• About
  • Baby Showers
    • Printables
    • Freebies
    • Games
    • Gifts
  • Shop
  • Printables
  • Favors & Prizes
  • Themes
    • Boys
    • Girls
    • Elephants
    • Whales

Bath Time Fun Time

Printables & games for moms & kids

  • About
  • Baby Showers
    • Printables
    • Freebies
    • Games
    • Gifts
  • Shop
  • Printables
  • Favors & Prizes
  • Themes
    • Boys
    • Girls
    • Elephants
    • Whales
Articles

Become a Better Parent With THIS

By Saira Perl

Looking for ways to become a better parent?

It doesn’t get any easier than having emails with quick & effective tips sent straight to your inbox!

Even though we KNOW we can do better, it’s hard to step back from the daily grind & see the bigger picture.

Especially for busy, working parents who want time together to be quality time.

I’m a work-at-home-mom which means I have to set boundaries between work-time and family-time.

It’s way too easy to spend all day on the computer or the phone working & emailing, when what the kids need most is some good old fashioned, undivided attention – even if it’s just for a few minutes.

become a better parent tips

In my head I know NOW is the time to invest in building quality relationships with my kids.

But those finding those moments to connect with my little ones can be a struggle – between homework & errands, meal prep & sibling rivalry, those quiet moments are often elusive!

become a better parent advice

Quick & Easy Online Resources

Everyone has an opinion on parenting & it can be overwhelming to know what is & isn’t the best approach.

Here’s a tool I found that has helped me be a more proactive, intentional mom.

I love this because they are backed by 100 years of research & experience, with content developed by a series of psychiatrists, psychologists and parenting experts.

What does this mean?

They give practical tips that I can really follow, like this Dinner Table Pledge.

parenting dinner table

How adorable is this!

Get it emailed to you for FREE when you signup here.

Then print, sign & your kids will help keep you accountable!

become a better parent

They have lots of other quick & helpful tools too – like this reminder of what my kids really need from me everyday:

parenting tips

To get more clever tips like these, signup for the Boys Town Parenting Email Series here.

You can also visit boystown.org/parenting for additional tips, tools and advice on parenting.

Hurricane Prep: A Last Minute Road Trip With Kids

By Saira Perl


We unexpectedly had to leave town this week due to Hurricane Matthew.

hurricane-prep

pinterest button-2

The trip required last-minute chaos of closing up the house & packing hurricane essentials for our family.

My husband took care of the house – bringing everything in from outside & completely shutting down our home.

He grabbed valuables, batteries, chargers & flashlights.

I packed our clothes & ran to Target to load up on everything we’d need for a hurricane with kids:

  • Water
  • Convenient, non-perishable food
  • Paper goods (paper towels, wipes, cups)
  • Activities for bored & confined (and potentially scared) kids

hurricane-prepardness

With Target I was able to do a one-stop shop & pickup everything we needed for the last-minute road trip.

Of course my shopping list included Gerber Lil’ Beanies – a favorite in our house.

They are a real treat for my kids, who love the delicious taste & perfect for me because they are so travel-friendly.

We loaded the mini-van, said goodbye to our home & hit the road for safer parts.

hurricane-evacuation

Thankfully, we were not in an area that required mandatory evacuation, but we decided to go anyway to make it less scary & uncomfortable for the kids.

In just a few hours, we outran the storm & found sanctuary for a few days in our temporary home-away-from-home.

The kids left behind their fears & were excited by the adventure that comes with staying in a hotel.

Add in the comforts of home like their favorite snacks & they were in heaven. Hurricane? What hurricane?

 

hurricane-with-kids

In the end, we were all safe, as the hurricane passed by us without any drama.

We are beyond relieved that our hurricane cleanup only includes unpacking from the trip & opening the house.

Huge thanks to Gerber for sponsoring today’s story and encouraging everyone try their new Gerber® Lil’ Beanies Snack!

Beyond just the convenience,  Lil’ Beanies have no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives & not made with genetically engineered (GM) ingredients.

For a limited time, Gerber & Ibotta are offering great coupons to try the snack yourself.

You’ll have to act quickly to get the offer here.

Snacks For Toddlers On The Go

By Saira Perl

In the summer months, convenience is KING! We love getting outside – swimming, picnics, play dates, road trips, parks, playgrounds, family vacations… Having an easy to grab, nutritious snack for my toddler is a MUST!

