Why is a parked car so dangerous for children?

A hot car can become deadly much faster than many parents realize. On an 80-degree day, the inside of a vehicle can reach 109 degrees in just 20 minutes.

Children’s bodies heat up faster than adults’, which means a short errand or moment of distraction can turn into an emergency. Never leave your child alone in a car, not even for a minute.

What does A-C-T mean for parents?

The Department of Health’s message is easy to remember and easy to use. It gives parents and caregivers a practical plan for hot car safety for kids.

A — Avoid heatstroke

Never leave your child alone in a vehicle. That includes quick stops at the store, returning a shopping cart or running inside the house.

Lock your car when it is not in use. Children can climb into an unlocked vehicle on their own and become trapped, even if you do not have young children in your household.

C — Create reminders

Busy routines, lack of sleep and changes in schedule can all disrupt memory. Build reminders into your daily routine so your child is never forgotten in the back seat.

• Put your purse, wallet, employee badge or laptop in the back seat.
• Place your cellphone beside your child if you will need it at your destination.
• Use a visual cue, such as a stuffed animal in the front seat when your child is buckled in back.
• Ask your child care provider to call if your child does not arrive as expected.

Create a system you use every single trip. The more automatic it becomes, the safer your routine will be.

T — Take action

If you see a child alone in a locked car, act immediately. Call 911 right away.

A child showing signs of heatstroke must be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and cooled rapidly. Do not wait to see if someone returns.

How can families build safer daily routines?

Most tragedies happen when a routine changes or a caregiver is distracted. Prevention works best when it is built into everyday habits.

• Check the back seat every time you park.
• Keep a diaper bag or child item where you can see it before exiting.
• Text or call your partner after drop-off.
• Set calendar alerts for child care drop-off and pick-up times.
• Talk with grandparents, babysitters and older siblings about hot car safety.

Make “Park. Look. Lock.” your end-of-trip routine. It takes seconds and can prevent a tragedy.

How can Collier and Lee County parents spread awareness?

Hot car safety is a community issue, not just a parent issue. Neighbors, relatives, teachers and caregivers all play a role in child heatstroke prevention.

Share the A-C-T message with anyone who transports your child. Post a reminder in your car, save emergency contacts in your phone and talk openly about the risks with friends and family. In Collier and Lee Counties, where warm temperatures arrive early and stay late, these reminders matter throughout spring and summer.

Where can parents get more child safety support locally?

DOH-Collier is hosting a car seat safety check from 12 to 2 p.m. on April 7, 2026. Events like this can help families review basic safety practices and ask questions about protecting children on the road.

Safe Kids Southwest Florida hosts car seat safety inspections across Hendry, Glades, Collier, Charlotte, and Lee County, where parents receive one-on-one personalized instruction on how to properly install and use their children’s car seats.

Car and booster safety checks are performed by Nationally Certified Passenger Safety Technicians.

Agencies with Certified Car Seat Safety Technicians in Collier County

Call to make an appointment at one of the providers listed below.

• Collier County EMS – 239-252-3740
• Collier County Sherriff’s Office – 239-252-0367
• Greater Naples Fire Rescue – 239-348-7540
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Store – 239-262-5904

What is the one message parents should remember?

Hot car death prevention in Collier and Lee Counties comes down to a habit every caregiver can practice: Park. Look. Lock. Never leave a child alone in a car, create reminders before every trip and take immediate action if you see a child in danger.

For more seasonal family safety advice, read our Florida heat safety tips for children and our skin safety guide for Florida summers.

The post Hot Car Death Prevention in Collier and Lee Counties: Park. Look. Lock. appeared first on SWFL Family.

• High fever
• Cold symptoms (runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes)
• A rash that spreads across the body

While most children recover, measles can cause severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), and even death. While encephalitis is rare, this condition requires hospitalization and intensive treatment. It can cause seizures, hallucinations, permanent brain damage, blindness, hearing loss, and memory loss.

The Best Protection: Vaccination

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles. It is safe and effective and has been used for decades to protect children worldwide. The CDC and WHO recommend:

• First dose at 12–15 months
• Second dose at 4–6 years

Children who receive both doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% protected against measles. Talk to your pediatrician about catching up if your child hasn’t been vaccinated or missed a dose.

Other Ways to Prevent Measles

1. Avoid Exposure
If there is a measles outbreak in your area, limit your child’s exposure to crowded places, especially if they are too young to be vaccinated.

