The New Year is all about starting fresh, so it’s no surprise many of us are setting our goals for the year. Even if your list of resolutions is already pages long, do give these suggestions a try. They may prove surprisingly easy to keep, and you’ll reap the rewards all year long!

Have more fun.

Fun is certainly easier said than done. When you’ve been up all night with a sick child or colicky baby, you may not feel much like playing, and for good reason! Play often seems like something children do…while adults get work done. But allowing yourself to participate in your little one’s games—whether that means motoring toy trains around, scribbling with crayons, or playing peek-a-boo—enforces a well-deserved break in your day. And your little one will enjoy it, too!

For a head start, we highly recommend Lawrence J. Cohen’s book, Playful Parenting. Cohen recommends play as a way for you and your child to express yourselves and grow even closer.

Eat tasty food.

This is the time of year when we start elaborate diets and grueling exercise regimens. While eating healthfully is a worthy goal, smaller, sustainable changes can add up to a big impact. Even the tiny change to swap out one soda or juice a day for water—or one quick handful of goldfish crackers for a sit-down snack—becomes a big one when you do it every day. Consistency is key.

For healthy recipes the whole family will enjoy, try our Healthy and Tasty! Pinterest board.

Make one “green” change.

To upgrade your whole family’s health, consider making one choice that’s better for the environment…and for you. Try upgrading one of your child’s bath products to a “greener” brand, or finally make the switch to organic apples. You can even commit to something more, like recycling all your junk mail. One green change can make a big difference. Small changes have a habit of turning into bigger ones!

For more help getting started with small, green changes in the New Year, check out our interview with Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff.

Get more sleep. (No, really!)

For those of us with small children, sleep feels like a luxury. You can resolve to get more sleep, but it’s much harder to get a baby on board. The more sleep your child gets, the more you’ll get, so taking small steps to improve your child’s sleep will help you, too. Establishing a simple bedtime routine can help even the most committed little night owl settle down and start snoozing. That means more child-free evening hours…and more shut-eye for you.

A bedtime routine can start with something as simple as a bedtime story. Check out our community’s top-rated bedtime stories and find a new favorite!

Happy New Year from Citrus Lane!

We have great news!

Now, in addition to our monthly boxes, you can discover and purchase the best, hand-picked kids’ products from Citrus Lane at the new Favorites Shop on our website. There you can find a collection of top-rated seasonal or themed products for babies, toddlers and preschoolers anytime. Go ahead, browse around…but act fast – there are only a limited quantity of products available.

As with all goodies featured by Citrus Lane, items available in the Favorites Shop have been thoroughly tested and approved by our Parent Advisory Board and expert merchandising team, and many have received rave reviews from our community. You’ll find a mash-up of favorites, from products that we love but couldn’t fit into a box to new offerings from our most-loved brands.

So whether you’re a new mom looking for the collective wisdom of those who came before you, or a new grandpa searching for the perfect gift for your little girl who doesn’t know where to begin, we’ve got you covered.

Come see for yourself!

Toddlers are enthusiastic about their world…and sometimes that enthusiasm hurts!

Since your toddler’s just learning to get control of her body, attempts at hugging, stroking, or petting can come out as hitting. This is especially challenging when your toddler is trying to interact with a pet, sibling, or young friend.

Use the phrase “gentle touch” to teach baby to slow down before touching someone else. Take her hand and help her to gently stroke a pet or your arm. If you need to, remove baby from the exciting situation until she can calm down, then try again. Before your child’s next play date or visit to the petting zoo, let her practice “gentle touch” on a doll or stuffed animal.

How do you teach your child to use “gentle touch”?

Photo credit: basykes on Flickr.

Now that your little one’s starting to assert his independence, it seems counterintuitive that he’s also becoming clingier. After being dropped off happily at daycare for a month, he bursts into tears when you say goodbye. Or when grandparents visit, arms outstretched, he grabs onto you and won’t let go. Although Grandma may take it a bit personally, separation anxiety has nothing to do with her —- and everything to do with you and your baby.