Well, Gerber Lil’ Beanies just made it a whole lot easier for us with their bean-based, baked snacks for toddlers!

  • On The Go Snack – HOORAY for convenience
  • Baked (not fried!)
  • Bean-based = packed with 2g of protein & 1g of fiber per serving!
  • No genetically engineered (GM) ingredients (gross)
  • Naturally flavored (YUM)

We’re getting ready for a BIG trip, so I wanted to give these new treats a little taste test today. Would she like these Lil’ Beanies…?

TODDLER snack foods

YES! She really LOVED both original & white cheddar with broccoli flavored!

lil beanies snack

So with our summer travels coming up, this goodie is definitely going into my purse – nothing keeps my toddler occupied like finger foods!

No airplane meltdowns for us!

My toddler will not allow us to help her eat – heaven FORBID we try to help this little one.

Nope, she has to eat by herself from soup to nuts.

At home it’s no problem – go crazy kid.

But on-the-go – especially travelling – it has to be easy for her & easy for ME! #GerberWinWin

Tastes great? Check!

Mess-free? Check!

Just don’t try to take it away!

lil beanies toddler snack

 

Thankfully Target is stocked with these treats!

Head over to Target to pickup Lil’ Beanies and try them out yourselves – I’m sure your toddler will love them as much as mine did!

snacks for toddlers 7

So, bring it on summer!

We’re ready thanks to Gerber Lil’ Beanies & Target!

Toddler Formula For Happiness Gerber Giveaway!

By Saira Perl


If you have a toddler, you know mealtimes can be both hilariously fun & emotionally draining.

Encouraging toddlers to try new foods is exciting, but some days are more successful than others!

We always introduce vegetables first to make sure those harder-to-like foods are tasted early, but once they find their sweet or savory favorites it can be hard to hold them back!

Sometimes it seems more food ends up on their faces or the floor than they actually eat!

toddler food

With my first daughter, it was a breeze – I was methodical & had the time & energy to devote to coming up with great foods for her to try.

But once toddler number 2 came along, it got trickier!

Now I have “big kid” foods lurking around – foods I would NEVER have allowed my first born to eat at such a young age.

But, toddler #2 refuses to be left out & I’m often too tired to fight about it. #ChooseYourBattles

I’ve loosened up – in a good way! #FormulaForHappiness

AND I’ve realized there are LOTS of ways to sneak in those important healthy nutrients…. It just takes a little creativity!

make it fun

So, here’s some fantastic REAL-mom-inspired creativity to get your toddler eating healthy & loving it.

Add A Toddler Drink

An amazing way to ensure toddlers are getting all the nutrition they need and deserve is by giving them Stage 3 Gerber® Good Start® Grow Toddler Drink.

toddler giveaway

This toddler drink from Gerber has probiotics, DHA, and iron… music to my ears!

Get Sneaky

When I was a kid, my grandmother got around that problem by cooking our veggies right into the food.  My all time favorite dinner at grandma’s house was always zucchini pancakes.  Don’t get me wrong, I’d pitch a fit if anyone tried to get me to eat zucchini plain!  However, for some reason, when they were in a pancake covered with syrup, they suddenly tasted like the most amazing dish in the universe! – Lisa, Fun Money Mom

Give Variety

I would say start early on giving them a variety of foods. With my toddler we tried every baby food flavor from sweet potatoes to beets. She loves food now and I still try to give her new fruits and veggies so she is used to different flavors as she grows. – Samantha, Sammy Approves

Allow Them To Choose

My four year old loves to dip her veggies in ranch dressing! I give her a choice between several different vegetables at mealtime, and if she says no to all of them, that’s fine. I’ll ask again at the next meal, and the next. Eventually, she will say yes! My two year old is very picky, so for her I’ve simply resorted to hiding purees in muffins, which she loves. I have to believe someday I will wear her down, and she will eat something besides peanut butter & jelly. – Rachel, Don’t Call Me Supermom

