Comparing: Thule Urban Glide 2 and BOB Joggers

There are pieces of my pre-mom self that I need to hold onto, no matter what. They’re the things that bring me joy, keep me sane, and allow me some freedom. One of those things, is running. It’s been an important part of my entire adult life. Running throughout my pregnancy was just the beginning of my struggle to keep it up. From those hot July 2020 miles, in a mask, running through morning sickness, to the brisk December ones, when each step felt like I might pee my pants. But even harder was finding the time, the energy, and the motivation to get myself back out there, postpartum.

So when T was finally old enough to ride in a jogger (usually they recommend waiting until about 9 months/when they have good neck control), I couldn’t wait to go out and buy a BOB. That’s what my sister had, and most of the people I know have. But I had heard some good things about the Thule Urban Glide 2, so I opened up the question to the running community that I am part of. I was surprised at how passionate people felt one way or the other. Ultimately, I chose the slightly more expensive, Thule. And I’m absolutely never going back. I have since jogged with a number of BOB strollers that I’ve borrowed while on trips, and they’re awesome, but in my opinion, there is absolutely no comparison.

Here are the key differences, that I’ve noticed:

• Tech specs: Despite being a little bit larger, the Thule is 3.5lbs lighter than the BOB.

• Safety: Both have handlebar wrist straps. But the Thule also has a handlebar brake that allows you to easily, slow the stroller while going downhill.

• Wheels: Both have swivel locking front wheels, however the Thule has no wheel wobble. I typically run a 7:20ish pace, and even sidewalk cracks cause the BOB to wobble so badly that I’ve almost gone over the handlebars.

• Convenience: They both feature a basket under the seat, but the Thule basket has a lid that zips shut. They also both fold up very easily, though the Thule isn’t quite as compact due to the wider space from rear to front wheel.

• Comfort for the runner: Both have adjustable handlebars, and both have a very smooth ride (aside from that wobble on the BOB).

• Comfort for the passenger: Both have large canopies, nearly a full recline, ventilation, UV protection, and great suspension systems. But the seats are very different. The BOB is very unstructured, like a bucket seat. Now that T is older, that doesn’t seem like such a big deal, but when he was still young, I had to prop pillows around him to keep him from slouching and falling over in the BOB. The Thule is a proper seat, like a normal stroller. He sits comfortably, and safely, without a lot of jostling.

So am I trying to sway you, sure. Because, like the other momma joggers that I spoke to, I’m passionate about the jogger I use. It’s been my lifeline at certain times throughout the past 19 months. The Thule Urban Glide 2 is the most expensive piece of baby equipment I purchased, and it’s the only one I would say is 100% worth what I paid for it. I’d buy it again.

Comparing: DEET and Picaridin

All my fellow New Englanders (and anybody else living in a buggy area) knows the struggle to keep mosquitos and ticks at bay. For backyard play, and our first few hikes, we used some sort of organic bug spray on T, with mild success. But as our first camping trip was approaching, I felt that we needed a more effective solution. Ticks are a big problem in our area, and a major anxiety inducer for me.

The most well-known, and widely studied and tested, bug repellent out there is DEET. DEET gets a bad rap, primarily due to false claims that it causes cancer. There is not a single study that has linked DEET to cancer. It’s also safe for kids over 2 months old, in moderation. That being said, the recommendation for DEET is not to apply more than once a day, and its effectiveness doesn’t last that long.

Enter picaridin. Developed in the 1980’s, picaridin is another great option for protection from disease-carrying pests. Similarities between picaridin and DEET include:

• Both synthetic

• Both safe for kids and adults

• Both used to protect against mosquitoes and ticks

• The recommendation for young kids is to apply DEET of 10%-30% no more than 1x a day

But here are the biggest differences, and ultimately how I ended up choosing picaridin for our first family camping trip:

• Maximum protection, which lasts 12-14 hours, is provided by just 20% picaridin, which means it’s well within the safety range for kids and provides much longer protection than DEET

• Unlike DEET, it will not damage clothing or camping gear - this was huge for me

• It does not have the same unpleasant odor that DEET has

• Picaridin has proven equal efficacy against ticks and mosquitoes but greater efficacy against flies

In the end, we walked away with zero mosquito bites, and zero ticks after more than 24 hours out in the elements! So I’m a picaridin convert for sure, and am so glad I gave it a try. We have a second camping trip coming up in September, which is typically a more tick-heavy time due to cooler temperatures. So we’ll be putting this spray to the test again real soon!

