Chip & Joanna Gaines Welcome a New Family Member

by Erica LoopAugust 12, 2019

The Gaines family has a new addition! And no, the Magnolia media moguls are not having a sixth child.

In a recent Instagram post, Joanna Gaines announced the newest member of her family—an English Mastiff puppy. Gaines shows off the pup in a pics and a sweet video clip, also featuring the family’s youngest child Crew.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joanna Gaines (@joannagaines)

One-year-old Crew is seen playing in the grass and toddling around with the puppy, both looking equally adorable. Gaines captioned her post, “Chip told me he hadn’t surprised us in a while with a new animal and that it was long overdue…we now have more dogs than children.”

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A post shared by Chip Gaines (@chipgaines)

Luckily for Gaines, she (and hubby Chip) have a 40-acre farm to accommodate the couple’s other pups, cats, chickens, horses and of course, cows.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Joanna Gaines via Instagram

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This State Fair Is Hosting a Sensory Day & Hopefully More Will Follow

by Shahrzad WarkentinJuly 23, 2019

Large crowds and loud noises can be overwhelming for kids with autism and other special needs, but that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on the thrill of visiting a fair. The Ohio State Fair is hosting a sensory-friendly day for those with special needs.

From amusement parks to airports, many businesses are accommodating kids and adults with autism and other sensory-related special needs. Now, the Ohio State Fair is following suit with a sensory-friendly day designed to give fair goers with autism an experience they can enjoy.

Ohio State Fair will have sensory-friendly morning for people with autism, special sensory needs https://t.co/YwDJtkbwRG pic.twitter.com/Rqn9DKnGHI

— The Hill (@thehill) July 20, 2019

On Jul. 31 the fair will turn off the lights and loud music, minimize line wait times and crowds and open a quiet room in order to accommodate those with autism and other sensory-related special needs. The fair will also be providing visual schedules and Wait Cards, which help minimize the stress of understanding how lines and wait times work.

“If you are overwhelmed and need a break, you can go in the quiet room,” Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence executive director Shawn Henry told WDTN. “We’ll have fidgets and other items just to make the environment something that’s inviting, that’s relaxing, then, you can go back out and enjoy other activities,” adding this event is the first of its kind. “The fair is probably going to be one of the most accessible fairs in the entire country.”

Henry thinks more fairs will follow in Ohio’s footsteps. “I really think that the Ohio State Fair is blazing a trail,” Henry said. “The fair is probably going to be [one of the most] accessible fairs in the entire country.”

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Scott Webb via Pixabay

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This Motorized Pool Float Takes Summer Lounging to the Extreme

by Shahrzad WarkentinJune 25, 2019

Why simply lounge in the pool when you can navigate your way around it with power? Whether you need to get across the pool to grab a fresh round of juice boxes or you just want to move into a shadier spot, this motorized pool float has the answer.

Powered by dual, battery-operated motors, you can maneuver the pool float through the water with two joystick-like controls that give you a 360-degree range of motion. You can just imagine how much fun the kids will have with this pool toy––in fact, you might have to ro-sham-bo over it unless you’re willing to shell out enough for two!

photo: Courtesy of Amazon

Not only is the pool float powerful, but it’s also super comfy and big, with arm and footrests, as well as a cup holder. It can accommodate up to 300 pounds.

You can score this amazing motorized pool lounger by PoolCandy on Amazon for a cool $199.99.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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Now You Can Stay Overnight at Tony Stark’s Cabin from “Avengers: End Game”

by Shahrzad WarkentinJune 13, 2019

Calling all Marvel fans! If your junior superheroes are big Iron Man fans then they might be excited to spend the night in the Tony Stark’s lakeside cabin from Avengers: End Game.

Fans of the film will recognize the rustic Georgia cabin as the place Tony Stark purchased for his daughter as a safe haven from the superhero life. It is also —SPOILER ALERT— the now infamous location of Stark’s funeral.

photo: Airbnb

The cabin, which is located on 800 acres of private property in Fairburn, Georgia, just 20 minutes from the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, is available to rent through Airbnb. The serene escape befitting of Iron Man doesn’t come cheap, however. Since news has spread of the location’s on-screen claim to fame, the cost has risen to $800 a night.

