Cincinnati Family Magazine is well-known for our WINSday giveaways! Often time we will give away goodies that we feature in our Things We Love Roundups… bringing our followers closer to the best toys and products around. We love freebies, and we know you do, too.

In November, our Gift Guide featured fab products… and we decided to donate some of those goodies to a deserving local cause. Don’t worry, Cincinnati Family Magazine is still gifting our followers amazing goodies through our 12 Days of Giveaways (CLICK HERE TO ENTER!).

We rounded up our Feel Good Friday products and headed to Brighton Center in Newport, Kentucky to make our donation… and you can do the same!

A little bit about Brighton Center:
Located at 741 Central Avenue in Newport, Ky.
Phone: (859) 491-8303 Website: www.brightoncenter.com

Brighton Center’s Mission is to create opportunities for individuals and families to reach self-sufficiency through family support services, education, employment and leadership.
What Brighton Center Does: family well-being, early childhood education, youth services, housing & financial wellness, community resource center, workforce development, Kentucky Career Center, recovery services.

How can YOU help Brighton Center meet their goals for their Holiday Toy Drive 2024:
VOLUNTEER! or donate toys through Brighton Center’s Amazon Wish List. Their greatest need is for ages 0-12 months and teens.
Click here to view the Amazon Wish List!

Millie + Roo Zip Romper

The softest bamboo romper will have baby sleeping on cloud nine. Perfect for matching PJ family sets, too! The snowflakes print is available as a romper, 2-piece set, dress, pjs for women and men and even as a quilted blanket. $36 and up at millieandroo.com

LittleYogaSocks

Designed to keep tiny toesies warm and cozy, these extra warm socks are sure to become a family favorite. A thick cotton, nylon, spandex mix is extra comfy and the non-slip grip bottoms help ensure early walkers, toddlers, and preschoolers safety as they roam the home. Plus, the Arctic Circle theme is just the coolest! $16 on littleyogasocks.com

LouLou Lollipop 

Little ones will feel so snuggly in these ultrasoft jammies, they will want to wear them all day long! The Home Sweet Home pattern sleeper comes in sizes newborn through 24 months This parent-friendly sleeper comes standard with a full two-way zipper and is machine washable. $38.99 on louloulollipop.com

Connetix 

Get building! The pastel mini pack features 32 pieces at $49 and the rainbow mini pack 24 piece is available at $39.

Scentco Smillows

Extra cuddly cuteness can be found in abundance with Scentco’s Smillows! The plush loveys not only look cute, but they smell yummy, too! Available in cupcake, s’mores, green apple, rootbeer and more fun scents. $24.99 

Hatchimals Mystery Hatchery Playlet

Bring Hatchimals to life in the most colorful way with the new Rainbow Hatchery playset. Hatch the rainbow with six characters by adding water to the nest and watching as each egg hatches, revealing beautiful colors! Watch as the water seeps into the center creating an amazing rainbow swirl! The color that is revealed during the hatch corresponds to the color of the Hatchimals Comes with six color reveal eggs, 6 Hatchimals, 6 sets of wings, 6 accessories and a reusable nest! $24.99

Monster Jam Mega Spiderman RC

Expanding the web of the Mega line with the Monster Jam Mega Spiderman RC! This massive spiderman RC vehicle is an authentic replica of the Monster Jam Spiderman truck. Swing into action with all terrain control that lets you overcome any obstacle. Decorated with great spiderman details with an iconic color scheme, tactile web pattern, and the large Spiderman logo on the back of the truck this Mega Spiderman is the latest and greatest of the Monster Jam Mega platform.  $109.99

Kinetic Sand Squish Motion Playset

Kids love Kinetic Sand–and now it comes in a convenient travel-friendly playset. Featuring yellow, blue and pink sand plus six tools, let the squish-tastic playtime begin. $19.99 at Amazon, Target and Walmart

Sphero Mini 

Tech-y Tweens will love this pocket-sized robot! Jammed packed with programmable LED lights, sensors and app-based games, this rocking robot will provide endless hours of fun. 

