A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists: 100+ Lists to Save You Time, Money, and Sanity

"A Mom’s Ultimate Book of Lists is the book moms have been waiting for! With her solid research and reliable information, Michelle LaRowe has gone from Nanny of the Year to Mom of the Year. A Mom’s Ultimate Book of Lists should be at the top of every mom’s reading list!"

Lynne M. Kenney, PsyD, The Family Coach, North Scottsdale Pediatrics, www.lynnekenney.com

Michelle LaRowe’s book is perfect! It’s concise, easy to read, and anxiety-reducing!

Joan Goldner, president, About Your Time LLC, publisher of BusyBodyBook Organizers

"Let’s face it, motherhood is not quite as simple and easy as we imagined it would be when we were kids. A Mom’s Ultimate Book of Lists is a one-stop resource for finding answers to every parent’s questions. From preparing for your baby’s arrival, to health, safety, and saving money, Michelle LaRowe covers it all! Through her experience as both a professional nanny and a mother, Michelle offers sound wisdom for the variety of needs in a mom’s life. Every mom will want to have this book on her shelf for handy reference and important information that will help her be a positive and wise influence in her home."

Karol Ladd, author of The Power of a Positive Mom

"Michelle LaRowe knows what moms need! A Mom’s Ultimate Book of Lists delivers on its title. It’s sure to save every mom who reads it time, money, and sanity! For the überorganized moms who are looking for an ultimate reference guide to all things baby, A Mom’s Ultimate Book of Lists is fantastic and much needed resource for busy moms."

Suzanne Hansen, RN, BSN, baby sleep coach, RubySkyCoaching.com

For busy moms who are looking for a one-stop resource guide on everything from when to call the doctor to how to teach your kids fundamental biblical truths, Michelle La-Rowe’s book will guide the way! Michelle has taught workshops for me at the Southern New England District Women’s Retreat for hundreds of ladies, and I know she will be a great blessing to you as you read these pages! She has a servant’s heart, and I know her knowledge and wisdom in this area can change your life.

Rev. Tana A. Miller, district women’s director, Southern New England (AG); vice president, National District Director Fellowship (AG)

A MOM’S

ULTIMATE

BOOK OF LISTS

A MOM’S

ULTIMATE

BOOK OF LISTS

100+ LISTS TO SAVE YOU

TIME, MONEY, AND SANITY

Michelle LaRowe

© 2010 by Michelle LaRowe

Published by Revell

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.revellbooks.com

Printed in the United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

LaRowe, Michelle R.

    A mom’s ultimate book of lists : 100+ lists to save you time, money, and sanity / Michelle LaRowe.

         p.    cm.

    Includes bibliographical references.

    ISBN 978-0-8007-3382-7 (pbk.)

    1. Motherhood. 2. Parenthood. 3. Child rearing. I. Title.

  HQ759.L3722 2009

  649'.10242—dc22                                                           2009033565

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked NKJV is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked NLT is taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked KJV is taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

The information provided herein should not be construed as prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the publisher does not enter into a health-care practitioner/patient relationship with its readers. Readers who rely on information in this publication to replace the advice of health-care professionals, or who fail to consult with health-care professionals, assume all risks of such conduct.

10   11   12   13   14   15   16         7   6   5   4   3   2   1

To Abby and Jeff,

who are always at the top of my list!

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Lists for Preparing for Baby

