ML Interest Tag: witching-hour

Mom Starts a ‘Whatever Makes You Happy Hour’ & We Want One Too

by Christina Marfice

This mom’s brilliant idea for a “whatever makes you happy hour” should be the trend of the summer—for both kids and adults

If you have kids, you’re probably already familiar with what this mom calls “the witching hour”—that hour in the late afternoon when kids just turn feral for some reason. They’re tired, you’re tired, no one has any h*cks left to give, and it’s tantrum time, baby. But one mom has come up with the most brilliant way of dealing with the witching hour, and we’re ready for every household in America (if not the world) to adopt this: She’s reframed it as a “whatever makes you happy hour,” and yes, that applies to grownups as well as kids.

In a viral TikTok video, mom Jessie Meeks explains, “Whatever makes you happy hour is the time of the day where my husband and I sit back, relax, and let our kids be wild, free, and chaotic.”

@jessi.meeks

The only rule-no tv #momlife #momofthree #parentinghumor #parenting #minivlog #toddlerplay #sensoryplay #toddleractivities

♬ original sound – jessi

Over a video of her kids painting in bins of ice cubes (and, inevitably, all over themselves), she further explained, “Today, we started off with an ice cube painting activity that progressively got messier and messier. However, this is typically the witching hour, so letting our kids be free, wild, and messy also helps alleviate our frustration if we just let it go, and we let them do whatever makes them happy.”

In a follow-up video, Meeks said that during “whatever makes you happy hour,” she and her husband “stop all attempts at parenting” and let their kids do “whatever they want” (as long as it isn’t screens). The result is lots of wrestling, family walks, collecting rocks, playing in yogurt, kids carrying kids, and yes, messes. But the kids have a blast, they burn a lot of energy before bed, and it staves off all those witching hour tantrums.

@jessi.meeks

Are we lazy? Yes. Are our kids happy? Also yes #familyof5 #parentinghumor #parenting #parentsoftiktok #momlife

♬ original sound – jessi

In another follow-up video, Meeks answered some viewer questions further clarifying that yes, there are messes, but she and her husband clean up before bedtime. “Whatever makes you happy hour” ends at dinner, when the family comes together and acts civilized once more over a meal together. And while the kids are acting feral, Meeks and her husband also kick back and relax—him with a beer, and her with a White Claw.

@jessi.meeks

Replying to @FrogDaddy

♬ Makeba – Jain

If you ask us, there is literally nothing wrong with this strategy. We have no notes, and we want our own “whatever makes you happy hour.” This should be the summer trend of 2023, and it should stick around for a long time.

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12 Amazing Toddler Charcuterie Boards You’ll Want for Yourself

by Allison Sutcliffe

Even a picky eater can’t pass up these kid-friendly charcuterie boards

If ever there was a food trend that was totally on point for toddlers, it’s a kid charcuterie board. Bite-sized morsels you can nosh throughout the day? If that doesn’t describe a toddler’s favorite way to eat, then we don’t know what does. Next time your tot gets hungry, set one of these bad boys on the table and watch how quickly the food disappears. Note that all boards should be taken purely as pairing inspiration; you’ll want to go ahead and cut foods, like grapes, to the appropriate size(s) to avoid choking hazards. (We love this guide, in particular.)

Fun Finger Foods

No one is more on the go than a toddler, so grabable foods are a must! This cute array tosses in all the goodies, from sliced cheese and puffs to dips like hummus and yogurt for fruit and veggies. There’s bound to be something for everyone!

 

Disney Kids Charcuterie Board

Pretty much any toddler who loves a good Disney sesh will go gaga for this whimsical spread. Grab some Disney cookie cutters then use them on bread, cheese, and bologna to make this pink-themed board. Pair with peanut butter, apples, strawberries, and chocolate-covered pretzels then pop on your fave Disney flick!

 

Peanut Butter & Jelly Platter

The Baker Mama

Won’t you feel like a superstar parent when you set out this kid-approved snack board designed by The Baker Mama. With PB&J as the centerpiece, you can’t go wrong, but you can always get creative with different jam and butter sandwich combos. (p.s. Leave out the popcorn if you have extra little ones.)

