Behind The Scenes: What's In A Baby Swank Package?

Some creative businesses make some super cute, even useful products & leave it at that. You buy their product & you get it in a plain brown box.

Well not I, honey! Not I!

When you order a Baby Swank product, I guarantee that when my package arrives at your doorstep, it's gonna make your day! I want you to not only love my products, but I want it to be fun for you to open it. Yep...I try to have some super cute, swanky, packaging.

So what exactly does it look like. Well that depends on what you order because each product is packaged a bit differently. But...

• It will have your handwritten address on it & you will be wonderful, fabulous, awesome, or fantastic. 
• It will have some fun, cute washi tape on the front.
• It will be stuffed with goodies. - Not only will your product be there, but so will your invoice, some business cards {for you & friends}, a handwritten thank you, & a special little goodie all surrounded in colorful tissue paper to keep your treasures safe!

Here's what a recent customer told me when she received her package...

I just wanted to say I really enjoyed your cute business card and note! I got a huge kick out the way you addressed the package to me! It was the highlight of my day that day!    -EE

Don't wait too long. Find out for yourself right here!

hugs, Meagan

Stuffy Noses Stink! Your Guide to Treating Stuffy Noses Naturally

I hate to have a stuffy nose worse than anything else! At least worse than anything else that I can think of at the moment anyway.

I'm all for doing things as naturally as possible, but that's one instance where my patience wears thin. If I can't get my nose to open up by the time I'm ready for bed, even just enough to decently breath while I sleep, I'll opt for OTC meds for sure. Anything to be able to breath! Ahhhh!

Many of you probably feel the same way I do, but here's the deal. We're adults & we can take those meds. What about our kiddos? What are we supposed to do for them? Many drug companies have taken infant's & children's OTC meds off the shelves due to some serious adverse reactions so when you have babies & small children, your best bet is to opt for natural treatment.

Cause of Stuffy Nose
Stuffy noses are caused by inflammation {swelling} of sinus tissues due to irritants. These irritants can be from allergies, viruses {colds}, & pregnancy {hormonal changes} to thyroid problems & medication side effects. Either way, the blood vessels in the sinuses are swelling which leads to a stopped up nose. No fun!

So today I'm gonna share some options that I use on my kids to help relieve those frustrating stuffy noses. I've also put these in the order that I'd use them as well.

First off, you want to treat the cause of the stuffy nose, the inflammation. So it's a good idea to start treatment  a bit before bedtime because these natural treatments take some time to work.

Herbal Steam

An herbal steam helps to loosen up any mucous in your sinuses, let them drain, & decrease inflammation at the same time. This should be done a few times a day. Here's how you do it.

1. Bring a pot of water to boil on the stove. Once it's boiling remove it & place it on a solid surface.
2. I take an antibacterial herb like echinachea & an astringent {drawing} herb like plantain & add them to the water. Now you have a tea.
3. Add in a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil. It helps you breath better, plus it's antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiseptic, pretty much anti-everything!
4. Hold your baby & place a towel over both your heads & your pot of herb tea. Inhale the steam so that it gets deep in your lungs.

Now your little one may not like all that hot steam in her face so first off make sure it's not too hot or you're not too close to the pot. If you need to, remove the towel from time to time to get some fresh air, but go back to it for as long as she'll let you. You want the heat to cause her sinuses to open up & drain.

Saline Drops

This is where you put drops of the saline into your kiddos nose to loosen up the mucous before you go to the next step...the "boogy monster"! You can always use the herb tea mixture as well. It will only make it better!

"Boogy Monster"

This is what I've always called that little snot sucker thing that you always get at your baby shower or at the hospital & no it's never scared my kids by calling it a monster! These things either work for you or they don't. Either way, if you do use the saline drops to loosen up those "boogies", this is a good option when it comes to getting them out!

Homemade Vapor Rub

This is very easy & simple to make. You can rub it on your babies chest or right under her nose to help her to breath better. Yes, it's just like Vick's Vapor Rub that you can get at Wal-Mart, but this is more natural & not a bit harmful to you.