Planning Our First Camping Adventure

It’s no small task planning and prepping for your first camping trip with a toddler. I outlined my packing list must-haves already, but beyond packing, a lot went into the decisions I made along the way. Luckily, with the help of Hipcamp I was able to source out the perfect campsite that checked all of our boxes:

• Not too far of a drive (with traffic it was 3.5 hours)

• Quiet campsite - we didn’t want a lot of loud campers nearby who might keep T up late

• Remote enough, but within a quick drive of hotel/motel options in case of inclement weather

• Something with positive reviews

Then I used AllTrails to find nearby hiking trails that would be do-able with a toddler who does NOT want to be carried, but also can’t walk too far or manage too difficult of terrain. Up in New Hampshire, where we were, there are a ton of trails and options. I chose the Big Pines Natural Area and a 2.4 mile loop that had some hills, a river with an awesome bridge, some small streams and plenty of gorgeous scenery. The hike was great for T, and at the end we all took a dip in the refreshing mountain stream.

Once I had our itinerary, and our campsite details all ironed out, I needed to ensure we had all of the necessary equipment and everything a toddler might need. So I visited REI because I’m in love with REI, and their staff was able to help me consider things that I might be missing.

All that planning made for a really positive first experience for us all. We ripped off the bandaid, which I was both excited and incredibly nervous about, and enjoyed it fully. T thought the tent was so fun, especially when he woke up in the morning and saw us both sleeping next to him. What a thrill! I hope to get in one more overnight trip before it gets too cold up here. Admittedly, the only part of our trip that was a little annoying was that it was 95 degrees. The tent was so hot, and we spent the whole trip sticky and gross. So a fall trip, when we need to bundle a bit, sounds perfect!

Until then, please enjoy pics from our trip!

What to Pack: Camping with a Toddler

We just wrapped up our first family camping trip with my 18 month old in tow. The trip exceeded every expectation I had, in large part because my little guy is just very happy adventuring. But it also involved a lot of planning and preparation, ahead of time, to anticipate the many possible scenarios. I’ll get into the trip, overall, in another post, but first I wanted to focus on how we packed for our successful trip! To say that I am not as minimalist for camping as I am for the beach is an understatement.

If you’ve got the main gear, camping is a really inexpensive way to have a very rich vacation experience. That being said, even if you have to make some larger purchases upfront, the investment is worth it for your future trips. Our trip was just an overnight, and we were car camping, so had the luxury of packing more than we could carry. At some point, we’ll be brave enough for a backpacking trip with T, but for now, here are the items that proved to be key for our trip (bulleted list at the bottom of the article as well). Please keep in mind, I am not sponsored and do not receive anything at all from the companies I’ve linked. I’m just trying to make life easier for those of you reading the list.

The Staples: We opted for tent camping, so we obviously needed a tent, and sleeping bags. We also brought a folding chair for each of us. T used his Summer Infant folding chair, and Alex and I had a pair from REI. Anytime I go anywhere without power, I always bring an external battery which can be used to charge my phone or other products. I have one, that was given to me years ago, that is incredible. Can charge multiple devices all day long for at least 2 full days. It’s worth the investment.

Supplies for our Site: Our site, which we found on HipCamp, is primarily intended for RVs, so it was bare bones. It had a wooden platform for the tent, and a small fire pit. Not restrooms, no potable water, and no table. So we brought our own firewood, and a 7 gallon water drum with water from home, which we used for washing hands and dishes, cooking, and drinking. This water drum was awesome, it has a spout that can be turned around for easy use, which prevents too much waste. If we had been very conservative with the water, we could easily have used this for 2 nights (this does not include bathing).

Cooking and the Food: We felt that cooking over a fire could be a little risky with a curious toddler. It would be hard to keep him from trying to reach in and grab things. So we opted to buy this Eureka butane stove, which was amazing! Worked better than my stove at home, sadly. If I could do it again, I MIGHT buy the double-burner one instead, but this worked fine. We prepared marinated steak tips with grilled peppers, and corn on the cob for dinner. I also prepared berries, veggie sticks, and watermelon ahead of time. And snacks galore! Because snacks are how I entice my toddler to chill in once place, and keep his energy up on busy days! In the morning, we used the stove to boil water for our instant coffee, and our Backpacker’s Pantry freeze dried oatmeal breakfast. Overall, the food was great!

