Any new parent who has spent hours agonizing over the rhythms of their newborn’s behaviors and needs will appreciate Pampers’ baby monitoring system to help track a baby’s schedule.
Lumi by Pampers uses a tracker attached to a baby’s diaper to collect data on sleep and wet diapers, in order to give parents a better understanding of their little one’s routine. The system uses a 1080p wide-angle HD video monitor and activity sensors which can be attached to specially-designed diapers. The sensors track wet diapers and sleep patterns, then store the data in the Lumi app.
Parents can also add feeding schedules and important milestones in the app as well, to develop a more detailed picture of what their baby’s routine looks like. The sensor will only work with Lumi by Pampers diapers, which are available in sizes newborn through four and cost nearly the same as regular diapers.
You can purchase the smart sensor that attaches to Lumi diapers for $30, as well as the complete Smart Baby Monitor that has night vision and humidity tracking for $166. If you’d like extra help in the sleep department, you can head to the Lumi website and sign up for a sleep plan that offers guidance on getting your little into sweet dreams.
Full disclosure…I feel really awkward writing a blog post about my parenting “wins” or “successes” because, honestly, it seems like I’m bragging or saying that I’m doing an Instagram-worthy job of parenting at all times. So, here is my reality: sometimes I win and a lot of times I’m in learning mode and then I have moments of TOTAL FAILURE parenting. I think we all have these three modes, but I have recently found three parenting tips that are totally working for my family and I thought it would be worth sharing in case they can help another mom or dad move into the win category for one more moment of their week.
Parenting Win #1: The Family Breakfast
When my kids were little, we sat down for dinner together every night we possibly could at just about 6 p.m. I read all the studies and I know that family meals have huge correlation to a positive family connection, fight childhood obesity, better academic performance, higher self-esteem, etc. But, now that my boys are older, their afterschool activities consistently encroach on the 6 o’clock hour and those activities are super positive for the boys. But, my four-year-old can’t wait for dinner until after 7 p.m. when the older boys are finished at the pool or the gym.
So, what’s a mom to do? Enter the family breakfast! If we can’t sit down for family dinner consistently, why not breakfast? We started by piloting one week over the summer when there wasn’t a time crunch to get to school. We all gathered at 6:45 a.m. And it worked! We all sat down and connected at the beginning of the day. And it was delightful!
When the school year began, we really went for it. At first, it was hard to get the rhythm going—the kids had to wake up 15 minutes earlier. But, once we figured out the ins and outs, this has become a routine that is really working.
Some things we learned that I hope are helpful for you:
Don’t try to make anything fancier than a normal school day breakfast. If your kids like Cheerios, they should eat Cheerios.
If you have one naysayer, do it anyways! Positive peer pressure will win the day.
Parenting Win #2: Conversation Topics Assigned to Each Day of the Week
This win is directly connected to family breakfast for my family, but it really could be any time of the day like afternoon pick-up from school, family dinner, or part of a bedtime ritual. We have a different topic of conversation for each day of the week and the kids helped come up with these:
Monday: What are you looking forward to this week?
Tuesday: What are you reading or writing?
Wednesday: What is something interesting you heard or learned recently?
Thursday: What is something that happened recently where you learned from making a mistake?
Friday: Gratitude Friday
Why is this a Win? Well, for starters, since implementing these questions, we have a more varied and interesting conversation as a family than we have had in years. It’s so easy to get stuck in the “What are you doing at school?” or “How is work?” rut. Those questions are important, but how do you peel back the onion layers to get at something new or different? These questions also give space for the adults to be vulnerable in front of our kids and to connect with their kids on shared interests. I would say that for us, having the structure of pre-determined conversation topics has opened the door to much more freedom in how we are all conversing.
Parenting Win #3: Audiobooks and Podcasts
We are all battling the world that is technology these days. What is a good use? What is inappropriate? What is educational? How much is too much? I don’t know any parent who isn’t struggling with this to some degree as kids are getting phones and iPads younger and younger. So, my recent parenting win is that using the iPhone app screen time settings by limiting our kid’s ability to access anything other than audible and podcasts. And, wouldn’t you know it, the kids have taken to listening to all sorts of fantastic shows and books I don’t feel guilty, they think they are getting screen time and they are listening to something that often I enjoy too….a big win all around. Listening to stories is a tradition as old as time, why not embrace our modern versions of that? We are using these in the car, before bed, on lazy Saturdays, and on boring shopping trips that kids get dragged on.