Make It Fun

I have used silicone muffin cups to separate foods. My toddler particularly liked picking foods to match the color of the cups (blueberries for blue, cheddar cheese cubes for orange, steamed broccoli for green and pickled beets for pink). I also make smoothies for myself every day, but reserve the last bit and pour it into a popsicle mold for him to have as “dessert”. I have been known to blend up any number of greens and fruits in smoothies, to be eaten eagerly and without complaint. – Hannah, Happy Vikings

Set A Good Example

I made the mistake of letting my aversion to a lot of foods effect what I was feeding my toddler. I had to reprogram myself to show her so many foods were actually good to eat and widen her range of foods what she was eating. We have a lot of influence over what are kids eat and our bad habits can carry over. – Taylor, A Hot Mess Mama

Welcome To Toddlerhood Giveaway

Gerber has generously offered a FREE “Welcome To Toddlerhood” Kit to one lucky winner!

To enter:

  1. Visit the Stage 3 Gerber® Good Start® Grow Toddler Drink website.
  2. Come back to this post & leave a comment below with your favorite tips or stories of mealtime with kids!
  3. I will choose the winner in the next 2-3 weeks, so be sure you leave contact info with your comment below.

toddler drink

Sisters Forever: It’s All Worth It!

By Saira Perl


I’m so excited to be working with Linqia & Gerber on this post about motherhood because it’s all worth it!

We always knew we wanted to have more than one child, but we had planned to have them much closer together in age.

That wasn’t to be & in the end our girls had a 4 year age difference. We had to start over again with sleepless nights, and diapers and feeding struggles.

But you know what? It’s all worth it!

It's All Worth It

When I see how much my two girls adore each other & how much it means to them to each have a sister to call their own, I know I could not have planned such an amazing connection.

Watching as the baby grows into a toddler and seeing how strongly bonded they are – how much they truly love & protect each other – it’s heartwarming beyond words.

They are each other’s fiercest protectors & it’s the most genuine love I’ve ever seen.

To say “it’s all worth it” is an epic understatement. I catch myself standing, watching them play together, working out differences & encouraging each other. Pure joy!

My aim as their mother is to help them bring out the best of in themselves while guiding them in the right direction.

Deciding what’s best to feed them & how to improve their sleep habits can be tough. Thankfully Gerber has free expert advice & videos available on their website. Even just seeing that agree with something I’m already doing makes me feel like a more confident parent.

Don’t get me wrong – I know there will be screaming & fighting & tears. But capturing these precious moments now will remind us later that it’s all worth it!

You can never take too many photos or spend too many minutes playing with your kids. Let Gerber sweat the small stuff & go enjoy ever second with your kids.

What do you think? What are the most precious moments you spend with your kids?

betty crocker cover

Holiday Giving Secret Weapon! #SpreadCheer

By Saira Perl

In my life before kids, I had plenty of time to spend in the kitchen baking dozens of sweet treats of the holidays.

This year with 2 little ones to chase after, my baking time is limited!

Thanks to Betty Crocker, we can quickly & easily prepare delicious cookies for special occasions like this #SpreadCheer challenge!

holiday giving

If you want to enjoy time with the kids & teach them that holiday giving is just as important as holiday GETTING, join us in this #SpreadCheer challenge!

Step 1: Print your coupon & buy Betty Crocker’s cookie pouch.

Step 2: Have fun baking with the kids!

holiday giving ideas

Step 3: Print out these pretty gift tags & wrap up your cookies.

betty crocker christmas

Step 4: Deliver the delicious cookies to unsuspecting friends & neighbors.

betty crocker cookie

betty crocker christmas cookie 1

betty crocker christmas cookie 2

Congratulations! You’ve just brightened up someone’s day & showed your kids how great it feels to GIVE. #SpreadCheer

betty crocker christmas cookie 4

What are you planning to do with your kids this holiday to #SpreadCheer?

Will you take advantage of the deliciously easy Betty Crocker cookie pouch?

Tweet me & let me know about your holiday plans.

voya savings cover

Voya Savings Gives $500 To Newborns – Does Yours Qualify?

By Saira Perl

I’m so excited to share an amazing opportunity with you.

Thanks to Voya Financial, all newborn babies born on a specific day will receive a free $500 mutual fund investment!

voya savings free

Did you have a baby in 2015?

Do you know someone else who had a baby in 2015?

Make sure you share this article with everyone you know & let’s see how many of these investments we can give away to growing families!

All they need to do is simply click here to claim the award.

