Vanessa Leigh

Vanessa Leigh is a busy mom of three (including twins!), a Midwesterner turned East Coaster, and a chocolate enthusiast. She’s a copywriter specializing in Early Childhood and Motherhood, plus the creative force behind her Etsy shop. When she’s not writing or designing, you can find her indulging in dark chocolate peanut butter cookies at Levain Bakery. Connect with Vanessa at www.vanessaleighagency.com or browse her creations at MamaMagicByVanessa.etsy.com. She loves chatting with fellow parents—don’t hesitate to reach out!

Latest posts by Vanessa

Best Diaper Subscriptions in 2023: Amazon, Honest, and More

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Thu, 04/06/2023 - 12:00pm

Kudos diapers use four times more plant-based materials than competing brands. Photo courtesy of Shark Tank Products

With babies using nearly 3,000 diapers on average in their first year of life alone, diaper subscriptions can be a lifesaver for busy parents. After all, newborns go through up to 12 diapers per day, making it hard to keep track of just how many diapers are left in that giant box. And, trust me—you don't want to be elbow-deep in a blowout only to realize you are out of diapers.

Diaper subscriptions bring a steady stream of diapers right to your doorstep, so you don't have to worry about panicked, late-night runs to the store. Plus, companies charge less for diapers when you set up regular deliveries, so diaper subscriptions will save you money. And because you can easily adjust the size of the diapers you receive and the frequency at which they arrive, your diaper subscription will always suit your family's needs.

We've got you—and your little one's bum—covered with this list of the best diaper subscriptions, including the Honest diaper subscription, the Amazon diaper subscription, and even some cloth diapering options. Check out our Best Baby and Kid Gear Guide for more of our favorite baby essentials, from the best bath toys to great baby sleep aids.

Best Maternity Stores in NYC for Expecting Moms

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Tue, 04/04/2023 - 4:46pm

Shop the stylish and locally made collection at Hatch, which has a pair of NYC locations.

When it comes to maternity stores in NYC, most pregnant mamas load up on cheap Target and Old Navy gear. After all, you're only going to wear it for a few months, right? But great maternity clothes can make you feel like yourself again—or at least the NYC mama you want to be. We've found 10 New York City maternity stores selling maternity clothes, plus great postpartum gear like nursing bras, breast pumps, baby carriers, and even adorable bespoke onesies. Some even offer pre- and postnatal classes, and all are worth the splurge to find the best for you and your baby to be, even if that super cute onesie will be covered in spit-up in no time!

So, hit up the big box maternity retailers for your everyday T-shirts, and save these local New York City maternity stores for special occasions or to find something that truly fits. Besides, you'll likely be visiting this store again to try on nursing bras, and nothing beats a dedicated, knowledgeable staff and a carefully curated selection of excellent clothing and gear. Several even offer perks like lounge areas and nursing pillows for on-the-go breastfeeding.

While these maternity stores will get you through nine months and beyond, we've got more curated picks for the best baby stores in NYC to carry you through toddlerhood. You'll find other new parent resources in our NYC Baby and Pregnancy Guide.

Top Places to See Cherry Blossom Festivals and Spring Wildflowers Near Boston

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Sun, 04/02/2023 - 1:35pm

See spring flowers and cherry blossoms in the heart of the city and around Greater Boston. Boston Public Garden photo by Joe Shlobotnik via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Winter is in the rear-view mirror in Boston, and we’re ready to get outside to see some cherry blossoms and spring flowers. There are tons of places to check out nature’s colorful, phenomenal beauty in and around Boston. Wildflowers, roses, and of course, cherry blossoms, are both local and popular tourist attractions for all to see. Our friends to the south, in NYC, have cherry blossom locations all over the city. Even further down the coast, there’s the National Cherry Blossom Festival in our nation’s capital.

In Boston proper, you can even sign up for garden tours, like the South End Garden Tour and the Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill tour for informed visits. And, to create a hands-on experience for the whole family, head over to a local farm to handpick wildflowers and other species. Take them home, put them in a vase, and enjoy the natural fragrance for days to come.

20 Awesome Easter Movies to Get the Whole Family Hoppin'

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Mon, 03/27/2023 - 11:07am

Hop is an Easter movie even tweens and teens will enjoy. Photo courtesy of Relativity Media and Netflix

Enjoy these Easter movies that kids of all ages—and parents, too—will all love.