 

Cheese & Cracker Crowd-Pleaser

Taming Twins

A simple kid favorite—cheese and crackers—are the building blocks of this adorable charcuterie board designed by Sarah at Taming Twins. Assemble it for snack time or as a dinner precursor to hold off the witching-hour hangries. 

 

Taste the Rainbow

Raising Whasians

Christie at Raising Whasians is all about helping kids eat a rainbow of healthy fruits and veggies. We adore her colorful spread, which has a little something for every toddler in your life. (Just avoid the whole almonds with little kids.)

 

Bountiful Breakfast Board

Valentina's Corner

If breakfast isn’t already your toddler's favorite meal of the day, it will be after you assemble this board dreamed up by Valentina of Valentina’s Corner. She’s piled on tot faves alongside fluffy pancakes and syrup, so the whole family can start the day off on the right foot. 

 

Dip-able Desserts

A Hundred Affections

Parents can always count on toddlers to love dips. Whether it’s fresh veggies paired with Ranch or apples alongside peanut butter, if they can dunk it, they’ll eat it. But they won’t need much convincing to chomp on fruits and crackers that are part of this sweet board by Kate at A Hundred Affections. 

Related: 11 Easy Summer Charcuterie Board Ideas to Try Now

Holiday Themed Toddler Charcuterie Boards

Halloween

Boo! This not-so-scary Halloween charcuterie board will have your little ghosts chomping for snacks. As soon as Trader Joe’s Halloween products hit the shelves, grab the grocer’s chocolate mousse pumpkins, fall leaves chips, ghosts and bats chips, and pumpkin cookies to whip up this boo-tiful board of snacks. (Again, no popcorn for really wee ones.)

 

Valentine’s Day

Equal parts sweet and savory, this Valentine’s Day kids’ charcuterie board is filled with tons of flavor in the form of fruit, cheese, pretzels, salami, gummies, and chocolate-covered goodies. Up the ante and serve in a sweet baking dish with heart-shaped openings!

 

St. Patrick’s Day

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style! This verdant snack tray is jammed with green apples, waffles, cucumbers, spinach chips, and more. Normally kiddos might be turned off by such a healthy-looking array, but make it all about the Leprechauns and watch the magic happen!

 

Easter

A genius way to use your leftover egg cartons and plastic eggs, this toddler charcuterie “board” is beyond sweet for Easter! Just split your eggs in half and fill them with nibbles like small mandarin orange slices, cut-up melon, blueberries, animal crackers, and any other favorite for a festive snack time.

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The Witching Hour: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Manage

by Huckleberry

The day is drawing to a close. Your beautiful, snuggly newborn baby starts to fuss, then starts to moan, then starts to cry, possibly even scream—woah, what’s this?! I’m afraid the witching hour has hit, my friend.

What is the witching hour for babies?

What is the witching hour, you may ask? It’s an intense period of fussiness or crying in the evenings, usually around 5 PM and lasting up to three hours. You’ll usually start seeing this when your baby hits 2 weeks of age, but the worst may pass by 12 weeks.

When the witching hour starts and when it ends

Witching hour typically occurs in the late afternoon or early evening. Usually around the 5 PM mark. Unfortunately, it doesn’t just last an hour, as the name suggests.

You may notice your newborn begin to have “fussy periods” where they’re hard to calm and console and your usual techniques of rocking or baby-wearing to calm may not help.

These regular fussy periods typically start when they reach 2 – 3 weeks of age. It hits its worst period at 6 weeks and tends to resolve in most cases by 12 weeks [1].

Why does the witching hour happen?

It’s challenging to nail down one particular culprit for your baby. Some things may either be responsible or at least may make the newborn witching hour worse like overtiredness, cluster feeding, stomach issues, or overstimulation.

Are they gassy?

Young babies are particularly vulnerable to gas and tummy issues. Their digestive systems are immature and if gas builds up it can cause discomfort and sometimes pain.

Is your baby overtired?

It’s pretty much impossible to fit very young babies into a by-the-clock schedule as they’re so unpredictable! Instead, we recommend working with wake windows at this age throughout the day. Typically, at 1 – 2 months of age, they will stay awake for 45 – 90 minutes at a time. It’s very usual for babies to catnap at this age, so if they’ve had long periods awake in the day, or just catnapped all day, then they may be overtired by 5 PM and super cranky!

How’s their day been?

