<![CDATA[Romper]]>https://www.romper.comRomperTue, 09 Jun 2026 16:23:08 GMT<![CDATA[The Realistic Guide To Setting Screen Time Boundaries During Summer Break]]>https://www.romper.com/parenting/the-realistic-guide-to-setting-screen-time-boundaries-during-summer-breakhttps://www.romper.com/parenting/the-realistic-guide-to-setting-screen-time-boundaries-during-summer-breakThu, 04 Jun 2026 13:41:28 GMT
Seahorse and Everest/Shutterstock

Twenty years ago, a typical summer schedule revolved around kids playing outside from sunup to sundown, with screens reserved for family movie nights or rainy days. Today, the digital world is just as formative to a child’s early development as the real world.

Surprised? Not Dr. Lauren Loquasto, senior vice president and chief academic officer at The Goddard School, a leading early childhood education provider serving nearly 100,000 children across more than 680 schools nationwide. She’s watched this developmental shift play out in real time. “Today’s children are not just passive consumers of media; they are interacting, creating, and navigating digital environments at increasingly younger ages,” she says. “Screens are now part of how children communicate, learn, and even regulate themselves.”

So no, a screen-free summer isn't the answer. Banning something kids already use daily only makes it more desirable. The realistic goal? Teaching them that not all screen time is created equal.

In The Goddard School classrooms, educators incorporate technology as a tool for interaction, not distraction. “Within our inquiry-based Wonder of Learning framework, digital experiences are used intentionally to extend curiosity, not replace hands-on discovery,” Dr. Loquasto says. The key difference between passive consumption and active engagement is a present adult — one who’s sitting with the child, asking them questions, and connecting what’s on the screen to the real world.

You can absolutely bring that same approach home this summer. “A high-quality, interactive digital experience, especially one that is language-rich and used alongside a responsive adult, can support learning and engagement in ways that mirror strong teaching practices,” Dr. Loquasto says. Below, she shares a few ways to set (and keep!) healthy screen time boundaries for your child and yourself.

1. Create A Summer Fun Menu — Screen Time Included

Forget the color-coded schedule (unless that's your thing). Instead, put together 10 to 15 activities that mix imaginative, independent play with healthy screen time. Think: fort building, bug hunting, and coloring on one end; researching how a favorite toy works or exploring a new place together on the other. "Children who move fluidly between rich experiences build autonomy and internal balance," Dr. Loquasto says.

2. Let Your Child Have A Say

Each morning, pull out the menu and ask your child what they want to tackle and in what order. Something as simple as "Do you want screen time before or after dinner?" gives them real agency over their day. "When children help choose the boundaries, they're more likely to follow them," she says. Bonus: this puts less pressure on you to monitor every hour.

3. Set Expectations From The Start

Tell your kids upfront when screen time begins and ends. It makes transitions way smoother and cuts down on meltdowns. If they push back anyway (they will), stay calm and hold the line. Dr. Loquasto recommends building a small, fun ritual right after screens go off, a little celebration they can look forward to that makes powering down feel less like a punishment. Simple options are things like reading a book together, playing a favorite song, or transitioning into a family walk.

4. Practice What You Preach

Kids absorb everything. If you're constantly reaching for your phone, they notice and file it away as the default way to move through the world. You can't ignore work emails all day, but you can draw a firm line: no phones during playtime, dinner, or the hour before bed. Small, consistent boundaries go further than an all-or-nothing approach.

5. Plan For Screen Time Emergencies

POV: You’re at the airport for the annual summer vacation. You packed the books. You printed the activity sheets. And then your flight gets delayed by four hours. Dr. Loquasto has been there. Her take: pull out the tablet, no guilt required — just be transparent with your kid about why. A quick "our plans changed, so we're making an exception today" teaches flexibility and honesty at the same time.

The bottom line: screens aren't the enemy, but intention matters. A summer full of rich, varied experiences — digital and otherwise — is what actually sets kids up for a healthy relationship with technology long after Labor Day rolls around.

]]><![CDATA[Shop CoComelon x SHEIN This Summer For Your Little Ones]]>https://www.romper.com/shopping/shop-cocomelon-x-shein-this-summer-for-your-little-oneshttps://www.romper.com/shopping/shop-cocomelon-x-shein-this-summer-for-your-little-onesTue, 02 Jun 2026 17:47:25 GMT

The change in seasons is the perfect time to refresh your little one’s wardrobe. Summer calls for bright prints and colors and clothes that can withstand plenty of outdoor playtime. Enter CoComelon x SHEIN, a fun-filled selection of high-quality clothing and accessories inspired by the cheerful, musical world of the hit children’s series.

The latest arrivals include matching two-piece sets, casual tops, pretty dresses, and summer sandals that blend functionality with design. The pieces are easy to mix, match, and layer through changing weather, making them a go-to option whether you're rushing them out the door or getting them ready to spend the day outside.

CoComelon x SHEIN delivers fun, wearable fashion without the hefty price tag. Plus, SHEIN continues to introduce fresh styles regularly, keeping things exciting for your little ones. Keep scrolling for our current favorite picks from the collection.

]]><![CDATA[The Subtle Signs Of PPD That Often Get Overlooked]]>https://www.romper.com/life/the-subtle-signs-of-ppd-that-often-get-overlookedhttps://www.romper.com/life/the-subtle-signs-of-ppd-that-often-get-overlookedMon, 01 Jun 2026 14:26:49 GMT

When you imagine postpartum depression (PPD), there’s a good chance the image that comes to mind is something like this: A woman in a drab outfit opens some gray curtains and peeks out at all the people outside looking happy. Laughing. Dancing. Maybe eating perfect salads. She’s forlorn, she looks miserable, and quite honestly, she’s probably nothing like you.

And that’s the problem. The image popular culture gives us of PPD is the mom who’s persistently gloomy, who gives up on her appearance, who has no motivation. But because most of us know it’s normal to have some — as the kids say — “big feelings” in the days and weeks after giving birth, it’s not always easy to know if what you’re feeling is just the baby blues or something more serious. The main difference: Baby blues tend to last a week or two. When the feelings persist longer than that, it’s worth a conversation with a healthcare provider.

The reality of PPD can be strikingly different from what you’d expect. Most new moms are actually highly motivated to get up, keep everything running, and somehow do it all perfectly. To recognize the symptoms, it’s important to identify signs you could easily miss if you’re expecting to feel like a sad lady with a cartoon cloud over her head. Ahead, four subtle signs of PPD you might brush off — but should be paying attention to.

1. You’re Feeling All Sorts Of Angry

Women who’ve experienced PPD are often blindsided by the pure white-hot rage. According to Elizabeth O’Brien, a psychotherapist, consultant, and educator who specializes in perinatal mental health and trauma, “What’s underneath the rage is anxiety and depression — but what surprises them is that they’re highly functioning. They’re like, ‘I don’t know what happened to me. I’m not identifying this controlling behavior as anxiety. I’m not identifying with depression classically because I’m dressed, getting things done, taking care of my baby. But I’m really angry and irritable.’”

These ragey feelings are often directed at a partner, a mother, or a mother-in-law. Partners describe feeling blindsided by the change in demeanor (“What happened to my wife?”), and women may not immediately connect it to a mental health issue. After all, they’re functioning fairly well — they just feel furious all the time. And quite frankly, there are legitimate reasons to be angry sometimes. Doomscroll on your phone, watch the news for 15 minutes, and the list gets long real quick. But persistent, outsized rage directed at everyone you love most is a symptom of PPD.

2. Your Body Is (Loudly) Trying To Tell You Something

Headaches that don’t quit. No appetite or the complete opposite, like eating without feeling satisfied. A level of exhaustion that a nap can’t even touch. PPD-related fatigue is different from run-of-the-mill new-parent tiredness in one very notable way: It doesn’t improve with rest. It’s easy to dismiss these physical symptoms as just part of the new-baby deal — and sometimes they are. But when they’re constant and show up alongside mood changes, they could indicate something more serious. As O’Brien puts it, “the postpartum period is probably the most vulnerable time in a woman’s life.” And your body often knows this before your mind catches up.

3. You’re Beyond The Point Of Overwhelmed

For high-achieving women, it can be incredibly disorienting to go from running meetings and managing projects to suddenly being unable to choose a yogurt flavor. Difficulty concentrating, trouble making even simple decisions, and a general cognitive fogginess are all recognized symptoms of PPD. Everyone knows the mental load of new motherhood is a lot, but it’s different when it feels like your brain has just gone completely offline. Rather than treating it as a character flaw, consider it a possible sign of PPD.

4. You’re Not “Sad” — You’re Just Kind Of… There

This is the one that really doesn’t match the sad-lady commercials. Instead of feeling the anticipated sadness and tearfulness, you’re experiencing flatness, as if you’re unable to feel joy, interest, or love. You’re simply going through the motions and feeling almost nothing. You plan every single detail of this baby’s arrival — pick the nursery colors and the homecoming outfit, master the incredibly complicated car seat — so it’s confusing to feel oddly detached from all of it. If you step back and watch yourself parenting from a distance, wondering why nothing feels like it’s “supposed” to, it’s easy to start telling yourself you’re just being ungrateful. If you’re experiencing this, bring it up to a professional. As O’Brien observes, women often come in saying “something’s wrong with me,” and they’re right. They just don’t know yet that what’s wrong has a name.

Returning To Yourself Is Possible

The good news about these and other more easily recognized symptoms of PPD is that they’re all temporary and treatable. O’Brien recommends starting with the body first. She says, “I always approach women in this time period from a biopsychosocial lens: How are we first supporting the body? Is she getting enough sleep, proper nutrition, and protein? Is she dehydrated? Even mild dehydration increases anxiety.”

Samantha Caola, a Maine-based licensed clinical professional counselor who specializes in perinatal mental health, is equally direct about sleep. She says, “Sleep is everything. Carve out time for it — coordinate with a partner, a doula, a family member, a friend, or a neighbor. This isn’t meant in jest; it’s so important to your mental well-being and functioning and is typically the starting place for the development of a postpartum mood disorder.” (Yes, this is yet another motivation to give up your late-night screen time.)

Finding The Right Support

If the body-first basics aren’t moving the needle, that’s ok — it’s just data you can take to the next step. Professional support is available and very much worth pursuing. Because PPD comes with hormonal components and unique physical experiences, look for a therapist who specializes in perinatal mental health. Even a skilled general therapist may be unfamiliar with specific symptoms or treatment modalities.

If you’re unsure of where to start, Postpartum Support International has a therapist directory where you can filter by location and perinatal specialization, as well as online support groups and a helpline.

The woman peering out the dark curtains doesn’t look like you. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need or deserve support. It just means you need to know what to look for — and now you do.

Presented by BDG Studios

]]><![CDATA[Support Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All For Moms — Here’s What We Can Learn]]>https://www.romper.com/life/support-isnt-one-size-fits-all-for-moms-heres-what-we-can-learnhttps://www.romper.com/life/support-isnt-one-size-fits-all-for-moms-heres-what-we-can-learnMon, 01 Jun 2026 14:26:23 GMT

No two postpartum experiences look exactly alike. For some moms, the weeks after birth feel joyful and grounding. For others, they feel disorienting, lonely, overwhelming — or all of the above at once. And while every postpartum journey is different, hearing how other moms moved through it can make the hardest moments feel a little less isolating.

Here, three moms with different backgrounds and experiences share what postpartum depression (PPD) looked like for them, what support actually helped, and what they wish more moms knew.

Postpartum Is Hard. Full Stop.

Danielle, 37, has two kids, ages almost 5 and 15 months. Her first postpartum experience was the most intense. Her daughter arrived 11 days late and required a vacuum delivery after two and a half hours of pushing. “Everything was fine, there were no complications,” she recalls, “but I was extremely overwhelmed and sort of in shock.”

Relief came first, then something harder to name. “I did not feel immediately connected to the baby like they say you will, and I felt guilty about that. I experienced a level of anxiety I never had before. I easily cried. I was very overwhelmed by all of the conflicting advice. I felt trapped in my apartment by the summer heat and by her nap and feeding schedule.”

When she tried to articulate how she was feeling at her six-week postpartum appointment, her doctor’s response left her feeling worse, not better. “She did not make me feel like what I was feeling was normal. She did not offer any guidance that many women feel this way, that not everyone feels connected, and that doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. I left crying.”

Being the first among her friends and family to have a baby only intensified those feelings. “I felt incredibly alone and inadequate,” she says. “Why couldn’t I handle this? Why was I so weak? Everyone in the world does this — why was this so hard for me?”

Things improved around the seven- to nine-month mark, but the biggest shift came when she stopped breastfeeding. “That was the biggest noticeable change, and it made me realize how much I had been feeling probably had to do with hormones.”

Looking back, she wishes someone had normalized how hard postpartum can feel — especially when you don’t instantly bond with your baby or feel grateful every second of the experience. “I want to normalize that postpartum is just plain hard,” she says. “It’s okay not to like it, and it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you or that you shouldn’t be a mom.”

She Diagnosed PPD In Others — Then Missed It In Herself

Dr. Kibby McMahon, 40, is a clinical psychologist and mom to a three-year-old in New York City who has experienced PPD firsthand.

Before having her son, McMahon had worked as a therapist in the women’s clinic at New York Presbyterian Hospital, where she diagnosed and treated PPD. She knew the clinical criteria inside and out. And still, when it happened to her, she almost missed it. “I had no idea what feelings were normal versus not. Since it was my first child, it was so hard to tell PPD from just the experience of having a first baby all of the grief, the hormone changes, the lifestyle changes.”

Her labor was long and exhausting at 25 hours, and in the days after delivery her anxiety was through the roof. “I just felt like I was insane. I was also super euphoric, running on adrenaline — but also tweaked out.” It wasn’t until a trip to Asia disrupted everyone’s sleep that her therapist gently flagged what she was seeing. “She said, ‘You’re a lot darker and more pessimistic than usual.’ That alerted me that something was abnormal.”

With support from her therapist, couples therapist, and a psychiatrist specializing in postpartum care, McMahon gradually started feeling more like herself again. Now, she emphasizes how important it is for moms to have people around them who can recognize when they’re struggling.

“One of the best ways to protect yourself from PPD, according to research, is good social support,” she says. “Someone who can listen to you and say, ‘Hey, I think you’re struggling. You don’t sound like yourself.’”

For McMahon, part of healing also meant letting go of shame. “There is nothing to be ashamed about,” she says. “It doesn’t mean anything about your ability to be a mother or your love for your baby.”

A Little Support Went A Very Long Way

Megan, who lives in Florida, was pregnant with her second child during the second wave of Covid, with a two-year-old already at home. Her son arrived at 38 weeks after a stressful delivery involving a series of medical oversights. Then, shortly after giving birth, a hurricane warning forced her husband to leave the hospital to evacuate their home with their daughter.

“I remember just being really stressed,” she says. “Instead of having him next to me, I needed him [to be] taken care of by someone else because I was so stressed out.” Her son had colic for 16 weeks. Megan was barely sleeping and felt guilty about not being more present for her older child.

And like Danielle, she says the standard postpartum screening questions didn’t really capture what she was experiencing. “I never felt suicidal or like I was going to hurt myself or the baby. It was just more this feeling of sadness, exhaustion.”

What turned things around was moving closer to both sets of grandparents and hiring a babysitter for a few hours each day. “Even if I didn’t leave the house, it just gave me a moment to lay there in peace and feel like I could relax,” she says.

Now, she encourages moms not to wait until they’re completely overwhelmed to ask for help — whatever that help looks like. “Never be afraid of getting help — whether that’s from a babysitter, a neighbor, your family, or your partner,” she says. “Even a small amount can go a long way.”

What These Stories Reveal About Postpartum Support

Danielle needed reassurance that what she was feeling was normal. McMahon needed people who could recognize when she was struggling. Megan needed practical help just to get through the day.

Their experiences may have looked different, but one thing stayed the same: feeling supported changed everything. Whether that support came in the form of therapy, childcare, community, rest, or simply someone saying, You don’t sound like yourself, having the right kind of help made it easier to find solid ground again.

Presented by BDG Studios

]]><![CDATA[Everything You Should Know About The Infant Formula That Goes Further In Nutrition, Safety, & Transparency]]>https://www.romper.com/parenting/everything-you-should-know-about-the-infant-formula-that-goes-further-in-nutrition-safety-transparencyhttps://www.romper.com/parenting/everything-you-should-know-about-the-infant-formula-that-goes-further-in-nutrition-safety-transparencyWed, 06 May 2026 15:47:01 GMT
Courtesy of Little Spoon

Feeding a baby sounds simple — until you're the one doing it at 3 a.m., squinting at an ingredient list and wondering what half of it actually means. Somewhere between the late-night feedings and the group chats and the rabbit holes, choosing a formula can start to feel like a much bigger decision than anyone warned you about.

And honestly? It kind of is.

Every infant formula on the shelf is designed to support your baby's growth — that part is non-negotiable and FDA-regulated. But once you start comparing options side by side, the differences get harder to ignore. Questions about knowing where the milk comes from, what's added in (and what isn't), and how much a brand is actually willing to tell you about what's behind the label may start swirling around your mind during those late-night feeds.

That's a big reason why it’s worth taking a closer look at Little Spoon's Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula — a formula built to go further in three areas that matter most: nutrition, safety, and transparency.

Here's what that actually looks like in practice.

It Starts With The Milk — & That Choice Shapes Everything

Courtesy of Little Spoon

Every formula has to deliver complete nutrition. What separates them is how that nutrition is built from the ground up.

Little Spoon starts with organic grass fed whole milk from New Zealand, where cows graze on open pasture for 350+ days a year — well above the USDA organic minimum of 120 days. That extra time outdoors, eating far more grass than cows in typical grain-fed dairy operations, lays a clean, nutritious foundation from the very first ingredient.

Using whole milk keeps the natural fat profile intact, requiring less added oils to achieve the balance of fatty acids that babies need — and that choice carries through the rest of the formula. Omega-6 levels land within the range typically found in breast milk, which most premium formulas don't actually achieve. MFGM, a component of breast milk linked to early development, is naturally present in the Little Spoon Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula because it lives in whole milk fat — it was never stripped out, so it doesn't need to be added back in. And lactose is the primary carbohydrate, with a 60:40 whey-to-casein ratio that mirrors what babies get when they nurse.

The formula is also USDA Organic and EU Organic certified, and made without corn syrup solids, palm oil, soy, or maltodextrin.

What Little Spoon Builds In (That Most Formulas Leave Out)

Beyond the milk itself, Little Spoon adds a handful of ingredients found in breast milk that a lot of formulas skip.

The first is a full set of all five nucleotides — the building blocks of DNA and RNA that breast milk delivers in abundance, but cow's milk doesn't. They support immune development, gut health, and stronger antibody responses to vaccines. Paired with them is a prebiotic called FOS, a fiber that feeds the beneficial gut bacteria common in breastfed babies.

Little Spoon also includes L-Carnitine, which helps babies turn fat into energy — something they can't make enough of on their own in the first year. It's required in EU formula standards but missing from some U.S. options. The formula also contains DHA and ARA at levels consistent with breast milk to support brain and eye development.

Safety That Goes Beyond The Baseline

Infant formula is already one of the most regulated food categories in the country, which is worth noting, because the headlines don't always reflect that.

"To the parents that are out there — the sky is not falling," says Dr. Kathleen (Kathy) Glass, Ph.D., a leading food safety expert who spent nearly four decades at the University of Wisconsin–Madison's Food Research Institute. "The infant formula is a very safe product, and parents should be confident that the industry in general is doing a very good job."

That said, how individual brands approach testing still varies a lot. Little Spoon tests every batch across six categories (heavy metals, pathogens, toxin-producing and spore-forming bacteria, hygiene indicators, pesticides and glyphosate, and plasticizers) for more than 500 potential contaminants, including heavy metals, pathogens like Cronobacter and Salmonella, toxin-producing bacteria, hygiene indicators, pesticides and glyphosate, and plasticizers. Little Spoon’s internal thresholds meet or exceed FDA requirements, and any batch that doesn't meet every threshold simply isn't released. The formula has also earned the Clean Label Project's Purity Award, Pesticide-Free certification, and the First 1,000 Days Promise Award — making it one of only two formula brands to hold that last distinction.

Courtesy of Little Spoon

Transparency You Can Actually See

Here's the part that genuinely sets Little Spoon apart: they publicly publish their batch-level testing results, including actual numbers for heavy metals, not vague pass/fail summaries.

That means instead of taking a brand's word for it, you can see the data behind the batch in your kitchen — and the safety thresholds it was measured against. In a category that runs on trust, that kind of openness is still rare.

"If I were a parent, I would be choosing a brand that would be transparent with what they are doing to make that food product safe," Dr. Glass says. "Because transparency helps to build trust… I want to know that they aren't just testing for testing's sake, but they really do have a passion for the safety of their consumers and for the infants."

The Bottom Line

There's no single "right" formula for every family, but understanding what sets options apart — from where the milk comes from to what's added in to how much a brand is willing to share — can make a hard decision feel a lot more manageable.

And when you're feeding your baby multiple times a day, often in the most exhausting, vulnerable stretches of new parenthood, having clearer information in your hands is the thing that tends to make the biggest difference.

]]><![CDATA[What To Buy For A Mom With PPD — A Guide From Moms Who’ve Been There]]>https://www.romper.com/life/what-to-buy-for-a-mom-with-ppdhttps://www.romper.com/life/what-to-buy-for-a-mom-with-ppdTue, 05 May 2026 15:57:30 GMT

The most meaningful support you can offer a new mom experiencing postpartum depression (PPD) is mental health care. There’s no substitute for real support, whether that’s good, old-fashioned therapy, or simply being seen and understood during a deeply overwhelming time.

That said, small, thoughtful comforts can still go a long way. The right gift won’t fix everything, but it can make a struggling mom feel a little more cared for, a little more supported, and a little less alone. Ahead, a few items that offer comfort, ease, and a gentle reminder that she’s being looked after, too.

1. A Sturdy, Reliable Travel Bag

According to Jessica Pinti Dunson, LCAS, LCMH, a therapist at Therapy for Women Center, mothers who experience a complicated pregnancy or birth that leads to a NICU stay may have a higher likelihood of experiencing PPD. So, for a mom making frequent trips to the hospital to visit her newborn, a sturdy tote bag that can fit everything she and her baby need will help lighten the mental load. This one from Canvelle is machine-washable and has lots of inside compartments to keep it from turning into a bottomless pit of disorganization — aka, the last thing she needs.

2. A Calming App Subscription

Sarah, 35, says that when she was going through PPD, the Headspace app helped her immensely. “I used it all the time to fall asleep and get myself out of a bad place.” Yes, the app has meditation, but if even that feels like too much to commit to, the soundscapes and anxiety-curbing courses might be just low-lift enough to boost her spirits.

3. A Pretty Writing Set

“Get your feelings and thoughts out of your body. Make a list of things that you don’t like doing with your baby and then rank them. It helps identify what actually feels harder and more overwhelming. Then, ask for support in those areas,” recommends Dunson, who experienced postpartum depression herself after becoming a mom.

Think of it as a simple, no-pressure brain dump. Putting everything down on paper can help you make sense of what feels hardest and where you might need the most support. Turning it into a small daily ritual — especially with a notebook you actually enjoy using — can make it easier to stick with and come back to when things feel overwhelming.

4. A Red Light Therapy Mask

Red light therapy might not be the first thing that comes to mind when supporting a mom through PPD, but for some, it’s become a small daily ritual that makes a difference. “I have one now, and I wish I had one back when I was going through PPD,” says Aimee, 36. “I love it. I feel like it helps me with not just my skin, but anxiety and stress too.”

There’s some science behind that, too. Research suggests red light therapy may help support mood by improving blood flow to the brain, reducing inflammation, and encouraging the growth of new neurons — all factors linked to emotional regulation. If you’re considering it, look for a reputable option that’s UV-free and FDA-cleared to ensure it’s both safe and effective.

5. A Spa-Level Shower Lineup

“You’re so gross during the first few weeks with the blood, sweat, and milk, you might as well make it fancy when you are cleaning yourself up,” says Liz, 32. “I wish I had treated myself to really nice shower products. I showered so much postpartum and should have pampered myself.” This tropical, floral-smelling set is sulfate-free and will help her feel like a person again, even if just for the two minutes she gets to spend in the shower.

6. Meal Deliveries

Nutrition is key during this vulnerable time — but cooking? That’s a funny joke. Get this hugely important task checked off her list with a meal delivery service that delivers fresh, fully cooked meals from Michelin-starred and James Beard-winning chefs. All she’ll have to do is heat it up. CookUnity offers modifications for allergies and preferences (including vegan), so if you know her well, choose her meals and make it a zero-effort experience all around. Or, get a gift card so she can choose what sounds good to her.

7. High-Quality Loungewear

Sitting around in your PJs all day doesn’t sound so bad when you’ve got a set that looks like this. “The material feels luxurious, and they were such a lifesaver when I could barely get myself dressed, let alone look put together,” says Kristen, 36. Comfortable, with easy access for pumping or breastfeeding, and genuinely pretty, these silk-and-cotton-blended pajamas are a no-brainer outfit that’s suitable enough to be seen by visiting friends and extended family.

Presented by BDG Studios

]]><![CDATA[PPD Makes Bonding Harder Than You Expect]]>https://www.romper.com/life/ppd-makes-bonding-harder-than-you-expecthttps://www.romper.com/life/ppd-makes-bonding-harder-than-you-expectTue, 05 May 2026 15:55:09 GMT

Expectation versus reality in the postpartum period can be a shock, especially for new moms experiencing postpartum depression (PPD). Before birth, it’s easy to picture a catalog-perfect nursery, the best baby gear, and endless cozy snuggles. But once your baby arrives, those expectations don’t always match how you feel. Instead of instant connection, you might notice numbness, distance, or even a heaviness you didn’t anticipate.

You’ve likely heard about the more common signs of PPD, like low mood, exhaustion, or losing interest in things you once loved. But there’s another experience that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: how hard it can feel to bond with your newborn, and just how common that really is.

Why It’s Hard For New Mothers To Bond With Their Babies

According to Jessica Pinti Dunson, LCAS, LCMH, a therapist at Therapy for Women Center who works with patients experiencing postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety (PPA), there are five key reasons bonding can feel difficult:

  1. Emotional blunting: This can show up as a loss of pleasure or emotional response. Moments that are often expected to feel rewarding, like holding, feeding, or simply looking at your baby, can instead feel flat, overwhelming, or even repulsive. “It doesn’t mean the mom doesn’t care,” explains Dunson, “it means her brain is deficient in nutrients and not working properly.”
  2. Hormonal and neurochemical changes: After birth, the body goes through one of the most rapid and intense hormonal shifts it will ever experience. “A doctor once described it to me as one day you take 100 birth control pills, and the next you take zero, and women are expected to cope with limited knowledge and support,” Dunson says. Key hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and oxytocin fluctuate dramatically. When oxytocin, often called the “love hormone,” isn’t releasing as it should, it can directly impact bonding and attachment.
  3. Increased anxiety and responsibility: For some women, PPD is compounded by PPA, which can lead to avoiding the very behaviors that typically help build connection. Anxiety can show up as constant “what if” thinking, like “What will happen to my baby if… ?” or more intrusive fears, such as “What if I fall while going down the stairs with the baby?” In some cases, thoughts can become even more distressing, including fears about harming the baby or yourself, making it harder to engage and feel present.
  4. Fatigue and mental stress: The mental and physical load of new motherhood can be overwhelming, especially within broader systemic pressures. “In America, it can be quite pricey to have a child, and for many women, they only have access to partially paid maternity leave, or FMLA, which only guarantees them a job for 12 weeks, not even the same job,” says Dunson. “The pressure to go back to work can interfere with the ability to be present in healing and bonding with the baby. Depression often causes severe fatigue, poor concentration, and sleep disruptions, which are a given with a newborn. When your own needs are not being met, and then you’re being asked to meet the needs of a child, it can make energy depleted, and being emotionally attuned becomes increasingly harder.”
  5. Negative self-perception: All of this, layered with guilt and societal expectations, can shape how you see yourself as a parent. “There is a large social pressure to love motherhood,” Dunson says, “but I don’t know anyone who loves to be covered in spit-up or poop. [These feelings] can create emotional distance and disdain for the child who is creating situations that ultimately make the mother feel like a failure.”

You’re Not Alone

If bonding doesn’t happen right away, you’re far from the only one. PPD affects 1 in 8 women in the U.S., and for many, it can shape how those early weeks and months feel — including their connection with their baby.

There’s a lot of pressure to feel an instant, overwhelming bond, but that’s not everyone’s reality. For some, connection builds slowly. For others, it can feel distant or complicated at first. None of that makes you a bad parent, and it doesn’t mean something is broken.

What’s often left out of the conversation is that bonding isn’t always immediate — it can grow over time, as you heal, adjust, and start to feel more like yourself again. And for most parents, that shift does come.

If you’re feeling disconnected, struggling, or just not how you expected to feel, it’s important to know that it’s common, it’s valid, and you’re not alone in it.

Here’s How To Cope

Learning more about postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety, connecting with other moms who’ve been through it, and building in small, supportive routines can make a real difference. According Dunson, these kinds of intentional, everyday practices can help gently rebuild connection over time.

Simple habits that boost oxytocin, like skin-to-skin contact, can support bonding, even if it doesn’t feel natural right away.

Dunson also recommends “narrating” your day to your baby. It might feel a little awkward at first, but putting your actions into words can help create a sense of connection and rhythm, both for you and your baby. Talking through everyday moments — diaper changes, feedings, getting dressed — can make interactions feel more intentional and engaging.

Another strategy she suggests is creating small, low-pressure bonding moments throughout the day. Think of them as “baby highlights”: a few minutes of uninterrupted play, reading a short book, or simply holding your baby without distractions. Setting a loose time limit can actually make it feel more manageable, especially when you’re already exhausted. When your brain knows there’s an endpoint, it can ease some of the pressure and make it easier to stay present.

Most importantly, struggling with bonding is common, and it’s something you deserve support for. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or disconnected, reaching out to a therapist or doctor can help you feel seen, supported, and on a path toward feeling more like yourself again.

Presented by BDG Studios

]]><![CDATA[Romper Registry 2026: Products For On-The-Go Mom & Baby Days]]>https://www.romper.com/shopping/romper-registry-2026-products-for-on-the-go-mom-baby-dayshttps://www.romper.com/shopping/romper-registry-2026-products-for-on-the-go-mom-baby-daysMon, 04 May 2026 16:28:50 GMT

Becoming a new mom? It’s like landing on a new planet and everyone is telling you how everything works — but nobody knows how anything works... for you. There are only so many recommendations and so much advice you can take before it all becomes overwhelming, and that’s especially true when it comes to motherhood-on-the-go. Every person in your orbit has some perfect item that worked for them when they were traveling with baby or spending the day out and about, but hearing too much can make you want to climb back on the couch and never leave the house again.

Until you read this list.

Look, everybody’s motherhood journey is different. But if you’re looking for some products that will help you feel strong and confident and excited about getting out for the day with your baby, we have some ideas. These are products we’ve tried and believe in, and we think they’ll help you feel like your best self while out with your brand new baby. Whether you’re just picking up a grocery order or spending the day in your favorite city looking for the best banana bread latte, these items are all great products to help you and baby feel safe, loved, and confident.

Products for Baby

You’ve got all the essentials — the bottles, the diapers, the wipes. Maybe you watched some social media posts of well-stocked diaper bags or asked your best friends what they always have on-hand. But we’re going to offer you a few more favorite products to bring along with you as you and baby head for your big day out. (And remember, if the “big day out” is going to the grocery store and then grabbing an iced coffee from the drive-thru, it totally counts. Congratulations! You did it!)

The Best Way To Document Without Staring Into Your Phone

You’re going to want to take a million pictures of your day out with baby — and let me make it clear, I think you should. But don’t get caught up in social media or doomscrolling — the Camp Snap Camera is a screen-free digital camera that you simply charge, drop in your bag, and use whenever you want. It can take up to 500 photos with one charge, and you can easily upload the photos to your computer or phone whenever you want. The quality is so fun and lovely, too, and it’s the best way to start documenting your motherhood journey.