Here are a few of our favorites that will entertain a span of ages:
Harry Potter Audiobook
Inkheart on Audiobook (a little scary for the 4-year-old)
Nina Meehan is CEO and Founder Bay Area Children's Theatre and the host of the Creative Parenting Podcast. An internationally recognized expert in youth development through the arts, Nina nurtures innovation by fostering creative thinking. She is mom to Toby (13), Robby (10) and Meadow (5).
Every new school year brings its fair share of jitters, excitement, and everything in between, but the span of emotions leading into this year are greater than ever. After a year (or more) of balancing virtual or hybrid school, many parents are dusting off lunchboxes and backpacks to send their kids back to school in-person for the first time in over a year. It’s a big deal. But, at least for me, with each new school supply purchased and each lunchbox packed, the nerves slip away and eagerness kicks in.
A new survey from Juicy Juice found that a staggering 95% of parents say they are excited to return to a sense of normalcy this school year after balancing remote school last year. And I’m one of them! So to celebrate the “yay” moments as I like to call them, I’m sharing some tips to help families stoke the positivity and set themselves up to conquer the school year ahead.
1. Be There for Your Littles
Heading back to school after a year of virtual or hybrid schooling can be a little intimidating for kids. Combat those back-to-school jitters with a little lunchbox note. It’s a great way for parents to inject some encouragement, confidence, and joy into the school day. It’s also a great way to stay connected and let them know you’re thinking of them during the day.
2. Go Easy on Yourself
Daily to-do’s don’t need to weigh you down. For example, don’t try to be the best chef when making school lunches. Lunchboxes can be easy and predictable! Stick with staples like a sandwich, some fruit and veggies, something salty and a maybe a sweet treat. Within these categories you can get creative. Maybe one day it’s turkey and cheese and the next day it’s almond butter with jelly. I give my son Juicy Juice 100% juice boxes because there are so many flavors to choose, it keeps his lunchbox interesting! The more you can simplify the tasks that you have to do multiple times a week, the lighter your to-do list will feel.
3. Leverage Your Resources
With so many children returning to school after a year or more of virtual education, you may notice some emotional difficulties with your child including some anxiety, social troubles, and attention problems. Your child’s school likely has a counselor or psychologist, so don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. But don’t forget to get yourself some help too. Lean on the other parents in your class for support. Even create a parent group chat! As parents, we may feel out of the loop when it comes to the day-to-day activities and events that happen at school, so help each other stay in the know and connected.
4. Play Goes a Long Way
Now that kids are heading back to school, we’re spending less time together, so make your family time count by setting aside a special time where you really connect with each other and just play! Play is the natural language of young children. By playing with your kids without the distraction of your phone or mobile device, you’ll have meaningful conversations, learn what’s on their mind and maybe uncover any difficulties they may be experiencing. This can be just 10 minutes after school before homework, it doesn’t have to be a lot of time to make a big difference!
5.Connect with Others
Take advantage of that parent group chat and schedule some play dates. Connecting with other classroom parents and planning an outdoor play date with other kids who will be in your child’s classroom will help build (or rebuild) that sense of community for parents. For kids who’ve been in virtual school all year, this is a great way to familiarize them with their new classmates and practice some socialization skills.
Amber Kemp-Gerstel is the host of Disney Family Sundays on Disney+ and founder of Damask Love, a creative blog all about DIY. Amber received her Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology from Vanderbilt University and practiced as a pediatric psychologist for many years before shifting careers to pursue her passion for creativity.
What’s more fun than playing with a fresh batch of LEGO bricks? How about playing with a friend? (Because let’s be honest, you need some peace and quiet this summer.)
LEGO has just announced a brand new experience that brings together your fave video game brothers for some two-player fun. LEGO Mario and brand new LEGO Luigi are the ultimate duo for social play and using your imagination as you craft new brick adventures! Keep scrolling to see how.
Kids can embark on two-player adventures when they connect LEGO Mario and LEGO Luigi via Bluetooth, then perform coordinated actions like jumping, working together and walking. Collect coins, share rewards, defeat goombas and race to the finish line!
LEGO Luigi ($59.99) joins the popular LEGO Super Mario lineup of sets and is available in a starter course that has everything you need to get started. Not only is LUIGI finally get his own building set, but LEGO is adding plenty more products that will take your Mario World to the next level.
LEGO is adding four new Expansion Sets, two new Power-Up Packs and ten new Character Packs. All the sets can be used in solo play, connected to an existing set and for two-player fun.
