(Part 2) Best products from r/breakingmom

Welcome to parenting with porn :D And uhh... you want to share that link with us? For science? Aherm... KIDDING....kinda... LOL

I've had four kids hit that point, two boys and two girls, and several more coming that way soon. Here's my recommendations...and feel free to take/leave what does or doesn't work for you:

• Normalize this. It's normal. I promise. That it is an educational video is AWESOME. I mean, none of us are delighted when our kids get interested in becoming sexually active (or at least start considering it), but this is SO much better than "hardcore face fucking gang bang". I swear.
  
  
• In line with this being normal, check out this book: It's Perfectly Normal (NOT a paid referral link).
  
  
• Also the book: What's Happening to My Body: A Book for Boys (Also not a paid referral link)
  
  
• Editing to add another great book I just thought of: Boy's Guide to Becoming a Teen (also not a paid referral link)
  
  
• Editing because I remembered another one! Talk to Me First It's a book for parents about how to have these conversations. Highly recommend :) Also not an affiliate link :)
  
  
• Give your kiddo a lot of kudos for looking at education videos! That's a pretty appropriate way to find things like this out. Then gently explain that some videos online aren't as educational, but are more just adult entertainment. Explain the laws about porn - that no one under 18 is allowed to see it, and that the police take that very seriously. Explain that these movies are like any other entertainment - Ask him, when he watches Avengers, does he actually think he is going to see explosions like that at the airport, or car chases like that driving down the road? Does any part of him REALLY think that when HE starts driving that sort of behavior is ok? Of course he doesn't. Same applies here - sex entertainment is like a Michael Bey flick - it's not intended to be realistic, but since people forget that because it's sex, it's easy to get caught up in the "glitz" of it all.
  
  
• Pay close attention to any of your own hangups about sex, and work REALLY hard not to give them to your kiddo, or at least acknowledge that they're YOUR hangups and not his. Where things are awkward of uncomfortable for you, SAY that and explain there's no reason to be, it's just from how things were explained to you when you were young. Explain you want to keep these conversations as comfortable as you can.
  
  
• Consider having a few different conversations about all of this, instead of a big heavy (cue music of dread and woe) SEX TALK. The goal isn't to micromanage his blossoming sexuality, it's to create a climate of trust and communication, so when he's 16 and fucking everything in sight, you guys can talk about how to be safe and keep priorities and boundaries clear.
  
  
• Keep it calm and light hearted. The last thing either of you want to do is teach him that "getting caught" with ANYTHING related to his sexuality is something to be ashamed of or that he'll "get in trouble" for doing. It's a biological and hormonal explosion in his brain right now, you can either work with it, or he'll hide it, but it is NOT going away.
  
  
• Make decisions that support his changing self. I get the urge to lock down websites that are inappropriate. I really do. But again, be careful to find the balance between protecting from inappropriate/illegal material and outright censoring. I use this: K9 Web Protection on my kids' electronics because it is SO customizable. Anything sex-ed related, abortion related, educationally related, is 100% unlocked at all times at my home. For my teens, Nina Hartley is unlocked as well - she's an avid sex educator and REALLY good at communicating the "how to" of sex clearly and without shame or being trashy. However...out and out porn? That's locked. I realize they'll likely find it SOMEWHERE, and parts of Youtube have plenty of softcore stuff, but my goal isn't to shield them from seeing sex. Sex is natural and normal and healthy and fun - I WANT my kids to know that! But I also want to make sure they aren't overexposed to things more graphic than they can process right now.
  
  It's about finding a balance. You got this mama. I promise.

If you like cooking, pick out a recipe (that YOU like and YOU want to cook) and take the time to make it, maybe turn on some music while you do it. Like old days! I like to do this with baking, because I never really bake but it feels more fun than making a meal that maybe no one will eat.

I bought a ten pack of these Korean face masks and once a week I get a hot bath at bedtime and use one. There are a ton of different kinds on Amazon and they are pretty cheap, plus they're super easy to clean up.

On a weekend, tell your SO he has charge of the kids (unless you're a single mom of course) and go for a hike, or if thats not your thing, go to a coffee shop and just sit. One cup of coffee is pretty cheap, and you can sit as long as you like. Bring a book! Turn your phone onto Do Not Disturb!

