Mel

My son will be 4 soon and we've decided to just do a family party (hopefully outside) with 15-25 people. The kids there will range in age from 2.5 to teenagers with only 3 really young ones. Do I do any party games or just let them play with our outside toys? I thought about renting a bouncy house but I'm unsure if it would be worth it. Also wondering about a regular cake, decorate your own cupcake or make your own sundaes? Thanks for the advice!

I just remembered my son's daycare teacher is having a birthday tomorrow. I was thinking of having my son colour a card (while he eats breakfast lol) and a small gift. I have a post it note holder (cute purse shaped one) and a $15 Tim Hortons card on hand since it's Christmas. Would one or both of those be appropriate?? Thanks for any and all advice.

My son loves Thomas and we just have the figure 8 track with water tower. His 3rd birthday is coming up and I'd like to get him something new for Thomas, any ideas which is the best to start with?

My son loves the ball pit at the local bowling alley. I was going to get one for his birthday but most of the ones I've seen don't look much different from his pool. He loves his pool and would get a kick out of seeing it filled with balls. There would only be 2 other kids (18 months and 3) at his party, the rest is adults. Is this a great idea or a horrible one? Also any idea how many balls I would need? The pool is about 60" x 40". My other idea was a bouncy house but undecided if I should rent or buy. Thank for the advice!

I have a spot in my yard where nothing grows so was just going to cover it with that weed block fabric and rocks. I was also contemplating how to store all of my son's small outdoor toys (balls, bucket etc.). The spot I need to cover is the same size as a plastic sandbox. I was thinking this would be easy for my son to grab and put back his toys and then toss the lid on when done. Anyone done this before or have any other ideas? Thanks!

My son attends a daycare 2-5 days per month and there is a lot of staff he interacts with and they are all great but I can't afford to give everyone a gift and I'd likely forget someone. I'm thinking of a group gift for them - bagel tray, sweets, fruit tray etc. Any ideas which would be best? Everyone I ask here just says "buy them a box of chocolates" but that just seems so trivial for people who are so great with my son.

My son is just over 2 years old and I will be going back to work next month. I was on an extended leave but have to go back or loose my job. It's to good a job (I love it, good benefits and same hours as school) to give up but I'm dreading leaving my son. He goes to a daycare he loves(about 4 days a month when I work casual). I'll pick him up about 3:30, wondering if we should do activities, shopping etc. then or if he's going to want to get home. Also any advice on how you balanced work/home. One more question - how long will it take him to adjust to the new routine? Thanks for any and all advice.

I'm returning to work in January after an extended mat leave (my son will be 2 years, 3 months) and discussing my schedule with my boss today. My regular hours would be M-F 8:30-3:15 but I'm hoping to reduce to 3-4 days or just mornings. Money isn't a big issue and he loves his daycare when I work casual, I'm going back mostly to hold onto my job as I love it and great hours for when he starts school. My question are: when will my son likely quit napping (don't want afternoons off just to watch Dr. Phil) and would if be better to have a long weekend with him (M or F off) or a break in the week (Wednesdays off). No guarantees I'll get what I ask for but no harm asking for it. Thanks for any and all advice!

My son (2 year old, 30 lbs) has been sleeping in his toddler bed for a couple of week, usually great but we do have to threaten him with the crib occasionally when he keeps getting out of bed. My dilemma now is we are will be staying at a hotel and my mother's house soon. He doesn't sleep well with us so our options are playard, mattress on floor or his fold our foam couch? It's only for one night each place a few weeks apart but we're all use to sleeping through the night. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I am the mother of a wonderful 2 year old boy. My husband and I never really discussed how many children we would have, just joked we'd get through the first pregnancy/infancy and then decide. As our son got older both of us started feeling like we were done having kids. I feel like I am just getting my life back and life is so good right now. Some days I feel like I'd like another baby (I love kids) but most days I'm blissfully happy with the family I have. I have friends who had a second child who never said they regretted it but admit they miss there only child family. I do worry about my son growing up an only child but don't feel it would be fair to the second child if that's the only reason. Any words of wisdom to make this clearer would be appreciated.

