The last few nights have been less than ideal in our house. In order of lack of sleep, we have my wife, baby, me, then the 3-year old.

So this is what is getting me through.

For those of you who buy baby formula, do you check the expiry date on the package before buying? Yes, we all say we do, but it is okay if you forget.

The thing is, you may want to start checking every time after what I read about happening in British Columbia.

Turns out, there, many stores are carrying expired formula and selling it.

President’s Choice Soy Infant Formula, a liquid, was found for sale more than two months past its expiry date at a Real Canadian Superstore in North Vancouver.

We buy President’s Choice product all the time and when Harry was a baby, that was the only formula he ever had. I can’t ever remember really focusing on the expiry date. I just assumed that stores would remove that product.

I just heard more on this story on the radio. It explained that “best before dates” are guidelines and the product generally is fine months later. But an “expiry date” means remove it from the shelves and destroy it.

So what is the kiddie crossover you ask? Well it has nothing to do with Kriss Kross, nor does it have anything to do with Tim Hardaway.

The kiddie crossover is all about the dance you do when you have two kids.

As every parent knows, a routine does not last forever. And when those routines change, there can be a tough period that needs to be conquered or else.

Since our second boy was born in October, he has been pretty close to our first boy for sleep. Pretty easy  (okay my wife may disagree).

He slept in bed for a bit and then went to the bassinet. He has been a through-the-night sleeper for a few weeks now and things were great. Everyone was sleeping and the night was pretty predictable. Yes, there were a few parts I did not like, but all in all, very routine and easy (again, my wife grrrrrs).

So with Charlie joining the ranks of three-month old status, he has not only busted into a whole new wardrobe, it is time to think crib action.

We did the same with Harry around the same age and as we remember it, it went not too shabby.

All parents remember the age when their son or daughter figured out the art of negotiating. The point in their life when they started to haggle like they were buying a used car. It could be for anything, more food, longer play time, bedtime, how long they got to watch TV or even for nothing at all.

Kids love to negotiate when given even the smallest opportunity.

For our son, it started around the time he turned three. This also was around the time he really had a grasp of what each number meant.

As his negotiations skills have grown over the past few months, I felt it was time to take a look into what makes him tick.

So, here are 5 negotiating tactics of a kid and how to beat them (in no particular order)

Now be quiet, don’t wake up the hungry baby.

Is there a part of raising a new baby that you really dislike, even hate? I know, it is wrong to say you hate something when it comes to your own child and there will be those who blast me for even saying it.

Well the one thing that I hate and can say with full disclosure, is the 15 minutes before we go to bed.

This is the time of the night where we are done watching the little TV we get to see and also the time of night we wake the baby, who is either sleeping on my wife, on the couch or the odd time on me.

This is the part of the evening where he REALLY wants to eat and have his midnight snack before dozing off for another six to seven hours. Yes, I know, my am actually complaining even though we have a boy who sleeps through the night.

The time, usually 11pm to 11:20ish is like being in a movie where we have to launch, follow through and end a covert mission to try to keep the boy from total meltdown.

Thanks to the recent movie that is trending around the universe, Zero Dark Thirty, I have kind of coined the mission as Zero Dark Charlie.