Parenting & Childcare Blog | Children's Land

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Young children sitting together on the grass outdoors

Early Pre-school

Things to Do With Kids in Park Ridge, IL

Park Ridge is full of easy outings for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Here are the parks, pools, storytimes, nature spots and rainy-day ideas local families love, with tips on ages, seasons and what to bring, plus a few nearby favorites just outside town.

Toddler

Why Kids Nap at Daycare but Not at Home

Many parents are amazed that their toddler naps for two hours at daycare and fights every nap at home. Here is why it happens, how much sleep young children need, and simple ways to borrow what works at daycare for weekend naps and bedtime.

Working mother in uniform holding her newborn baby

Infants

Pumping at Work in Illinois: Laws and Your Rights

Illinois now requires most employers to pay for pumping breaks. Here is what the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act and the federal PUMP Act cover in 2026, what kind of space your employer must provide, how to talk to your manager, where to file a complaint, and practical tips for pumping while your baby is in daycare.

Baby drinking from a bottle held by an adult

Infants

Does Daycare Provide Formula, Diapers and Food?

What daycare provides varies from center to center, but Illinois rules settle part of the question. Here is what centers commonly provide, what families usually pack, how state and federal food rules work, and the questions to ask so you can compare costs fairly.

Father holding his baby and feeding a bottle

Infants

Baby Won’t Take a Bottle Before Daycare: What Helps

Many breastfed babies refuse a bottle at first, which can feel stressful with daycare coming up. Here is why it happens, when to start practicing, step-by-step tips that help, what infant teachers do in the first days, and the signs that mean you should call your pediatrician.