The Only Stroller You’ll Need

OK, everyone has a favorite stroller — but nothing is going to make you feel more confident heading out on your own than the Bugaboo Fox 5 Renew 2-in-1. The bassinet really makes it feel less scary to buckle a baby in, and the Bugaboo truly folds up beautifully in your car if you need to drive somewhere first. Plus with the storage on the bottom and the seamless pushing ease, you’re going to feel like a whole Real Mom as you go about your day, and it’s going to make you feel a million times more secure.

The Most Helpful Nap-On-The-Go Accessory

So much of the anxiety surrounding going out with your baby is how you’ll get them to nap. But listen — a walk in a stroller almost always works. And if you need reinforcements, grab the Love to Dream Sleep Machine. It’s a travel white noise machine that will help you get baby relaxed, following their “normal” sleep routine while on the go, and it’s a major help in the car if you’re driving and baby’s feeling a little fussy.

The Only Back-Up Outfit You’ll Need

I learned very quickly that back-up clothes need to be simple and comfy. Throw a few packs of these Little Navy ribbed bodysuits on your list and you’ll never stress again about a spit-up moment gone majorly wrong or a giant blow-out.

The Best Way To Keep Baby Cool

Whether it’s extra warm and stuffy out or you just want to keep a steady flow of air on baby while hanging in the stroller or out for a picnic, the Veer Flex Fan is a must. It’s portable, lightweight, and can bend to fit wherever you need it. It’s also extra helpful for you, the one who’s sweating through her clothes trying to get baby to nurse in a busy restaurant.

The Easiest Way To Save Breast Milk

If you’re nursing and anxious about spilled milk or just leaking and want to save the precious gold (and your clothes), try tossing these Munchkin silicone breast milk collectors into your bag. These are great if you’re struggling with supply and want to make sure you don’t miss a drop, but I also just love them for helping raise your confidence in nursing while out and about.

The Best Car Organizer

OK, the way you will use this Skip Hop car backseat organizer for literally everything. Throw in extra diapers and wipes, hand sanitizer, a set of back-up clothes, an extra baby carrier — whatever you can think of. Then you don’t have to carry it all in a bag or around on your day out, but you’ll know it’s all there, ready to grab in the car. This thing also cleans like a dream and isn’t at all bulky strapped to the seat.

The Easiest-To-Clean Pacifiers

Some babies are super picky about their pacifiers, but if you’re looking for one to have on-hand for days out, I love the MAM pacifiers. Not only are these highly recommended and from a very trusted brand, but they can attach to pretty much any type of pacifier clip, and even come with their own case so you can keep them clean and ready to go.

The Only Pacifier Clips You’ll Ever Need

Listen, pacifier clips are a must. Clip these Infantino PaciGrips to the car seat straps, to the stroller strap, to the diaper bag — just put them everywhere. They stay exactly where you clipped them with zero slip, and they work well with every pacifier I’ve ever tried.

The Car Seat That Will Heal Your Travel Anxiety

Car seats seem to be a major source of stress for new parents, and it’s not hard to see why — it’s overwhelming to find one. But if you want a car seat you can trust, that doesn’t feel super complicated to install (or clean!), the Maxi-Cosi Pria all-in-one convertible car seat is fantastic. This one will last from newborn all the way up to your baby becoming a big kid in a booster, and it has the 1-click LATCH system that makes installation so easy. It doesn’t slide around, it feels nice and secure, and it’s going to make you feel way safer about strapping your baby into the backseat.

The Baby Carrier That Won’t Intimidate You

Baby carriers are incredible inventions, especially when you’re taking baby out on your own. But so many of them feel overly complicated to use and are a little bit terrifying. If you want a baby carrier for your day out with babe, try the WildBird Aerial carrier. It comes in a million colors and patterns, and also has inclusive sizing so every mom can feel totally confident wearing baby. It’s also made from a great breathable linen, so nobody’s going to be getting overheated and sweaty — and it’s super easy to put baby into all on your own.

The Sweetest Books For Travel

OK, maybe this isn’t a necessity — but it’s never too early to grab some board books for your diaper bag or to keep in the car. The Little Feminist board book set is not only easy to travel with, but the bright illustrations have a lot of contrast and are great eye candy for even the littlest babes.

The Softest Lovey For Baby

Picking your baby’s first lovey is so fun, and GUND never gets it wrong. The Oh So Snuggly Littles hippo is soft and adorable, but it’s also the perfect size for being on the go — not too big, not too small, and can be stuffed into any stroller. I just love the idea of taking baby out on a fun adventure and making sure their brand new bestie is always with them.

The Best Car Monitor For Anxious Moms

You know what’s scary? Driving with your brand new baby in the backseat. The DoHonest baby camera monitor has a ton of great reviews and is super simple to install in your car so you can always keep an eye on the road and baby. Bonus: you don’t need any tools for installation, and it’s easy to customize the view you want.

The Cutest Protective Sun Cap

Tiny babies can’t have sunscreen, but don’t let that stop you from taking your kiddo out on a picnic or a sunny walk. The H&M baby sun cap has UPF 50 to keep your little one safe from the sun, and it’s honestly so adorable. Just keep it in the diaper bag or car organizer when you’re not using it, and you’ll never have to worry about making sure it’s on hand.

The Softest, Lightest Cotton Blankets

Taking baby out for the day isn’t the time to bring heirloom blankets or heavy quilts. But you can keep a pack of these Cloud Island muslin cotton swaddle blankets in your bag or car and then you always have something — whether you need it for nursing, for extra sun coverage or even cleaning spit-up. They’re so versatile, cute and light, and so easy-to-wash.

The Easy-To-Grab Changing Station

For first-time moms, grabbing a whole diaper bag stuffed to the brim is totally normal. But you may be feeling confident and ready to venture out with just a few essentials, and the Skip Hop Pronto Signature changing station is so good. Not only does it look cute, it has everything you need to change your baby anywhere you need to — because becoming a mom means realizing quickly that not every place has a changing pad in the bathroom.

Products for You

And then let’s be honest — you deserve to go out feeling like the best version of yourself, not just the most-prepared mom (although you are 100% her, too, don’t let anyone tell you they’re separate identities). Going out postpartum is wild — the entire world feels different — and having some items that make you feel your strongest, most confident self will really have you feeling good and like you can do anything. Coffee? HomeGoods browsing? A walk in the park? Anything is possible because baby’s snoozing in the most epic stroller with a white noise machine and a cozy blanket and you’ve got the following products on hand.

The Only Water Bottle You’ll Ever Need

I know water bottle culture is wild, but nothing makes you really focus on staying hydrated like having a baby. And I am obsessed with HYDROJUG. Not only do they come in tons of cute colors and styles, they do. not. spill. Close the top, throw it in your diaper bag, and you don’t have to worry about a puddle of water at the bottom. And a 40-ounce tumbler is perfect for a day out with baby so you aren’t peeing 8,000 times in public restrooms with a stroller.

The Comfiest Pair Of Leggings

It’s not that you aren’t ready for “real” pants, it’s that “real” pants aren’t ready for you. But Aerie has the perfect high-waisted crossover leggings. Not only do these not slide or roll down, but the crossover top really feels like it helps my posture (I know, hear me out) and when you’re getting used to your postpartum bod, something that reminds you to stand up straight and walk with confidence is the best.

The Most Functional Crossbody Bag

Chances are you’ve got a diaper bag already, but the JanSport Unphased crossbody is the perfect addition to your day out. Fill this with the stuff you need, not baby, and then you don’t have to dig in your giant diaper bag for a new postpartum pad or a lip balm or hand sanitizer or anything. It comes int ons of cute colors, is super easy to clean, and so comfy to wear.

The Best Way To Make Sure You’re Never Without Your Phone

One of the stressful parts about going out with baby is making sure you have a fully charged phone for everything from pictures and directions to calling your partner and using Apple Wallet. I love the heyday multi-hub base — keep it at home with four power banks charging and then just grab one on your way out the door. No more worries about your phone dying.

The Best Way To Hit Your Reading Goals On-The-Go

One of the things I really wanted to do when I had a newborn was stay off my phone — but have you ever tried to hold a book while nursing a baby or rocking them to sleep? My wrists could not. Enter the Kindle Colorsoft. I kept mine in my diaper bag and anytime there was a moment of baby sleeping or waiting in a pediatrician’s office or just enjoying my coffee in the car while baby finished a nap, I pulled it out to read. You panic about how you’ll hit your reading goals as a new mom and then you get a Kindle and realize.

The Softest Body Butter To Make You Feel Human Again

One of the best things I did for myself when I had each of my children was buying all of my favorite body butters and lotions. When postpartum hits, it hits, and having something that makes you feel like yourself and clean and smelling good is a must. The Tree Hut whipped body butter is literally so soft and fluffy, and swiping it on your body before heading out for the day is going to make you feel like you’re ready for anything.

The Comfiest Postpartum Underwear

These aren’t necessarily marketed as postpartum underwear, but I love the Woxer Baller Padliner briefs. These feel tight enough to give some minor compression on your legs and butt (which I loved postpartum), and also have a wide padliner area that you can double up with your own pads, too. It just made me feel a little more human than mesh undies when I wore something like this, and I love how it helps you feel more confident when going out — no leaks or accidents happening here.

The Mascara To Make You Feel Like Yourself Again

Make-up as a new mom? It’s not always easy. And when you’re trying to get out the door to get your coffee before baby loses their ever-loving mind, you just have to throw something on and run out the door. Well let the GrandeMASCARA conditioning peptide mascara be the thing you swipe on. It gives you that “clean girl” aesthetic with zero clumps or mess, and it will 100% make you feel like you’re fresh and ready to go, even with zero other makeup on.

The Swipe-It-Forget-It Sunscreen

We’re not doing a whole skincare regimen right now, but babe — we need sunscreen. Throw the TULA Protect + Go sunscreen into your bag so it’s on-hand anytime you’re out and about. A few quick swipes on the face and neck and you’re good to go — plus it gives this nice, dewy glow that makes you feel all fresh and sunkissed.

The Easiest Dress To Wear

If you want a dress, you really want the Halara backless cut-out activewear dress. It has those easy built-in shorts so you can pull them down to go to the bathroom without taking off the entire dress, and you can totally go bra-less in this — even if you’re breastfeeding! It has great support, the open back is so cute, and the entire dress seems perfectly designed for the postpartum mom who wans to wear something flirty and fun.

The Best Cooler For Snacks & Goodies

One thing we’re not about to do on our first day out with baby: spend a million dollars. The Bogg Brr Half Cooler is the perfect size for loading up with your own snacks and drinks so you can sit with your baby outside the library, wander around town, or even just go for a walk and not worry about the price of anything. If you have a Bogg bag, this cooler fits neatly inside, but it’s perfect for toting around on its own, too.

]]><![CDATA[How To Support A New Mom Who’s Struggling]]>https://www.romper.com/life/how-to-support-a-new-mom-whos-strugglinghttps://www.romper.com/life/how-to-support-a-new-mom-whos-strugglingThu, 23 Apr 2026 14:28:28 GMT

When a new mom says she’s “fine,” it doesn’t always mean she is. Beneath the surface of feeding schedules, sleepy newborn cuddles, and daily routines, many women are quietly navigating exhaustion, overwhelm, and something harder to name.

For some, that experience is postpartum depression (PPD). Studies show that one in eight women in the U.S. will experience it, yet many continue moving through their days, doing what needs to be done, even while something beneath the surface feels off.

Even without a formal diagnosis, “many new mothers feel very exhausted and overwhelmed,” says Dr. Anushka Chelliah, MD, a board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Pediatrix Medical Group. “They may feel lonely, or a loss of identity, given so much of themselves are consumed with motherhood.”

So how do you support someone through all of that without minimizing it, overstepping, or defaulting to well-meaning but ultimately unhelpful clichés? It turns out, the answer is less about finding the perfect thing to say and more about understanding what she might actually be carrying.

Check In, Even If She Seems “Okay”

The tricky part is that a mom struggling with PPD might not always look like she’s struggling. Rachel, a mom who experienced postpartum depression after the birth of her son, remembers how easy it was to appear “fine” on the outside.

“The high-functioning part of me was like, ‘feel your feelings, but you have a job to get done,’” says Rachel. And for a while, that’s what carried her through, but underneath it, things were starting to shift. The baby blues didn’t lift, and that low feeling slowly deepened.

When feelings of overwhelm persist or begin to interfere with daily life, they can signal something more. Lorain Moorehead, LCSW, PMH-C, a licensed clinical social worker, notes that many new moms assume this is simply how it’s supposed to feel — or that everyone else is handling it better — so they don’t ask for help. Instead, they keep pushing through. From the outside, everything can look completely fine, even when it isn’t.

That’s why it can help to check in proactively. If she says she’s “OK” but seems off, Chelliah suggests gently naming it: “I know you, and you don’t seem fine — do you want to talk about what’s been hard?” It opens the door without forcing her to walk through it.

Moorehead adds that support is often most effective when it feels easy to accept. Keep it simple: a quick check-in, a text that doesn’t require a long response, or just being present. You’re not trying to get her to say something — you’re making it a little easier for her if she does.

Skip The Clichés (They Don’t Help Like You Think)

So many new moms with PPD can recite the same lines they keep hearing — “It’s just a phase,” “Every mom goes through this,” “You’ll be fine.” Rachel heard them, too, and even though she knew people meant well, they didn’t really sit right. “I think a lot of people don’t know how to react to someone struggling, so they give a ‘reassuring’ blanket statement,” she says. The problem is that those kinds of comments can feel dismissive of something that’s already hard to explain. As Moorehead puts it, advice like this can “oversimplify a complex situation” and even “minimize something that actually requires concern.”

Sometimes the most supportive thing you can do is let go of the urge to wrap it up with a neat, comforting line and meet her where she actually is. That can look like saying, “That sounds really hard,” without rushing to fix it. Or try “I’m here — do you want to vent or just sit?” and let her choose. It might mean reflecting what you’re hearing (“You sound exhausted”), asking open-ended questions instead of offering solutions, or simply staying present without trying to change the mood. Chelliah suggests simple, grounding responses such as “I know this is really hard” or “I’m glad you told me.”

Help Her Without Putting More On Her Plate

There’s a subtle difference between offering help and creating one more thing for a mom to respond to. “Let me know if you need anything” sounds generous, but it also puts the onus back on her when she’s already exhausted. Moorehead suggests being more specific with the options: “I’d love to stop by and make a meal,” so the help feels easier to accept. Chelliah agrees that practical support matters, and Rachel felt that in small but meaningful ways: “I told my husband I needed to take a shower every single day and he always made sure I could,” she says. The support doesn’t have to be complicated — just enough to help her feel a little more like herself again.

Remind Her She’s Not Failing

A lot of this period can come with a thought she might not say out loud: “Why does this feel so hard for me?” Moorehead says many new moms don’t ask for help because of a “perceived expectation that they are supposed to be happy.” This means your words have more influence than you might think. This is where encouragement helps, but not the vague, overly cheerful kind. As Chelliah puts it, even saying “I know this is a really hard time” and reminding her she’s doing a good job can go a long way. It might seem small, but it can interrupt that nagging sense that she’s getting it wrong and replace it with something more comforting.

Encourage Her To Reach Out For Extra Support

When it is PPD, the signs can be easy to miss at first. As Chelliah explains, feelings of overwhelm can sometimes deepen into something more persistent, especially when they’re tied to a sense of hopelessness. Moorehead adds that signs such as being unable to sleep “even when the opportunity arises,” feeling increasingly withdrawn, or experiencing a sense of disconnection from the baby can all be signals that extra support may be helpful.

If you’re noticing those changes, support can also mean gently encouraging her to connect with a professional. That might look like helping research therapists in her insurance network, sitting with her while she makes the call, or watching the baby so she can make it to an appointment. It’s not about pushing or diagnosing — it’s about reminding her she doesn’t have to carry this alone, and that reaching for support is more than okay.

Presented by BDG Studios

]]><![CDATA[Why So Many Moms With PPD Feel Like They’re Failing]]>https://www.romper.com/life/why-so-many-moms-with-ppd-feel-like-theyre-failinghttps://www.romper.com/life/why-so-many-moms-with-ppd-feel-like-theyre-failingThu, 23 Apr 2026 14:27:28 GMT

You’ve spent 40 weeks (give or take) growing a whole human. Your body performed the ultimate biological magic trick, and since then, you’ve kept a tiny, demanding roommate fed, clothed, and relatively happy. By any objective standard, you are crushing it!

So why, in the quiet moments between diaper changes, does it feel like you’re failing at everything?

You’re sold a version of motherhood that’s all soft-focus lighting, gentle cuddles, and “pure bliss.” But for many, the reality is a lot less magical — and much heavier. Instead of that promised glow, you might be feeling a simmering rage, a total lack of interest in the baby, or a crushing sense of guilt that follows you from room to room.

If that sounds familiar, you aren’t a “bad mom.” You’re likely one of the one in eight women in the U.S. navigating postpartum depression (PPD).

“Many of the women I work with often don’t realize they are experiencing depression,” explains Jaime Filler, LMFT, PMH-C, a therapist who specializes in perinatal mental health. “Instead, they believe there’s something fundamentally wrong with them as a parent.”

It’s time to stop the bad mommy narrative in its tracks. Here are three reasons why PPD makes you feel like you’re failing and why that feeling is actually just a symptom — not a fact.

1. You Feel Disconnected From Your Baby

You’re conditioned to feel that instantaneous “love at first sight” connection with your baby. But when PPD causes symptoms like persistent sadness, crying, irritability, overwhelm, and apathy, it can make it incredibly challenging to feel the spark. This goes against everything women are told we’re supposed to feel at this stage in our lives, says Leigh Hall, LMFT, a mental health therapist for Octave.

For many, breastfeeding exacerbates feelings of detachment. Whether it’s a latch issue, supply stress, or just the sheer mental drain of being a human snack bar, breastfeeding struggles are a major trigger for PPD shame.

“Many new mothers are surprised by how difficult and stressful breastfeeding can be, and feel inadequate if they struggle with it or are unable to [breastfeed],” Hall explains. “Shame and guilt only worsen PPD, exacerbating feelings of disconnection and increasing the tendency to isolate.”

2. You See Other Moms Thriving

Social media shows a constant highlight reel of other women basking in the glory of new motherhood, and it’s hard not to compare yourself to them — especially when you feel like the poster parent for an Instagram vs. Reality reel.

Many moms get stuck in the comparison trap, asking themselves, “Other people do this just fine, why can’t I?” explains Melanie Barrett, MD, a psychiatrist at LifeStance Health. This can spiral into excessive guilt, shame, and the belief that their symptoms are a personal failure.

“That belief can really interfere with how they experience parenting,” Barrett says. “It can make it harder to feel present, to trust themselves, or to enjoy moments with their baby — not because they don’t care, but because depression is clouding everything.”

3. You See Your Diagnosis As The Ultimate Failure

Many new moms strive for perfectionism and judge themselves when they struggle, explains Filler. PPD diagnosis is often deeply tied to shame, with moms feeling like they’re falling behind for anything less than flawless parenting.

“Shame thrives in silence, and many mothers keep these thoughts to themselves because they’re afraid other people will judge them or confirm their worst fears,” Filler notes. “When someone is carrying that much distress alone, the transition into parenting can feel even heavier and more overwhelming.”

How To Rewrite The “Bad Mom” Narrative

The first thing any mom with PPD should know is that they’re not alone, Filler explains. She encourages moms struggling with PPD to start with self-compassion.

“If a close friend came to you and shared that she was struggling after having a baby, would you see her as a failure?” Filler asks. “Most mothers would immediately say no! But they often hold themselves to a much harsher standard.”

Struggling as a new mom doesn’t mean you’re incapable of loving or caring for your baby. It means you’re hurting and need support, which is not the same as failure, Filler says. She encourages new moms to look at the many ways they’re already showing up for their baby. The fact that they’re worried, seeking help, and trying hard demonstrates how deeply they care.

“Postpartum depression is something you experience; it is not who you are,” Filler says. “There’s nothing weak, selfish, or broken about needing support during this time.”

Presented by BDG Studios

]]><![CDATA[6 Questions That May Help Expecting Moms Choose Their Delivery Hospital]]>https://www.romper.com/pregnancy/questions-for-expecting-moms-choosing-their-delivery-hospitalhttps://www.romper.com/pregnancy/questions-for-expecting-moms-choosing-their-delivery-hospitalWed, 22 Apr 2026 20:35:34 GMT
Inova

Choosing where to give birth isn’t always a blank slate decision. If you already have an obstetrician you love, they’re likely affiliated with a specific hospital where they have privileges — and that may very well be where you deliver. But if you’re earlier in the process, navigating a first pregnancy or even a seasoned mom realizing you want something different this time around, it’s worth taking a closer look at what different hospitals actually offer. Because beyond proximity, it’s about understanding the kind of care you’ll receive in one of the most unpredictable, high-stakes, and deeply personal moments of your life. It’s a big decision, but asking the right questions early can make it feel a whole lot more manageable.

Health systems like Inova — a leading nonprofit provider in Northern Virginia and the Washington, DC, metro area — are rethinking maternity care around the kind of support this stage of life actually calls for. The goal is something more connected: prenatal visits that feed into your delivery plan, access to specialists if things shift along the way and postpartum care that doesn’t quietly taper off after the six-week checkup. Care that follows you through the whole arc, not just the day you give birth.

So, what should you be asking as you narrow things down? Don’t worry, we won’t leave you Lamaze-breathing your way through this alone. Read on for a few smart places to start.

1. What Level Of NICU Do You Have?

It’s one of those questions you kind of cross your fingers you won’t need, but you’ll still be really glad you asked. Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) are categorized by level, with Level I handling routine newborn care and Level IV equipped for the most complex, critical cases. If something unexpected happens, having access to higher-level NICU care — without the need for a transfer — can make a meaningful difference.

At Inova, for example, every hospital offers NICU support, with a nationally ranked Level IV NICU at Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital, so advanced care is already built into the system. According to Dr. Scott Sullivan, MD, a board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Inova Fairfax Hospital, this is one of the big ones to understand upfront. He recommends asking, “What is your NICU level, and do neonatologists attend high-risk deliveries?” noting that “a Level III or IV NICU can manage very preterm or medically complex newborns.”

And it’s not just something to think about if you already know you’re high-risk: “Term babies can still need advanced support,” he says, whether that’s due to respiratory issues, blood sugar instability, or something unexpected during delivery. His bigger point is about being prepared for the unknown. “The safest hospital is one that can handle the worst-case scenario for your specific pregnancy, even if everything goes smoothly,” he noted. Because at the end of the day, you’re not just picking a place for your birth plan; you’re choosing somewhere that feels just as prepared for the unexpected as it does for the straightforward.

2. What Happens In An Emergency C-section?

While surgery might not be on your radar, part of feeling prepared is knowing how a hospital responds when plans change. Ask what’s available onsite and how quickly the team can act if a C-section becomes necessary. Sullivan recommends getting specific here and suggested that parents ask, “What emergency services are available 24/7?” He points to essentials like “blood bank, anesthesia, operating room readiness, and intensive care unit (ICU) access” as signs of a system that can respond quickly when needed. He also notes that one of the biggest missteps parents make is assuming every hospital is equipped the same way. In reality, some facilities may stabilize and transfer rather than provide full onsite care — something worth clarifying ahead of time.

It’s less about expecting something to go wrong and more about knowing exactly how your care team is set up to respond if it does, so you’re not left figuring it out in a high-stress situation.

3. Will My Care Team Coordinate With Specialists If Needed?

Even if your pregnancy is routine, it’s still worth understanding how connected your care team really is. If plans take a turn, you don’t want to be the one relaying information between providers or figuring out next steps on your own. Ask how communication works behind the scenes and whether specialists are part of the same system or brought in separately. Sullivan suggests getting specific, like asking, “Do you have maternal-fetal medicine specialists on-site or on-call?” so you know who’s available if your needs change. Because ideally, your team is already in sync, so that you can stay focused on everything else.

If you already know your pregnancy is higher risk, those questions become even more important. Sullivan recommends asking, “What level of maternal and neonatal care do you provide?” as well as, “How do you manage the specific conditions I have?” whether that’s gestational diabetes, preeclampsia or a history of preterm birth. As he put it, finding the right hospital is really about “matching risk level to capability,” meaning you want a setting that’s equipped to meet your needs not just today, but if things evolve along the way.

In this space, Inova stands out, with The Joint Commission verification for Level IV maternal care at Inova Fairfax Hospital and national recognition from U.S. News for its OB-GYN and NICU services. It’s the kind of backup plan you hope you won’t need but will feel peace of mind knowing that it exists.

4. What Does Your Care Philosophy Look Like?

This one is less about checklists and more about how a hospital actually approaches your experience day to day. Some are more intervention-heavy; others prioritize flexibility and patient preferences. So, it’s worth asking how decisions are made and how involved you’ll be in them. Sullivan suggests questions like, “Who will be present during my labor and delivery?” and “How are decisions made during labor if complications arise?” to get a sense of both the care team and whether there’s an emphasis on shared decision-making. He also points to details like nurse-to-patient ratios and available pain management options as clues into how attentive and individualized your care will feel.

At Inova specifically, it shows up as a thoughtful mix of evidence-based care and a more personal, human approach. That means welcoming doulas into the room, making space for your preferences, and treating you like an active part of the decision-making process, not just another patient moving through a system. It also includes options such as certified nurse-midwives as part of the hospital-based care team, offering a more personalized, often lower-intervention approach while still providing immediate access to OB-GYNs and specialists if needed. And if you’re interested in going that route, the goal is to get you connected early. Many patients are able to schedule a pregnancy confirmation appointment with a midwife within about 72 hours of reaching out, sometimes even as soon as the next day, so your care plan can start taking shape right away.

5. What Postpartum Resources Are Available?

A lot of the focus tends to be on the baby, but what about mom? Those early weeks can feel like a blur of feedings, very little sleep, and a mix of physical recovery and emotions you didn’t exactly plan for. It’s worth asking what kind of care is actually built into your experience, so you’re not left crowdsourcing answers from an internet search at 2 a.m. or asking random strangers online.

Are there screenings for postpartum depression or anxiety? Access to counseling? Support for healing, pain management, or complications? Follow-up care beyond your standard OB-GYN visit? Sullivan suggests asking directly, “What support is available postpartum, like lactation consultants, mental health and hemorrhage monitoring?” to get the entire picture of what happens after delivery. More broadly, he emphasized looking for hospitals that “combine protocol-driven safety with individualized, respectful care,” meaning you’re not just medically monitored, but actually cared for as a whole person during recovery. Because those early weeks aren’t just about healing, they’re about having the right kind of care in place while you figure out your new normal.

6. What Are Your Safety Outcomes And Patient Experience Like?

Beyond the basics, it’s worth getting a feel for how a hospital performs and what the patient experience is actually like. Things like C-section rates, patient reviews and nursing care can give you a clearer picture of what day-to-day care looks like, not just what’s promised on a website. Not all hospitals run the same way, and those differences can show up in both outcomes and how supported you feel while you’re there.

At Inova, that includes recognitions like Magnet designation for nursing excellence and being named Press Ganey Health System of the Year for innovation, leadership, and patient experience, which speaks to both the clinical side and how that care is actually experienced.

There’s no way to predict exactly how birth will unfold, but choosing a place designed to handle every possibility can make all the difference. Find a care team you trust, ask the questions that matter to you, and remember: You’ve got this.

To learn more about Inova and their maternal services, please visit inova.org.

]]><![CDATA[Surprising Items That Actually Help While Coping With PPD]]>https://www.romper.com/life/surprising-items-that-actually-help-while-coping-with-ppdhttps://www.romper.com/life/surprising-items-that-actually-help-while-coping-with-ppdTue, 03 Mar 2026 14:01:52 GMT

Sometimes you have to approach a problem from every possible angle. But postpartum depression (PPD) is uniquely disorienting: the very symptoms you’re trying to manage — exhaustion, brain fog, hopelessness, irritability — can make it nearly impossible to do the things that are “supposed” to help. From my own experience, even after I connected with a psychologist who specialized in PPD and began building a real support system, I still felt paralyzed, overwhelmed, and too depleted to tackle the wellness routines that flood your feed.

At-home Pilates? Sure. Long, mindful walks in nature? In theory. Batch-cooking hormone-balancing meals? Please.

What I needed wasn’t a total life overhaul. It was small, low-lift supports that met me exactly where I was. And surprisingly, a handful of simple items — some practical, some comforting — made a quiet but meaningful difference as I worked through PPD. If you’re in it right now, these might be worth adding to your own toolkit.

1. A Completely Unhinged Sephora Haul

I was only a couple of weeks into motherhood when I felt a bone-deep, borderline urgent need to contour my face. Never mind that my nipples were raw, I hadn’t slept in days, and I barely recognized the person staring back at me in the mirror. A voice in my head guided me to toward Sephora, where I cathartically added-to-cart like my life depended on it.

Amid all the excitement and adjustment that comes with having a new baby, I remember this purchase because it was completely unnecessary. Everything else I bought in those early days was out of need: diapers (for baby and me), wipes, nipple cream, and nursing bras. Ordering some “just because” cosmetics was a lovely detour on the PPD highway. It reminded me that I was still a person with preferences and wants — not just a body keeping another human alive.

2. A Gorgeous Cookbook From Your Favorite Instagram Chef

My Instagram feed transitioned from recipes and fashion tips to all things New Mom Life. It became a fun-house mirror of my life — perfect moms perfectly feeding their perfectly sleeping babies.

But when a friend gifted me an assortment of beautiful cookbooks, they became the offline portal I needed to feel inspired without feeling overwhelmed. Was I cooking? No. But before my baby, I loved to cook, and paging through lush photography, insightful tips, and recipes provided a much-needed break from the doom scroll. It let me reconnect with something I enjoyed without the pressure to perform it perfectly.

3. A Hairbrush That Won’t Rip Your Hair Out

A surprisingly helpful tool for anyone who’s dealt with depression. After days of “I’ll brush it tomorrow,” I felt dread at the thought of detangling my hair. But when a friend who’d been through PPD sent me what she dubbed her “Depression Stick,” I could finally check one thing off my list — even if it was as small as brushing my own hair.

4. A Sane Way To Prep Dinner

When I had my second child, the reality of juggling PPD and mom guilt felt like too much to carry. Since my knack for the kitchen went out the door with PPD, I outsourced what I could, and found that Little Spoon offered nutritious pre-made meals with clean ingredients that my 3-year-old would miraculously enjoy.

Taking this stress off my plate (literally) gave me room to breathe and simply connect with my 3-year-old at mealtime instead of quietly crying over burnt broccoli.

5. A Portable Laundry Hamper

There are a lot of issues I have with laundry — the amount of it, the time it takes, and the folding it requires. But one of the biggest hassles is simply moving it from one room to another. While this hamper (unfortunately) doesn’t solve every complaint, its nifty folding mechanism makes it easier to scoop up dirty clothes like a Birkin bag and haul them to the washing machine.

When you’re knee-deep in PPD, and everything is hard, anything that makes daily life a little easier is worth it.

6. A Pair Of Sneakers That Require Zero Effort

In the throes of PPD, even bending down (with a baby strapped to your chest) to tie your shoes can be reason enough to stay put. But what if you could slide into a pair of shoes that not only supported your fallen arches but also looked cute?

Kizik shoes are designed with hands-free technology that is truly hands-free without sacrificing support. No bending required.

Presented by BDG Studios

]]><![CDATA[3 Moms Share What Postpartum Depression Actually Looked Like]]>https://www.romper.com/life/3-moms-share-what-postpartum-depression-actually-looked-likehttps://www.romper.com/life/3-moms-share-what-postpartum-depression-actually-looked-likeTue, 03 Mar 2026 14:01:23 GMT

If you’re experiencing postpartum depression (PPD), it can feel incredibly isolating — especially during a season that everyone tells you is supposed to be “the happiest time of your life.” The truth is, postpartum depression is common, deeply personal, and often misunderstood. It doesn’t always look like constant tears or an inability to get out of bed. Sometimes it looks like irritability, numbness, anxiety, or simply not feeling like yourself anymore. And because it shows up differently for everyone, it can be hard to recognize — even harder to talk about.