Yes, I totally agree, get a "zip it" drain cleaner tool! Something like this [https://www.amazon.com/Cobra-Products-00412BL-Drain-Cleaning/dp/B000BO9204] can be purchased at just about any home improvement type store.

It works so well and is so easy to use that when they first came out the plumbing company I worked for went out and purchased them for all of the plumbers to use as part of their kits.

Can't recommend it enough! (I also have one for my bathroom sink, seriously they are amazing, and like you; no one else around here was taking care of it. /hugs)

Can you buy a special car potty and make it awesome so she'll want to use it. I bought a kalencom portable potty after my eldest trained it's come totally in handy countless times over the 4 years we've had it. No worry about finding a bathroom. Just pull over and pee.

I get that she's not telling you but maybe if it's a super special amazing potty she'll want to tell you? Let her decorate it/sticker it up.
This is what we have:
https://www.amazon.com/Kalencom-2-in-1-Potette-Plus-Red/dp/B0016KV73W

I'm a little late to this post but I wanted to tell you that when going to the smaller sizes, they have a 22.5mm insert and a 21mm insert. I have both. The 21mm is the one that fits best but it drives me nuts, so I use the 22.5mm.

I'm currently using both sizes b/c I have two pumps so I can't send them to you, but the 22.5mm ones are super cheap so may be worth trying? Ameda has a brochure to help you find what size you need.

I think it depends on the two year old, it wouldn't work on my nearly two but it worked for my friends 26 month old, it's probably worth a try, the clocks aren't very expensive. I know it's a UK one but this is the kind of thing I mean. http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Gro-Company-HJ008-Gro-Clock/dp/B002APJCNE

Your boy sounds so sweet! Another thought, how about a family picture for his room? Maybe of you hugging him.

get the 360 cup thing maybe without the handles? But it helps them learn how to drink from a real cup without the ability to waterboard themselves by tipping the cup too far and having it all rush out at once. This is the cup we started my son on and he loves it (at 7 months) and can already drink water from a regular cup, although it's still messy. Edit to say I am an asshole and didn't see the last paragraph about how you finally decided on one. Glad you were able to find one you like and hit the order button!

I highly recommend this gate: https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Close-Metal-White-MK0002-012/dp/B00DCR5EKE/ref=sr_1_14_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1519632186&sr=8-14&keywords=baby+gates

My 3 year old can open it now. It is by far the easiest gate to open and close that I've found while still being super sturdy for the baby. Your older kids shouldn't have any issues opening and closing them.

I'm trying to find the link to a schedule that my friend swears by. it take awhile to get them all out, as you can see, because you get the adults, but not the nits, then a while later the nits you didn't see hatch and you have the adults. Basically you comb for a few days, then wait a specific number of days, then comb for a few days, then wait, then comb... I called her and left a message, hopefully she'll get back to me soon.

We've used the RobiComb and it's worked very well.

Pretty similar. She never has been big on waking up middle of the night. But if she does because of having to pee or a nightmare usually hugs and a couple sips of water, then tucking her back in works. We also have an okay to wake light. Its set to be red after midnight (I wanted it to be red at bedtime, but couldn't get this model to do that) and turn green at 6 am. She knows she is not allowed out of bed till her light is green, so usually pointing to the red light and saying its not time to get up yet works. Before the light she would wake up at like 4 am wanting to be up for the day. Shes an early riser!

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https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B077VYHZSW/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Do not entertain your kids. Boredom is incredibly good for them. Seriously there is a ton written on it, spend 5 minutes on google and you'll find a bunch of really good articles. It's uncomfortable so kids DO stuff to not be bored, like use their imaginations and play awesome games.

Next time they say they are bored hand them this book, [How to Do Nothing with Nobody All Alone by Yourself](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0982053959/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_YMUbvb1GREQQH
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0982053959/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_YMUbvb1GREQQH) and send them outside.

