Tag: Mom Blog

Books, Children's books

If Animals Went To School | Book Review

“An adorable children’s book that can help with the first day of school butterflies.”

– Momma Braga

Synopsis

If animals went to school…what would they do?

Beaver would practice counting with sticks. Goat would snack on the storybooks. And at recess, Goose would glide down Giraffe’s neck slide!

Across the animal kingdom, every creature would learn, play, and make new friends.

#MelAndNikkiReview

If Animals Went To School is absolutely adorable in every way! The story is great for the little ones who may be embarking on their very first day of school.

We take a journey through a day of school through the eyes of the animal kingdom and I truly love the concept! Who doesn’t like seeing animals in the classroom?!

 

The illustrations are beautifully done with a story to match. It is creative and one that a child can relate, especially if they are nervous for school. By the end, even Beaver enjoys his day and doesn’t want to go back home. That means school was a success. It makes it a great example for little ones.

Therefore, for this #MelAndNikkiReview, we give this book 10 stars out of 5! It is recommended for children ages two to six and we know your little will love it. 🙂

If you would like to purchase a copy, please click here.

About the Author and Illustrated

Ann Whitford Paul and David Walker collaborated on If Animals Kissed Good Night, which School Library Journal called “a charming bedtime book,” If Animals Said I Love You, and If Animals Celebrated Christmas. 

Ann lives in Los Angeles, California. David lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Learn more about Ann at annwhitfordpaul.com and about David at davidwalkerstudios.com.

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

*This book was provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own.

 

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Reviews, Toys

Kidizoom Pixi Is The Fun Way To Take Selfies For Kids

If your child is anything like mine, then they are probably trying to get a hold of your phone to take selfies (or it could just be mine). Either way, we have just been introduced to an amazing new product by VTech Toys and we just HAVE to share it with all of you!

Introducing, Kidizoom Pixi, a compact camera that allows you to take super-fun selfies and pictures of friends. The flip-top lid makes it easy to take pictures with one hand. Kids can customize their look with face and hair filters or add fun and silly photo effects (50+)! The camera comes with five games including Master Chef, Animal Connect 4 and a magic augmented reality game. Of course there are parental controls that allow adults to turn off games and set time limits.

This kid-sized take-along camera helps little photographers see their world in a whole new way.

Product Highlights

  • Compact-sized camera with a flip-top lid makes one-handed picture-taking easy! Stylish, light and small enough to fit in your bag or backpack
  • Little photographers can take selfies and photos of friends, then stylize them with fun filters or add silly photo effects
  • Comes with five games including Master Chef, Animal Connect 4 and a magic augmented-reality game
  • Intended for ages 4-9 years. Rechargeable battery and USB charging cable included. MicroSD card slot for expandable memory up to 32 GB
  • Parental controls allow adults to turn off games and set time limits

#MelAndNikkiReview

Kidizoom Pixi has been a great hit in our home and it is very evident as I scan through all the selfies that Nikki has taken of herself. Not to mention the ones that she has taken of us without us even noticing (those are the funniest to see). Nikki is a natural and of course she knew exactly what to do as soon as she had the Kidizoom Pixi in her hands. I on the other hand, needed to read the pamphlet that comes with the product to understand how everything works. 😉

We love how compact, kid-friendly and safe it is. Also love the parental control options available on the Kidizoom Pixi!!! It amazes me to see how much one can do on such a small device and it provides some super-fun entertainment for children. We highly recommend this product for children ages four to nine and especially if your child loves taking photos! You can even transfer the photos as keepsakes. Can’t wait to show Nikki all the selfies she took when she was five years old. 🙂

“I love taking my own pictures and it is so cute and small!” – Nikki, Age 5

If you would like to purchase your very own, click here. This product will definitely be a hot item on anyone’s wish list. 😉

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

*The product was provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own.

Books, Children's books

Why? | Book Review

“Why? Why? Why? asks Rabbit. Bear answers patiently…except sometimes, Bear just doesn’t know why.”

Synopsis

Bear just wants to water his flowers, but Rabbit needs to know: why? Bear is looking forward to a peaceful night of stargazing, but all Rabbit cares about is: why?

As the two friends spend time together through spring, summer, and into fall, Rabbit persistently and simply asks Bear why, encouraging the readers to figure out for themselves the reason for each question that Bear patiently answers, over and over again…until there’s a question that he has no answer for.

