If you’re in the market for a car seat, let's start with what you should be looking for. NHTSA is one of the most helpful resources I’ve found. They’ve literally written the book on this stuff. Their site breaks down the different types of car seats, age guidelines for each, product recommendations, and installation instructions. I’m also a big fan of Buckle Up for Life which provides a lot of great instructions and videos for how to use your car seat properly.

PS. Did you know that car seat laws vary from state to state? Safe Rides 4 Kids is a great resource for figuring out what your state requires.

Hand in hand with a car seat is often the matter of figuring out which strollers to buy. Unfortunately, yes strollers was intentionally pluralized. Before becoming a mom I‘d been under the false assumption that a single stroller would get the job done. Only now, firmly planted on the other side of motherhood, have I learned that the phrase “it takes a village” is more appropriate. There is the day to day stroller, the travel stroller, double stroller, jogger stroller… honestly the list goes on. Not to mention the stroller add-ons like bassinets, cup holders, trays and the like. Consumer Reports has one of the best all inclusive breakdowns of what you should consider as you’re on the hunt for your strollers. If you play your cards right you could be lucky enough to own just 2 (a vast improvement from the 4 we’re likely about to end up with!).

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As I mentioned, we are about to be the proud owners of 4 strollers. This is where I should also mention that we have 4 car seats. Do we love our purchases and would I recommend them? Absolutely. Could we have gotten by with less? Definitely. Looking back I wish I’d had some sort of guide to follow that would have made decision making easier and honestly better. So I made one. Hopefully you can avoid some of the mistakes I fell into.

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Ok so I know you’re all asking at this point, what did we buy?? Don’t worry, I’ve included all of that information on the download I linked to above. You can also easily shop the round up from the button below.

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Ever on the search for good parenting advice, I recently finished the book Hunt, Gather, Parent. It takes a look at parenting styles in non-Western cultures and compares their approaches to what we’ve all been taught to take as gospel.

One of the things I found most interesting was an examination of where much of our parenting advice originates from (hint it isn’t women) and the challenge to accept everything we’re told just because that’s the way it’s always been done.

There were parts of the book I know I’ll never be able to get on board with and others that I’m already trying to integrate into my parenting style. It’s a pretty easy read or listen.

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I’m almost cringing as I write this because I know it sounds so cliche but here it goes. Try blocking one night a week to do a full on self care routine. It could be any night but block it off in your calendar on repeat. Then, to the best of your ability, don’t let things get scheduled over it.This is a practice I started to try out a few months ago and honestly, it’s been pretty amazing.

My routine varies from week to week but generally includes some combination of a bath with epsom salts, steam shower, dry brushing, exfoliating, deep moisturizing, hair washing with serums and masks, self tanner, face mask, foot mask, and multi step skincare routine. Then after all of the preening is done, it’s down to the kitchen to make a turmeric almond milk latte and land on the couch to watch a show while my feet are soothed by the ridiculous but awesome massager I purchased from Amazon. Lush I know. Just try it for a week and just see how it goes.

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That's all for this month mamas. I hope you're having a great start to your new year and that these tips and resources make it just that much better.