Get ready to take your parenting game to the next level with the parenting tips no one tells you. They’ll help you prepare for where the baby books run out.

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Any woman who has ever been pregnant knows that everyone on the planet has parenting tips. They feel compelled to share those tips with you constantly and unsolicited.

They tell you the “correct” way to feed your baby, hold your baby, whether or not you should co-sleep… if you can think of it, it has probably been said.

What you don’t hear is, “If you let the toddler roam the car while buckling the baby, then check all of your dials before leaving.” Or that baby gates are challenges more than actual baby-proofing.

Always Take Your Keys

Any time you step outside without kids, take your house key. Whether you are walking the oldest to the bus stop or grabbing the mail, always take your keys. Little hands love to explore and that little tab on the door knob is like a magnet for them. Don’t think you are safe if they are in the pack-n-play either. The second your back is turned they transform in acrobatic little ninjas who will escape.

Interior Door Keys

Speaking of locked doors, stock up keys for your interior doors too. Independent 3-year-olds will lock themselves in the bathroom. Teenagers will be naïve enough to think they “own” their room. We keep one of these above every door in the house and have used them so many times I have lost count.

Handle Guards

If you are using the rubber ones to prevent head bashing, great! If you are using those crazy contraption ones to prevent little hands from opening doors, you are wasting your money.

We had one on our front door. The irony was that the toddlers it was supposed to keep safe were the only ones who could work it.

Save yourself the trouble and money; invest in a door chain. They can get the door open but not enough to get out of the house.

Bonus:

Remember to unlatch it before your husband gets home. Turns out he gets cranky when he’s chained out of the house after work… especially if you’re downstairs and don’t hear him yelling.

Move the Baby Gate

These are fine on the floor when baby first starts moving. Once they become toddlers, though, the baby gate turns into an obstacle to overcome. It is their baby Everest and they are up to the challenge. That is why you should move the gate up a few inches during the toddler years. It will be harder for them to climb.

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Utilize Stickers

Stickers are your new best friend. They are inexpensive and can be used to re-enforce everything from potty training to acts of kindness. Yes, you will find stickers everywhere but which would you rather clean: a sticker mosaic or a feces Van Gough?

Bonus Tip:

If you do find yourself forced to clean up that Van Gough, use a foaming bathtub cleaner like Scrubbing Bubbles. It will stay in place on walls to make cleaning easier.

Tie Up the Play Yard

At some point after the “throw all my toys out and watch you pick them up” phase of the pack-n-play your child will move on to a new game. This fun game is called “run and throw all of my weight against the side”.

My son could move his clear across the living room in 2 runs at 2 years old. You can prevent this by tying the leg of the pack-n-play to a sturdy furniture leg like the couch or a sturdy coffee table.

Use a Pizza Cutter

Don’t use a pizza cutter only for pizza. This little miracle can cut up tons of foods quickly and easily. We have used it on salads, spaghetti, hot dogs, fruit, and cookies. It will save you a ton of time!

Set Up 2 Wi-fi Accounts

Did you know that you can set up 2 accounts on the same router that both pull from the same internet? You can even choose the speed of each one.

Use one wi-fi to connect all of your household devices to like your Fire Stick and DVD players. Use the other one for all of your kids’ devices like phones, laptops, and Xboxes. If the kids are grounded you can easily disable their electronic with affecting your own.

You’ll be the smartest parent on the block with these parenting tips no one tells you. Hopefully you’ll be less stressed, too, because parenting is stressful enough on its own. Want more super-simple parenting ideas to save you sanity? Check out these DIY Busted Cards and these 5 Tips to Get Kids to Sleep. Do you have a parenting tip no one tells you? Share it with us in the comments!

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If you’re looking for a fun local activity that fits your schedule all winter long, you can’t beat Sharpsounds Karaoke. It is the best karaoke in Northern Kentucky and has family-friendly options as well as options for an adults-only night out!

[bctt tweet=”Find the best karaoke in NKY with family-friendly options and adults-only ones! #karaoke” username=”diyadulation”]

I was recently inspired by Eventbrite to create a post about a local business that I love for winter activities (this is not a sponsored post). What a task! You know how much I love supporting local events from 5 Ways to Find Free Summer Activities.