How many visitors have you had? How many baby classes have you attended? For newborns everything is new. Sights, sounds, people, touch, and even their own hands! It’s easy for them to become overwhelmed and overstimulated. This stimulation requires energy, and as we all know (particularly parents of newborns) our ability to just keep going is limited.

Are they hungry?

It’s not uncommon for newborns to cluster feed in the evenings, topping up their tanks for the night. Even if you’ve only just fed them, they may be signaling to you that they’d like some more milk.

What are the differences between colic and witching hour for babies?

Colic is more defined. Babies with colic cry for more than 3 hours a day, for more than 3 days a week, and more than 3 weeks in a row. The baby’s witching hour will see periods of fussiness, on and off throughout the evenings. It may be intense and seem like it will never end.

Yes, they’re similar and both are incredibly stressful for parents. If you’re unsure or feel there may be more going on than general evening fussiness, please, discuss this with your pediatrician.

10 Tips on How to Manage the Witching Hour for Babies

mom holding newborn during the witching hour
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Tip 1: Swaddle!
For many babies, swaddling can induce a womb-like environment which is reassuring and can bring a sense of calm. The swaddle can also bring a sense of security. Remember if they start to show signs of rolling then you need to transition out of the swaddle.

Tip 2: White noise.
Again, when the baby was in the womb they were used to a constant background hum. White noise also helps mask any background noises that may be too much.

Tip 3: Baby wear or hold.
Walk, sway – just cuddle them! No, you’re not setting up any bad habits, making a rod for your back, or anything else we regularly hear parents say. Your warmth and presence can be a huge comfort for your little one.

Tip 4: Try a change of environment.
Some babies will also calm down if taken outside for a walk in the fresh air. Which, if you’ve been subjected to intense, inconsolable crying for a while, will also be good for you too.

Tip 5: Quieten the environment.
Other babies may respond to quieting the environment, dimming the lights, and getting away from the background noises that can add pressure to an already overstimulated baby.

Tip 6: Prioritize those naps.
Some babies are more thrown than others when they go off schedule. If this is your baby and missing a nap leads to intense witching hour evenings then you may want to try hard to stick to a schedule. We’re all so different. Some babies are super portable and others need more structure and routine to their day.

Tip 7: Baby massage.
Try a gentle baby massage in a quiet, warm environment; they may respond to the touch, gentle movements, and calm. It also may help with growth spurt aches.

Tip 8: Try a pacifier.
For some babies, the rhythmic sucking can bring a sense of calm and peace.

Tip 9: Rule out gas pains.
Gas pains can cause intense discomfort and pain. Check out our blog advice for burping your baby.

Tip 10: Tick off the obvious stuff, too!
Double-check their diaper, temperature, and offer a feed. These are all reasons for excessive crying and easy to forget.

When to Talk to Your Pediatrician

If your kiddo’s crying seems to be linked to pain or sickness, check with your pediatrician. Keep track of other signs of sickness that may include:

Fever
Vomiting
Diarrhea (loose or bloody stools as well)
Not eating
Not alert as usual

Witching Hour for Babies FAQ

Q: How to get baby to sleep during the witching hour?

A: Unfortunately, there may not be an easy solution, but finding ways to reduce the fussiness can help. You may want to try a variety of things to see which works best for your baby. This can include swaddling, baby-wearing, massage, and other activities.

Q: Do all babies have a witching hour?

A: Some babies may have a witching hour, while others may not! It’s a period of fussiness or crying in the evenings. You’ll usually start seeing this when your baby hits 2 weeks of age, but the worst may pass by 12 weeks.

Q: Why do kids get cranky in the evening?

A: As the day draws to a close it’s common for babies and older children to feel the effects of too much fun! Overtired children can be incredibly cranky.

Q: What age does the witching hour start?

A: Typically, you’ll see the witching hour start around the age of 2 – 3 weeks.

Q: At what age does the witching hour end?

A: For most families, it peaks around 6 weeks and then lessens. By 12 weeks evenings should be calmer and that’s when babies outgrow the witching hour.

Q: Why do kids go crazy after dinner and before bed?

A: Overtired children can be cranky. However, overtired children can then also get a second wind, their hormones kick back in, and just keep them going. They may appear quite hyperactive.

