The start of a new school year often comes with excitement, but it can also mean uncertainty, nerves, and tough conversations… To help with some of the challenges families may face this fall, we’ve partnered with Connecticut Children’s to share guidance from their free 2023 Back to School Kit. As always, this year’s toolkit provides straight-forward, age-appropriate, expert advice about the issues that could have a big impact on your child’s health and happiness in the upcoming academic year.

Here are five common challenges and tough talks you may be taking on this school year, plus advice on how to navigate:

Holidays. After school. That rare date night. Finding trusted childcare can truly feel like a part-time job for parents–and one we definitely don’t have time for.

As a team of moms and dads, we get it. So, in hopes of lightening your load, we've launched a partnership with Care.com to bring nannies and sitters to the Mommy Poppins Directory. Now, when you search our new Childcare section, you can find background-checked caregivers right alongside daycares, schools, preschools, camps, and more.

Use our directory filters to select your location, and choose the “Babysitters & Nannies” category to narrow your search. Each listing includes the caregiver’s hourly rate, location, experience, and other helpful details. If you see someone you’re interested in working with, you can click through to Care.com to read reviews and reach out to the sitter or nanny directly about your childcare needs.

Water safety and swimming are critical skills, which is exactly why British Swim School uses a gentle survival-first approach to effectively teach kids and infants from 3 months and up how to swim.

Between busy school schedules and jam-packed weekends, I recently found myself staring down another summer with a 4-year-old and 7-year-old who still hadn’t learned the first thing about swimming. So, when I heard my kids had an opportunity to take a couple of lessons with British Swim School, I jumped at the chance to enroll them at a nearby pool.

From pregnancy to college, this parenting thing is always throwing us curve balls. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a team of top doctors and experts on call to share trustworthy advice along the way or even prepare us with information before we need it? That’s where the toolkits from Connecticut Children’s Hospital come in: created by top pediatric experts and backed by one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation, they offer expert advice on the topics parents need to know about.

In the hospital’s latest kit, What to Expect Through Life Stages, fetal care experts, pediatric physical therapists, nutritionists, and other specialists share guidance on kids' health and well-being for each stage, from pregnancy right through to those tricky teen years. Take a look at some of the standout articles below, from understanding babies’ developmental milestones to helping teens make big decisions about their futures. You’ll find even more articles in the toolkit, so click through for additional advice at each stage.

If you have questions for a pediatrician or pediatric specialist, you can easily request a virtual or in-person appointment at Connecticut Children’s here.

Co-founded by a mom-of-four and her husband, Goldfish Swim School is a family favorite for kids’ swimming lessons, with 11 locations in the Boston Area. With its one-of-a-kind, play-based curriculum and kid-centric facilities, Goldfish Swim School makes water safety and learning to swim fun and approachable for babies as young as 4 months to kids up to 12 years old. Read on to see why this innovative swim center is in such high demand–and find out how to get started at Goldfish Swim School with a free first lesson.

Nestled in oh-so-family-friendly Carnegie Hill and outfitted with eight floors of amenities for all ages, 180 East 88th Street offers a totally luxurious living experience. In addition to beautiful spaces where residents can play, relax, and entertain, the intimate condo building features stunning half- and full-floor apartments, ranging from studios to five-bedroom units, plus unique four-bedroom duplexes and a won’t-find-it-anywhere-else triplex penthouse.

The unrivaled features and kid-centric neighborhood, paired with new pricing, make 180 East 88th Street a very desirable choice for families with their sights set on a luxury condominium on the Upper East Side. If you’re in the market for one of the most refined living experiences available in NYC, here are some reasons to consider life at 180 E 88th Street.

Kids are growing up in an increasingly digital world filled with apps, games, and social media– and that means lots of new challenges for parents wanting to keep children safe and healthy. From screen time limits to cyberbullying, plus the ever-changing landscape of social media and online games, it can feel almost impossible to keep up.

Navigating the Digital World is an online parenting toolkit with clear and simple advice that addresses challenges like choosing appropriate apps and understanding parental controls on social media platforms. Developed by pediatric psychologists, sleep specialists, gaming specialists, and other experts at Connecticut Children’s, you can feel confident that the information comes from a trusted source.

Buying secondhand kid and baby gear is cost-effective and environmentally-friendly. And, now, with online marketplace GoodBuy Gear, purchasing gently used and open box items like strollers, car seats, toys, and sports equipment is safer and easier too.

Not only is the marketplace filled with products from some of parents’ most-loved brands–from UPPAbaby to Lovevery to 4moms (a few of my personal favorites). A team of experts thoroughly inspects every single item for safety, functionality, and cleanliness before it’s listed with real photos and a detailed description. That means no more messaging with unknown sellers only to wind up with a stained sleepsack or a broken baby swing. And, when you’re done with an item, GoodBuy Gear will pick it up and re-sell it for you too.