Friday, February 21, 2014

Home Remedy Treatments for Diaper Rash

Do You Know About These Home Remedy Treatments for Diaper Rash?


Diaper rash is not uncommon – but if you are very careful you may be able to eliminate it – forever! Below you will find some home remedy treatments for diaper rash as well as some ways to prevent it.

First Things First

Wet or soiled diapers are the perfect breeding ground for the development of diaper rash. With that in mind, a bare-bottom can be healthier for your baby. Of course, that isn’t a reasonable option for most of the day. With that in mind, you should change your baby’s diaper often. Keeping your baby clean and dry can certainly make a huge difference.

Clean and Dry

Store-purchased baby wipes may contain alcohol or other substances that can irritate skin. In most cases, a soft washcloth wet with water and a very gentle soap is a better choice. After cleaning baby you should use a washcloth wet with plain water to rinse away any residue left behind. Baby’s bottom should then be dried. Use a soft towel and pat dry. If possible, wait a few minutes before diapering baby.

Creams and Ointments

There are countless creams and ointments available that can be used as protection for baby. These products add a barrier that helps to defend the baby from irritations that urine and feces can cause. Keep in mind that these ointments can also prevent air from reaching the skin – therefore, they should be used sparingly on skin that is already irritated.

Change Can Be Good

It is possible that a baby is sensitive to the materials used in any brand of disposable diaper. Sometimes changing to another brand will make a difference. So if you change your baby frequently and allow air to get to the baby’s bottom but diaper rash continues to be a problem, you may need to try a different disposable diaper.

Consult With A Professional

All these suggestions are just that – we do not provide medical advice. In fact, if diaper rash is an ongoing problem or if it seems severe in any way, you should consult with a healthcare professional.


Debbie Allen is a regular contributor at Package From Santa blogs. She is the owner of The Things Women Want – an online magazine for women.

Monday, February 17, 2014

How to Handle Unsolicited Parenting Advice

How to Handle Unsolicited Parenting Advice


When it comes to parenting it seems everyone has an opinion. Whether it's from your own mother, your mother-in-law, your next door neighbor, or a complete stranger, as a parent you are likely to receive lots of advice - much of which is not asked for and not wanted.

Many people feel they are experts in the field and therefore, they are ready and willing to give you advice. The problem is, unless you ask for the advice, you probably don’t want it. Even so, most of this advice is given with good intentions – and it is up to you to respond to it in whatever way you see fit.

However, since the advice is given with good intentions, you probably want to respond in a polite way. At the same time, because you don’t want the advice you may feel a bit offended. So how should you handle unsolicited parenting advice?

Public Parenting

Every parent has or will experience a time when their child misbehaves in public. You may be at the grocery store waiting to pay and your child decides to cry because he/she is tired or maybe because you didn’t buy the candy they wanted. This is a perfect time for someone to offer advice about how to help your child calm down.

You could of course let the advisor know that you don’t need any advice – but that could be considered rude. Another way to handle this is to simply thank the well-intentioned person and ask if they have any solutions for another situation, such as how to get your child to sleep through the night, etc. – you may even go as far as asking for their phone number so you can call them if needed. In most cases the advice giver will back off from giving additional parenting tips.

Isn’t He Too Old For That?

Sometimes family members as well as strangers like to help out with parenting advice – but in a subtle way. They may ask if your child is too old for this or shouldn’t she be better at that by now. Rather than being hurt or offended, take control of the conversation. Ask what their experience is with children. If they are not qualified to give advice they may immediately feel regret for asking the question; on the other hand, if they happen to be experts in some way, you may get some free advice that is truly helpful.

Spoiled Rotten

What one parent considers spoiling a child is what another thinks of as being a good parent. Parenting styles differ. If you are accused of spoiling your child you should simply give appreciation for the opinion but feel confident with your own parenting skills and style.

Keep in mind that most people giving parenting advice really do not mean any harm or hurt to you. Responding in kindness and understanding can keep the interaction cordial and in some cases, it may be the best way to build or enhance a relationship.


Debbie Allen is a regular contributor at Package From Santa blogs. She often writes about ways to live a happy and healthy lifestyle – her topics cover everything from craft projects to ways to save money and recipes.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Valentine's Day Greetings!

Valentine's Day Greetings From Santa...

Santa asked the team at Package From Santa to deliver the above message... From Santa and everyone at Package From Santa - 
Happy Valentine's Day!