Toddler Necessities: I was trying to set up T’s sleeping arrangement to mimic his room at home, as much as possible, which is very dark and his sound machine is VERY loud. So I purchased the cordless, travel, version of his machine. The sound machine was nice and loud, but unfortunately the battery did not last all night. Which resulted in a 2 am wakeup! Luckily I had that external battery to charge it the rest of the night. I couldn’t do much about blacking out the tent, so it just took a little longer for him to fall asleep. In another season, when it gets dark earlier, this may not be an issue. I also packed our BabyBjorn travel crib, which fit nicely into our tent. In addition to these items, and the chair we brought for him, I also packed a play yard gate. I know that seems both excessive, and cruel, since the point of camping is to be free, but it was something I threw in last-minute because our site was on a river, and I didn’t want him running down to the river while we were preoccupied setting up the tent and cooking. We only used the play yard once, briefly. But it did the trick. He had a shovel, and a toy truck, and busied himself just fine. Lastly, because of the river, I brought a life jacket (we didn’t end up needing it) and some water shoes for T. I own Keens, and although you may find them goofy looking, they’re great. But I didn’t want to spend that much on toddler shoes, so I found these incredible knockoffs instead! T didn’t care that they were goofy, he loved them, and had the best time wading in the water without hurting his feet. And it goes without saying that I brought enough clothes for a week (because toddlers will be toddlers), diapers, wipes (which came in super handy for multiple purposes), and swim diapers.

Bugs Galore: We knew that we’d have a lot of bugs to deal with because it’s New England in the summer. Mostly, I was concerned with mosquitos and ticks. The flies, spiders, ants, and other crawly critters don’t bother me so much. So I did my research and ultimately landed on deet-free Picaridin spray (although there isn’t anything wrong with deet!), and a Thermacell Portable Mosquito Repeller. We went through 3 of the repellent mats, and one of the fuel cartridges. I also had some BuzzPatch mosquito stickers that I put on T’s back, and let him play with a bit. I came home with one mosquito bite, which I think I got on our hike the next day. So these items were insanely effective!

A bulleted list, to summarize:

• Tent

• Sleeping bags (and pillows because I’m not that tough)

• Camping chairs, even a folding chair for T

• External battery to charge phones and/or electronics like the sound machine

• Logs, kindling, matches for the fire

• A water drum with clean water for drinking, hand washing, dishwashing, and cooking

• Eureka butane stove and extra fuel as needed

• Food and snacks - we made steak tips with peppers and corn on the cob, which was super easy

• Backpacker’s Pantry freeze dried foods are also very easy and yummy

• Travel crib

• Cordless sound machine

• Play yard gate this wasn’t a necessity and it took up a good amount of space, but came in handy when we couldn’t have our eyes and hands on our curious toddler

• Life jacket, if you’re near water

• Water shoes

• Lots of extra clothes for the toddler

• Picaridin bug spray

• Thermacell Portable Mosquito

• BuzzPatch mosquito stickers

World Breastfeeding Week 2022

To you, breastfeeding mama. The you who made this choice. The you who has felt supported and applauded, only to be questioned later. The you who has nursed in moments of incredible joy, and somehow again during unimaginable grief. The you shielding herself on an airplane, a beach, a park full of people, and the you proudly nourishing your child out in the open, vulnerable to prying eyes and judgement. The you with leaky, engorged breasts, with nipples raw and unrecognizable. Your body is unbelievable, even when it doesn’t feel like it’s your own. To you, middle-of-the-night nurser, who manages to get through it surviving on snuggles instead of sleep. To you, who receives words of encouragement from other mamas, but struggles to find support and understanding in those you need it from the most. To you. And those two incredible milk making machines you’re blessed to have. There’s nothing more beautiful. Nothing harder. To you, breastfeeding mama. You are brave. You are strong. You are not alone. Happy world breastfeeding week.

