Kids Archives - Raising Dawson

Must Have Breast Pumping Items

March 21, 2021 No Comments

Whether you are exclusively pumping or pumping at work, there are a few things that will make pumping easier and a better experience. I am not an expert, just a mama who has pumped to build a supply and while working. These are some of my favorite must have breast pumping items.

Breast Pump

A good pump is obviously an important thing to have. Having a good pump will help with milk production and the amount you pump. I have the Medela Pump in Style pump. It is easy to learn the settings and use. This was a pump I was able to get 100% free through insurance.

Water and Snacks

Water and eating enough calories is extremely important for milk production. Every time I sit down to nurse I get extremely thirsty, so I always make sure to have a bottle of water when I pump too. Eating a good snack while pumping is a great way to get in a few extra calories for the day also.

Hands-free pumping bra

A pumping bra is nice to have to hold the pump in place and free up your hands. When I pumped at work, a pumping bra allowed me to answer a few emails during that time instead of holding the pump in place. This is definitely a must for comfort.

Family, Kids

What to Pack in a Newborn and Toddler Diaper Bag

March 10, 2021 No Comments

Today I’m excited to share what’s in my diaper bag with a newborn and toddler. Before I had my daughter, I did share a what’s in my toddler diaper bag post, but now that we have a newborn too, I needed to add some things to our bag. I still use the TWELVElittle Diaper backpack. If you would like to see a full review of this diaper bag, click here.

Newborn Items

Diapers and wipes- It is recommended that you bring one diaper for every hour that you plan to be gone.
Change of clothes- We need our spare outfit more time than not, so this is something I always make sure to replace.
Swaddle blanket- My daughter was born in December in Michigan, so I make sure to have a swaddle in case it is cold where we go. If you have your baby in the summer, this may be an item you can skip.
Burp clothes
Nursing cover- This is a preference item for me as I prefer to cover up when I nurse.
Changing pad- Many diaper bags come with a changing pad. I leave mine in the bag just in case we need it.

Additional items you may want to include in your newborn diaper bag: Pacifier, formula/bottle, diaper cream

Kids, Teaching

What Should My Child Know Before Kindergarten

February 24, 2021 No Comments

It can be tough to know what your child should know before kindergarten. I remember when I was in kindergarten, I went to school for half day. We sang songs, listened to story time and played. Not only are many kindergarten programs whole day now, the day is filled with much more academics. Kindergarten has essentially transitioned into what first grade used to be.

These days, students are learning much more at a quicker pace. By the end of the school year, they are expected to know their letter names and sounds and to begin reading books. We learn to identify numbers in math and count. We quickly transition into basic addition, subtraction and comparing groups. In my experience, students who start kindergarten with some prior academic knowledge, have a much easier time learning the materials we cover. There are a few things I recommend students know before beginning kindergarten.

Budgeting, Family, Kids

10 Easy Ways to Save Money During Pregnancy

February 16, 2021 No Comments

Having a baby is such an exciting time, but the to-do list before baby comes can be overwhelming. With so many products on the market, it is hard to know exactly what you need for pregnancy and when baby arrives. Here are my 10 tips to save money during pregnancy.

Pregnant belly with hands in the shape of a heart. Tips to save money during pregnancy.

Don’t Spend Full Price on Maternity clothes

Maternity clothes are needed, but it is hard to justify and expensive price tag when they are only worn for a short amount of time. There are a few ways to avoid spending retail price. Check out the best ways to find inexpensive maternity clothes.

Stock up on items you use often

When I have the time,

Kids, Teaching

10 Distance Learning Tips For Elementary Parents

September 7, 2020 No Comments

Day to day life is busy. Adding distance learning and assignments to the mix can be overwhelming and stressful especially if you have multiple children you are caring for or working a full time job. The district I work in is starting with virtual learning for the first 4 weeks of school, then the plan is to move to a hybrid model with 2 days in person learning, and 3 days of virtual. Here are 10 distance learning tips for parents I have learned while teaching virtually. Elementary school boy on tablet. Virtual learning, distance learning, online learning,

Stay organized with a calendar

Have a calendar or planner and write assignments and live lessons times down. This is especially if you have multiple children at home doing virtual learning. Writing down live lesson times and assignments helps keep your day organized.

Set a routine

Set time each day to work on school assignments. Getting your child into a routine is helpful to prepare them for when they do go back to the classroom. It also provides children with consistency and they know exactly when they will need to do their school work.

Have a space for learning

Set up an area in your home for students to do their live lessons. A quiet spot in the house is best, but if that isn’t completely possible, headphones are a great option. If you are looking for a good pair of kid’s headphones, I recommend these.