We hope your day is filled with love and joy....
XOXOXO

Monday, February 10, 2014

Have Your Trail Mix Your Way!

Have Your Trail Mix Your Way!


Now days you can buy various kinds of Trail Mix at your favorite grocery store. However, this limits you to choosing from what is available. The reality is, you can create delicious trail mix treats very easily. And when you make it yourself you get to choose exactly what goes in. In other words, you can have your trail mix your way!

Typical Trail Mix Ingredients

Although there is not a right or wrong ‘mix’, the typical ingredient choices include nuts, seeds, dried fruit, grains, sweets and seasonings. Obviously, within these choices you can go very healthy or create a mix that is heavy on calories and fat content.

Cooked, Roasted or Raw

Some people prefer a ‘cooked’ mix. That is, the sweets, such as chocolate, peanut butter, or butterscotch chips may be melted and combined with the dry ingredients. Nuts and other ingredients can be roasted or added raw.

Mix It Up

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Seasonings and spices can make even an ordinary Trail Mix more exciting to eat. You can create a sweet mix, a salty and sweet mix, a spicy mix, or whatever sounds good to you. Add in some surprises – for instance, you could add a few wasabi peas or M&Ms. These ingredients can make the mix more interesting and fun to eat.

Debbie Allen is a regular contributor at Package From Santa blogs. She shares tips and ideas about everything from real letters from Santa to recipes, kids’ health, home decor and ways to save money. You can read more of her content at The Things Women Want.


Friday, February 7, 2014

Top Sledding Safety Tips


Many states across the nation have snow-covered hills ready and waiting to be conquered. Sledding is lots of fun, but countless sledding injuries happen each winter. Read over these sledding safety tips before you and your kids venture out to sled down a hill.

The Right Hill and the Right Sled

Choose hills that are covered in snow – not in ice. You should also look for hills that will allow your sled to glide to a stop at the bottom – that is, the hill should have a gradual slope and a flat area at the bottom.

Be sure that the end of your ride will not include landing on or near a street, parking lot, pond, fence, trees, or other dangers.

The hill should be as smooth as possible – avoid hills that have lots of rocks, bumps, or trees.
There is a wide range of sled styles available, but you should choose one that is designed with safety in mind. Some sleds can be steered – which adds to the riders’ safety, and some sleds even come with brake mechanisms. Spending a little extra on a safe sled is money well-spent.

Dress Appropriately

Sledding is a cold-weather activity so you naturally need to dress warm. Ideally you should be bundled up with a hat or hood, gloves, boots, and a winter coat or jacket. Since scarves can potentially get caught in the sled they should be avoided.

Depending on the snow and other circumstances, you may find that your clothing becomes wet. This is a definite safety hazard – take extra clothing just in case.

With just a little effort you can limit the risks associated with sledding. Use sensible precautions, such as keeping young children with adults and allowing only 1 sled to go down the hill at a time. When you follow these sledding safety tips you will not only have a fun day at the hills, you’ll also create great memories!


Debbie Allen is a regular contributor at Package From Santa blogs. She enjoys sharing tips and ideas about everything from child-friendly activities and home décor to business management.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Popcorn Balls – They’re Not Just for Halloween

Popcorn Balls – They’re Not Just for Halloween

Be different - do your own thing - decorate your popcorn balls with candy!

Popcorn balls can be a delicious treat any time of year and for any occasion. The Package From Santa team has found a super easy way to make popcorn balls – in fact, it only takes 30 minutes from start to finish.

Ingredients For 1 Dozen Popcorn Balls

  • Popped Popcorn – 10 cups
  • Large Marshmallows – 10 ounces
  • Butter – ¼ cup
  • Salt – ¼ teaspoon
  • Candy Decorations - optional

Add popcorn to large bowl, cake pan or other large container.

Combine marshmallows, salt and butter in a saucepan – use low to medium heat and stir constantly until the mix is melted. Pour over popcorn and mix well.

Allow to cool slightly then with buttered hands, shape into 12 balls. Place on waxed paper and decorate with candy if desired – the melted mixture will act as a sweet-and-tasty glue!

Debbie Allen enjoys sharing tips and ideas that can make your life easier and more fun. She writes about everything from new ideas to try when your kids write letters to Santa, recipes, ways to save money and home remedies.