The three-bedroom, three-bath cabin can accommodate six. You can learn more about the rental’s details on the Airbnb listing here, but act quickly if you want enjoy a stay, it’s booking fast.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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5 Ways to Have Fun Eating with Fussy Kids

By Edward Cota

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

May 30, 2019

Photo: Baking Child via Pixabay

Children refusing to eat what you put in front of them can be stressful for parents. However, independence in meals is completely appropriate for children, as they learn to discriminate based on newly recognized qualities of food, such as taste, texture, presentation, and familiarity.

If you have a fussy eater at home, you’re not alone. I took an informal survey of about 10 parents, and more than half of them identified their children as being fussy eaters.

Fussy children can make meals hectic. Concerns about wasting food and whether your child eats enough “good” food (or even enough food) are common concerns. Subsequent power struggles can make meals a burden. And planning your child’s preferences can be almost impossible.

However, there is good news: Some of the typical behaviors of fussy eaters, such as refusing new foods and times when your child only wants to eat their favorite food are normal.

Based on the experience of my little ones and the dozens of little ones of family friends, with time and repeated exposures, without pressure, most children will accept new foods. You can also breathe easier: the vast majority of children who consider themselves fussy do not really have severely restricted diets or suboptimal growth.

Over the years, here are the strategies we’ve learned that you can use to create happier and healthier meals.

1. Change Your Perception

The first step for exhausted parents is often a change of perception. During the preschool years, slowing growth (compared to the rapid growth seen during childhood and childhood) can affect dietary intake. Psychological changes can also cause kids to, naturally, develop a sense of independence.

As agents of their own preferences and actions, preschoolers prefer to feed themselves. They can develop strong opinions about food.

By labeling our children “fussy”, we are labeling behaviors that are considered appropriate for development as non-conforming.

When we consider that children reject food as nonconforming, interactions with our child during meals often become stressful. We tend to focus on getting our children to comply with our requests, rather than promoting a healthy relationship with food.

Instead of seeing children as non-conforming, we can recognize this display of independence in meals as completely appropriate for their age. Your child will discriminate based on newly recognized qualities of foods, such as taste, texture, presentation, and familiarity.

Focus your attention on encouraging your child’s healthy eating without pressing. Enjoy the time you spend together during meals, instead of focusing on your child’s intake.

2. Accommodate Them

Accommodating your child’s preferences during meals is a win-win situation: They exercise some independence, while also eating the foods you have prepared.

During the meal planning stages, ask your child what she would like to eat during the week or take your child to the grocery store and ask them to choose a vegetable to try.

Accepting children’s preferences does not mean you have to eat chicken fingers every night. If you are serving a spicy Thai dish, consider making a version with fewer spices for your children.

3. Have Children Try New Foods

Don’t press your children to eat foods that they don’t like. It’s okay if your child does not like broccoli. Plenty of adults don’t either.

As with many things, repeated daily exposure, offering non-food rewards for tasting unpleasant foods and parents who eat the same food as the child has shown to be effective methods for helping increase adoption of healthier types of food.

The use of rewards such as stickers can improve the acceptance of new foods by your children and make repeated exhibitions more fun. Praise your child for trying new foods, but stay neutral if they choose not to eat it right away.

4. Establish a Healthy Eating Model

It is also important that you eat with your child when he offers you new foods. You can not expect your child to eat vegetables if you don’t eat them either!

Children with parents who model healthy eating habits have been reported to be less “demanding” and to be more likely to taste unpleasant vegetables and eat more fruits and vegetables.

5. Children Make Excellent Cooks

Engaging the whole family in the preparation of the meal can relieve stress during the meal. And there is no reason you have to make dinner all alone! Have your child wash food while cutting, set the table while dinner is in the oven, or prepare a portion of the meal that can be largely automated using a rice cooker or microwave.

Children who participate in meal preparation have more positive attitudes towards food and are more likely to later eat the food they help prepare.

Make your children head chefs! You’ll help increase their ownership and self-confidence by doing so and teaching them good habits for life.

Edward Cota

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Im a lover of all things food and drink and can offer tips on the best cookware, restaurants and recipes that you'll be sure to love.

Harry Potter Fans Can Now Spend the Night in Hagrid’s Hut

by Shahrzad WarkentinMay 16, 2019

Have you always dreamed of sipping tea and munching rock cakes in Hagrid’s Hut? Your wish is granted.

Now Harry Potter fans have the chance to spend a cozy night inside Hagrid’s rustic Hut––or rather, a replica of his magical home. The Groundskeeper’s Cottage, which is made to look like the moss-covered stone hut where Hagrid resides, is now open for booking in North Yorkshire, England.