Causes
Separation anxiety is a normal developmental stage for babies 6 months and up. Your baby’s aware of object permanence, so he can remember people after they’ve gone away, but has no sense of time, so he can’t remember how long they’ve been gone. You’re the most important person in your baby’s life, so, once he realizes you’re going, the tears start. In his mind, you’re leaving him for good! Your baby needs to learn that Mommy always comes back.

Don’t sneak out!
Getting your baby involved in a favorite activity can distract him from getting too upset when you leave. As tempting as it sounds, that doesn’t mean you should just slip out once he’s sidetracked. Though it’s hard to watch your baby’s distress, disappearing will only make matters worse next time. Seeing you leave cheerfully, and return as promised, will teach him that goodbyes aren’t forever.

Caregivers
If this is baby’s first time with a new caregiver, you can prepare by giving him time to get to know her. For the first few encounters, help him get comfortable by staying for half an hour, so he realizes this is someone you trust. In the case of a familiar caregiver, you’ll need to work together to get through this phase. One smart mom found a place, like a porch or back window, where she could watch her baby calm down without being seen. It made her feel much better to see him stop crying in a matter of minutes!

Friends and Grandparents
Last visit, your baby played happily with Grandma for hours while you went shopping. This time, though, he cries as soon as you nip out to the bathroom. Babies’ memories are short, and that visit three weeks ago is long forgotten. Give your baby time to get accustomed to Grandma all over again, especially if they haven’t seen each other for a while. As baby grows, he’ll start to remember her for longer periods. Then Grandma can look forward to big smiles —- and open arms.

Your little one’s birthday party will go by very quickly! Since you’ll really want keepsake photos, it helps to plan ahead, just as a photographer would at a wedding. Here are pictures you’ll be so grateful to have.

Birthday outfit. Grab a few pictures before he’s covered with cake. If weather permits, go outside for the best light.

Special guest. If you’re planning to get a shot of Great-Grandma holding the birthday boy, snap the picture early on, before he’s too tired to tolerate a new friend.

Cake smash. Be sure to get a picture of the cake before he smashes it!

Opening presents. Try to get a picture of him interacting with each present. These photos make fun additions to thank-you notes.

Asleep. Toddlers tend to be exhausted by all the fuss. Get a good picture of the birthday boy asleep. It makes the perfect last picture in a photo album!

Photo credit: emeryjl on Flickr.

Who’s your baby’s birthday party really celebrating? We asked our parent community, and the overwhelming majority felt that first birthday parties are for parents (and grandparents!). Of course you want your baby to enjoy the festivities, but themes, games, or exciting locations are lost on young toddlers. For best results, plan a simple party for yourself and a few friends, and make it as baby-friendly as possible.

KEEP IT SMALL.
When composing a guest list for a children’s party, the standard rule is “one child guest per year of age.” You probably won’t want to ban your friends and relatives’ older children from the festivities. But as cute as it sounds, inviting your baby’s whole peer group is sure to backfire—entertaining a room full of one-year-olds is an exercise in futility. It’s best to involve as few babies as possible. Keep the focus on the guest of honor!

KEEP IT SHORT.
Even two hours is a long time for a one-year-old! Just playing with loved ones and having cake will probably be exhausting. Consider opening presents after the party, or after your baby’s gone down for a nap. Make sure to include start and end times on the invitation, especially if you’re entertaining at home. That encourages guests to leave promptly, so you can return to your child’s regular schedule as soon as possible.

BE FLEXIBLE.
Your baby doesn’t understand the concept of a “special day.” Instead, the party day will be full of unfamiliar experiences and even strange faces. This can rattle even the most even-tempered toddler! Keeping your baby’s normal routine intact as much as possible will help stave off meltdown. Still, your baby may need regular breaks from all the action. Don’t take it personally. Your toddler’s only one year old!

Photo credit: rharrison on Flickr.

This month, Citrus Lane turned one year old! Just one year ago, we shipped our first box — today, we have a vibrant community of subscribers, fans, and friends! Here’s the story of how we grew.

Citrus Lane’s First Year

Citrus Lane is celebrating its anniversary! Here’s our story. Thank you for growing with us!