1. Common Pregnancy Symptoms and Solutions

2. What’s Safe and What’s Not during Pregnancy

3. Your Changing Body and Developing Baby

4. Routine Tests Offered during Pregnancy

5. When to Call the Doctor

6. Ten Things to Think About When Considering Adoption

7. Ten Things to Think About When Expecting Multiples

8. Key Components to Include in Your Maternity Leave Proposal

9. What to Include in Your Birthing Plan

10. Common Pain Medications Used in Childbirth

11. Christian Principles for the Successful Single Mother

12. Preparing for Baby

13. Hospital Packing List

14. Questions to Ask before Choosing a Pediatrician

15. Spiritual Comfort for Mom-to-Be

16. A Month of Prayers for Your Unborn Child

17. Must-Reads for Mothers-to-Be

Lists for the First Year

18. How Much and How Often Should My Baby Be Eating?

19. Breastfeeding Basics

20. Introducing Solid Foods

21. Length and Weight Guidelines for the First Year

22. How Much Sleep Do Babies Need?

23. Sleep Training Your Baby

24. Developmental Milestones for the First Year

25. Top Toys for the First Year

26. What Goes in My Diaper Bag?

27. Traveling with Baby

28. The Best Baby Gear

29. Twenty-five Things You Think You Really Need but Really Don’t

30. Must-Haves for Multiples

31. Lyrics to Twenty-two Traditional Nursery Rhymes and Songs

32. Six Lullabies to Soothe Your Baby’s Soul

33. Twenty-five Prayers for Your Child

34. Recommended Resources for Parents of Babies

Lists for the Toddler Years

35. Nutritional Guidelines for Toddlers

36. How Much Sleep Do Toddlers Need?

37. The Best Bedtime Routine

38. Stature and Weight Guidelines for Toddlers

39. Developmental Milestones for Toddlers

40. The Toddler’s Toy Box

41. The Toddler’s Library

42. Twenty Terrific Activities Toddlers Love

43. Guilt-Free DVDs for Your Toddler

44. Twenty Musical Moments for Toddlers

45. Ten Life Lessons to Teach Your Toddler

46. Five Great Everyday Ways to Teach Your Toddler about God

47. Easy Steps for Taming Your Toddler’s Tantrums

48. Ten Recommended Reads for Parents of Toddlers

Lists for the Preschool Years

49. Sleep Guidelines for Preschoolers

50. Nutritional Guidelines for Preschoolers

51. Stature and Weight Guidelines for Preschoolers

52. Developmental Milestones for Preschoolers

53. The Preschooler’s Library

54. Great DVDs for Preschoolers

55. The Preschooler’s Playroom

56. Ten Awesome Activities for Preschoolers

57. Six Steps to a Successful Preschool Playdate

58. Teaching Children to Share Step-by-Step

59. Twenty-five Great Places to Take Preschool-age Children

60. Classes Preschoolers Really Enjoy

61. Marks of a Great Preschool

62. Ten Practical Christian Principles to Teach Your Preschooler

63. Teaching Your Preschooler to Pray

64. Recommended Resources for Mothers of Preschoolers

Lists for Family and Friends

65. Ten House Rules for Every Home

66. Bully Proofing Your Kids

67. Selecting a Family-Friendly Church

68. Feeding a Picky Eater

69. Age-Appropriate Chores for Young Children

70. Twenty Family Outings That Are Fun for Everyone

71. Ten Tips for Traveling with Kids

72. Items in a Well-Stocked Vehicle

73. Games and Activities for the Car

74. Fun Family Traditions

75. Fifteen Signs of a Family-Friendly Restaurant

76. The Dos and Don’ts of Dealing with Sibling Rivalry

77. Five Steps for Fostering Friendships

78. United States Federal Holidays

79. Bible Basics

80. Thirty Ways to Document Your Family’s Heritage and Favorite Memories

81. A Dozen Tips for Teaching Acceptance of All without Compromising Your Family Values and Beliefs

Lists for General Health and Safety

82. Common Childhood Allergies

83. Common Childhood Illnesses That Involve Rashes

84. Standard Vaccination Schedule for Children

85. When to Call the Doctor

86. Basic First Aid for Ten Common Childhood Injuries

87. CPR Instructions

88. What Belongs in a First Aid Kit?

89. Emergency Information You Should Always Have on Hand

90. Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen Dosage Charts for Children