Inside the hut things are a little different than Hagrid’s home, but you probably won’t mind when you’re soaking in the copper tub at the center of the emerald-tiled bathroom. In addition to the bathroom the cottage features a bedroom and cozy living room with a fireplace.

The cottage is part of North Shire, which is a vacation destination inspired by several film settings, including The Lord of the Rings and The Greatest Showman. The Groundskeeper’s Cottage rents for $250 per night and can accommodate up to six guests. You can book your stay here.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of North Shire

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This iPad App Helps Babies Come Home Sooner from the NICU

by Shahrzad WarkentinMarch 15, 2019

Parents of preemies often face a long journey ahead before they can even bring their new babies home. With the assistance of an iPad, one hospital is trying to help NICU babies come home faster.

At the University of Virginia Children’s Hospital, months-long stays in the NICU are a thing of the past thanks to a new iPad app that assists parents in everything they need to care for their preemies at home, like monitoring feedings and weight. The app then transmits the data to the baby’s medical records where it can be easily accessed by doctors to provide an update.

photo: Carlo Navarro via Unsplash

In the past, parents often spent weeks or sometimes months with their babies remaining in the NICU due to an archaic system of note-taking via pen and paper to track a baby’s health. This would lead to frustrated and stressed parents, who had to balance life at the hospital with their home and jobs, as well as an often overcrowded NICU.

So far, this new digital tracking system has been a major success and has even rolled out to 15 other major hospitals across the country. They are also working on expanding the app to accommodate other types of patients in need, like kids with transplants.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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The Cub Scouts Aren’t Just for Boys as New Video Welcomes Girls to the Pack

by Shahrzad WarkentinAugust 29, 2018

Last year, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) announced they would make a historical change by welcoming girls into their Cub Scout Packs. With the new school year starting, the change is going into effect as Cub Scouts are now open to boys and girls.

Since Aug. 1, girls have officially been able to register and join the Cub Scouts, which is BSA’s scouting program for kids ages five to 10. Girls will still be separated into girls-only Dens, however girls’ Dens will have interactions with the boys during regular Pack meetings.

Featured photo: Craig Mitchelldyer/AP Images for Boy Scouts of America

Ultimately it will be up to each individual Pack whether or not they will add girl-only Dens. All-girl Packs will also be an available option. Other than that BSA is not making any changes or additions to its Cub Scout program as far as introducing new badges or manuals to accommodate its new members.

Girls over the age of 10 will have to wait until next year when BSA plans to begin enrolling girls into the Scouts BSA program in February 2019, which will act as the female counterpart to Boy Scouts (ages 11 to 17). The groups will still be separated by gender, but all eligible kids will be able to earn the Boy Scouts coveted Eagle Scout rank.

BSA explains that their choice to include girls is to accommodate the needs of parents in a demanding world that makes it difficult to shuttle multiple kids to different activities. For its part, the Girl Scouts has questioned whether the BSA organization is really equipped to handle the needs of girls.

“We are, and will remain, the first choice for girls and parents who want to provide their girls opportunities to build new skills, explore STEM and the outdoors, participate in community projects, and grow into happy, successful, civically engaged adults,” Girl Scouts CEO Sylvia Acevedo said in a statement last spring.

While there’s no arguing that girls can do anything boys can, deciding which organization is the best fit will ultimately be up to each individual family.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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The Best Umbrella Strollers for Travel

by Meghan Yudes MeyersMay 20, 2018

Whether you’re headed on a road trip or planning a jet-set getaway, you’ll want an umbrella stroller for your little one. Many destinations offer strollers for rent, but bringing your own offers the convenience of getting through airports and train stations with ease (and knowing your kids have a clean, safe ride).

But with so many choices, it’s hard to know which stroller will meet your travel needs. And what’s the difference between a lightweight stroller and an umbrella stroller? Read on for all the answers, and some great stroller options for all your adventures.

photo: TanteLoe via Pixabay

Lightweight vs. Umbrella Stroller
Many big-box stores use the term “lightweight” and “umbrella” interchangeably for compact, light and convenient strollers. But there are actually subtle differences between the two. With hook-like handles and, typically, a vertical fold (which means they can stand upright), umbrella strollers bear the name of rain gear with similar features. Umbrella strollers may not have all the premium features of a traditional stroller, such as tilting seats and five-point harnesses, but many options offer nearly fully loaded rides that skimp only on weight. In contrast, the lightweight category offers standard features, like reclining seats, on most models. And they fold horizontally.