#MelAndNikkiReview

Why? is a beautifully illustrated story that many parents can relate as we all have gone through the Why stage with our child(ren). We currently still are in the “Why” stage as it has made a comeback. Therefore, we couldn’t help but fall in love with this children’s book.

Simply written with such an impactful message at the end. You and your child will love it from beginning to end. We know we sure did and Nikki loved saying “Why” throughout the whole book. 😉 If you are looking for a feel good read, then look no further. Why? is an adorable book that will have your child asking why all the way through and they will quickly learn that sometimes you don’t always have the answer for all the whys. I know I sure don’t and it was nice to see that I wasn’t the only one. 🙂

For this #MelAndNikkiReview, we give Why? 5 stars out of 5! Why do you ask? 😉 The illustrations are breathtaking and the story is simple and engaging with big emotional impact. Plus, who doesn’t like bears and rabbits?! This book is recommended for children ages four to eight.

If you would like to purchase a copy, click here.

About the Author

Laura Vaccaro Seeger is the author and illustrator of nearly two dozen acclaimed picture books, including the popular Dog and Bear series, the first of which won the Boston Globe Horn Book Medal. She has been awarded a Caldecott Honor twice, for First the Egg and again for Green, and a Geisel Honor twice, for First the Egg and One Boy. Blue, her companion to Green, has received four starred reviews. She lives in Rockville Center, New York with her husband and two sons.

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

*The book was provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own.

Books, Children's books

My Grandma and Me | Book Review

“In this big universe full of many moons, I have traveled and seen many wonders, but I have never loved anything or anyone the way I love my grandma.”

Synopsis

When Mina is growing up in Iran, the center of her world is her grandmother. Whether visiting friends next door, going to the mosque for midnight prayers during Ramadan, or taking an imaginary trip around the planets, Mina and her grandma are never far apart.

This autobiographical story is at once deeply personal and genuinely universal. And it is a gorgeous celebration of the way love can be more powerful than the constraints of time and space.

#MelAndNikkiReview

My Grandma and Me is the perfect ode to a grandmother’s love. This book touched my heart as it reminded me of the special bond that I had with my grandmother growing up and how much I cherished the little time we had with one another since an ocean kept us apart. It was such a great reminder through this beautiful story of one young girl and her grandmother. I also love the diversity in the book and how two different religions are so similar in so many ways. The kindness, heart and love in this children’s book is absolutely beautiful and illustrations are breathtaking.

Therefore, for this #MelAndNikkiReview we give this book, 5 hearts out of 5! Want to give a special thank you to the author Mina for sharing such a beautiful personal story and for touching my heart with her grandma’s love. I have mentioned it before on my blog that if you still have grandparents, cherish them as they are such special people.

If you would like to purchase My Grandma and Me, please click here.

About the Author

Mina Javaherbin has written several award-winning picture books, including Soccer Star, illustrated by Renato Alarcao, and Goal!, illustrated by A.G. Ford. She lives in Southern California.

About the Illustrator

Lindsey Yankey studied illustration at the University of Kansas and is the author-illustrator of Bluebird and Sun and Moon. She lives in Lawrence, Kansas.

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

*The book was provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own.

Reviews, Toys

Story Time Got More Enchanting With LeapStory™

We love story time as it is the time that we can all wind down for the day. It is especially nice after a long and busy day. Could bedtime get any better than spending time with your little one and reading a story? Yes it can!

We are delighted to introduce our readers to LeapStory™ by LeapFrog®, which turns any time into story time! It develops children’s listening comprehension skills by letting them hear stories read to them, whenever they want. While the narrator reads the story, you can watch Scout’s reactions as images and animations are projected onto the wall or ceiling. You can listen to content from four categories such as classic stories and poems; myths, legends and fables; sleepy-time stories; and songs.

Image Source: LeapFrog

Now it was time to put LeapStory™ to the test and give it a try.

#MelAndNikkiReview

LeapStory™ made an leap right from day one into Nikki’s heart! Once Nikki gave me a chance to see the product for myself, I couldn’t help but fall in love with it as a parent. I just love the whole concept behind LeapStory™.

Here are eight reasons why we love LeapStory™ by LeapFrog®:

Storytelling Cube

The cube shape is intriguing and very appealing to little ones. Nikki loves holding it in her hands and taking it to every room (including the backyard) that she goes. We love the option to take it where you go and at the same time it offers the classic stories, myths, legends and fables read aloud. Perfect combo!