Here, three moms share what it really looked like for them.

The Mom Who Had Anxiety And Depression Pre-Baby

Rachel, 35, lives in New York and is mom to a 4-year-old son. Before getting pregnant, she thought she had a solid understanding of postpartum depression. “I knew a little bit about PPD pre-pregnancy, but I didn't really know the nuances of it — especially how it can manifest as rage,” she says. Because she had a history of anxiety and depression, she stayed in close contact with her therapist throughout pregnancy, continuing treatment and speaking candidly about the possibility of postpartum depression or anxiety.

Her pregnancy was smooth. Delivery was “breezy,” too. In those first days, she actually felt surprisingly good.

Then the baby blues came — and didn’t fade.

“Instead, the feelings continued and deepened,” she says. For Rachel, PPD showed up as postpartum rage. “I was beyond irritable and had a short fuse. I took a lot of it out on my poor husband, but it felt truly out of my control.” She felt constantly on edge, easily overstimulated, and trapped in what she describes as a “dark haze.” The intrusive thoughts she’d managed before motherhood intensified. “I vividly remember thinking I would drop my son any time I was holding him. It was awful.”

Even with a strong mental health foundation, she realized she needed more support. Alongside therapy, Rachel worked closely with her doctor and a mental health specialist to adjust her care plan for about six months. “It kind of gave me that extra push,” she says.

Now, with distance, she encourages other moms not to dismiss what they’re feeling. “Be gentle with yourself. Don’t convince yourself that it’s ‘only baby blues’ or that you can power through it,” she says. “It’s OK to ask for help — you shouldn’t feel ashamed.”

The Mom Whose PPD Was Tied To Birth Trauma And Feeding Struggles

Juliana, 40, lives in North Carolina and has two kids, ages 4 and 6. Her first birth was traumatic. “I had an emergency C-section with my first child, and my epidural wore off. I still have nightmares about it.” In the days after delivery, everything felt foggy and disjointed. “Post delivery, it was all a haze. I could barely move and I knew pretty quickly that something wasn’t right.”

Instead of joy, she felt irritated and completely depleted. “I remember my speech being very slow, almost slurred. And I barely moved, except if it was for the baby.” Most days, she sat on the couch or in bed, staring straight ahead, holding her daughter upright after feeds — no small task with a colicky newborn. The physical recovery was hard, but the emotional weight felt heavier.

Things began to shift around her daughter’s three-month check-up, when she learned her baby wasn’t gaining enough weight and the pediatrician suggested supplementing with formula. “It felt like the pediatrician gave me permission to stop breastfeeding and stop feeling like such a failure,” Juliana says. That moment — letting go of the pressure she had placed on herself — became an unexpected turning point.

When she welcomed her second baby two years later, she felt more prepared. She recognized the signs sooner, trusted her instincts, and reached out for support earlier. Now, she hopes other mothers hear this: “You can love your baby more than anything and still hate being a mom at first. It’s a rough transition. Give yourself time.”

The Mom Who Thought It Was Just Harder The Second Time Around

Jillian, 36, lives in New Jersey and is mom to two kids, ages 4½ and 3. Physically, her second pregnancy was “textbook and relatively easy.” Emotionally, it was more complicated. “I became pregnant a lot sooner than expected,” she says. “When I found out, I was overwhelmed with sadness — sad because I didn’t feel ready, and sad that I felt sad instead of elated.” The guilt of not feeling purely happy weighed on her from the start.

After delivery, she initially felt great. “I was immediately in love with this beautiful baby boy,” she says. Without the uncertainty of first-time motherhood, she felt present and capable. But around the second month postpartum, something began to shift. “It built over time,” she explains. “Going from one to two children was a big transition, and it was difficult to tell what was ‘normal’ hard or if it was something bigger.”

One afternoon, the tension bubbled over. As she struggled to get her toddler’s shoes on, frustration escalated until her daughter burst into tears and asked for her dad instead. “I went into my bedroom and just started sobbing. The words ‘I am such a failure’ kept echoing in my head.” Logically, she knew that wasn’t true — but in that moment, it felt undeniable.

“The voice in my head was extremely negative,” she says. She didn’t want to get out of bed. The things that once energized her felt unreachable. A close friend gently pointed out that she didn’t seem like herself and encouraged her to talk to someone. Therapy helped her put language to what she was feeling and reminded her she wasn’t broken — she was overwhelmed and struggling.

Now, Jillian wants other moms to trust their instincts. “Motherhood is hard — but it doesn’t have to be so hard that you feel like you’re drowning inside. If you feel even the slightest bit ‘off,’ talk to someone.”

Postpartum depression doesn’t follow one script. It can look like rage, self-doubt, numbness, or a heaviness that slowly settles in. What these moms share is this: naming it — and reaching for support — can make all the difference.

Presented by BDG Studios

]]><![CDATA[Can Postpartum Depression Start Months After Birth? Experts Explain]]>https://www.romper.com/life/can-postpartum-depression-start-months-after-birthhttps://www.romper.com/life/can-postpartum-depression-start-months-after-birthTue, 03 Mar 2026 14:00:51 GMT

Remember your six-week postpartum checkup? Your OB likely handed you a clipboard and asked you to fill out a screening for postpartum depression (PPD). It can feel like a milestone: You made it through pregnancy, delivery, and those hazy newborn weeks. You’re in the clear — right?

But what if the hard feelings don’t show up until later? What if the fog, sadness, or anxiety creeps in at three months — or even six? What if it happens well after the newborn stage?

According to experts, that’s more common than many moms realize.

Yes, PPD Can Show Up Months Later

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) technically defines PPD as depression that begins during pregnancy or within four weeks of delivery. But in practice, it’s rarely that tidy.

“Symptoms consistent with a major depressive episode may appear much later — some research suggests they can develop three, six, or even up to 12 months after delivery,” says Dr. Zachary Rubeo, a board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Pediatrix Medical Group.

Clinically, many providers consider postpartum depression to include depression that begins anytime within the first year after birth. And even beyond that window, symptoms tied to pregnancy or the postpartum transition deserve attention.

“We sort of say that it can show up anytime,” says Dr. Catherine Birndorf, a reproductive psychiatrist and CEO of The Motherhood Center. “As long as there are seeds of it from the pregnancy, delivery, or postpartum.” For example, if someone comes in years later describing depression that began after having children, “I’m like, you probably had untreated postpartum depression. We just don’t call it that when the kid’s four,” she explains.

In other words: If it began around the transition to motherhood, it counts — even if no one named it at the time.

How Common Is PPD?

PPD is both very common — and often misunderstood.

Research estimates that 10 to 20% of new mothers worldwide experience PPD, though many clinicians believe the actual number is much higher. Birndorf estimates it may affect as many as one in three women, with rates often higher among BIPOC mothers due to disparities in care and systemic barriers.

“It’s underreported, underdiagnosed, undertreated, and misunderstood. Often, we just suck it up because we’re women,” she notes.

Part of the issue is timing. After the standard four- to eight-week postpartum visit, many parents aren’t screened again unless they raise concerns themselves.

Why Symptoms Can Emerge Later

There isn’t one single cause of late-onset PPD. It’s usually a mix of hormonal shifts, exhaustion, and cumulative stress.

Rubeo explains that support often changes in the months after birth. Early on, there may be a flurry of family and friends dropping off meals and checking in, but by three months, that help often fades. Around the same time, many U.S. parents return to work, navigating separation from their baby while juggling childcare logistics and financial pressure. As families settle into a “new normal,” the demands of parenting pile up — and for parents who were already vulnerable, or whose earlier symptoms went unnoticed, that added stress can tip the balance.

What Late-Onset PPD Can Feel Like

PPD doesn’t always look like sobbing on the bathroom floor. Sometimes it looks like irritability, numbness, or the sense that everything feels heavier than it should.

That’s why Birndorf prefers the broader term “perinatal mood anxiety disorder” (PMAD), which includes depression but also anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and psychosis.

Rubeo says patients often report depressed mood, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities. Other symptoms can include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, agitation, guilt (especially around caring for the baby), and weight changes unrelated to dieting.

“Every patient’s presentation is unique,” Rubeo says. “If your mental health feels persistently altered from your baseline and it’s affecting your daily life or bonding with your baby, that’s worth paying attention to.”

In severe cases, some women experience hallucinations or thoughts of self-harm or harming their baby. These situations are rare but require immediate medical attention.

What To Do If This Sounds Familiar

Even if symptoms emerge months after birth, they are still valid — and treatable.

“The most important thing is not to keep your symptoms to yourself,” says Rubeo. “Too many women suffer alone because of stigma or feelings of failure as a parent.”

He encourages parents to reach out to their OB-GYN or primary care provider. Treatment is effective and may include therapy, medication, support groups, or a combination.

Motherhood can change your hormones, your sleep, and your identity. If your mental health shifts too — even months later — that’s not a personal failure. It’s a sign you deserve support.

Presented by BDG Studios

]]><![CDATA[5 Myths About PPD That Stop Moms From Getting the Help They Need]]>https://www.romper.com/life/5-myths-about-ppd-that-stop-moms-from-getting-the-help-they-needhttps://www.romper.com/life/5-myths-about-ppd-that-stop-moms-from-getting-the-help-they-needMon, 23 Feb 2026 20:16:57 GMT

Bringing home a newborn can be equal parts awe-inspiring and overwhelming. One moment, you’re soaking in the weight of them on your chest; the next, you’re navigating sleepless nights and the enormous responsibility of caring for a brand-new human who depends on you for everything. Even under the best circumstances, the postpartum period is a profound adjustment.

Because exhaustion, emotional swings, and moments of self-doubt are so common in those early weeks, it can be difficult to recognize when something more serious — like postpartum depression (PPD) — may be at play. Many moms expect to feel tired or stretched thin, and may not realize when their feelings go beyond the typical challenges of new parenthood.

Misunderstandings about PPD can add another layer of confusion. But knowing the facts isn’t just empowering; it can help moms seek support sooner and feel less alone in the process.

Here are five common myths — and the truths that can help you or someone you love navigate this season with clarity and confidence.

Myth #1: PPD Is Rare

If a mom believes that PPD is rare, she may assume she doesn’t have it. PPD affects 1 in 8 women in the U.S., yet nearly half are never diagnosed by a health professional. That lack of diagnosis can reinforce the false belief that PPD is uncommon, and, even when she is struggling, make it easier to dismiss symptoms.

Myth #2: PPD Only Happens Right After Birth

In movies and TV shows, PPD is often portrayed as happening in the immediate aftermath of birth — either in the hospital or within the first few weeks at home. In reality, the postpartum period is typically defined as lasting up to six months, though emotional and physical recovery can extend beyond that, and the timeline varies for everyone.

With that in mind, PPD can begin immediately after birth or emerge months later. According to Dr. Sanam Hafeez, founder and director of Comprehend the Mind, a parent may seem to be doing well at first, only to develop symptoms several months postpartum. There is no set timeline for PPD, and just because a mother seems fine initially does not mean she’s immune.

Myth #3: A Mom With PPD Doesn’t Love Her Child

As a new mom (or any parent), it can be terrifying to imagine that someone might question your love for your child. That fear alone is a major barrier for women to acknowledge their symptoms or seek support.

To be clear: PPD does not mean that a mother does not love her child. “The idea of not loving your kid is simply not true,” says Hafeez. “Your hormones are running the show. You have such little say.”

Myth #4: Moms With PPD Want To Harm Their Babies

This is an area where there’s often confusion about what PPD actually involves.

“Postpartum depression does not come with a desire to hurt yourself or your baby,” says Hafeez. Some moms may experience intrusive thoughts, but those thoughts are typically unwanted and distressing — not reflective of their true feelings or intentions.

A separate and rare condition, postpartum psychosis, carries different symptoms and risks. It affects approximately 0.089 to 2.6 people per 1,000 births.

Most importantly: PPD is common, treatable, and does not define a mother’s love or her ability to care for her child.

Myth #5: There’s No Stigma Around PPD Anymore

In 2026, postpartum depression isn’t always whispered about behind closed doors. Many women share their experiences openly on social media, and celebrities have spoken candidly about their struggles. With so much conversation, it can seem as though the stigma has disappeared.

But Hafeez says that’s far from the full picture. “There are certain cultures that look down on a mom ‘making it about herself,’” she says. And she doesn’t just mean defined cultural groups. “I see people who say, ‘nope, we don’t go to shrinks in our family.’”

When it’s assumed that every mom who’s struggling will feel comfortable talking about it, a large subset of people can fall through the cracks. Not every mom feels able to admit to her loved ones, her doctors, or even to herself that she may be struggling with PPD. That’s why postpartum mental health can’t depend solely on moms raising their hands. Providers should proactively screen and revisit the conversation over time, recognizing that symptoms may not appear immediately. Consistent check-ins help normalize these discussions and make it easier for moms to accept support when they need it.

If you think you or someone you know might be experiencing PPD, reach out to a doctor or mental health professional. While it can feel isolating, know that you don’t have to go through it alone.

Presented by BDG Studios

]]><![CDATA[Why Community Matters When You’re Dealing With Postpartum Depression]]>https://www.romper.com/life/why-community-matters-when-youre-dealing-with-postpartum-depressionhttps://www.romper.com/life/why-community-matters-when-youre-dealing-with-postpartum-depressionMon, 23 Feb 2026 20:16:42 GMT

For many moms, the newborn phase is painted as a happy one, even if you’re not getting much sleep. There’s a lot to marvel at, from tiny toes to a first real laugh. But those first weeks can also feel isolating. You might find yourself nap-trapped under a Velcro baby or unsure about nursing in public. Isolation is a major risk factor for postpartum depression (PPD), while research shows that strong social support can be protective.

That’s where community comes in. It’s not just a helpful extra — it can be foundational. In fact, “community support is one of the most protective factors against postpartum depression,” says Dr. Niyati Dhand, M.D., a double board-certified perinatal and reproductive psychiatrist at Alaire Psychiatry in Chicago. “It helps prevent isolation and provides parents with reassurance, encouragement, and validation.” But not everyone has easy access to that kind of village. Here’s why it matters — and how to build it.

How Loneliness Impacts PPD

The baby blues are common after childbirth, thanks to hormonal shifts, sleep deprivation, and the weight of new responsibility. The postpartum period can feel overwhelming, even if your baby eats and sleeps well. But PPD is more intense, and many of the signs providers look for involve withdrawal from daily life and a deepening sense of loneliness.

One red flag is pulling away from friends or family. It’s not just needing rest, but “isolation or distancing from loved ones,” says Dhand. That might look like ignoring calls or going weeks without seeing close friends. You might also feel detached from routines or activities that would otherwise ground you.

Other symptoms include losing interest in things that usually bring you joy. Letting self-care fall by the wayside can also signal something more serious, especially when it goes “beyond the typical demands of new parenthood,” says Dhand. “For example, skipping showers, teeth-brushing, or meals, not because of limited time, but due to low motivation or apathy.”

If you suspect you or a loved one may be experiencing PPD, support is available through Postpartum Support International, which offers a dedicated helpline and resources.

Why Community Counts So Much

Community offers tangible support. “Beyond emotional support, practical help such as assisting with childcare, meals, feeding, and laundry can be life-changing,” says Dhand. That help can give parents meaningful stretches of physical and mental rest — both essential for recovery.

Peer support can be especially powerful. Even if they aren’t experiencing PPD themselves, “they can still be empathetic and understanding,” says Adrienne Griffen, the executive director of the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance.

But there’s another layer of support that can come with talking to someone who has experienced PPD firsthand. “Every mom who goes through this thinks that they are the only one,” Griffen says. “When you hear somebody else say that they’re having those same feelings, it’s extremely validating and normalizing.”

That shared understanding can also ease the pressure of trying to be a “perfect” mom. “Being around other women who are also struggling can feel like a relief,” says Dr. Marcie Weiner, Psy.D., a senior perinatal psychologist and clinical director at the Postpartum Stress Center in Philadelphia. “Motherhood is a huge adjustment.”

How To Build Your Community

Finding a community can feel daunting, which is why planning ahead helps. Before giving birth, find a few consistent anchors. “Individuals you feel emotionally safe turning to during moments of stress,” says Dhand. Your support system doesn’t have to be large — just reliable.

Dhand also recommends identifying professional support in advance, such as a lactation consultant, perinatal therapist, reproductive psychiatrist, pelvic-floor therapist, postpartum doula, or primary care physician. You may not need all of them, but having names and numbers ready can make it easier to reach out if you’re already overwhelmed.

That said, try to avoid relying on social media as your primary source of connection. “People look like they’re managing so perfectly, and all you see is all these ways that you’re failing,” says Weiner. Instead, she encourages moms to seek in-person connection. “Gravitate to places where there are other moms. Being around other moms who are doing what you’re doing is such a better option than sitting there scrolling on social media.”

Getting out the door can feel impossible — especially if you’re struggling with PPD — but even small steps toward connection can make a meaningful difference.

Presented by BDG Studios

]]><![CDATA[PPD Can Cause Major Brain Fog — Here's What You Can Do About It]]>https://www.romper.com/life/ppd-can-cause-major-brain-fog-heres-what-you-can-do-about-ithttps://www.romper.com/life/ppd-can-cause-major-brain-fog-heres-what-you-can-do-about-itMon, 26 Jan 2026 18:12:58 GMT

If you are postpartum and your brain feels like spotty Wi-Fi, dropping words mid-sentence, forgetting why you walked into a room, or freezing over simple decisions, you are not alone. Postpartum “brain fog” is real, and it can feel especially unsettling when it appears alongside postpartum depression (PPD).

Clinically, brain fog isn’t a single symptom. “Women often describe a dip in memory, focus, and the ability to say the word they’re looking for,” says Lorain Moorehead, LCSW, PMH-C, a licensed clinical social worker. While it’s often brushed off as “mom brain,” cognitive symptoms are “very common in the postpartum period,” says Dr. Carlene Denis, MD, a board-certified OB/GYN. In one study, about 26% of first-time moms showed measurable cognitive impairment in the postpartum period.

“Between the hormonal changes and the sleep deprivation, feeling like your best self is difficult to do,” says Denis. There’s also the emotional recovery of pregnancy and birth (especially if someone experienced a traumatic delivery or is struggling to bond), which can intensify the fog.

The good news is that brain fog does not mean you are failing at parenthood or doing anything wrong. Experts emphasize the importance of working with your brain during this phase, rather than fighting against it. Understanding why this is happening is a powerful first step, and from there, there are supportive, realistic ways to move through it at your own pace.

Stop Trying to “Push Through” (And Lower Your Mental Load)

While mental clarity often returns gradually as hormones stabilize, Moorehead emphasizes that it is the in-between period where systems, not willpower, make the greatest difference. “Increasing brain clarity is a process that takes time,” she says. “In the interim, setting up systems and approaches that may not have been necessary before can be a huge asset, both now and in the future.”

Trying to simply “push through” this phase, experts warn, can actually slow progress. “It can increase stress, worsen fatigue, and leave people feeling even more overwhelmed, which may delay recognizing when additional support is needed,” adds Dr. Anushka Chelliah, MD, a board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist.

What to consider:

  • Limit your daily to-do list to one or two tasks. “Do not put more than one or two tasks on the daily list,” Denis advises. Fewer decisions mean less strain on an already taxed brain.
  • Reduce complexity wherever possible. Chelliah suggests breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, such as doing one type of laundry at a time, to reduce cognitive load and conserve mental energy.
  • Pre-load future tasks. Set thing ups now so your future self doesn’t have to rely on memory or motivation. For example, “put items you need to return or mail directly in the car so you don’t have to remember later,” says Moorehead.
  • Externalize your memory. Phone reminders, notes apps, and written lists can help take the pressure off your brain so it does not have to hold everything.
  • Let others carry the invisible work. If you have support, use it. “You take care of the baby, and everyone else takes care of you,” says Denis. As they say, raising kids takes a village.

It’s Not Just About How Little Sleep You’re Getting

If postpartum moms had a penny for every time someone told them to “sleep when the baby sleeps,” they could at least afford a decent cup of coffee. While sleep deprivation absolutely plays a role, it is far from the whole story. “Although sleep deprivation may be a contributing factor, the postpartum period involves many physiological stressors,” says Chelliah, including hormonal shifts, mood changes, physical recovery, feeding demands, and the constant vigilance that comes with caring for a newborn.

Denis points to the sharp drop in estrogen and progesterone that occurs after childbirth, explaining that these hormonal shifts can trigger physical and cognitive symptoms many parents do not expect. Anxiety, whether preexisting or newly developed, can further disrupt focus and memory. That is why, even when uninterrupted sleep is not realistic, small adjustments that support better-quality rest can still make a meaningful difference.

What to consider:

  • Prioritize quality over quantity. Even short stretches of more restorative rest can help ease cognitive symptoms. Small adjustments, such as keeping the room cool (around 65°F to 70°F) or using a sleep mask to block blue light, which studies show can disrupt circadian rhythm, may help fragmented sleep windows feel more effective.
  • Reduce constant input. “Removing unnecessary alarms or noise can help limit mental fatigue,” says Chelliah. When your brain is already juggling a lot, turning off your phone and muting notifications can help conserve mental energy and reduce unnecessary mental noise.
  • Create default routines. Same breakfast, same grocery order, same walk route. “Predictability and simplifying decisions reduces decision fatigue,” says Chelliah.

Regulate Your Nervous System in Small, Doable Ways

Postpartum depression can alter how the brain responds to stress. Chelliah explains that changes in neurotransmitters and the body’s stress-response system can make focus and memory harder to access. The takeaway is simple. Supporting your nervous system, even in small moments, can make a meaningful difference.

What to consider:

  • Engage your senses. Denis recommends a splash of cold water, humming, or playing a favorite song to interrupt overwhelm.
  • Try gentle movements that don’t require motivation. “Stroller walks while the baby naps can improve circulation, mood, and stress levels,” says Chelliah.
  • Use deep breathing as a reset. It increases oxygen flow and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, supporting emotional regulation and calming the stress response.
  • Step outside or change rooms briefly. Even a short shift in environment can help your brain reset enough to get through the next task.
  • Transition gently between tasks. “Before starting something that requires focus, spend a few minutes reading or listening to a podcast to bring the cognitive regions of the brain online,” says Moorehead.

Let Clarity Return Unevenly

“There is no right timeline for when someone should start trying to rebuild cognitive clarity,” says Denis. During this phase, she notes, even small tasks can feel insurmountable. Rather than focusing on “getting your brain back,” the goal is gentle re-engagement. In that process, Moorehead encourages curiosity over pressure. “Exploring interests in small doses, without the expectation of big deadlines, can be incredibly supportive,” she says. That may also mean adjusting expectations around what kinds of stimulation feel realistic right now.

What to consider:

  • Low-stakes cognitive stimulation. Audiobooks during feeds, familiar music, or simple puzzles can gently reawaken focus without adding pressure.
  • One anchor per day. Avoid trying to tackle a full list and concentrate on just one task that gives the day shape.
  • Track without judgment. “Journaling just one good thing, when you can, may help you notice progress over time,” says Denis.
  • Expect progress to be non-linear. Days when the fog lifts and then returns do not mean you are regressing. They are part of recovery.
  • Let joy count as a win. “If something brings relief or interest, it’s doing important work,” says Moorehead.

Know When It’s Time To Reach Out For More Support

Some brain fog is expected postpartum, but symptoms that linger or worsen deserve attention. Denis notes that the “baby blues” typically ease within about two weeks as hormones stabilize. If sleep improves but cognitive or depressive symptoms do not, that is an important signal to reach out.

Chelliah adds that brain fog lasting beyond two weeks, interfering with daily life, or paired with intense overwhelm or distressing thoughts is a strong reason to seek professional support. And you do not have to wait until things feel unmanageable. “If brain fog is lowering mood, impacting joy, or interfering with daily life, that is a great time to reach out,” says Moorehead.

Postpartum brain fog can feel scary and isolating, but it is also understandable, and it is something people recover from. With the right support, fewer demands, and patience for a brain that has been through a lot, clarity often does return.

Presented by BDG Studios

]]><![CDATA[When Anxiety After Having A Baby Is More Than The Baby Blues]]>https://www.romper.com/life/when-anxiety-after-having-a-baby-is-more-than-the-baby-blueshttps://www.romper.com/life/when-anxiety-after-having-a-baby-is-more-than-the-baby-bluesMon, 26 Jan 2026 18:12:46 GMT

First off, we see you. You’re doing so much right now, and you’re taking a moment to check in with yourself. With a new baby comes new routines, new responsibilities, and constant change. It is a major transition for both your body and your brain. In those early weeks, feeling tearful, anxious, overwhelmed, or simply not like yourself is very common, and for many parents, those feelings ease as hormones stabilize and sleep slowly returns.

Sometimes, that heavy fog doesn’t lift right away. The sadness lingers. The worry grows louder. Or you feel oddly disconnected from things that once brought you joy. You might wonder how you can love your baby so deeply and still feel numb, overwhelmed, or constantly on edge. When those feelings persist and begin to affect everyday life, it isn’t a personal failing. It’s a sign that something deeper may need care and attention.

For many new parents, that “something” is postpartum depression (PPD), a condition far more common than it is openly discussed. Research estimates that PPD affects roughly 10–17% of new mothers worldwide. But according to Lorain Moorehead, LCSW, PMH-C, a licensed clinical social worker, the reality may be even more widespread. “About one in five mothers are diagnosed,” she explains, “and it is estimated that 30%–50% are not diagnosed.” That disconnect between lived experience and diagnosis highlights how quietly PPD can emerge, and how many parents are navigating it without ever putting a name to what they are feeling.

If any of this feels uncomfortably familiar, know you’re not alone. Ahead, we break down the postpartum depression signs experts say are worth paying attention to and why early support can make a real difference.

When Symptoms Show Up — And Why They Can Be Confusing To Read

Many people assume PPD happens immediately after birth, but the signs don’t always show up right away. “Symptoms can start four to eight weeks after childbirth and may not show up until 10 months post birth,” says Dr. Anushka Chelliah, MD, a board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist. “Clinically, PPD is defined as depression that begins within the first 12 months postpartum,” says Moorehead.

And even when the calendar moves past that mark, the body and family system don’t snap into place overnight. If symptoms begin in that first year, they can linger as hormones, identity, and the division of labor continue to shift as the baby grows older. “Even the hormonal changes that come with weaning or stopping breastfeeding can throw things off again,” adds Moorehead.

Complicating things further is the whirlwind of early postpartum itself. Most new parents experience the so-called “baby blues,” which can include tearfulness, anxiety, mood swings, or feeling overwhelmed in the first two weeks. Postpartum depression stands out by its duration and its impact on daily life. “Symptoms of postpartum depression tend to be more persistent and intrusive,” Chelliah explains.

Moorehead notes that some anxiety or intrusive thoughts can be normal in newborn care, but PPD becomes more likely “when it interferes with daily life, when the parent does not feel they are able to bond with their baby, when they don’t have feeling toward their baby, or the baby consumes all of their thoughts to the point of having limited joy.”

What PPD Can Actually Feel Like

Postpartum depression doesn’t look the same for everyone. It often shows up as a mix of emotional, mental, and physical symptoms that vary from person to person. Below are some of the ways it commonly appears:

1. You’re Past The Point of “Sad”

Sadness is absolutely a valid part of PPD, but it’s rarely the whole picture. Chelliah lists anxiety, tearfulness, guilt, hopelessness, panic, and feeling overwhelmed as common experiences. Moorehead notes that parents may also feel “emptiness, numbness, loss of interest or pleasure, feeling guilty or ‘less than,’ feeling like a bad mom, decreased frustration tolerance, and fatigue.”

2. You’re Struggling To Focus

It’s easy to chalk up new-parent forgetfulness or mental fog to sleepless nights, but cognition is an area where PPD can take hold. According to Chelliah, postpartum depression can manifest as “inability to concentrate or focus on activities, feeling overwhelmed, and poor decision making.” Many people describe getting stuck in cycles of rumination, spending hours worrying, or feeling mentally frozen in ways that make even simple tasks feel hard to start.

3. You’re Feeling Different In Your Own Skin

Moorehead notes that “weight gain, withdrawing from family and friends, and low energy” are often brushed off because they look a lot like the regular new-parent life. You’re in survival mode, your body is recalibrating, and no one expects you to be the life of the party at six weeks postpartum. However, if these changes seem uncharacteristic of you or persist long after the newborn fog lifts, they may need further attention.

4. You’re Not Connected To The Baby

While hormones play a role, Moorehead says routine and identity upheaval play a part in how PPD affects bonding: “Feeling a strong ambivalence about loving the baby but missing the activities and life and body that existed before the baby can be very discouraging.” Chelliah adds that anxiety and sadness can “interfere with bonding and socialization,” even when love and care are present.

When To Reach Out (And Why It’s Not A Personal Failing)

Postpartum depression can affect anyone, though certain factors can increase the likelihood of developing it. These include a personal history of depression or anxiety, depression during pregnancy, thyroid disorders, high levels of stress after birth, neonatal complications, or limited social support. None of these risk factors reflect a parent’s competence or desire to care for their child. They are medical and environmental realities, not personal shortcomings. “With the right treatment and support, the majority of women move through this,” says Chelliah.

If you’re unsure whether what you’re feeling is “bad enough” to count as PPD, clinicians suggest paying attention to persistence and impact. Chelliah notes that if symptoms “persist after two weeks or become intrusive in the ability to complete activities of daily living or are involved with thoughts of hurting yourself or others, you need to seek medical attention.”

Even without a diagnosis, Moorehead stresses that support is justified: “It doesn’t matter if you have clinical PPD or simply feel like you’re ready to have support. You deserve to have support.”

What holds true for nearly every parent experiencing postpartum depression is this: it is common, it is treatable, and you are far from alone in navigating it.

Presented by BDG Studios

]]><![CDATA[The 31 Best Toys That Will Actually Hold Your Kid's Attention]]>https://www.romper.com/shopping/best-toys-hold-kids-attention-romper-toy-box-2025https://www.romper.com/shopping/best-toys-hold-kids-attention-romper-toy-box-2025Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:00:24 GMTBuying toys this time of year can be so overwhelming. Everywhere you look, there’s some new, must-have toy being shoved in your face, and it’s incredibly hard to quiet the noise. You want to give your kids toys they’re excited about, but so many options means you’re bound to give them gifts that they are bored with 36 hours after opening the box. This year’s Romper Toy Box is all about toys that are made to last. Some are heirloom quality, some are sturdy and built to take a beating, and some are just the kind of simple toy we’ve forgotten about — the kind of toy that your kids can spend hours playing with.

From pretend play to activity sets, STEM kits, and more, this list has plenty of toys you won’t regret buying for your kids. There are varying price points, as well, and a lot of these are also chosen with you, the parent, in mind. Do you really need toys in your house that take two adults to set up, with 800 small pieces, only for your kids to be over it after 10 minutes?

I think every parent is looking for a toy that will unlock their child’s creativity, their love of play, and actually hold their attention — and that’s what Romper Toy Box 2025 is all about.

A Dollhouse That’s Built To Last

There are a million dollhouse options out there, but I love one that’s built to last like The Dollhouse from Blueberry and Third. It comes completely blank, so you can decorate it however you want with paint, wallpaper, and accessories, and it’s built in a 1:12 scale so you can add in your own furniture and dolls. It’s also enormous and just so classic. A great, heirloom-quality toy this Christmas.

The Best Children’s Audio Player

I know it’s not new anymore, but my son has used his Yoto daily for over a year and it still looks and works like it’s brand new. This year we’re asking grandparents for the Yoto Club membership so my son can pick a new card or two each month (we keep them all in this inexpensive little organizer for compact storage and easy travel). We love the classic bedtime stories and the daily kids’ podcasts they put out, and that it’s nice screen-free background noise when we’re playing and drawing together.

A Working Microscope Set

I had a microscope set as a kid, and I still remember the countless hours I spent looking at the slides it came with and making my own from leaves, bugs, and feathers I found outside. For the curious kids in your life, it’s a top tier gift.

