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

How Much Sleep Do Kids Need? And What To Do if You Have Kids Who Can’t Sleep!

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Thu, 05/11/2023 - 10:23am

A warm bath, a bedtime story, and a squeezable elephant just might make the perfect bedtime routine for your little one.

How much sleep do kids need? Sometimes it feels like they'll never go to sleep. And then a new phase hits, and it seems like all they do is sleep. (This is mostly babies and teens.)

For sleep-deprived parents, hearing stories of babies sleeping through the night can be frustrating. It's hard not to compare or wonder if you're doing something "wrong." But I'm here to tell you, all kids' sleep patterns are not created equal! While there are kids who conk right out at bedtime, many have trouble falling and staying asleep.

Read on to find out just how much sleep kids actually need, plus some popular suggestions on how to help kids sleep—from bedtime routines to sleep aids and more. Keep in mind that, just like a baby's developmental milestones, there are no magic numbers. But eventually, everyone will catch their ZZZZZZZZs.

Deinfluencing Your Baby Registry: Baby Products You Totally Don’t Need

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Tue, 05/09/2023 - 12:00pm

Adorable? Yes. Useful? No way. Babies don't need shoes.

Congratulations, you're expecting... and now you're being spammed with influencer ads telling you about all the baby products you need to have. Sure, influencers can be super helpful in showing you the coolest new baby products to add to your registry. But they can also make you end up with a house full of trendy baby gear and cutesy items that—trust us—you won't actually use. So we're here to rescue you by deinfluencing your baby registry.

That's right—we're sharing 12 baby products you don't actually need. We've been there, done that, and wasted our money so that you don't have to! By deinfluencing your baby registry, we're helping you make room for the baby products you actually will use—from the best baby sleep aids to space-saving baby gear—and helping to keep unnecessary items out of landfills. That's a win for you and the planet!

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.

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.

Vanessa Leigh

Latest posts by Vanessa

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