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Hiking with Toddlers

Hiking has always been a hobby of mine. From my college days in Boulder, CO to hot and humid summer mornings in Virginia, connecting with nature remains a passion of mind. So lately, I’ve been working on introducing T to the trails. As with anything you do with a toddler, it takes time to get it down. Honestly, it takes time before it actually becomes enjoyable, but here are the three things I keep in mind, which have helped lead us to success.

Patience: Incredible patience is required because it’s unlikely that your hike will go smoothly, and certainly will not be as quick as you may be used to. Toddlers are innately curious, and there is so much to explore out there! I try to keep in mind just how beautiful his curiosity is. Even though my adult brain wants to power through, allowing him the space and time to do things like watch a beetle for 10 minutes is going to make the experience more enjoyable for us all. If you flip your perspective, you may find it just as awe-inspiring.

Realistic Expectations: Start with short, relatively easy hikes, and build on that based on your own kiddo’s interest and ability. Our first hike was about 5 minutes, and covered almost no ground at all. It ended in frustration as T broke down and I struggled to manage my disappointment in our failed activity. But we’ve slowly worked our way up to 1.5 hour hikes, and he will walk the majority of that! We’ve also started doing more hilly trails that require a little more physical effort, even some small rock scramble areas. I still choose trails that I know I’d be comfortable carrying him on, just in case he has a day in which he isn’t as into it.

Be Prepared: All moms know that being prepared is the key to pretty much any activity with kids, especially toddlers. I do not like hiking with a lot of baggage, but I always have these items:

• Snacks (things that are easy to eat on the go and will give him a lot of energy - usually a peanut butter sandwich or granola bar)

• Plenty of water

• A hat

• Sunscreen and bug spray

• A change of clothes that I keep in the car for afterward

If you want to start bringing your young kids out, but feel overwhelmed by it or expect the effort to be greater than the experience itself, I’m here to tell you that it’s possible. Each hike will get better and better. Just keep perspective, and be realistic.

Summer Friday Nights

I’ve always thought that when I had a family of my own, I’d like to introduce a few traditions that would be something to look forward to, and a way to keep us all close as the kids get older. This summer, we naturally fell into the tradition of celebrating the start to the weekend with fun family Friday nights! It’s been fun to get creative with it, and it’s something to look forward to. Here are a few ways that we’ve maximized our Friday evenings this summer:

Pizza in the park (or at the beach, at the pool, wherever): Our favorite, by far, has been to get pizza and drive out to the beach. We’re lucky to have an oversand beach here, so we drive right onto the sand, pop open the tailgate of the truck, and chow down. T is able to run around and play, Alex and I get to enjoy each other and the views. It’s actually pretty romantic! But when the beach isn’t an option (nesting birds cause the oversand to close), we get creative! We bring pizza to the pool, or to a park, or even just to our own backyard!

Outdoor breweries FTW: One of the greatest “inventions” of our generation is the concept of a family-friendly brewery. A place where kids can run freely, and sometimes there are even games and entertainment, while parents can socialize and have a beverage. Bonus if the brewery is outdoors and has food or food trucks! We don’t do this as often, but it’s a really great option when we are trying to make plans with friends who also have kids.

Celebrate your town: We live in a somewhat small town, and so I’ve made it my mission to really soak up all that small town life has to offer. One of those things is town-organized fun, particularly in the summer. So I’m always scouring town pages and local media for information about things that will work for our family, like concerts in the park or the carnival which was recently in town!

I hope that we’re able to keep up with our Friday family nights through the winter, when it can be harder to come up with cool activities, and continue on as T grows up! What special family traditions do you have?

Review: Plymouth County Sheriff’s Farm

One of my absolute favorite activities in the world, which is much harder now that I’m a mom, is going out on a run in a new place and making discoveries. One of the coolest discoveries I’ve made, since moving to the South Shore, was actually while I was a bit lost running around Plymouth. It was a stressful run, because T was still a baby, and my husband was walking around with him while I ran. I was lost, and I knew I needed to get home for nursing and nap. All of a sudden, next to some government buildings, and across the street from a Marylous, I noticed a cow behind a freshly painted fence. Lost or not, I had to figure out what this random cow was doing in Plymouth.

