Check their ittybittybamboo Cafe Press site for info and ordering. 10% of proceeds go to the Half the Sky Foundation.

We finally got to the point where our 14 month-old daughter was "sleeping through the night" (which means, waking the typical 3-5 times per night but settling herself back to sleep). But she seemed to be waking with a bulging water balloon of a diaper, occasionally with leakage. Not good.

After getting over my irrational fear that even looking into her room would wake her, I finally girded up the courage to try changing her diaper before we parents went to bed. Given all the prebed fluids she is wont to take, it's often quite wet by that point. And guess what - she never fully wakes up, even if I have to flip her right-side up (I have since perfected the upside-down diaper switch). And she sleeps in. And doesn't wake to soggy pants. 

Life is good. 

Your child may not be quite the nocturnal urinator that ours is. Or is perhaps a lighter sleeper. But do try this if you think that morning wetness is a factor. 

For those who can't stand having things on their wrists (that would include me), I've also had families use Tyvek tags or luggage tags worked through shoelaces. If you've come up with anything useful, please post below ...

• Have the current foster parent request photos of the new family to show the child frequently [or make a "transition book" using the custom picture book tip].
  
• Ask what kind of laundry soap and fabric softener the new family uses and have the current family start to use them (or have the new family use what the current family is using for at least a while).
• Have the new family send a blanket, stuffed animal, scarf, etc to the current family so that the child can start to use it now and take it to the new home with her.
• I would have the new family attempt to use as many of the same comfort items as possible that are sent with the child and not be in a big hurry to change them over or to wash them.
• Have the families exchange information on schedules, foods, soothing techniques, favorite music, favorite books, toys, and so forth. Are there certain lullabyes, games, and so forth that the child finds soothing or comforting? What do they use for eating utensils, does the child sit at the dinner table in high chair, or booster seat? As much information as possible that can be shared the better the transition.
  
• In an ideal world I would have the transition last 3-4 weeks with short visits in the current home, then out in public with both parents there, then at the new home with the current parent present and so forth.
• If that's not an option, make sure to have the exchange of information, use of photos now and in the new home to maintain connections, and the use of common items, smells, textures, foods, schedules and so forth.

To which I might add some more rudimentary ideas that somehow seem to get overlooked:

• Unless the child is in immediate danger, moving a child without preparing them ahead of time is NOT a good thing.  By ahead of time, I mean well before the car is pulling up in the driveway. Losing a familiar family and home without preparation is truly traumatic.
  
• Never ever never move a child by putting their things in garbage bags. Kids are literal, and "Your belongings are garbage to me" is hardly a nice message to send to a distressed child.
  

I do my best to not do the "I'm babywearing, how attached am I" look that sometimes goes with the wearing of the baby. And I try to maintain some sense of my own style (which does not generally include being draped with bolts of indigenous fabrics) while I do it. And thus, I bring you my own idiosyncratic list of fave slings and things:

Adjustable Pouches

Our favoritest, most versatile babywearing device has been an adjustable fleece pouch, from Kangaroo Korner. Works great for facing-in infant snuggles, facing-out kangaroo hold, sidelying, and my favorite, the hip carry. The sherpa fleece is snuggly, just warm enough, and stretches just right. Bonus for me: no rings, no big tails of fabric. But for those of you that can work that look, I hear ring slings are fabulously versatile, and great for breastfeeding. And for those who like being tied up, the Moby Wraps sure are popular.

Soft Structured Baby Carriers

These let you carry a baby, toddler, even preschooler facing-in, either on your frontside or back. You can adapt them for hip carry, but it's kludgey. They hurt my back a lot less than Baby Bjorns, and are more snuggly and nap-tastic. The Ergo carrier is the easiest-to-find version of this, and it works great for lots of people. We struggled with the fabric choices (they all looked a bit "I wear hemp" for me), and wound up with a Yamo baby carrier, in fabu red surf fabric, from Israel via German Ebay. Yes, people get that crazy about their baby carriers. But we sooo love it. To find people even more nutty about their babywearing than I, go to the TheBabyWearer reviews and forums. The reviews are excellent, and the "for sale or trade" section is hopping.