Storified by · Wed, Jul 25 2012 12:08:27

We received birthday wishes from around the country

Hau’oli la hanau (happy birthday) from Hawaii! Gina Federico Scheper

Happiest Birthday, Citrus Lane! You are only a couple months older than my daughter We are in Maine!Michelle Brandi Reynolds

New Hampshire…I am one of your long time customers Jenn Kay Fields

Thank you! This was a fun one to pack RT @BridgetForney: Love our bath-themed @citruslane April box! http://instagr.am/p/JlOeu_xqOO/Citrus Lane

OH, no worries here! I’m so pleased with how you guys keep up with your FB page and quickly answer pestering littling questions like mine! Haha! The only sad thing about the box arriving is that it means I have to wait another month to get the next one! Tom-Rebekka Tebalt Drago

Thank you! So glad someone noticed Happy Valentine’s Day! RT @jengerbread88: @CitrusLane Love your new Valentine-inspired Twitter logo!Citrus Lane

@CitrusLane Should get our Citrus Lane box today! To say Mama is excited would be a gross understatement. Living La Vida Mommy

Traveling this summer? Summer is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, which means that flying with children — already a challenge — is complicated by longer security lines and overbooked flights. When baby is onboard, you can’t plan for every eventuality, but you can at least come prepared! Here are some of our favorite travel tips and stories.

grown-up goody bags
No one wants to be “the one with the screaming baby” on a long flight, but sometimes it happens. Smart moms are preparing their seat mates by handing out grown-up goody bags. It may not keep your baby from crying, but it’s bound to charm your fellow passengers! Suggested contents: candy and earplugs!

great gear
The right gear can make your travel experience…well, if not amazing, at least bearable! Project Nursery compiled three key purchases that may make all the difference. (Our personal favorite: a sturdy, lightweight, and collapsible umbrella stroller.)

iPads for rent
Speaking of gear: Jetstar, an Australian airline, has started making iPads available on flights (for a fee). The iPads will come pre-loaded with 50 books written and illustrated by school-aged children! (Hopefully they’ll also include Wheels on the Bus!).

accepting the chaos
In this essay, “Does Flying With Kids Have To Be So Bad?” one writer humorously explains how she survives flying with four children. (Hint: it’s about her revised attitude towards flying, not her kids, the other passengers, or the flight attendants.)

more tips from a travel-savvy mom
When you’re flying with kids, tips and tricks can make all the difference. Delicious Baby shared a very comprehensive post about airline travel with the smallest passengers.

Photo credit: mbrubeck on Flickr.

Founded by two dads, BabyGanics is committed to providing safe and healthy solutions for the growing family that are affordable and easy to find. They’re safe, effective, sustainable, made with pronounceable ingredients, and really work…which is why they were perfect to tackle the messes our Little Artists made!

We’re always curious to find out the story behind our brand partners, so we were just thrilled that Kevin Schwartz, one of BabyGanics’ founders, stopped by our blog! Read on to learn about BabyGanics story, snap up an exclusive coupon and win a BabyGanics prize package worth $40!

What motivated you to found BabyGanics?

The idea for BabyGanics actually came about when I was starting to build a business that was focused on the health and wellness of pets. In 2002, I started PetLabs360 which provides advanced supplements to veterinarian offices. The more I interacted with pet owners and vets the more I learned about a major issue many of them were facing, which was skin and coat reactions their pets were experiencing as a result of the chemicals in household cleaning products. In an effort to develop cleaning products that were pet-friendly, I realized that the issue is so much bigger -– that people, especially small children and babies, are extremely susceptible to reactions to harsh chemicals. My wife and I were thinking about starting a family, and my business partner Keith was a father as well. We didn’t want our kids to be crawling around on a floor or taking a bath in a tub that had been cleaned with products that could be harmful. So, out of a need in the pet market, BabyGanics was born!

When did you become interested in healthy household products?
The initial catalyst for me was actually my dog Tucker who was developing hot spots on his chin. We finally realized it was because he was resting his chin on our glass coffee table that we cleaned multiple times every day with blue glass cleaner! It forced me to take a close look at ingredients and steering my decisions in a direction that lead me to a total health and wellness lifestyle for myself, my family and Tucker!