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Running Away to Scroll Social Media Somehow Became My Parenting Go-To

by Anna Rollins

It was 8 o’clock on Saturday evening. I sat on the couch with my children as they watched Pokemon. My phone dinged—a text from my husband. “Probably another hour,” he said, trying to predict his arrival time from work. I sighed and reflexively opened Instagram to refresh the Discover page—the algorithm’s interpretation of my interests, or, as I thought of it, the darkest parts of my soul. Photos of Kate Middleton. Taylor Swift. Pregnant bare-bellied women trying to dance themselves into labor. How to heal from disordered eating. How to lose 10 pounds.

I was already caught up on all my friends’ posts from the day—the photos of their cats and lasagnas, museum trips, and park play dates. One friend was on her last day at a resort in the Bahamas. I didn’t resent this; I assumed her children were melting down in the sand off-camera, just as mine had earlier in the sand pit of our own backyard.

These moments were when I consumed most of the curated content on Instagram—in occasions of miniature crisis. My youngest refused to eat the spaghetti dinner I’d made. He yelled. I took a deep breath and touched the phone in my pocket. He threw noodles to the floor. I spoke to him sternly, firm grip on my phone. Then I recovered by retreating to the kitchen alone for a quick scroll.

And when our lives were looking smooth and pretty, I snapped smiling or pensive shots to post onto my own feed. Not lying, I’d tell myself. Framing. Optimism. Art.

My husband worked most weekends, which meant that with a four-year-old and six-year-old, I worked most weekends—except I didn’t have coworkers with whom I could commiserate or shoot the breeze. And that’s when I turned to Instagram.

Recently, though, I realized that keeping company on Instagram made me feel lonely rather than connected. I didn’t want to give it up entirely—it was my primary means of corresponding with friends from high school and college. I had enough digital awareness to know that a lot of garbage could be cropped and filtered from others’ daily posts, including my own.

Still, I felt addicted. Like I was using the app compulsively. I wanted some mental real estate back. Even if it meant being totally alone with screaming children during the weekend witching hour.

I decided against a total detox. That felt too hard, like a crash diet that would result in a ravenous binge. Instead, I opted for a Sabbath. On Saturdays, my loneliest day of the week, I would stay off the app. I downloaded another app to help with this resolution. Technology to block my technology.

Here’s what I found: sitting in emotional discomfort with my children, rather than immediately fleeing, made me feel more regulated. I seemed to have more time. I embraced it by moving more slowly throughout the day.

While the boys played contentedly in our backyard, I was bored. I didn’t pull out my phone. I picked up a book of poetry. I read a single poem. It was about mothers wiping things. I thought about this poem throughout the day in a way I’m not sure I would have had I read it on an endless Instagram scroll punctuated by an advertisement for detox tea.

Later, something beautiful happened. My boys ran through a meadow of white flowers in a valley near our home. It was super Instagrammable. But I didn’t take a picture. I lingered in those additional moments just to watch, no device impeding my gaze. The light rippled across their limbs and the blades of grass. Beads of sweat dripped down their necks. I could feel the heat of the breeze on my shoulders. It was more than a single photo could have ever captured. Finally, I didn’t feel compelled to reduce it down.

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What You’ll Really Use with the Second Baby

by Katie L. Carroll

Expecting… again? Take our word for it, these are the second baby must-haves that you’ll actually use

Congrats, baby number two is on the way! That means more love in your heart, but also more stuff in your home. And it begs the question: what do you really need? We asked parents with multiple children to weigh in on what items to keep, what to donate, and what to toss to create the ultimate list of second baby must-haves. As you’ll see, not everyone was in agreement, but that’s where your opinion comes in, because you’re an experienced parent now, too. For all the parents out there who have ever wondered “what do you need for a second baby?”—this one’s for you!