The Best Bath Toys

My kids love a bath toy, and there is nothing better than the Boon Pipes & Cogs & Tubes bundle. This is perfect for kids who love to pour water and see how water interacts with certain tools, and it keeps all the water inside the bath tub rather than splashing all over the floor. (For the most part.)

A Durable Snap-Together Block Set Perfect For Early Learners

We’ve had these Numberblocks MathLink Cubes for over a year, and my son has played with them in a million different ways as he has grown. They are sturdy — not a single one has broken, nor do I see that being a problem in the future. They definitely contribute to his learning about addition and subtraction as we count up blocks to build the characters, and he’s beginning to use the activity cards as well, which allows for more independent play.

The Ultimate Sensory Toy

My kids watch so much Doctor Squish, and this Doctor Squish Squishy Maker is the perfect gift for them. Not only does it expand your child’s creativity and help with sensory play, the little squishies are reusable with clips, so this isn’t one of those one-and-done crafts. They can remake a squishy over and over, and it honestly doesn’t require a ton of adult help for big kids.

A Play-Doh Alternative That Never Dries Out

Play-Doh is one of my favorite stocking stuffers for kids, but it’s painful to buy knowing it will almost certainly be left out of the container to solidify in short order. Dohkins’ dough uses a never-dry formula so it will stay soft and pliable even if your kid is zipping back and forth between all their new gifts Christmas morning, and bonus points — it smells good.

This Super Colorful Indoor Soccer Ball

This soft-sided soccer ball is designed to be dribbled around and kicked between players indoors. It’s kind of the perfect solution to being stuck inside all winter and needing to get the kid zoomies (and dad zoomies) out if you ask me. It’s a size 4, built to last, and appropriate for all ages to practice their soccer drills in their room.

A Fun & Functional Stocking Stuffer They’ll Use Twice Daily

Squishmallows make everything happier, and now they can help you convince your kid to brush their teeth. This brush is rechargeable, comes with two brush heads, and has a two-year warranty should anything stop working. Its fun features include progress lights to make sure kids brush for long enough, audio and haptic feedback, and super soft bristles appropriate for young teeth and gums (but still tough on plaque).

The Most Adorable Wooden Block Set Ever

Wooden block sets are one of those toys that’ll survive an apocalypse, and this 100% beechwood one is quite possibly the cutest ever. I love that the wooden house can be played with and built around, but it also serves as the storage container for all the loose blocks when playtime is over. It has outlines inside to show the placement of each block, so picking up becomes a puzzle game in and of itself.

A Fun Magnetic Tile Pack To Start Or Expand Their Collection

We are a big magnetic tiles family and are constantly building zoos, parking garages, and Pokémon centers with our collection. This pack was a super fun addition that makes it so easy to add windows and customize the look of our structures. Bonus points: they are super durable, the magnets are strong, and the set came with a booklet of builds to replicate. We are eyeing the ball runs from the brand next.

A Sweet Magnetic Dress-Up Toy

This Folklore Forest magnetic dress up play set is so simple and perfect for kiddos ages 3+. Not only does everything stay in the case, but the case itself is metal, so the items stick right to it. It comes with two characters, two background scenes, and over 45 mix-and-match magnets to create fun looks. This is a great on-the-go toy and my younger girls, ages 7 and 3, are both obsessed with it.

A Sturdy Beam For The Kid Who Has The Wiggles

You don’t need a ton of space or huge pieces of equipment for your little climbing kid, but they will absolutely love the Avenlur Majesty Balance Beam and Stepping Stones. This is sturdy, will hold up to multiple kids using it, and can be stored away when you don’t want it out. You can also change the shape around of the balance beam and move pieces to fit whatever play your kids want. It’s great for pretend play, for kids who don’t love to sit still, and is a perfect big gift that will actually hold their attention.

A Sweet Bicycle For Big Kids

Bicycles are the best, and every big kid deserves a bike that will last forever and give them that delicious outdoor freedom they deserve. The Huffy Deluxe Beach Cruiser is so fun and retro, but it’s also a big, sturdy bike with everything they need to enjoy some independent time. It comes with a basket attached, a rear rack, and a cup holder, and you already know that Huffy is a brand that lasts forever. Nobody’s ever bored of a bike, you know?

A Craft Kit That They Won’t Get Bored With Immediately

Even the craftiest kids sometimes get bored with craft kits, but the Make It Real Mini Pottery Studio will hold their attention forever. Not only is it meant for little hands to handle, but the entire kit is built to move up from beginner level to master level, so kids can keep growing with the craft and they’ll actually want to keep the fun things they make.

A Car Stunt Set That Isn’t Overwhelming

Tiny cars are always a hit, and there are so many options out there for stunt cars and entire car playsets and things that can get really overwhelming really quickly. Sometimes the more options, the least likely your kid is to mess with it, but that’s what’s so great about the FLAT 2 FAST Stunt 2-Pack Playset. These little FLAT 2 FAST cars are so cool anyway — they come with like a little box they shoot out of to go super fast across the room — and the stunt playset only comes with 8 pieces, but you can have so much fun with them. And it doesn’t require a whole lot of work to set up or take up a huge portion of your playroom.

A Dress-Up & Costume Rack

For perfect sturdy play, there’s The Clothing Rack from Blueberry and Third. It’s just the right size for kids to help themselves, and you can use it to hold all of their favorite dress-up clothes and costumes. It keeps everything organized, looks pretty, but also fosters independent and pretend play. (It’s also nice and well made for kids yanking off hangers.)

A Journal Kit To Help Kids Express Themselves

Journaling is always such a great hobby, especially for kids, and the Mondo Llama Junk Journal craft kit is such a fun gift. It comes with everything, from glue sticks and washi tape to cute envelopes and stickers. They can work on it whenever they want, and it’s an amazing gift for them to always have on hand to express themselves and get creative.

A Space-Friendly Play Tunnel

Our youngest received this pop-up crawl through tunnel on her first birthday and nearly three years later, it’s almost a daily toy for her and our 7-year-old and 11-year-old. All of them love to use it as part of building their forts, playing games like “the floor is lava,” and even just for laying inside while they play on their tablet. It folds up so nicely and can be tucked out of sight without any issues.

A Pretend Food Set That Holds Up To Tiny Hands

Pretend food is always a hit, but I love the novelty of this Fisher-Price Pots & Pasta Chef Set. With wooden kitchen utensils, metal pots, and fabric pasta pieces, this cooking set is made to last and will be part of their pretend play forever. Plus, how fun is it to actually dump the pasta out of the boxes?

A Reusable Sticker Book

Don’t sleep on sticker books, especially this Arctic Life reusable sticker set from Mudpuppy. Everything stays together in the fold-out scenes (it has a folder inside to hold the sticker sheets) and the stickers are vinyl and thick. These won’t tear in half, they won’t stick to your furniture and never come off, and kids have two options for play — put the animal stickers into the “scenes” for story play, or put them in their designated spaces and learn their names. My 3-year-old was able to pull off every sticker with zero help from me, and weeks later, the stickers are still incredibly sticky (and not getting covered in dog hair from our pup).

A Skateboard Built To Last

Outdoor toys are always a great option if you want a gift that will hold your kid’s attention, and the Alameda Complete Skateboard is perfect for beginners and experts. It’s classic, and even kids who have never tried can give this one a whirl and practice all of their favorite moves all year long.

A Sweet Little Light

I love room decor as a gift that will last, and this little pearl boba tea ambient light from Smoko is so cute. It doesn’t require a charge or anything but 3 AAA batteries, and it also has an auto shut-off feature to save power. This is a great little night light, reading nook light, or even a desk light.

A Reusable STEM Kit

If you have a science fan, this Wow in the World 100 Experiments That Wow science kit is so fun. Not only are there all the experiments — and step-by-step guides to do them — but there are also pieces inside the kit that your kids can reuse for different science and STEM fun.

A Sticker Book They’ll Use On Repeat & Actually Keep

Sticker books do not normally come to mind when I think of toys made to last, but my family has gotten literally countless hours of entertainment out of this one. You have to match the over 1,400 stickers in the back to the silhouettes throughout the book, and when you’re done, you have a guide to all the known Pokémon in the franchise, so it’s actually a book you can keep and flip through forever.

A Pretend Play Set For Disney Parks Fans

Melissa & Doug is known for their built-to-last play sets, and the Disney Snacks & Popcorn set is so fun. With 24 pieces, this is the perfect set for Disney fans, and your kids will absolutely love serving you their favorite park treats. My own girls have the same set and use it constantly, and everything stores right inside the box and can be easily moved around the house.

A Fun Block Set For Sensory Seekers

Blocks are always a win, but the Jelly Blox creative kit is so beyond any other block set you’ve seen. Not only can you build things with these blocks, but the jelly texture of them — they are so squishy! — is ridiculously fun. In this set, some of the blocks include sand inside the squishy material, some include beads, and some include plastic shapes, so it’s a full-on sensory experience and so cool to build with.

A Hefty Toy Dump Truck

Dump trucks are a must in any toy box — they are so good for so many pretend play things — and the Tonka Next Gen Mighty Dump Truck is going to hold up to any and all play. It’s tough, it’s built to last, and it can be taken outside for all kinds of fun.

A Reusable Sand “Baking” Kit

If you have a kiddo that loves sand, dough, and other moldable sensory toys, they are going to absolutely lose it for the Little Tikes Creative Chefs Baker’s Kit. It comes with everything you need to make kinetic sand “cupcakes,” but the best part is, everything is reusable. The little mixer works on batteries, the sand can go back into the eggs to “crack” and mix into your cake mix, you can reuse the frosting molds — it’s so much fun and way more than just a one-off kinetic sand toy.

A Tent For Maximum Offline Togetherness

If you have an outdoorsy family, a quality tent is a gift that keeps giving for all of you. Whether you’re camping in a state park or your backyard, it’s the kind of nostalgic, analog togetherness we’re all about right now.

A Built-To-Last Wooden Gumball Machine

Everybody loves turning a knob and getting a little surprise, and this Gatcha Gatcha Unicorn Gumball Machine is so perfect for that. It’s wooden, with wooden beads in different shapes inside, and your kids will have a blast releasing new beads, dropping them back in, and doing it over and over. And because it’s all wooden, you know it’s going to last.

]]><![CDATA[The Most Nostalgic, Retro Gifts For Every Person On Your List, From Toddlers To Adults]]>https://www.romper.com/shopping/romper-a-la-cart-nostalgia-holiday-gifts-baby-kid-tween-adulthttps://www.romper.com/shopping/romper-a-la-cart-nostalgia-holiday-gifts-baby-kid-tween-adultTue, 18 Nov 2025 14:00:24 GMT

I have one gift hack, and it’s always worked well for me: When you can’t figure out what to give someone, go retro. A gift from their childhood, an item they say they always wanted but never got, a gift that gives them that warm vintage holiday vibe — you can honestly find a million things. Romper’s A La Cart this year is all about nostalgic gifts. Gifts that remind you of your childhood Christmas, gifts that you’re excited to give someone you love, gifts that just give you that warm happy feeling — and gifts that aren’t already on 8,000 other gift guides.

No matter what you’re looking for, from toys for kids to bikes and board games, this nostalgia gift list has you covered. Many of these would make a great family gift or a gift to give siblings to share, and if you’ve ever wondered what on earth to get your husband or dad (they do not want whiskey stones, I asked them), this list can offer some inspiration. Take a step back to the ‘80s and ‘90s Christmases, when you circled what you wanted in a Sears Wish Book and not one parent asked you to pose for a photo for Instagram. (They just set up the camcorder for the entire present-opening portion instead.)

A Handheld Blast From The Past

Nothing filled me with joy more as a kid than my Game Boy, and ModRetro has created the ultimate blast-from-the-past gift with the Chromatic. Compatible with all Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges, Chromatic is pure dopamine in handheld game form. It charges either with a USB cord or batteries (bless) and the Chromatic also comes with some original Chromatic games, along with old favorites like Tetris. It’s honestly just such a great gift and perfect for the person who wants to spend less time on their phone.

A Competitive Guessing Game For Pokémon-Loving Families

If you grew up loving Pokémon and your kid is into them now, this Pokémon Trainer board game is such a fun one to play together. There are two modes of difficulty on the board so it can grow with you as you begin to learn the clues. The game master will call out clues, and the person who guesses which Pokémon it’s hinting at first scores the points.

The LEGO Set That Never Says Die

Hey, you guys! LEGO never misses, and The Goonies LEGO set is such a great gift for any Goonies fan. The detail is absolutely incredible, with over 2,900 pieces and 12 minifigures. It’s intended for LEGO fans aged 18 and up, but it could also be an amazing family project to work on.

A Wi-Fi Landline To Connect The Old Fashioned Way

My mom friends and I all want to get our kids these Tin Can phones so they can call each other and their grandparents without screens, just like in ye olden days. Can’t you feel the curly phone cord twirling around your index finger right now? Plus, they’re so cute and colorful, this is a “toy” I’d actually love to see around my house. Tin Can users can call each other for free, or it’s $9.99 a month to call other kinds of phones (but they can only dial contacts you’ve pre-approved — yay safety).

A Board Game Version Of Every Millennial’s Favorite Computer Game

There are few things more delightful than The Sims, so why not gift (with actual dollars, not Simoleons) your favorite Sims fan The Sims board game? For players ages 12 and up, you can jump right into the neighborhood and create a whole journey, with aspirations, iconic Sims characters, and more. This is perfect for a nostalgic family game night, and the artwork on the game itself will make you feel like a 15-year-old staying up late on the computer again.

A Modern Take On Twister

If you want screen-free, whole-family fun, Twangled looks like the way to go. Everyone’s hands will be occupied by giant rubber bands, and you kick the spinner with your foot to progressively tie yourself into a massive knot. Then, you’ll have to work together to untangle your human bowtie.

A Surprisingly Fun Sticker Maker

My 4-year-old, my nieces (who are 5, 6, and 12), and I have all enjoyed playing with this sticker maker. You get to choose the size, cute animal backing, and confetti filler. It’s a great option for families with kids in a wide range of ages. The mechanics of sticker making are just complex enough to require their full attention, but easy enough to get the hang of in one or two tries. I love that it’s totally analog and requires zero batteries.

An American Girl With An Extremely Nostalgic Twist

Gifting someone you love an American Girl doll is nostalgic enough, but if you gift the Girl of the Year 2026 Raquel Reyes? Well, you’re promising an added bonus of nostalgia. Raquel’s great-great-grandmother is none other than Samantha Parkington. Even Raquel’s dress is reminiscent of Samantha Parkington’s original look, and Raquel’s story includes a sweet dive into her family tree, giving you all the vintage vibes.

The World’s Coolest Watch

You remember G-SHOCK watches? Well they’re back, and cooler than ever. With a retro analog watchface and fun bright colors, the G-SHOCK “Cool Eyes” Cool Watch is going to make you feel like you stepped right back in time. Built for sports and outdoor activities, this is a great gift for the live-fast-and-hard person in your life.

A Stretch Armstrong Version Of Your Favorite Alien

Thanks to the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie, Stitch is totally back this holiday season. But you can give him even more of a nostalgic air by gifting the Stretch Armstrong version of Stitch. I vividly remember my little brother receiving his Stretch Armstrong on a perfect ‘90s Christmas morning, and knowing I can give my own nephew one of these — and we can pull it down the hall to see how far it actually goes before one of us gets smacked in the face — is kind of the best.

A Hair Styling Set For The Ultimate ~Kewl~ Girl

Every cool girl I knew in the ‘90s had one of those twisty hair things that added jewels and gems and put their hair into perfect little twists, and now you can have some of that nostalgia back with the Make It Real: Snap ‘N Glam Hair Styling Set. With 100 different bead clips, from butterflies and gems to flowers, kids can mix and match and easily add them to their own hair.

A Boxed Set For Your Favorite Bow Girl

Pretty books are always a win, but the Rifle Paper Co. In Bloom book collection is the perfect nostalgic gift for the Big Bow Girls in your life. Featuring Heidi, A Little Princess, Little Women, and Anne of Green Gables, each features a gorgeous cover and design that will make you want to crawl into a cozy cottage and relive your bookworm childhood.

A Revived Mini Skateboard For Sk8r Bois & Girls

My little brother had millions of those tiny Tech Deck skateboards in the ‘90s, and I love the brand’s revived version with the Tech Deck Shred N’ Blast Skateboard. For sk8rs ages 6 and up, this toy can send your skateboard into tricks up to six feet high, and the ramp itself can be mixed into other Tech Deck accessories and playsets.

The ‘80s Night-Night Buddy

The way my entire body responded to seeing that Pillow Pals are back — I’ll never have the words to fully explain. Pillow Pals were huge in the ‘80s and featured several different varieties, but I was always partial to Window Rattler, the plush both my sister and I (and D.J. Tanner on Full House) snuggled with.

A Build-Your-Own-Dollhouse For Miniature Lovers

The minute I saw these Suite Spaces collections, I thought about the old American Girl Mini Rooms, where you could buy all the pieces to create your own little space. The Suite Spaces collection is a lot like that, featuring living room packs, bedroom packs, bathroom packs, and more. Each pack comes with everything you need to create your own little miniature room of your dreams, and then all of them can stack together to make your very own dollhouse.

A Baby Doll That Will Last Forever

I still have my BABY Born doll from when I was a kid, and oh how I fell in love with her the Christmas I opened her under the tree. I remember mixing the little packets of food — all that gritty orange stuff — to feed her and feeling like I had hit the lottery. Give back some of that joy with the new BABY Born Princess Collection. While this little one doesn’t eat any food, she does come with a bottle and the perfect princess outfit. Her eyes close when you lay her down, and it really feels like a callback to simple baby dolls and how much we all loved them. (Also, it’s BABY Born, so it’ll last forever.)

An ‘80s Movie Wrapped Up In An ‘80s Toy

Great Scott! Back to the Future is a classic for a reason — it’s one of the best movies ever made — and is now forever immortalized in another classic, retro brand: Polly Pocket. These two fandoms combining is beyond good, and whether the Back to the Future fan in your life played with Polly Pockets or not, this is an ultimate nostalgia gift.

A Throw-Back Video Game

This is literally the only thing my 40-year-old husband (who never knows what he wants for a gift) has asked for this Christmas, so you know Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection is going to be a smash hit. Not only does this edition include the arcade versions of Mortal Kombat, but it also includes the Sega and Super NES system versions, along with some rare Game Boy editions and more. It’s so fun for anyone who grew up getting video games under the tree, and it’s going to be a major walk down memory lane on Christmas morning.

The Perfect Pair Of Retro Nikes

Vintage sneakers have been a thing for a while, but the new Stranger Things x Nike collection takes it to an entirely new level with the new Nike Dunk Low ‘Phantom’ pair. These look exactly like the ones worn in Stranger Things, down to the “dirty” and used vibe, and are a must for any retro sneakerheads or fans of the ‘80s.

An Iconic Board Game For The Whole Family

I can still vividly remember the commercial for the Don’t Wake Daddy board game, and I’m thrilled the game is still around. While Dad has had a bit of an upgrade — I do miss his sleeping cap — this is a great gift for the game enthusiasts in your family, or even to gift a sibling who remembers playing it with you.

A Toddler-Friendly American Girl Doll

Truly, there was nothing like circling every American Girl item in the catalogue for your Christmas wish list, but now the brand is even making it so your littlest American Girls can fall in love with both the dolls and their sweet stories. The My First Addy Doll & Board Book set features Addy Walker, the historical American Girl who grew up in 1864 Philadelphia, as a plush and cuddly doll with her own board book version of her Meet Addy story. It’s a must if you have a little one in your life who needs to be introduced to American Girl, or if you know someone who would just appreciate a little squeeze from a soft friend.

An Updated Version Of Your Favorite Brain Teaser

Everybody had a Rubik’s Cube at some point, right? Whether you ever figured it out or not doesn’t matter, but the updated Rubik’s Pulse Cube is a fun, updated version of everyone’s favorite brain teaser. This one lights up, pulsing to a timer so that you can try and solve the puzzle before the lights go out. It’s super fun and a great gift for anybody who has ever given a little twist on a Rubik’s Cube.

The Ultimate ‘80s Rockstar Fashion Doll

I know, you can hear the theme song already. So many grew up with Jem and the Holograms on TV, so why not bring back some of that joy and nostalgia with the Jem and the Holograms fashion doll? Whether you’re going to keep it for your own personal shelf collection or want it to play with your kids, this is such a fun gift.

The Most Retro Feel-Good Bicycle

There was nothing better than seeing a bicycle under the Christmas tree, and I am forever looking for that magical high. Retrospec has a ton of fun things that give similar vibes, but nothing hits it quite as well as the Beaumont City Bike. No e-bike stuff here, just a classic, 7-speed bicycle that’s built to last. With the rear rack, you can even have some storage for taking along whatever you need on the ride.

A Relatable Trivia Game For The Holidays

I love playing trivia with family and friends, but so many trivia options feel a little too heavy. Brass Monkey’s Poorly Explained Movies - Holiday Edition is so ridiculously fun. It’s just a great guessing game, but the clues are things like “an orphan sings to a woman taking a shower,” and the answer is Elf. So fun to play in a group, and so fun to realize everybody else thinks about movies just like you do.

The Best Playset For Those Who Had Their Own Entrance Music

I grew up with professional wrestling, so every new WWE playset makes me want to jump right back into watching some pay-per-view and falling for all those character storylines. The Mattel WWE Money in the Bank playset comes with everything needed to reenact some iconic WWE moments. (It would also look great just displayed on a shelf.)

The Perfect Retro Doll

There have been a lot of Rainbow Brite variations and merch over the years, but I’m so obsessed with this classic, incredibly retro Rainbow Brite 12” plush doll. Created just like the doll from the ‘80s, the body is plush with a vinyl head and yellow yarn hair. It has no frills or fuss — just like the perfect Rainbow Brite doll.

]]><![CDATA[The New JWoww SHEIN Collection Has Stylish Picks For Classic Moms *And* Cool Moms]]>https://www.romper.com/shopping/the-new-jwoww-shein-collection-has-stylish-picks-for-classic-moms-cool-momshttps://www.romper.com/shopping/the-new-jwoww-shein-collection-has-stylish-picks-for-classic-moms-cool-momsTue, 11 Nov 2025 19:25:12 GMT

There’s a good chance that if you’re a mom to young kids, you know who Jenni “JWoww” Farley is. Since her days fist-pumping on screen, the reality TV OG — now a mom of two — has traded club nights for bedtime stories. But her signature unapologetic confidence and trademark bling swagger are still front and center.

So, it only makes sense that she’s bringing that same energy to your closet with the launch of her SHEIN x JWoww Family Collection. With looks that are chic, practical, and made for all the moms who still love to serve, consider your fall fashion leveled up.

If this collab is saying one thing, it’s this: you can still be “that girl” even with a couple of tiny humans running around. From coordinating lounge knits to sleek coats, this collection is full of classic statement pieces that refuse to blend into the corn maze. And the looks aren’t just for mom. The collection boasts an array of tween boy and girl styles that will make the whole family look effortlessly pulled together.

So, grab your littles, bundle up, and check out this round-up of a few of our favorite pieces, from this ribbed long sleeve sweater for effortless layering to the faux leather skirt that adds instant edge — and even a few trendy pieces your kids are sure to wear on repeat.

]]><![CDATA[I Found The Perfect Winter Family Getaway]]>https://www.romper.com/life/i-found-the-perfect-winter-family-getawayhttps://www.romper.com/life/i-found-the-perfect-winter-family-getawayTue, 11 Nov 2025 18:02:01 GMT
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Our kids’ school winter vacation schedule is a little wonky; they have a few long weekends off, but then we don’t get a real break till March. It’s not quite enough to go somewhere far away, but when you’re trapped inside with two active boys, those three-day weekends at home feel long. A few years ago, I went on a hunt to find a way to break up that interminable winter slog, to silence the ever-present voices of my sons: “Mom, there’s nothing to do!” (I know there’s nothing to do! It’s freezing out, most team sports are on pause, and by Sunday afternoons the siren call of the iPad becomes deafening to the point of no return.)

I researched. I asked around. Eventually, a friend recommended Mohonk Mountain House, a historic resort that’s about a two-hour drive from New York City. We decided to give it a go. We haven’t looked back.

The place has a kind of old school Catskills-vibe, like if Dirty Dancing met a haunted gothic novel. You can leave after school on a Friday and, after driving up an ear-popping mountain pass, arrive at the enormous, Victorian castle-esque building in time for dinner. The place was founded in 1869, and the aesthetic leans into that history (wood everything, old photographs of Mohonk lining the walls; traditional décor). It’s kind of like The Shining if The Shining was cozy instead of creepy, and the kids, in particular, think it’s very cool.

Mohonk is an all-inclusive resort, so the room rate covers food (but not alcohol). There are set times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the main dining room has lovely views of the mountain and surrounding area. The food is…plentiful. It comes quickly. Breakfast and lunch include buffets the size of a small country. You won’t go hungry at Mohonk Mountain House, that I promise. I’ve never been on a cruise, but I assume that it’s kind of like high-end cruise fare, which isn’t an insult. This is a place that’s best for families. In and out, I say! Let’s get it done with before the kids start asking to play games on our phones.

Most critically, there is a lot to do during the day. There is a heated indoor pool, which my kids love to swim in, and a soothing spa, where you can get facials and massages. There is snow tubing, which my sons enjoy almost as much as I do. There’s a private ice-skating rink with skate rentals included. You can hike up the mountain with spikes, or do cross country skiing, or snowshoeing as a family. The grounds are picturesque and winter wonderland-y and every afternoon there’s an open fire pit where you can roast a marshmallow (or five, if you’re my 7-year-old). There are evening activities, like movies and music and magicians. Last year, we tried indoor archery for the first time. I hit a bullseye. There is no more to that story. I just wanted to share. And the service is family oriented and helpful. A couple of years ago, my younger son got a horrible stomach virus the night we arrived at Mohonk. He was so sick that we ended up calling the in-house doctor at the hotel, who came right away and said we should go to the nearby hospital to be safe. So my husband sped our car down the dark mountain road while I held my little retching son in the front seat, our other son strapped into the back. Everything was fine, eventually — the hospital was great, our son got fluids, and we stayed until he finally stopped vomiting his brains out. We got back to Mohonk at 3am, exhausted and stressed, and saw that management had put lovely baskets in our room filled with get-better stuffed animals, fresh fruit and snacks, and an array of games for the kids. They continually checked in on us until we left the following day, and all things considered, we had an okay time! Oh, the wonders of traveling with children.

Mohonk Mountain House

The best part about Mohonk, hands down, is that every time we go there it snows. There’s like some magical timer that knows we’ve arrived, and waking up to the mountain blanketed in white is such a treat for the kids. I can’t guarantee that it’ll happen for you, but if you’d like to coordinate dates with me, just let me know! It never fails.I feel lucky that our family found this place. It’s so good for kids. We usually arrive in a kind of winter funk and leave with a rosy glow, just enough to get me through until spring. Unsurprisingly, Mohonk has a kind of cult following—families return year after year, and we’ve now gone enough times to recognize people, giving them friendly nods on the trails or the ice rink or while going back for a third piece of cake at the buffet. Winter is coming, which as a mom feels daunting, but at least I have Mohonk to look forward to. Another bullseye is in my future.

Emma Rosenblum is the national bestselling author of Bad Summer People, Very Bad Company, and the upcoming Mean Moms (July, 2025). She's the former chief content officer at Bustle Digital Group, overseeing content and strategy for BDG’s editorial portfolios. Prior to BDG, Emma served as the executive editor of ELLE. Previously Rosenblum was a senior editor at Bloomberg Businessweek, and before that a senior editor at Glamour. She began her career at New York magazine. She lives in New York City, with her husband and two sons.

]]><![CDATA[Meet The All-Inclusive Resort That’s Redefining How Families Travel]]>https://www.romper.com/life/beaches-resorts-all-inclusive-family-travelhttps://www.romper.com/life/beaches-resorts-all-inclusive-family-travelSat, 01 Nov 2025 15:00:25 GMT

As much as I love the idea of a vacation with my family, it’s no secret that traveling with kids — even to a beachside destination — isn’t always as relaxing as the adults involved would like it to be. Many of my memories from tropical getaways past involve trying not to annoy the childless people at the pool with my splashing toddlers, or my husband and I struggling to watch a show without waking our kids, each using one ear bud and whispering as music wafted in from a party all the cool people were enjoying.

Well, my fellow parents: I’m thrilled to report that there’s actually a better way to vacay. Beaches Resorts has leveled up the game for parents and kids alike with lush, all-inclusive resorts on the most beautiful stretches of the Caribbean. At Beaches Negril and Beaches Turks & Caicos — plus Beaches Turks & Caicos’ all-new Treasure Beach village — everything from childcare to food to entertainment is fully covered, so you can focus on savoring each minute of your trip. With fun-filled activities designed for kids from tots to teens, grown-ups get to actually enjoy their own stays, too! And did I mention family suites with separate bedrooms and bathrooms? Now that’s what I call island paradise.

Here are just a few of the thoughtful features and one-of-a-kind details that make Beaches Resorts the perfect spot for an unforgettable family adventure.

1. Next-Level Care For Kids

The all-inclusive Kids Camp, which runs from 8 am to 9 pm (yup, you heard me) has non-stop activities tailored for five different age groups, from babies to teenagers. Beaches Resorts’ exclusive partnership with Sesame Street means that kiddos can take part in parades, see stage shows, and make unforgettable one-on-one memories with their favorite characters.

Your crew can expect dedicated game rooms and lounges for teens, waters ports like snorkeling, kayaking, and a special kids’ scuba diving program with certified instructors, private nannies available on call, and, oh yes, the all-inclusive Pirate’s Island waterparks at Beaches Turks & Caicos. Expect: kid-friendly pools, water slides, a lazy river, and a swim-up soda bar.

Beaches Resorts is also the first resort company in the world to be certified as autism-friendly. That means specialized service and custom dining and activity options so everyone can participate and make memories together.

2. 24/7 Pampering For Parents

As a local, family-owned business, Beaches Resorts takes incredible care to anticipate everyone’s needs, especially overworked caregivers in need of a little R&R. That means special perks for parents like luxury spa services, adults-only dinners, and local tours to indulge in while the kids have the time of their lives at camp.

There’s also private personal training if you feel like lifting a finger, and personal butler service if you don’t. Because not needing to get up from your cabana chair to run a decadent bubble bath is a vacation goal if I’ve ever heard one.

3. Thoughtful Touches For Every Guest

Beaches Resorts has enough food and drink options to tantalize everyone’s taste buds. With 20 restaurants, 3 food trucks, and 17 bars at Beaches Turks & Caicos, plus 13 options ranging from casual seaside snack shacks to fine sit-down dining at Beaches Negril, the culinary variety and creativity is unmatched. Picky eater? Don’t know her.

Getting to your island home away from home can add up — especially when you’re toting small passengers. The Tiny Traveler’s First Passport offer gives families a $135 resort credit per child traveling with a passport for the first time, essentially reimbursing the application fee so you can spend it on memory-making activities like a family photo shoot or private dining experience.

4. Suite Surprises

If you’ve ever had to share a king-sized bed with multiple children, Beaches Resorts’ family suites are about to be your wildest dream come true. Choose from spacious accommodations designed with bigger groups in mind, with separate bedrooms featuring bunk beds, or private villas available for larger family stays complete with your very own pool and a dedicated butler service committed to making sure all your families’ needs are met (think: reservations, room service, and more).

5. Holiday Magic

As if Beaches Resorts didn’t roll out enough red carpet for families already, it also happens to be the official Caribbean vacation for Elf on the Shelf, which means guests who book stays during the holiday season this year (and next year if you like to plan ahead!) can enjoy island-style celebrations with an extra sprinkle of festive fun. Think special soirees, holiday movie nights under the stars, turndown service for humans and elves alike, and a one-of-a kind Elf on the Shelf suite.

So if you’re looking for an idyllic, all-inclusive getaway at a place where guests are treated like family and kids are not only welcomed but celebrated, let Beaches Resorts make it easy. Your toughest choice? Which resort to explore first.

