Romper

Caroline Shannon-Karasik

Caroline Shannon-Karasik is a writer and editor living in Pittsburgh, PA. Her writing has been featured in several publications, including The Cut, Narratively, Women's Health, Good Housekeeping, Redbook, Tonic and Prevention. She is currently writing a collection of essays. More can be found at carolineshannon.com.

This Year's Top Halloween Costumes From Pinterest Are A DIY Dream Come True

Halloween is kind of a big deal. Not only does it involve all of the tricking and treating, but it’s also just absolute primetime to pull out your best costume game. Some people put a lot of thought into their costumes, taking care to make sure each…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

7 Ways Volunteering In Your Child's Classroom Can Affect Your Mental Health

Whether you are a superstar mom volunteer or just getting started, you might have heard a thing or two about how volunteering in your child's classroom can benefit your child. Kids whose parents volunteer in the classroom have shown improved test…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

You're Going To *Love* This Dollhouse Chrissy Teigen Built Luna (& It's Affordable!)

When my daughter was barely of age to appreciate a dollhouse, I spotted a dreamy one at a yard sale and was like, "Claire, you want this dollhouse, RIGHT?" She didn't even answer before I was all, "OK, baby, if that's what you want." Because let's…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

12 Mother & Daughter Halloween Costume Ideas That Are Actually Fun & Unique

Let's be honest: When you're a parent to young children, part (OK all) of the appeal of Halloween is that you get to dress your kiddo up in the costume of your choosing. After all, my daughter Claire was not an elderly woman at 3 months old because…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

8 Fun, Easy Ways To Encourage Your Picky Eater To Try New Foods

Every parent has an arsenal of "tools" they like to rely on in the event they need a little extra assistance during the more difficult legs of their parental journey. Difficult sleepers need special songs and books and even a nightlight that makes…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

If You Like The Name Charlotte, You'll Love These 15 Other Classic Baby Names

If you're in the midst of deciding what to name your soon-to-be bundle of joy, then there's a chance you are still whittling down your options. Yes, yes, there are some people who have had their names picked out since pre-conception. (You go-getter,…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

Biology Can Actually Explain Why Your Baby Always Falls Asleep While Breastfeeding

Say the word "sleep" amongst parents of young children and you can easily solicit conversation that ranges from how to get more shuteye to safe sleep practices to why kids like to fool you into thinking you can have a bedtime schedule. (Babies think…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

My Own Relationship With Food Means I Refuse To Let Mealtimes Become A Battle

It's Friday and I am sitting down to dinner with my husband Dan and our 3-year-old daughter Claire. Like most nights, Claire's plate is piled high with the things she loves — brown rice pasta, steamed broccoli, a handful of blueberries. Dan and I…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

You Are Seriously Not Prepared For How Great Target's Toddler Halloween Costumes Are

I'm not going to lie: I had big plans for my daughter to trick-or-treat as a Sonny and Cher duo with her cousin this Halloween. But she's made it clear that she has her own ideas in mind (you know, strong, independent woman and all that stuff I…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

'The Daniel Tiger Movie' Is Coming, & It's Full Of Lessons Every Kid Needs Right Now

On any given day, there's a chance that two to three Daniel Tiger references are being made in my household. Whether it's a reminder to "flush and wash and be on your way" after our 3-year-old uses the bathroom or quiet encouragement to "take a deep…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

After-School Meltdowns Are Exhausting, But Here's Why Your Kid Keeps Having Them

If you've ever experienced an ultra long day packed with all the things and felt completely overwhelmed by the end of it (no you're crying in the bathroom), then you it might come as no surprise that kids can feel that kind of pressure, too. And if…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

FYI, Your Cat Will, Unsurprisingly, Probably Be Indifferent To You Going Into Labor

My husband Dan and I always joke we have the most dependent cats on the planet. Because if the feline crowd is supposed to be fairly indifferent, then we did not adopt those cats. That's why when I was pregnant with my daughter, I had a lot of time…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

The One Thing You Never Knew About 'Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood' Is Too Sweet

When my daughter Claire became old enough to watch television shows, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood was one of my first picks. Sure, it's educational and, man, are those easy-to-remember songs a helpful parenting tool, but the real reason I was jazzed…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

Amazon's Top Toys For 2018 Are Here, & These 15 Faves Will Ease Your Shopping Woes

Let's be honest: I am one of those people who really likes to test the limits when it comes to buying gifts in a timely manner. It's not because of lack of care, but rather a poor sense of reality on my part. Whether it's because the date has…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

Justin Baldoni Says It's Feminism That Has Taught Him To Be "Man Enough"

Justin Baldoni is having a moment. And by "moment," I mean it's a big one that everyone kind of hopes never, ever goes away. That's because the 34-year-old actor, director, father, husband, and, perhaps most of all, inspiring human, is doing some…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

Turns Out, There Are Some Science-Backed Benefits Of "Redshirting" Your Child

If you have ever been involved in a conversation about whether or not a child should be held back in school, chances are likely there has been a lot of emphasis on the negatives. Parents, teachers, experts, and people who should mind their own…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

How Do People Who Support “Family Values” Feel About Family Separation? It’s Complicated

Ruth Jackson Lee is a family values advocate. The mother of four is also pro-life and pro-religious liberty. She and her husband graduated from Liberty University, an evangelical university that has been in the news lately as a result of university…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

OMG! You Can Buy 1, Get 2 Free On Bodysuits, Leggings, & More At This Carter's Sale

Friends, I am the woman who receives a compliment on her shoes and immediately answers, "$5! Target!" I love a good sale and I love even more telling people about said sale — even when all they wanted to do was give me props on my shoes and move on.…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

Picking A Breast Pump Is Overwhelming, So Here's How To Figure Out Which One You Need

Let's be real: Pregnancy is awesome and the miracle of life is all that. But a large chunk of your excitement surrounding your changing form can really be chalked up to one thing — shopping for baby stuff. However, choosing things for you — both…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik

What A Pediatrician *Really* Wants You To Know About Baby-Led Weaning

Parenting is full of transitions. And it's not uncommon that once you get the hang of a phase, your little one is on to the next. Keeps things lively, right? But the list of questions is large when it comes time to adding solid foods to their diet.…
By Caroline Shannon-Karasik