All you need to do is go buy some coconut oil {which has antibacterial properties itself} & mix in a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Now you've got a great salve! Simple, easy, & healthy!

Essential Oil Vaporizor

I use this on my little guys when they sleep every time they have a cold. I take a regular old steam vaporizer, fill it with water & mix in some eucalyptus essential oils. Then when the vaporizer turns the water into steam, it's got the eucalyptus in it as well.

Now, I have read online that adding essential oils into a steam vaporizer can burn the motor up or damage it in some way. I've never had a problem, but that's just my experience. You can always buy a vaporizer with the medicine cup & put your oil in there.

Okay, so now you have some tips on how to help your little one feel better when they have a stuffy nose & you don't have to worry about side effects or any of that mess because everything you're using is straight from nature itself. Good luck!

**Use caution when using essential oils of any kind with small children. They are very strong & should ALWAYS be diluted in something before being used on your child. And remember, a little goes a long way!**

Have you used any natural treatments for stuffy noses that have worked well for you? If so, let me know about them in the comments below!

Happy Talk: Testimonials Say It All

Today I wanted to share some of my favorite customer testimonials with you. Whenever I'm checking something out online, I always want to see if past customers were happy or not & what their experiences were like. It makes a big difference as to what I think, not only of the product, but the company as well!

So here you go...below are some testimonials from my Etsy shop. Want to check them all out for yourself? Click here.

3 Bedtime Routine Musts: Getting Your Tot Ready For Bed

I have two little guys. One is 18 months old & he falls asleep like a champ. My other is 3 years old & it seems that over the past 2-3 months I've noticed a big change in his ability to settle down & fall asleep. He wants to talk, play, get out of bed, & just be plain mischievous! Some nights we follow a bedtime routine & other nights we don't. It all depends on what's going on. What's a mom to do??

Establish A Routine
Whether you have a baby or a toddler, bedtime routines are a must for encouraging a good nights sleep. Studies have shown that kiddos with a fairly consistent bedtime routine have better attitudes during the day {as does mama} & they wake less often at night. How great is that? Getting yourself & your kiddo used to a routine is another thing. Change is tough & being consistent is even tougher.

Routine Basics

1. Decide what 3 things you're going to include in your nightly routine & in what order.
2. No matter what time your little one's "bedtime" is, you should begin your nightly routine 30-45 minutes before "bedtime". 
3. Get everything ready before hand so that the routine runs smoothly as well. Make sure you have everything within reach...pjs, book on bed, scents, etc.

What Should Your Routine Include?
I'm sure there are many different things that can make up an awesome bedtime routine. The main things to consider when choosing activities for your routine is that they are quiet & calming! I'm going to share my 3 below.

Bath
Giving your kids a bath before bed will probably be the most important part of your nightly routine. Baths can be fun & playful, but I'd suggest saving the wild play for morning baths. Night-time baths should be calming & soothing. Make sure your water is warm, have a few simple toys, & make everything smell good! Lavender is the best scent for calming your baby or toddler. You can use bath fizzies or herbal bath teas for the water & use lavender scented soaps & shampoos for washing.


Massage
No matter how old you are, a massage is always nice. After your little one is done with his or her bath, dry him off & put on some lavender scented oil or lotion before putting his jammies on. This way the properties of the lavender can seep into their skin & they can smell them all night long! Make sure to rub it in really well, giving them a mini-massage. It will help them relax. 

Book
Reading is a great activity to do with your child right before bed. Kids love having stories read to them! Just make sure you pick an age appropriate book that's not too long & isn't real exciting. Have your kiddo get in bed, tuck them in, & then read to them. You can spray lavender water onto their bed & pillow to help carry that calming scent. Just make sure it's a natural fragrance & not synthetic! You can also place a lavender pillow in the bed with them too!

Off To Bed
Once you've finished your nightly routine, it's important to keep the distractions to a minimum. Give hugs & kisses, sing your special song, tuck everyone in, turn the lights off, & go. Hopefully it will be that simple & they'll settle in & go right to sleep. If not, it may take a week or so of being consistent with your new routine to get them used to it, but don't give up. The payoff is at the end!

What is your bedtime routine like?