Is parenting hard? Incorporate these simple must-have habits from early in your little one's schedule so that you can enjoy stress-free parenting.
Now that Mishika is eighteen months old, I have gained a little experience of my own in this parenting world. Through my eighteen months of motherhood journey watching my little girl grow from a tiny tot who would fit into my arms to a little person walking, talking and running around all the time, I have realized that there are ‘three must-have habits for your kids' that can be extremely helpful for any parent. I would like to break these three habits into three categories ‘eat’, ‘sleep’ and ‘travel’. Personally, of all the three, I am very successful in introducing the ‘eat’ and ‘travel’ pattern in Mishika’s routine but sleep is something that I still struggle with. Passing on my two-cents to all the parents out there. Here they are:
1. EAT
Always feed your little one in a high chair. This is such an important habit for kids especially under 5 years old. It can save you from all the trouble of running around while trying to feed your child and help you keep an easy track of what your kid is eating. Also, the habit of eating in its own chair for your child can come in very handy when eating out in a restaurant or traveling. From the start when my daughter was around six months old and had started eating solids, Mayank and I would make sure that we would feed her meals only if she was sitting in the high chair. Fast forward to today, whenever Mishika is hungry she automatically heads over to her high chair to eat. This is such a huge relief for us.
I use this high chair at home with Mishika and it also can be converted into a booster chair as the kid grows. I have also heard very good reviews for this one which can be also converted into a small table and chair for the big kids and is under $50. Another good option with a little higher price point is this one. Also, for traveling purposes, I like this portable booster chair which is easily foldable and comfortable for traveling and is under $30. Another good option for booster seats for kids and easy to travel with is this one under $40 and it also comes in many different colors.
2. TRAVEL
Make sure to let your little one sit in their own car seat while traveling. A great habit for your little one and so important from the safety point of view. There was a phase when Mishika was around eight months old and she had started to understand her surroundings more and had become very adamant from not sitting in her car seat. She would cry and not give in till the time I would pick her up. Although her cry out sessions was terrible and would make me want to take her out, but Mayank and I both continued to stay strong and finally after a few ups and down sessions Mishika adjusted to the idea of sitting by herself in her car seat while we are traveling. To get her use to this, we had started off with small drives around our town and to distract her from getting restless we would sing nursery rhymes, play with her or entertain her with her toys. Till now we have been on many successful long road trips (some even longer than 8 hrs) and Mishika is so happy in her car seat which makes our trip so much more fun and hassle-free.
We use this one, which is a 3-1 convertible car set. We had used this in a rear-facing position when Mishika was a baby and now use it as a front-facing. Also, this seat grows with your kid and can be used for a really long time. If you are looking for a universal infant car seat mount this is a good one and is available for $30. I had also used this safety car seat mirror to keep a watch on Mishika when she sat in the rear-faced position. This gave me a huge peace of mind whenever I drove alone with Mishika.
3. SLEEP
Always put your baby to bed in a crib. I have always come across this saying that a completely rested baby is a happy baby and I cannot agree more. I have found that putting a child to sleep independently in its own crib helps them have a better and sound sleep. Since the time, I have transferred my daughter from co-sleeping to sleeping independently I have noticed that she is able to sleep through the entire night. We are still in the transitioning phase and have our ups and downs but again it’s all about staying strong and not giving in and I am sure we will soon be successful in indulging this good practice in Mishika’s routine too.
I have this crib in white and it can also be transferred into a toddler bed as the kid grows. Another great option to choose from is this one which comes with a drawer for storage and this one.
These are the three MUST-HAVE habits for your little-one that from my experience can save you from a lot of stress and help you feel more relaxed as a parent while raising your little ones. When you introduce any new routine into your little one’s schedule, it can take some time for your child to accept and adjust to it. The key for every parent to succeed in this is to stay strong, do not lose your focus, and remember what is the good thing that you will achieve once you are successful.
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