2. Practice Good Hygiene
Teach your child to wash their hands regularly, cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and avoid sharing utensils with others.

3. Know the Signs of Measles
Early detection can help prevent the spread of the virus. If your child develops a fever, rash, or cold-like symptoms, call your pediatrician before visiting the office to avoid exposing others. Do not abruptly visit a health care provider without contacting them first. If you suspect or notice any symptoms, contact your health care provider or local county health department to receive instructions on how to safely seek medical attention without exposing others.

Final Thoughts

Measles is preventable, and as a parent, the best step you can take is ensuring your child gets vaccinated on time. You can help protect your child and others from this dangerous disease by staying informed and following these precautions.
Don’t hesitate to consult your pediatrician if you have any concerns about the vaccine or your child’s health. Protecting your child from measles is vital to keeping them safe and healthy!

For more information, go to www.afterhourspediatrics.com.
Please visit your primary care provider or local health department for immunizations.
Florida Department of Health Collier County
Florida Department of Health Lee County

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“Postpartum depression is real, and it sucks,” Sanchez said. “Never in a million years did I think my happy and laughing butt would be on an antidepressant, but here I am. I have an awesome and supportive family, but you can’t control your hormones.”

Sanchez knew that new mothers sometimes feel ashamed of these feelings, so she wanted to share her story and let people know that there is no shame, the feelings are real, and they are not something a new mom can control. So shortly after her daughter was born she posted about her experience on Facebook.

Angela is now 2 years old and Samantha is 8 months old. Sanchez said she believes she had a bit of postpartum depression with her first daughter, but it was worse with the second one.

“I cried a lot with Angela, but it was different with Samantha, just the feelings that I had. I cried every morning. It is way worse this time,” Sanchez described. 

The feelings can be scary and confusing. Sanchez loves being a mother. She loves snuggling with her daughters on the couch and reading to them. She loves holding them and being with them. That’s why the sadness can seem perplexing and overwhelming.

“I would just wake up in the mornings feeling really anxious,” she described. “I got to the point where I couldn’t be alone. There was a feeling of guilt. When I was holding one baby, I felt guilty that I was not spending time with the other. With Angela, she has some delays and eye issues and is underperforming, and I felt like I was not doing enough. It was just mom guilt. I think that just spiraled me down.”

When her husband left for work each day, she couldn’t bear to be alone. She realized she needed some extra support, so she would spend her days with the girls at her mother’s house, while on maternity leave from her job teaching at a local elementary school.

“Before I was coming here, I would look at the clock and count down the hours until my husband came home,” she described. “I wanted to do it on my own. I thought I could do it. Then I would look at the children, and I would start crying. I couldn’t read without crying. I couldn’t sing without crying. It was just cry, cry, cry.”

Sanchez says she has every reason to be happy, so the sadness felt strange.

“They are so beautiful,” she said as she held her daughters. “I am crying because I can’t believe they are mine. I have a happy marriage. I have everything I have wanted in life.”

Having the support of her family was not enough. So when a friend suggested that she talk to her doctor about postpartum depression, she headed to her physician.

Her doctor prescribed Prozac, which is an antidepressant.

“It took a couple of days,” she said. “The first week or so, I was feeling the anxiety and panic, but it has gotten a lot better. The pills are supposed to make you feel like you used to feel, and that’s how I feel now.”

Her journey is not unusual. Andrea Press of Press Psychology in Naples says it is extremely common to have some sort of issue after giving birth. While postpartum depression is more common in people who have a history of depression, Press said it can affect anyone.

“A lot of times there is no reason why,” Press said.

She praises people like Sanchez who are not afraid to talk about postpartum depression.

“Some people are scared to tell their doctor,” Press said. “It is really challenging. You have to advocate for yourself, and that is hard when all this is happening.”

She said society also plays a role in this.

“Part of it is the overall stigma of mental health,” Press said. “There is so much pressure on what a new mom should be like. And so many people ask how the baby is, but not how the mom is.”

She said many people and even some doctors don’t recognize the problem.

“A lot of times you have certain expectations on how your maternity leave will go, and how you will connect with the baby, and when that doesn’t happen you think it is something that you did wrong.” Press explained. “Once you deliver the baby there is a huge drop in hormones. When they say baby blues, that is pretty common, but if it has been more than two weeks, it is not baby blues anymore, and we have to do something.”

Press hopes more people seek help and also speak more about it to reduce the stigma.

“Just becoming a mom is hard,” she said. “It is not all rainbows and butterflies.”

