IKEA’s New Foldable Furniture Is Every Family’s Dream

by Erica LoopJune 11, 2019

Whether you’re in an apartment or a tiny home, with a growing family comes less space. Add to that the scores of visiting relatives who want to see their grandkids and your home-office/guestroom/livingroom/playspace starts looking a little crowded.

IKEA has a solution for families (and college kids) everywhere! The Swedish furniture retailer recently revealed a new line of products that are perfect for anyone looking to maximize their space. The RÅVAROR collection stacks, folds and packs up easily—making it easy to move, convert a space or reimagine your home.

Here’s an image of a piece from the RÅVAROR collection before:

And after:

Citing the need they’ve found among the more nomadic, urban dwelling population (especially common among millennial families) IKEA designed the furniture to allow people to move easily to a new space without heavy labor or giant truckloads. We think it’s beyond perfect for college-aged dorm dwellers who seem to move every summer.

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The line, which won’t debut until 2020, features 20 products, spanning a variety of home goods and furniture needs. look for daybeds, lighting units, storage, sofas, tables, a mini kitchen and more.

Along with RÅVAROR, IKEA also announced a collab with Solange Knowle’s creative agency Saint Heron, a collection (the Musselblomma line) made from recycled plastic and the Rognan robotic furniture line!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Courtesy of IKEA

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Target Is Helping Families with These New Employee Benefits

by Erica LoopJune 10, 2019

The big red bullseye retailer recently announced some pretty family-friendly employee benefits changes. And that means Target is helping its employees to care for more babies, kids, aging parents and other family members in need.

While you might expect to see a family benefits expansion for salaried employees, the newly announced perks extend to hourly workers, including part-time employees.

photo: Mike Mozart via Flickr

So how is Target now going above and beyond to help employees who are also caregivers? New benefits include expanded backup child or elder care, new paid family leave (including double the amount of paid time off for new parents on top of the existing medical leave they receive after giving birth) and double the amount employees already get for adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement.

Of the changes, chief human resources officer, Melissa Kremer, said in a press statement, “Our team finds so much support here to grow their skills and careers, make a difference in their communities, and take care of themselves and their families—including benefits that we’re enhancing to be more relevant across a breadth of life stages.”

—Erica Loop

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These Are All the Things Parents are Willing to Give Up For a Little More Sleep

by Shahrzad WarkentinMay 28, 2019

One of the hardest parts of becoming a parent is saying goodbye to sleep. After countless all-nighters, parents are willing to do just about anything to get some shut-eye, according to a new study.

Hatch Baby surveyed over 1,000 moms and dads with kids of all ages to learn more about family sleep habits and not only did it reveal just how much (or how little) sleep parents get, it also showed just what they would do to get a good night of shut-eye.

photo: Wokandapix via Pixabay

One of the most surprising revelations was that one-fourth of parents today only get three to five hours of sleep per night. A whopping 77 percent of parents with kids aged five and under said that they be willing to give up something they love or do something they dislike in exchange for a good night’s sleep.

So what were parents willing to do exactly? Forty percent of parents would give up social media for a month in exchange for one night of good sleep, 39 percent were willing to sit in traffic for an hour to get a solid night’s sleep and 30 percent would get dental work done for a blissful night of sweet dreams.

One response that should come as no major surprise is that moms were much more likely than dads to say that they were responsible for their kids following a bedtime routine. Seven out of ten parents said that maintaining a regular bedtime is key for creating healthy sleep habits in their family. Nightlights, diaper changes before bed and sound machines were also cited as helpful tools to get kids to sleep.

“Some children are naturally good sleepers and some need a little help learning the skill,” said Jillian Dowling, certified Hatch Baby sleep expert. “My best tip in this situation is to make sure all children learn to sleep well from a young age by implementing a consistent bedtime routine.”

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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The U.S. Birth Rate Is the Lowest in Over 3 Decades, According to the CDC

by Shahrzad WarkentinMay 16, 2019

A new report from the National Center for Health Statistics at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that not only is the nation’s fertility rate in decline, but it is also at a record low.

The total fertility rate in 2017 was 1,765.5 births per 1,000 women, the lowest rate in 32 tears and well below the estimated 2,100 births per 1,000 women needed for the population to replace itself. The good news is that between 2017 and 2018 the birth rate dropped seven percent among teens ages 15 to 19. However, the drop continues for women up to the age of 35, with a four percent drop among women 20 to 24; three percent among women 25 to 29; and one percent among women 30 to 34.

photo: Greyerbaby via Pixabay

Not all births are in decline, however. Despite the overall decline in younger women having babies, the fertility rate among American women over 35 had increased. The birth rate rose one percent among women aged 35 to 39 and two percent among women 40 to 44. Not a tremendous increase, but it does support the growing trend towards starting families at a later age.

The report also found an increase in women receiving prenatal care, with 77.5 percent of women received first trimester prenatal care in 2018, up from 77.3% in 2017. That increase indicates potential improvement in overall access to health care for women.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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Bill & Ted Are Coming Back for a Most Excellent New Adventure

by Shahrzad WarkentinMarch 26, 2019

Everyone’s favorite time-traveling dudes are officially coming back! A Bill & Ted 3 movie is in the works and this news is most excellent.

Give your air guitar skills a workout because Bill and Ted are headed back to the big screen for more historical hijinks. Of course, after this many years, actors Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter aren’t exactly teens anymore—which means the plot will be a little but different. Bill and Ted are all grown up, but their friendship remains the same.

