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Life is generally expensive, but the cost of being a parent is on another level. According to BabyCenter , the first-year cost of raising a baby is roughly $15,755, though expenses fluctuate depending on the state, and kids tend to get more expensive as they grow up. As for specific, higher-end items, which increase baseline cost, the fan-favorite Uppababy Vista V3 stroller is nearly $1,200 (not …

Getty / Oleg Breslavtsev By seven months postpartum, I felt like I was running on fumes. I'd skipped maternity leave - except for one blurry, anxiety-filled week on painkillers, recovering from my C-section - and jumped right back into freelance work while caring for newborn twins. I was on Slack less than two hours after delivery (yes, really). Looking back, that should've been a warning. Still,…

When it comes to stocking the playroom, your favorite little ones (and their parents) deserve the most engaging toys . With so many colorful, quirky options out there, decision fatigue is real, but that's where we come in. We sifted through the noise to find the best toys and gifts for the 1-year-olds in your life. Whether you're shopping for a first birthday, a holiday, or just because, our roun…

As any parent of toddlers can tell you, 2-year-olds are tough customers. That's true when it comes to getting them to eat their vegetables, getting them to stay in bed at naptime, and even getting them gifts. Whether you're looking for great birthday gifts or want to celebrate another special occasion, the last thing you want to do is spend hours choosing a gift, only to have it flop. We've curat…

In kid world, one of the most exciting summer toys is a water table. If you're new to the concept and on the hunt for the secret to squashing boredom, allow me to introduce you. A water table is a play station that holds water, toys, and sometimes even sand (your call!) to encourage sensory exploration and imaginative play. According to thousands of Amazon reviewers, the best ones keep little one…

Recently, the terms "crunchy mom," "silky mom," and "scrunchy mom" have popped up in parenting circles everywhere. The idea of "crunchy" parenting seems to have come first, and it essentially refers to parents who strive to use natural, holistic products. (Although more recently, it's gotten a lot more complicated . More on that later.) "Silky" parenting popped up in response, referring to parent…

Every spring, when the graduation TikToks come for my tear ducts, I don't try to run. Through my every sniffle and gasp, I embrace the sheer, unadulterated pride parading across my phone screen. I could scroll past, and save myself the tissues, but instead I choose to languish in the raw emotion of these strangers on the internet, floored by the fortitude of the human spirit, thumb trained on the…

Baby names have always been an important consideration for parents, but it feels as though there's more pressure than ever to pick the "perfect" one right now. In fact, even Meghan Markle is feeling the pressure: on a recent episode of her " Confessions of a Female Founder " podcast, she said she has a rule against sharing names prior to a baby's arrival. "Don't ask anyone's opinion," she added. …

When Aisha Patterson first moved into a family compound in Oklahoma in 2023, the primary goal was to become more self-sufficient. With 20 acres of land for three households - one for Patterson plus her husband and their four kids, one for her mom, and one for her in-laws - the family members decided to work together to grow their own food . But since moving in, Patterson has realized the setup of…

Whether you're looking to splurge on a single luxury gift for the mom in your life or want ideas for affordable but covetable Mother's Day gifts she's bound to love, Amazon has plenty of options for every budget. If she's looking to upgrade her skin-care routine , there are loads of premium beauty products with cult followings that our editors swear by. Make busy mornings infinitely better by giv…

Between work, school, soccer practices, and a never-ending laundry pile, sitting down for a family dinner each night of the week may seem impossible. But despite the challenging logistics and time restraints, becoming a "kitchen table family" is something many modern parents are striving for. The term "kitchen table family" is used to describe families who consistently gather around the kitchen t…

Welcome to Show the Receipts , a series where we ask interesting people to share exactly how much it costs to get shit done. No matter the task, we're tracking every last dollar from start to finish. Up next: throwing a college bed party. The college application process is arguably one of the most stressful times in a teen's life. Many are gearing up to leave home for the first time, which is ner…

Welcome to Show the Receipts , a series where we ask interesting people to share exactly how much it costs to get shit done. No matter the task, we're tracking every last dollar from start to finish. Up next: deciding if you want to be a parent. As she entered her 30s, Annica Bauer started to think she didn't want to become a mom . She's always loved kids - she's a schoolteacher for 11- to 14-yea…

If you're a mom-to-be with a penchant for discovering the best baby products on TikTok (same here!), chances are you're already drowning in diaper bag recommendations - not to mention bassinets and baby bottles - your mind bursting at the seams with buzzy brand names. Mina Baie! Dagne Dover! Lululemon ! But the reality of finding the right diaper bag is that what works for one family might not wo…

Image Source: PS Photography / Mirel Zaman Since having a baby, I've accumulated more diaper bags than seems necessary or even appropriate - at least a half dozen. I have big diaper bags , mini diaper bags, diaper backpacks , expensive diaper bags, cheap diaper bags, and tote bags that I now use as diaper bags. But until I tried the new Calpak Baby Collection, I still hadn't found my perfect diap…