What’s your go-to parenting product?
Of course BabyGanics products are a staple in our house and I feel great knowing that I’m helping to protect my family’s health by using products that I am certain are naturally safe and still effective! Another product that we loved when Tyler was a baby is the Fisher Price My Little Lamb Infant Seat. It was the only thing that my son would actually sleep in for the first 2 months of his life. It allowed my wife and me to get some much needed rest…a couple hours at a time!

How do I get started making the change to green products?
The birth of a new child is a tipping point in life when you start to do better for yourself and your new child, better than you’ve ever done before. Generally brands have standards going across a lot of different products and platforms. Find those and go deep within a brand. It’s very rare that you’ll see a huge contradiction between two products within the same brand. Find brands you trust and partner with them as a consumer.

What inspires you?
The little guy making a big impact! Since the inception of the BabyGanics brand, our greatest challenge has been defining a new “Natural and Safe” category in the Juvenile Specialty arena. With every step forward, seemingly another traditional household or personal care company has made attempts to slap “Baby” on an out-of-category product and compete in the space we’ve created. Consumers making smart choices and asking the right questions have helped this “Little Guy” remain the big fish in our tiny pond!

Tell us about your family!
My wife Alison is my hero and always has been. Her strength, grace and unwavering support are that glue that holds our family together. She is absolutely the driving force behind my professional and personal life. (Although my sons Tyler and Ryan are quickly catching up!) Tyler (almost 6) and Ryan (2½) keep us busy, happy and cracking up—they’re both super happy and active boys. My favorite thing to do at the end of a stressful day is come home and just hang out with them!

What’s the biggest mess BabyGanics has ever cleaned up?
Babies make all sorts of messes, whether it be with strained peas, ice cream or the all-time favorite culprit, grape juice — BabyGanics Cleaning Solutions, Laundry products and Baby Wipes can handle them all. Both Keith and I have tested each product rigorously at home before it goes to market. These products HAVE to work or our customers won’t come back!

Thank you so much, Kevin, for taking the time to talk with us! And thanks for sharing this hilarious BabyGanics video with us, too:

And we’re also grateful to BabyGanics and Kevin for offering our community this great giveaway! You can win a prize package worth $40, containing the following items to get your family started with BabyGanics:

All these great products are available at babyganics.com. Use code CITRUS20 for 20% off your order!

To enter our BabyGanics giveaway, just comment below telling us which BabyGanics product you need most at your house! For an additional entry, join Citrus Lane’s newsletter list and comment below letting us know you joined.

Congratulations to Deb D., who had the winning comment!

We love these travel blogs written and maintained by parents! Whether they’re giving travel tips, reviewing family-friendly resorts, or taking stunning photographs of their tots in exotic locales, they remind us that traveling the world with babies and children is absolutely possible -— and can even be fun!

• We’re inspired by Ciao Bambino!’s focus on international travelogues. Posts have shown children hiking in Switzerland, tips for family activities in York (England!) and an honest review of an unpleasant tour of Versailles. Lots of photos of parents and kids make international travel seem within reach for even the youngest families.
• We drool over the gorgeous travel photos on Posh Brood. These moms review upscale resorts and travel destinations with an eye towards family-friendliness. If you’re looking for lavish resorts with robust children’s clubs—and even the occasional budget hotel that delivers a taste of luxury for great value—this is the place.
• Living with an active toddler is challenging enough…now try raising an active toddler on a boat! We love following Rebel Heart’s adventures as they sail the world with little one in tow. No moving vans or crates; for this family, moving is as simple — and complicated — as raising anchor.
• For incredible adventures involving the under-5 set, visit OurTravelLifestyle.com. Two years ago, this couple decided to put the big items in storage and travel the world with their two small children. (To make it simple, they homeschool. Their curriculum is influenced by wherever in the world they happen to be.) Beautiful international locations involve predictably stunning photography.

Photo credit: travelho on Flickr.