Before you start the sorting process, remember to give all items a thorough check and discard any that are past their expiration date, recalled, or have wear and tear that might pose a safety hazard.

a mom holds her new baby by a window feeindg him with a bottle, second baby must haves includes feeding accessories
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Feeding

“Make sure to keep fresh bottles and formula on hand for the second baby, even if you didn't use them with the first. You always want to be prepared in case you need them for a middle-of-the-night feeding.”—Julianne

“Don’t keep the baby food maker. I made all my first child’s baby purees. However, I found I couldn’t keep up with the peeling, dicing, steaming and mashing with my second and working full-time. Buying storebought ended up being so much easier and less stressful. If you’re concerned about the regulations in storebought brands, my pediatrician recommended checking the Clean Label Project website. Or, there are fresh baby food subscriptions you can join, such as Yumi.”—Ashley

“I liked having my same familiar nursing pillow for baby two. You can always get a new cover to freshen it up or make it match any new decorating you do.”—Kate

“We had extra breastfeeding pillows from keeping one at a parent’s house, so we donated one of those. We learned from baby one which bottles we didn’t like, so we gave away those extras.”—Kelly

Diapering

“One product I found that was not necessary was the changing table. The floor was so much easier as I was usually sitting on it anyway, and the older sibling was right there to help as well. Pulling out extra wipes was a helpful job and having the older sibling be a part of it made it special for her and easy to keep eyes on both kiddos, which was a mom win!”—Meghan

“Don’t keep a purse-style diaper bag. Get a diaper bag backpack instead! I had a crossbody style for my first, but being hands-free was so much easier with two.”—Ashley

“Between babies one and two, we switched to cloth diapers and so donated that horrible diaper genie!”—Andie

“After the first one, I realized the waste of the diaper genie and wipes warmer. A plastic shopping bag works just the same and is much cheaper than the refills, while the wipes warmer dries out the wipes too quickly.”—Shelly

“Keep the wipe warmer. I was a skeptic. I left it in the box. I mean, really—one more thing to plug in and maintain—so unnecessary, right? Well, three kids later, the youngest (now 4) still insists on a warm wipe when the pull-up comes off in the morning. And in retrospect, who can blame her—have you ever tried to use a cold wipe on a chilly morning? Case closed!”—Kelly

Sleeping

“I was so grateful to have kept our bassinet for the second baby.”—Kerry

“Keep the crib. I reused my crib and put my son straight into a big boy bed. But don’t keep the crib mattress. You want a firm, clean mattress for the new baby!”—Ashley

“Cribs are expensive, and getting a new one for every child would be incredibly wasteful. So long as it meets safety standards, it makes sense to tighten up all the pieces, give it a good cleaning, and buy new sheets for the next baby.”—Adam

Related: 13 Signs You're on Your Second Baby

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Clothing

“We have three boys, so we saved a lot of baby clothes, only getting rid of those that were stained or damaged. We kept it all organized by size in canvas storage containers and pulled them out as needed.”—Kate

“Don’t keep all the old clothes. I had a girl after having my son, and as much clothing as I saved to be practical, I found I couldn’t resist buying some new clothes. People also gifted or handed down plenty to me. Jammies, however, keep! You can never have too many and they’re all adorable. I loved seeing my daughter in her big brother’s shark and construction jammies for some reason.”—Ashley

Car Seat

“As a mom that had her second child five years later, so much had changed. My newest family member was over ten pounds, so the infant car seat was extra heavy. So we used a convertible one and wore him as much as we could.”—Meghan

“The JJ Cole Bundleme is an absolute lifesaver. The ease of zipping it right into the car seat and not having to worry about putting coats on and off is well worth it! With multiple winter babies, I couldn’t imagine not having it!”—Rebeka

Stroller

“Time to upgrade the stroller. I like the sit-stand type so my older kid can jump on and off.”—Christopher

“If you have kids close together, a sit-and-stand stroller is great. The older one wants to be independent but still gets tired easily so it's great when they want to hop off to walk with you.”—Shelly

“We never bothered with a double stroller since the boys are four years apart.”—Kerry

“I definitely kept the strollers. I held on to almost everything if I’m being honest!”—Lindsay

Related: The Ultimate Baby Registry Checklist for New Parents-To-Be

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Play Time

“I donated anything we never used with baby one, anything broken, chewing toys with plastic, gifts we didn’t use. Babies need very little. A soft place to play on the floor, a place to sleep, an eating chair, clothes, diapers, a car seat, stroller, and a few things to play with and teeth on.”—Kelly

“One baby item I made sure to keep was the swing. It was great for the baby to take an afternoon nap in. Or a safe spot to keep the baby entertained while I made dinner. There were even a handful of nights it helped during the witching hour when everyone was at wits' end! Definitely one of the most useful baby items in our house.”—Nicole

“The playmat is a must keep. It makes the dreaded tummy time a little more manageable. And older siblings love having a turn demonstrating all the toys to the new baby.”—Kate

