Toddler

One revealing day, our 9-year-old son Phoenix was sent home from school with a fever of 99.5 but miraculously recovered from all symptoms once he got in front of the Xbox. So I’m trying to work, my husband is trying to work, and Phoenix has set up…

This summer has seen a record number of wildfires throughout the country, most notably the devastating conflagrations in California, so parents in burn-sensitive areas will need to know how to protect their children from wildfire smoke. According to…

On the first day of school, I hugged and kissed my daughter Freyja goodbye and watched as her bus pulled away, waving until it reached the end of the block, turned left, and disappeared out of sight. Then I turned toward our apartment building and…

Anxious about the back-to-school season? There are the endless school supplies lists, the daily lunch-making, the teary bus rides, the calamitous Changes To Routine to dread. And that's just for parents. Heading back to school can give many children…

There is nothing ruder than a cold on a 90-degree day. But for those of us in charge of multiple sets of sticky fingers, colds are just as likely to arrive in August as they are in the depths of January. And when it comes to common illnesses, it…

When you're looking at your toddler busily overturning their bowl of Cheerios, babbling at their favorite stuffed animal, or sleeping peacefully in their crib, it's hard to imagine that that sweet little cherub will one day be driving a car... or…

Anyone who has even attempted to breastfeed will tell you: Feeding a small human with your body is a huge commitment that takes a lot of time and effort. Not only are they tasked with nourishing their little one, but for those who exclusively…

I'll admit, I had a hard time signing my son up for preschool. My husband and I were in the process of determining what was at the root of his social issues, and he really struggled. We also debated whether we'd send him to private school or public;…

You want to send your child to daycare (or have no choice), but where do you send them? Are you after a Spanish immersion program? A classroom that is sufficiently "diverse"? An in-home daycare or franchised daycare center; in an apartment or with a…

A lifetime ago, before I had a child, my best friend referred to her toddler as a “threenager.” I thought it was funny, cute. Her little redhead is a fiery spirit with natural sass and a gift for posturing for the camera. I didn’t consider the…

“Once you leave the plane it’s you, God, and the sky. You’re the most free you will ever experience,” said Rachel Patton, mother to 4-year-old Wyatt. “The wind isn’t loud like people would think and the scenery from 10,000 ft. is absolutely…

Is your 2-year-old the type who'll calmly sit and play with your keys in the grocery cart seat at Trader Joe's when the line is all the way back to the dairy aisle, or does he go into hysterics if you're even a minute slow serving his dinner? It can…

My best friend and I have 2-year-olds who are only weeks apart, and while her little boy has been sleeping in a toddler bed for months, I have no plans to move mine out of the confines of his crib anytime soon. When my friend's son transitioned to a…

It is a truth universally acknowledged that choosing a children’s book with which to enthrall and delight your kids is not easy. In fact, I’d say it’s almost as difficult as putting the kids to bed after said book is done, because apparently it is…

Moms of Instagram fall into three categories. There’s the Friends Only This Account Is Private Mom, the Back of My Kid’s Head And Pseudonym Mom, and No Boundaries At All Mom. I am somewhere in the middle. My Instagram is public since I use it mainly…

Last week, I lived out every mom's nightmare when I got stuck in an elevator with my toddler on a 95-degree day in Los Angeles. I've always been afraid of elevators — it's an enclosed space, I worry the doors won't open, insert your specific fear…

There are very few things in this world that can be purchased for five bucks or less. A pack of gum, maybe? Or a cup of coffee (as long as it's not a fancy one). A sandwich would be pushing it, honestly. But thanks to Old Navy's current sale, you…

When you're the parent of a child with food allergies, sending them to school is nerve-wracking, scary, and fraught with danger. When I sent my son to pre-K that first day, I felt like I was sending him into a minefield, where anything could go off…

When your kid has a cough that just won't quit, it can be maddening. You just want to be able to do something, anything, to make them more comfortable, especially when they're hacking away at night. Fortunately, there are some helpful hacks to make…

As a kid, I remember my parents — especially my mom — often telling me to "stop whining." To which my response was usually something along the lines of, "I'm not whining!" Now, as a parent, whining has taken on a whole new meaning, and I'm finding…