Parent Talk

Get tips from the trenches with this information-packed blog from the authors of The Rookie Mom’s Handbook and Stuff Every Mom Should Know, Heather Flett and Whitney Moss.

Posted by Heather, December 11, 2012

Picking the Toys That Last Forever

If I were the Queen of Everything, I would only buy the most cherished toys for my children. Every toy would be loved and played with. And probably, my kids wouldn’t whine either. But in the real world, it can be tricky to choose toys that will stand the test of time.

Here are four questions to help find your child’s next favorite toy.

Posted by Whitney, November 27, 2012

The Baby Product I Couldn’t Have Lived Without

My trusty black yoga pants have been with me for years. I bought them shortly after my son was born — and he turns eight this month. As soon as my belly protruded less than my boobs, after about four weeks, I was pleased to purchase a pair of non-maternity-yet-still-very-forgiving stretchy trousers. And today, wearing those same yoga pants, I waved goodbye to my two school-aged kids as they hustled into their elementary school. I’m rockin’ the mom cliche and I won’t judge you if you follow suit.

I’m no longer wearing, however, what was my absolute favorite product discovery of that new mother phase of my life: the front carrier. No, they don’t make one of those for toting around kids who can read.

I offer a couple of tips for those who are about to select a soft carrier in which to wear their babies.

Posted by Heather, November 13, 2012

8 Tips for Holiday Travel with a Toddler

My little baby has recently turned one and started walking. So we never have a dull moment. He’s exercising his body and his rights to never be contained. I swear that this is the kid who will learn to push a chair over to the kitchen counter to reach the knives. I just know it.

So, how do we travel? Stay sane on airplanes? Make ourselves pleasant house guests? Very strategically.

Posted by Whitney, October 16, 2012

Parenting Tips From Been-There Done That Moms

The image above is a page from a book I put together when my best friend and writing partner, Heather, had her second baby. I invited other recent second-time moms in our circle to submit their wisdom, and I assembled it together in a scrapbook. (This was a somewhat self-serving exercise, as I was just four months behind her with my second pregnancy.)

While Heather’s mom contributed some warm and fuzzy reflections on her memory of snuggling with her own baby and toddler (Heather) in a rocking chair, I knew that the real gems were the contributions that addressed the nitty-gritty details — the logistics — of managing two little monkeys. How the flip could one woman get two kids, both incapable of getting into the car themselves, out of the house?

Posted by Whitney, October 2, 2012

5 Halloween Costumes to Make from Everyday Baby Clothes

Even if you don’t have the crafty gene, Halloween may inspire you to get your hands dirty with art supplies to make your infant a super adorable and incredibly easy costume. Ok, how about just scissors? A Sharpie? Here are five costumes you can make in under an hour out of an everyday bodysuit.

Posted by Heather, September 18, 2012

Unsolicited Advice for Expectant Moms

I was in Home Depot the other day and I saw a lovely pregnant woman with her husband. Maybe they were there to find paint for the nursery… or fix some long-overdue safety issue. How exciting for them!

Unexpectedly, I turned into a total goofball; I wanted to hug her, help her find a snack, and probably take a picture of her radiance. Yes, she was a complete stranger. I realize that pregnancy is magical, silly, and overwhelming enough without me being weird so I just smiled and ran home to write down all the little bits of unsolicited wisdom I wanted to offer.

So should you ever catch me smiling wistfully at your pregnant self, here’s what I wish I could tell you…

Posted by Whitney, September 4, 2012

How to Spend Maternity Leave: Fall Edition

All those back-to-school ads you see on TV and in your email box? It doesn’t mean much when your child isn’t yet holding a pencil. What fall means to those of us without a strong sense of seasons is adjusting to shorter days and cooler temperatures. Here’s how I’d enjoy the “-ember” months if I was on maternity leave. More »

Posted by Heather, August 21, 2012

What’s So Funny About Pumping?

So, this girl walks into a small room. On her arm she has a nondescript bag. In a few minutes you hear a gentle whirring… What is going on?!

The first time I used a breast pump in a public restroom, I was fairly traumatized. I was in the airport traveling without my seven-month-old. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, but I felt so isolated, like I was the only person who ever had to do such a thing.

I washed my hands; put on my pumping bra; installed the suction thingies; partially zipped my leather jacket (for privacy); strapped on the bag carrying my motor and pump parts; and faced the wall before turning on my machine. Tears were shed. It felt like the longest 17 minutes. Ever.

Since then, I’ve found myself filling baby bottles in many random rooms and I no longer consider the airport bathroom quite as exotic as I once did. More »

Posted by Whitney, August 7, 2012

How to: Take a Baby to the Pool

Going for a swim with your baby requires bravery and motivation, but if it’s incredibly hot and humid where you live, perhaps you’ll muster up both. Here’s how.

Posted by Whitney, July 24, 2012

4 Ideas for a Modern Baby Shower

Just as women come in diverse styles and taste groups before they become pregnant, expectant mothers are equally disparate in their wishes for a baby shower, if they wish for one at all. One person’s Lilly Pulitzer-themed country club brunch may be another woman’s personal hell. Here are a smattering of baby shower concepts that are unbridled by tradition.