]]><![CDATA[20 Holiday Toys That'll Make You The Hero Of Your Kid's Wish List]]>https://www.romper.com/shopping/20-holiday-toys-thatll-make-you-the-hero-of-your-kids-wish-listhttps://www.romper.com/shopping/20-holiday-toys-thatll-make-you-the-hero-of-your-kids-wish-listFri, 31 Oct 2025 13:53:25 GMT
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Picking the right holiday gifts for the kiddos on your list is a guessing game. Which ones are still into stuffed animals? Who only wants “big kid” stuff now in spite of their single-digit age? Even the most plugged-in grown-up can use a little guidance — whether you’re buying for your own kids, your nieces and nephews, or the little ones who call you Auntie even though you’re technically just mom’s bestie. Luckily, The Toy Insider just released their 2025 Holiday Gift Guide and it’s got all the recommendations you’re looking for.

The Toy Insider team tests the buzziest toys all year, and only the best ones make the cut. That means their Holiday Gift Guide is packed with toys that spark imagination, encourage creativity, and deliver the kind of instant joy that’ll make you the favorite adult of any tiny human. They’ve got interactive pets, snuggly plushies, epic play sets, and rideable dream machines will light up faces like a string of twinkle lights.

So, before you head to the nearest megastore to panic-shop, peep some of the highlights from The Toy Insider 2025 Holiday Gift Guide. It’ll make shopping so easy that wrapping will feel like a fun craft project instead of a chore.

1. Disney Princess 24V Princess Carriage

Get your little royal rolling around around in fairytale style with this motorized princess carriage. It runs for up to 45 minutes on one charge and can hit speeds up to 4.5 mph. “Dream come true” vibes!

2. Bluey Mini Music Player

Invite everyone’s favorite four-legged friends to the dance party! This mini music player has four built-in tracks and a light-up Bluey graphic that flashes to the beat of the music. It also features “musical statues,” a game in which kids dance when the music plays, and turn into a statues when it stops.

3. Nano-Mals Interactive Pets

Discover a world of fashionable, pocket-sized pets with Nano-Mals. These interactive pets feature an electric heart meter that communicates their needs to their young caregivers. The more the pets are played with and cared for, the more interactions they unlock. It’s equal parts empathy training and style statement.

4. Squishpillow Firm Bed Pillow

Add a touch of fun (and maximum comfort) to any kid’s sleep space with these Squishmallow-inspired bed pillows. With six different Squishmallows patterns to choose from, this pillow and pillowcase line brings all of the snoozy snuggles.

5. Disney Ultimate Stitch Interactive Feature Plush

Meet your little one’s new favorite sidekick. Inspired by the live-action film, this Stitch plush has more than 100 sounds and movements. Kids can press Stitch’s belly, hands, tongue, and nose, then watch as he sings, dances, speaks, and more.

6. LEGO Duplo Interactive Adventure Train

Playtime stays on track with this buildable train set featuring lights, sounds, and customization options. Toddlers can drive the train, and parents can find new ways to build with the LEGO Duplo Interactive Trains app. All aboard!

7. Hot Wheels City Ultimate Dual Dragon Transporter

Turn every floor into a high-octane speedway. This dual dragon hauler transforms into a two-lane racetrack and includes two dragons that eat, launch, and race Hot Wheels cars. Each one also comes with a 1:64-scale vehicle, plus stores more than 20 cars.

8. Melissa & Doug Sort Stock, And Select Beauty Kiosk Play Set

For the little beauty content creator in training. This vending machine play set dispenses wooden beauty products for kids to organize and shelve. Using matching and recognition skills, kids can sort the beauty products by color in the machine and dispense them with buttons and matching coins. It includes 24 pieces, from wooden cosmetics to a reusable activity card.

9. Bratz Stylin’ Dolls

Your childhood fashion icons are back and bolder than ever. These articulated fashion dolls feature bold new outfits, matching jewelry, and long, brushable hair. Each comes with an oversized kids’ T-shirt, featuring the same graphic design as the doll’s top.

10. Bluey Supermarket Play Set

This play set has everything: three stories, four play areas, special sounds from the show, 15 play pieces, and exclusive Bluey and Bingo figures. Your kid can restock shelves, beep through checkout, and recreate their favorite episodes! Big Bluey energy, one adorable play set.

11. Sonic The Hedgehog - Sonic Racing Crossworlds R/C Monster Truck

No one knows speed like everyone’s favorite g-force groundling! This remote control car takes fun to the next level with working lights, all-terrain tires, and an epic flame paint job. Whether zooming around the backyard or doing donuts in the den, this monster truck rides fast, smooth, and interference-free.

12. Paw Patrol Fire Rescue Rapid Reload Fire Truck

No job too big, no pup too small! Marshall’s firetruck comes with a built-in projectile launcher for rapid-fire water spurts. Kids can drop down the ladder to quickly reload the launcher, and the rear door opens to release a mini vehicle.

13. Winx Club Fairy Fashion Doll

Magic, friendship, and fashion take flight with this set of Winx Club Fairy Fashion Dolls inspired by the new TV series. The pack features six 10.5-inch dolls: Bloom, Stella, Tecna, Aisha, Flora, and Musa. Perfect for fans old and new, these fairies are ready to inspire imaginative play and magical storytelling.

14. Marshmallow Madness

Game night just got sweeter… and a bit stickier. This game challenges players to pick up and eat marshmallows using a pair of tiny hands. The player who eats the most marshmallows during their turn wins the game.

15. Booksy: The Disney Edition 1-Pack Window Box

Bring story time to life with Booksy: The Disney Edition. Each Booksy figurine holds a tiny 40-page mini storybook for young readers to discover. Kids can collect or choose from Disney’s Stitch, Moana, Elsa, and Simba.

16. Ms. Rachel Spin Along Learning Wheel

Learning gets a playful and positive twist with the familiar voice of Ms. Rachel. Toddlers can turn the wheel to practice mouth movements and color recognition, discover animals and their sounds, and more. The toy features three play modes and interactive prompts guided by their favorite overall-clad buddy.

17. Blast And Roar Toothless Mask

Get fired up for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon with this interactive mask! Kids can become the fearsome Night Fury with plasma blast lights, sounds, and even a water mister. Perfect for some playful surprises.

18. Pokémon Trading Card Game: Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box

Whether your kid is a serious player or just starting their collection, this box delivers hours of excitement. Mega Evolution Pokémon like Mega Lucario ex and Mega Gardevoir ex return in this Trainer Box. Players and collectors can expand their sets with powerful Pokémon, new artwork, and more.

19. Pets Alive Polly The Magic Bird

Complete your magical menagerie with Polly the Magic Bird! At the tap of a wand, this interactive bird flutters to life, singing, moving, and even repeating what you say. The set includes Polly in her curtained birdcage, a hatching baby bird, a magic wand, and a guidebook containing lots of enchanting magic tricks.

20. Chompsaw

This kid-safe power tool makes cutting cardboard easy. Kids can use it to transform cardboard scraps into forts, DIY costumes, educational dioramas, and other creative projects. It gives them hands-on control over their projects and the satisfaction of saying, “I made that,” no grown-up tools required.

For more hot toys for kids of all ages, check out The Toy Insider's 2025 Holiday Gift Guide and follow @thetoyinsider on social media!

]]><![CDATA[All The Financial Sh*t You Have To Do When You Have A Newborn]]>https://www.romper.com/parenting/financial-considerations-when-you-have-newbornhttps://www.romper.com/parenting/financial-considerations-when-you-have-newbornWed, 15 Oct 2025 19:38:57 GMT

Leading up to the birth of my first child, I remember having two main things on my mind: the fear of childbirth and dreading sleepless nights. And, let’s be clear — those were both valid concerns. However, along with the feedings and diaper changes to interrupt my sleep, I also found myself lying awake with another sense of dread: realizing just how much money you end up paying for a newborn baby.

A recent BabyCenter survey found that parents can expect to spend $20,384 on baby-related costs in the first year of their kid's life (which, in “no, duh” news, also contributed to 89% of moms saying finances impacted their mental health). It’s a stress I was reminded of all over again as we welcomed our second kid this year.

The cost of bringing a newborn into the world goes far beyond baby gear. You’re looking at things like insurance, hospital bills, college savings, and more. According to the experts, these are the major financial things to plan for when you have a newborn.

Budget for essentials: hospital bills, health insurance, and basic needs

Budgeting for the essentials is key when it comes to not going into sticker shock when your newborn arrives. According to Michelle Paiva of The Finance Therapist, some of the basics worth saving for are "health insurance costs, hospital bills, and a little cushion for unexpected doctor visits." You'll have 30 to 60 days after your child's birth to register them for health insurance during a Special Enrollment Period (because you didn't have enough going on, right?).

From there, diapers, clothing, cribs, car seats, and feeding supplies will make up the core of your first major purchases. "If you can, start a small savings account for your baby’s future — it doesn’t matter if it’s $10 at a time; the habit itself builds confidence."

Paiva recommends saving up for three to six months of basic expenses as a goal. However, if that seems high, something is always better than nothing. "Even $1,000 tucked away can give you breathing room,” she says. “What matters most is not a magic number — it’s having a plan and knowing you can adjust as you go."

All the insurance

Life insurance for yourself and your partner can help protect your family, putting financial resources in place if (knock on wood) anything were to happen to either of you.

Disability insurance is another consideration, as it provides financial support if one or both parents are unable to work due to a severe illness or injury. Depending on your plan, this can help cover essentials like mortgage, childcare, and household expenses for a certain period of time.

Legal stuff: savings account, a trust, updated will

Sophoan Prak, a certified financial planner at Vanguard, shared the importance of estate planning and guardianship when welcoming a newborn to your family.

“Estate planning entails the creation of legal documents to specify your wishes for your assets in the event of your passing or inability to make decisions for yourself,” Prak shares. “It can involve setting up a trust, selecting beneficiaries for retirement accounts and life insurance policies, and how you transfer ownership of your assets. For underage children, it’s crucial to designate a guardian who can raise your child if you’re unable.”

Childcare costs

"Childcare is often the biggest shock, sometimes costing as much as a mortgage,” Paiva explains. I know for my family, having two working parents required finding childcare options early — and I’m likely not the first person to stress how expensive it can be. The cost of our daycare for two kids is not far off from the majority of my salary, something my husband and I had to account for and plan for when deciding whether I should stay at home or not.

College savings

While not all kids may choose to pursue college after high school graduation, it’s never a bad idea to have money set aside for if they do.

"Start investing in your child’s future goals now,” Prak advises. “While school might feel far off, it will be here before you know it. Opening a 529 savings plan, which is a tax-advantaged savings account, can be a great way to get a head start on saving for your child’s education. These accounts offer tax benefits, high contribution limits, easy gifting options, and flexibility — in fact, you can utilize a 529 for K-12 expenses, trade school tuition, college expenses, including room and board, and even for studying abroad.”

Unexpected costs

According to Prak, more than half of parents report spending $1,000 or more annually on unexpected costs. In my personal experience, that number has probably been even higher. From unexpected hospital visits to supplies we didn’t know we needed (who knew an infant could be so picky with a bottle type?), we spent a lot more in our first year than we had planned to.

“Consider saving a minimum of $2,000 or at least half a month of expenses for spending shocks, and 3-6 months’ worth of expenses — if you can swing saving a larger sum — in case of income loss,” Prak recommends.

The hidden cost of convenience

Along with unexpected costs, there’s what Paiva calls the “hidden cost of convenience.”

As for what this is, it includes “...ordering meals or paying for help when you are exhausted,” Paiva explains. “These are not failures; they are part of adapting to life with a newborn. Don't forget that meal planning, accepting dinner from friends and family, and budgeting are all ways to cut food costs.”

]]><![CDATA[How Preschool Builds Confidence, Curiosity & Life Skills Beyond The ABCs]]>https://www.romper.com/parenting/how-preschool-builds-confidence-curiosity-life-skills-beyond-the-abcshttps://www.romper.com/parenting/how-preschool-builds-confidence-curiosity-life-skills-beyond-the-abcsTue, 07 Oct 2025 17:13:31 GMT
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If you’re ever trying to get to the bottom of something, enlist the help of a preschooler. After all, they’ve mastered the art of asking questions — mainly the one-worded (and sometimes dreaded) “Why?” — and their curiosity has no limits. In the right preschool environment, that endless curiosity isn’t just indulged, it’s celebrated and channeled into confidence, problem-solving, and a love of learning that stretches far beyond ABCs and 123s.

And according to Dr. Lauren Loquasto, senior vice president and chief academic officer at The Goddard School, those skills don’t just happen overnight. “Knowing how to manage emotions, communicate effectively, collaborate, and persevere during frustration are all critical life skills that need to be fostered,” Dr. Loquasto says.

That’s why it’s fundamentally important to provide your child with a preschool curriculum that allows them to discover these key character traits. Ahead, Dr. Loquasto dives deeper into how preschool helps instill these essential life skills in children.

They Design Their Curriculum With Your Child In Mind

It’s essential to look for a preschool that goes beyond the usual preset themes of farm animals, the five senses, or favorite foods. That’s where The Goddard School’s Wonder of Learning program comes in. “It’s an inquiry-based educational program, which means it is built from the questions children ask and their natural curiosity,” Dr. Loquasto says. The program enables children to explore a big question and the many questions that grow from it through authentic, hands-on experiences.

Dr. Loquasto stresses the importance of designing a curriculum that meets individual kids where they are from a skills and interest perspective, and personalizes it to challenge each child. “This ensures maximized academic learning, but also places equal emphasis on developing each child’s social-emotional skills, namely confidence, communication, problem-solving, and creativity.”

They Help Develop The So-Called “Soft Skills” That Really Matter

Preschool isn’t just where kids learn how to take turns playing with toys or sharing crayons. It’s where traits like resilience, collaboration, and independent thinking really begin. “These skills used to be referred to as ‘soft skills,’ which couldn’t be any further from the truth, as they’re the very skills that help your child build a strong foundation,” Dr. Loquasto explains. Take those everyday classroom moments for example: a block tower crashes down, and a child rebuilds it. A zipper won’t budge, but they keep tugging until it clicks. Each time they push through the frustration, they’re practicing a skill for bigger challenges ahead. And remember: development isn’t linear. Skills will mature at different times and in various ways.

How To Build Confidence & Curiosity At Home

To raise a confident, curious child, it helps to recognize what type of personality your child has. Do they become immediate best friends with other kids on the playground? Or do they prefer to hang back and observe from the bench? Depending on their unique personality and temperament, it will require a different kind of nurturing.

For example, if your child is introverted, Dr. Loquasto suggests finding ways to encourage them to engage with their peers in small groups until they are more comfortable. “Not all children are outgoing and extroverted, and that is OK. No child should be made to be something he or she is not,” she says. And as always, if you are concerned about your child’s development, it’s best to consult with your pediatrician. “Remember that child development is optimized when their ‘village’ is working together, so partner with your child’s teacher, pediatricians, and others to support your child,” Dr. Loquasto recommends.

As kids grow, you can also encourage communication by asking open-ended questions, like “What was your favorite part of today?” or “How did you solve that problem?” Giving them time to think and respond not only builds patience but also shows them their thoughts are valued, which boosts confidence in their ability to express themselves.

At the end of the day, preschool is about more than kindergarten prep. It’s about giving children the tools they’ll carry into every part of life. By nurturing curiosity, building confidence, and fostering resilience, preschool lays a foundation for children to grow into adaptable, thoughtful, and engaged learners. And while teachers play a big role, parents and caregivers are also partners in the process. Every “Why?” your child asks is an opportunity to explore the world together and a reminder that those small everyday moments are shaping the confident, curious person they’re becoming.

]]><![CDATA[9 Baby-Led Weaning Products To Help Your Kid Learn A Sense Of Feeding Independence]]>https://www.romper.com/shopping/9-baby-led-weaning-products-to-help-your-kid-learn-a-sense-of-feeding-independencehttps://www.romper.com/shopping/9-baby-led-weaning-products-to-help-your-kid-learn-a-sense-of-feeding-independenceWed, 01 Oct 2025 20:40:17 GMT

Whether you’re a first-time mom or a seasoned pro, a lot of feelings come up when it’s time for your baby to expand their very limited menu of breastmilk and/or formula. Chances are you didn’t stumble into this stage blind — your internet history probably proves you’ve been deep-diving forums and blowing up chats with every baby-led weaning (BLW) question under the sun. But never fear, mama — we’ve got the nitty-gritty.

So, what is BLW? It’s a method of introducing solids that fosters independence at mealtime. Instead of spoon-feeding purees, your baby takes the lead, learning to feed themselves. To build the skills needed to bite and chew, babies need practice with real food, which makes BLW a great way to promote oral-motor development along with hand, arm, and eye coordination. And bonus: Since baby eats what you eat, you’re not stuck making separate meals (and you save cash by skipping prepackaged baby food). Plus, it boosts social interaction and exposure to new flavors.

Most babies are ready for BLW around six months, but every child is different. Look for signs like sitting upright with little or no support, reaching for objects, bringing hands to mouth, and solid head control. To start, serve your baby what you’re eating — just be sure to cut it small enough to minimize choking risks.

If you’re ready to give it a go, it’s time to stock up on the non-negotiables, aka the OXO Tot baby-led weaning line. Each piece is extensively tested to withstand the messiest meals, making the transition smoother for both you and your tiny diner. Here are our favorites.

1. The Best-Of-The-Best Grape Cutter

It’s all fun and games until you almost slice your finger while trying to keep up with the amount of grapes one tiny human can consume. This grape cutter is an absolute game-changer for your food prep. Quickly and easily quarter grapes, small tomatoes, and even pitted olives in one simple push.

2. The Crinkle Cutter That Serves A Purpose

Yes, crinkle cut food is fun, but it also makes a big difference in BLW — the jagged edge provides a better grip on slippery foods like fruit or soft veggies. This crinkle cutter has a familiar knife grip position, so it feels comfortable when chopping, and it’s dishwasher safe.

3. The Restaurant Bag Necessity

Cutting food on the go can be tricky and time-consuming, but not with these travel food scissors. Measure markings can be used to help check for even pieces and portioning, and the blades separate for thorough cleaning.

4. Utensils That Fit Perfectly in Little Hands

Having the proper utensils for your baby’s BLW journey is key. This spoon and fork set’s unidirectional handle encourages correct orientation, plus the handles are made of grippy silicone for easy holding. The best part? There’s a dimple on the back to prevent them from rolling away.

5. The Must-Have Dipper Duo

Akin to a honey dipper, these nifty spoons are designed to help baby learn to self-feed without the need to scoop and balance. Purees and soft solids will easily cling to the head of the spoon, so baby can explore new flavors and textures with ease.

6. The All-In-One Placemat

Be prepared to use this suction placement at every meal. It’s got everything: a low bowl that aids in scooping and lets baby see what’s inside, a rainbow texture to help them practice grasping food, a two-zone approach that encourages interaction, and a raised outer wall to keep food from spilling over the sides.

7. A Compact Bib That Provides Coverage

Bibs are tricky — what’s better, fabric or silicone? These guys are the best of both worlds — a waterproof fabric upper section that provides ample coverage and a silicone pocket that catches crumbs. It even rolls up neatly into a compact design for easy portability and storage.

8. Containers That Can Do It All

Portion, store, heat, and serve baby food in one container? Um, yes, please. Made of thermal shock-resistant glass, these containers can go directly from freezer to oven or microwave. The easy snap lids are leakproof so they’re ideal for a diaper bag and they’re stackable. *Adds 100 to cart*

9. The No-Spill Transition Cup

Finding the perfect straw cup requires a lot of trial and error (and money...). Stop your searching and reach for this one — the almond-shaped, spill-proof straw conforms to baby’s mouth and only opens as soon as they start sipping, which means no unnecessary water drips. Toss the entire cup in the dishwasher and call it a day.

]]><![CDATA[Old Navy Jingle Jammies x Disney 2025 Exclusive Reveal]]>https://www.romper.com/shopping/old-navy-jingle-jammies-x-disney-2025-exclusive-revealhttps://www.romper.com/shopping/old-navy-jingle-jammies-x-disney-2025-exclusive-revealTue, 23 Sep 2025 13:00:25 GMT
Old Navy

Whether your family has always been a matching holiday jammies fam or this is a brand new tradition, you already know — Old Navy Jingle Jammies are some of the best. The brand always has a wide range of choices, from more traditional holiday pajamas like buffalo check to brighter, bolder jammies featuring fun characters and punchy colors, so you always get a chance to show off your family’s personality. And this year, the Old Navy Jingle Jammies x Disney collection is really going to put your family in the holiday spirit.

Romper can exclusively reveal three new Old Navy Jingle Jammies x Disney collections coming this holiday season, featuring nostalgic and classic Mickey, festive Star Wars, and bright Stitch prints. From Christmas Eve to family photos to holiday pajama day at school, any of these new Old Navy Jingle Jammies x Disney looks are going to be the perfect holiday option.

And yes — there are options for each print, so if you’ve got a kiddo who loves to match, but wants a different kind of top or a parent (it’s always a dad, let’s be honest) who doesn’t love a button-down shirt, but will gladly wear a pair of seasonal pajama bottoms, the Old Navy Jingle Jammies x Disney collection have you covered.

Old Navy Jingle Jammies x Stitch

The Stitch jammies might be some of my favorite ones out of the line this year. Featuring everyone’s favorite Experiment 626, the jammies are pink with lots of festive icons in the print. You can choose between a long-sleeve graphic tee top or a more traditional pajama top, so even kids with different preferences can still have a matching holiday look.

Old Navy

Old Navy Jingle Jammies x Star Wars

If you’re not saying things like, “Luke, I am your Father Christmas” over and over while wearing these, then what are you doing in Star Wars holiday jammies? I’m obsessed with these prints, featuring funny graphic tees and cute patterned two-piece sets, and I think this might be your best bet in getting Dad fully outfitted for a Christmas Eve matching moment.

I mean, the Stormtrooper hot cocoa helmet? I can’t. It’s too perfect.

Old Navy Jingle Jammies x Disney’s Mickey & Friends

And of course, you can’t have Disney jammies without the Head Mouse in Charge. I love a classic, nostalgia-inducing Mickey Mouse, and this year’s Mickey print really feels ‘90s-coded. These are the jammies you wear when you’re watching Mickey’s Christmas Carol or Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas and remembering all of your own holiday memories.

The entire Old Navy Jingle Jammies x Disney collection will be live on OldNavy.com and available in stores, with the products ranging in price from $5.99 to $54.99. Go ahead and lock in which festive theme you want and check holiday jammies officially off your Christmas to-do list.

]]><![CDATA[Fall Wellness Picks For Busy Moms –– Under $35]]>https://www.romper.com/life/fall-wellness-picks-for-busy-moms-under-35https://www.romper.com/life/fall-wellness-picks-for-busy-moms-under-35Fri, 19 Sep 2025 21:58:57 GMT

It’s that time of year again: Backpacks are in, flip flops are out. As the year kicks (back) into high gear, there are new school schedules to wrangle, seasonal colds to deal with, and your own self-care routine to maintain — which is why being prepared is everything. That’s where Alison Havens, motherhood guru and mom of three, really shines. To keep herself and her family healthy all fall and winter long (hi, cold and flu season), she makes one stop at CVS to stock up on her essentials. “As a busy mom, my main goal is to take as few trips as possible,” she says.

And this time of year, there’s extra incentive. The CVS Big Fall Wellness Sale is one to add to the shared calendar, especially if you’re stockpiling wellness products for the whole family. From September 14 through September 27, you can get $10 ExtraBucks (a.k.a. money to spend at CVS) when you spend $30 on wellness support products and use your ExtraCare card. Then, CVS continues with Hot Deals from September 28 through October 11.

To help round out your shopping list, Havens shared some of her go-tos for surviving the fall season. But consider it a starting point. After all, “I always end up finding at least one new favorite when I go in for ‘just one thing’,” she says. With that, here’s what’s in her cart.

]]><![CDATA[Is Breastfeeding Or Formula Feeding More Expensive?]]>https://www.romper.com/parenting/is-breastfeeding-formula-feeding-more-expensivehttps://www.romper.com/parenting/is-breastfeeding-formula-feeding-more-expensiveThu, 04 Sep 2025 15:36:48 GMT

Among the seemingly endless costs that parents take on upon expanding their families, there seem to be some lingering misconceptions about how much it costs to feed an infant.

In fact, if you’ve ever browsed a comment section wherein a mom claims that “breastfeeding is free” or otherwise extremely low-cost, you’ve probably wanted to shoot daggers through your fingertips. Because not only is it not true, it neglects to account for the many economic and racial disparities in breastfeeding — and that’s without mentioning the complications so many breastfeeding parents encounter along the way.

So, we did a little digging to determine, definitively, whether breastfeeding or formula feeding is more expensive. Turns out the answer might surprise you.

From the jump, it’s worth noting that this is (as always!) a shame-free zone, so this is not a debate over whether formula feeding or breastfeeding is “better” — each family’s circumstances are unique, and ultimately, fed is best. Another inarguable truth: Parenting a child is expensive, and so many parents are relying on multiple income streams just to barely scrape by.

Dr. Laurie Jones, chief medical officer for Willow, echoes that sentiment. “Modern parenting has extraordinary costs no matter how you feed your infant since most parents financially must return to paid work,” she notes. Oftentimes, that return to work comes within weeks of welcoming a baby, making round-the-clock feedings an enormously challenging responsibility.

“The perception is that breastfeeding is more affordable; however, that is only if it goes well from the start in a country with adequate maternity leave,” she adds. Given that the U.S. is the only wealthy country in the world without any guaranteed paid parental leave, even parents who are able to exclusively breastfeed find themselves having to juggle feeding with returning to work quickly after delivery.

Jones cites the many tools possibly needed by breastfeeding parents as another factor. Some might include:

  • Nursing bras
  • Breastpump and replacement or extra parts
  • Nursing-friendly clothing
  • Visits with a lactation consultant
  • Nursing pads
  • Nipple cream/ointment and/or silverettes
  • Nursing pillow
  • Nipple shields
  • Milk collectors and/or milk storage bags
  • Costs associated with healthcare visits to treat any issues that might arise (such as mastitis or nipple thrush), as well as prescriptions
  • Increased grocery costs to sustain higher caloric input for the breastfeeding parent

Of course, not every breastfeeding parent will require each of these items, but the assertion that breastfeeding is free is a gross miscalculation, no matter how you slice it.

Infant formula, however, isn't exactly a budget-friendly item, especially if you try a few different kinds before finding the right one for your baby. Specialty formulas (such as soy-based or hypoallergenic) are typically even costlier — a 13-ounce can of Enfamil's infant formula priced at $4.97 is $2 cheaper at Walmart than the same-size can of its soy-based counterpart. Then, add in costs incurred from bottles, bottle sanitizers and warmers, and any additional parts, and things can get pricey.

Research in this area is inadequate (surprise, surprise!), but one 2023 study published in the Journal of Perinatology calculated the many costs associated with breastfeeding in comparison to a year's supply of formula and extra parts/supplies. The formula estimate came in between $760 and $2,280, while breastfeeding for one year may cost upwards of $10,500.

"The number one opportunity cost of breastfeeding is the parents' time," says Jones. Caregiving labor is woefully underappreciated — feeding parents are given little to no financial support, often expending hours per day pumping or breastfeeding. Then, there's the time and energy spent cleaning and caring for equipment. If a parent uses both methods, they're likely to incur costs for both.

"In addition, the societal costs of formula feeding have been well studied and contribute to increased health care costs and disease burden for both infants and women," adds Jones. "The Mother's Milk Tool quantifies the value of human milk produced by the world's breastfeeding parents. There is also an online calculator that shows the impact at a national level of sub-optimal breastfeeding — meaning the families intended to breastfeed, but barriers led them to need to use formula."

No matter your method, infant feeding is a tremendous financial burden, one that disproportionately affects low-income and marginalized families in the U.S. Thankfully, Jones recommends some solid tips for saving money on feeding expenses.

"First and foremost, check your insurance coverage," she says. "Under the Affordable Care Act, tools such as some lactational consultant services and breast pumps are fully covered by health insurance or require a small out-of-pocket cost, which can be covered with FSA/HSA funds. I do encourage moms to do their research, as the insurance process can be complex and you'll want to know exactly what is covered and the reimbursement rates for services and products."

"Also, consider generic alternatives to expensive formula brands to save thousands of dollars," she adds. "Moms probably don't need to buy large-sized bottles and multiple bottle nipples with various opening levels, which can actually put your infant at risk of guzzling so quickly that their stomach receptors don't realize they are full. An intuitive-paced feeding of expressed breast milk or formula will typically stay in the same volume range from month 1 to month 6."

Jones notes there are also some no-cost resources available that can help without adding to your already growing expenses.

"There are several free services and events that moms can tap into, including local WIC offices' breastfeeding peer support, hospital breastfeeding support groups, as well as national and state-offered breastfeeding hotlines and community events," she explains. "‘Fourth Trimester Arizona' is a great example of an organization that hosts events to support feeding options for all families."

Lastly, Jones says to "never underestimate the power of online parent groups," adding, "Many members sell and trade items such as breastfeeding pillows, bottles, and pump accessories. Just make sure the items can be sterilized."

Of course, until state and federal policy changes work to provide adequate support and savings to feeding parents, there is sadly no way to eliminate costs associated with formula or breastfeeding. New parents deserve so much more, especially as inflation continues to rise nationwide and wages remain stagnant. No parent in a country as wealthy as ours should ever have to choose between feeding their child and other essentials, and it's a failure of policy that so many do.

]]><![CDATA[Is Anyone Ever Financially Ready To Have A Baby?]]>https://www.romper.com/parenting/is-anyone-ever-financially-ready-to-have-a-baby-good-enough-parenthttps://www.romper.com/parenting/is-anyone-ever-financially-ready-to-have-a-baby-good-enough-parentTue, 02 Sep 2025 12:52:59 GMT

Dear GEP,

I am trying for my first child, which is both exciting and making me anxious. I thought babies didn't need much, but the more I talk to other people, the more I realize that having a child will be as expensive as it is wonderful. What do I actually need to support a kid? And is anyone ever financially ready to have a baby?

There is a saying widely repeated in my family, that all you really need to have a baby is “a towel, and a drawer.” My father, who has had five children and eight grandchildren, is the origin of this statement – and I don’t doubt that when he had his first baby in the early seventies, at the age of 27, they didn’t have too much more than those advised essentials.

As I folded hand-me-downs last month with my younger brother, whose first baby is now just a few weeks old, we chuckled about our dad’s perhaps apocryphal advice. What did he know, anyway? What’s so wild about it, though, is that, a decade into parenting, the “towel-and-a-drawer” maxim feels both completely absurd and refreshingly wise.

A lot has changed since the seventies. When I was pregnant with my first child, my dad’s perspective on parenting preparation felt as silly as giving a colicky baby a finger of whiskey. First, the cost of living for families in this country has grown astronomically. My parents, for example, could afford a home in a diverse city on two therapist’s salaries. Now, the house I grew up in has been divided into luxury condos that I could only dream of affording. Childcare costs are real, and overwhelming: My husband and I calculated when our last child started public kindergarten that we had spent almost $200,000 on the first five years of care for our two children. Children need medical care, and medical care in this country is becoming more expensive and elusive by the day.

And, of course there is the stuff. Fifty years ago, my dad, who I promise you did have a legit crib for my oldest sibling, had few options and little pressure to make baby-related purchases. Now, new parents like my brother and his partner are bombarded with ads and suggestions from other parents to buy high-tech strollers, specially designed tummy-time mats, and smart bottle-warmers. Even with older children, I find it difficult to turn down this constant thrum, the promise that if I just shell out a few more bucks, some aspect of life that I perhaps hadn’t even considered as a danger would be made easier for myself or my kids.

But what do our children, what do we really need??? Don’t get me wrong – the social and political structure of many places, the U.S. in particular, make the financial burden of childrearing fall on individual parents in ways both avoidable and cruel. Reading Abigail Leonard’s Four Mothers, which tells the story of four women becoming pregnant and navigating their children’s first year across four continents, this fact could not be clearer. Having children is less expensive when you have paid leave (the US is the only industrialized nation without it), or universal health care, or state-funded childcare.