From Easter egg hunts and Easter Bunny pictures to Easter parades and festivals, there are so many fun ways for families to get out and celebrate the impending arrival of Easter. But sometimes, you just want to put on some cozy PJs and spend some quality time at home with your peeps. For those days, we've rounded up 20 of the best Easter movies for families, including Easter Bunny movies, animated films, religious Easter movies, and more.

For more at-home Easter fun, try one of our easy Easter crafts for kids, put together a creative Easter egg hunt, or make one of our kid-pleasing Easter desserts and recipes to enjoy during your Easter movie marathon. Don't forget the popcorn!

17 Ways to Soothe a Crying Baby

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 12:00pm

Hush, little baby, don't say a word. Mama's got some new tricks up her sleeve! Photo by Antoni Shkraba, via Pexels

A crying baby can send even the most seasoned parent into a small panic—especially if you can't figure out just what is wrong. Is your baby hungry? Tired? Colicky? Hot? Cold? Trust me—we've all been there.

The truth is, there are a variety of reasons a baby may be upset. Figuring out which of those reasons is causing the fuss—and learning just what to do to fix the problem—is key to knowing how to soothe a crying baby.

The below tips will help you figure out why you have a crying baby, what to do when babies cry, and how to soothe colic in a fussy baby. If your infant is having trouble sleeping, you can also try one of our favorite baby sleep aids to (hopefully) help your baby sleep through the night. And if you still can't figure out how to calm your crying baby or you think something may be wrong, don't hesitate to contact your pediatrician. After all, when it comes to your child, you could never be too careful. You've got this!

New NYC Playgrounds We Can't Wait to Visit

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Tue, 02/28/2023 - 4:02pm

Ravenswood Playground's renovations include a spectacular new play structure fit for royalty.

These newly remodeled NYC playgrounds are ready for their close up. The changing of seasons has us anticipating the arrival of spring and sunny afternoons to enjoy these new romping spots. Located in parks from Manhattan to Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, the NYC Parks Department has been on a tear remodeling and rebuilding NYC playgrounds.

So, if you've already visited all of these NYC playgrounds worthy of a subway schlep, we've got you covered with some newly opened or renovated playgrounds in NYC for you and the kids to enjoy. From tot lots to expansive climbing structures and top-notch sandboxes, here are six new NYC playgrounds we can't wait to romp in. Find more places to play outdoors in our Guide to NYC Playgrounds.

100 Great Websites for Kids

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Thu, 02/09/2023 - 10:17am

Go ahead. Hand them the iPad; these websites for kids are fun and at least a little educational. Photo courtesy of Bigstock

These websites for kids are both entertaining and at least a little bit educational!

Screen time can be a blessing and a curse. Between worrying about screen time overload and concern about what content little brains might be absorbing, it’s hard to find websites for kids parents can feel good about.

One way to embrace screen time is to channel it toward educational and learning opportunities. There are plenty of websites for kids that are a good balance of quality content and entertainment. Kids can play games online with friends, learn how to code, and much more. We've rounded up not 1, not 2--but 100 websites for kids that are fun and help foster a love of learning. For more things to do both on and offline, check out our guide to Boredom Busters for Kids.

Developmental Milestones for Babies in the First Year

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 10:31am

Walking, talking, grabbing, holding, smiling, laughing... it's all coming. But when? Photo by Tatiana Syrikova, via Pexels

What are the normal developmental milestones for babies? When it comes to baby milestones, there's a wide range for normal! But that doesn't stop new parents from worrying. What should my baby be doing at X months old? Is it normal for my baby to...?

While these baby milestones—like rolling, crawling, laughing, babbling, talking, and walking—follow a general timeline in most children, each baby is a unique individual. So if there's a milestone that they achieve way early or much later in their growth, that is normal. Enjoy each gurgle, giggle, and coo. They'll be walking, running, and even driving before you know it!

When you have a baby, that's all you can see or think about. So, we've got a whole Baby and Maternity Guide filled with everything from helpful tips, like how to get free baby stuff to debates on the latest types of parenting styles (like, what on earth is a panda parent?).

Vanessa Leigh

Latest posts by Vanessa

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