Record a Story

Who doesn’t like recording a story, especially your very own! You can record your own voice reading your child’s favorite story or in our case one that Nikki has made up. It makes the story more personal and even more enjoyable for your child to hear mom or dad’s voices coming from LeapStory™.

Classic stories kids love

Growing up I loved the classic stories such as: The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, The Gingerbread Man and Beauty and the Beast. Now your child can listen to those and so much more with LeapStory™. Listening to the classic stories with my daughter felt a little magical and a trip down memory lane as I recalled childhood. You can never go wrong with the classic stories.

Daytime Stories

Story time can literally be anytime and it does not need to be associated with going to sleep. Reading should always be encouraged to inspire young minds and we love how LeapStory™ does just that. Your child can turn it on at any time to hear the stories. As a parent with two busy jobs, it is comforting to know that if my daughter wants to hear a story, she can do it on her own and listen to the magic.

Projector

Did we mention that there is a projector?! I think I might have been more excited about the projector than Nikki was but as soon as she figured out what it can do, she was very much intrigued. Images and animations are projected onto the ceiling for enhanced storytelling which had us all admiring our new storytelling cube!

Full Content Included

There is lots of content (80+) included which can provide hours of entertainment; however, you can download so much more at no cost! Impressive?! Yes it is!

Sleepy-time Stories

The LeapStory™ has an option where your child can fall asleep to stories with a nightlight and a shut-off timer. I absolutely love this option as it can make my escape to my room much more easier. 😉

Skills Learned

Of course we can not forget the skills that can be learned with LeapStory™ which are:

  • Storytelling
  • Vocabulary
  • Listening Comprehension
  • Classic Stories
  • Myths
  • Legends and Fables
  • Poems
  • Songs
  • Relaxation Techniques

“With expressive reading and fun sound effects, LeapStory™ is designed to help children recognize that hearing stories read aloud is a pleasurable activity. Listening to stories develops listening comprehension and builds vocabulary by helping children learn new words and hear how they are pronounced.” Carolyn James, PhD, LeapFrog® Literacy Expert

There you have it! Eight reasons why we love LeapStory™ and we know your child will love it too! Now Nikki wants to make sure you all know that if you push Scout’s head, he tells jokes. Nikki loves that and giggles every time she hears one. My ultimate favorite is the relaxation piece (9 in the Sleepytime Lullabies and Stories) as adults can benefit greatly from it after a hectic work day. I know it has helped me relax! 🙂

“What key do you use to open up a banana? A monkey”

Therefore, it is no surprise that for this #MelAndNikkiReview, LeapStory™ gets a 10 stars out of 5! Also don’t feel bad if your child figures out how to use all the options before you do. It was made for them and when they are excited they do figure it all out quickly. I know that was the case for us and I am proud that Nikki learned so quickly and taught me how to use it. 🙂

If you would like to purchase one for your little one, click here. Intended for children ages three to eight.

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

*This product was provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own and no other compensation was provided.

 

Books, Children's books

Dino Does Yoga | Book Review

“Dino brings yoga to the hearts of children in this adorable children’s book.” – Momma Braga

Synopsis

Newly hatched T-Rex Baby Dino wants to explore his world. Taking his cues from the prehistoric landscape around him – a mountain, a pool, a swaying palm, dragonflies, and pterodactyls – he moves through 14 easy-to-do yoga poses until deciding it’s time for a rest in Relaxation Pose.

#MelAndNikkiReview

Dino Does Yoga is an adorable children’s book that uses rhyming to delight young readers on the world of yoga. The beautiful aspect of rhyming is how easy it makes it for children (and adults) to remember the poses. It promotes healthy family activities which we love and it was great to learn about the different poses. It can be very relaxing as we gave each pose a try. I have to admit that Nikki was much better at yoga than I was. 😉

We love how the book promotes healthy living and showing the calming effects of yoga. Such a positive message to have in a children’s book. Therefore, for this #MelAndNikkiReview, we give Dino Does Yoga 5 dinosaurs out of 5! Combining dinosaurs and yoga is excellent as it will intrigue many children who love both. We truly enjoyed reading and learning from beginning to end.

