Love It, Check It, Hire It

People always ask me for recommendations -- what car seat should they buy, what bottles should they use, what kind of mattress should their baby sleep on, where can they go to test drive the newest strollers, what website offers the best selections AND cheapest shipping, who can they turn to to for parenting advice (certainly not me! just ask Lily, who now threatens to run away from home on a near daily basis) -- and I always seem to have an answer. I'm weird like that.

See, I'm a complete geek when it comes to this stuff. My dogeared copies of Baby Bargains and Toddler Bargains are testament to the amount of research I do before I shop. My favorites list of websites is a mile long. By no means an expert, after four years of being the consumer I have a pretty good grasp on what you need (vs. want), what is essential (vs. frivolous) and what's worth splurging on (vs. what is overpriced and worthless).

I can't tell you how many times someone has asked me for a rec and then said -- "why do the research myself when I know you've already done it!" or "if it's good enough for Lily/Anna, it's good enough for XXX."

Going forward, I'm going to try to post at least one "LOVE IT" product, "CHECK IT" website, or "HIRE IT" service each week. Disclaimer -- I have no stake in any of these products, sites or services, just a desire to share my favorite finds. And if the technology gods are on my side, I'll create a separate section where just these posts are archived...'cause who has time to search through tons 'o old posts when you just need to make a quick purchase!

Without further ado....

Under the category of hire. HIRE. H-I-R-E....Dr. Rene Hackney from Parenting Playgroups, otherwise known as my parenting guru. I'd build an addition on the house tomorrow if Rene would move in with us. I don't know what I did before my path crossed with hers. I owe my friend Laurie Ann and HUGE debt of gratitude for introducing me to Rene.

Tearing your hair out 'cause your sweet, darling, angel baby has suddenly started throwing tantrums? Saying no? Throwing food? Hitting? Biting? WHINING (my personal anti-favorite)? Issues between siblings? Rene to the rescue!

Her 8 Weeks to Positive Discipline workshop, which is actually done over the course of 4 weeks, has been a lifesaver for Noah and me. We took it right after Anna was born. Maybe, as a bonus, we won't have the same discipline issues with her since she was there to hear the lectures herself...strapped in the Baby Bjorn through it all. The theories are, essentially, all common sense but IT. WORKS. Totally works. Quickly. Of course, it only works when we remember to use the techniques. One of which is consistency. No wonder poor Lily is threatening to run away. We are SO not consistent.

For those of you who are out of town or don't have the time to commit to a full workshop, Rene does private consulting as well, in person or over the phone. Money super well spent. I should know. We've tapped her for that too.

Finally, for those of us who just can't justify the expense in this scary economy, Rene has a lecture series online. This is one site definitely worth bookmarking. And since she has a family of her own and likely won't be moving in with us any time soon, I frequently turn to our home computer just to hear her voice when Lily is hollering at us from bed, for the millionth time, that she just needs ONE. MORE. DRINK. OF. WATER. The advice is great, simple and easy to follow. And Rene always dishes it out with a smile!