91. The Top Twelve Safety Mistakes Parents Make

92. Childproofing

93. Hidden Household Poisons

94. Home Hazards

95. Choking Hazards

96. Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Child Care Provider

Lists for Saving Your Time, Money, and Sanity

97. Baby on a Budget

98. Ten Time-Management Tips for Moms

99. Twenty-five Quick, Easy, and Affordable Home Organization Ideas

100. Best Bargain Shops

101. Ten Terrific Tips That Save Time and Money

102. Common Clothing Size Guidelines for the First Years

103. A Week’s Worth of Quick and Easy Family-Friendly Meals

104. Three Tasty Treats That Every Mom Should Know How to Make

105. Ten Things a Mom Should Never Leave the House Without

106. Twelve Sanity-Saving Stress Busters for Moms on the Go

107. Twenty Lists You Should Keep

108. Ten Instant, Mom-Tested, Mom-Approved Pick-Me-Ups

109. Ten Tips for Balancing Home, Work, and Family

110. Ten Terrific and Affordable Time-Outs for Couples

111. The Virtuous Wife

112. Who’s in Your Momtourage?

Notes

Acknowledgments

It only seems fitting in this book of lists to include the list of those who have made this book possible.

1. God, who has done more for me than I ever deserved or dreamed.

2. My husband Jeff, the best husband and co-parent in the world, who works all day then happily cares for our daughter at night so I have time to read, write, and rewrite.

3. My daughter Abigail, who always gives me inspiration and something to smile about. I love being her mom.

4. My mom Linda, who faithfully cares for Abigail one day a week, allowing me to successfully work from home. 5. My agent Greg Johnson, who is amazingly gifted and talented at what he does. His support, guidance, and encouragement allow me to keep doing what I love to do.

6. Becky Johnson, for teaching me how to show rather than tell, for believing in my list book concept, and for really teaching me how to write for publication.

7. Jennifer Leep, who took a chance on me and my project and saw it through to the end.

8. Lindsey Spoolstra, who oversaw the editing of this project and made it come to life.

9. The team at Revell, who gave 100 percent to designing, editing, marketing, and selling this book. Your attention to detail has made this book great.

10. The families I’ve worked with over the years, who have let me into their lives. I’ve learned a lot by being in the trenches with you and sharing in your daily joys and struggles.

11. The International Nanny Association (INA), who tirelessly works to support nannies and to raise the professional bar for in-home child care. The recognition INA gave me opened the doors for me to write books. It’s also because of INA that I am able to be a work-from-home mom.

12. My friends and family, who listen to my never-ending flow of ideas and theories and who always give me honest feedback and encouragement.

Introduction

It wasn’t so long ago that I made the exciting and eye-opening transition from nannyhood to motherhood. For more than a decade, I’ve dedicated my time, energy, and heart to partnering with parents in raising their children. A part of me still can’t believe that it was possible for my heart to be filled with more love than I’d already given to and received from the precious children who have called me Nanny.

Pregnant and nervous, I looked back over the years and wondered if my experiences would really prepare me for the 24/7 role of a lifetime called motherhood.

While there was more love than I ever anticipated flowing between me and my newborn daughter, nothing could have prepared me for the tidal wave of emotion that came with having a child of my very own. As much as I’ve loved the babies I’ve cared for in years past, there’s something special about looking into pools of dark brown eyes and seeing a minime. Perhaps it was the recognition of the child I once was, staring back at me with such innocence, that made having my own baby an experience unlike caring for another woman’s child. Or it could be the fact that she was ours, always, to keep and cherish forever, that made being a mom so beautifully unique. Whatever the reason may be, two simple facts remain. We are now the parents in charge of a new life, and it is both fabulous and, at times, frightening.

And while many things have changed now that I have a child of my very own, there are a few things that haven’t. True to my just give me the facts personality, I am still hungry for the most up-to-date, reliable parenting information. I want to know what’s safe and what’s not, what is best for my child, and, yes, what exactly is the normal time for her to walk, talk, and potty.

Then there is my love of record keeping and resource gathering. In each new nanny position, I’ve found it necessary to update my research and gather into one special place the most pertinent parenting information that all families need. For me, that special place has always been the family binder.