Starting today, you can already pre-order Bowser’s Airship Expansion Set ($99.99), which can be crafted in both flying and course mode and will put the Mario Bros. to the test. Additional products coming soon include:
71394 Character Packs – Series 3 (10 collectible Character Packs, including Galoomba, Parachute Bob-omb, Crowber, Boo, Amp, Torpedo Ted, Bony Beetle, 1-Up Mushroom, Scuttlebug and Swoop) ($4.99 )
The remaining sets are all coming Aug. 1, with the Luigi Start Course and Browser’s Airship available for pre-order now. Head to lego.com to place your order!
Xbox. Nintendo Switch. PlayStation. Netflix. YouTube. TikTok. Snapchat…Those are all words (and sometimes used as verbs in the case of Snapchat) we are used to hearing in my house because we have teenage and pre-teen children. Those words used to fill me with anxiousness because most of the time, it meant my kids had their eyes glued to a screen, and I worried they were turning into zombies while connecting to a world that I knew very little about. Not to mention connecting in a world that is technologically and socially a much different landscape than when my husband and I grew up in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Naturally, as a parent, I became concerned about too much screen time, online safety, cyberbullies, stalkers, inappropriate interactions, terrible images, and more. In my mind, technology quickly became the enemy.
To ease my anxiousness and squash my concerns, I gave my children a long list of rules, screen time restrictions and monitored everything they did online. I thought my restrictions would help our family connect more because of their time limits. Let me be clear, my intentions were pure, and it is crucial to protect your children online, but my plan was causing nothing but resentment and disconnection.
I’ve always known that connecting with my children is a critical part of their social and emotional development. One of my favorite quotes is from a Kids In The House video. In the video, ADHD specialist and Author Edward Hallowell, MD, EdD, says, “By far, the most powerful force in life for development, joy, confidence, health; is the force of connection. At its most distilled, we call it love. I think that the bond between parent and child is the single strongest emotion in all of human existence. Then it spreads out into what I call a connected childhood. It is the greatest gift you can give your child.”
With connection on my heart, I continued trying to connect with my children in various ways. We would bake cookies, create crafts, go on walks, but often they would get bored, and often as soon as we would finish spending a moment together, they would head right back to technology. I was left wondering why we didn’t feel more connected, so I started researching.
An article I found on Child Development Info says, “Try not to seem judgmental about their hobbies. If your kids aren’t hurting anyone, you shouldn’t be concerned. If they start to feel that you don’t appreciate what they love, they’ll start to push you further away.”
Wait, were my best intentions causing my children to push me away? That was the last thing I wanted. Was my own experience growing up with little to no technology creating an unconscious bias in my mind about how they should grow up? That’s when it hit me; technology may not be the enemy after all. In fact, I could use technology to our benefit and connect with my children.
Instead of just implementing more rules and red tape, I pushed my technology judgments aside and picked up a device. Please understand that I didn’t throw all rules out the window, especially ones about being safe online; I did back off a bit and started playing their video games, watching their favorite Netflix shows, and making silly faces on Snapchat. It was like magic. Suddenly, we were engaging, interacting, laughing at the same memes, and sharing inside jokes. We’ve even had entire conversations using nothing but funny gifs on iMessage. If you don’t think this is possible, try it. I assure you it is. Now, I’m still not good at any of their video games. In fact, I don’t think I’ve won a single Mario Kart race, ever. Whenever I build on Minecraft, I get confused, and I’ve never mastered a TikTok dance. But the reality is that none of that matters. What matters is that we are connecting, and we are having fun.
With technology, the sky is the limit, and you can positively expose your children to a variety of interesting things that might otherwise not be possible were it not for technology. Other ways to connect with your children through technology include:
1. Listen to a podcast of their choice
2. Follow a blog of their choice together
3. Zoom/Facetime extended family and friends together
4. Take virtual field trips
5. Movie marathons (especially Marvel!)
6. Learn TikTok dances
7. Create YouTube videos together on topics of their choosing
8. Create digital art
9. Make digital music
10. Create memes together
11. Build an Instagram page together to highlight an important topic
12. Learn to DJ with your child
Out of curiosity, I asked my children two things. The first question was: Do they enjoyed it when we joined them online for games and connected with them via social media? All three immediately said yes. The second question I asked: Was their favorite way to connect with my husband and me through technology? While their answers were different, their message was loud and clear. My 5th grader said she likes playing Minecraft and Stardew Valley Xbox games with my husband because they spend time together. My 6th grader said she looks forward to watching our favorite Netflix or Disney Plus shows every night because she gets to spend time together as a family. My 9th grader said she likes communicating with the family via Instagram because we all send funny memes and posts. The message? They like being together.
