Milk and Cookies
with Linda and Kristen
Milk and Cookies is a savory web venue for cool products, useful tips, and idea-sharing, prepared especially for busy moms like you. From the must-haves to avoid-at-all-costs, we're dishing out tools for a delicious life balance.
Visit Linda's fitness site at Bodies in Motivation and check out Kristen's blog at Swistle.blogspot.com
Evening routines: what helps get us through?
Categories: Baby gear, Big kid gear, Books, Toddler gear, Toys
First, a quick shout-out to all of you who gave me ideas and atta-girl you-can-do-it comments about traveling with my preschooler—everything worked out perfectly, and we had an absolutely wonderful time. Thank you so much!
Today I’d like to talk about evening routines, and what sorts of things help mitigate the chaos. As a quick primer to my thrilling home life, we have two boys: a 3.5 year old and a 15-month-old. Here’s our typical end-of-day routine, along with the items I’ve come to rely on:
6 PM or so: DINNERTIME
Take & Toss cups/bowls. I wish there was some great product that magically made dinnertimes easier, like somehow ensured both my kids actually ATE something with nutritional value instead of smearing crap all over the place (the baby) and refusing everything but peanut butter crackers (the preschooler), but these plastic cups and bowls have long been a staple in our house. They’re great for storing/serving snacks, they’re spillproof, they last forever despite their “disposable” description, they’re BPA-free if you care about that, and they stack nicely so they don’t take up a ton of room.
6:30 PM - 7:15 PM: WITCHING HOUR
Oball. Oh, you know the witching hour, right? When it’s too early for bed and dinner’s over with and the kids are just sort of craaaaaaaazy and your husband insists on trying to watch the news? Well, there’s no one toy that keeps my boys entertained during this vein-bulging time of day, but they are both obsessed with balls and will chase this Oball all over the house for entire minutes, at least until someone bonks their head on a table or something and starts screaming. Every kid needs an Oball, they’re perfect for little hands and it doesn’t hurt to get smacked in the face with one.
I also recommend putting on music and dancing during the witching hour, especially if the kids have driven you up a wall and you’re about to go nuclear. It’s a stress reliever and the sight of a toddler shaking their tiny butt never fails to diffuse frustration. A current favorite in our house is Fatboy Slim’s “Wonderful Night”, which is especially awesome if you and your kids watch this video together.
7:15-7:45 BATHTIME
Dr. Bronner’s soap. I love the Dr. Bronner brand because they’re all natural, they smell good, and of course the bottle is pretty entertaining reading. I’m not really a rabid consumer of organic personal-care stuff but there’s been some creepy news lately about kids’ bath products containing formaldehyde, so . . . you know, there’s that. Dr. Bronner contains natural oils and fragrances (not GHB!) and the company is really kind of fascinating. Did you know the founder was institutionalized in an insane asylum in 1945, undertook shock treatment, and escaped before creating his soap company three years later? Kind of explains a bit about the kooky stuff on the label.
7:45 BEDTIME FOR THE TODDLER
Carter’s “Super Comfy” Pajamas. I can’t seem to find these exact pajamas online, but they’re really soft fleece footie pj’s with no-slip feet. They’ve been great for cool nights and they make Dylan all snuggly and extra-nommy.
8:30 BEDTIME FOR THE PRESCHOOLER
The Going to Bed Book. This has been one of my favorite books to read to Riley at night. It’s really short, so now that he’s older I’ll often read something else first, but we like to turn each page and say the words together. I love the soothing bit at the end:
The moon is high. The sea is deep.
They rock
and rock
and rock
to sleep.
Okay, tell me about evenings in your house! What sorts of things are a part of your routine?
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OH, the witching hour. We’ve been getting good mileage out of these stacking buckets for our 1.5 yr old. She will stack those things for MINUTES, like your Oball. LOL.
As for process, we’ve finally figured out that BOTH of us parents can’t be toodling around the kitchen. One person cooks, and the other focuses on the kids. Same goes for dishes-washing time.
Our must-have books are one called Goodnight Baby, by iBaby books — it has little animal cards attached to ribbons that you slide into a “bed” on the page - the toddler loves it - and for the 4yo, any book will do but lately he’s actually been interested in the Beatrix Potter series! Peter Rabbit and all 22 of his friends. Kind-of amazing since the language is older, British-ized, and NOT SIMPLE, but I think it tires him out to try to decipher it. Works for me!
Lee | May 13th, 2009 at 11:46 am
The o-ball is my 8-month-old son’s favorite toy by far. He carries it with him everywhere (even has to have it with him when he is cruising around the furniture). He also uses it to beat on his soccer balls. Best $4 I ever spent. I saw a giant o-ball at Toys R Us the other day and was tempted to buy it. But how many balls does a baby really need?
Steph | May 13th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
I’m so fascinated by Dr. Bronner’s–it appears you can use it for EVERYTHING. Curious, though. Do you use it for both body wash and shampoo for the boys?
My best tip (though not applicable to everyone) is that on the days I’m home (I work 2.5 days a week) I prep dinner while Lucas is down for a nap/quiet time. I get everything as ready as possible so it just has to go in the oven or be heated up at dinner time.
aimee | May 13th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
We LOVE The Going to Bed Book. Usually while dinner is being made out 18 mo will run around with the swiffer. Right now that saves us when a hunger induced meltdown is getting ready to occur.
Becky | May 13th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Oh, how we love the Carter’s footed pj’s. We stock up whenever we go to Seattle. (No, they don’t sell Carter’s in Canada. BOO.)
