Daddy Nickell

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 6, offers his "5 cents" worth of advice to expectant and new parents. Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddyscrubs.com, delivery room duds and daddy gear for dads, and the Daddyscrubs.com blog where he covers topics about parenting and the latest baby and kids gear, all from a Dad's perspective.

School is back in service which means homework is back, too.  Getting kids to focus on their homework can be a real chore.  To help the process go a little smoother, create a homework haven for your kids. Set the scene to make it more comfortable and conducive to studying. Below are a few tips on creating a homework space that is perfect for studying. 1. Choose One Homework Space for the Kids: Designate one room or area of a room for...

An avolicious variation of a traditional Mexican stew enjoyed on Mexican Independence Day among other festivals. 1-2 lbs (500 g – 1 kg) stewing beef 1 small onion cut in half 1 tsp bouillon cube 1 clove garlic 1tbsp Kosher salt 3 bay leaves Chili Sauce 1 red dried chili 1/2 tsp cumin powder 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp sesame seeds 1 (20 oz) can white hominy Avocado Dip 1 large avocado from Mexico 2 oz cream cheese 1 tbsp...

What better way to get your kids to eat more fruit than with a very berry smoothie? And the best part about these smoothies that are full of antioxidant rich berries is they taste great! Once you have the kids hooked on these favorites, have them get involved and mix up their own combinations. The possible berry smoothie recipes you can come up with are endless. Serve them up as a breakfast smoothie, a before soccer practice smoothie or a bed...

I love breakfast. It’s my favourite meal of the day and we sometimes even have it for dinner. Those are the days when I have no idea what we are going to eat. You know the days, everything is frozen and you just can’t think of anything. It’s so easy to make some pancakes, bacon and to cut up some fruit. Yum! Lately I’ve been on a mission to be more creative with my breakfasts. My kids usually have the same thing all the time. Cereal,...

The phrase ‘sleep training’ can be a confusing one, mainly because it means different things to different families. And this is understandable; there are many ways to sleep train your little one! In general, the process of sleep training refers to anything parents do to help a baby or toddler fall asleep on his own and stay asleep, without frequent waking. Usually, babies aren’t ready for sleep training until they’re about 4...

Where do I even begin this blog? Nothing that anyone told me could have prepared me for bringing twins home from the NICU. The five weeks that they spent in hospital were wonderful and terrible at the same time. I learned so much from the nurses and lactation consultants there and that's the best piece of advice I can give to other parents with babies in the NICU. It's a difficult time spending hours each day in hospital and then leaving your...

I was having a lot of anxiety about M going to school while I was on mat-leave. It’s a lot of extra work, well worth it yes but A LOT to take on all at once. The trick is to stay uber-organized like, I’m talking about, OCD territory here! How do I get a four+ year old and an eight month old out the door by 7:30? Well, here are a few tricks on how to stay organized while keeping your sanity. 1. Have rules, a schedule and don’t break the...

With the recent news that Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith‘s daughter Dakota Johnson, 23, will star as Anastasia Steele in the much anticipated film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey, we’re taking a look at 5 celebrities and their very own rising stars. If you were in show business, would you want your children to follow in your footsteps? Check out which celeb parents have encouraged their children to enter the wild world of fame...

I’ve lived in Canada for the last 15 years. I was introduced to the phenomena also known as “going to the cottage” early on. As soon as the spring hit it was very common for someone to say, “Want to come to my cottage this weekend?” What I also learned early on was how painful it is to bruise your buttocks on a jet ski in Muskoka, but I will save that story for another day. One of my best mates and his family finally came to...

If you have children it’s likely they’ve made friends with other kids who live nearby in and around your neighborhood. It can be tricky to have new children in your home as your house rules may be quite different than what they’re used to in their own homes. I’ve put together a few tips that will help make play dates in your home enjoyable while ensuring neighborhood friends understand your household rules, too! Be the Parent:...

Ingredients: 2 Baguettes 1 cup Bothwell Old Cheddar cheese 3 tablespoons Mayonnaise ½ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce 1 Green onion (diced small – optional) ¼ cup Shredded parmesan cheese (optional) Method: Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice baguettes into circles (into desired thickness). Mix the mayonnaise and Worcestershire sauce together and spread mixture onto baguettes. Top with cheddar cheese and green onions. Try adding...