Come to find out, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department operates a farm, complete with a three-season petting zoo, and a garden center. You’re sure to see other families there, with tots of all ages running around getting to know the livestock, which includes cows, sheep, pigs, goats, mini horses, donkeys, and hens. They’ve also got a little bunny house and a koi pond. I do not have enough amazing things to say about this sweet, and small, slice of heaven. But here are some things to note for anybody looking to make the trip!

• The petting zoo is completely free, and they have gum ball machines to purchase food that you can feed to the animals.

• The farm has a clean and shaded picnic area, so bring your lunch and eat alongside the mini horses (but don’t feed them, please!)

• One of the things that I find particularly interesting, and great, about the farm and garden center is that they provide jobs for inmates of the Plymouth County Correctional Center.

• Prices for the beautiful, seasonal, garden items (including Christmas trees and pumpkins!) are insanely low.

• Hours: During the colder months, the animals are moved indoors, and are not accessible to visitors. But for about three seasons out of the year, they’re open: Sunday to Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. and Friday to Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

• Address: 74 Obery Street, Plymouth, MA

3 Simple Ways We’re Getting Outside This Summer

We are lucky enough to live in a place where summer is one huge celebration. We survived the winter, and we earned a couple months of sunshine and warmth. That being said, I personally feel a little bit of pressure to really soak up every last drop, and make them count. So here are 3 simple outdoor activities that you can do, even when time is limited and energy is low.

Back to where it all started: I wasn’t born in the 1950’s but I was raised on backyard battles of kick the can, and epic games of HORSE. T isn’t old enough for lawn games with the neighbors, but our backyard and driveway have quickly become a safe place where he has a lot of freedom to play how he wants with what he wants. It’s low stress, and always accessible, even in the rain (puddles are a toddler’s best friend)!

Beat the heat: It doesn’t get too hot in New England most days, but with family in Charleston, SC and many years spent in the DC area, I know that humidity and sky-high temps can make playing outside pretty miserable (not to mention dangerous to your health). The key is to get outside early, and seek out shady areas. When I visit my parents house, T and I like to get out of the house by 7, and if it’s too hot to walk or play, we like to get breakfast outside in the shade.

Pack a picnic: When we have a hectic day, but I am aching for some fresh air, I’ll bring a packed lunch with us on our errands. That way we can stop somewhere, like a park or playground, and eat on the go. It’s fun and a little different for T. I also find that he has a great appetite when we’re on the go, and gets excited about eating out of his lunch box.

Not rocket science, but hope it helps inspire you to prioritize being outdoors, even on busy days!

The Extremely Complicated Role of Stay-at-Home Mom

All moms seem to feel at least some amount of judgement about the choices they make. The choice to be a stay-at-home mom has been just one more way that I’ve felt judged.

Unlike a traditional job, where you’re firing the analytical or creative parts of your brain, much of the load of a SAHM is emotional and physical. As somebody who spent 13 years in corporate America, I can firmly say that it’s absolutely nothing like the demands of being a SAHM. The pressure is significant, and coming at you from all sides. It’s a pace that is unbelievably fast. No mom deserves to be judged, and so I’m just going to shout from this little rooftop of mine about the incredibly hard role of stay-at-home mom, because we deserve more respect. I took the liberty of writing up a job description for my current position as T’s Mom. Please keep in mind, I very much believe that household duties lie OUTSIDE the scope of SAHM.

Position Summary:

Manage the day to day schedule, including meals, naps, education, playtime, and exploration. Demonstrate competent cool headedness in highly emotional situations. Must be willing and able to lift and carry moderate to heavy objects throughout the day, sometimes while juggling many other heavy objects, including groceries, toys, laundry, etc.. Will be provided live feedback from your immediate supervisor (the child) daily, but will also receive regular feedback from spouses, parents, in-laws, friends, cousins, neighbors, strangers, the grocery store clerk, and others.

Essential Functions:

• Develop a working sleep/wake/eat schedule that will shift, often without warning, due to teething, illness, and brain development

• Research and schedule activities months in advance to fill your days, but do it on a shoestring budget because your household income just got sliced in half

• Manage medical-related appointments, including preventative care, and all other odd things that come up (rashes, coughs, fevers, runny noses, vomit, diarrhea, etc.)

• Keep your supervisor happy, but don’t spoil them. Feed them nourishing foods, but don’t be too restrictive. Keep them safe, but don’t stifle their opportunities to learn by doing. Keep them healthy, but do not avoid germ-infested situations like playgrounds and playgroups because that will negatively impact their social development.