Angella | May 13th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I have a five-year old and a nine-year old. Sound easy? No. The 5-year old needs to be “put to bed” and the 9-year old likes attention from me as well. My husband is always home late so it is mostly up to me. Generally, I get the 9-year old reading in her bed while I read to the younger one. Once the 5-year old is settled, I go and spend some time in bed with the older one. Sometimes we read side by side, or just talk. It is never an easy time of the day. During the lag between dinner and bed we go outside now that the weather is nicer and the kids go scootering around. I do allow TV as well since they are at school all day and I think it’s ok for them to have a break.
Liann | May 13th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
The Boy is 16 months old and has become obsessed with balls and baseball, so since baseball season started, he spends the last half-hour or so before bed watching ball with daddy or flipping through a baseball book. We also play ball if a game isn’t on. Walks help, too.
I’m on my own, usually, to fix dinner and have learned that The Boy does better if he thinks he’s helping me or cooking his own meal. I give him bowls and spoons and throw in some water or some things I don’t mind if he eats and let him “cook.”
Hillary | May 13th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
“…and your husband insists on trying to watch the news? Well, there’s no one toy that keeps my boys entertained during this vein-bulging time of day,…”
It’s amazing how you think you/your husband/kids/family are the only one who has this dumb thing going on and you get smacked in the face with shock when someone else mentions that same thing. I keep telling him they replay it at 11:00 and uh, there’s multiple 24 hour news channels. I think is his version of a temper tantrum. And oh, my god will you stop turning up the volume. The kids will just get LOUDER and continue to drown it out.
Dawn | May 13th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Now that the weather is nicer I use that after dinner “high whine potential” time to go outside. We write with chalk on the sidewalk or just go for a quick walk around the block. She loves it and honestly it keeps me focused on her, which she loves to. When I’m inside just home from work I can’t help but get distracted with things like laundry or checking email.
christine | May 14th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
About the formaldehyde, I’m seriously allergic to the stuff and have to avoid it at kindof all costs. It’s in everything, lotions, potions, soaps, shampoos… look for an ingredient list that does NOT contain DMDM Hydantonin and you’re off to a good start. It doesn’t bother most people, but the ones that have the allergy have a VERY rough time when they do bump into it eventually.
For your family, since nobody’s all hives-ey (right?), if you find the stuff you use does have the DMDM Hydantonin in there, just finish up what you have and look for something without it when you need to replace. Aussie has lots of options and they’re often dead cheap. Also we LOVE Jason soaps for the same reason. (Method soaps are also great for bathroom sink duty)
KJ | May 14th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
When it’s cold or rainy out, The Witching Hour is spent playing with our 13-month old in her room - knocking down towers of blocks; picking out notes on her baby piano (with light up keys!); “Reading” picture books (mostly, she reads to me) and my favorite - playing hidey-go-sneak. Her favorite spot is behind her recliner, so I’ll chase her back there and play a modified version of peek-a-boo. There have been nights when this activity alone has occupied almost the entire Witching Hour.
When it’s nice and not rainy, I take her for an after-dinner walk. Becausew she has to stop and touch, pick up or examine EVERYTHING, this activity sometimes extends beyond bathtime! I never realized hat walking one or two blocks could take sooo long, but it’s worth it, especially when half of the time is taken up waiting for her to stop dancing to the music in her head (she’ll just stop walking and bust out some baby butt shaking for no apparent reason. My favorite!) so we can walk on.
Phe | May 15th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
With 3 kids now I have found that a schedule (in stone!) is what keeps us sane.
6pm- 5 yr old takes a shower, 11 yr old eats and 2 yr old likes eating with him
7pm- 11 yr old showers, 5 yr old eats, grown ups wrap up cooking dinner and sit down to eat if we have not already
8pm- 5 yr old goes to bed, 11 yr old goes to spare room to read
8:30 - 2 yr old to sleep, 11 yr old to his bed
- - - if the planets allign just right all 3 kids are in bed and asleep by 9, 9:30 at the latest.
Sounds harder than it is. Now that the 5 yr old can tell time I have 2 clock watchers who implement the schedule.
PS: Amen sister! Why do dads not understand pausing the tv until the kids are quiet = no tv at all and/or turning up the volume does not help.
Deanna | May 17th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Lately it’s any single book we have in the house. Theo is suddenly obsessed with books, namely his truck, train and plane books. “Where is Baby’s Belly Button” is another favorite too. He also likes to play with the LeapFrom fridge magnets before bath time.
Oh, and we use Burt’s Bees bath gel and diaper cream and he smells so yummy I can’t even contain myself. The snuggle factor shoots through the roof.
samantha jo campen | May 19th, 2009 at 1:55 am
My routine starts runs about an hour earlier than yours, but its pretty similar. And I agree that those First Years dishes are great. They’re cheap enough that if we bring them with us to restaurants and lose them it’s not a big deal, but they really last. We still have dishes from when Gabe (who is about the same age as your oldest) was a baby.
I’m with you on the whole not eating thing. Gabe will eat if it falls within a small list of 4 or 5 items. Last night it was noodles with butter, strawberries, and a PB&J. Nick (who is about a month younger than your baby) proceeded to throw as much of his food as he could on the floor while occasionally eating a bite here and there. Afterwards he wanted snacks and to eat what my husband and I were eating.
Dinner is followed by “free time”, which usually involves the boys driving me up the wall. Somehow they manage to spend this time making as big a mess with their toys as possible. However, we’re big fans of the Quatro Legos (http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-4292754-Quatro-Bucket/dp/B0001A869G), which are still a hit with my preschooler. He can build towers to the ceiling.
Bathtime involves Gentle Naturals Eczema Body Wash (http://www.gentlenaturals.com/) and sometimes bubbles and colors. Bedtime usually involves three books, unless one of the stories is really long. Gabe gets two and Nick gets one. Right now Gabe is hooked on the Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day and Nick wants anything with touch and feel or dogs.
Cookie | May 19th, 2009 at 10:57 am