It can be especially hard having two children within 18 months. There was the exhaustion. Samantha was going through cluster feeding for a while. There was the guilt when Angela wanted to be held, but Sanchez needed to tend to the infant.

When Sanchez first posted her journey on Facebook in December, she got dozens and dozens of comments, many from people who also struggled with postpartum depression. Some added information on their experiences, while others sent words of encouragement.

Lisa Michelle wrote about her struggles and how Prozac helped her too.

“It’s a long road, but you can and will get through it,” she stated. “I still want to cry when I think about the struggles I went through. I promise it gets easier – just keep climbing.”

“Postpartum depression is real,” wrote Becky Wright. “Honestly, I didn’t think life would ever get better. It’s hard to see the light, but I promise you, it’s there. Take one day, or hour, or even minute at a time. And, try to do something for yourself every day – a shower, a walk, anything counts. You’ve got this.”

“It is very real,” added Meredith Myers. “I had it bad, too. Hang in there momma, you’re doing a great job. Seeking help is what I had to do, too, and I felt embarrassed, but my doctor made it much easier to talk about.”

Kristie Allred wrote: “Thank you for sharing, so it doesn’t feel so lonely for others.”

Sanchez said sharing her experiences helped her see she was not alone. It helped her connect with others, and it gave her the satisfaction of providing support for people who might be afraid to talk about it.

“Like miscarriages, [postpartum depression] just isn’t spoken about, but is very common,” Sanchez stated. “I totally understand a private life and keeping things to yourself, or wanting to share life updates with the world. I personally decided to post since I knew it was common. So again, if you aren’t feeling yourself, it is worth a call to your doctor or even a Facebook post and others will reach out. It takes a village to not only raise kids, but to take care of each other.”

Today, Sanchez is doing much better. She plans to stay on the medication for a while, but she hopes to wean off of it eventually. She is now back teaching second grade, while knowing her little girls are safe at her mom’s house while she works. She loves reading to them, singing and dancing with them, and going for walks with her girls. She praises her husband, Mike, for all his support. She said things like positive self-talk, meditation, and exercise also can help.

“Don’t be afraid to reach out if you feel there is something that is not right,” Sanchez stressed. “There is no need to be ashamed. The more you talk about it, the more people will come to you. It is such a taboo subject, but I am not ashamed of it. People are just embarrassed. People don’t want to talk about private issues. I am a person that wants to talk about things. By reaching out I might help someone who is going through this.”

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I sympathized with this woman because I found myself in a similar situation the first time I flew with my twin toddlers. After flying regularly with them, I’ve learned a few tricks that I wish I knew then. I’m going to share my mistakes with you, so you don’t have to learn the hard way as I did.

Flying is expensive. Since my twins were under the age of 2 I thought that saving the money by not buying two seats would be worth it. What I didn’t stop to think about is my twins have never sat quietly on my lap for three hours, so why would they start doing so on an airplane? Like the boy I saw on the airplane, all they wanted to do was run up and down that aisle.

2. Not bringing a car seat. Since I didn’t purchase seats, I couldn’t bring a car seat for them to sit in. If I had, they would have been buckled in like in a car ride, unable to wiggle on my lap or run down the aisle. For their next flight, I did bring the car seats, and I was shocked to see both kids sleeping for most of the flight. It was well worth the extra cost of the tickets.

3. Not booking a nonstop flight. Before having kids, my husband I always flew the least expensive method, which usually meant at least one stopover. Since we never had issues doing so before, we had a stopover with our first flight with twin toddlers. What I didn’t consider was how difficult it is to transport two little ones and all their belongings to another plane. Plus, the extra time added to the travel was exhausting.

4. Letting them bring their own backpacks. I let each of my kids pack their own backpacks as a fun way for them to get excited about traveling. That worked. What didn’t work was them carrying their own backpacks. They either kept forgetting it or they were too heavy and either my husband or I ended up carrying it. On future flights it was much easier to pack all of their things in a carry-on bag with wheels.

5. Not bringing fun snacks. The first time I traveled with them, I brought the usual boring snacks like Cheerios. They didn’t get very excited about them. The next time I tried bringing snacks that they don’t eat often but I knew they liked. This entertained them for a little while.

6. Not bringing lots of changes of clothes. I always bring at least one change of clothes, but I didn’t anticipate needing more than one. Toddlers make messes and have accidents, so bringing multiple changes of clothes often is necessary. I was lucky because I brought one change of clothes for each kid, so when the one child needed two outfit changes, I was able to accommodate him. For future flights I always packed at least three sets of clothes for each child.