$50 on Amazon

The post Feel Good Friday! appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Main Street Toy Co

Runners Up

Bobbins N’ Brushstrokes & The Spotted Goose 

Favorite Birthing Hospital 

Good Samaritan Hospital

Runners Up 

Bethesda North Hospital, The Christ Hospital

The post Family Favorites 2024: Mom and Baby appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Where: Cincinnati Marriott North (6189 Muhlhauser Road, West Chester, Oh)

What: Babies and Bumps 2024 – prepare for pregnancy, birth and life with a baby

Who: Asher & Arnold • Bambiroo • BWS Doula Agency • Charlie Banana • Cincy Babywearing • Cincy Lactation Services • Cord Blood Registry • Cribs for Kids • Ergobaby • Garden City Chiropractic • Gerber • Goldfish Swim School • Jamie Grayson’s Baby Registry Lab featuring Baby Trend, Britax, BOB Gear, Ergobaby, Evenflo, Inglesina, Maxi-Cosi, Peg Perego, Safety 1st, Stokke, and Tula • Kettering Health • kozēkozē • Lullaby Hat Company • MyDigiBook • OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank • Postpartum Care USA • Real Mama Co. •  Tracie Jean Photo • Western & Southern Financial Group • …and more to come!

Why: There’s so much to learn about pregnancy and life with a baby. Join experts in the field to meet local businesses and brands, attend workshops and get some free swag, too.

How much: tickets are $25 (+$2.33 processing fee)

Codeword: OHBABY

Click here to check out the Babies and Bumps website. 

The post Babies and Bumps Back in Cincinnati appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Lilypad Cincinnati | 2008 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Oh | 513-321-1379

Lilypad Crescent Springs | 574 Buttermilk Pike, Crescent Springs, Ky | 859-331-0568

Lilypad West Chester | 7334 Tylers Corner Place Suite 100, West Chester, Oh | 513-755-8444

The post LilyPad Play Grows appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

CITY OF BELLEVUE EASTER EGG HUNT
Sat., March 23 at 12 p.m.; Bellevue Beach Park, 100 Ward Ave., Bellevue, Ky
Hunt for eggs and get photos with the Easter Bunny.

EASTER EGG HUNT AT VETERAN’S PARK
Sat., March 23 at 1 p.m.; 906 Clough Pike Cincinnati, Oh
One giant egg hunt for all.

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA
Sat., March 23 at 10 a.m.; Riverside Park, 425 Victor Stier Dr. Milford, Oh
Egg hunts and the bunny.

FLORENCE EASTER EGG HUNT
Sat., March 23 at 10:30 a.m.; Thomas More Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way Florence, Ky
Games, music, hunts, the bunny, photos and more. ‘

FORT THOMAS EASTER EGG HUNTS
Sat., March 23 at 12 p.m.; Tower Park, 900 S. Ft. Thomas Ave. Fort Thomas, Ky
Easter egg hunts, photos with the Easter Bunny.

THE GREAT SYMMES EGG HUNT
Sat., March 23 at 11:30 a.m.; Home of the Brave Park, 11605 Lebanon Road Loveland, Oh
The annual hunt (ages 10 and younger) includes the Easter Bunny.

HOPPIN’ EASTER EGG HUNT
Sat., March 23 at 10 a.m.; Village Green Park, 301 Wessel Drive Fairfield, Oh
Egg hunts by age group and the Easter Bunny.

INDEPENDENCE EGG HUNT
Sat., March 23 10:30 a.m – 1:30 p.m.; Memorial Park Jackwoods, Pkwy. Independence, Ky
The annual hunt.

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP EASTER EGG HUNT
Sat., March 23 at 10 a.m.; 7100 Foundry Row Liberty Township, Oh
Hunts by age group, arts & crafts, a family-friendly DJ and the Easter Bunny.

WASHINGTON PARK EASTER EGG HUNT
Sat., March 23 at 11 a.m. Sun., March 24 at 3 p.m.; 1230 Elm St., Cincinnati, Oh
A two-day scavenger hunt; eggs will be handed to participants.

Plus, Mark Your Calendars for the Zoo’s Easter Celebration!

CINCINNATI ZOO EASTER CELEBRATION!
Sat., March 30, 12 – 5 p.m. 3400 Vine St, Cincinnati, Oh
Easter-themed fun with treat stations (bring your own bag) and Easter Bunny meetups in the Gift Shop.

For More Easter Events, Check Out “THINGS TO DO” 

The post Easter Egg Hunts Around Town! appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

 “I’ve had patients who were so uncomfortable that they pulled off their gowns and delivered naked,” says Lisa Fraine, a certified nurse-midwife. These reactions are common; they’re simply a response to pain and exhaustion. You can also blame hormones: “Labor causes a shift in your estrogen and progesterone levels, which is akin to a major case of PMS,” says Henry Klapholz, M.D.