These are the same ways I find winter events to attend with my family. In fact, a local park had an amazing winter event in December that we had a blast at despite the freezing temperatures.

Why it’s the Best Karaoke in Northern Kentucky

The Host

Roy Sharp, the host and owner, is amazing. His sound quality is unmatched because he personally adjusts the sound for each singer.

He will make sure that you sound your best each time you sing. Even more so, he is very friendly and supportive so don’t worry if you’re nervous.

The Sound

He also takes pride in his equipment because he cares about his show and the wonderful singers who attend it. He has invested his time and money to find the best mixer, digital programs, and wireless mics to make your experience awesome.

Not only is his equipment phenomenal but he knows how to use it meaning less technology delays and more fun.

He also has a huge selection of songs from Disney movies to heavy metal. No matter what style you sing, you will find something at his show.

The Show

The shows are fair. Any karaoke-er knows that a lot of local shows play by the “good ‘ole boys” systems. That means that the host will bump you down the list if the host’s friends or family members stop in to only sing for an hour. This doesn’t happen at Roy’s shows. He keeps a list of the singers as they come and consistently keeps that order.

Does that mean that if you come in late that you go to the bottom of a list of 40 singers? It absolutely does not. He works that fairly, too, by weaving in new singers between existing singers who have been at the show longer. This helps ensure that everyone who comes to sing gets their opportunity.

Family Friendly Option

Did you ever think you could find a family-friendly karaoke night that wasn’t on a cruise? Sharpsounds Karaoke has managed to do that too! On Wednesday and Thursday nights you can find him at the Green Lantern Café in Latonia, Kentucky.

If you haven’t been to this venue since they re-did it, you are missing out.

The restaurant is non-smoking, serves up delicious food, filled with the local games on the big screens, and, of course, karaoke.

Your kids can get in on the singing fun while you enjoy a family meal (until 10 pm EST). You also don’t have to worry about inappropriate songs coming on during dinner.

Roy won’t let other singers sing songs (such as “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails) during the hours that children are allowed in the café.

Adults Only Option

Update: This venue has since closed.

For an adults-only night out you can check out Sharpsounds Karaoke at Average Joe’s in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky. Found right off of interstate 71/75, it is the perfect option for a fun night of singing. In addition to the awesome karaoke show there is also a billiard table, video games, and an outdoor patio. The many options make it easier to find a place to sing that even your non-karaoke-ing friends will enjoy.

Winter Activities

There is one more awesome aspect to Sharpsounds Karaoke that truly makes it the best karaoke in Northern Kentucky and that is the free parties. Every year during the holidays there are Christmas parties, a New Year’s Eve celebration and countless other celebrations.

Each one of these is totally free to attend and will include freebies like food or favors. On New Year’s Eve you even get a free champagne toast at midnight, again absolutely for free. There is no cover charge or minimum purchase to be included in the fun.

Seriously, if you love to sing your heart out at karaoke you cannot beat Sharpsounds Karaoke. Once you go you’ll feel like family. Plus it doesn’t hurt that you can make a family night of it with the kiddos. Now that you know my favorite place to do karaoke, come back for tips to save money on girl’s night out. You’ll be ready to grab the girls and head out for a night on the town.

If you’re planning on hosting your own get together check out this event management tool here.

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It never fails. You are winding down with the kiddos before bedtime. You’re watching their favorite cartoon or reading their favorite story for the umpteenth time. Next, you get them snuggled into bed and it starts. “Can I have a drink?” “I need to use the bathroom.” “We never colored today.” Those sweet little angels turn into stalling masterminds. You have the option of shutting the door and letting them cry it out but there are other steps you can take to make the transition to bedtime easier on everyone. From utilizing music to a comfortable bed, these 5 tips to get kids to sleep will help you finally conquer the bedtime wars.

Stagger Bedtimes

It’s not always an option for kids to each have their own room. Don’t let this keep you from smooth bedtimes. Stagger bedtimes with your kids to eliminate playing at bedtime. This doesn’t have to be significant amounts. If your kids are close in age, staggering by 15 minutes can still be effective. Staggering bedtimes will mean changing up your bedtime routine (see below) to doing the winding down and prayers in the living room instead of in bed so plan accordingly.