• Remember that everything is about your supervisor. Do not put your own needs (bathroom, meals, sleep, etc.) above them, but also don’t try to pour from an empty cup. Best of luck figuring this one out.

Requirements:

• Must provide own transportation (walking, running, driving, bus, plane, we don’t care but you’re on your own to figure it out)

• Willingness to put your career on hold, despite working very hard to establish yourself over many years

• No prior experience required, but no training will be provided

Skills and Capabilities Required:

• Ability to find self-worth doing an unpaid job in a society that has a very narrow view of success

• Ability to do the majority of the group project, while allowing your partner to receive praise for a job well done

• Ability to be present and alert at all times because any small lapse in attention may result in injury or death

• Ability to hear your own thoughts through the constant noise

• Ability to have zero adult conversations for days on end

• Ability to withstand the overpowering sense of loneliness, even though you’re never ever ever alone. Please remember to bring your supervisor with you when you pee

• Ability to be touched all day long, usually by sticky little hands, without complaint

• Ability to do this all on a shoestring budget because you gave up half of your household income to take this job

• Ability to lift and carry 4-50lb squirming supervisor

• Ability to stop yourself from cringing/screaming/rolling your eyes when people talk about your role in a condescending way

Job Type: All-time (525,600 minutes a year)

Benefits:

• Salary: $0

• Medical/Dental/Vision insurance: not provided

• 401(k): not provided

• PTO: not provided

• Holidays: not provided

Ok so that was fun and kind of silly. I do not mean to sound like I don’t absolutely love my job. I truly do, with all of my heart. I think the bravest women in the world are the ones who will take on this role, if they’re lucky enough to have the choice. And I do realize just how lucky I am. My husband has always been 100% supportive of this move, despite our household taking nearly a 50% pay cut. For anybody out there who doesn’t “get it,” I hope this helps. For all you moms out there who are struggling through this beautiful and difficult time, I hear you!

Raising Outdoor Babies

A lot of people comment on the fact that T never seems bothered by weather. We get outside when it’s freezing (literally my threshold this winter was anything over 20 degrees F), raining, windy, snowing, or piping hot. We don’t have a lot of choice because we live in a place with four seasons, including a sometimes harsh winter. I’m not an expert on child temperament or behavior, but what I know is that from the time he was a few days old, I was taking T outside daily.

It wasn’t always easy getting outside, especially when he was very young, and we had a lot of excursions that were a complete bust. But here are a few tips, and some of the gear that helped us along the way! Please note, I do not get paid for any gear that I recommend on this site. These are items I paid for or were purchased as gifts for us and I truly recommend them.

0-6 Months: Two words: baby wearing. In the early days, we mostly just did walks outside, and my ErgoBaby 360 was my lifeline. I was able to take T on easy hikes, to the beach, around town, to walk the dog, even to Costco, all while wearing him. He usually slept while in the carrier, which made my heart explode, because I know he felt safest when he was held close. The two accessories I used a ton were the infant insert and the winter weather cover (I had a January baby in New England).

6-12 Months: The pre-walking stage was all about exploration, for both of us. I would Google different parks and playgrounds, and then we’d check them out. We struck out a few times, but we mostly found some gems! T would either crawl, or we’d bring his Radio Flyer Tinker Truck (an older version of this), which was his favorite push toy.

On-The-Go Kit: I keep a bin in my car that I swap out seasonally. But it’s always packed with the items I may need, anywhere we go. In the summer, that means, shoes, baseball caps, sunscreen, a towel, a change of clothes, and diapers. In the winter it’s snow boots, mittens, snow pants, jackets, beanies, and of course diapers. I’ve pretty much got a sweatshirt or fleece in there year-round.

Exercise for Mom: I’m a runner. It’s how I stay sane, it’s the number one thing I do for me. So the freedom to get my miles in, even with T, is essential to my mental (and physical) health. I know that all running moms feel very passionate about their jogging strollers, and for most moms I know, that is the BOB. But I will die on the hill that is the Thule Urban Glide 2. Perhaps this is sad to admit, but there have been times, over the last year, where it’s felt like my best friend. I get questions about my jogger preferences, and I love it so much, so I’ll likely do a post specific to the Urban Glide, or a review. Stay tuned!