My takeaway through all of this was that I needed to meet my kids where they were, not where I wanted them to be. They are living in a world filled to the brim with TikToks, memes, vines, YouTube clips, and more, so if you don’t speak that “language,” you face the risk of being less connected as a parent. Trust me, engage on their level, and you’ll quickly learn to speak the language. You’ll also quickly find new ways to connect, and connection is the greatest gift you can give to your child.
Jamie is married to her high school sweetheart and has three beautiful daughters. Through years of experience working with children, and raising her own, she knows how difficult parenting can be. She is an advocate for children's mental health and is best known for her creativity, optimism, and kind heart.
Ali Flynn Is excited to share with you the joys and hardships of motherhood with an open heart, laughter and some tears. Ali is a monthly guest contributor for Westchester County Mom and has been seen on Filter Free Parents, Grown and Flown, Today Parents and Her View From Home.
Is your kiddo a future Instagram influencer? A new study looked at over 500 IG accounts to come up with a list of the top baby names for future social media stars.
OnlineGambling.ca has a few ideas to explore if you’re pregnant and looking THE name. The brand reviewed existing IG accounts, analyzing which names were connected most to the highest number of followers.
Based on this study, Hannah is the number one name for social media influencers. The data shows that 50 accounts with a whopping average total of 1,128,000 followers belonged to Hannah’s. If Hannah isn’t your top pick, consider Chloe. The average number of followers for the 50 accounts reviewed in the study was 2.4 million. Other top girl influencer names include Sophie and Rebecca.
When it comes to boy names, the top future IG influencer picks include Jamie (with an average 9.8 million followers), Jack (four million followers), Eric (327,000 followers), James (25.4 million followers) and Wayne (702,000 followers).
The study also looked at specific social media influencer genres. In the lifestyle arena, the top influencer names are Sarah, Chloe, Ella, Hannah, and Sophie. Fitness influencer top names included James, Kelsey, Laura, Samantha and Eric. The top gaming influencer name was Nick, followed by Jamie, Nate, Brook and Tyler. For more info, see the full study here.
Levi Strauss & Co. and Target are teaming up again to expand an already-awesome partnership. Even though the iconic denim brand and big red bullseye retailer have worked together for almost a decade, this is the first time the two will collab on home and lifestyle items.
The Levi’s x Target limited-edition collection launches Feb. 28 and will feature durable items that span the home, pets, accessories and apparel categories. These will include 100+ items priced from $2 to $150. Most of the Levi’s for Target collection is under $25.
Karyn Hillman, chief product officer for Levi’s said, in a press release, “We’re thrilled to be introducing our one-of-a-kind home collection with Target.” Hillman also added, “We immediately connected on our mutual passion for purposeful and timeless design, with sustainability and quality at the core of everything we do. We dialed up the best elements of our two iconic brands and discovered fresh new ways to create truly unique products to be enjoyed for years to come.”
Chief merchandising officer for Target, Jill Sando, said of the collab, “Strategic partnerships like our work with Levi’s have long been a key part of Target’s success, allowing us to offer our guests the very best national brands alongside our incredible assortment of owned brands.” Sando continued, “Through this partnership, we’re able to offer a collection of items guests can’t find anywhere else, with pieces that exemplify the values and design prowess of both the Target and Levi’s brands.”
You can browse and buy from the Levi’s for Target collection in Target stores or online at Target.com starting Feb. 28, 2021.
Mom life can cause a lot of stress. Between being the amazing carer you are for your kids every hour of the day and making time to care for your own needs, things can get a little more than hectic. Just like any job or role in life, being a mom can come with some serious stress. In fact, moms tend to be more stressed than dads or other parents on average—though dad stress is totally real, too. While there are many reasons why this might be, getting to the root of the stress is what really makes a difference to many stressed-out moms.
It’s no secret that stress can have a negative impact on your health and happiness. People with high-stress careers tend to have higher rates of related health complications and even lower quality of life in some cases. By eliminating stress — or working to get it in check at the very least — you can cultivate a longer, happier, healthier life for you to enjoy with your family. Here are just a few reasons why it’s important to keep your stress in check as a mom.