If you do lose it, don’t feel bad. Doctors and nurses are used to these reactions. But if you’re uncomfortable with the idea of such a display, be prepared for your delivery. “Women who take childbirth classes tend to stay calmer than those who don’t,” Klapholz acknowledges.

Because knowing what to expect makes for a less stressful delivery, we’ve asked the experts to spill the beans on more common (yet seldom-talked-about) scenarios.

You become nauseous and may even throw up.

Many women think that vomiting during labor is abnormal, but it’s not. One reason it happens: Epidurals can cause hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure.

“An early sign of this is nausea and vomiting,” says David Birnbach, M.D., past president of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology.

But throwing up can occur even if you haven’t been given an epidural, either because of the pain you’re experiencing or as a result of food sitting in your stomach (digestion usually stops during labor). To keep vomiting to a minimum, eat only light foods during the earliest stages of labor, and stop eating completely — and drink only clear liquids — once you’re in active labor.

Your teeth chatter.

Nearly 50 percent of women complain of shivering and teeth chattering,” Birnbach says. It has nothing to do with being cold. In fact, your body temperature may rise a degree or two during labor, making you feel hot. The jury’s still out on what exactly causes this, but the latest evidence points to blood incompatibility.

“During labor, a small amount of fetal blood crosses into the mother’s bloodstream,” Klapholz says. “Studies show that when there’s an incompatibility in blood type between mother and baby — for example, your blood is type A and your baby’s is type B — the mother shakes, shivers and get chills.”

You make noises.

As a baby descends through the birth canal, air gets forced out the anus, so be prepared to pass gas. This is especially likely if you’ve had an epidural, which paralyzes the anal sphincter.

Another unpleasant side effect of childbirth: You may have a bowel movement right on the delivery table.

“It’s purely a space issue,” says Arianna Sholes-Douglas, M.D., a high-risk pregnancy obstetrician. “As your baby’s head makes its way through the birth canal, the rectum gets flattened and its contents pushed out.” In any event, don’t worry. “These bodily functions happen all the time — there’s very little we haven’t seen or heard before,” says registered nurse Deborah Robbins.

Your mind goes blank.

In the heat of the moment, it can be easy to forget what they taught you in childbirth class.

“I couldn’t remember the various positions I was supposed to get into to ease labor pains,” says new mom Elizabeth Estes Niven. “Instead, I stayed flat on my back, gripping the bed railing,” she adds.

You’re also likely to forget many of the details of the birth. So be sure your partner takes plenty of photos or captures it all on video.

It may not be love at first — but most likely it will be.

Don’t feel bad if your first reaction to holding your newborn isn’t overwhelming joy. You’ve just been through an exhausting experience and need time to recover. If you can, try breastfeeding — then let a nurse take your child so you can get some rest. That’s what I did after 17 hours of labor and a C-section. But after an hour, I had them bring my baby girl back and I was immediately smitten!

The post What Nobody Tells You About Labor appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Maintaining Friendships After Baby

First, keep talking. The best thing you can do to preserve your friendships is to be honest and communicative from the get-go. This frank advice comes from F. Diane Barth, psychotherapist and author of I Know How You Feel: The Joy and Heartbreak of Friendship in Women’s Lives (Harper; 2018). Barth says you can say something like this to a friend, “I love you and I hate that I don’t have a lot of time right now, but I’d rather see you for 30 minutes than not at all.” Then you can make a plan for a 30 minute coffee — and stick to it. It’s so much better than bailing on a brunch or something on the day of. And when you do manage to get together — for a walk or a workout — remember not to only focus on your baby. Aim to talk about the same things you talked about before like books you’re reading, what shows you’re watching and romantic relationships. You may find it refreshing to be reminded that all of life isn’t about changing diapers and breastfeeding!

 “To a new mom, a friend’s dating or work issues may seem trivial, but be careful not to be condescending,” Barth says. “Make sure to be a partner in the conversation by valuing what your friend has to say.”
 

For friendships to thrive — with old friends, new or even with your spouse — it requires 50 – 50 effort. Aim to focus on your listening skills, compassion and communication. And remember, being a good friend means offering support through thick and thin. 

Find more baby resources in our all-new Expecting Digital Guide!

The post Maintaining Friendships After Baby Arrives appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

Visit barnesandnoble.com or call 513-547-5514 for more information.

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What does that even mean? What if my baby won’t take a bottle? Thoughts and worry suffocate you. Depletion of milk happens for many reasons and none of those being your fault. You did not fail. Some babies need more and supplementing is a good thing to help them get what they need, and with a little patience and consistency, you can get your milk supply up to speed again.