“Yoga is very relaxing and fun!” – Nikki, Age 5

If you would like to purchase this children’s book for the dinosaur and yoga enthusiast, click here.

About The Author

Sofie Engstrom Von Alten is an illustrator and yoga instructor. Born and raised on the beautiful West Coast in San Francisco, California, Sofie grew up bilingual. Exploring the world through art, yoga, and travel has always held her greatest fascination. After visiting more than fifty countries, Sofie studied yoga nestled in the Indian Himalayas with the masters. Upon returning to the West, she found yoga to be a wonderful tool for teaching kids – both in the classroom and under a tree. Sofie continues to create hyperkitsch illustrations and teach yoga to children and adults.

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

*This book was provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our very own.

Parents

3 Ways to Save on Family Spends

We all know that having children can be expensive! The thing is, these kids, they just keep on growing so they need new clothes, they switch their interests, they move onto different toys and books and they like to get out and about. This is without even factoring in the roof over their heads and food in their tummies. This being the case, we are often looking at ways to reduce costs, so we thought that today we would share 3 ways to save on family spends.

Reduce the entertainment budget

There are so many things that you can do with your children that don’t cost the earth. You might take them out exploring in the great outdoors, taking a picnic with you and embarking on a nature hunt. Or perhaps you will make it even more exciting and get out there at night time, under the stars with a campfire and a little star gazing. Adventures outside are often either free or inexpensive and they will probably form the very best childhood memories.

If the weather isn’t being kind to you, then you could go to the library, build a den with sheets and cushions, have friends over to play, snuggle down with a movie afternoon (complete with popcorn, of course) or get a crafting and junk modelling session on the go.

Image Pixabay

Reduce the clothes budget

Whether you are looking to buy girls swimwear, active wear or casual winter clothes, try to buy out of season.

Plan ahead with your children’s wardrobes and always buy the clothes sizes that they will move into the following year, this year. By doing it this way, you will buy their summer wear at the end of the summer when it is all reduced, ready for next year, and the same with winter.

You can also arrange to pass clothes on between friends, which is the perfect arrangement as you won’t ever feel like any of the clothes are going to waste when your children have grown out of them.

Reduce the gifts budget

Your children are likely to get invited to children’s parties, seemingly all of the time when they first start going to school. Which means that you will find yourself trying to buy cards and gifts practically every other week. In this case, when you see a brilliant toy sale on, grab a few appropriate gifts. Aim to buy things that you feel will make lovely presents, but will have cost you a fraction of the normal price. Set them aside, ready for that party invite to come through.

It can be trickier to do this with your own children’s gifts as they often change their minds over the specific items that they want over the course of a few months, sometimes over the course of a day! The best way to tackle this is to buy them their smaller items as and when you see great deals on, and then save a portion of your budget for that main gift or two that they will have their hearts set on.

 

Books, Children's books

Don’t Drink The Pink | Book Review

“Don’t Drink the Pink is a children’s book full of imagination, heart and a story that can resonate with a child and adults alike.” – Momma Braga

Synopsis

Madeline adores her Grandpa Gilderberry – she always has. To everyone else he might seem a bit strange – an eccentric inventor – perhaps even a little mad. Yet Madeline knows that these are his very best qualities.

One of Grandpa Gilderberry’s most secret inventions is his box of potions which he delights in giving to Madeline each year on her birthday. Each potion conveys an unexpected and magical experience for Madeline. Year after year, Madeline selects a new potion with exciting results, however each time she reaches for her enchanted birthday present, her grandfather reminds her of only one rule – ‘don’t drink the pink’.

Exploring the special relationship between a grandfather and his grandchild, the potions in Don’t Drink the Pink provide an apt metaphor for each magical moment. Yet with birthdays comes aging and this tale doesn’t stay away from what this means for both the young girl and her lovable grandpa.

#MelAndNikkiReview

We love reading books and we have come across many that we have just adored. However, we couldn’t say that we had a favorite author until now. We have read two books (The Day That A Ran Away and Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32) written by B.C.R Fegan and we loved them to bits! This is why we were delighted to have the opportunity to read his latest one, Don’t Drink the Pink. 

B.C.R. Fegan has done it again with another amazing children’s book! Since we are three for three, he has become our favorite children’s author. So why do we love it?