7. Relying on electronics. iPads and onboard movies often don’t work or deplete the battery before the flight is over. Plus toddlers can become easily bored with electronics. On future flights, I packed coloring books or activities and games that they had never seen before, so it was new and exciting for them.

8. Not being prepared for ear popping. Both of my kids had trouble with the air pressure changes on the plane. They were too young to chew gum, and I didn’t know how to help their pain. I later learned that yawning or sucking on a straw or lollipop can reduce the pain.

Lessen the stress 

That first flight with my toddlers was a nightmare. But by learning from my mistakes I was able to experience relatively stress-free trips on future flights, and you can too.

The post Eight Mistakes I Made When Flying With Toddlers appeared first on SWFL Family.

No matter how much preparation you do, the unexpected can happen. Due to a variety of reasons, you could find yourself in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) sitting by your newborn baby.

When I found out I was expecting triplets, I was told it was highly likely they would spend time in the NICU due to premature birth. I had absolutely no idea how to prepare; the information was overwhelming and the uncertainty was frightening. I have found the true experts are parents who have been through the experience. The information they share gives you a glimpse into what you can really expect during the NICU experience. Here are some of the most valuable tips.

1.Get involved. When you visit your child in the NICU for the first time it can be very intimidating. Your baby will be covered with wires and may look tiny and fragile. It is normal to feel nervous about caring for your child. Ask the NICU nurses how you can get involved in your child’s care. They usually are more than willing to teach you how to work around their medical equipment. “Once I began tak-ing my son’s temps, changing diapers, and assisting with bathing, I felt so much more comfortable and less intimidated by the experience,” said mom Rachel Watts.

2. Babies progress at their own pace. “Don’t put a timeframe on how long you expect them to be there,” said Nikki Rhyme, mother of triplets born last year. The rule of thumb is that babies born prematurely typically will go home around their due date; however, this is not always the case. Jessica Craine, mom of twins, noted: “Anytime I was frustrated, I had to sit back and realize that my boys have learned to breathe, suck, and swallow, all before most kids are born.”

3. Take care of yourself. When your child is in the NICU it is easy to be focused on their health above all else. Amidst all the struggles we must not forget Mom just gave birth, often by emergency Cesarean-section and some-times after weeks of bedrest. Take care of yourself during this time. Eat healthy meals, drink water, take breaks, spend time with your significant other and old-er children, and ask for help. “Tell your friends and family you’re struggling and you need support,” said Rachel Watts. Many times they want to help but won’t know what to do unless you ask. Give them specific tasks that will make your life easier, like preparing a meal for your family or doing a load of laundry.

4. Document this special time. The NICU is a stressful place, which makes it easy to forget to document your baby’s milestones. “Record the true day of their first bath, when they wore clothes the first time, when they moved from an incubator to a crib … these are memo-ries I will cherish forever,” said Jessica Craine. “I wish I had more photos of this time,” added Alex Tichet, mother of triplets. Although it is hard to see your tiny baby fighting in the NICU, many parents cherish those photos because they are proof of how far their amazing and strong child has come.

5. Be your child’s advocate. “Remember they are your babies, and you have a voice in how things go. Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” advised triplet mom Michelle Glasser. The doc-tors and nurses work hard to give your child the best possible care but the parent plays a big part in the care their child will receive. “Try to be present during rounds to get updates on the baby’s status and care,” advised mom Courtney Harreld.

6. Some of the things you see will be heartbreaking. “I wasn’t prepared for some of the things we saw and neither was my husband. We could see the doctors working on babies to save their lives. Incredibly heartbreaking,” explained Jenna Mrnak, mother of triplets. It will be difficult to witness some of the things that go on in the NICU as babies struggle to grow and thrive. It is best to take comfort in the knowledge that miracles do happen there.

7. It will end. “A great piece of advice I got from my best friend who had also had a NICU baby was to picture yourself and your baby a couple seasons in the future when you are doing something totally normal,” said Eve Bernfeld, mother of three. “This helped to remind me that things would be normal … someday.” Each day in the NICU seems like an eternity, but when your child comes home and the years go by, that time becomes a distant memory. “It seems like it is a never-ending experi-ence regardless of if it’s five days or five months, but it will be a thing of the past before you know it,” said Jennifer Pena.Our NICU experience was one of the most difficult seasons my family has walked through. Even so, I find myself looking back on it fondly because I am more aware of how miraculous life is. It is a stressful place to be, but the NICU staff is there to do everything possible to get your baby well and home with your family.