“Keep any safe place to put the baby when things get hectic. This includes pack and plays, swings, seats and loungers. Also, just because your first didn’t like something doesn’t mean your second will be the same. I was gifted a baby swing that my son never enjoyed using, but my daughter loved.”—Ashley

“We kept my BabyBjörn bouncer, the jumper toys, my lightweight baby carrier, our swings, all of our ‘teach the ABCs’ toys, and our ride-on lion!”—Kerry

It’s Not All About the Stuff

“I’d say that after having one child, when you’re preparing to have a second, you realize how few of the things you registered for or got with your first that you actually used. All you really need are a crib (or similar), car seat, some clothes and diapers, and a stroller and/or carrier depending on your parenting style.”—Phoebe

“The best advice I can give to parents from going from one to two kids is to give yourselves time and some grace as you adjust. Say yes to help from grandparents or friends when they offer. Try to dedicate some special time every day to your first child when the baby sleeps or other parent is home and engage in a craft, walk, reading a book or just playing with toys.”—Lindsay

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31 Things to Do with Kids in January

by Allison Sutcliffe

Indoor or out, there are plenty of activities to keep your family busy in the new year!

A new year and a new month are just around the corner. If you’ve resolved to find amazing new adventures with your kids, we’ve got ideas—one for each day of the month, in fact. In between your snowy sledding adventures and your busy back-to-school schedules, try one of these family activities that’s anything but boring.

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1. Celebrate the New Year at a National Park (psst…entrance fees are waived on January 16 because it is Martin Luther King Jr. Day). These popular parks have the outdoor bells and whistles families love or try a little-known park for a change of scenery.

2. Looking for other ways to celebrate 2023’s arrival with the kids? We’ve got family friendly ideas you can do at home.

3. Ditch your family’s New Year’s resolutions for new routines, instead. It’s a great way for kids (and parents!) to set and keep goals all year long.

4. Break out winter activity sheets for a quick family activity during the witching hour.

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5. Get your kiddos ready to head back to the classroom after a long winter break with memory games they’ll love.

6. If ever there was a time to make a family time capsule, it's now.

7. If an art cabinet clean-up is one of your New Year's resolutions, here’s how you and the kids can use old crayons to make stunning art.

8. If you ask us, January should be all about soups and stews that are super-easy to make.

Related: 100+ Indoor Activities to Do with the Kids

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9. Because popcorn should have its own day, try one of these creative recipes on National Popcorn Day (January 19).

10. Is your milk magic? It’s a question worth asking and answering with a simple science experiment.

11. Set the kids up for success with a cool, new alarm clock that’ll get them going in the morning…so you don’t have to (we hope).

12. Celebrate and honor Dr. Martin Luther King when you sit down to learn fascinating facts about his life and work.

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13. Got sled? Then you’ve got what you need to tackle the snow this season. Don’t forget warm boots!

14. What better way to turn the page on a new year than with this adorable handprint calendar kids can make themselves?

15. Firefighters of all ages will love this easy-to-build fire station you can make together.

16. Make jewelry out of food? We’ve gotta know more!

 

Related: 28 Indoor Games Perfect for Cold Weather Days

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17. We’re pretty sure you can fit all your royal subjects in this castle that’s made from cardboard.

18. Whether you’ve got enough snow on the ground to build a whole snow family (or you’re just dreaming of winter’s favorite frozen stuff), these snowman snacks will make kids smile.

19. Put those leftover gingerbread house gumdrops to good use in a science experiment.

20. These ice-themed activities will help kids chill out this month.

ghost stories for kids
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21. Hide-and-seek is so 2022. This year, play sniff-and-seek with your crew instead.

22. It may be 2023, but there’s still time to read one of the best books of 2022.

23. Celebrate National Thesaurus Day on January 18 with word games even parents will appreciate.

24. Decorate the dollhouse of your dreams with these tiny furniture pieces you craft yourself.

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25. Sit down to a night of family trivia.

