Little Teether Teething Blog — Teething Toys

Blog Menu
Mom next to a baby with laptop on her lap

Working From Home While Fostering Babies: Tips for Success

Fostering little ones is both challenging and rewarding. Babies and toddlers require an immense amount of your time and energy. Remote work gives you the flexibility to provide care for a child while still earning a living, but it also comes with unique challenges.

 

It may seem impossible to balance your work obligations with your foster child's needs. However, you can nurture a child while achieving your professional goals with some planning and tips.

 

Visit Little Teether for unique teething toys and accessories that are safe for your child!

 

Connect With Support

Find others who have similar situations to you. Statistics show that more than half of all child maltreatment cases involve children under six. You gain many benefits when talking with people who understand being a foster parent or juggling work and baby schedules. You feel less alone, gain access to resources and information, learn tips and tricks, make friends and build new skills.

 

Design Your Space

Carefully plan your workspace to ensure productivity. Dedicating an area of your home for work tasks helps you focus. Ensure you have the tools to accomplish your jobs and stay organized. Keep your room neat and clutter-free to eliminate distractions. Set up a safe space for your little one to play nearby.

 

Schedule Your Day

Strategize for success by sticking to a schedule as much as possible. Get up early to accomplish tasks before your little one awakes and plan meetings or phone calls during nap time. Designate time to give your child undivided attention. Toddlers and babies thrive when they have a routine, and you will get more work done, too.

 

Provide Play Opportunities

Ensure your foster child has toys, books, and other forms of entertainment while you work. Allow them time to listen to music, watch a program or play an educational game. Rotate items every few days to give them something "new" to play. Consider swapping babysitting services with another parent or arranging for childcare on certain days of the week.

 

Structure Freelance Work

If you have a freelance career, it is up to you to stay on task, gain clients and collect payments. Use software and other online tools and resources to simplify processes. For example, you can ensure you get paid on time by creating a professional invoice system.

 

Earning a Business Degree to Improve Job Prospects

Earning an online business degree can dramatically increase your job prospects and benefit your career in countless ways. Through engaging coursework in subjects such as accounting, management, economics and marketing, an online business degree adds value to your skill set that can be leveraged for promotions or higher salaries at current job positions. This is a good option to consider for busy parents who prefer to learn at their own pace.

 

Create a Self-Care Plan

Attending to your needs can quickly go by the wayside if you do not incorporate them into your agenda. Neglecting self-care can adversely affect your mental health, making your work and parenting tasks more challenging.

 

Be diligent about getting enough sleep, eating nutritious food, and taking time to destress during the day. Take breaks outside with your child, practice deep breathing techniques, or call a friend for a quick chat. Designate specific days off each week and set boundaries with coworkers and clients, so you do not fall into a habit of working around the clock.

 

Set Yourself Up for Success

Caring for your foster child while working at home requires planning. Prioritize your workload to tackle essential items with a singular focus. Schedule deep work during times when you have minimal distractions. Turn off your phone, snooze notifications, and stay away from social media while you finish job tasks.

 

With strategies in place, working from home while fostering little ones can give you the best of both worlds. If you create a schedule, design your space, earn an online degree, and remain flexible when the plan goes out the window, you and your child will benefit.

 

Author: Emily Graham

Image via Pexels

How To Clean Teething Products

How To Clean Teething Products

Thank goodness for teething toys and teether necklaces. Our little babes would not make it through the teething stages without it. I am sure, if your little one is like mine, she is constantly putting her teething toys in her mouth and drooling all over the whole thing. Since, the toys and necklaces are constantly going in our babies' mouths then they should also be as clean as possible and germ free. 

Here are some easy cleaning hacks to get your teething products sparkling clean. 

Dishwasher Top Rack - Since the our products are made of silicon just throw your teethers or teething necklaces in the top reach of your dishwasher. I like to do this when I don't really have the time to wash it by hand. When I am about to turn the dishwasher on I just throw all the silicone toys in there really quickly. 

Boiling - Just like bottles or nipples you can boil your teething products. Grab a pot and make sure there is enough water to bring it to a boil. Or bring a kettle of hot water to a boil and pour over the teethers. Let them boil for at least a few minutes. 

Hand wash and scrub - Take a bottle brush or a sponge and clean with hot water and dish soap. This might be a good step to do if you do choose to boil or sterilize them. Get them extra, extra clean!

Sterilize steam bags - Grab a sterilizer bag from Medela or Dr. Brown and throw your teething toys or necklaces in them too. Pop the bag in the microwave and wait a few minutes while it does the job in sterilizing for you.

White Vinegar and Water - Mix one part water and one part vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray down the toys and then wipe down. Or mix the parts in a bowl and let the teething toy sit for a bit.

Cleaning your teething toys and necklaces can be made easier with these mom hacks. If your little one is teething, Little Teethers makes the perfect toy for baby or teething necklace for both mom and baby. 

Kelsey Glynn is a blogger and owner of Social Graces, a business to support others in their social media needs. She is a contributing blog writer for East Valley Moms Blog, a social media content creator, and an avid photo taker. You can catch her adventuring around AZ and living the mom life on Instagram.