“Many things can lead to a reduction in supply, but the great thing is, with a little bit of help, many women can overcome this,” says Charla Payne BSN, clinical nurse manager at the Liberty Birthing Center at The Christ Hospital Health Network. “We tell parents to reach out as soon as they’re seeing an issue. Factors that can cause a drop in supply include decrease in infant feeding or pumping, illness, resumption of your period or returning to work.”

How to Tell If Baby Isn’t Getting Enough

There are some key details to pay attention to consider if your baby isn’t getting enough milk. Your pediatrician will ask you about wet or dirty diapers as soon as you make that first follow-up visit after birth. Your little one should also not have a weight loss that is more than 10 percent from their birth weight by the time they are two weeks old. Before jumping to conclusions, your pediatrician will want to find out the reason why.

“Is the baby not able to transfer milk at the breast or is there not enough milk in the breast?” says Payne. “Working with an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in the lactation department would help get more food in the baby (there are many different options) and potentially work on aspects to increase milk production.” Another sign includes inadequate wet or dirty diapers, says Payne. Also know that if your baby seems to be frequently feeding, that is a completely normal sign and it is not always a sign of a problem. There are more positive signs to look out for according to Payne.

“Meeting appropriate milestones and overall wellness are great signs that Baby is thriving,” she continues.

All About Supplementing

If you are told you need to supplement, that could mean either giving your little one pumped milk, formula or milk from a donor. That is up to you.

“We do not have to use a bottle if mom prefers not to,” says Payne. “Again, this depends on if we are supplementing because of Baby or because of mom meaning is this a milk volume issue or is baby not transferring well related to oral anatomy, tone, being born on the early side or other factors.”

The early days are sweet, but hard. The road doesn’t end with supplementing – you can go back to breastfeeding once your milk production gets back on track, so try not to get discouraged. Creating that little bridge of supplemental milk and a great plan with your lactation consultant can get your milk production climbing again, says Payne.

Get Your Milk Production Back

Pumping and more can help — and reaching out to your doctor or a lactation consultant.

FREQUENT FEEDING AND PUMPING – Pumps vary; Payne recommends a hospital grade pump or a Spectra at minimum.

GET ADEQUATE REST- Restless nights can lead to a stress. Have a close friend or relative come over so you can get some extra zzz’s.

EAT A HEALTHY DIET- Oatmeal, almonds and herbs such as ginger are some great foods that can help your supply.

RELAX AND MASSAGE – Ask for help so you can relax with Baby. Hold Baby skin-to-skin, and massage your breasts before feeding to encourage your let down.

The post “You’re Not Making Enough Milk.” appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.

“You have four presents under the tree and I only have one!” a kid says disgustedly to his little brother. As sure as the sun rises each day, your kids are going to have sibling conflicts — many of them full of rivalry. It’s natural. It happens to all kids because they are all unique, with different personalities and tastes.

While adults (well, the majority of them anyway) know how to handle themselves without losing self-control, for young children it can be extremely difficult. Kids growing up have to learn to control their tendencies to stomp their feet, pull another’s hair or engage in any other ill-behaved activity.

But does your home have to be in constant turmoil because your kids can’t get along? Adele Faber, co-author of the bestseller, Sibling Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live, Too (Collins Living; $13.99), says no. Faber says if sibling conflicts are creating what feels like a war zone in your home then perhaps it’s time for Mom and Dad to stop and take a look at what they are – or are not – doing about it. Faber says parents are simply rushing through their days with too much to do on their hands and skipping over the child management.

“Parents are more rushed and stressed than ever,” says Faber. “The pace of society has accelerated to a degree that it’s anti-parenting. Parenting takes time. Some people like to talk about quality time. They say, ‘It’s not how much time you spend with your child, it’s the quality of the time that counts.’ No. Not true. You can’t have quality without quantity. It doesn’t happen,” Faber says.

And parents want solutions fast. “The biggest sibling concern on most parents’ minds is, ‘What do I do when my children are fighting?’ There is no simple answer,” says Faber. “Every situation and each child is different. Factors such as the age of the kids and the nature of the fighting are important.”

So while one of the current school-of-thoughts is that parents should leave their kids alone to work out their problems on their own, some experts say that’s old thinking.

