhere and realize the bib in the diaper bag is covered in pizza sauce from the night before. . .)

2. Keep in bag: Put these in your bag and leave them there.

3. First-aid: I keep these items in the smallest zippered pocket of my diaper bag, and only think about them when/if I need them. They take up very little space, but give me tons of peace of mind!

4. For you: It's easy to forget your own essentials when you're busy thinking about what the baby needs. Scan this section to make sure you've got everything you need, from your wallet and keys to a snack for you. . . because taking care of a baby can make you very hungry! ;)

Want to check it out? Click HERE (or just click on the picture below) to download the printable checklist for FREE!

P.S. This would be a great page to add to your baby tracker and record notebook... Click here to check out that post and download more great baby printables!

Organizing a Schedule and Routine for your Baby

My daughter, Emma, recently turned 7 months old. Now that my husband and I are both off for the summer (we're both teachers- lucky us!) we decided to reevaluate Emma's daily schedule. She has also been having some trouble sleeping, so we thought we'd revisit her daily routines as well, and really think through our plans for naps and bedtime.  

To do this, I pulled up my Baby Tracker and Record Notebook package, and found the schedule and routine planner pages. In case you missed it, you can click HERE to check out that blog post. Or click on the picture below to download the entire package for FREE! 

I modified the schedule and routine documents slightly, and did a little bit of color coding to help myself stay ultra-organized. Here is what my schedule planner ended up looking like: 

For the routine planner, I made detailed lists of exactly what we would do before every nap and before bedtime. I also brainstormed some playtime and outing ideas. Here is how my routine planner turned out:  

Feel free to click on each image to download a copy to use yourself. I'll have to keep you posted on how the new schedule works out, but at least I have a plan! Happy organizing! 

Revised Infant Daily Tracker

A while ago, I posted a set of printable documents for making a baby tracker & record notebook.  (Click HERE to check out that post.)  Here are some of the documents that were included:  

One of the pages I included in my notebook was a daily tracker worksheet.  I used this page for a few weeks after my daughter was born to track when she ate, slept, cried, and how many dirty/wet diapers she had.  (Click HERE to download this original daily tracker page.)

When Emma was first born, this page was super-handy.  In the hospital, the nurses wanted us to keep track of this information, so it was nice to have an easy place to jot it down.  It was also nice during the first few check-ups when the doctors asked things like, "How often and how long does she eat?" and "How many wet and dirty diapers does she have each day?" 

As my baby got a little bit older though, I found that I didn't need to make myself crazy by writing down the exact time of every diaper change- but there were still a few things I did want to keep track of, like what time she was eating, how long she was going between feedings, and how long she was sleeping at night.  So I made a revised daily tracking page, and it's been working out really well for me so far: 

 For this page, I put a spot at the bottom where you can check off wet/dirty diapers as you change them throughout the day.  I usually don't do this, but have found that it comes in very handy if your baby is sick, and you want to make sure that she's staying hydrated. 

You can download a copy of this revised daily tracking page HERE.  I hope it helps make your life a little easier and gives all you new mamas a little more time to spend with your little ones. :) 

Enjoy! 
Laura 

Baby Tracker and Record Notebook for Girls

My husband and I can't wait to welcome our first daughter into the world.  While we're waiting for her to arrive, I decided to create a notebook full of printables, worksheets, and checklists to help us stay organized during the first year of her life.  Some, I created myself.  Others, I modified to make them easier to use than the original versions.  I’ve also compiled a list of links that will lead you directly to even more easy-to-print pages and resources.  I created this notebook to use for my own baby girl, but don't worry- I'm working on the boy version! 

I decided to use dividers to organize my notebook into four main sections: Routines, Medical, Babysitting, and Additional Information.  The table of contents will show you which documents I decided to include in each section of my own notebook.  However, I want you to be able to use these resources to create a notebook that works for YOU.  Feel free to pick and choose what you think will be the most helpful.  Enjoy!

Download the entire document by clicking HERE. 

Or, individualize your notebook to fit your own needs by downloading the individual pages and worksheets below.  (Just click on each picture.) 

Title page: 

Introduction: Basically tells how I decided to organize my notebook- but feel free to use the documents I've created to make something that will work for you!

Table of Contents: Again, just the documents I decided to include in my notebook. 

Daily Tracker: I modified the tracker sheet found here to make it a little bit easier to use- just grab a new sheet each day.  Whether your doctor has asked you to keep track of feedings/diapers, or whether you just want a record to help yourself recognize patterns, I hope that this sheet will be a quick way to jot down events as they happen. 