So, WHAT is the magical date….?

All babies born on October 19, 2015 qualify for a $500 mutual fund investment from Voya Financial!

Why is Voya giving away this investment?

Voya wants parents to know that it’s never too early to start saving for your child’s future & it’s not too late to start thinking about your own retirement plans. Voya Financial can help you with both.

voya savings

More than 1,000 new parents were surveyed by Voya & here are the findings:

  • Four-in-ten (40%) spent $500+ on baby-related items in the first year that were nonessential or never used.
  • 20% spent over $1,000 on these items!
  • A majority (60%) of overspending went to clothing, toys and baby entertainment.
  • 20% went to upgraded strollers, baby carriers and accessories.
  • 20% also went to expensive nursery furniture and décor.
  • Nearly one-third (32%) hoped their children would receive money this holiday season instead of traditional gift items, such as toys and clothes

voya savings gifts

 

Putting away small amounts regularly will make a HUGE difference for your child down the road.

Just like parenting, planning for retirement is a journey & not a destination. Both of these journeys begin on the very day your child is born!

This campaign is promoted in connection with National Retirement Security Week in order to raise awareness and help the next generation on the path to retirement readiness.

So make sure you SHARE this information with your friends & let them know all babies born on October 19, 2015 will receive a $500 mutual fund investment from Voya!

Let’s see how many babies we can help out this holiday season!

thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving From Us

By Saira Perl

Thanksgiving, holiday, blessings, well wishes, family, celebration, Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop
Happy Thanksgiving 
from all of the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop co-hosts to you and yours!
♥
Alli, Brittany, Carrie, Cathy, CD, Dawn, Diane, Emma, Heidi Jo, Jaimi, Kim, Saira, Sinea and Tammy.
♥
We will be back next week -Tuesday evening Dec 1st 7pm ET- with another great party and the features from our last party.
♥
In the meantime, each of us selected a special post from our own blogs to share with you, with our love.
♥
Happy Thanksgiving from ALLI: Butternut Squash Fries / Tornadough Alli 
 
 
 
Happy Thanksgiving from BRITTANY: Pumpkin Bars w Cream Cheese Frosting / Mommy On Demand
 
 
Happy Thanksgiving from CARRIE: Thanksgiving Turkey Apron / A Mother’s Shadow 
Happy Thanksgiving from CATHY: Egg Nog Coffee Cake / A Peek Into My Paradise
Happy Thanksgiving from C.D: 25 Easy and Fabulous Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas
Happy Thanksgiving from DAWN: Loaded Baked Sweet Potato from Spatulas on Parade
Happy Thanksgiving from DIANE: Best Praline Apple Pie from Recipes For Our Daily Bread
 
 
 
Happy Thanksgiving from EMMA: Harvest Tuff Spot / Adventures of Adam

 

Happy Thanksgiving from HEIDI JO: Turkey Peeps Treats / Simplee Thrifty
Happy Thanksgiving from JAIMI: I Am Thankful Book for Children To Make / SAHM Survival Guide
Happy Thanksgiving from KIM:  Let’s Be Superkind / 2 Just By You
Happy Thanksgiving from SAIRA: Thanksgiving 2015 / Bathtime Funtime 
kuchen, pastry, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter, holidays, sweets, dessert, breads
Happy Thanksgiving from SINEA: Lillian’s Breakfast Kuchen / Ducks ‘n a Row
 
Happy Thanksgiving from TAMMY: DIY Christmas Advent Tree and Printables / My Life Abundant
Thanksgiving, well wishes, blessings, Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

Visit Mom Resource (Mom Blogs + Blog Tips)’s profile on Pinterest.

turkey on the table cover

A Mom’s Guide to Thanksgiving 2015

By Saira Perl

I’m excited that Thanksgiving 2015 is just around the corner!

I have yet to ever prepare a full Thanksgiving dinner… Luckily I don’t have to do it this year either! I have a beautiful friend & neighbor who invited us to share Thanksgiving with her family.

But what should I bring? I’ve already bought my Turkey on the Table gift & would like to bring either food or something for the kids to do or something else for the table.

turkey on the table

I asked some of my mom blogging friends for Thanksgiving ideas & WOW!

These moms have AWESOME ideas to share. Below tips & traditions for a fantastic Thanksgiving.