Hip Carriers

Our daughter ended up feeling that a hip carry was a nice compromise between snuggling in and facing out. And so along came the Ellaroo Mei Hip carrier, in a luscious array of organic fabrics. You can do this carry with a pouch or ring sling, or the Ergo-type carriers, but this one is both easy and comfortable. Ellaroo also carries more traditional Mei Tais, not to mention Guatemalan-fabric slings and wraps.

And that's what we're rocking so far ... I hear these really come into their own when you've got two kids. For toddler adoptees, the soft structured and hip carriers are a great choice, as they comfortably handle bigger kids. I hope you find one (or more) that suits you and your child. But remember - it's still OK to put them down from time to time. How else will they learn to sit/crawl/walk?

Please post your own favorites below. However, you may end up in trouble with my wife if you end up inspiring yet another carrier purchase.

Magnolia "Pop" Mounger Pool

This is a great municipal pool, with really warm toddler pool, and a bigger pool and fun water slide with no height requirement! Get there at the beginning of the session, as there are a lot of popmongers out there on weekends.

Renton Aquatic Center

This is a fabulous town alternative to big water parks, and it's right off of 405, so pretty easy to get to. Wave pool, a lazy river, toddler splash and spray structure, and two most excellent water slides. Get there early, and the later sessions are less crowded. But hardly any lines if you get in!

Greenlake Wading Pool

A Seattle classic. Let us know your other favorite wading pools below.

Wild Waves

Loud, crowded, and not cheap. Look for coupons, the season pass is a good deal for addicts, and lucky Microsoft employees get a major deal with their Prime Card. If you go on off-days, and your children tolerate chaos, there are some excellent rides here. The pirate-themed splash and climb structure is major fun for younger kids. My favorite rides are the Zooma Falls bumper tube experience, and the semi-hidden 2 slides with big drops behind the zipwire. Under new management as of 2007, haven't been there yet, so we'll see how things evolve.

Mountlake Terrace Pool

Our favorite indoor pool - a great choice in the non-summer months. Excellent soft-bottom toddler play area, and a neat little lazy river. And a Jacuzzi!

We also hear Bainbridge has a aquatic center, similar to Mountlake Terrace's, and that there's an excellent Spray Park in Auburn. Where else should we go?

[The theaters] do not usually list which movies are playing with Cry Rooms because Auditoriums are subject to swapping for Special Advance Screenings... However, the following are the Cry Rooms:

• Landmark's Metro Cinemas - Auditorium # 1
  
• Landmark's Varsity Theatre - Auditorium # 1
  
• Landmark's Guild 45th Theatre - Auditorium # 2
  

Information on which Film is playing in which Auditorium can be obtained by calling (206) 781-5755. Unfortunately, you have to listen to a lot of gobbledygook before they tell you the cry room information. For the benefit of you, our readers with babies, Seattlest navigated through the phone tree and hereby passes on this quick guide:

• For the Guild 45th, press 3 and just listen. The cry room is attached to the blue theater, which they mention second.
  
• For the Metro, press 5 and then 3. This is a special cry room message.
  
• For the Varsity, press 8. The cry room is attached to the main, downstairs auditorium, which they mention first.

For those too busy to click through, here's what you need to know:

The Worst (Buy These Organic):

1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Sweet Bell Peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Pears
9. Grapes (imported)
10. Spinach
11. Lettuce
12. Potatoes
    

The Best (Lowest in Pesticides):

1. Onions
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn (frozen)
4. Pineapples
   
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet Peas (frozen)
8. Kiwi Fruit
9. Bananas
10. Cabbage
11. Broccoli
12. Papaya
    

Imagine the possibilities:

• Sending a book to your preadoptive child with pictures of your family, your home, and your neighborhood, with labels in English and their native language.
  
• Creating a gorgeous hardbound lifebook, without any "scrapbooking" skillz whatsoever.
  