SARAH LYONS is a proud mother of six who writes from her home in a suburb of Kansas City. The inspiration for this article comes from her experience in the NICU after the birth of her 18-month-old triplets.

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SUIDS is the sudden and unexplained death of an infant, typically during sleep. And what’s truly horrific is that there is usually no evidence of a struggle or any noise produced prior to death. SUIDS remains the most common cause of death in babies between one month and one year old, and about 90% of cases happen before the age of six months. Though the exact cause is unknown, a combination of factors appears to contribute to SUIDS. Families can greatly reduce the risk of SUIDS by practicing safe sleep guidelines outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

One family with ties to Naples is doing everything in its power to make sure that what happened to their family doesn’t happen to others. After Sam and Maura Hanke lost their first baby, Charlie, at three weeks old to SUIDS in 2010, they established Charlie’s Kids, a foundation whose purpose is to educate families about safe sleep.

Following Charlie’s death, the Hanke family sought a way to remember their son while educating families about research- based safe sleep practices. Out of this desire, Charlie’s Kids Foundation was born.

It didn’t take long after meeting Sam, Maura, and their two children (Annie, 3, and Owen, 6), along with Sam’s parents, Gary and Gail Hanke, at Gary and Gail’s home in Naples, to understand the intense passion the family has for its mission. “When you experience tragedy together, there’s an unspoken connectedness. This is why we made the decision to share our story,” Maura said. “We wanted to teach people and give people a reason why they should follow safe sleep practices.”

Sam explained, “We want to inspire families to practice safe sleep. It goes beyond the ‘Back to Sleep’ message that every parent understands,” (i.e., placing an infant on his or her back to sleep). “There are relatively new ‘Safe to Sleep’ guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics,” he noted, and added that while these guidelines are important, they also can be confusing.

“We created a graphic [see page 19] to simplify the recommendations,” explained Gary Hanke, executive director of Charlie’s Kids. The graphic lists dos and don’ts for safe sleep for children less than one year old. The foundation distributes stickers and magnets to make it easy for new parents to remember and internalize the recommendations.

Charlie’s Kids expanded these graphic reminders. “We decided to write and publish a children’s book and use the story of the book to spread the message of safe sleep,” Sam said. Charlie’s Kids focuses on getting the board book – Sleep Baby Safe and

Snug – into the hands of as many families as possible. Within two months of publication, the foundation distributed 50,000 copies. To date, the foundation has handed out over 2.5 million books worldwide. The book makes understanding and practicing safe sleep easy; it involves the entire family and creates a culture of healthy practices for all caregivers and siblings involved in an infant’s life. Charlie’s Kids developed the book to make the content accessible for all levels of education, language, and literacy abilities, and it aligns with the AAP’s safe sleep recommendations.

“Our goal is to expand our message as we advocate safe sleep practices to grand- parents, day care centers, and babysitters,” Maura said. “We need to hold these groups of people to safe sleep guidelines. Grandpar- ents and other caregivers aren’t always aware of new guidelines, and research-based best practices are different now than they were in decades past.”

As a mother of a four-year-old girl, I thought I understood safe sleep practices pretty well when I became a parent, but I was surprised by some of the guidelines. We all understand the importance of placing our babies on their backs to sleep, and in a crib free from bumpers, loose blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. However, I did not realize that, according to the AAP, if your baby falls asleep in a swing, car seat, stroller, or infant carrier, it is essential to move them to their crib. “Safe sleep is hard,” Maura responded when I mentioned my surprise at my lack of knowledge. “Even though you want the best for your baby, it is hard to practice safe sleep, especially when you’re exhausted as a new parent.”

Touching lives

The Charlie’s Kids Foundation is run completely by the Hanke family and has no paid employees. “We have a working board, and our board members contribute in different ways each year,” Sam said. “We have 5-8 speaking engagements per year, and there’s nothing I’d rather do. Charlie is making a difference.” Maura shared her heartbreak at not getting to see him grow up. “We’re not going to see him graduate, get his first job, or grow into an adult. But, he’s touched so many families.”