Please share this on Pinterest to help inspire other moms as well!

thanksgiving 2015

pinterest button-2

Simple Thanksgiving Gratitude Garland from A Life in Balance

gratitude-garland

Delicious Apple Pie Chimichanga from Flavours & Frosting

Apple-Pie-Chimichanga

Perfect Pie Crust from Thinking Outside the Pot

gluten-free-pie-crust

Turkey Handprint Craft from One Time Through

Handprint-Turkey-Multimedia-Masterpieces-One-Time-ThroughS

Ideas for Thanksgiving JOY (including printable) from Arianne’s Joy

thanksgiving joy

Fresh Cranberry Salsa from Diana Rambles

Fresh-Cranberry-Salsa-Recipe

Warm Pumpkin Spice Shake from Whiskey in My Sippy

warm pumpkin spice shake

16 Thanksgiving Books for Kids from Here Wee Read

16-Board-Picture-Books-for-Thanksgiving-1

Easy Cranberry Clementine Sauce from Bessie Bakes

cranberry-clementine-sauce

5 Keys to Raising Grateful Kids from One Time Through

5-Keys-to-Raising-Grateful-Kids

Pillsbury Thanksgiving Giveaway From Raising Samuels

thanksgiving giveaway

10 Essential Tools for Thanksgiving from A Life in Balance

10-essential-tools-for-thanksgiving

Giving Thanks Thanskgiving Keepsake from Candy’s Farm House Pantry

thanksgiving decoration

Favorite Thanksgiving Memories from Mommy Maleta

Turkey-Triumphs-4

Pumpkin Pie Cheesecakes by From This to That By Linda

pumpkin-pie-cheese-cake

10 Amazing Side Dishes from Medium Sized Family

10-Amazing-Side-Dishes-for-your-Thanksgiving-Pot-Luck-1

Do you have a go-to Thanksgiving gift, dish, craft or activity for kids? Please let me know on Twitter or on Facebook!

huggies wipes

On The Go? Top 5 Places To Stash Huggies Natural Care Wipes

By Saira Perl

We busy moms are always on the go & it only gets busier as the kids get older!

Luckily, everytime I buy Huggies Natural Care Wipes from Sam’s Club, I get a new adorable clutch! #ClutchStyle

huggies wipes

New moms may be wondering how in the world would it be handy to have so many of these clutches?

Well, you’ll need at least 5 to achieve my Top 5 “On the Go” places to stash Huggies Natural Care Wipes!

#5 Diaper Bag

Preparing for baby #1? You’ll need wipes. LOTS of wipes. Sam’s Club has you covered in the wipes department.

huggies natural care wipes sams club

This box of Huggies Natural Care Wipes comes with 864 wipes (4 large refill bags), 1 tub for your changing table, and 1 Clutch ‘n Clean pack for wipes On the Go.

#4 Stroller

Whether you’re taking trips to the park or the mall, playdates or the grocery store, this clutch is a soft, portable & cute accessory.

huggies natural care wipes sams

You’ll be wiping hands, noses & bums in style! #ClutchStyle

#3 Car

When my 1st baby was born we lived in Europe & didn’t have a car, so EVERYTHING had to fit in my diaper bag or stroller.

Luckily when baby #2 arrived we were living in the USA. Hello Car!

huggies natural care

Love stashing my clutch in the car. It fits so easily into the glove box or the side of the door.

#2 Purse

Once the kids are a little older, you won’t need (or want!) to lug that diaper bag everywhere. Just grab a couple of snacks & your clutch & you’ll be ready for anything.

huggies natural care wipes

#1 School

Eventually your little one will start day care or preschool & you will be asked to provide wipes! I donated Huggies Natural Care Wipes along with the Clean ‘n Clutch.

The clutch was a HIT with my daughter’s teacher who carries it around school with her. You can imagine how handy those are from the classroom to the lunchroom to the playground!

Sam’s Club

If you don’t already have one, get your Sam’s Club Membership to get this & other fantastic deals. It’s a mom essential!

. Grab your free baby shower game cards here! .
Save on Baby Shower Favors @ Beau-coup.com
personalized party supplies
Save Now @ Beau-coup.com
Copyright ©2021, Bath Time Fun Time. All Rights Reserved. Design by Pixel Me Designs