1. For Your Heart
Your heart is directly related to your stress levels. Issues like high blood pressure and heart complications occur much more often in those with issues related to stress. Especially if heart problems run in your family, keeping your stress at bay can be a literal lifesaver.
2. For Your Immune System
Stress can wear down your immunity, which not only means that you’re more likely to get sick, but it also means that you’re more likely to bring something home to your partner, parents, or kiddos. Infections, colds, illnesses, and even injuries taking longer to heal are all a result of weakened immunity, and stress can be a large contributor to that.
3. For Your Oral Health
Being stressed out can have an impact on your teeth and gums! To start, stress can impact your gut microbiome, which is connected to your mouth. But additionally, stress can cause you to grind your teeth both at night and during the day, which can cause jaw pain and other oral health complications. Releasing your muscles and being mindful of physical manifestations of stress can help keep this at bay, especially if you know yourself to be a grinder.
4. For Your Happiness
While this one might be obvious, it’s always worth the reminder that you deserve to be happy and live a happy life. When you reduce stress, you leave more room for enjoyment and happiness to come into your existence, and that’s something worth making the effort for.
5. For Your Kids
Of course, you already do so much for your kids, and all of that deserves abundant appreciation! But one thing you may want to think about is the example you’re setting when they see you getting stressed out. De-stressing is a great way to lead by example and show your kids that life isn’t stressful. That way, you can all lead calmer, more peaceful lives in your household.
6. For Your Friends
Well, this one might be for you, too, but it certainly involves your friends and loved ones. Those who care about you want to see you happy, which is a given. Therefore, making time for friends and acquaintances that bring you joy can not only work to reduce your stress, but it works the other way around, too. Reducing your stress allows you to be there for your friends and have more fulfilling relationships with those you care about.
7. For Your Mental Wellness
While it’s true that everyone experiences stress, excessive or prolonged stress can cause—or contribute to—conditions like anxiety and depression. If you tend to notice yourself feeling anxious and depressed, or you already struggle with those conditions, keeping your stress in check is especially important.
8. For Your Life Goals
When you’re under daily stress, your long term goals, projects, and ambitions can sometimes feel overwhelming and even no longer worthwhile. By keeping your stress levels in check, you can keep your own goals in mind and do what is best for you no matter what’s going on around you.
9. For Those Aches & Pains
There are a million things in this world that can make you feel achy and creaky, and unfortunately, stress is one of them. Stress can exacerbate neck and back pain, joint pain, muscle soreness, and even headaches and migraines. The body and mind are connected, which means allowing yourself to relax can have a direct impact on how you feel in your body.
Mom stress is the real deal and can take a serious toll, that’s why it’s important to remember your needs and check-in with yourself. Stressing out can have a bigger impact than you may realize on your body, mind, and family. While everyone experiences stress in different ways, excessive stress isn’t good for you and should be avoided, especially if you notice it starting to impact your life negatively. What’s your favorite way to de-stress?
Kara Reynolds is the Editor-in-Chief and founder of Momish Magazine. A mom of four and matriarch to her big blended family, Kara wants nothing more than to normalize differences in family structures. She enjoys peeing alone, pancakes, and pinot noir - but not at the same time.
Forget about boring bushing! Colgate wants to make dental care fun. If your kiddos won’t brush or don’t know how to brush properly, the new hum kids by Colgate toothbrush combines dental health with augmented reality excitement.
The hum kids toothbrush syncs up to an app, turning it into an imaginative AR device. Every time your kiddo brushes, they can earn rewards, play games, and unlock new gaming levels—but that’s not all.
A colorful AR experience will guide your child through their brushing routine, using animated germs to help them care for their teeth correctly. The hum kids also comes with a parents-only dashboard. This means you can silently check-up on how often, how long, and how well your littles brush.
Bill Van de Graaf, Vice President, Marketing North America for Colgate, said, “We first introduced our hum by Colgate smart connected electric toothbrush for adults last summer that personalizes, coaches and rewards people every day when they brush their teeth.” Van de Graaf added, “hum kids also features smart connected technology that’s proven to build lifelong brushing habits, making better brushing with hum easy, fun and accessible for the whole family.”
The hum kids is a manual, replaceable smart brush that comes in yellow or coral. It features an ergonomic handle, extra-soft bristles, and a tongue cleaner. Pick up a starter kit for $14.99 at Target, Amazon, or from other retailers nationwide. After the kids wear the bristles down, you can replace the brush with a two-count pack ($3.99).