Sam added, “We could never understand why this happened – why Charlie died. But, we’re trusting God for what we can’t understand. What we’re accomplishing through Charlie’s Kids makes me very proud, and it keeps Charlie with us even though he’s not physically with us. We share our story, and we grow the foundation. And it has only strengthened my faith.” Sam added, “It’s hard to share our story, but … it’s worth it to us. Moreover, the data shows that our statewide programs are working.”

Family Photo by Lisette Morales

The post Sudden and Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome: One Family’s Quest to Educate About and Eradicate SUIDS appeared first on SWFL Family.

Benefits of musical experiences

But studies are showing that a broad array of musical experiences can build connections in the brains of young children aged 0-6 and that these connections are vitally important for all kinds of later learning. Incorporating music into the fabric of your daily family life can bring social and educational benefits to your children in surprising ways.

• Soft music can calm and soothe children, from fussy babies to high-strung older children, serving as a stress-reducer.

• Music can help children focus attention, a necessary skill in any learning process.

• Hearing music and responding to it accelerates brain development, especially in language acquisition and reading and math skills.

• Music provides healthy ways to interact with others, both adults and peers. • Moving to music builds motor skills and allows healthy self-expression.

• Music interactions build memory skills.

• Music provides a vehicle for the expression of many emotions, especially joy.

Early brain development

Neuroscientists now believe that crucial brain development takes place in the early years between ages 0-6. These years offer a window of opportunity to build connections in the brain that will serve the child throughout a lifetime.

New connections are made in the brain based on what the child sees, hears, and touches. Music is a key way to introduce new learning experiences to your child in both fun and productive ways. We now know that children who engage in musical activities from birth to age six have a head start on social competence, cognitive skills and emotional well-being. Besides, music is fun!

Games and activities

Here are some games and activities to bring more music into the culture of your family life:

• Play music for babies and toddlers. Encourage them to sway, bounce, clap, and otherwise respond to the rhythms.

• Make up songs as you go about your daily routines. They might relate to bath or nap times, meal times or play times. “It’s time for your bath, bath, bath” to the tune of a favorite song.

• Sing familiar songs and insert silly words. “Mary had a little ____.”

• Play music and provide household items or simple rhythm instruments for your children to play.

• Learn songs to sing together as a family. These work wonders during commute times in the car.

• Sing “movement” songs to build simple dance routines. “Wiggle, hop, and turn around.”

Have fun with music because “In the first six years of life, a child’s brain develops more and faster than at any other time in life. The early experiences a child has – the things seen, heard, and touched – stimulate the brain, forming connections. Healthy brain development establishes a child’s social competence, cognitive skills, and positive emotional well-being,” according to clinical psychologist Seema Hingorrany.

Let music of all kinds form a backdrop to your daily family life. Have some musical fun with your kids and build their brainpower.

JAN PIERCE, M.Ed., is a freelance writer specializing in education, parenting and family life topics. She is the author of Homegrown Family Fun and Homegrown Readers. Find Jan at www.janpierce.net Want ten free tips on boosting your child’s reading skills? Go to www.janpierce.net. The download is free.

The post Sing to Your Baby appeared first on SWFL Family.

Trimming your baby budget

Diapers. To save on diapers, consider switching to cloth. Modern cloth diapers are easy to use and come in cute designs. The initial cost is typically $10-$20 per diaper, but they can be reused for years. If cloth diapers aren’t for your family, there are still ways to save money on disposable diapers. Check manufacturer websites for high dollar coupons and combine with store sales. Generic diapers are another great way to save and they typically are comparable to name brand.

Formula. Breastfeeding is not always an option for families for a variety of reasons and formula is pricey. Coupons and rebates are readily available from the manufacturer. Go to the manufacturer’s website and sign up for additional coupons and have friends and family do the same. You can also ask your obstetrician and pediatrician for free formula samples.

Baby gear. Car seat, stroller, high chair, bouncer, swing, and more. There sure is a lot of gear for someone so small and it seems each item costs $100, often more. It’s wise to buy a new car seat that meets current safety standards but all the other items can be purchased gently used and later sold again when your family no longer needs them.

Baby clothes. Babies grow fast, so it doesn’t make sense to spend a lot on several cute baby outfits when your child outgrows them only a few weeks later. Consider buying gently used clothing and/or asking friends for hand me downs. If you want new items, buy less than you think you will need because they are used for only a short time.

Child care. To save money on child care, you have to get creative. Ideas include having a family or friend watch the baby at a lower rate, trading babysitting with another family, or alternating shifts with your partner to reduce time in child care. Some companies offer flexible spending plans to pay for child care with pre-tax money.