“Used to be kids fought to get a reaction from their parents,” writes Haim G. Ginott in the book Between Parent and Child (Three Rivers Press; $13.95), the best-selling book on parent and child communication. “But the true belief now is that kids need more than that from us. As siblings get older, they find more sophisticated ways of tormenting each other. It’s crucial that parents pay attention to this kind of hurtful behavior because it can have a far-reaching impact on self-esteem and outside relationships,” he adds.

Parents can act as coaches, gently guiding kids through their conflicts when the kids can’t work it out themselves, while also helping them hone the skills they need to communicate. But no matter what, Faber says, try not to rush matters.

“Parents want to fix things,” she says. “They can’t bear to see their children in conflict. What I’d like parents to know is that their kids don’t have to be constantly happy. The message in the home should be that your tears are as welcome as your laughter. I’ll accept you when you’re happy, sad, overwhelmed, discouraged, disappointed, frustrated and so on. I’ll take the whole, human you. You know, the more deeply you feel, the more human you become.”

COMMON SIBLING ISSUES

Scenario:

The children are constantly squabbling and name-calling. When they’re not fighting over who sits where in the car, they’re arguing over who gets to use the Xbox first.

Solution:

Lay down ground rules about how family members should treat one another, Faber says. Communicate clearly and often what your expectations are, otherwise, kids will behave as lawlessly as is allowed. Talk with your kids about what’s going on and how you expect their behavior to change.

You can say that while you can’t demand that they act like they love one another, you do require civility. There is such a thing as kindness without closeness. It’s a lesson that will go a long way in the outside world.

Emphasize that abuse of any kind won’t be tolerated. Pinpoint key conflicts and ask the kids to suggest guidelines – and the consequences for not following them. For example, you all might agree that commandeering the gamer control from a sibling automatically loses the bully an hour of playing time.

“Whatever you try, though, don’t do any of the things that pull them apart, like labeling them into roles as the “good” one or the “smart” one or by showing favoritism,” says Faber.

Scenario:

My daughter gripes that her kid sisters get to have things – like a later bedtime – that she never did. But my younger girls are more mature because their big sister blazed the way. Do we need to hold back on our younger girls on principle?

Solution:

Treating kids equally is usually not possible says Ginott. What matters is that kids perceive that they are being treated fairly. Acknowledge your older daughter’s feelings, then speak candidly about why you’ve made the decisions you have, giving her a vote of confidence at the same time (“You handled these privileges so well, which is why we thought your sisters could handle them sooner”). Then ask if there’s anything she wants. “She might request a 12 a.m. curfew and you’ll need to go over why that may not be a great idea,” says Faber. Regardless, the point is that you treat her as an individual.

Scenario:

There are five years between my two boys who are 10 and 5. The younger one tries to keep up with the older one, and the older one gets annoyed.

Solution:

Little brother is desperate for the older’s attention, says Fabre. And little brother is trying to establish an identity within the family so he’s aligning himself with someone who already has one. Bringing the two of them together to acknowledge their feelings is a good idea, too. But it’s also important for the 5-year-old to have plenty of playdates with children his own age so that he can be secure with who he is without feeling like he has to keep up with an older child.

SETTLING SIBLING MATTERS

• Use “break time.” Send each child to separate areas of the room or the house. When they’ve cooled down, have them come back together to work things out.
• Try role playing or role reversal. Have bickering children switch roles to help them see what it’s like to be in the other person’s shoes.
• Remove the source of the conflict and distraction. If a particular item seems to be the cause of the conflict, remove it for a period of time.
• Help children understand that their actions bring consequences.
• Be clear in setting rules and limits. Instead of barking out commands, tell your children plainly and in terms they can understand what you expect of them.
• Teach them the importance of consideration among siblings.
• Avoid labeling and comparing. It’s harmful to give children labels such as clown, klutz, the athlete, the slob, the smart one, airhead, the anxious one, the fun one or the crazy one. Labels also can cause jealousy, which leads to contention. Instead of comparing, praise each child for his unique abilities.
• Shield younger siblings from no-win situations. Younger children often want to compete with older siblings, which can be very disappointing when they keep losing.
• Ask older children to help. You can help siblings develop a bond by having an older child teach the younger child new things. But don’t require an older child to always let a younger sibling participate in his games or hang out with his friends. Make sure the older child gets some privacy.
• Set a good example for your children. Your children are watching how you handle disagreements and arguments with your spouse and your friends and extended family. They look to your example for how to work out their own problems.

The post Solutions to Sibling Rivalry appeared first on Cincinnati Family Magazine.