One of those days

Ever had one of those days? You know the ones – they go something like this… Your kid refuses to get dressed, refuses to eat breakfast, and refuses to put on her shoes, all the while making you late for pre-school drop-off. On top of that, baby #2 starts wailing just as you’re at the door ready to leave. Arggghhhh!!

What do you do?

Take a deep breath, try not to yell at the kid(s) and thank heavens that there are a few tried-and-true products to make your day (and life, in general) a little bit easier!!

And so, here are a few things that make my life easier. Maybe they’ll work for you too.

1. Playtex Sippy Cups (pictured above)
Honestly, the ONLY sippy cup I’ve tried that does not leak!! (And, no, I’m not receiving any compensation from Playtex! 🙂 With the myriad of other cups I’ve tried, I still end up with apple juice all over my sofa, so what’s a mom to do?? I stick with what works!

UPDATE – 12/29/2012 – After a few packs of defective sippy cups (Playtex has replaced them twice), I can no longer recommend the Playtex Insulator sippy cups. Case in point, a Playtex cup that I purchased 5 years ago has held up better than those purchased over the past two years – my latest cups have warped in the dishwasher, despite following all washing instructions (top rack only). Sadly, I have had more leakage issues with the newer cups than with my older models.

2. Apple iPhone
What did I do before the iPhone? Seriously, it is a mom’s best friend! With the huge number of apps available and all of the built-in capabilities (i.e. iPod, calendar, email, etc.), it has saved me more times than I can count. From the (free!) Sesame Street podcasts that keep my pre-schooler entertained at doctors’ offices and in grocery store line-ups (and are educational too), to the lullabies I play for my infant (music that soothes the crying baby-beast!), it has paid for itself over and over again.

3. Portable DVD player
My daughter hated long car rides until I discovered the merits of the portable DVD player. Hubby and I even took it with us on her first flight and, once again, it proved its worth. For any parents out there who are averse to letting their kids watch a lot of tv, try what I did – make the movie (and the car/plane ride) a special treat…something to look forward to. (And, lose the guilt!!)

4. SkipHop Pronto! Changing Station
This grab-and-go diaper bag gets used often!! It is my go-to when it comes to short city trips – everything from a jaunt to the grocery store to our twice-weekly walks to Baby & Me class. It comes with a built-in change pad (and a really good one, too!), a container for wipes, and a mesh pocket large enough to fit a few diapers and an extra onesie. The zippered pocket on the outside can hold mom’s essentials – lip balm, a few tissues, etc. The best part? It’s nice and small!

5. Bravado! Nursing Garments
As a nursing mom, I wouldn’t be able to feel confident without my Bravado! nursing garments. I discovered them with baby #1, when I signed up to be a Bravado! Designs test wearer (to sign up, click here). In return for an hour of my time, I received some amazing products – their Lifestyle Microfibre Nursing Bra and Essential Nursing Bra Tank. After using them for a few days, I was hooked! I now also have the Bodysilk Seamless Nursing Bra and cannot imagine breastfeeding without it. Of all the nursing bras I’ve tried, theirs are the most comfortable. And, the quality is unbeatable – I nursed baby #1 for 16 months, and have resumed using the same bras with baby #2. I highly recommend checking out Bravado! Designs if you’re in need of some great nursing undergarments.

These are only a few of my sanity-savers… I’d like to know what your favourite products are!