Closing that baby window…I don't think any decision has been harder for me to come to terms with than that one. But I also know the prospect of having to undergo fertility treatments is something I don't know that I could do all over again; that yearning each month, counting the days of your cycle, grieving when each month it doesn't happen and having to continually endure the grueling process of trying; timing sex, screaming at your spouse when he's not in the mood, knowing full well- you've got a tiny window in which to get pregnant and hoping that this month you'll finally see those two magnificent lines on the EPT stick.

And so I have happily ensconced myself in AUNTIE role and am ready to get my baby fix satiated with the birth my younger BROTHER's baby (who I might just offer to babysit too if my brother plays his cards right!) and whenever I get the chance to spend some time with his other littles well I'm all over it. So when I got the opportunity to feature MAM's #babytroublemakers contest going on from January 7 – January 25  I had to share it! And the best news is we are giving away $100 worth of MAM baby products to celebrate your #babytroublemakers !

 Keep reading  for my Tips to Embrace THE MESS And enjoy Making Memories with your Littles and win $100 worth of MAM products from us at TheStatenIslandFamily.com

Tips to Embrace THE MESS And enjoy Making Memories with your Littles and win $100 worth of MAM products

The truth is we can all agree that babies are messy, but did you know that studies show that smashing, throwing and playing with food actually helps babies learn? And science has confirmed what kids seem to instinctively know – that playing in the dirt and mud is fun! But did you know that it actually helps soothe, calm and relax children! In short, playing with mud can make kids happier!

Rather than sweating the small stuff, parents should rejoice in the fact that a messy baby is a sign of a happy, well-adjusted one and not worry that it may reflect poorly on them as parents. Check out the following tips to bring out your baby’s messy side and embrace that being messy has its developmental benefits:

Count the fun and use your fingers: Use your little one’s food as a fantastic way to learn how to begin counting. When snacking, start counting with your little one and encourage them to use their fingers. Also, this is a great time to use food to help them learn how to properly grasp things. It will take time and practice so let them get a little dirty with their food and practice, practice, practice!

Throwing practice: Throwing food can definitely be messy, but did you know it helps with their
development? Little ones are also still developing object permanence, which means that they don’t know
that when they throw things, they won’t come back to them. So throwing food or dropping in on the floor
can actually help them learn this basic lesson in physics! Maybe just lay a mat on the floor to protect carpet
or allow for easy clean up.

Splish, Splash in the Bath: Bring fun toys and activities into the bath and let your child splash around and have fun. Make sure to use warm water (vs. hot) and use a mild cleanser to keep skin soft and itch-free. Gently pat skin dry and end with an after-bath moisturizer to seal in moisture and protect baby’s soft skin.

Get outside: It’s great to get your little one outside to learn and embrace nature and all it has to offer. Little ones tend to start creeping (pulling their bodies with their arms) before crawling and this can get their clothes quite dirty. This is all part of their learning process though, so feel free to let them explore and point out animals, plants, and the various sounds they may hear in nature so your child starts learning new concepts while having fun!

Bottom line: Parents should create memories with their families, not stress about the mess…

Have you ever caught your baby doing something he or she knows they shouldn't be doing, like scribbling a ‘masterpiece' on your walls or throwing food ALL over the floor?

 Share your story with #babytroublemakers and #contest on the MAM Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MAMbabyUSA/ and they will select three lucky winners to win one of three $100 prepaid cards! And remember: as trying as these moments are now, they're what we'll look back at and laugh at together when they're all grown up!

 Official Rules: http://bit.ly/babytroublemakers_USA_Rules

Join the MAM Club today and receive a free 2-pack of pacifiers with $25 purchase + free shipping on shopmambaby.com and be the first to know on news of special offers, promotions and new product introductions from MAM!

And the best part?

*CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER CANDICE* One of my readers will win $100 worth of MAM products! For a chance to win you must Follow The Staten Island Family on Facebook and leave a comment that you did so. For another chance to win you must FOLLOW @melissaSChapman on Twitter, TWEET this giveaway  and leave a comment here that you did so. For another entry you  can Follow MelissaSChapman on Instagram and leave a comment here that you did so! For Another entry you can  follow MelissaSChapman on Pinterest . And for another Entry you can subscribe to our newsletter and leave a comment here that you did so! GOOD LUCK giveaway ends January 16th!