The story is captivating and the illustrations bring the story to life. The rhyming in the book makes it so fun to read and by the end of reading the book the first time, Nikki had a lot of the story memorized. Therefore, it was a book request every since and Nikki happily reads along which helps her practice her reading skills.

“Happy birthday Madeline,” he said with a wink.
“Take a potion, take a brew.
Just don’t drink the pink.”

I love how it touches upon the aging process and how at the end we do lose our loved ones. It is always a tough topic to discuss; however, B.C.R. Fegan beautifully touches upon it with delicacy. This is why this book will become a new family favorite of ours.

For this #MelAndNikkiReview, we give Don’t Drink the Pink 10 stars out of 5! It’s a children’s book full of imagination, heart and a story that can resonate with a child and adults alike. The book recommendation is for children three to eight years of age. I am definitely not in that age range but I truly loved it and would read it again (even if my daughter doesn’t request it). 😉 

This would especially be great as a birthday gift and it came right in time as we celebrate Nikki’s 5th birthday! I know this will be a book that Nikki will treasure.

If you would like to purchase your own copy of this amazing book, click here.

About the Author

B.C.R. Fegan is a multi-award-winning author who has written a number of fairy tales and fantasies for children and young adults. He is inspired by stories that resonate deeply with our desire for adventure, yearning for magic and search for meaning. When Fegan is not writing children’s books, he is forging worlds in the realm of Young Adult Fiction.

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

 

*This book was provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are our own.

 

Motherhood

The Mama Coach: Making Motherhood Easier

Motherhood is no walk in the park and any new mom past or present can agree to that. There is so much to learn and do that sometimes you feel that your village may not even be enough.

Well, we have just discovered an amazing place that offers that support that many new moms may need and that is The Mama Coach in Toronto.

The Mama Coach is a team of Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners who are committed to making motherhood easier. Their programs are based on science, empathy, and support. It is that extra village that every new mom should have by her side.

We got to interview Yvonne who leads the Mama Coach in Toronto to get more info on this prestigious organization.

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

My name is Yvonne Chan and I am the owner of The Mama Coach in Toronto. I am a prenatal educator, sleep consultant, lactation counselor, HSF certified CPR instructor, a Registered Nurse and a mom of two happy little ones!

I love staying active by playing in various sports, traveling the world with my family, and raising my kids to be kind and happy people.

Tell me a little about the Mama Coach. Why did you start it?

I love teaching, helping others, and have always wanted to be an entrepreneur. Becoming a Mama Coach gives me a unique opportunity that allows me to do something I am really passionate about: helping new moms be the best they can be while leveraging my nursing degree and experience as a mom. Additionally, being a business owner allows me the flexibility to optimize my work and family life.

There are so many reasons I wanted to bring The Mama Coach to Toronto. The thing that excites me the most about being a Mama Coach is being part of a group that is the best of the best in the field. I found my values and way of thinking aligned very accurately with the philosophy of the Founder of The Mama Coach, Carrie Bruno. The Mama Coach is a nationwide group of Registered Nurses who work independently with families to provide support through education. Our mission is to make motherhood easier!

Could you provide a quick breakdown of some of the services you offer?

We offer sleep consultation packages, lactation support packages, prenatal classes, and CPR workshops and certification classes. All services are done in the privacy of your home! We come to you!

More than sleep packages include:

  • 1.5 hours of in-home visit by a Registered Nurse with a complete head to toe assessment on baby to make sure there is no underlying medical issue that is affecting sleep or feeds. All visits also include feeding assessment (breast feeding, bottle feeling, or solid foods feeding).
  • Customized sleep plan.
  • Unlimited support from a Registered Nurse for two weeks from the day the sleep plan is implemented. You will have an RN available daily to answer any questions and to provide guidance via email and 4 scheduled phone calls throughout the two weeks.
  • The Mama Coach eBook for sleep.
  • Add on services: Bedtime support (3 hours in person support at bedtime), a half-night support (in person support from bedtime to midnight), full night support (bedtime to 7 am).

Lactation and feeding support packages include:

  • 1 in home visit and 1 week of unlimited email support.
  • The Mama Coach eBook on feeding

Infant and Child CPR and Choking workshops include:

  • 60 to 80 minutes in-home CPR and Choking workshop.
  • The Mama Coach eBook on Infant and Child CPR and safety.