Rainy Days with Toddlers

We’ve all been there. We have a wild toddler who wants to run and be free. They need tons of stimulation, and the house has become boring, despite owning 1,000,000 toys and books. If you live in a climate like us, long and cold winters are even harder. Finding activities that are appropriate for young toddlers can be difficult (especially in the midst of a pandemic!). Here are my top three, untraditional, rainy day activities to keep your kiddo on the go and your house free from chaos:

Dick’s Sporting Goods - It’s highly unlikely that DSG would appreciate this shoutout (shhhh!). But for some reason, T has the best time cruising around the store. He likes to meander through the clothing racks, and then take a detour to the Yeti section where he attempts to pull down the entire shelf. He points to every single ball, and excitedly exclaims, “bumba!” which means “ball” in Latvian. I can usually spend 30-45 minutes in there, and try to at least by something small each time because it feels like the right thing to do.

The Mall - Some malls have incredible activities and play areas for young kids. Trains that circle the food court and merry-go-rounds. If you have a mall like that, it’s an excellent choice for a day out with a toddler. Our mall is more like a mostly-abandoned skeleton of a mall, and it is equally as great! T enjoys running down the wide hallways, and looking in the store windows. He waves to every single person walking by, which is just about the sweetest thing ever.

Ikea - Find me one person, besides my dad, who doesn’t just love a good cruise around Sweden’s most popular cheap furniture super store. They have a kids area, although most have been closed during Covid. But you can also just walk the store with your littles. They enjoy those staged showrooms as much as we do. They sit on every couch, touch every knick knack, and are usually thrilled with the lunch options of Swedish meatballs, mac-n-cheese, and french fries!

There are tons of more traditional rainy day activities, but if you’re trying to find something new, have a field day with these three!

Playground Reviews: Plymouth, Kingston, and Duxbury

Last summer, when my son was old enough to begin going to playgrounds, I found it incredibly difficult to find information about good ones in our area. Too often, I would find one on a map, drive there, and realize it was a total bust. And let’s face it, no mom enjoys a wasted car trip. So I will be doing periodic playground reviews, and to kick off the series, here are a few of my favorites in Plymouth, Kingston, and Duxbury, Massachusetts!

Plymouth:

Nelson Park - Score: 10/10 - This playground rules supreme, in my book. It’s new and clean, always full of kids, and has a range of activities for kids of all ages. The playground is at the beach, features a large open field, a splash pad, and a few picnic tables in the shade.

• Rubberized flooring

• Free parking

• Bathrooms on-site

• Seasonal snack stand

The Playground at Siever Field - Score: 7/10 - I found this playground by accident, while on a run one day. The good: features a great structure for young toddlers. It’s also got free parking and a basketball court. The bad: It’s always empty, and usually has a bit of trash lying around from older kids who use the basketball court.

• Rubberized flooring

• Free parking

• No bathrooms

• No snack stand

Forges Field Playground - Score: 8/10 - This playground is on the older side and has a few areas that could use some fixing, but has a really great assortment of activities for kids of all ages. It’s not as busy as Nelson Park, but there are usually other kids playing at any given time. It’s also great because Forges Field has a winding path system thats great for running, or letting little kids do some bike riding. They also have a monthly interactive story walk!

• Rubberized flooring

• Free parking

• Porta potties on site

• No snack stand

Kingston:

Grey’s Beach Playground - Score: 7/10 - The bad news is that this playground will be torn down sometime in the coming year, but the good news is that the townspeople of Kingston (myself included!) voted to replace it with an incredible new structure that will likely be one of the best new playgrounds in the South Shore. Grey’s Beach is an amazing little park with an open field, a small stage for concerts, pickle ball courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, and of course the beach! The only downside is that during the busy season a Kingston beach sticker is required.

• Mulch flooring

• Beach pass required for spring/summer parking

• Bathrooms on-site

• No snack stand

Bailey Memorial Playfield - Score: 7/10 - The highlight of this playground is its proximity to the train tracks because my son gets so excited to watch trains go by. This one is interesting because it’s a very advanced play structure, lots of very tall climbing areas. There is a smaller piece of equipment for toddlers, and swings for all ages.