Trimming other areas

Wardrobe. The key to saving money on adult clothing is to shop for versatile pieces that can be worn many different ways. A solid color top can be worn with jeans, slacks, or a skirt and paired with a scarf, necklace, or jacket, or worn alone for a variety of looks. Once you have your key pieces, only buy clothing when you really need it.

Food. There are several ways to cut costs in this area. Purchasing groceries with coupons, on sale, or generic brands can save money. Also, consider making items from scratch and eating out less to help trim your food budget. A quick Google search will provide you with several $5 meals ideas.

Entertainment. Just because a new baby is in the house doesn’t mean that you have to stop enjoying entertainment, but you might need to approach a night out in a new way. You do not have to go without movies, concerts, or area attractions, but you should check deal sites to see if there are any options available to you. This will require planning ahead to make sure it fits into the budget and that you have child care covered, if necessary. Also consider if items like cable or streaming subscriptions are necessary. Choose to pay for the entertainment you use and enjoy.

Reduce. Our homes are filled with items we rarely use. Consider selling these items to put extra cash in your hand that can be used for all those new baby expenses. Have a garage sale, utilize consignment sales, or sell items in online marketplaces.

Trim expenses. Look at the family budget and evaluate where you can easily trim expenses. Do you belong to a gym, have club memberships, subscriptions, or other monthly bills that you do not use enough to justify the expense? Discuss with your partner whether some of these items can be cut to free up the money for other expenses.

DIY. A simple way to save money is to do things yourself. Cleaning and lawn services are nice but expensive. Taking care of it yourself is free. Try it yourself first and save the money you would have spent on labor.

Bringing home a new baby is an adjustment in many ways and financial priorities may have shifted in your family. In time, you will adjust to your new lifestyle and budget and you will feel comfortable with budgeting after baby.

SARAH LYONS is a stay-at-home mom of six children, including two-year-old triplets. She has learned to cut costs and save money in a variety of ways over the years as they added to their family.

The post Budgeting After Baby appeared first on SWFL Family.

Why make your own?

There are lots of products available to parents of little ones, including baby food blends, squeeze pouches, and puffs that take the guesswork out of feeding babies. These products are easily accessible in a variety of flavors, and almost all are available as USDA certified organic products. Why, then, make your own baby food? Our family chose that route to save money. Even though many of these products are $1-$3 each, babies go through lots of food when they are just beginning to eat solids, particularly after they reach the one-year- old mark. We were able to create baby food squeeze pouches and small containers of food for much less per serving than anything we could find at the grocery store. Buying fruits and vegetables in season and freezing them in easily accessible small containers made it possible for us to feed our baby fresh, whole, organically grown food.

Another reason families choose to make their own baby food is so that they know exactly what they are putting into their children’s bodies in terms of nutrition. “Jarred baby food is cooked at high temperatures in order to preserve its shelf life, which removes many of the nutrients and can change the taste of the food,” explained Ashley McLean, a Naples mom of three. “I love that I’ve been able to give my babies whole food nutrition, and that their taste buds are growing accustomed to what the rest of our family is eating.”


Making baby food also is gentle on the environment. Reusable container systems (either specifically made for baby food or regular food storage) offer eco-conscious parents the opportunity to reduce the amount of waste created. Additionally, parents using whole foods to feed their babies are not relying on others to make, process, and ship food; rather, they are completing this process themselves. Making baby food is, in short, an efficient use of resources overall.

Homemade purees created out of what your family already is eating allow your baby to get used to the taste of your family’s food and makes the transition from purees to table food easier. Pureed broccoli, bananas, avocado, spinach, and sweet potatoes are staples in our home – our daughter was already accustomed to the taste of those foods before we put them on her plate in their whole form.

Tips and tricks

As parents, many of us need ways to make our lives easier, not more complicated. Making your own baby food on a regular basis would seem more time consuming and difficult. But here are some tips from local families to make the process manageable.

• “When my boys were babies, I made big batches of soup for our family. I would puree portions for them. It made it easier on me to only have to make one meal.” Freedom Teague, Naples.

• “I made a lot of smoothies for my kids when they were babies and put them in sippy cups. I made steamed zucchini, spinach, and banana smoothies, and I always tried to be sneaky and add in leafy greens whenever possible. ” Therese McLean, Naples.

• “I used two books with my first: The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet by Karin Knight and Ruggiero and Starting Solids by Annabel Karmel. With my second, we didn’t do purees for very long; she ended up eating mostly what we ate.” Jenna Shaffer, Naples.