Prenatal classes include:

  • 3 hours in-home session.
  • Email support until birth.
  • The Mama Coach prenatal guide.
  • Add-on: Total Support Package (1 postpartum in-home visit and 1 in-home visit at 5 weeks, 8 phone calls and 8 weeks of email support after birth).

Everyone says that some babies are just bad sleepers. Is that a myth? How can a parent really know that there might be a sleeping problem?

I believe that is a myth because sleep is a learned skill. We can’t just lay our babies down and expect them to know what to do. Parents can “teach” babies how to sleep with our gentle programs and guide them in learning a healthy life skill.

We believe that a baby’s sleep patterns are not a problem unless it’s a problem for you. We have a no judgement zone at The Mama Coach.

We love how your services are tailored to each specific child as we all know each child is different. Are there any general tips you can offer to parents who are struggling to get their child to sleep through the night?

The Mama Coach 5 Sleep Tips eBook has some general tips to parents who are struggling to get their child to sleep.

  • Sleep environment: Melatonin plays a key role in keeping our babies asleep and a dark sleep environment leads to more production of this amazing hormone.
  • Awake times:
    1. Birth to 10 weeks (45 – 60 mins)
    2. 11 weeks to 3.5 months (2 – 2.5 hrs) – 4 to 5 naps
    3. 5 to 5 months (2 – 2.5 hrs) – 4 naps
    4. 5 to 7 months (2.5 – 3 hrs) – 3 naps
    5. 8 to 13 months (3 – 4 hrs) – 2 naps
    6. 14 months to 3 years (4 – 5 hrs) – 1 nap
  • The golden ticket always lies with bedtime. Night sleep and day sleep are governed by different parts of your babies’ brain. Create a consistent bedtime routine.
  • Eliminating sleep props for night wake-ups: infants and children rouse on average four to six times per night, with brief awakenings at the end of each sleep cycle. Teaching babies to fall back to sleep on their own without a sleep prop they will be able to fall right into their next stage of sleep.
  • Milestones and regressions: Developmental milestones can interfere with sleep. We recommend lots of skill practice during non-sleep times.

Send me an email at yvonne@themamamcoach.ca to get your FREE copy of The Mama Coach 5 sleep tips eBook!

Since you have started The Mama Coach what has been your most memorable success story?

I find everyone of my client’s success story to be unique and memorable. The story that stands out the most to me is with a second time mom who contacted me for help with her five-month old baby. This mom has a three-year-old and a five-month old. Mom used one of the many sleep plans that were available on the internet with her first baby and that baby slept and fed beautifully. She tried to implement the same strategies with her second baby to get this baby to feed and sleep but this baby just wasn’t having it. Baby had reflux (feeds would take 40+ minutes plus 20 minutes keeping baby upright). Baby was waking up frequently at night for feeds, and was hard to settle during the day. Mom was feeling anxious and a bit deflated that her strategy for the 1st wasn’t working for the 2nd.

I built a customized plan for this family, gave the baby a head to toe nursing assessment, assessed a feed, showed and educated mom on improving the latch and positioning of the baby during feeds to improve reflux during my in-home visit. Once we improved feeds, we worked on sleep and by the 3rd night of starting the plan, baby was feeding and sleeping well. We made some tweaks along the way but by the end of our two weeks together, this baby was taking three solid naps, dropped the night feeds on her own and everybody got the sleep they so well deserved. By the end of our time together – mom felt confident, rested, and happy!

This success story demonstrates that every baby is different. We look at the whole picture to come up with an individualized plan that works for you and your baby! The start and finish line (goal) are set but the journey will be different for everyone. I know where we are starting, I know where we are going to finish but I don’t know what is going to happen in-between. We don’t use a cookie cutter method. We are nurses and use our assessment skills throughout the process.

What we tell parents is not a secret. Anyone can read books, find plans on the internet, etc. What I give parents is support all the way through and I give Moms in-person feeding support which they won’t be able to get from a book.

I am so thankful for all the opportunities to be part of so many families success story.

Where would you like to see The Mama Coach in the next five years?

I would like to see The Mama Coach be the go-to-choice for making motherhood easier and baby sleep throughout Toronto and the GTA!

If someone is interested in utilizing your services, how can they go about accessing them?

They can book their initial free phone call online.

Additionally, all our services are available virtually on a video HIPAA-compliant Telehealth platform.