[bctt tweet=”These 5 tips to get kids to sleep will help you finally end bedtime wars! #ad #sleeptips” username=”diyadulation”]

Create a Routine

This is a big one. A consistent bedtime routine not only helps kids mentally prepare for bedtime but also creates physical cues that tell their bodies that it is time to sleep. It doesn’t have to be a big, elaborate routine. Something as simple as setting a specific time to begin baths, read a book, and say prayers has a high impact. My kids cannot get through our bedtime prayers without yawning because it has become a physical cue that it is time for them to go to sleep.

Tip:

Consistency is key when starting a new bedtime routine. It may seem hard-nosed but for the first 2 weeks, do not deviate from the routine. That means no staying late at family or friend’s houses, no eating dinner at a later time, and no skipping baths. Once the routine is well-established, the occasional deviation won’t do harm.

Utilize Music

Sometimes kids have trouble turning their brains off at night. They are building memories, creating connections, and learning constantly. Television can be over-stimulating but music, especially instrumental, can be a great way to give them something to focus on without getting wound up. If you are having trouble getting your kids to stay in bed at night, try getting an inexpensive clock-radio, cd player, or even a nightlight that plays music.

Beware of Electronics

Electronics are not a bad thing. My kids get to watch a television show before bed every night. However, they are not watching an activity-filled cartoon that encourages them to get up and dance or jump around the house. Instead it is a mellow show, often with music. It is also one that they have seen before so that they can enjoy it without wondering what’s going to happen (which can make their brain get more engaged than I want before bed).

Tip:

I do caution against any type of video games before bed. Even the most education-filled and mellow of video games can overstimulate them before bed. Their brains begin working on solving problems, adrenaline starts pumping from wins and losses, and it is overall a bad bedtime idea.

From utilizing music to a comfortable bed, these 5 tips to get kids to sleep will help you finally end bedtime wars. + win a Baby Bundle from Brentwood Home #ad — Photo Credit: Brentwood Home

Cozy Bed

You may be tempted to purchase a $50 mattress for your kids, especially if they are still in a crib or toddler bed because they will outgrow it in a few years. I have made that mistake and it resulted in my daughter not sleeping through the night until she was 18 months old. As you can imagine, that was an exhausting nightmare for a mom pregnant with her third child. Instead, invest in a high-quality mattress that is comfortable and grows along with your child, like this Poppy 2-Stage Crib Mattress from Brentwood Home. The mattress has a firmer side for babies and a softer side for toddlers which makes it worth the investment for your kids. Did I mention that it comes with a waterproof cover that is easy to clean and it is free of any chemical fire retardants? Think about how much better you sleep when you have a comfortable bed and imagine how much better your kids will sleep with the same. If you are going to splash out and get a new mattress then whether it’s for you or for your kids, make sure it’s the right size for the bed. You’d be amazed by the amount of people who buy a mattress the wrong size for their bed! Double check this guide to mattress sizes before you buy anything.

Bonus Tip

Allay those bedtime requests by working them into your routine. For example, if your son always asks for a drink as soon as those covers come up, bring a small cup to bed. Fill it beforehand with a sip of water and let him have that sup in bed. If your daughter always wants a second story, build that extra story into the bedtime routine by lying down to read 5-10 minutes earlier. These small changes can make your life so much easier at night.

My 4-year-old daughter loves her new mattress and actually looks forward to sleeping on it! If you want to help your child be invested in bedtime, make her a part of the whole process. Show her when you’re ordering it online. Let her be a part of the unboxing and setting it up. When your child is a part of the process they actually get excited about bedtime. While you won’t find this little snippet on the Brentwood Home website, I love that the mattress is like a springy trampoline. It supports my daughter while still being soft and comfortable. It also turns out that kids are less inclined to jump on a bed that doesn’t vault them into the air. That’s just an extra parenting bonus. Are you ready to end the bedtime wars and get your hands on your own Poppy 2-Stage Crib Mattress and Sweatpea Changing Pad? Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a set for free!

**UPDATE**

Now you can get your hands on all that Brentwood Home has to offer for 10% off!

Enter the code OURHOME at checkout for your discount!

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The Parenting Tips No One Tells You