But, though many of our financial parenting woes are systemically-created, we do have choices within in that crappy system. Some purchases – like a comfortable breast pump or a carrier that won’t break your back – really can make parenting easier. But most of the actual expenses you may be dreading are either not essential, or readily available, used or free from parents who are dying to get rid of the gear their children so quickly age out of.

Patricia Johnson, a financial planner in the Bay Area and solo-mother-by-choice of a 10-year-old, agrees. “There's a lot of consumerism built into modern parenting that just isn't necessary,” Johnson explained. In her parent clients, she sees patterns of spending that don’t really benefit children, like classes, weekend activities, and the biggest culprit, restaurants. “The kids are fine just at the park,” she told me. “Your kid doesn’t need variety, you do.”

In terms of preparation, Johnson mostly believes that parents will make the adjustments they need to make once they understand their parenting priorities, and that this “make-it-work mentality” is a natural byproduct of raising kids that isn’t all bad. She’s had parents change jobs, for example, in order to afford dyslexia interventions. “THEY JUST DO IT,” she says.

For those in your position, thoughtfully ruminating on the best case scenario for a future with children, Johnson’s pre-baby advice is the same she’d give any clients. She recommends tracking spending for a period of time to get clear on what your habits are, and doing it before you have a child so you’re not having to do that work during the first year of parenting.

“It allows you to prioritize, and then you'll have a better sense of what you're willing to let go of if you have to make trade offs as a new parent.” She also recommends worrying less about college savings and more about retirement, as you can borrow and scheme for the former but not the latter.

I would also add in that flexing your communal and collaborative muscles – getting to know your neighbors, sharing responsibilities with friends, getting comfortable asking for and offering help– will be enormously beneficial to you when you realize that even a teenaged babysitter can charge $25 an hour and if you only need one car if you can arrange a daycare carpool. This, of course, takes work, but it is worth it. And it’s not only for your mental-health – childcare swaps, shared meals, and pooled resources can end up saving you money in the long run.

Who is ready to have a baby? No one. And also, mostly everyone. I’m sure you can find a towel and a drawer somewhere.

The Good Enough Parent is an advice column for parents who are sick of parenting advice. Let Sarah answer your questions about the messy realities of parenting! Send her your questions via this anonymous form or by emailing her at goodenoughparentcolumn@gmail.com.

]]><![CDATA[Birth Is Stressful Enough. What's With The Unexpected Bill?]]>https://www.romper.com/life/birth-is-stressful-enough-whats-with-the-unexpected-billhttps://www.romper.com/life/birth-is-stressful-enough-whats-with-the-unexpected-billTue, 02 Sep 2025 12:52:41 GMT

When Bobbi Dempsey’s oldest son was born in 1989, her insurance did not cover the entire cost of the birth—something that was unfortunately common in her small Pennsylvania town. The hospital, accustomed to patients without wads of cash on hand, offered a payment plan that many families eagerly signed up for. Month after month, Dempsey ran into friends at the hospital cashier’s office as they made in-person payments towards the balance of their birth expenses.

“We would just laugh and be like, ‘See ya next month, same time, same place," she recalls. It took two years of eye rolls and jokes with other local moms before their debt was paid. “It seemed wild and ludicrous at the time.”

Walking into a hospital to pay a bill in person these days is rare, but Dempsey’s experience remains shockingly common. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Medicaid funds 41% of births in this country, while private insurance pays for about 52%. The remaining births are either self-pay or become medical debt. Many American families cannot cover a large unexpected expense, but setting up payment plans or negotiating to lower bills is confusing and stressful, leaving parents with more questions than answers. Extenuating circumstances, such as NICU stays, complicate matters and result in astronomical bills that regularly surpass $1 million.

“Medical bills are so confusing because the U.S. healthcare system was never purpose-built; it has grown and mutated over time,” says Chris Severn. He’s the CEO and cofounder of Turquoise Health, a platform focused on bringing transparency to medical pricing for patients—a tricky job. “All of the administrative systems we use today were created in silos, resulting in a disjointed and inefficient healthcare system. As a result, prices vary wildly between hospitals, insurers, and even patients with the same coverage.” Despite his expertise, even Severn and his wife faced unexpected costs after the delivery of their son in 2024.

“My wife and I were fortunate that she had a complication-free delivery of a healthy baby boy, for which you would expect a standard billing process and set of costs,” says Severn. Despite a textbook birth, bills full of codes, jargon, and lists of small charges added stress to an already busy time. “I thought it was ironic that while I have more niche knowledge on the cost of healthcare than most people, it is so complicated that even I struggled to anticipate the costs.”

Severn did negotiate with their insurance company to reduce their costs, and says this should be standard procedure for new parents hit with a surprise bill. They were charged $6,200 for an epidural, though the final negotiated cost was $2,680.

“Ask providers for an itemized bill, and compare prices across hospitals,” says Severn. “Knowing the fair market price for a service is the first step toward avoiding overpayment and holding the system accountable.” If there’s a code on your bill with a price amount attached, Severn says to just Google it—these codes are standard nationwide. Turquoise Health has a database of healthcare costs across the country that can be useful for negotiating, as well. There are other healthcare cost estimators available, such as this resource from Fair Health Consumer.

I’m not the first one – and I won’t be the last – to tell you that the way insurance is set up in this country is fundamentally broken. Private insurance is often tied to employment, while Medicaid eligibility is based on income or disability. This leaves parents relying on a slapdash mashup of programs that may or may not cover the costs associated with adding a new family member—and little clear guidance on where to start.

Louise Norris, a health policy analyst with Healthinsurance.org, says birth expenses are particularly stressful because they are often the first time someone has to battle with insurance. Someone with a chronic illness may be a pro at arguing down the cost of a medical procedure, but that’s often not the case for new parents. “Birth is an example of a perfectly healthy person having their first real experience with significant medical bills and the claims process,” says Norris. “But the nice thing about childbirth is that you have some time to prepare.”

Norris urges parents to contact their insurance well before birth to gain an understanding of their potential out-of-pocket costs. “They cannot give you an exact number, as they can’t predict if you will need a NICU stay or other care, but it’s a starting point.” Parents should also find out if they qualify for Medicaid and apply before birth, even if they have private insurance.

That’s because private insurance plans have complicated deductibles and copays, while Medicaid often covers the bulk of medical services for an individual. The government-backed insurance will function as secondary insurance, covering what private insurance denies and greatly reducing the remaining balance.

The income guidelines for pregnant women and infants are much higher than standard Medicaid thresholds, and many women do not realize they qualify while pregnant. Nationally, the income threshold is 138% of the Federal Poverty Level [FPL], though many states have expanded access—Pennsylvania uses 215% of the FPL as their cutoff, for example.

Norris also warns new parents to pay very close attention to timelines. Missing the enrollment period to add a newborn to private insurance can result in denied claims, and Medicaid will only backdate payments for three months. That timeline is reduced to only two months under the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill, though that change will not take place until late 2026.

For Jessica Harper*, excitedly anticipating the birth of her twin boys in 2018, million-dollar medical bills were not on her radar. She and her husband were thinking about double strollers, matching onesies, and introducing their young daughter to her two new brothers.

That all shifted quickly when the unimaginable happened—the couple lost one of their sons, and the surviving twin faced significant complications that required a NICU stay. “It was awful,” recalls Harper. They were planning a funeral, grieving, and dealing with their son’s uncertain prognosis. The chaos and grief meant the couple nearly missed the window to add their son to their family’s private employer-sponsored insurance. “We dragged our feet, but it was just like ‘one more thing,’ and it also felt like acknowledging the enormity of what had happened,” she says of that time. “

The Harpers managed to find a few moments to apply before the 30-day cutoff, and their private insurance did cover the nearly seven-figure bill. They also had to apply for Medicaid, which covers ongoing medical costs for their surviving son.

Many children born with complications qualify for Medicaid based on a permanent or temporary disability, even if their family is above the income requirements. This is the most common way large NICU bills are covered in the United States, with Medicaid paying for about half of preterm births annually. “If we did not have Medicaid today, my son would not continue to get the services he needs. His ongoing care is all covered by Medicaid,” says Harper.

The Harpers’ experience is sadly far from uncommon, says Norris. She urges parents to be proactive and contact their insurance carrier, but not panic. “There could be an error; something as simple as a typo can mean the plan does not get processed,” she says. Most hospitals have a social worker on staff, and Norris says these professionals are skilled at breaking charges down into plain language for parents. Many hospitals also offer no-interest payment plans, which often makes sense versus struggling to pay a bill in full. A Biden-era ruling removed medical debt from credit reports, but a recent Trump-era action reversed that protection, so ignored medical bills can affect your credit.

The key, says Norris, is to review everything carefully, seek expert advice when needed, and develop a workable plan (all while recovering from birth and caring for a newborn, of course).

“Don’t ignore a bill and assume it can just be fixed or will disappear, but do not just write a check without asking some questions.”

Meg St-Esprit, M. Ed., is a journalist and essayist based in Pittsburgh, PA. She’s a mom to four kids via adoption as well as a twin mom. She loves to write about parenting, education, trends, and the general hilarity of raising little people.

]]><![CDATA[Nobody Talks About The Money Fights You’ll Have Right After Baby Comes]]>https://www.romper.com/life/nobody-talks-about-the-money-fights-youll-have-right-after-baby-comeshttps://www.romper.com/life/nobody-talks-about-the-money-fights-youll-have-right-after-baby-comesTue, 02 Sep 2025 12:52:18 GMT

I used to make good money. In fact, when I got engaged to my now ex-husband, I was making more than he was. Yes, he was a hard worker, but I was a few years older than him, had been in the workforce longer, and had been on my own for a while. We still split everything down the middle when we moved in and he never complained or told me I should contribute more because I made more.

Then after we got married and had babies right away, we decided together that I’d stay home with the kids. It was something we both wanted and were equally excited about. He started a company and did really well. He made more than enough to support our family, and we were both smart with our money. No credit card debt, didn’t live above our means, and neither of us were really extravagant.

But even in that situation we still fought about money. I was used to contributing and going shopping to get a new outfit when I wanted. I also love going out to eat and we did that regularly when we had two incomes. After we had a baby, though, and I went out to eat, my ex would make a comment about how it wasn’t really necessary and we should save as much as possible.

I agreed with the saving thing, but I didn’t want to stop living my life. We weren’t going out and doing things as much. I only shopped during sales, and as much as I wanted a new car, I didn’t push it because the one I had was fine.

I felt like I was making adjustments, but we still had arguments about spending. My ex was not a controlling man by any means, but he only enjoyed spending money on certain things. He didn’t care as much about going out to eat or staying up on the latest fashion trends. But those were two things that made me so happy. And frankly, they made me feel alive. We all need an outlet, something to look forward to, and those were my things.

In a way, I felt like he was trying to take that away from me and I would not let that happen.

I started asking him for permission to spend money to avoid fighting about it. That didn’t work, as he’d say we should use any extra money to save for college funds or retirement. Even if I really wanted something, he’d come back with “You don’t need that.”I’d usually reply with something akin to “Just because you don’t care about how you dress doesn't mean I have to live that way,” or “you get to leave the house every day and go to work, so going out to eat is something I really look forward to. I don’t want to make all the meals and it’s not like you help.”

Needless to say, it brought out an ugly side in both of us. We had previously made such a great team, so I never expected for that to happen. Neither of us were right, of course. But there was a shift, a change. We both had to make sacrifices, and that’s hard. No one wants someone to tell them what they can’t and can't do with money. My husband was under a lot of pressure starting a business and going from supporting himself to supporting me and a child. I didn’t have enough empathy then, and he didn’t have empathy for the fact that I had lost some identity and freedom.

Yes, this was a sacrifice we both agreed to make not knowing how hard it was going to be.

I had always worked, knew my budget, and treating myself to things was how I loved myself. And I felt like that was being threatened.

You may roll your eyes, or you may completely understand. All I know is that I’ve never talked to a couple that didn’t go through growing pains over money after they had a baby. Every situation is unique, is hard, and requires some tough talks and sacrifices.

It took a bit, but my ex and I finally got on the same page. It required both of us to make some changes because ultimately, the most important thing to us was for me to stay at home with the kids.

If you’re going through this with your partner, be gentle on yourself but also gentle on them. It’s likely that neither of you have been through this before and there’s a learning curve.

Nobody really talks about the money fights you’ll have after the baby comes. Be prepared, and more importantly, remember that the faster you come to a comfortable place for both of you, the faster you can enjoy this new life. You’re allowed to change your mind about working. You’re allowed to get another job, or a different job. And letting go of some luxuries can actually be freeing.

There will always be sacrifices to make when you become a parent; this might just be one of them.

]]><![CDATA[Mandy Moore Opens Up About The Pressure To “Get It Right” As A Mom]]>https://www.romper.com/parenting/mandy-moore-opens-up-about-the-pressure-to-get-it-right-as-a-momhttps://www.romper.com/parenting/mandy-moore-opens-up-about-the-pressure-to-get-it-right-as-a-momWed, 20 Aug 2025 14:36:23 GMT
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Mandy Moore understands the pressure to be perfect. From her start as a teen pop singer to the matriarch on one of TV’s most-watched series (she’ll forever be Rebecca Pearson from This Is Us in our hearts), she’s had to become a pro at filtering out endless expectations and opinions. But, as anyone with kids can attest, doing that as a mom is easier said than done.

Lately, though, in the aftermath of what has been one of the most difficult years of her life, Moore has resurfaced in a surprising place: calm.

When we caught up with her fresh off a family trip, she candidly told us that, yes, having three young kids can be chaotic — and there’s no shortage of unsolicited advice from others about how to raise them. Yet, there’s a confidence that comes with experience, and as a third-time mom, Moore feels better equipped than ever to tune out all the noise. The result: She’s leaning into her own intuition and embracing that motherhood is inherently imperfect.

“There’s no ‘right’ way” to be a mom,” she reminds us. “The right way is what works for you.”

To that end, well, let’s just say Moore is a big fan of making motherhood easier wherever you can — whether that’s on travel days (snacks and iPads FTW), with feeding (a ByHeart partner, she’s raved about their portable Anywhere Pack), or leaning all the way in to cohabitating with what sounds like the world’s best in-laws.

You recently came back from family trips to Montana and Mexico. What felt different about traveling this time around — with three kids in tow?

It's tough on one hand, but I also feel like we're in this sweet spot where our travel hack is anything goes. You can eat whatever you want, you can have screen time, do all of the things that are just going to make your life and our life inherently easier during a travel day.

We're not a big screen time family at all, so the boys are very excited to travel because it means they get to use their iPads and watch whatever movie they want. And we make sure we have plenty of food, because you never know what you're going to find in the airport, and you never know what's going to be on an airplane. So, we come prepared with sandwiches and crackers and string cheese and all of the things.

But they're just at that good age where they're pretty self-sufficient once you slap that in front of their faces. And Lou is 10 months old, so she's super sweet and easy and just wants to have books read to her, play with crinkly toys, and have some milk and some little yogurt snacks. It's that before-she's-running-around toddler phase and wanting to not sit still. We're kind of in this easy spot of my husband has both boys, I've got the baby, we've got it all figured out.

That also works for me — promising myself little treats.

Right? Yeah, having something you know you can look forward to is a game-changer.

Baby Lou’s first birthday is around the corner. How are you feeling about hitting that big milestone?

I'm in actual disbelief that we're almost to a year at this point. It’s hard to wrap my head around. But I'm excited to keep getting to know who she is and seeing her relationship with her brothers. They're just so sweet with her; they're so doting and so gentle … No one is funnier to her than her brothers, and they're obsessed with trying to make her laugh and smile. It's the best.

I'm very much savoring this particular chapter, because, as you know well, it changes on a dime. Someone's going to have a sleep regression or teeth coming in or God knows what, so it's like let's just own this beautiful time right now and really lean into it.

We’re all bombarded with parenting opinions these days. Was there a turning point for you in being able to tune that out?

It's interesting. I just feel like there's not a ton of substitute for the opportunity to do something over again. Being on my third go-round, motherhood just feels a bit calmer, so I'm able to tap into my intuition a little bit easier than maybe I even expected and trust my instincts. You don't know what to expect the first go-round, so it's really a bit more of a challenge to do that.

Living on social media, it's helpful to find a community, to have some sort of point of reference. But sometimes, it's just completely unhelpful — there are too many voices and too many opinions. As a parent, the biggest journey for me was realizing that, a lot of times, I had the answers to begin with. I just had to tune out the noise, step away from my phone, take in all the information, let that absorb in me, by all means, but then really just lean into what I inherently knew in my gut was going to work for me… and realizing that what worked for me wasn't going to work for everybody.

There's just confidence in embracing the imperfection and the messiness of parenthood, and letting yourself let go of that pressure.

One thing moms definitely hear a lot about is how we feed our kids. What would you tell a new parent who’s putting pressure on themselves to “get it right”?

I absolutely understand it … I went back to work with my oldest when he was a month old, and my middle guy when he was 6 weeks old, and I was very, very lucky and grateful to have a job that allowed me to bring my baby to work so I was able to nurse. I think what was different for this third go-round was that I didn't have anything on the docket; I was super excited to just soak in all of this time with Lou.

With each baby, I let them lead the charge in terms of how long they wanted to nurse, and I was really fortunate that all worked well in my life and worked well for my milk supply. Things were thumbs up, and I know that's not the case for everybody.

But when Lou was 3 ½ months old, the fires happened here in LA. It was incredibly stressful and traumatic, and my milk supply dropped immediately. I was freaking out, so I went to my pediatrician and was like, ‘Do I try and find breast milk on the black market? Do I ask a friend who is nursing if they have extra supply?’ He was like, ‘No, no. You take that off your plate entirely and supplement with formula. Nurse her and then supplement with formula when needed.’ And I was like, ‘OK.’

So in about four months, I started supplementing with ByHeart. Then, at six months, Lou was just done entirely with me and didn't want to nurse anymore, so we transitioned to ByHeart full-time. I loved that the formula really mirrors breast milk in its structure and benefits; breast milk is really the blueprint for ByHeart. I wasn't going to compromise anything by switching over full-time to formula.

Do you feel like that shift had a surprisingly big impact on your mental load?

I think, when that time period entered our life of supplementing, being able to take that one extra stressful thing off my plate made me a better parent. Knowing my mental health and being able to show up and be present for her and for Gus and Ozzie was the greatest thing I could have done for all of us.

I'm so glad I was able to hear my pediatrician and tap into my own intuition. He was echoing what I knew in my gut as well: This is what's going to be best for me. Once I let go of that expectation — Am I doing the right thing for me? Am I doing the right thing for my baby? — and knew that everyone was going to be OK, it just made it so much easier. There was no looking back for me.

So, I guess that's just what I would impart to women: However your feeding journey looks, there is no ‘right’ way to do it. There is no perfect feeding journey; that doesn't exist. The right way is what works for you.

You’ve been open about the loss of your home in the LA fires, and we’re so sorry you guys went through that. One thing I’ve noticed in your journey since then is the way you’ve talked about your mother-in-law, Kathy. It’s so rare to hear that dynamic in such a positive light. What are some of the ways she shows up for your family that are really meaningful to you?

I'm going to get emotional. I just don't know what I would've done in these last eight months without her. My mother-in-law and father-in-law lost their house too, and so we were able to find a rental that we could all live in together.

This season of our life, to be able to all be together … it's everything. I never would've dreamed of it. I just would've never expected that we would've had this time all under one roof, but it's been beautiful for all of us. It's been so healing.

We were able to put the kids down and then make some tea for ourselves and talk about navigating insurance and all the adult conversations you don't want the kids privy to, especially in the beginning. We were able to live that together and have each other to lean on.

Just the simple fact of putting the kids down and not having to have a babysitter! Kathy's like, ‘I'll watch the kids. You and Taylor go out and have dinner; you guys need a date night.’ Having that built-in babysitter, oh my God, I never ever want to give it up. I'm like, ‘You realize you're never going to leave, right?’

It's just been the best thing ever … she’s a dream.

This interview originally ran on Scary Mommy. It has been edited for length and clarity.

]]><![CDATA[The Village Of School Still Exists But It’s A Bit Of A Privilege Now]]>https://www.romper.com/life/village-of-school-text-chains-with-other-moms-how-to-get-contact-infohttps://www.romper.com/life/village-of-school-text-chains-with-other-moms-how-to-get-contact-infoWed, 20 Aug 2025 12:50:56 GMT

My elementary school in my breezy, beachside Florida hometown was quaint and familial. Seagulls squawked over the pavilion during P.E. class, and you could smell the ocean anytime you walked from the cafeteria to recess. All the classrooms opened up to little courtyards with picnic tables, and our parents would gather outside the doors for us to be released at 2:30 each day. I still remember walking out in the afternoon and knowing exactly which of my classmates each mother was there for, their first names, and the cars they drove home each day. I remember the way my mom chatted with everyone at first, then, over the course of the school year, gravitated toward the other mothers who’d been through divorce — those women, especially, were kind and caring toward me even when I wasn’t necessarily close with their kids.

Today, parents are lucky when they get the opportunity to set foot on campus. There is no waiting in the courtyard together each day; schools are fenced in, badge entry protected, and battened down to prevent any kind of violence or tragedy. While I obviously appreciate the protection for my own child, it comes at a cost. It is harder than ever to find community with other parents at our kids’ schools.

Recently, I mentioned this feeling of disconnect to a coworker — that I wouldn’t know how to get in touch with another parent in my son’s class without asking his teacher for their information, and I didn’t even know if she was allowed to give it to me. She said her son’s school had a directory that parents could opt into, which shared their phone numbers, email addresses, and children’s names so things like birthday and playdate invitations, and rides to and from school, could be arranged easily. That seemed wild to me, and my other colleagues, as we all so rarely see the other parents in my kids’ classes. And asking for such information feels inappropriate, like prying, when it’s not made readily available.

During my son’s first year at his new school, I felt totally lost when it came to meeting and connecting with other parents. We don’t congregate at any point during the week to drop off or pick up, and when my son asked if he could have a classmate over to play, it felt awkward to even ask for their parents’ info. Teachers do so much already — should I really pester them about this sort of thing? “No” is the answer I always settled on.

Instead, I tried to make myself known any chance I could. When my son points out another child he knows at pickup, I go out of my way to greet their mom. Birthday parties for other students? We’re there, and I’m chatting you up between pizza and cake. My husband and I went to all the open houses and school events. I volunteered in the classroom. I chaperoned a field trip. Doing these things is a privilege, obviously — I am lucky to work for people who value parents and are super flexible with allowing me to attend daytime events. Not everyone is so fortunate. But by finding ways to bump elbows with other parents whenever I could, I kind of got to recreate the courtyard crew I remember from my own childhood.

This year when we returned to school, we followed our usual routine: We parked in the grass lot across from the school, got out, and gathered our things. Before even crossing the street, the mom of one of my son's classmates — a mom I’d befriended at a birthday party, and again on a field trip — rolled down her window as she passed by. “Hey! So good to see you!” she said, and it genuinely felt that way to me too. We said good morning to the school resource officer directing traffic. Another mom friend who had just dropped her son off saw us and gave me a big hug. My son’s wonderful music teacher was at the front gate, greeting everyone. After he went to class, I strolled to the cafeteria for the first day “boohoo breakfast” thrown by our PTA, and quickly found a table full of parents from my neighborhood all munching on croissants and talking about their kids’ first-day feelings. Some were new, and the parents I was already acquainted with made introductions.

I walked back to my car, smiling inside, and texted my mom, glowing that all the times we’d shown up the previous year had indeed resulted in a sense of community. Cultivating that is no longer as simple as showing up to pick up my kid every day. It was inconvenient and sometimes simply not possible to make it to everything. But by going to the things I could, making conversation even when I normally wouldn’t, and giving my time when I had some to spare, I finally feel grounded in the network of parents at my son’s school. And yes, he knows many of their names and what they drive too.

]]><![CDATA[How Your Kid Will Handle Going Back To School, Based On Their Zodiac Sign]]>https://www.romper.com/parenting/how-your-kid-will-handle-going-back-to-school-based-on-their-zodiac-signhttps://www.romper.com/parenting/how-your-kid-will-handle-going-back-to-school-based-on-their-zodiac-signWed, 13 Aug 2025 22:14:10 GMT

Whether you feel like your child’s personality matches their zodiac sign or not, it’s so fun to think about how their different character traits are affected by new situations — like back-to-school season. Some kids may be more sensitive, and some may be more excited; some may feel that this is the time of year to tackle their goals, and some may just be ready to go with the flow. But no matter what, using their zodiac signs as a starting point can help you figure out how your child might react to the new school year — and how you can help them along.

Aries

Your Aries babe has probably been ready for school the minute the first pencil went up on Target shelves. They’re ready for a challenge, they’re ready to tackle goals, and they really, really want to pave their own way this school year. Maybe they’re still feeling adventurous from summer, but because Aries kids are so determined and passionate, it won’t take but a minute for them to shift all of that fiery energy into having the best school year of their lives. (They also might get in trouble for talking too much.)

Taurus

Be honest: Did your Taurus child plan their own back-to-school outfit? Did they have it out on their dresser the night before, reminding you that they wanted waffles and blueberries for breakfast? A Taurus is known for being steadfast and practical, but they are also known for liking what they like, for choosing comfort and luxury when they can, and for really leaning in on the things that make them feel best. Maybe your little Taurus was a little meh about the change in routine and a new school year, but they’re also not going to let a school year run them over — they’re the bull of the zodiac signs after all. And no matter what, they’re going to make sure they’re getting out of their school year exactly what they want and need.

Gemini

Oh, sweet little Gemini. Chances are they’ve already made three best friends within the first week of school — but then they come home and are ready to decompress. Your Gemini could be getting in trouble for talking too much and being too social, or they could be hanging out in the library during lunch, helping restock books instead of chatting with friends. I wouldn’t be surprised if your Gemini babe is already being given extra jobs so that they stay engaged and don’t get bored when they find the day’s assignments too small for all of their energy.

Cancer

Your sweet little sensitive Cancer child will be a mix of excitement and anxiety. They might cry — everything feels too big, everything’s changing too fast — and they will definitely be worried about how you’re handling everything if they see you sad. Keep a nice, happy, normal routine at home with their favorite little rituals. They’ll be so happy to come home at the end of the day and find their comfort zone, but they’ll eventually get into the swing of things and find their new routine.

Leo

Did your Leo child walk right into Meet the Teacher day and immediately share every detail of their summer and then show their teacher how they can do a cartwheel? Got it. Leos are big and bold and courageous, and they can often be found right in the middle of the room’s brightest spotlight. They are so much fun and have such good energy! In school, that could mean your Leo is the class clown, the social butterfly, and/or the leader of the classroom... who has to be reminded sometimes to sit back down. Leos are also pretty intuitive, so if you’re getting reports from school that your Leo is a good friend and eager to help anybody in their classroom, that tracks.

Virgo

I need you to give your big Virgo kid a squeeze. These little perfectionists can sometimes feel overwhelmed by all of the things, and as practical and organized and meticulous as they are, sometimes it can get so loud that it clouds their ability to have fun. Remind your Virgo that they are allowed to enjoy things, even if it’s not as perfect as they hoped it would be, and that sometimes a different result is just that — a different result. On the extremely plus side, your Virgo has had all their school supplies organized for weeks and probably read the syllabus at least twice.

Libra

Libras are balanced and steady, forever seeing both sides of every story, so a little Libra getting ready to go to school? They are already analyzing all the things, preparing themselves for anything to happen. They’re social and outgoing, tactful and diplomatic, and they will be the peacemaker in a classroom any chance they get. They’re probably eager to see their friends and find their comfort zone in school, but also excited about all the unknowns that come with the year.

Scorpio

The intensity of a Scorpio truly can’t be matched, and as your little scorpion babe heads into a new school year, chances are they are already making grand plans, hyper-focused on their ideas, and thinking ahead to the things they want to accomplish — whether that’s some new sport or activity or just upgrading their social life. But your Scorpio can also be stubborn, and if they feel out of control with the start of a new school year, they might react poorly.

Sagittarius

Man, I hope your spontaneous, adventure-loving Sagittarius hasn’t completely lost their mind over the routine of school. Hopefully the first few days are still fresh and new, but a Sagittarius thrives on freedom and independence, and being stuck in a classroom all day can really do a number on them. With their love of knowledge and curious nature, however, they may be able to squeak through the school routine with more joy than angst.

Capricorn

I bet your Capricorn kiddo has already earned a spot at the top of their teacher’s list for the type of kids who can be trusted to deliver items around the school or run to the front office for something. A Capricorn loves structure, is overwhelmingly realistic and practical, and loves to feel on top of their game. You won’t hear that your Capricorn got overwhelmed in class and cried, no. They’ll save that for when they’re home, where hopefully nobody ever has to know that they had a moment of weakness.

Aquarius

Your water baby Aquarius has probably proven to you that they do things their own way, and that definitely goes for back-to-school season, too. Maybe you thought they’d be excited, but they’re more practical than that, or maybe you thought they’d be nervous, but they’re just too busy analyzing everything. No matter what, you can trust that your little Aquarius is engaging in big conversations at school, raising their hand to ask deeper questions, and sharing their extremely honest opinions. They’re not going to get too emotional with you about how they feel — but they will give you a detailed play-by-play of the day (if you ask the right questions).

Pisces

Pisces are daydreamers, and they are extremely intuitive and insightful. But this can also mean they feel too many emotions at once and get moody and overstimulated. So, if your Pisces babe has been coming home feeling a lot less excited than they were when they first left for school, don’t panic. They’re loving all the good energy and vibes, but the minute they feel something negative on the outside, they can quickly lock down and feel like they’ve lost their footing. Your Pisces kid may just need a little reminder that they can control how things affect them, especially at school.

]]><![CDATA[How Teachers Really Feel About Parents Emailing Them *Before* The First Day Of School]]>https://www.romper.com/parenting/how-teachers-feel-about-parents-emailing-them-before-first-day-of-schoolhttps://www.romper.com/parenting/how-teachers-feel-about-parents-emailing-them-before-first-day-of-schoolMon, 04 Aug 2025 13:00:25 GMT

There is nothing like back-to-school anxiety... for parents. I mean, I’m sure kids are nervous, too, but parents know way more about what’s to come, and we can really let our brains spiral when we want to. The problem with all of this anxiety is that as much as we encourage our kids to talk about theirs and ask for help and reach out to people around them, it feels a little scary to let our own anxiety flags out into the wind for everyone to see — especially your kid’s new teacher. You want to be the chill, calm, collected parent, but what if you’re anxious about your kid using the bathroom at school or unsure how the pick-up line works or want more information on school supplies? Should you email your kid’s teacher before the first day of school? Or is that going a little too far?

I didn’t talk to your teachers, but I know what they’d want me to tell you: just take a deep breath. Whether this is your first kid in school or your first year in a new school, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and anxious about all that’s to come. And they understand that. Many teachers are parents themselves, and they know exactly what you’re worried about. Even the brand new teachers know that it’s a lot to send your kid off to school every day and relinquish some control over their day, and they want your kid — and you — to have the best year possible.

So, emailing them before the first day of school? It’s not a completely inappropriate action. But there are some things to consider.

Why do you want to email your kid’s teacher?

This might be the most important question: Why do you want to email your kid’s teacher before the first day of school? Anna Hall, an elementary school teacher in North Carolina, tells Romper that she has no problem with parent communication — she encourages it — but before the first day of school is a chaotic time, and she really wants parents to consider what it is they want to talk to her about. “In general, you should’ve already met with your child’s teacher before the first day of school at an open house or even just a chat on the phone when you get their teacher assignments. So if you still need to follow up with an email, it’s worth thinking about how important this question is. Teachers get a lot of emails, and honestly, some of the things you might be anxious about and want to email the teacher for are things that are going to be solved in the first 10 minutes of the school day,” she says.