I wrote a book for my daughter because night nursing was becoming too much for me. The book , Sally Weans From Night Nursing, is a children's book to help night wean. The book is good for older babies/toddlers, has big colorful pictures to guide them on the night weaning journey. It took us 4 night to wean. Its on Amazon. www.amazon.com/Sally-Weans-Night-Nursing-Mitchel/dp/1483933830

I too have a lazy 11 month old who refuses to hold cups. It's not the cup, it's the kid. I just decided one day to stop holding them for him (like 2 weeks ago). I would put it up to his lips, he'd start drinking and I'd just start tipping it back down and put it on his tray in front of him. It only took a few meal times before he realized I wasn't going to hold it and if he wanted a drink he had to do it himself. Now I just put it on his tray and he takes it from there. Now, if she's not drinking from them at all make sure it's not too hard to drink from. My son has some that you have to bite the spout in just the right way to get the liquid to come out, and he does not do well with those. I got one of those spoutless cups and he can't figure it out to save his life. I finally tried to take a drink from it and I couldn't get the liquid out either. Straws are also beyond him. Just a simple sippy with no fancy spill-free mechanism and don't give in to holding it for her! Good luck!

The very best book I've read for discipline is 1-2-3 Magic (which someone here recommended to me) and combine that with the supernanny time out technique (put them in time out for 1 minute per year of age, if they leave the spot, quietly take them back and deposit them again until they learn to stay). It keeps us all calm and the kid knows we're not fucking around just a couple days after implementing it. It also works with my teenager except instead of time out he's getting a chore or losing a privilege/going to bed early depending on the transgression.

I have one of [these](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GJ7V2DW/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_McJ9ub0A6VTYS
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GJ7V2DW/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_McJ9ub0A6VTYS). My daughter rolls around like crazy and it has the added bonus of corralling her binky. Well it did until she started throwing it over the side...

I just got these for my son and he loves them. The chopsticks pop out of the top animal part so you can throw them in the dishwasher or whatever.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078SS88MJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_60wSCbH913J7K

Clevamama ClevaFoam Baby Pillow, Cream https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008Y2DFLM/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_vuIFwb89N7PM9


I love it. Has really changed how she sleeps

It took us two rounds of sleep training. The second time we did this method: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0757305601?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage and it finally fucking worked! Now my kid finally sleeps well 90+% of the time and I feel more like a human.

Probably one like this: https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Easy-Close-Metal-Safety-White/dp/B00DCR5EKE/ref=sr_1_11_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1481585879&sr=1-11&keywords=baby+gate

You can install it on both sides of the wall in the middle of the top stair, high enough so it swings out above the top stair.

Milliard Tri Folding Mattress with Washable Cover, Twin (75 inches x 38 inches x 4 inches) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DJ8HWBU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_IIazDbF5SRS12

115 BUCKS TOTALLY WELL SPENT!

I have the full version and it is the best. I have been floor sleeping on it for 3 months and the usual back pain I deal with no longer exists. YMMV. It folds up so easy every morning and my 15 mo old sits on it to watch movies.

Let me introduce you to the “new and improved” version. My nephew already has the 1st one (why I can’t get that one). That is like 2 sq ft. of her house consumed by a Paw Patrol. Parker is a Paw Patrol nut and he will LOVE it but still... I look at large toys and then think the cost we are paying per square foot of our house and nope right out of 99% of them.


https://www.amazon.com/Paw-Patrol-Mighty-Lookout-Playset/dp/B07NFRM6ZV

there is a electic lice comb. electrocutes the fuckers and zaps the nits. We only have the resistant lice so the store bought shit does nothing.

also, there is a lice repelent shampoo and detangle spray. We enjoy the smell, but some may not. We have been using it at every shower and so far lice free this year.

This is the best thing ever for clogged drains, especially if it's a bunch of hair stuck in the tub.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DJ8HWBU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_6PDKBb1C4ZM4A :)

I found 1-2-3 magic was a good start for us.

I got fed up with doing that for both kids, so I ordered a couple of reusable silicone/melamine practice sets - pretty much like these. We haven't had a chance to try them yet, but the kids are totally stoked about having chopsticks of their very own.

One like this one may be a good option. It's firm but breathable.

For what it's worth, I have a Purely Yours that I'm not using.

I've lost/broken parts, but I do have the 30.5 mm horn, the 28.5 mm insert, and the 25 mm horn. (I could have sworn I had the 22.5 mm insert but I can't find them.)

If you think you could use them, I'll nail them to you.

I could be wrong, but I think this is the one a lot of people use.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002APJCNE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zjjKzbYD8HW8V