Travel Need: Awesome for Airline Travel
You can use any stroller in an airport and check it when you arrive at the gate, but that could mean a wait when you arrive at your destination. If you want to be able to pick up and go when you land, you’ll want a stroller that fits in the overhead compartment.

We like the BabyZen Yoyo because of the airline-approved stamp it has received from nearly every carrier (but contact your airline to confirm it will fit for your flight). Weighing under 13 pounds, this ultracompact, luxury travel stroller can be folded and unfolded with one hand so you can hold your baby while you get ready to roll. The Yoyo accommodates children between 16 and 40 pounds. It is also compatible with some car seats to create a travel system.

Available at amazon.com, $499.

Travel Need: City Strolling
Urban areas demand a stroller that is narrow, light and easy to maneuver around crowds. Even the most aerodynamic of strollers can feel like a monster truck on city streets. Enter the Zoe XL1 v2, which offers a unique add-on accessory: a travel backpack that custom-fits the stroller (you can also purchase straps to wear the stroller on your back with no additional cover).

The Zoe weighs a mere 11 pounds and is compact enough to fit in most airlines’ overhead bins. The sunshade features a magnetic peekaboo window (handy, since Velcro closures can wake a sleeping baby), and it can recline to 165 degrees. Best of all, the Zoe has a tall handle that makes it easier to maneuver than the lower handles you’ll find on many other umbrella strollers. The stroller is ideal for children from 3 months and has a weight limit of 55 pounds.

Available at zoestrollers.com, $299.99.

Travel Need: Everyday Errands and Outings
If your travels or your daily routine have you constantly on the go, check out the Britax B-Free. It combines the premium features typically found in a traditional stroller in a more compact, one-hand-fold, all-terrain model.

While the company labels this a lightweight model, at 22 pounds it is a bit heavy for the category, but still much lighter than a traditional stroller. In many ways, it combines the best features of all the stroller types: It’s loaded like a traditional stroller, weighs in like an umbrella stroller and — with only three wheels — maneuvers like a jogging stroller. It can also be converted into a travel system.

Available at britax.com, $359.

Travel Need: Park Hopping and Zoo Stomping
If you’re checking out a bunch of cultural perks and putting your stroller through some wear and tear, you’ll want one that can handle the demands of a day-long excursion at a bargain price. Many tourist destinations require that you leave your buggy unattended in front of attractions, and sometimes strollers go missing.

The Kolcraft Cloud Plus, which retails for $59.99, has an ample, three-tier sunshade to protect your little one from the outdoor elements. The generous basket is sized for all-day excursions; it’s even large enough to hold a diaper bag or a cooler. The Cloud Plus has a five-point harness and an adjustable seat (perfect for napping). Like a true umbrella stroller, the Cloud Plus folds to an upright position, making it easy to carry on trams and monorails.

Available at kolcraft.com, $59.99.

Travel Need: Traveling Light With Newborns
Generally speaking, umbrella strollers are not safe or suitable for children under the age of 6 months. You should not put a newborn in any system that does not support the head and neck. Many lightweight strollers offer infant inserts, “boots,” or bassinet-like cocoons to accommodate smaller children; these accessories are often sold separately. Strollers that offer a travel system option (a fancy way of saying they are car-seat compatible) can also accommodate newborns.

The Nano by Mountain Buggy can be used with most car seats and is compatible with a cocoon ($69.99) that allows a newborn to lie completely flat. This stroller weighs less than 13 pounds and can accommodate children up to 44 pounds (or 4 years old). It’s ideal for air travel, as it easily fits on most airlines. If you have an older child who needs to hitch a ride from time to time, a scooter called the Freerider ($99.99) can be attached—and detached for solo scooting.

Available at mountainbuggy.com, $274.99.

Travel Need: A Seat With a View
The easiest way to travel is with a happy baby, and a baby who can see their surroundings is usually a content camper. The Cybex Eezy S Twist swivels a full 360 degrees, giving your little one a chance to ride facing forward, facing you or facing sideways (this is a game changer for zoo trips, aquarium visits and more!).

