Christmas Safety Tips for Toddlers You NEED to Know

Wondering how to keep a toddler away from the Christmas tree? Or how to baby-proof your Christmas decorations? Find the safety tips you need this holiday season at TheSaltyMamas.com. #toddlers #baby #babies #christmas #holidaysafety #mom #parenting #kids #holidays #holiday #christmasdecorations

Christmas can be dangerous for little ones – from fragile ornaments to open flames on candles. So how can you make sure you still have a festive holiday season AND keep your toddler safe this Christmas? We’ll help you answer your burning questions like, “how can I keep my tree safe from toddlers?” and “are my Christmas stockings a safety hazard?” With these Christmas safety tips for toddlers you can focus on all the fun, and stop worrying. 

The holiday season is upon us, and before you know it we’ll be bringing in trees, stringing up lights, and hanging stockings and garlands from mantles and bookshelves. It’ll look beautiful, and so festive- and it will be oh-so-tempting for the little hands around you.

Those curious toddler fingers (and let’s be honest-climbing little legs) will be thrilled to discover all the newfound decorations in your homes. They’ll zero in on the tree first, of course – those ornaments DO look an awful lot like their ball pit balls, you know- but they won’t stop there.

Before you know it, your garland will be down, your stockings will be unhung by the chimney, and the little baby Jesus will be scooped right out of his manger and placed into your preschooler’s doll house.

So how DO you keep your toddler away from the Christmas tree? And-most importantly- what Christmas safety tips for toddlers do you need to check out? After five toddlers and LOTS of trial and error, we’ve got a foolproof plan to keep your little sugar plums out of the ER this holiday season.

Brightly lit Christmas tree: Text overlay: Keep your toddler safe this Christmas

Read More

The Best Personalized Christmas Gifts for Kids

This year, make the holiday extra special with these personalized gifts! #holidays #christmasgifts #christmaspresents #giftsforkids #bestgifts2018 #bestgiftsforkids #kidsgifts2018 #bestchristmaspresents #christmasgifts2018

We’re always looking for something fun and unique – and preferably with not a TON of pieces we’ll have to clean up from all over our house. Our kids love gifts that are personalized to them (maybe so they don’t have to share with their siblings!) So what better way to treat us both than with the best personalized Christmas gifts for kids this season? From books to clothes to, yes, even some toys, we’ve got all the best personalized gifts for kids.

Growing up, one of The Salty Mamas (Christine) found her name on every pencil or bike license plate in town. While the other Mama (Jaymi) had more of a challenge. And while we didn’t veer too far outside of more traditional names, the internet means never having to miss out on awesome personalized gear. Which means amazing opportunities for personalized Christmas gifts for kids.

Here are some of our favorites, that might just be showing up under our trees this year.

This year, make the holiday extra special with these personalized gifts! #holidays #christmasgifts #christmaspresents #giftsforkids #bestgifts2018 #bestgiftsforkids #kidsgifts2018 #bestchristmaspresents #christmasgifts2018

Read More

Quiet Your Anxious Mind (So You Can Fall Asleep Fast!)

You're SO TIRED, so why can't you SLEEP? We've got trips to soothe your anxious mind and help you fall asleep fast at TheSaltyMamas.com. #anxiety #sleep #sleepless #howtofallasleepfast #sleepbetter #anxious #mentalhealth #selfcare

It never fails- I’ve had a long day. I’ve had a million things on my plate, a million tasks to accomplish, and too many things to keep track of. I’m downright exhausted, and all I want to do is fall into my bed and spend the next eight hours in blissful, unconscious rest.

So why can’t I turn my brain off and fall asleep?

If you suffer from anxiety, this experience is far too familiar for your liking. We are exhausted, but our poorly wired brains won’t give it a rest so that we can GET some rest. One thought spirals into the next, and before you know it you’re agonizing about that comment you made to Sharon three days ago and if she’ll hate you forever because of it.

No? Just me?

At any rate, if you have difficulty falling asleep because your thoughts just won’t quit, we want you to know that you’re not alone.  We’ve been there (you know, only like, every night or so). And as a result, we’ve come up with some fool-proof strategies to help you shut down your brain and fall asleep fast.

You're SO TIRED, so why can't you SLEEP? We've got trips to soothe your anxious mind and help you fall asleep fast at TheSaltyMamas.com. #anxiety #sleep #sleepless #howtofallasleepfast #sleepbetter #anxious #mentalhealth #selfcare

Read More

How to Get a Sparkling Clean Bathroom (The Easy Way!)

I was a late bloomer in the cleaning-bathrooms department. I did have bathroom cleaning lessons, but they didn’t come at what I consider an appropriate age- say, between the ages of 8 and 16, for example. Nope.

Two days before my wedding, in a hot panic, I desperately asked my mom to show me how to clean a bathroom. How I had avoided it until then is a complete mystery, but it was one of those life skills I was pretty sure I was supposed to have, but failed to, pick up along the way. 

Presumably, you learned how to quickly clean a bathroom somewhere along the way. It is rarely anyone’s favorite household task, but it is one that you’ll certainly notice if it hasn’t been completed in a while.  It’s a proverbially dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it. Spoiler alert: that person is you.

So if you’re trying to find out how to make cleaning a bathroom easier, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve come a long way since those wedding-week-lessons, and I’ve finally figured out how to get a sparkling clean bathroom.

Are our bathroom cleaning hacks goign to make cleaning bathrooms go away? No. But they WILL make cleaning your bathroom easier. And frankly, that’s about all we can hope for in the toilet-scrubbing department, am I right?

Tiny bag with various cleaners and rags inside of it. Text overlay: How pro housekeepers tackle bathrooms.

Read More

Guest Room Touches That WIll Make Company Feel Right at Home

Expecting houseguests this holiday season? We've got tricks to make your guest room extra comfortable. Check out the full list at TheSaltyMamas.com. #guestroom #holidays #christmas #thanksgiving #houseguests #homedecor #guestroomdecor #guestroomideas

It’s that time of year again. And I’m not talking about Pumpkin Spice Lattes, or even holiday cheer. Nope- we are rapidly approaching houseguest season.

Before we know it, my too-small house will be filled to the brim with friends and family members hoping to crash with us for a few days. Sometimes they’re just on their way through, and other times, they settle in for a week or two. Either way, we want to make them feel at home.

So if you find yourself with a few extra guests on your hands, we’ve got some tips to help make get your guest room ready for holiday houseguests.

Expecting houseguests this holiday season? We've got tricks to make your guest room extra comfortable. Check out the full list at TheSaltyMamas.com. #guestroom #holidays #christmas #thanksgiving #houseguests #homedecor #guestroomdecor #guestroomideas

Read More