• Mulch flooring

• Free parking

• No bathrooms

• No snack stand

Duxbury:

Alden Street Playground - Score: 9/10 - The actual playground equipment at this one is T’s favorite. It’s not the best for very young toddlers, but at 1.5 years old, there is plenty for my son to do, and we have a blast here. There are always other kids around, but because this playground is fenced in, sometimes it gets a little crowded. It’s located at the Duxbury Free Library so is a great option for pre/post story time!

• Mulch flooring

• Free parking

• No bathrooms (unsure about Library bathroom access)

• No snack stand

What to Pack: Beach Trip with Kids

Alright you brave soul, so you’re planning a beach trip with kids in tow. Yay, very exciting! Beach vacations used to be considered relaxing and simple, maybe even sexy and exotic. But there are kids involved now which, let’s face it, can be downright exhausting. The good news is that with proper planning, and a shift in perspective and expectation, you can pull off something pretty darn special.

We live a mile from the beach, and just about 20 miles from Cape Cod, so we spend a good amount of time seaside (sometimes even on blustery winter days, because anything goes when you’re trying to wear out a toddler, am I right?). Whether you’re going for a few hours, or a few days, it’s hard to bring a child to the beach without lugging a ton of stuff along with you. Here are my go-to, sanity-saving, don’t-leave-home-without them beach things (oh and a few things that you most certainly can leave home without):

A beach wagon: Some swear by the beach cart, I’m partial to this wagon myself. Here’s why: You can put almost anything in the wagon. Your kid, a boogie board, a cooler, chairs, perhaps even yourself if you can convince somebody to drag you back to the car at the end of the day. It’s a catch-all, and it’s far easier to maneuver through sand with than a stroller. This is the one I have and I love it because it has rubber, air-filled, tires so you can inflate or deflate depending on the terrain, and it packs up pretty small.

Solbello: Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt personally victimized by a beach umbrella. Now say hello to a solution that doesn’t involve you just sucking it up and forgoing shade. My sister turned me onto Solbello, and I’m never looking back. This thing packs up small, it’s so light, and it creates a huge rectangle of shade for the entire family to enjoy.

Sunscreen: Now this isn’t rocket science, but if you’re still spreading sunscreen on your kiddos faces, as they squirm and scream and do that limp body thing where they just collapse to the ground (what is that?!), then you’re doing it wrong. A face stick, like this one, is where it’s at. Easy to apply, and doesn’t get all over your hands!

Baby powder: You heard that right, and many of you may already know this trick. Sometimes even a hose doesn’t get all of the sand off those tiny little feet. But let them dry, sprinkle on some baby powder, towel it off, and voila sand free feet!

Snacks and plenty of water: Anything your child will eat, and lots of it. The beach has a way of making us all very hungry and also very thirsty. I try to get a mix of protein (think peanut butter sandwich or greek yogurt), fruit (think apple sauce pouch or apple slices that won’t get smooshed), and something salty to satisfy that snacking urge (I’m almost never without pretzels or Goldfish). And don’t forget plenty of water for everybody because hydration is so important!

Things I’d leave at home:

• Toys. Seriously. If you must, pack a bucket or two and a shovel, but most kids are more resourceful than we give them credit for, and the toys are rarely missed. Also my absolute favorite thing to do is to watch what my toddler is interested in when we go. He never flocks to the toys, instead he is into rocks and sticks, he’s always the first to find any critters or pieces of trash (lol).

• Inflatables and noodles. You have to be a crazy person to bring inflatables to the beach. I don’t even know why I am bothering to say this, but they are for pools, exclusively. If your kiddo likes hanging in the water, get yourself a boogie board instead.

• Pets. You don’t know this about me yet but I am a BIG advocate for leaving your pets at home where they’re safe. The beach is rarely a safe place for a pet. It’s too hot, never enough shade, most beaches don’t even allow pets so you’re likely breaking a rule. Trust me, they don’t want to just sit there and lounge around in the sun all day. Leave them at home. Please. That being said, I think it’s wonderful when beaches have off-leash hours for dogs (usually mornings or evenings), but bringing young kids to a dog park situation is never safe.

Alright y’all, that about sums it up. Keep things as simple as possible because we know that nothing is ever truly simple with kids. Here’s to a happy and sandy adventure!