• Printing a smaller, pocket-size "flipbook security blanket" of reassuring people and places, for difficult daycare and school transitions, or for scary moments in the middle of the night.
• Using this for custom "social stories", with scripts and Stuart Smiley affirmations for situations your child may be struggling with. Photos and optimistic narrations of your child's bedtime routine, eventual toilet training success, trips to loud stores, a photo-rehearsal of the bus trip to school, and so on ...
  
• Or do-it-yourself books on your child's obsession du jour. My friends made an incredible photobook of big machinery from Dad's bike commute, through the Ballard locks, along the train lines, past the tugboats, through the sculpture garden construction site, and to the downtown office towers. The narration was personal and better-written than most books in this genre, and the whole project from photos to book order took less than a day. Their vehicle-obsessed 2-year-old loves it ... best birthday present EVER.
  

Make your child's security object, lovie, or blankie smelly in a good way by using it during feedings. Having it close to your body can let it absorb both your own good funk and the smell of breastmilk or formula. If one parent tends to feed more often, another caregiver can use the lovie to evoke a happy-well-fed feeling when rocking and consoling the child later. That lovie can be a real help with bedtimes and daycare transitions too. Just make sure to invest in identical backup lovies if possible, and rotate them to keep them all equally funky. Wash infrequently, if at all.

•  Tivo. Forget going out to movies, unless there's a crying room. Forget making it through a DVD without passing out. You need Tivo. Time-shifting shows, pausing TV, and skipping commercials ... what more could a parent need? Besides, we're living in the Renaissance era of TV: Arrested Development (RIP), Curb Your Enthusiam, The Wire, West Wing, The Daily Show, The Deadliest Catch (go Ballard!) ... I could go on, but I think I've revealed enough already about how much TV I watch.
  
• Espresso. Nespresso makes a capsule-based home espresso machine that delivers almost instant shots with lovely crema ... all without grinding, tamping, wiping, pulling, and cleaning. As much as I love the auditory baristatory associations of "whirrrr, clunk clunk, flicka-flicka, tap-tap, and psshhhh", for home use at 5am I vote capsule. You can find base-model Nespresso machines refurbished on eBay for $100 or so. Screaming deal.

Sit your young infant on your knee, and support their upper chest and jaw with your hand, so that their head doesn't fall too far forward. Let their torso collapse forward a bit, bounce your knee, and pat their back with your other hand. Professional-grade burps, every time.

When you greet your kids in the morning, or in the middle of the night, or are walking into a sibling melee, try talking to them on the exhale, rather than in a tense inhale, or held breath. Try it - take a deep breath (or 2 or 3), let your shoulders melt, and greet them on the exhale. Calm is contagious.

On the third Tuesday of each month from 6:00p - 7:15p Jump Planet is excited to be hosting a private and reserved session exclusively for children (ages 2-12) with special needs and their families. Our 11 giant inflatable game structures will be available to jump on, slide down, and explore in a safe and welcoming environment. 

Check their website for details, and please post any other excellent play opportunities below. I'm told it's wise to wear long sleeves and pants at Jump Planet to avoid "rugburn".

• Trace an outline of the affected body part on paper very night, and let your child draw a big 'ol X over the wart area
• Rub the wart with a cut potato, and bury the potato one foot deep at the stroke of sunset, or some such complicated ritual. Tom Sawyer used a "spunk-water stump" in the middle of the woods.
  
• Go to a "witch doctor" and have a wart-begone spell done (this worked for my mom growing up in France), or just come up with your own incantation and do it every night.
  
• Daily hot water soaks have had some claims of efficacy
  
• Apply apple cider vinegar on a piece of cotton gauze under a bandaid each night
• Or apply dandelion milk nightly, or banana peel, or garlic juice ... I could keep going here folks, and probably will. Feel free to add your own wart remedies in the comments. This page has quite a collection as well.
  
• Finally, there's the infamous DUCT TAPE therapy. This one has a published study to support it, where 85% of warts resolved with duct tape, compared to 60% with freezing. Apply a piece of duct tape the size of the wart directly to the wart and remove it 6 days later. If it falls off, reapply a new piece. At 6 days, file the wart with an emery board or pumice stone after soaking it in water. Leave the wart uncovered to air overnight. Repeat the 6-day cycle in the morning, for up to 2 months total.