Toddler Tip of the Day

Rather than rushing out in August to buy school clothes, wait it out until mid-September.

In addition to finding more things on sale, your kids will also have an opportunity to see what everyone else is wearing before they buy those jeans they thought were trendy.

From: parentsconnect.com

Tags: backtoschool, clothes

Lost school supplies may be a given, but gear that’s hard to miss can stave off the inevitable.

Pack all their pencils, erasers, and other goodies into a bright backpack or pencil pouch to keep them from disappearing.

From: parenting.com

Tags: school, shopping

Shop for off-season, clearance items. When it is 97 degrees outside it is hard to think about shopping for long-sleeve shirts and coats.

However, it’s a great time to pick up clearance deals on these winter items as stores will practically give them away to make room for fall arrivals.

From: frugaldad.com

Tags: clothes, shopping

You can never have too many onesies.

They’re perfect as undershirts or outshirts. Choose good quality ones that will get softer every time they’re washed and baby will always be comfortable.

From: likemom.com

Tags: clothing

Take an afternoon and assess each child’s clothing needs.

Empty drawers and closets of outgrown or worn-out clothing, and either store or donate the discards. Working with your child, clean and organize clothing storage before new garments are added–and cut down on school morning calls of "Mom! I don’t have any clean . . . . "

From: Organized Home.com

Tags: clothes, backtoschool, kids

Employ your charge.  Let your kids hold the bag while you pick the pears. 

Ask their opinion on creamy or chunky peanut butter.  Allow them to hold the toilet paper until you make more room in the cart.  The pre-school crowd loves to be needed–the more grownup the job the better.

From: minti.com

Tags: family, shopping

Maintain eye contact.  This is where shopping carts work best. 

By looking into your child’s face every now and then, you help them avoid the hysteria that is sure to ensue when they realize you really are temporarily more concerned with which cereal to buy than your little sunshine.  

Staying connected helps everyone feel better about an annoying errand.

From: minti.com

Tags: temperament, shopping

Stick an ice chest in the car trunk so you can head to the grocery store first or last or spend an hour playing at the park and not worry about frozen food melting.

A toddler slows down everything, and an ice chest lets us not worry about rushing.

From: thingamababy.com

Tags: activity, shopping, toddler

Smile. Nothing sends your kids the signal to start wailing in a store like Mom or Dad in a bad mood. 

Fake it if you must, but know that a smiling face and an upbeat demeanor is sometimes all it takes to ensure smooth sailing.

From: minti.com

Tags: temperament, shopping

Diaper padding only goes so far. Those hard shopping cart seats can be irritating to some toddlers. Consider making or buying a shopping cart cover to keep your toddler comfortable while shopping. This will have the added benefit of preventing your toddler from being exposed to the myriad of germs that can be found on the shopping cart.
From: Suite101.com