Romper

Samantha Darby

Samantha has been the Lifestyle Editor at Romper since 2017 after writing for the site since its literal birth in 2015. She covers anything and everything related to parenting and motherhood, including (but not limited to!) TTC, pregnancy, raising babies and toddlers (and eventually kids *gulp*), sex and relationships, mental health, books, holiday content, and the best pool floats of the summer. Basically, she's there for you, babe. (And yes, your baby will eventually sleep. We've talked to experts.) Before working for Romper, Samantha wrote for Babble, Work It, Mom!, The Huffington Post, Motherlode, Barnes & Noble Kids, HelloGiggles, and other secret corners of the internet. (Please don't go looking for her Livejournals.) She was also once a professional actress and starred in Atlanta's premier sketch comedy group Sketchworks, performed stand-up comedy, and worked with Rosie O'Donnell on an episode of 'Drop Dead Diva.' Based out of Georgia, Samantha works from home with her two little sidekicks: 5-year-old Alice and baby Lucy. The three of them create a weekly episode of their Romper Instagram series A for Effort, where they attempt to make Pinterest-worthy crafts. It almost never goes as planned. You can reach Samantha at samantha.darby@bustle.com or follow along on the adventures of raising two little girls (with the help of Super Husband Nick) on Instagram at @samanthadsingleton.
Join Romper At The Mom 2.0 Virtual Summit & Help Us Choose 2020's Favorite Parenting Influencer
If you try and tell me that you haven't used the internet as a survival tool over the last five months of pandemic parenting, I will a) not believe you and also b) assume you are a wizard. As Zoom and FaceTime-fatigued as everyone is, in the…
By Samantha Darby
Here's How Long Thawed Breast Milk Really Lasts, According To Experts
Whether it's formula or breast milk, throwing out a bottle is the worst. It's either money down the drain or, if you're breastfeeding, time and hard work down the drain.You probably know to thaw only what your baby will drink, but how long does…
By Samantha Darby and Ashley Jones
I Feel God With This 'The Office' Little People Set
When I tell you that my children love The Office, I mean they love The Office. Background noise in almost any situation, my two girls have grown up wth the show, and my 6-year-old loves to say things like, "Nice to meet me," a la Date Mike, while my…
By Samantha Darby
Cute & Fun Back-To-School Supplies For Any Situation 2020 Throws At You
I feel like I've been talking about going back to school since March, and now that it's here, I'm still floundering. Has it really been five months since my 6-year-old has been in her lovely school? Am I really going to teach first grade from the…
By Samantha Darby
Let's All Sniff The New Bath & Body Works Fall Candles Until We Feel Better
It is unbearably hot, my sink is forever full of dishes thanks to four people in our house at all times, and I just heard that my 6-year-old daughter will now be going to first grade at our kitchen table. I am done with summer. I am ready for some…
By Samantha Darby
The Impossible Decision Facing Parents After Summer
I have three days left. Three days until I have to decide if I'm buying face masks along with my kid's school supplies. Three days until I have to decide whether she will be doing first grade over Zoom or walking into a building full of other people…
By Samantha Darby
We Asked Melissa Joan Hart’s 3 Sons To Style Her Photoshoot & There's A Pinecone Pose Involved
You might call it quarantine, social distancing, a total disaster — but Melissa Joan Hart simply calls it “the weirdest time.” Through the pandemic, she has been in the California woods with her husband and their three boys — 14-year-old Mason,…
By Samantha Darby
33 Toys That Will Make Your Small Space Magical
Summers are meant to be magical. The days should stretch like taffy, with endless opportunities for fun and creativity and joy. For your children, of course. And in years past, this was absolutely doable thanks to summer camps and play dates and…
By Samantha Darby
The 34 Best Backyard Toys To Turn Your Yard Into A Magical Oasis
There are few things better than being outside, and there is truly nothing better than watching your children live out their childhoods by making up stories, climbing trees, and running wild in your own backyard. It's one of those happy Norman…
By Samantha Darby
18 Black-Owned Etsy Shops For Parents
Choosing where to spend your money is one of the most powerful things you can do in this country. Shopping small and buying from independent sellers has long been a trend people can get behind, but purchasing from Black-owned businesses is one way…
By Samantha Darby
Here's Why Your Vagina May Take On A New Scent While Pregnant, According To Experts
You expect a lot of changes to your vagina when you’re pregnant, but some of the differences are a bit subtle. You may have already noticed increased discharge or swelling, but does your vagina smell different when you’re pregnant? Turns out, you're…
By Samantha Darby and Kelly Glass
JoAnna Garcia Swisher’s Survival Strategies Are Walking, Crafts, &… Tequila
An old purple bridesmaid dress made out of crushed velvet, a cowboy hat, and a clear umbrella adorned with hot pink flowers was not the vision actress JoAnna Garcia Swisher had for herself when she walked onto set for her latest photoshoot. “Nick,…
By Samantha Darby
Lauren Conrad On What's Not "Selfish" As A Mom, Hand-Me-Downs, & Her New Under $20 Kid's Line
If you want to focus on the positives, after a difficult spring of isolation and worry, we're heading into the Summer of Mellowing Out. All I want are pretty patterns and soft colors — together, the basic aesthetic of Lauren Conrad. The fashion…
By Samantha Darby
39 Baby Names From The 1950s That Deserve A Comeback
Look, I'm not one who can ignore the atrocities our country went through in the 1950s, but I'm not above idealizing the good parts and romanticizing some of the magic of the decade. And a huge part of that is loving all of the baby names from the…
By Samantha Darby
31 "Old Man" Baby Names Your Partner Will Hate
Before my husband and I knew that the baby I'm currently carrying was a girl, we did a lot of talking about baby names. And I mean, a lot. Turns out, most of the names I'm obsessed with, my husband has deemed only appropriate for an 80-year-old.…
By Samantha Darby
American Girl Is Now Hosting Facebook Read-Alongs, & My Heart Can't Handle It
When I was 11, I answered a random question from my sixth-grade teacher about the first mass-produced car in the United States and to this day, I can still see the impressed look on my teacher's face. I had learned the answer in the first Samantha…
By Samantha Darby
Are You Really Trying To Make It Through A Pandemic Without Asking For Help?
"It's not a competition" is something we hear as soon as we’re old enough to fight with our siblings over who gets the last lick of the brownie whisk. But if motherhood — the journey that I once believed to be the great equalizer — has taught me…
By Samantha Darby
Parents Are Inflating Bounce Houses In Their Living Rooms To Survive Lockdown
Those who ordered pallets of toilet paper in February are living in 2020, but a population of parents on Instagram with a Robocop-like ability to see the future are living in 2050 with large inflatable bounce houses parked in their living rooms…
By Samantha Darby
I Wish I Was Quarantined With My Siblings & Our Families
If I could go back in time to March 13, the first thing I would do is buy up all the Easter candy I could find instead of promising myself there'd be plenty later. And then I would call my siblings and my parents and demand that everyone, children…
By Samantha Darby
17 Easter Quotes For Everyone, No Matter Why You're Celebrating
It's hard to believe Easter is already here, but those cute little bunnies and pastel aisles at Target don't lie. For many, it's the true start of spring, and it's the only time you're allowed to make your entire family wear matching seersucker. So…
By Samantha Darby