It has a narrow frame (it measures just 18 inches wide) and weighs 13 pounds, so you can maneuver it through tight spaces. It’s recommended for children over 6 months (and can fit kids up to 55 pounds). When it’s naptime, it reclines to a near-flat position. The partial canopy has UPF 50+ protection. And, possibly our favorite feature, the stroller parts are machine-washable.

Available at cybex-online.com, $299.

Travel Need: Traveling with Two or More
If you have twins or two young kids, you’ll want to look for a buggy that can accommodate the individual needs of each child. Think independently reclining seats and sunshades. The Joovy TwinGroove Ultralight Stroller offers all this in a system that can be used from birth up to 50 pounds.

While the stroller can handle 100 pounds total (50 for each kid), it weighs only 26 pounds. Each seat reclines to a near-flat position, making it great for long, nap-filled trips. The only downside: The stroller is spot-clean only. Pro tip: You can usually find this stroller for under $200 at a big-box store.

Available at joovy.com, $299.

Where do you plan to use your umbrella stroller? Let us know below!

— Meghan Meyers

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Our Family Is Complete. So Why Can’t I Give Up the Bags of Baby Clothes?

By Kelly Park

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

September 18, 2017

There are three bags of clothing in my basement that I have developed a potentially unhealthy and positively ridiculous attachment to. These bags are filled with cozy, teeny tiny sleepers and itty bitty baby dresses. It’s hard to believe that the long-legged, ponytailed children running around my house were ever small enough to wear them. These clothes have not fit my children for a few years and we are not going to have any more kids. I have no need to keep them. So, then, why can’t I get rid of my baby clothes?

After my husband and I came to the conclusion that our family was complete, I gleefully started flinging baby stuff from our house. The Exersaucer went to the first person who could take it as far away from me as possible. I felt relief when the baby bathtub and jolly jumper left went out the front door. These items once seem crucial, but only for such a short period of time. A period of time that is now over. It felt liberating to rid ourselves of the baby clutter and it some ways the stage of parenting it represented. But when I tried to sort through the little clothes, the out-the-door-right-now decluttering ground to a halt.

How could I get rid of this?

This was a favorite of mine.

Baby’s First Christmas!

This is so cute.

This is so small.

This was sooo expensive.

But it’s in such good shape!

I was angry that these wee sleepers were ruining my purge high. I moved on to Plan B, which was not to sort the clothes but to bag them all up and send it off to an organization that provides baby clothes to families in need. They can be enjoyed by someone else. And yet, a full year later, here the bags still sit, ignoring the very real reasons why they are no longer of use.

Deciding not to have more kids was not a difficult choice. Both of my pregnancies were difficult and childbirth was full-on traumatic. The lasting effects of these experiences spilled over into the first years of my children’s lives. I can say that these were years that were simply survived on my end. There were joyous moments and I am grateful for the experience, but I can honestly say that these years comprised mostly of going through the motions of life. This isn’t an experience I am interested in revisiting.

There are also the very real considerations that many parents weigh if they go through the process of deciding to have more children or not. There is the financial aspect, how it might impact careers, living space, personal goals, along with the necessary reserve mental and physical energy. If you have the desire for a child, you can likely find workarounds to accommodate these kinds of conditions.We had considerations that carried a lot of weight and the desire to accommodate just wasn’t there.

You see, I can articulate very clearly how my husband and I came to the decision that we a very happy family of four. Then, I ask, why oh why, does this little bag of clothes have so much power over me? I’ve had to genuinely question if these wee little sleepers could actually cause me to override the very clear and conscious reasoning we have for not having another baby. How can it be so hard to close a metaphorical door on something you know you fundamentally do not want?

So, I did exactly what all of the obvious signs were pointing towards. I thought about the possibility that these clothes represent some latent, unspoken desire to have another baby. The answer to this question came surprisingly easy and had nothing to do with what I thought my previous reasons were. It wasn’t about the trauma of my previous experiences or how workable the practical considerations were for us. The clarity came from the fact that my heart and my brain are not hungry in the same way that I was with my first two children. I would have done just about anything to have had those kids. I would have fought long and hard and spent our last dollar to bring them to our family. That feeling is gone. And so, with this clarity, I have finally concluded that this means that it’s time for the ridiculous bags of adorable, snuggly, wee-sized clothes to go, too.

Featured Photo Courtesy: poplasen

Kelly Park

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Kelly Park is a fertility aficionado who wants to help you get smart about your fertility. She can be found sharing info on everything from cervical mucus to IVF at www.fertilitysmarts.com.

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