Leaf and Steel

motherhood - growth - living

Little Things I Do To Make My Baby Feel Loved

One of my favorite things about being a mom is showing my daughter just how much I love her! There’s nothing quite like the bond between a mother and child. One of my jobs as a stay-at-home-mom, or any mom, really, is to make sure her world is filled with comfort, happiness, and love! 

Since she is one, she is spoiled by simple pleasures. This is what I love about tiny children – they find joy in the smallest things. Yesterday, Baby M entertained herself with a half-filled sprinkle container, shaking it back and forth.

We all know the stories of the kids who would rather play with the cardboard box that the toy comes in rather than the actual toy, and those anecdotes are completely true!

If there’s one thing we all can appreciate about children it is their innate ability to find enjoyment in the most unassuming things.

We took her to a local holiday light show at Christmastime. It brought tears to my eyes to watch her little face light up with amazement. Last summer, we took her to a farm in Lancaster, PA, and she was absolutely ecstatic to see so many chickens.

It’s true that having children really does make you notice and appreciate the little things.

There are some acts of kindness that I like to practice with my daughter every day. I want nothing more for her to feel safe, loved, and cared for. I have such fond memories of my own mother taking care of me with tender, loving care.

So, here are some of the ways I’ve been giving my girl the love she deserves lately!

Loads of Affection

This one is completely natural! Hugs, kisses, pats…showing constant affection for my baby shows her I’m here and I love her.

Cut sandwiches into shapes

The easiest way to do this is to get a pack of cookie cutters. I use them on everything, from cucumbers to apples to sandwiches.

Bubble Baths

My baby loves a good bubble bath (who doesn’t?)! Burt’s Bees Bubble Bath is our soap of choice.

Set Up Toys

My husband and I set up her toys in the family room play area in different arrangements each night. I have a post on how to set up a learning center for your one-year-old here. I feel like Dwight Schrute setting up Michael’s action figures every night – ha! It makes every morning feel like Christmas morning.

Adventure

Baby M is my “little adventure buddy”. Although I’m pretty introverted, having a built-in travel companion has been so much fun! We visit the local farm, the pet store, the library – anywhere we can go, we go! If it is winter where you are too, check out my post on 5 Free Indoor Places to Go with Baby.

Lots of Fresh Air and Sunshine

We love being outdoors any chance we get. Even though Long Island winters are dark and gloomy, we try to get out anytime the weather warms up. Baby M loves to “travel” by stroller or wagon.

Validate Feelings

This one should go without saying! Labeling and validating my little one’s emotions helps both of us. It helps my daughter learn to identify her feelings and that all feelings are valid! It helps me because it causes me to slow down and put myself in her shoes rather than getting frustrated. She is right on the cusp of toddler-hood so it must be so hard for her to figure out what she needs and how to communicate to me! Empathy is key.

These are just some of the things I do to make my daughter feel loved and that help me feel like I’m being a “good mom”. If cutting sandwiches into shapes isn’t your thing, or you aren’t able to take them on adventures, that’s cool too.

I believe that there are countless ways that we can show our love. At the end of the day, I think patience, kindness, love, and consistency is what makes a good mom.

Do you do any of these for your child? What was the most important thing your parent did for you growing up?

Let me know below!

O.

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5 Free Indoor Places to Go with Baby

The cold weather is finally upon us!

If you’re like me, or a human being in general, you know how hard it is to be cooped up with your baby during the cold winter months.

Over here, we do our best to take advantage of the sunny days and get as much fresh air as we can. But, there are still days where its raining or just too cold to be outdoors.

Going out to eat or taking classes can add up quickly, and as a mom on a budget I’m always looking for free things to do to break up the day.

Here are five indoor places to go with your baby when the weather is bad!

Library

If you haven’t picked up a library card yet, you’re missing out! Libraries have so much more than books to offer. Movies, newspapers, computers, and free events are just the start. I didn’t have a library card until I got sick of reading the same books to my daughter. We made our way down to our local library and both got our very own library cards! I love taking Baby M there every week to refresh her reading selection. They have huge colorful carpet that we like to play on while were there. It’s a great way to get out of the house and get a change of scenery.

Libraries also offer what are most commonly referred to as Museum Passes, which are passes you can reserve to get into local museums, parks, and events for free! Where we are, you can reserve up to two a month and get into so many fun (and expensive) places around here – from the fish hatchery to the Intrepid in New York City.

Galleries are a great place to visit on a gloomy day! If you’re little one is still at an age where they can be contained, head to a gallery.

Pet Store

It’s the free zoo, baby! I take my daughter to the pet store almost weekly. The fish are her favorite. Most of the time, we pick up some cat food for our LuLu or a toy. We found a pet store that has adoptable kittens and I’m always so tempted to bring one home! The pet store is an easy way to buy time between activities, too.

Next, I want to take my baby to an aquarium store!

Visit a Friend

If you have a friend that work in retail or the likes, why not pay them a visit? This can be such a treat for a friend – and it is a great way to break up the day!

Museum

Hear me out, there are a few ways to do this for free! One option is to find a free museum. Another is to see if they have discounted or free days, or to use those museum passes I mentioned earlier in this post. Visiting a museum is a wonderful way to foster a love of art and exploration in your little ones.

What do you do with your baby when the weather is bad? Are you fine with being inside all day? Let me know below!

O.

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