The family binder has served as an information resource hub, providing the answers to the most commonly asked parenting questions (such as, How many ounces of formula should my newborn be drinking? or, When should a toddler stop napping?); basic medical information (proper dosages of Tylenol, names and descriptions of common childhood illnesses); general health and safety guidelines for children (appropriate car seat choices, toy recommendations for toddlers, and a list of hidden household hazards that need safeguarding); and ideas for age-appropriate activities and outings.

As I spent countless hours gathering and reviewing expert information from such reliable sources as the American Academy of Pediatrics and The Center for Disease Control (among others) while preparing for the birth of my daughter, I couldn’t help but think, Wow. This book would be a lifesaver and time-saver for any new parent. And that’s where the seed of this book in your hand began to sprout.

If you’re holding this book, you can say good-bye to the scattered handouts, computer printouts, hand scribbled notes, piles of parenting magazines, overflowing library (that’s mostly collecting dust), and any other literature that you’ve earmarked specifically for gleaning that one piece of (often outdated) information, and say hello to my version of the universal family binder, a one-stop practical resource guide that will you save you time, money, and sanity.

I have to admit that this book is my secret favorite (although my first book, Nanny to the Rescue, comes in a close second)! By nature, I am a self-admitted lover of lists and organization. I live by lists and I brake for the Container Store. At any given time, I am armed with grocery lists, shopping lists, or task lists. In fact, people pay me to help them prioritize their lives with lists. So nothing could be more fun and give me more pleasure than writing A Mom’s Ultimate Book of Lists, which contains 112 of the most practical lists for all moms to live by. This book includes (in an easy-to-find layout) the most sought after parenting information and organizes it into the ultimate practical reference guide for mothers parenting children from birth to age 5. And it even has a whole section dedicated to preparing the mother-to-be for her own up and coming starring role in motherhood.

A Mom’s Ultimate Book of Lists really does give you all the information you’ll need, minus the hours spent surfing the Internet or searching through bookstores. And it’s not just any information that you’ll find in this resource guide. Because I’ve done the research for you, A Mom’s Ultimate Book of Lists provides the most current guidelines; award-winning books, toys, entertainment; and the most practical parenting information in an easy-to-read list format.

Enjoy flipping through this handy, comprehensive guide. You now have all the information you ever wanted to know, literally, at your fingertips.

LISTS FOR

PREPARING

FOR BABY

LIST 1

Common Pregnancy Symptoms and Solutions

In addition to the telltale signs of a missed period and a pregnancy test to confirm that you’re expecting, there are some other, often subtle signs that can clue you in to the big news. While these early signs of pregnancy can sometimes be easy to miss, there are other symptoms that will boldly come and go throughout your pregnancy, and still others that may linger persistently until you give birth.

• Implantation bleeding. Some women experience light spotting and minimal cramping 6–12 days after conception, as the embryo burrows itself into the uterine wall.

• Changes in breasts. A noticeable change in breasts can often be detected as early as 1–2 weeks after conception. For many women, swollen and sore breasts are what lead them to take a home pregnancy test. As pregnancy progresses, the tissue around the nipple—the areola— may become darker. Wearing a supportive bra during the day and a soft cotton sports bra at night (and while sleeping) can help to alleviate discomfort.

• Extreme fatigue. As early as one week after conception, many mothers-to-be notice a significant decrease in energy. Be sure to rest as much as you can and stay well hydrated and nourished.

• Morning sickness. As early as two weeks after conception, many women experience their first bouts of queasiness. Morning sickness can occur at any time throughout the day. To stave off vomiting and nausea, snack on crackers before getting out of bed and eat small, frequent meals throughout the day. Talk to your doctor about taking Tums to help relieve a sour stomach or try sucking on some lemon drops for an all-natural cure.

• Backaches. A lingering, dull backache (often starting just weeks after conception) can accompany pregnancy. Avoid staying in one position for too long,