This is the second  half of our conversation on a survival kit for new parents. This topic was started by Paul Fischer’s blog which asked What do you really need for a “newborn starter kit”? As always, we talk a lot. So in  we hit the highlights of the comments made on his post, adding our own opinions along the way in the last episode. In the second half (this episode) we talk about the responses we received when we posed the question to our mommy group.

Mindy from Irvine-

fisher price plastic blue and green booster seat (one in car and one for home!:-)
shopping cart cover for the kiddo
ray shade for the stroller
fisher price bounce seat
more than three crib sheets!
at least two crib matress protectors
safety first monitor
two infant car seat bases (didn’t ealize know much we’d use it!)
plastic hooks for the stroller
cling-on “shades” keep sun out of baby’s eyes while in car (easy on easy off or transferable! Bergstroms)
plastic chair protector (two per package-safety first?) -when baby turns to toddler and starts kicking the back of the front seat!
mirror to see baby while driving

Janet from Irvine-

- kimono style infant t-shirts for newborns (so you don’t have to struggle trying to fit the onesie over a floppy head)
- vaseline
- diaper rash cream
- infant tylenol
- stacking cups
- infant bath tub that fits in the kitchen sink
- if space is not an issue, an infant swing
- pack-n-play
- “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child” book by Marc Weissbluth
- any type of teething toy (can be used for boo-boos later)
- playmat
- infant carrier


Waste for me:
- diaper genie (doesn’t hold as much and easier to discard diapers in the trash directly at our house)
- baby monitor (everything echoes in our house)

Donna From Costa Mesa-

I agree with Mindy’s list and would add Ocean Wonders
Rainforest sound/soother.  It attaches to crib and
plays music (on a timer) and other soothing sounds and
baby won’t mind going to bed!

Erin From Anaheim-

One thing I couldn’t have lived with out when they were infants was the rear mirror so I could see them when rear facing.

Must Haves Mostly from Valerie. a few added by Megan

A Big Waste

Special addition - Toddler must haves

This is the first half of our conversation on a survival kit for new parents. We go through the comments left on Paul Fischer’s blog asking What do you really need for a “newborn starter kit”? As always, we talk a lot. So in this episode we hit the highlights of the comments made on his post, adding our own opinions along the way. In the second half (episode 6) we talk about the responses we received when we posed the question to our mommy group.
Below are links not mentioned on Paul’s blog but were brought up in our discussion.
Paul Fischer on twitter ADD Cast
Balticon Podcast
LD Podcast.com A podcast on Learning Disabilities
Halo Sleep Sack and Swaddle sack
Medela Breast Pump
Avent Hand Pump
How to make a Maya Wrap
Thanks to George Hrab for the into and outro music and to Gregory Lemon for our Voice overs.

This week Erin, Megan and Valerie talk about the various issues involved in getting kids to eat. For the most part we all agree that it’s OK to let a kid miss a meal but it’s not always that simple.

• Don’t be a short order cook
• Parenting and Kids
• Chasing them down to get food into them???No Way!
• Promo A Gardeners Notebook
• Stay at the table until everyone is done eating
• Restaurant trained kids so Parents don’t have to be trained to go to kid restaurants all the time.
• Ask to be excused from the table
• No snacks later if you don’t eat meals
• Promo: Pizza Go Here
• No Clean Plate Club and keep portion size down
• Kids Health
• Nipple Confusion in reverse
• Rejecting Solid Foods
• Less than zero Percentile in weight
• Occupational Therapist A/K/A My Hero
• Let toddlers help make the meal
• Let them have flavor! (If they want it)
• Dealing with gaging toddlers
• Sarahs Cucina BellaHonest Baby
• Feedback from Nobilis

Contact info: MeanMommiesClub@gmail.com or tweet us @MeanMommiesClub

Call in Line 714-855-2501

We are three moms who love our kids enough to know that sometimes you have to be a mean mo

m. Each week we discuss the things that come up in our adventures of raising kids.

Primary topic this episode is keeping kids (and parents) happy and healthy during visits to summer time amusement parks. This is part 2 of 2.

Email feedback from Nobilis

• Findng a calm place for down time at the park

• • Guest Relations
  • First Aid center
  • Online site for the park
    

• • Parent trade off so one parent can rest
  • Shows as rest time
  • pre-planning
    
  • Fan Websites for the park
  • Employees of the park

• Watch for sensory overload
• Don’t threaten to leave if you don’t plan to make good on it.
• Tweens (10-12)
• Teens *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scylla_and_Charybdis

From my (Megan) time spent working at day camps I found the following to be useful for kids between 5-10 whether they are yours or not.

I take them to a central location, The Walt and Micky statue at the center hub of Disneyland for example. Then give them a talk with the following highlights.

1. There are 6 of you and 1 of me so it is your responsibility to know where I am not the other way around. I’m not abdicating responsibility for watching them, just making them feel some of the responsibility.
2. If you get lost, DON’T STRESS! Stay where you are for 5 minutes. we will notice you are gone and go back to where we last saw you.
3. If we don’t return in the 5minutes come back to this meeting spot if you can. If you can’t then find an employee and tell them you are supposed to meet your leader (parent) at the _______________. The employee may wan to take you to a lost kid center and that is fine too. I will find you and we won’t leave without you.
4. All purchases will be made after lunch.

• Spray bottle

Check in with Guest relations if you or your kids have any special needs.

Special thanks to George Hrab for our intro and outro music and to Gregory Lemon for his voice over tallents.

Stuff we missed in the last episode

Keeping kids happy and healthy at amusement parks.
TWITTER Answers:

Nobilis

gregorylemon

comedy4cast

Dayngr

http://www.safetytat.com/

Thanks to:

• Jason Tucker http://www.tuckertales.com/
• Douglas E. Welch http://welchwrite.com/
• Chris Moody http://steampod.org/
• Gregory Lemon http://www.GregoryLemon.com/

Voice Mail feedback

Site Comments.

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1. Introductions: Megan, Valerie and Erin
2. Discussion of our motto
   We are mean mommies because…
   
   We don’t give in to temper tantrums.
   We make you eat healthy food.
   We are ruthless with time outs.
   
   We are mean mommies because…
   
   We are not raising kids,
   We are raising responsible adults.
   
   
3. The Rules for ourselves on the show - don’t dis hubby’s or friends, above all respect! This isn’t a complaint session it’s a discussion.
4. We love the Mean Daddies
5. Megan’s encounter with Target employee during a time out.
6. Does “crying it out” cause Brain Damage?
   Dr. Mike at Pediacast
7. Major thanks to the following for helping Megan with her techtard questions. This show could not have been posted with out the help of the following people:
   Jason Tucker

   Douglas E. Welch

   Chris Moody

8. Also thanks to Megan’s husband Craig for recording our contact information.