• “I take whatever fruits or vegetables we are eating that meal and blend them up for my babies.” Sally Carpenter, Naples.

• “The Vitamix blender is the best; it can make baby food, soups, and smoothies; it makes life easy when trying to accommodate an entire family.” Skye Leber, Naples.

• “When babies get bigger, make big batches of baby food and freeze them in tiny mason jars; they’re much bigger and more convenient than ice tray portions.” Adriana Gammiero, Naples.

• “Rather than making purees, we fed my daughter soft foods we already had in the house – bananas, avocados, peas, steamed vegetables, etc.” Ashley Justice, Naples.

• “The Beaba Babycook Pro is life-changing. We make purees of all kinds and freeze in ice cube trays. We keep the cubes in freezer bags in the freezer. My son loves everything because we just blend up whatever we make for dinner.” Amy McGowan, Naples.

• “The website wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com was really helpful. I got silicon ice cube trays to freeze purees. They’re a lot easier than plastic trays to get baby food out once frozen.” Sandra Jean, Naples.

Taking it one step further

For families in Southwest Florida looking to take advantage of our extended growing season and who want to be even more eco-friendly and self-reliant, building and maintaining a backyard garden is a no brainer! Emily Denlinger and her fiancé, Gabe Green, planted a large vegetable garden in their backyard after the birth of their son. “We started a vegetable garden after Wilder was born (now 14 months old). We spend time in it with him every day. He loves digging in the dirt and helping water the plants. We feed him some of the food we harvest, but I want him to make the connection that we are growing food. Occasionally when we are playing in the garden, I let him pull off a piece of kale or lettuce leaf and take a bite,” Denlinger said.

Josh and Alex Chaney have two girls, Willow (two) and Charlie (seven months) and wanted to make fresh, whole food nutrition available to their children from the very beginning.

“We’ve begun our own garden with lots of veggies and some fruits that Willow loves to tend. It’s pretty cool to see her learn the process of growing food rather than buying it at the store. One of her favorite activities was collecting cherry tomatoes,” Alex Chaney said.

However you choose to feed your babies, know that there are options and ways to make it even easier on yourself. Enjoy your meals together as a family this summer.

The post Make Your Own Baby Food: Tips and Tricks appeared first on SWFL Family.

Q: I’m happily married with two kids but I’m dying to have a third baby, and my husband won’t even consider it. Should I take matters into my own hands?

Amy: Whoa. I’m just gonna assume that you are asking if it is morally corrupt to sabotage your current birth control method to have another child against your husband’s wishes, and the answer to that is a resounding yes. Look, while there is a percentage of birth control failure, I think it is beyond reprehensible to put your husband, your other children, and a new baby in a place where you deliberately caused a situation like this. Going from two kids to three is no joke, and I would hate to have the situation forced upon me if I was in your husband’s shoes.

Maybe you need to explore the reason your husband doesn’t want to have more children. Is it finances? Or fears he’ll have to share you for longer? And what is your reason you feel your family is incomplete at its current size?

As a mother of three, I can empathize with the idea of a “magic” family number, but I think being on the same page with you spouse is key to that magic. That being said, if you’re really at an impasse on this situation, it might be time to take a long hard look at your “happy” marriage if neither one of you are willing to compromise on the choice to bring another life (and another mouth) into your family. If your union really is an equal partnership you need to treat it as such. Having another child will do nothing for you if your life partner is adamantly against it.

Q: I’m trying to potty-train my 20-month-old daughter, and she won’t have anything to do with it. Her older sister was potty-trained at 19-months, and I can’t understand why it isn’t working this time around. Any suggestions?

Amy: Here is my wonderful empirical advice, are you ready? Stop attempting to potty-train a child who isn’t interested. You are wasting your time and frustrating the both of you. When she’s ready to potty-train, she will tell you. Personally, potty-training didn’t work at all for any of my kids until they were almost three. I know this probably isn’t what you wanted to hear, but it’s the truth from my experience. Every kid is different, some use the toilet earlier than their peers, and some don’t. That’s just the way life is. I can promise you one thing, though, she eventually will be potty-trained, and you won’t be walking her down the aisle in a diaper when she gets married.

Have a question for Amy? Send it to info@neafamily.com for consideration in an upcoming column. 

The post Ask The Outnumbered Mother: Advice on Having Another Baby and Potty Training a Reluctant Toddler appeared first on SWFL Family.