Guides | Moms Miami

Mom 411

  • Where to find after-hours child care

    New child-care centers are opening in South Florida to help parents who work nontraditional hours.

  • Modern manners for kids

    Find some etiquette guidelines - and local classes for kids.

  • You know you should: Make a will

    It’s a parent’s worst nightmare – to die and leave their young children all alone in a big, bad world. And it is the fear of that horrid thought that leaves many parents powerless to do the very thing that would help their children the most – to make a plan that will determine who will care for the kids and how and when they will get family assets. Here's what you need to know.

  • How to get your kid into modeling

    You know you have the cutest kid ever. People tell you all the time, your child should be a model. But does the child have the temperament to make it? And do YOU have the time to make it happen?

  • How to raise good sports

    It's tough to be a good sport. Watch any youth sports game and you'll see the bad behaviors -- the yelling, the screaming, the blaming -- and that's just the coaches and parents. The bottom line is, if we want our kids to learn good sportsmanship, we have to set a better example.

  • How to navigate new divorce rules

    "Custody'' is now a thing of the past as Florida has joined a nationwide trend that instead mandates that parents work out a child-sharing arrangement on their own terms.

  • Is your child gifted?

    For some parents, getting a child into the gifted program is akin to winning a gold medal in the academic Olympics. It’s a label parents and some students crave as much for the prestige as the potential for higher learning. Educators say parents who clamor to get the inside track on gifted testing should consider whether it’s really right for their child.

  • Avoid work-at-home scams

    For a parent, it sounds like the best of both worlds: working from home so you can make money AND spend more time with your kids. But how do you know what's a scam and what's legit?

  • How to find the right backpack

    The kids only care about the colors and the characters. But when it comes to backpack shopping, moms know that comfort and durability are the key factors. Choosing a quality backpack -- and packing it correctly -- helps prevent back, neck and shoulder pain.

  • When to teach life skills

    Are they old enough to load the dishwasher? When can they do their own laundry? Refill the toilet paper? A brief guide to some of the tasks kids need to learn, and when their parents should be teaching them.

  • Easy homemade baby food

    You don't have be an exceptional cook -- or even have a lot of free time -- to make your own baby food.

  • Are your kids' shoes too tight?

    Tips from the American Podiatric Medical Association on how to buy shoes that fit your kids correctly.

  • Guide to local childbirth classes

    Elementary education takes on new meaning at seven months pregnant. What does labor feel like? How can I prep for it? What's going to happen the first week back at home? Answer these questions and many more at a local childbirth education class.

  • So, you think your kid's a prodigy?

    Think your child is the next Wolfgang Mozart, Dominique Moceanu or Tiger Woods? Step back and get a realistic picture of the child's talent before pushing them in any one area.

  • Going green in the nursery

    You can spend a little, or you can spend a lot. But there are plenty of options to bring up baby in a space with natural products.

  • How to keep kids safe online

    Parents who think putting the computer in the family room will keep their child safe online are in for a rude awakening. Here are some other steps you need to take.

  • Free homework help

    If your child's homework is sending you on a fact-finding mission, if they're having trouble with algebra or don't know how to start a research paper, there's more help out there than Google. Here's our guide to local resources, right at your desktop.

  • Shop green, save green

    Going green no longer means signing over your paycheck to a fancy specialty store. Saving the earth is coming at less of a price these days, particularly to families who want only eco-friendly items in their shopping carts. Here are some tips to keep those greenbacks in check while going green.

  • How to find a preschool

    Finding a preschool with the right philosophy and environment for your child is just as important as the hours and location. A guide to what to look for.

  • Busy moms' guide to fitness

    Many busy moms have a hard time working an exercise routine into their already jampacked days. But MomsMiami consulted some experts about simple ways to get a workout, even if you have no time for the gym.

  • How to cope with head lice

    Talk about a head scratcher. Your child comes home with head lice and instantly your own scalp starts crawling with guilt and fear. What do you do? MomsMiami consulted the experts for the best advice on how to get rid of the pests and keep them from coming back.

  • How to hire a nanny

    Everything you need to get started on your search for Mary Poppins -- from background checks to weighing the pros and cons of nanny placement agencies vs. Craigslist.

  • Green parenting: Unplug and conserve

    You can lower your utility bills and save the planet, too, by engaging your kids in energy-saving behavior all around the house.

  • Green parenting: Natural cleaners

    Find out how to clean your home without using toxic chemicals.

  • Can your nanny handle emergencies?

    Local program aims to help child-care givers learn CPR, first aid and other skills - in English and in Spanish.

  • How to deal with heat illnesses

    Signs, symptoms and what to do about heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

  • Helping a child cope with grief

    How to help when a child loses a parent or another close relative.

  • When your baby's having a baby

    Advice and local resources to help cope with a teenager's pregnancy.

  • Green parenting: How to compost

    Here's a green family project: Recycle your food to fertilize your flowers. Here's how.

  • Green parenting: where to start

    Resources for making your family and household kinder to the environment -- from getting kids involved in nature to buying local produce.

  • How to raise a do-gooder

    Several South Florida groups have volunteer opportunities for the whole family. Read what others are doing and how you can get your kids involved in helping others.

  • How to protect precious photos

    Save those priceless -- and irreplaceble -- digital photos from a computer meltdown. Here's how to back them up.

  • When to keep sick kids home

    School policies, symptoms to look for and information on the sick kids day care center at a local hospital.