If you didn’t get a chance to attend an open house or "meet the teacher" event and just want to introduce yourself, Hall says this is a great reason to email your kid’s teacher before the first day of school. “Just a simple email saying, ‘Hi, sorry we missed the open house, our kid is so excited,’ or something similar is totally fine. You should get a response from your child’s teacher before school.”

If you have a question about the supply list, some kind of school policy or procedure, or transportation, she recommends going through all of the emails and paperwork you’ve already received from the school. “Schools are incredibly thorough — we want you to have all the information you need — so chances are the answer to your question is already available to you.”

Give your teacher a chance.

If your email is centered around something specific about your child, like your fears or worries about them in the classroom or a concern you have, Hall says it’s best to bring those up at the open house or meet-the-teacher event. “If you couldn’t chat then, dropping an email is fine, but please really think about how important it is. If the email is more focused on you sharing all of your kid’s likes and dislikes or the best ways they respond in a classroom, please just give teachers a chance. We work with kids every day. This is our literal job; let us have a chance to show you how we teach before you email us with what you need us to do.”

Hannah Turner, a high school chemistry teacher in Michigan, agrees and tells Romper that she’s had high school parents email her before the first day of school, insisting that their child is going to struggle in class and will need lots of extra credit. “I always respond with something like, ‘Thank you for this email, but please give your child and our class a chance to see how we do first!’ I’m a parent, too, so I understand wanting your kid to succeed and jumping for any chance they get, but trust your kids’ teachers.”

However, Turner says that if you have a deep concern or worry about something specific, such as a medication for your child or a food allergy, she's not going to be bothered by a reminder email. “But keep it light and easy. Please don’t assume your child’s teacher was planning on giving them a peanut butter sandwich the first day of school even though they have a nut allergy. We all have systems in our schools and classrooms for information like that, and I promise we do everything we can to keep your kids safe and healthy and happy in our classroom. Please trust us.”

Ultimately, how well-received an email to the teacher will be before the start of school depends on the teacher, the topic, and your approach. “I get emails from parents before the first day of school all the time, and most of them are a simple introduction, telling me how nice it was to meet me at Open House, and sharing that their kid is super excited. Those are lovely and have a really festive mood for back-to-school. And even better is a parent who emails me to say they’d love to help out in any way they can, or asking if they can drop off extra snacks or something for the classroom,” Hall says. “We love parent involvement, and we encourage open communication — just don’t come at us like we’re idiots who weren’t going to be able to figure out that your kindergartner is struggling to read.”

Emailing your kid’s teacher before school? Not a bad idea.

Emailing your kid’s teacher before school because you’re just sure they’re going to mess something up? Step away from the inbox.

]]><![CDATA[Everything Parents Need To Know About Going Back To School & The Measles Outbreaks]]>https://www.romper.com/life/measles-outbreaks-back-to-school-advice-guide-for-parentshttps://www.romper.com/life/measles-outbreaks-back-to-school-advice-guide-for-parentsMon, 04 Aug 2025 13:00:25 GMT

There have been 1,333 cases of measles nationwide in 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While that doesn’t sound like many, it’s significantly more cases than the 285 confirmed in 2024. The majority of this year’s cases happened in Texas, but cases have been reported in 40 states. Of those 1,333 people, more than half were children, and 92% of them were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.

We’ve been hearing about the rise in measles cases since last year, but the numbers just keep climbing. And as we prepare to send our kids back to school this August, infectious disease experts are concerned.

“Pediatricians are worried about declining vaccination rates in general and those leading to increased cases of measles and outbreaks, as we saw this past year. Vaccination rates for MMR, which is the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, have been declining. We need about 95% of the community to be vaccinated to have that community immunity, but in many places, those rates are much lower. And nationally, when we look at kids entering kindergarten who are fully vaccinated, it's a little less than 93% of kindergartners,” says Dr. Katie Lockwood, a board-certified pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and associate professor of pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine.

So, if you’re sending little ones off to school this month, here’s everything you need to know about measles, exposures, and yes, vaccines.

Are pediatricians worried about more outbreaks as everyone returns to school?

In short, yes. This is because, naturally, “outbreaks are a concern when vaccination rates fall below what's recommended,” Lockwood says. But it also has to do with all the traveling families do over the summer. Many of the measles outbreaks in the U.S. in the past year resulted from unvaccinated individuals traveling, being exposed, and returning home carrying measles.

“Many cases that we’re seeing are in people who are recent return travelers,” Lockwood notes. “A lot of people take end-of-summer trips right before they return to school. If your child has a fever, stay home and make sure that they’re OK before you send them back to school. We really don’t want sick kids going to school in the beginning and sharing their germs with everybody else.”

Dr. Liz May, a board-certified pediatrician at Texas Children’s, adds, “Starting school is a time we worry about disease transmission in general. There is some worry with kids going back to school. We’re seeing more spread in communities, and a lot more cases overall. Measles is actually the most contagious disease we have. If we have 100 unprotected people in a room and one person has measles, 90 to 100 of the people in that room are going to be infected.”

With all of this in mind, I ask Lockwood how likely it is that any of our children actually come home having been exposed to measles, and her answer is reassuring: “There’s no threat to you when it’s not in your community. It’s a potential threat, but not an actual threat in most places. This is something very important to vaccinate against to prevent this as a possibility.”

Why does the measles vaccine matter so much?

The best way to prevent your child from getting measles is to vaccinate them, according to May, Lockwood, and all major medical authorities. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies receive their first MMR vaccine at 12 months of age and a second dose between the ages of 4 and 6 months. The first dose of the vaccine is 93% effective at preventing measles, May says, which increases to between 97% and 99% with the second dose.

The vaccine is crucial to preventing the spread of measles because, really, there is nothing else anyone can do. Unlike other illnesses we worry about our children catching at school, from strep to colds to the flu, measles is airborne. Washing their hands and not sharing food or drinks is not enough to keep a child from catching it, Lockwood says. “Measles is airborne and can be in the air for two hours after an infected person was there. There’s nothing that your individual child can do to prevent them from getting measles if someone in school has measles.” So if one child in the cafeteria has measles, everyone else who enters for lunch within the next two hours is now powerless to prevent infection unless they are vaccinated.

If you’re sending a child off to school but have a baby who hasn’t been vaccinated yet or a toddler who’s only had one of their two shots, what then? As long as the family members old enough to be vaccinated are, Lockwood says you’ve taken all the right steps to protect younger children in the home.

Earlier this year, some Texas parents made headlines for giving their children vitamin A in hopes that it would protect them against measles, resulting in liver damage. It is worth noting that this is not recommended by any medical authorities as a safe or effective way to prevent measles. Only the vaccine is.

“Vaccination is the most important way to prevent getting measles. Nine out of 10 non-immune children will get infected if they’re exposed. Most American children are not deficient in vitamin A, and therefore taking extra vitamin A is not going to help prevent them from getting sick, and in many cases can cause harm because this is something that you can take too much of,” Lockwood says.

If you’re looking for evidence-based information about vaccines, Lockwood directs parents to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center website or the AAP — and away from social media and unscientific sources. Measles infection can also cause secondary neurodegenerative illnesses that may not take hold until seven to 10 years later in a child’s life, and May encourages parents to weigh this when considering vaccination.

What should you do if your child has been exposed or if there’s an outbreak in your community?

There are steps you can take to help your child fare better if they are exposed to measles.

The vaccine isn’t just a method of prevention; it’s really the only “treatment” available, too, May points out. “That is the way to stop spread and prevent children from getting measles. There is no treatment for measles, and the main post-exposure intervention is to get the vaccine if you have not had it.”

While it’s incredibly unlikely to happen, what should you do if a measles outbreak does begin in your area? If you hear about a measles case in your community and your child may have been exposed, Lockwood advises calling your pediatrician right away.

“If you’ve been exposed but you’re not sick yet, these are ways that we can try to help boost your immune system so you potentially won't get it. If you’ve had an exposure and it’s within the past three days, you can get the MMR vaccine as a post-exposure kind of prevention. And if it’s longer than that, and it's maybe four to six days ago that you had the exposure, there is an immunoglobulin that you can take.”

If you have older children in school and a baby or toddler at home, having the older child and adults in your home fully vaccinated is “protective and life-saving” for the younger siblings, May says. “You would just be monitoring for symptoms, because it is rare but technically possible for them to contract measles. Have that discussion with your pediatrician about what to look for and if a patient qualifies for a vaccine or additional preventive care.”

In the event of an outbreak in your community, you can talk to your pediatrician about vaccinating babies as young as 6 months. “You can get the MMR vaccine early, and that's something that, if there becomes an outbreak in your community, your pediatrician may recommend,” says Lockwood. The reason infants younger than 12 months usually don’t receive an MMR isn’t because it’s unsafe. Their body simply doesn’t mount the same immune response as it does when they’re older, and so that shot doesn’t count toward the two-shot series needed to ensure immunity. So, it’s just an extra poke for the baby that doctors generally try to avoid unless there is a real risk of measles exposure.

Ultimately, there is a very, very slim chance that measles plays any part in your child’s return to school this year. Hopefully, this information helps put your mind at ease, knowing that there are things you can do even during an outbreak to protect your family, and serves as a reminder that prevention is quick, easy, and uncontested among medical experts.

]]><![CDATA[The Stuff I'm Excited For My Kid To Learn This Year Has Nothing To Do With Academics]]>https://www.romper.com/parenting/the-stuff-im-excited-for-my-kid-to-learn-this-year-has-nothing-to-do-with-academicshttps://www.romper.com/parenting/the-stuff-im-excited-for-my-kid-to-learn-this-year-has-nothing-to-do-with-academicsMon, 04 Aug 2025 13:00:25 GMT

Sight words, writing his full name, addition and subtraction — there’s a lot I know my 4-year-old son, Cooper, will learn at school this year. And because he truly loves to learn, I know he’ll nail it all. When he decided he wanted to write his numbers, we spent hours over one weekend practicing until he could scribble every digit almost as neatly as my own. When the kindergartners in his class of 3- to 5-year-olds began learning to read, he asked me for nights on end to teach him, too. I have no doubt he’ll gobble up every lesson his teacher gives him this year. But it’s not his academics I’m most excited for him to master.

You see, my little guy is exactly like me when I was his age: introverted, terrified of conflict, and at times cripplingly risk-averse. I’ve been prone to anxiety my entire life, afraid to put my face underwater when learning to swim or to ever take my training wheels off. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I learned to stand up for myself, and if we’re being honest, it still takes a major slight to prompt it. I see all of that same hesitation in my son. As the person who never learned to ride a bike or swim underwater, the grown woman who still feels a burning unease inside while struggling to speak up, I want to do everything in my power to change his trajectory.

Cooper has always been shy, and he isn’t one to stand up for himself or say anything to another kid who wrongs him (in the way little kids can “wrong” one another — snatching a toy, wiping a booger on his arm, you know). We’ve always told him the same thing: “Use your words and tell them no. If they don’t listen, ask your teacher for help.” For years, my husband and I have repeated the same refrain, until his first year in Montessori school.

In true toddler fashion, he wasn’t a fan of trying new foods, so I was elated when Cooper asked to eat lunch from the cafeteria on Fridays when they serve chicken nuggets or pizza. Then one day, on the drive home from school, I asked how his lunch was... and somebody had stolen his chicken nuggets. So, I messaged his teacher to let her know, and she assured me she knew the likely culprit and would sit that student with the kindergarten girls who she knew would give him hell.

Then she shared her insights: Cooper hadn’t said a word to anyone about it. It rang true for me that not only did my little shy guy not feel confident standing up for himself, but he also wasn’t sure how to ask for help, or when it was warranted. Maybe this is just being 3 or 4, but I’d seen all our friends’ children be ready and willing to speak up, bicker, and even throw hands if necessary. I imagine he feels a lot like I did in the face of conflict: dwarfed, intimidated, and just wanting it to end more than wanting it to be made right.

His teacher assured me it was fine for him to bring any conflicts to her until he got older and a little more confident, and said we should instruct him to do just that. And there I had it — something really life-changing his teacher could help me get across to him that my husband and I just haven’t been able to communicate the right way yet.

I had seen all the fruits of her labor throughout the school year: the easy way our son began counting to 200 by ones, fives, and tens, the songs about friendship he’d sing to himself as he played, and the confidence to get up on stage and perform a traditional Mexican hat dance with his classmates for the school’s heritage night (yes, it was precious). It hadn’t yet occurred to me that his teacher was also willing to coach him through some equally important life lessons, like how to work out a conflict with his classmates, speak up, or ask for help.

We’re lucky that at our son’s Montessori school, they have the same teacher from ages 3 to 5. His teacher, already well-versed in his strengths and hurdles, has two more years with him. He grew so much in his first year, and I could never have imagined how much he would learn. I know that when he walks out of his second year in her classroom, he’ll be unrecognizable in more new and wonderful ways. Maybe he’ll have neater handwriting, color entirely inside the lines, or even be starting to read. But honestly, my biggest hope is that he’ll know it’s OK to ask for help, say no, and talk to his friends about hard things. Knowing we’ll get to watch the slow bloom of his confidence, to me, is just as much a part of the magic of a new school year.

]]><![CDATA[How To Help Teachers Most If You Don’t Have Time To Volunteer]]>https://www.romper.com/life/how-to-help-teachers-most-if-you-dont-have-time-to-volunteerhttps://www.romper.com/life/how-to-help-teachers-most-if-you-dont-have-time-to-volunteerTue, 29 Jul 2025 12:02:24 GMT

The world needs its homeroom moms, the ones who are handing out snacks at every class party and cleaning up behind every field day. And maybe you are that parent in your heart, but your 9-to-5 means you rarely (OK, never) get the opportunity to help out during school events. You love your kid’s teacher and know they’re not getting paid the very large sum they deserve. So, how can you best support your child’s teacher if you don’t have time to volunteer during the day?

If you’re wondering, just ask. There might be opportunities outside of regular school hours to pitch in, like helping decorate for special events in the evenings or joining the PTA. Don’t assume you can’t be helpful at all just because you can’t volunteer in class to help serve Thanksgiving lunch or chaperone the zoo field trip. Even if the teacher doesn’t have any needs right now, they will remember your kindness and your offer, and they’ll probably take you up on it before long. And if you’d like some concrete ideas to work with, say no more.

Supplies are always welcome.

There’s a big influx of new supplies at the beginning of the school year and then...crickets. You can message your child’s teacher to see what they need specifically, but there are some supplies that are a forever need.

“Definitely supplies, always. Expo markers, pencils in bulk, tissues, hand sanitizer, and whatever that specific teacher uses. Also for bigger or individual supplies, send an extra. I request scientific calculators and sometimes kids will come in with an extra to have for the room or to give to a kid who doesn’t have one or forgot theirs. That’s the best,” says Martha O’Brien, a middle school math teacher in Virginia.

To be maximally helpful with minimal effort, you could also just set some supplies to auto-ship to your child’s teacher.

Check in to see if the teacher could use a reward for their class.

“I have a parent who emails me periodically and asks if there’s anything I want to incentivize my kids with if they’re not turning in homework and stuff and she’ll get donuts or pizza for them and that’s so helpful,” says Anna Morgan, an English language arts teacher in Florida.

Ask if there are tasks you can help with at home.

Especially for elementary school teachers, they may be putting together projects that require a lot of cut-outs or sorting of supplies to be handed out in packets, O’Brien says. If so, the teacher can send everything home with your child for you to cut out or put together while you binge a show after dinner. It’s a great way to volunteer some time and elbow grease in the evenings when you’re available, and free that time up for your child’s teacher to do one of the other 20 tasks on their plate.

Dedicate some time to making sure your kid is actually excited about school.

Yes, this does make a teacher’s job easier.

“The biggest help is making sure every parent is fully involved in the learning process. Also they can be verbally encouraging to their child’s teacher and make sure their child knows school is a responsibility but is also a fun place to be. This can be as easy as telling your child that you wish you were still able to go to school and about some positive experiences you had,” says Staci Pendry, a K-8 music teacher. “Message the teacher once every few weeks just to check in on them and say a specific thing you noticed that the teacher is doing well. That little note is worth all the volunteer hours.”

Bring in snacks. They will be put to good use.

Teachers all over Reddit say they often end up buying classroom snacks out of their own paychecks. A Costco-sized carton of Goldfish will never not be appreciated. As one middle school teacher posted, “Classroom snacks make all of the difference. I provide them to every child, every day. The kids are hungrier than they have ever been in my nearly 20 years of teaching, and inflation is making this an expensive commitment. Help a teacher get snacks for the classroom.”

Help with upkeep of special areas around campus.

If you can spend some time there on a weekend occasionally, maybe there’s an opportunity to help on the school grounds. My son’s school has chickens — does their coop need any repairs or improvements? Last year our guidance counselor asked for donated planters and flowers to beautify the school’s entrance, and parents provided the necessary items. One Reddit poster shared that a friend of theirs “took over a school’s abandoned gardening program. He fixed up the garden and kids come once a week to learn about how plants grow. He would be tending a garden at home anyway.”

Communicate with your child’s teacher if something is wrong.

Pendry also encourages parents to check in and keep teachers up to date on what their child is saying about their school experience at home. They’re one person overseeing a classroom full of kids, but you have special insight on your own child and what happens during their day. Again, helping your child want to be at school and removing any negativity keeping them from learning is a big help to teachers.

“If anything comes up that is bothering your little one, make sure you reach out to the teacher. We know a lot, but can’t always know everything. Letting us know what’s happening is a way to help make sure your child feels safe and heard and wants to come back to school,” she says.

Attend school board meetings to advocate for funds and resources your teacher needs.

Voicing your support and showing up to evening meetings shows school board leadership what really matters to parents and teachers. You may not be able to judge the science fair during the day, but you can be vocal in your support of more funding for crucial programs in your district.

]]><![CDATA[The Back-To-School 2025 Must-Haves To Give Your Whole Family Confidence]]>https://www.romper.com/life/back-to-school-supplies-2025-must-haveshttps://www.romper.com/life/back-to-school-supplies-2025-must-havesThu, 24 Jul 2025 12:00:25 GMT

Back-to-school season has such an air of joy about it. Not only is it a fresh start to a year full of milestones and memories, but it kind of feels like a legit new year for moms. You’ve got this whole new routine to get in line, with a lot of moving parts. And setting everyone up for success — whether it’s a brand-new kindergartner in your household or a seasoned high schooler — is so important. That’s why there are some back-to-school must-haves you really need to throw on your list — yes, even if you really don’t think there’s a difference between lunch boxes.

Because look, things are about to get real. Summer was a blast, and letting your children live like feral beings who survive off of Cheetos and Capri-Suns and count swimming as a “bath” was fun. But now you’ve got to start thinking about all those baseball games and cheerleading practices and gymnastics meets. There are piano lessons, play rehearsals, and club meetings. There are a million things happening every day, and the last thing you want to hear is that your kid’s backpack broke on their third week of school or that your child can’t find their shin guards. You want everyone — you, your partner, your kids — to feel fully confident heading into another school year, and this back-to-school list will do just that.

From the perfect coffee thermos for those early morning chorus drop-offs to lunch boxes that can be easily cleaned when someone forgets to throw out a ketchup packet, we’ve got you covered.

The Backpack That Will Actually Last

Whether your kiddo’s headed off to kindergarten or middle school, they’re going to need a backpack that actually lasts through the school year. So many of the “budget-friendly” ones end up being ruined by the time Thanksgiving break comes around, and who wants to buy more than one bookbag per year? The Jansport Cool Student Backpack has a water bottle pocket, a sleeve inside the bag to hold a 15” laptop, and a reinforced leather bottom so it can stand up to anything. It also comes in tons of cute patterns and colors, and these straps sit beautifully on even the tiniest shoulders.

The Best Name Labels

Preschool, fourth grade, college — it really doesn't matter what grade your kid's going into; you'll need to put their name on some stuff. Mabel's Labels won't let you down! These bad boys hold up to dishwashers, washing machines, and yes, a full day of elementary school. This bundle comes with 126 durable labels in various sizes and shapes, and you can customize them with whatever design and color you want. Trust me: They last forever.

The Only Calendar Your Family Needs

I was always a paper calendar girly and really detested any kind of app or digital calendar — until I tried the Skylight Calendar. Not only can you input *everybody’s* plans and commitments and events (and color-code them!), but the biggest game changer has been the chore lists for our family. The ability to see what our kids need to do each day and then check it off themselves has been a huge motivator. I’m also enormously pleased with the dinner plans I can add in — no more “What’s for dinner?” at school pick-up — and the list section where my kids can add things to the grocery list themselves (and then I can just access it at the grocery store later). This is like a personal assistant.

The Ultimate Hygiene Bundle For Big Kids

Tubby Todd has been a beloved baby brand for a long time, but if you’ve got little kids heading into elementary school or, you know, starting to have a certain scent, consider buying the Tubby Todd Kids Bundle. Created for kids ages 6 to 12, this set includes a face wash, deodorant, toothpaste, and bar soap to help combat the skin issues commonly faced by kids of that age. Plus, they all come in really fun scents.

The Perfect Basket For Uniforms

It took me roughly six months of having three kids in about six different activities before I got smart about uniform storage, and these Brightroom XL baskets are perfection. Now, when I dry soccer uniforms, ballet leotards, practice jerseys, swimsuits — whatever they need for their activities — instead of folding them to go upstairs where we’ll be struggling to find them five minutes before we have to leave for practice, I toss them in this basket on top of the dryer. Then everyone knows where they are, everyone can grab their own stuff, and we always know what’s clean. Even shinguards and other sports accessories go in there. Get one for each kid.

An Easy-To-Clean Water Bottle

There are few things worse than a water bottle that has a million parts and gets all gross and dingy inside — except maybe a water bottle whose parts don’t even come out, so you can never really get them clean. If you want to make sure your kiddo has a water bottle that’s easy to clean, doesn’t spill, and can take a beating at soccer practice, recess, and the lunchroom, then you want the Owala FreeSip water bottle. With just one little rubber piece inside to remove to clean, and a straw that’s easy to keep from getting gross, this is the ultimate little kid water bottle. Kids can also decide whether they’d rather sip or use a straw, and it comes in tons of different fun color combinations.

A Lunchbox That Can Literally Handle Anything

I’ve bought many lunch boxes over the last decade, but nothing lasts like the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie lunch boxes. These things are not only gorgeous and come in a bunch of different designs and colors (which you can obviously monogram), but they are solid on the inside and incredibly easy to clean. There’s also a pocket for water bottles on the side, and the inside features a little mesh zippered section to store utensils, napkins, or even sweet notes. These will literally last you years.

A Fun Pack Of Markers For Studying

Listen, sometimes you just need a fun marker or highlighter to keep you focused while you’re studying, and that’s exactly what the Yoobi SmileyWorld Double-Ended Stamp Markers are. Not only do they come in bright, fun colors with a nice fine marker tip, but the other end of these markers acts as a smiley face stamp for five different little faces. Kids can use them to decorate their notebooks, doodle while listening to lectures, or stamp around their study guides to help them remember key facts. These are also especially helpful for encouraging kids to fill out their agendas and planners.

The Perfect Size Refreezable Ice Packs

You’re always going to need ice packs, whether it’s for a boo-boo or someone’s lunch, so you might as well have some perfectly sized ones on hand. These Cat & Jack refreezable ice packs are not only a fun shape, but they’re just the right size — and won’t break your toe if they fall out of the freezer — for anything your kid needs when heading back to school. They also keep things much colder than you think they would! I especially love having them on hand for sports injuries.

The Best High-Protein Snack To Throw In Your Kid’s Bag

Everyone’s always looking for a super-easy snack to drop in their kid’s book bag or sports bag for after school, and the Snack Mates Chicken Pizza Mini Meat Sticks are a personal favorite. With 8 grams of protein and only 1 gram of sugar in each stick, these are not only nutrient-dense but also absolutely delicious. I mean, pizza-flavored chicken sticks? Come on. They’re super easy to just toss to your kid as they run out the door, or you can keep a stash in the car so that they can have one as soon as you head off to soccer practice. Buy in bulk to keep everyone happy and full.

The Coolest Pair Of Tennis Shoes

Nobody deserves a new pair of tennis shoes like a kid heading back to school, so why not make them feel like a legit superhero with the Adidas Marvel Iron Man X_PLRPATH shoes? Not only does Adidas know how to make shoes that can live up to the elementary school playground, but these are also easy for kids to put on themselves and have such a fun design.

The Perfect Cardigan

Every kid needs a good cardigan or sweater for those chilly classrooms, and this metallic stitched open cardigan from The Children’s Place is a great choice. It’s nice and thick, but the knit is still light enough for them to wear even in the warmer months when it’s just the A/C giving them the chills. Plus, it goes with anything and can even dress up the most casual of back-to-school outfits. Pair it with a cute dress and tights or even jeans and a tee with sneakers — it’s perfection.

The Most Adorable Hand Sanitizer

Listen, hand sanitizer is a must during back-to-school season, and the PocketBac holders from Bath & Body Works not only make it convenient for your kid to fight back against germs, but they might even get a little excited to do so. These are easy to clip onto lunch boxes, book bags, or whatever you need a little extra germ-fighting help on, and they come in all kinds of designs. Snag a bunch — Bath & Body Works offers plenty of sales.

The Lunch Container That Actually Keeps Things Cool (& Warm!)

There are a million different lunch containers available out there, but there’s nothing quite like the OMIEBox insulated bento lunch box. It features lots of compartments to pop in all your kid’s snacks and lunch favorites, and the main center of the box is an insulated thermos to keep their favorite warm lunches hot until they’re ready to eat (you can also pop it out for more room). The entire box itself is insulated to keep things cold. There’s no spillage or leakage either, so it’s a major win for everyone — and they’re extremely heavy-duty, so they last forever.

The Sweetest DIY Stickers

Claire’s has a whole new line of the most adorable DIY things right now, and my favorite are these DIY initial stickers. They have water bottles, bags, clear pouches — all kinds of stuff for your kid to customize and personalize — and these stickers genuinely hold up well. So far, they’ve lasted through a few dishwasher rolls as they stick to my girls’ tumblers, and they really help set apart their favorite (and most personal) items from everybody else’s in the class.

The Safest Smartwatch For Kids

Every year, I hear from fellow parents who just want a smart, easy way to track their kid — but they don’t want their kid to have a phone yet or readily available access to the internet. Enter the Bark Watch. A sigh of relief for parents, this watch is known for keeping kids safe while navigating technology. With talk and text available, as well as GPS tracking and the security you expect from Bark, the Bark Watch is a great choice for families who want their kids to have some freedom while still maintaining peace of mind. Plus, the monthly plan is only $15 a month.

The Cutest Snack Bag For On-The-Go

Go ahead and get this adorable snack bag, fill it up with snacks that won’t go bad in your car, and congratulate yourself every time you pick a kid up from school and the first thing out of their mouth is, “I’m starving!” Once you have it stocked, just take it to sports practices and errands with you or leave it in the car so that there’s always something easy for them to grab.

The Best Travel Mug

Back-to-school means a lot of time running around for you, so you’re going to need a coffee thermos to keep you going. When I tell you these Contigo Byron insulated mugs will keep your coffee piping hot for hours, I mean it. I have dropped them so many times with zero spillage, and they are incredibly easy to clean. I’m obsessed with them and give them to people all the time — this is the only travel coffee mug you need.

No matter what, your little one’s bound to be prepared for the back-to-school season because they know they have you in their corner. (But cute back-to-school supplies always help.)

]]><![CDATA[From Heroes To Villains, A Disney Destiny Vacation Will Have Every Family Member Feeling Like The Main Character]]>https://www.romper.com/life/a-vacation-aboard-the-all-new-disney-cruise-line-ship-the-disney-destiny-will-have-every-family-member-feeling-like-the-main-characterhttps://www.romper.com/life/a-vacation-aboard-the-all-new-disney-cruise-line-ship-the-disney-destiny-will-have-every-family-member-feeling-like-the-main-characterThu, 17 Jul 2025 20:33:10 GMT

In any family, there are different ideas of what constitutes “fun.” Throw into the mix kids of different ages, interests, and dispositions, and the puzzle gets even harder to solve. But aboard the Disney Destiny, the all-new ship from Disney Cruise Line, every family member can become the hero (or anti-hero) of their own legendary adventure.

On the Disney Destiny, awesomeness awaits you and the whole family in new spaces and experiences inspired by the iconic characters of the Disney, Pixar, and Marvel universes — whether you root for the good guys or the bad guys. From epic quests for the youngest adventurers to sophisticated escapes for adults embracing their inner villain, complete with character encounters, a water coaster, Broadway-style shows, and world-class dining, there's truly something that will speak to every member of the family — plus countless opportunities to come together and share in the magic.

In November 2025, the ship begins sailing from Ft. Lauderdale for a series of four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Ready to plan your trip? Read on to learn all about the one-of-a-kind experiences the whole family will enjoy on your core memory-making Disney Destiny vacation… heroes and villains style.

Looking for the perfect getaway for all your main characters? Book your voyage on the all-new Disney Cruise Line Ship, the Disney Destiny, setting sail from Ft. Lauderdale November 2025.

]]><![CDATA['TSITP' Star Jackie Chung On Saying Goodbye To Messy Midlife Mom Laurel]]>https://www.romper.com/entertainment/jackie-chung-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-season-3-interviewhttps://www.romper.com/entertainment/jackie-chung-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-season-3-interviewTue, 15 Jul 2025 14:21:36 GMT

We’re all bracing for the end of summer, sure. More pressingly, though, we’re bracing for the end of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Season 3 of the wildly popular hit Prime Video series drops on July 16, meaning it’s time to say goodbye to Cousins Beach and the characters we’ve come to know and love. Among them? Laurel — best friend to Susannah, mother to Belly and Steven, messy mid-adult woman just out here trying to live a whole-ass life without imploding. (Relatable!)

I would go so far as to argue that it’s Jackie Chung as Laurel that anchors viewership of the series for moms like me. We see Chung’s complex portrayal of midlife womanhood in a YA-tinged world, and we realize we’ve reached that point where we see more of ourselves in her than we do in Belly. The scales have tipped, and you know what? We’re OK with that.

As the series reminds us, life goes on, and soon, it’ll go on without the characters from Cousins Beach, too. But for now, Chung is reflecting on her journey — from steamy car scenes to the romantic advice she would give to Belly — and what fans can expect from Laurel in Season 3.

SM: Here on the precipice of the final season, how do you plan to say goodbye to Laurel?

Jackie Chung: We shot last year, so I sort of feel like I’m saying hello to her again before I say goodbye, and it’s just been really lovely. I think I’m just going to watch in real time with everyone and then see what all the feelings are.

SM: As a fan, there’s this natural inclination to want the characters we love to stay with us as long as possible. Would you say this is a final goodbye to Laurel for you, or would you be open to revisiting her in a future… maybe a movie adaptation?

JC: Oh, wow. I feel like I would be open to revisiting Laurel. I have such a good time with this cast. We have created our own family, and I would love to have a reunion with them at some point in my life.

SM: That’s good to hear! We are living in the age of reboots, so I feel like it could happen...

JC: Yeah, we’ll just send postcards to Jenny.

SM: I’m already bracing to have my heart broken, as I’ve been a staunch supporter of Team Jellyfish. Were you surprised to see just how passionate fans have become about their relationship loyalties, duking it out left and right on social media?

JC: Oh, yeah! I think if you do any show, even when it’s based on a popular book series, it’s impossible to anticipate what the reaction is going to be or how much people are going to like or not like it ... the incredibly passionate responses when it comes to Belly’s relationship choices have been really surprising.

I was just thinking about this the other day. I went to see a friend in a play — this was a couple of years ago — and I sat down before the play started. This woman turned, and I could feel her looking at me, and then she just started talking to me. But it wasn’t like, “Hey, I recognize you from the show.” She just went, “Hi, what team are you? I’m Team Jellyfish, what about you? These are my reasons, what do you think? Nice to meet you.” (Laughs.)

SM: Everyone talks about teams primarily in terms of Conrad or Jeremiah and Belly, but I feel like the dark horse here for me is Team Staylor. I was really happy to see Steven get to step into his own stan-dom. Did you feel a sort of maternal pride or protectiveness in watching Sean, who plays your son, make this shift?