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with some great insight on The Mama Coach. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you, Momma Braga, for this opportunity to share information about The Mama Coach. Finding sleep for our babies can be so challenging. I believe in finding a solution that works for the entire family. If you are ready to make change for better sleep, let’s set up a time to chat! Please go to this link to book a time that works for you. The sooner we get started, the sooner we can get your sweet baby sleeping and feeding great!

Thinking back to five years ago when I had my daughter, Nikki, I could have truly benefited from these services. Unfortunately, I did not know about them and this is why it is important that I share these amazing resources with my wonderful readers.

When I had the opportunity to interview The Mama Coach, I knew I had to jump on it! A place that offers sleep tips is a superb place to me as a happy baby is definitely a happy mommy!

We hope we will feature more on The Mama Coach and if you have any questions, feel free to comment below or send us an email at mommabraga@gmail.com as we would love to hear from you. You can stay anonymous too! 😊

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

 

 

Motherhood

One Life Lost is Too Many: National Drowning Prevention Week

“Drowning is the #1 cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4 and the #2 cause for children up to 14.”

– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

In Ontario alone, there has been 43 drowning deaths from January to July 15, 2019. It is a scary statistic and that is why it is important to address water safety all year round.

At Aqua-Tots Swim Schools, their primary purpose is to save lives by teaching children to swim and educating people about how to remain safe in and around the water. Recently, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools in Canada hosted a new event called, Swim with Your Clothes On to kick off National Drowning Prevention Week.

The Swim with Your Clothes On Event was an important and interactive 30-minute lesson for children. In addition, to understanding and practicing water safety, the children had an opportunity to experience what swimming with their clothes on would feel like if ever faced with an emergency. In this event, children were taught the importance of water safety, how to swim with their clothes on, and how to assist others who are in danger.

When we heard about the Swim with Your Clothes On event, we jumped at the opportunity to attend. We want to ensure that we take every step possible in teaching our daughter water safety. What we love about Aqua-Tots Swim Schools is these wonderful events are offered for free for families in the community who are members.

Photo Credit: Natalia from Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Canada

Event Exercises

On top of the wonderful swimming curriculum, there were a few exercises that pertained to water safety that we are honoured to share with our readers.

  • Children were taught to ask an adult for permission before going swimming and knowing the adult should go in first.
  • To turn on their backs/roll over and float on their backs if they fall in to get air, and while resting on their backs in the water call for help.
  • Lastly, “reach, throw and don’t go in” which taught children not to go in after someone has fallen into the water. Instead they were taught to lie on their bellies at the edge of the water (in this position you won’t fall in yourself) and throw a life saving device to the person in need to pull them in (e.g. rope, pool noodle, etc.) back to safety.

These exercises were well thought out and executed at this event and you could tell that the children were grasping the concept of drowning prevention. Nikki truly enjoyed each exercise but I could tell that she enjoyed saving her coach with the pool noodle the best.

Photo Credit: Natalia from Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Canada

On the way home, Nikki turned to me and said, “Mom, I can save you if you ever fall in the water. So, don’t you worry!” That sentence alone means that the event was a raving success in our books. To know that my child is confident enough with what she learned that she could save her mom is just perfect! Thank you, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools.

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools didn’t forget about the parents watching the lesson as they also provided us with a great idea and tip. We were provided with a “Water Watcher” lanyard that we can use when children are in the water. So, what exactly is this lanyard? The lanyard states: “While wearing this tag, I agree to supervise the children in the open water or pool, keeping them in sight at all times. I will not leave the water area without finding an adult to replace me.” Love, Love, Love this! I think everyone should adopt this concept as it could really prevent drownings. Since I have this lanyard, I will be taking it to any pool party that we are invited to – you have been warned family and friends.

Above all, this event was a great way to kick off National Drowning Prevention Week and to make sure that the conversation is happening around water safety.

Photo Credit: Natalia from Aqua-Tots Swim Schools

There are three ways that you can save lives too and these include: Enrolling in Swim Lessons; Supervising children in or around water; and spreading tips related to water safety awareness. This is what we can do as parents and as a community as drowning is silent and preventable.

To learn more about water safety tips and/or to enroll in swim lessons with Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Canada, click here for Mississauga or click here for Burlington.

Let’s stay safe in and around water. Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

 

This article is a paid partnership with Aqua-Tots Swim Schools. Views and opinions expressed here belong to Momma Braga.