I'm going to a birthday party for a japanese exchange student who is staying with family. He's a 17 year old boy and that's about all I know about him. If I call and ask I'm sure I'll be told not to buy a present so I'm thinking about buying him something to remind him of his trip to Canada. Any truly canadian ideas would be appreciated.

My son turns 2 in a week and I'm planning on going fairly low key. My husband and I are going to take him to an indoor play place (cold here already), present from us, favourite lunch, nap, dinner and then close family (mostly adults) over for cake and gifts. I also plan on decorating with a Sesame Street theme and cake. Does this sound like enough for him to start realizing it's his special day?

My son has just started showing interest in Thomas and his 2nd birthday is less than a month away so good timing. I know Thomas can get quite expensive but I'm just looking for a starter set. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. The one I'm leaning toward is this one http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=...

I just found out my step-sisters bought my son a cozy coupe which is great but that was what I was going to get him. My father is buying him a wagon, he has a playhouse, a toddler bed, ride on toys, blocks etc, etc. I know he sounds spoiled (first grandchild on both sides) but I have to buy him something. We contribute monthly to RESP's so don't really think we need to contribute more to his college fund. Other people are asking too what to get him and I have no more ideas. I'd really like some toys he'd grow into over the next year so maybe some ideas for the 2-3 year old stage. Thanks for your help!

I'm looking at purchasing a used single chariot bike trailer. The person I'm buying it from says it doesn't fold at all, not broken just made that way. I'm wondering if they just don't know or if they actually make ones that don't fold? Any other advice about trailers is appreciated!

My husband and I are planing a trip to PEI soon and after reading about air plane safety and car rental car seats I'd like to take a car seat with us. Our current one is quite large and a 3-in-1 and I'd like a second one anyway for my husbands car. What is a small, easy to install not to expensive seat for a 20 month old? Any other travel tips are greatly appreciated - thanks!

I'm planning on spending a lot of time with my sister this summer trading babysitting so we each get a break and time to bond with each others kids. My son 20 months, her daughter is 10 months. I'm looking at buying a used double stroller one is a Safety 1st Tandem, the other a Cosco side by side umbrella. I have a truck so size is not a drawback, wondering more about shopping, sidewalks, kiddie comfort? I'm leaning towards the umbrella stroller except wondering if weight difference will matter (not much though as she is in 12 month clothes and my son in 18 month.) Thanks for any and all advice.

I have a 19 months old son who loves being outdoors. We have a baby swing hung from a tree (tree may be coming down this summer) and a Little Tikes Hide and Slide. He ignores both of those, would rather walk to the park or play with his truck, ball etc. My mil has an older metal swing set with plastic slide she wants to give us. If is in decent shape but would probably still require some time and money to get set up. We have a large yard but use it often when baby sitting (and hopefully soon with our son) to play soccer or toss a football. So parents with swing sets, is it worth it to set up the "free" swing set or upset my mil and say no? I know that eventually he would play on a swing set but right now he would rather walk to the park, play for 10 minutes,mostly with the rocks and then walk home.

My step sister and I had son's about 5 months apart. I was not invited to his first birthday but she apologized and said it was because her in-laws had invited way too many people. I was not bothered by this as I knew the poor woman had 30+ people in a small house, half of them she barely knew. I didn't send a present but did send one for his baptism (weather too bad to attend) and we exchanged at Christmas. I invited her to my son's 1st birthday and she gave him a gift. Now my nephew's 2nd birthday is approaching and it looks like I'm not invited. I'm a little hurt but don't want to make a big deal of it. Do I send a gift with my mom and step-dad or not. Second question is do I invite her to my son's birthday party? My step sister and I have had a rocky relationship in the past to I don't want to do anything that could be taken the wrong way (ie sending a gift to make her feel bad for not inviting me or not acknowledging her son's b-day??) Thanks for your opinion!

My son has been happily nursing for nearly 17 months. Tonight he finally slept through the night (8:30-8:30!) and didn't want to nurse right away. He usually comes to bed with us and nurses so now that he's up it's unlikely he'll nurse until nap time. Only problem is we'll be travelling so no real nap time - will I be sore by bedtime and will my milk supply be okay if he starts sporadic nursing? I'm ready to be done nursing but I want to do it gently and gradually. Any advice is greatly appreciated.