JC: I feel a lot of pride with all of the younger actors on our show. I do feel very close to Sean [Kaufman, “Steven”] and Lola [Tung, “Belly”] because they do play my children. I check in on everyone, because there’s a year where I don’t see them, so I like to check in on everyone and just see how they’re doing. But I’m happy to see any and all of them step into any light that is shining on them because I think they’re all really wonderful actors and people.

SM: We know Season 3 picks up with a major time jump. ... What, if anything, can you tell us about where the time jump finds Laurel?

JC: Yes, it’s been four years, and Laurel is in this new place because she is now an empty nester. Belly is in college and Steven has entered the workforce, so she has a bit more time on her hands to figure out, I feel like, who she wants to be. Because she’s also without this huge relationship that was part of her life, that being her friendship with Susannah. So, she just has a lot of room to grow.

SM: Honestly, she’s been arguably my favorite on the show for this very reason: I feel like, for mid-adult moms like me, she’s just the most relatable character. She’s complicated and sometimes messy, but fiercely loving and just out there trying to do her best. Was that something, as a mom, that drew you to her?

JC: I mean, thank you for saying that, because we do have a lot of mothers or just women who are in their 30s or 40s who relate to these characters because they enjoy watching these young adult shows. I think they enjoy the romance and the nostalgia, but I feel like they also love seeing these adult relationships.

What initially drew me to the show was Jenny [Han], because I’d seen the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before films, and I feel like she just has such an incredible way of capturing this time in your life where emotions run so high and everything feels life or death, and your heart is just bursting. There’s so much that you’re trying to figure out. So, I was excited to work with her.

Then, once I read the script, I really loved seeing the relationship between Laurel and Susannah. Rachel [Blanchard] and I talked about it a lot, how lovely it was to see a long friendship where the women just support each other. They don’t ever try to take each other down. They’re always there to hold each other up. It was really lovely portraying that.

SM: Before we get into that more, we have to talk about *that* scene with Laurel and Cleveland in the car in Season 1. It’s spicy, and I was here for it. Let’s please normalize stories like this for women over 35! Were you a little nervous about that scene?

JC: I was not nervous about that scene actually! ... Any of those scenes are kind of weird. Like, Hey, just got to go bounce around in the car for a while. I’m friends with Alfredo Narciso, who plays Cleveland. We’ve done a couple of plays together, so I knew him before. That was very helpful because I already felt comfortable and safe with him, and I didn’t necessarily feel nervous about it.

It’s maybe not the most comfortable scene to be in, but I do think what you said is true — that it is important to normalize being women over 30, 35, whatever, having intimate relationships and people who are mothers and who are divorced, like Laurel, still exploring relationships and their sexuality... that it doesn’t end at a certain age.

SM: Yes! You mentioned the friendship between Susannah and Laurel, which was so very special. Is it safe to say that Laurel’s grief over losing Susannah will still be bubbling up in Season 3?

JC: You’ll see that Laurel is always thinking about Susannah and that, in this season, she’s channeling that loss and that love for her friend into her relationships with all of the children, particularly Susannah’s children. I think she really feels like a lone adult in the room and wants to be there for her best friend and soul mate’s family.

SM: I read an interview where Jenny said some of Laurel and Belly’s scenes in Season 3 are the ones that made her cry. This love triangle is coming to a head, and that will affect Laurel as well. If Belly were your real-life daughter, what advice would you give her?

JC: My advice would be to listen to your heart and focus on yourself. I actually have said this to friends before. When we were in our 20s, I had a friend who was looking for someone, always looking, and I’m like, Just look at yourself. Develop the person that you are, the interests that you have, the career that you want to build, and someone interesting that matches you will appear. Stop looking outwards and look inwards. I feel like I would tell that to Belly. She’s at a big transitional time in her life, and there’s so much to explore in the world and in herself. I would hope she would just do that.

SM: Love that. Well, being a working mom is obviously not new to you, but the series has exploded; it’s part of the zeitgeist. Do you feel like it has changed your day-to-day life as a mom?

JC: I definitely get recognized when I’m out, and sometimes I’m with my kids, so I feel like I’ve had to create boundaries when I’m with my family versus when I’m out by myself. I feel like I owe it to my kids to explain what this attention is. So, I just try to articulate to them that this is part of my job, and it’s lovely that people respond to the show that I’m on, but receiving attention is not something that I’m seeking or something I want to stress that they try to attain.

SM: I’m sure that’s something that will just be evolving constantly for you now! Which, speaking of, what’s next for you?

JC: I’m waiting for the right, interesting role to come along. I’m enjoying the summer with my family, enjoying some downtime with them, and then just open to seeing what’s next.

This interview originally ran on Scary Mommy. It has been edited for length and clarity.

]]><![CDATA[Leadership, Creativity, & 7 Other Life Skills Scouting America Instills In Kids]]>https://www.romper.com/parenting/independence-creativity-7-other-life-skills-scouting-america-instills-in-kidshttps://www.romper.com/parenting/independence-creativity-7-other-life-skills-scouting-america-instills-in-kidsMon, 14 Jul 2025 14:40:33 GMT
Courtesy of Scouting America

When I think about the best parts of my childhood, a few things come to mind. First, I remember the friendships — the kids who really knew me, who I could be goofy and ridiculous around without worrying that I was doing something uncool. Then I get to the tactile parts: the way I was satisfied when my feet were calloused by the end of the summer, or how it felt to sit inside a snow fort I’d built myself, shivering but proud. Finally, I think of what I learned and how it stimulated me — finishing a book in one sitting for the first time, or mastering a challenging new skill.

As a parent, I want to give my kid opportunities to create memories like these. That’s where Scouting America comes in. Far from being just an excuse to take camping trips, Scouting America aims to prepare young people for lives of impact and purpose. They do it by teaching life skills — like social and emotional learning, self-confidence and strength, and curiosity about the world around them — that will help children become kind, knowledgeable, and community-oriented people as they grow.

Sounds pretty good, right? Here’s a bit more about the skills and values that Scouting America instills in its members, and here’s a link you can follow to get your kid started on a Scouting journey of their own.

Social & Emotional Skills

Courtesy of Scouting America

When kids start Scouting at young ages, they learn early how to make friends, develop empathy, and be helpful to others. Scouts are also taught to respect differences and resolve conflict, and they develop skills like honesty and responsibility that will serve them well in social relationships throughout their lives.

A Sense Of Community

From Cub Scouts, which is for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade, all the way up to Venturing, Sea Scouts, and Exploring (programs designed for pre-teens through age 20) Scouting has a huge community focus. The whole family is encouraged to get involved, and Scouts regularly volunteer locally. As an added benefit, this helps kids learn about their neighborhoods, community centers, and schools.

Creativity

Scouts do arts and crafts, perform skits, and sing. And rather than pushing perfection, Scouting shows kids that doing their best is rewarding and fun.

Resilience

Through everything from outdoor adventures like camping, fishing, and hiking to indoor learning projects, Scouting focuses on self-sufficiency. Kids who join Scouting learn early and often that they can do challenging things, and they grow as people when they learn to set goals and achieve them.

Integrity

At Scouting America, regular character development activities teach kids to act on their convictions with strong values and a sense of responsibility.

Future-Facing Skills

Courtesy of Scouting America

Today’s Scouts don’t just have fun in the outdoors — they also take on areas that will propel them forward as adults like rocketry, robotics, and coding. As they get older, they participate in programs like Exploring, which includes mentorship and helps Scouts discover and learn about possible career fields.

Leadership Skills

Through volunteering, outdoor adventures, and team building games, Scouts learn decision making, communication, and organization — all things that will help them grow into strong leaders.

Well-Roundedness

Being involved in Scouting is enriching and fun, but Scouting America knows that their members are always balancing a mix of school and other extracurriculars. For that reason, Scouting America works hard to ensure their programs fit seamlessly into your family’s schedule so your kid can shine on the field, in the classroom, or anywhere they love to spend their time.

A Positive Outlook

A childhood track record of setting and achieving goals — plus helping others do the same — gives kids an inherent sense that they’ll have a bright future. That’s not to say that Scouts are entitled; rather, they believe they’ll be successful because they’ve already seen themselves work hard and achieve positive outcomes.

As a parent, the thought of my kid imbued with that sense of possibility as he prepares to head out into the world is enough to make my eyes well up. If you feel the same, learn more about Scouting America. Here’s to the next generation.

]]><![CDATA[A+ Shopping Tips For Saving Money On All Your Back-to-School Needs]]>https://www.romper.com/shopping/a-shopping-tips-to-help-you-save-money-on-all-your-back-to-school-needshttps://www.romper.com/shopping/a-shopping-tips-to-help-you-save-money-on-all-your-back-to-school-needsMon, 14 Jul 2025 14:31:35 GMT
Tirachard Kumtanom/Shutterstock

While the excitement of back-to-school season is real (routines! child care! earlier bedtimes!), it's easily quashed by the reality of prep. The registrations, the budgeting, and the inevitable shopping can leave you feeling overwhelmed before the true chaos even begins.

But if there’s one thing that can bring you a little extra solace in the thick of the new-school-year rush, it’s saving money. And sure, hacking your shopping list with Amazon (especially if you’ve got that sweet, sweet Prime subscription) is already a smart move, but it’s possible to stretch your savings a little further with some savvy strategies.

In 2025, your mission is to shop smarter, not harder. While that could mean scoring deals on stuff you’d buy anyway, it could also mean rethinking what you do and don’t add to cart.

So, without further preamble, let’s get into the tips that will help you spend less in all senses of the phrase. Less money, of course, but also less time and less energy. Instead, let these tips do the work for you. Here we go!

1. Look For Deals On The Things That Spark Joy

If you’re still traumatized from your parents denying you the sneakers everyone was wearing in middle school, this one is for you.

Your kid’s clothes may feel like an obvious place to cut back on spending, and while that’s true, it’s also an opportunity to (say it with me!) shop smarter, not harder. Connect with your kid to decide on a couple of items that make them feel good. The latest sneakers? A fresh new backpack? That name-brand water bottle? Whatever it may be, start scouring for sales, deals, or price drops on Amazon so you can score the best possible price on a few key pieces. Then, round out the rest of their back-to-school haul with affordable versions of wardrobe and classroom essentials.

2. Stick With The Classic Styles

While back-to-school shopping, thinking long-term can make a big impact for you, the earth, and your budget. Take backpacks for example. Chat with your kiddo about styles they might still like next year (or even two years from now). Maybe it’s a classic solid color, shape, or brand with staying power. Same goes for lunchboxes. Finding a look they won’t get sick of can save you lots down the line.

3. Use Reviews For Long-Lasting School Staples

Speaking of long shelf lives, consider investing in quality supplies that outlast your kid’s school year. While that box of crayons or colored pencils won’t stand a chance, stuff like scissors, calculators, rulers, or any other hardware can stick with you for the long haul.

But how does one find quality gear without a road test? Behold: The Amazon review. Scope out the comments for what’s outlasted the competition and what didn’t. Once your investigation is complete, add to cart.

4. Put Those Girl Math Skills To Use

Girl math went viral for a reason, folks. When you think of your purchases in terms of cost per use, it can help you calculate whether or not it’s worth it. Maybe a $200 jacket doesn’t make sense for your ever-growing fifth grader. But $400 on a tablet they can use for homework for the next three years does. The math maths!

Another facet of girl math worth exploring is investing in products that make your quality of life (or your kids’) easier. That could mean grabbing those cute cookie cutters and using them to make lunches from home a little more special. Just a thought!

5. Get Realistic About Your Kids’ Day-to-Day Routine

Yes, you need to get all the items on the teacher’s school supply list, but the other stuff — like lunchboxes, trendy new clothes, and after-school snacks — is all optional. Before you buy, consider whether your kid actually prefers eating school lunch, loves neon green, or digs those dried fruit treats. Their past behavior is the best predictor of future use.

6. Stock Up On Personal Care Essentials

Saving Future You some time is a big deal, too. While you’re in the thick of school shopping, there’s no better moment to get your kids’ bathroom stocked up with deodorant, period products, and other personal hygiene items you know they’ll need all year long. It’s one less thing to worry about once the school year is in full swing and your schedule is packed.

]]><![CDATA[Kick Off The Summer Season With The New Baby Shark x SHEIN Collab]]>https://www.romper.com/shopping/kick-off-the-summer-season-with-the-new-baby-shark-x-shein-collabhttps://www.romper.com/shopping/kick-off-the-summer-season-with-the-new-baby-shark-x-shein-collabMon, 23 Jun 2025 21:05:46 GMT

Baby Shark knows a thing or two about virality, and its latest partnership with SHEIN is sure to follow suit. The thoughtfully designed collection celebrates the 10th anniversary of Baby Shark with colorful characters and oceanic motifs decorating baby and kids' clothing, coordinating adult pieces, and even a few accessories. Inspired by the internet's catchiest fish in the sea, the fun swimwear, cozy lounge pieces, and cute flowy dresses are graphic in color, easy to wear, and practical for all the excitement that summer brings.

For outdoor playdates, a logo tee livens up a pair of athletic shorts, while a splashy button-up, worn with khakis, offers a creative take on dressing for a backyard BBQ. Unsurprisingly, the collab is heavy on swimwear. Think: one-pieces with shark fin hoods, rash guards with cool cutouts, and a Mommy Shark two-piece complete with ruffled bottoms, all of which deserve a spot in the suitcase for your next getaway. On the loungewear side, graphic matching sets are comfortable and cute for just hanging out — and for coordinating family pics — while rompers make the debate over getting changed into something cozy easier than ever.

From hot beach days to afternoon poolside hangs, these eye-catching pieces are guaranteed to make a splash with the little ones in your life. See our favorite picks from the collection below, and shop the full Baby Shark x SHEIN collection here.

]]><![CDATA[I've Rediscovered My Vanity After 40]]>https://www.romper.com/life/ive-rediscovered-my-vanity-after-40https://www.romper.com/life/ive-rediscovered-my-vanity-after-40Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:34:38 GMT
Fiordaliso/Moment/Getty Images

A few months ago, I took my annual pilgrimage to The Runway Sample Sale Boutique in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Los Angeles. I don’t live in Los Angeles, and I am not in a line of work that requires me to be fashionable. In fact, I spend most of my days at a desk in my bedroom closet. I’m not dating – the man I’ve been with for twenty years thinks my rattiest sports bra is sexy. And my two children do everything in their power to destroy nice things.

And yet, I find a way to make it there, with whatever I’ve put aside to spend, to take a few hours to try on the dozens of delights I always find amongst the eclectic, locally-sourced designers whose discount merchandise they peddle. Why? For me, just for me.

A surprising phenomenon has occurred in the past few years – after my children started going to one free and local school and I turned forty and started to slip from the male gaze. It’s that my style is, I believe, only just peaking. More days than not, I am looking at myself in the mirror before I go out the door and thinking “damn, she’s fine!” I am putting in just the right amount of effort. I have started wearing my “New York” outfits at home because, who cares if everyone else is in hoodies? Despite not having a flat stomach, I am wearing crop tops.

It’s not that I feel young again, it’s that I feel, finally, like myself.

It’s not that I feel young again, it’s that I feel, finally, like myself. When I was in high school, I painstakingly picked out my outfit for the next day each night. I would sit in my cranberry-red room, talking to Mae or Jeannie, the cordless tucked under one ear and Portishead blasting on my boombox, while I painted my fingernails to match. Butter yellow to go with my shell-toe Adidas. Deep pink to match the accents on the sheer blue top I “borrowed” from my brother’s girlfriend for years.

Of course I am nostalgic for those nights – having the time and attention span to devote to decking myself out like a new bride each day. But if I really return to the feeling, it wasn’t luxury, it was fear. Of being judged and rejected. Of never, ever, being loved back. The effort was a cover, a wild scrambling for something to control. My ex’s best friend was rumored to have said back then, “What do you get when you slap Sarah Wheeler in the face? A handful of make-up.” It was true. And the make-up served as armor against the sentiments in that joke. If I was going to be slaughtered, I decided, at least it would be in my prettiest dress.

Since then, my relationship with my body, my self-image, and of course, with fashion, has charted a complex course. Trying to get pregnant forced me into therapy for my disordered eating and body image. Pregnancy and birth and postpartum forced me to get comfortable with not having much control over how I looked. And perimenopause, or the adjacent space my body currently inhabits, has forced me to ask, if there are no more hoops to jump through to prove myself as a woman, can I just have fun??

These days, this is my idea of fun: Sephora with my seven-year-old, despite my anxieties about her shifting girlhood. Instead of asking “do I look good in this lipstick?” I model for her “I feel so happy with this purple eye shadow!” Sharing custody of an LED face mask with my buddy, because we are too self-obsessed not to be intrigued by the promises of better skin, too frugal to buy our own, and too wise not to pass up an opportunity to make a silly game out of our vanity.

I even stay up late in my bedroom sometimes, Facetiming with my bestie and applying nail stickers, my latest obsession (this is my favorite brand), which last longer than one day, cost far less than a trip to the salon, and give me a little thrill every time I gaze at my hands.

At the end of the day, I want to use the time I have left in this body to adorn it – to treat it as a canvas for artistic expression, for humor, for happiness. That is what I feel when I rock the hard-shelled silver mirror clutch I picked up on my last LA visit, something I would have questioned, a decade ago, whether I could “pull off.” So if you’re pushing 40 or 50 or have lost the thread on what your image means, I’m here to encourage you to make it your own. You can pull it off, trust me. Don’t be afraid, luxuriate in yourself.

]]><![CDATA[As An Experienced Mom, This $27 Gift Box Is My Go-To Baby Shower Gift]]>https://www.romper.com/shopping/millie-moon-baby-shower-gift-box-reviewhttps://www.romper.com/shopping/millie-moon-baby-shower-gift-box-reviewWed, 18 Jun 2025 20:34:22 GMT

The funny thing about becoming a parent for the first time is the way it shows you just how little you know about parenting. An example: when I was building my registry, I went for big ticket items like my stroller and crib along with novelty finds like fun outfits and toys. I didn’t even know to factor in the fact that diapers were the one item I would be using more than anything else. The truth is, at the time, diapers just didn’t seem like something to ask for, but when my daughter arrived (and I realized she would require 10 to 12 diaper changes per day), I wished I would’ve.

If I were building my registry today, things would look a bit different. In place of cutesy newborn outfits and pricey crib sheets, you’d see more practical items like diapers of different sizes and plenty of wipes — both of which are included in the Millie Moon Luxury Diapers Newborn Gift Box. The full-fledged newborn starter kit comes with a trial pack of their cloud-soft, derm-tested Luxury Diapers for newborns and the next size up so new parents can find the right size for their little one. Plus, it comes with a full pack of their popular Sensitive Wipes for complete diaper duty prep.

Alone, those would’ve been enough for me to jump for joy, but Millie Moon also rounded out the gift box with bespoke newborn extras: a super soft hooded towel, an owl plushie, and a full collection of three Millie Moon storybooks. I’ve already picked up one of these gift boxes for a shower at the end of this month, and I can’t wait to give the mom-to-be the best of both worlds — essentials she’ll really need and precious gifts that are heartwarming to receive. Ahead, learn more about each of the items in the gift box before grabbing one for the new mom in your life.

Size Newborn Diaper Trial Pack

The first thing your baby will wear once they’re born is their diaper, and these newborn sized ones from Millie Moon are designed with an umbilical cutout to be extra gentle on a newborn’s sensitive belly area. They’re also super soft against their sensitive skin, plus they’re made without lotions, latex or fragrance. It’s peak luxury for baby that’s affordable for you (especially with all those daily diaper changes).

Size 1 Diaper Trial Pack

Because babies can go through surprise growth spurts, it’s always helpful to have the next size up of their go-to diaper. The Millie Moon gift box has got you covered with Size 1 diapers that are just as cloud-soft with dermatologically-tested comfort you can trust when they outgrow their newborn sizes.

Sensitive Wipes

Pro parenting tip: you can never have too many wipes. Millie Moon Sensitive Wipes are ideal for getting your baby’s bottom clean without irritation, but they’re also the perfect size pack to throw in your diaper bag for quick errand runs. They make on-the-go diaper changes easy and are even helpful to have for small messes like spit-up or wiping runny noses.

The Millie Moon Storybook Collection

Reading to my newborn daughter was one of my favorite ways to bond with her in those earliest days together. Picture books like the three that come in this gift box (they’re written and illustrated especially for Millie Moon!) help engage their curious and growing minds while giving you a sweet way to bond with your baby.

Super Soft Hooded Towel

I really loved bath time with my daughter — from cute bath toys to wrapping her up like a baby burrito in her hooded towel, it felt like a routine that we got to share. The cozy hooded towel that comes in this Millie Moon gift box is a great one to have in your bath time routine rotation (and is just downright adorable). Similar versions typically cost anywhere from $16 to $50, so getting one of this quality as part of a $27 gift box is quite the deal.

Adorable Owl Plushie

On their own, plushies are go-to gifts for people who want to give your baby something precious they can cuddle with through the toddler years. The adorable owl in this gift box is as soft as Millie Moon diapers and is a thoughtful touch that’ll become one of your baby’s favorite comfort items as they grow.

As a new parent, you’ll have a lot on your plate and the gift-givers in your life just want to support you and your new bundle of joy. To help them do just that, I’m loving the Millie Moon Luxury Diapers Newborn Gift Box as my go-to gift for new moms. They’ll get $60 worth of high-quality essentials, and I’ll get to know they’re supported with a beautiful, thoughtful gift that’ll help them through those earliest moments.

]]><![CDATA[The Question That Haunted Me My First Year Of Parenthood]]>https://www.romper.com/parenting/the-question-that-haunted-me-through-my-first-year-of-parenthoodhttps://www.romper.com/parenting/the-question-that-haunted-me-through-my-first-year-of-parenthoodMon, 09 Jun 2025 19:28:12 GMT
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“What’s your support system like?” my doctor asked as I tried to calm my baby. I was at my PCP’s office to get some insight into the persistent elbow pain that was making it difficult for me to open my apartment door or pull the covers over me at night — not to mention feed, hold, and soothe my baby who especially liked to fall asleep in the crook of that injured elbow.

My daughter had arrived six weeks early and needed to be fed in a specific position that required me to hold her head up with my left hand, the weight of her tiny body settling into my joint. But, like a lot of people I encountered in those early days, my doctor was having trouble getting past the single mother thing. “I’m worried about you,” she said, when I made the mistake of mentioning that I wasn’t sleeping. I was worried about me too, but I really needed help with my elbow.

“What’s your support system like?” was the first question almost anyone asked when finding out I was raising a baby without a partner — from potential mom friends at tot gyms to all kinds of medical professionals.

When I was pregnant, I got “what’s your support system like?” from a homeowner who was renting out an upstairs suite in a cohousing community. In cohousing, people usually live in separate houses on shared land, sharing resources. Because buying into a cohousing community can be expensive, I saw renting as a way in for me. But the homeowner balked as we tried to nail down a time for a tour. Instead, she wanted to schedule a call to talk about my support system.

The question was tough for me — it was something I had been asking myself, with some trepidation, since before I had gotten pregnant. Would the life I had made, the seeming haphazard connections collected over the years, be enough to sustain both me and a baby? I didn’t particularly want to get into this with my future landlord or, worse, be evaluated based on my ability to obtain this magic system. I told her that I thought her question was discriminatory (since she was not asking non-parents the same thing), she apologized profusely, and we parted ways.

But the incident jolted me: It was the first of a series of interactions that made me aware that by deciding to have a baby, I had stepped into a role loaded with cultural baggage.

The question about my support system was not about my own trepidations, romantic failures, or giddy hubris in deciding to get pregnant on my own. It was about the asker. “Are you going to need too much from me?” my potential housemate was asking. “Should I pity and worry for you?” my doctor wanted to know. “Can I view you as having agency?” the mom at the tot gym tried to clarify.

“Where do I place you on the scale of superhero to sad sack?” was how the question sounded to me.

“We are seeing the fabric of this country fall apart, and it’s falling apart because of single moms,” Pennsylvania Senate candidate (and future U.S. senator) Rick Santorum said in a speech in 1994. I was a teenager in the 1980s and 1990s when “unwed mothers” were used as cultural (and racial) boogeymen to push through Bill Clinton’s welfare cuts. Single mothers, the rationale went, were a drain on federal resources.

In the intervening years, with the rise of single parents by choice, an alternative narrative has taken hold, one of people who can afford to have babies on their own and are doing just fine. Yet, the words “single mother” remain a powerful cultural and political category that bring up anxieties about the cracks in our social system. And conservatives still seek to punish us, using the flawed logic that this will somehow force people into nuclear family structures.

Single mothers are scary because they are seen as a drain on the state — if they fail by being poor. When they succeed by being able to support themselves, they are scary for a whole other reason: They seem an affront to the idea that women need men.

I straddle these two poles. I am a single mother by choice, not by chance, with all the privilege that comes from a suburban upbringing and an excellent education, along with the racial privilege of being white. When I got pregnant, I had a good middle-class job. By the time my baby was six months old, I’d been laid off, and my search for new work was hampered by the lack of affordable childcare — I languished for close to a year on a waitlist for subsidized care, attempting to apply for jobs during naptimes, when I wasn’t trying to recover from sleeping only a few hours the night before. In other words, I have never met the ideal of a totally self-sufficient, self-supporting single mother by choice.

“Are you happy with your decision to become a single mother?” another doctor asked me, five months after my failed attempt to get help for my elbow. I was shopping for a new PCP after mine had left her practice. When I told him I was, he responded, “Oh good, because a lot of women do it and then think ‘oh no, what did I do to myself?’”

I translated his question to: “Do you regret your decision to move forward in life without a male partner?” Or perhaps: “Shall I think of your story as proof that the biases I already have are well-founded?”

But back to my elbow. When my baby was almost two, someone finally paid enough attention to order an X-ray. It turned out I had osteoarthritis.

The problem with these questions is not the questions themselves but how they stop conversations that could actually help me. My PCP failed to order an X-ray or refer me to sports medicine. My potential landlord contributed to me never finding a cohousing community and missing out on the support that could have offered. And the doctor who wanted to know if I regretted my choice alienated me such that it was another year before I found effective medical care.

Midway through my first year of parenting, when the support system question came up, I started responding, “Are you asking because you have resources to offer?” They rarely had what I needed — a way to get rest without draining my bank account. They mostly couldn’t imagine how that might exist. Generally, when support organizations want to help single mothers, they want to either educate us or listen to our woes, forgetting that perinatal mental health issues often stem from not having enough support at home. But there is no call you can make, no flyer someone can give you, that can alleviate a year of sleep deprivation.

What would it look like to really support single parents? It would be nothing short of a total restructuring of how we do everything in the U.S.: living in small, interconnected communities as humans have for most of our history, sharing labor and valuing an individual’s contributions beyond the financial. And every person, child and adult, would benefit from that. A society like this would not fear need because it would recognize how our children improve the quality of life for all.

In this world, “single” or “partnered” would not be categories of parents but simply life phases that parents might move through as they raise their children.

No baby is meant to be cared for by just one person. No baby is meant to be cared for by just two people. No child is meant to live isolated from their peers and neighbors. Humans evolved to do most things in groups, including raising children. And American parents, single and married, are exhausted precisely because we don’t do that. We live separately and are meant to pull ourselves up when we fall. In other words, we are expected not to need, and when we do, we often question ourselves and our skills, stamina, intelligence.

There’s only one time when the support system question led me towards support rather than away from it. Four years before I had my daughter, I asked my gynecologist if she could tell me what steps I should take to start trying to conceive on my own. She pointed me to a midwives’ clinic in a neighboring town and told me to take folic acid. Then she asked, “Do you have family that can help?” I shook my head, dreading what she’d say next about how hard it would be. She smiled warmly. “You’ll figure it out,” she said. “People figure it out.”

And so I am.

]]><![CDATA[6 Expert Tips All First-Time Parents Need To Know When Looking For A Childcare Provider]]>https://www.romper.com/parenting/6-expert-tips-all-first-time-parents-need-to-know-when-looking-for-a-childcare-providerhttps://www.romper.com/parenting/6-expert-tips-all-first-time-parents-need-to-know-when-looking-for-a-childcare-providerWed, 04 Jun 2025 13:00:25 GMT
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Becoming a first-time parent means navigating a world of new experiences. New sleep schedules, new social plans, new baby gear all over your house... While all of these changes are major adjustments, they don’t tend to feel as daunting as finding the right childcare for your baby.

Learning to trust your baby to someone else is a monumental experience, whether it’s a few weeks after birth or beyond their first birthday. Having someone earn that trust takes research, tours, and thoughtful questions. But beyond that, it’s also important to consider things like the connection between home and school, and what your child’s daily routine will be. These details can reveal how well a care provider's values align with your own.

Dr. Lauren Loquasto, senior vice president and chief academic officer at The Goddard School, says these deeper considerations can boost your confidence — especially if you start the search early.

“We never grow and develop as quickly as we do in the first 2,000 days of life,” she explains. “In these first five years, the foundations of all social interactions, communications, learning, and self-care are established.”

That’s why it’s essential to keep a few key factors in mind. Below, Dr. Loquasto shares smart childcare searching tips, plus fills parents in on what they should look for — from curriculum to safety — when choosing a childcare provider.

Tip #1: Start Your Search Early

You can never be too prepared — especially when it comes to childcare. In high-demand areas, parents sometimes start exploring options even before conception, Dr. Loquasto notes.

“Generally speaking, however, exploring childcare options should begin during pregnancy if infant care is needed. Infant programs are small with limited slots, so it is important to get a spot reserved at your preschool of choice.”

Tip #2: Bring Curriculum Into The Conversation

An educational curriculum might not be top of mind when considering infant care, but Dr. Loquasto says it should be, seeing as learning begins in infancy. A strong early learning program can shape your child’s overall development as they grow.

“The Goddard School has an innovative education program called Wonder of Learning which represents the most current research on how children learn best with a strong embedded focus on academics, social-emotional learning, creative arts, music and movement, outdoor learning, and technology,” Dr. Loquasto says. The Wonder of Learning curriculum encompasses infants through kindergarten and is intentionally designed with the flexibility for teachers to tailor the instruction to the interests of the children in each class.

Tip #3: Keep An Eye Out For Health & Safety Practices

A huge part of making sure your baby is well-cared for is ensuring that health and safety practices are prioritized throughout the caregiving facility. “Health, safety, and welfare of children should always be the top focus,” says Dr. Loquasto. “The Goddard School knows that health and safety is first, and this is considered in every decision made at the school.”

As you tour, look around for health and safety measures (think: secured cabinets or first aid kit access) and ask direct questions like:

  • “What measures do you take to keep children safe and healthy?”
  • “What’s your protocol for an emergency?”
  • “What is your cleaning/sanitizing protocol?”

Tip #4: Observe Teacher-Child Interactions

Since your child’s teachers will be the people responsible for their well-being and development when you’re not with them, it’s important to observe how they interact with other children in their care.

“You should look for happy, engaged children and caring guidance from teachers,” Dr. Loquasto says. “Happy teachers lead to happy children in a preschool.”

Tip #5: Prioritize The Home-School Connection

During this critical time in your child’s life, the best way to reinforce the care your child gets at school is to have open communication with your childcare provider. At The Goddard School, this relationship is key to a high-quality early childhood education that makes way for healthy, sustained long-term development.

“Investing in a high-quality early childhood education provider is investing in a strong foundation for your child,” Dr. Loquasto says. “Many developmental and learning domains have critical windows, meaning there are prime times to maximize these areas.”

Tip #6: Come Prepared With Non-Negotiable Questions

No matter how much you prep, looking for a childcare provider is still a lot of work. Save some time by having a list of must-answer questions ready to go as you call around and start touring. Here are some that Dr. Loquasto recommends parents ask:

  • “Please share with me what my child’s day will be like in this classroom.”
  • “How is your school’s educational program designed to meet the needs of my child?”
  • “How will I be communicated with about my child’s day and about my child’s progress in your program?”

With answers to these questions, plus all of Dr. Loquasto’s expert advice, you’ll be well on your way to finding a childcare provider for your growing family.

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