Schedule Planner: A planning sheet for when you're ready to start trying to develop a schedule for your baby.  I printed several of these out, since I know that I'll need to revise this one many times as my baby grows and goes through changes. 

Update: Click HERE to check out my revised daily tracker page for older babies. 

Routine Planner: Use this page to brainstorm activities and events that you'd like to include in each of your baby's daily routines. 

Food Tracker: When your baby starts trying new foods, this is an easy way to quickly record her reactions, including how well she likes each food, and any allergic reactions that you might notice. 

Weight Chart: This is a place for you to periodically record and track your baby's weight.  The original graph is from the CDC, and can be found here. 

Milestone Chart: This chart contains milestones that babies are likely to meet by 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year.  Check off each item and bring it with you to your doctor's appointments so that you can discuss any concerns. 

Doctor's Notes: This is a spot for you to jot down any questions or concerns that you want to remember to discuss with your baby's pediatrician. 

BabySitter Info: Fill out this page with instructions and leave it with your babysitter.  

Thoughts & Notes: A spot for you to write down any additional thoughts or notes about your baby. :) 

Here are some additional resources that I found on thebump.com and printed to included in my notebook.  Click on each picture to visit the original website and download each document.

Emergency Info: Great to leave with a babysitter or hang on your refrigerator. 

 Food Tracker: A basic guide to which foods to introduce when. 

 Sleep Tracker: This is an easy-to-use way to keep track of your baby's sleep patterns over a 2-week long period. 

 Teething Chart: This is an easy-to-read guide with approximate dates when each tooth is likely to come in.  There is also space to record when each tooth came in for your baby. 

 Travel Checklist: Traveling?  Here is a checklist so you won't forget any essential baby supplies. 

 Vaccine Tracker: Which vaccines should be given when?  Here's a general guideline, based on recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Here's one more 12-page document that I added from the American Red Cross's Website, for easy reference:

Pediatric Frist Aid/CRP/AED Ready Reference: I also have a magnet on my refrigerator with the poison control phone number and infant CPR guidelines, but I figured it couldn't hurt to have these easy-to-follow instructions nearby as well. 

Anything I forgot?  Feel free to let me know.  I hope that you find these documents and checklists helpful!  Stay tuned for the boy's version, and happy organizing! 

Laura 

Vaccination and Heath History Record

I hate filling out medical history forms.  I find it to be very tedious.  At every new blank, I end up either searching through a file folder with about 200 papers in it, googling a phone number or address, or digging through my wallet to copy information from my insurance card or ID.  

The problem has been complicated for me since I've moved several times in the past five years, switched jobs, switched insurance companies, and switched doctors and dentists.  Needless to say, I've spent a lot of time filling out medical paperwork.  And I can't even imagine how much more complicated this would be if I had kids! 

So I decided to create a document for my computer where I can easily access all of this information.  It has already been a huge timesaver, and I have it here for you to download and use as well! 

VACCINATION AND HEALTH HISTORY RECORD: TO EDIT AND SAVE

VACCINATION AND HEALTH HISTORY RECORD: TO PRINT

I'm planning to keep mine saved on my computer for easy editing.  However, I'm also including a printable version for you in case you like to keep paper copies.  Just print out as many of each page as you need.  The document includes: 

Page 1: Basic Information

For those of you with kids, I included this cover sheet so that you can create a different record for each child, and easily keep them straight.

Page 2: Current Providers

This is the spot to write basic contact information for doctors, dentists, insurance companies and pharmacies.  There are two extra spaces to include information for others, such as allergists or dermatologists.  

Page 3: Past Providers

If you've moved or switched doctors a lot, this page is for you! Keep a record of your recent past providers and the dates that you used their services. 

Page 4: Vaccination Records 

Your doctor will have a copy of this as well, but I've found it very handy to have my own record on hand.  You can easily look down your list and find the dates of each vaccination.  

Page 5: Medical Events This is a catch-all page for easy access to dates and details about important events in your medical history.  These might include surgeries, hospitalizations, and important doctor's visits or procedures.  You know- the things that you're always being asked about when you join a new doctor, and can never quite remember the dates on which they occurred... 

  

Page 6: Medications 

This is a place for you to record prescriptions or medications you've taken, along with dates.    

I recently had to fill out forms for (another) doctor, and I was amazed at how easy it was with my new records close at hand.  I hope this document saves you some time and trouble as well. Enjoy!