26. Make 2023 your year to (finally) get organized.

27. Write a mad-lib style fairy tale that’s as silly as your kids

28. Because January and cabin fever are pretty much synonymous, we’ve got 14 ways to ward it off.

Related: 60+ Science Experiments for Kids to Try at Home

 

Til Jentzch via unsplash

29. Three words: Snowflake. Science. Experiments.

30. Check out these kid’s room decorating trends for some updated ideas.

31. Turn up the volume on playtime when you transform Solo cups into a speaker system for your kindie tunes playlist.

 

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ColourPop’s Hocus Pocus Collection Is Back & It’ll Give You Killer Looks

by Karly Wood

Last year, ColourPop’s Hocus Pocus Collection was an instant sensation. Now, even more trouble is brewing with the brand new Coven Crew Collection!

The Disney collab comes with everything you need to embrace the spooky season. You can shop everything from shadow palettes and lip products to a spider face stamp.

The collection is made up of:

  • 12-pan Witching Hour Pressed Powder Palette in mattes and metallics
  • Three new shades of crème to powder Super Shock Shadows in the Trouble Brewing Kit
  • Three new shades of Fresh Kiss Lip Crème
  • Spider QT Mark Face Stamp
  • I Shall Always Be With You Mirror
  • Chestnut-scented Black Flame Candle

You can shop individual sets like a lip and eye set, buy products a la carte or grab the entire collection for $99.

Be sure to check out the collab before it disappears at colourpop.com.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of ColourPop

 

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Mom Hacks We Love: Baby Products You Can Use Yourself

by Meghan Yudes Meyers

When your beautiful baby arrived, chances are so did a deluge of supplies. There is a baby version for almost anything a full-size human could need or want. But sometimes those infant-friendly items are superior to our adult-size ones. Scroll on for 7 baby products you’re going to want to steal from your sweet newborn.

Upgrade Your Office Space

Crate and Barrel

That sound machine with its womb-like noise helps soothe your little one into slumber. But when they're not using it, try plopping it outside your home office or craft space so you can zero in on your work and cancel out all of the distracting noises in your home. We like the Yogasleep Hushh Baby Sound Machine (shown above, $29.95 at crateandbarrel.com). Check out our other favorite baby sound machines and sleep aids.

 
 

Protect Delicate Skin

Haley Phelps via Unsplash

That perfectly formulated, chemical-free high-SPF infant sunscreen is a safe bet for anyone looking for a sensitive, non-toxic approach to sun protection. If you have fair skin or easily break out from harsh skincare sproducts, dab on some of your baby's SPF when you're poolside for a gentle shield against the sun's harmful rays. Check out our favorite sunscreens for babies and toddlers.

Bake with Pouches

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Food pouches make it easy for little ones to eat nutritious snacks on the go. But did you know those baby food packets also double as the secret ingredient in extra-moist cakes, like this one from Crafty Cooking Mama? And don't limit baby food to just cooking and baking. Mix some pureed peaches into a brunch cocktail; Bon Appétit explains how in this article.

Travel in Style

Haba USA

That oversized, cumbersome diaper bag you can't wait to ditch? It actually doubles as the perfect travel accessory. Hitting the road for a work trip? Or just getting some much-needed R&R on a girlfriend getaway? Grab your diaper bag. All those pockets make finding things on a plane or a train a cinch. Bonus: They're big enough to hold your laptop too. Check out our smart mom's guide to diaper bags and the latest and greatest diaper bags.

Keep Wrinkles at Bay

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Are you still using a rough terry towel on your face? All of that friction makes aging skin sag. Stock up on more of those teeny, tiny perfectly soft little baby wash cloths. They've made tub time easier for years--long after the infant tub has been outgrown. And we won't blame you if you want to snag some to keep your face feeling, well, baby soft! 

Measure and Pour

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Don't toss those bottles after your baby graduates to glasses. In a pinch, you can use them to measure liquids for baking (spray with a non-stick oil when measuring sticky substances like syrup). Looking to shake up some cocktails for the witching hour? Baby bottles work well for at-home bartenders too! Check out these innovative baby bottles.

Wipe It All Away

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Wipes weren't just made for warmers (are we still doing that?). Tuck them into your purse to fend off gooey fingers; keep them in your car to wipe down sticky seats; and make sure to stock a few in your bathroom. WaterWipes and baby wipes are made for an infant's delicate skin, so they're a perfect stand-in for make-up wipes! 

—Meghan Yudes Meyers

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Newborn Must-Haves You’ll Need in the First Weeks

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8 Innovative Safety Products That Are Actually Stylish

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