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According to a press release, Bill & Ted 3 Face the Music will pick up years later when the now middle-aged best friends set out on a new adventure. Their new journey begins “when a visitor from the future warns them that only their song can save life as we know it and bring harmony to the universe.”

You can be sure there will be some familiar faces along the way as the release promises that they’ll be joined by a few music legends.

Bill & Ted 3 Face the Music hits theaters next summer on Aug. 21, 2020.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: billandted3 via Instagram

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New Kids On The Block School Us All on the History of Boy Bands & It’s Glorious

by Erica LoopMarch 6, 2019

NKOTB is back—and they still totally have the right stuff! Calling all former (or current) ’80s and ’90s boy band fans: New Kids On the Block’s “Boys in the Band” video is a shout-out to the musical genre and will take you way back.

Whether you are a child of the ’80s or ’90s, NKOTB’s new track, video and Mixtape tour are can’t-miss musical events that will take you “step by step” back to your childhood dreams. And with the release of their new video for “Boys In the Band,” it looks like the once-boy, now-man band is still “hangin’ tough.”

Mocking their aging boy band image, the now (not-so) New (no-longer) Kids are back in the video as old men. Even though they’re not exactly geriatric IRL—the “kids” are in their ’40s and ’50s—the video starts with the band shuffling their way into a high school classroom, gray-haired, with walkers and canes.

The New Kids school the contemporary kids with their very own lesson in ’70’s, ’80s and ’90s boy band music. The video includes some pretty rad cameos and call-outs. Fellow boy band-er, ‘N Sync’s Lance Bass plays the role of teacher, Bell Biv DeVoe show up, as does former ’80s pop princess Debbie Gibson as she pays homage to the Pop Princess of the ’90s, Britney Spears. (Side note—Gibson, who’s now 48, totally slays the the Spears-like school scene.)

The video ends with a special dedication to none other than Maurice Starr, the man behind boy bands such as NKOTB and New Edition. If you need more boy band magic, New Kids On the Block kicks off their Mixtape tour this May! Look for special guest, such as Salt N Pepa, Tiffany, Debbie Gibson and Naughty by Nature to join them on the road.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: New Kids On the Block via YouTube

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Faith & Begorrah! Aldi Has St. Patrick’s Day Cheese & It’s Green, Too

by Erica LoopFebruary 27, 2019

Forget about Shamrock Shakes: Aldi has St. Patrick’s Day cheese! The newest in themed cheese launches follows on the heels of several successful dairy delights, including a cheese Advent calendar, heart-shaped cheese for Valentine’s Day and set of punny limited-edition wedges.

Aldi is taking St. Patty’s Day celebration to a new level with five holiday-inspired cheeses. At a time of the year when just about everyone is making gratuitously green products, the Happy Farms collection—available in Aldi stores starting Feb. 27—is no slouch.

Forget following rainbows for a pot of gold, just follow directions to your nearest ALDI for these delicious Irish cheeses before they’re gone! Get all the info from our friends at @foodandwine. https://t.co/TRs7G4siYe

— ALDI USA (@AldiUSA) February 22, 2019

The line includes a green Pesto Gouda and English Sage Derby. Along with the colorful dairy deliciousness, the collection also includes an Aged Irish Cheddar and a few alcohol-infused picks: Irish Cheddar with Beer and Irish Cheddar with Whiskey.

If you’re wondering, yes the beer and whiskey picks do contain actual alcohol. That means your teenager can’t buy them and your kiddos shouldn’t go anywhere near “mommy’s special cheese.” It also means that Aldi stores in areas prohibiting grocery store alcohol sales won’t carry the two two alcohol-infused Irish Cheddars. But they will have the other three (non-alcoholic) holiday options! The cheeses retail for $3.99 each.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Moose via Foodiesfeed

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If You’re a New Mom, We Bet You’re Probably at Least 30 Years Old

by Shahrzad WarkentinFebruary 25, 2019

While fertility rate in the United States is in an overall decline, an increase in moms-to-be is happening in a surprising demographic, as more women aged 30 to 34 are having babies.

According to a recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, pregnancies among women ages 30 to 34 are on the rise. This signals a shift for the United States as in past decades, women ages 25 to 29 have typically had the highest birth rates, followed by those 20 to 24. So why are younger women forgoing becoming parents?

photo: Rawpixel

There is no single reason to explain why younger women are bypassing having kids until later in life, but the researchers have theories that explain the decline. Lack of federally-mandated paid leave, skyrocketing student debt and rising housing costs definitely factor in as to why Millennials might be waiting to have kids.

Add to that the influence of technology—or what Kasey Buckles, economist at the University of Notre Dame, refers to as “Netflix and no chill”—and the decline in births among younger women starts to make a lot more sense.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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14 Super Simple Mom Hacks to Save Your Skin This Winter

By Shari Sperling

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

February 8, 2019

As a mother of three young children, it’s next to impossible to find time for myself. On top of that, I’m a working parent, so “me time” requires some serious planninI’m a board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical, cosmetic, laser and surgical dermatology for adults and children. I founded my practice with one primary goal: to help all of my patients feel, look, and be spectacular in their own skin. As both a mother and a dermatologist, I stress how important it is to find time for yourself to take care of your skin and body, especially this time of year. The wintertime can wreak havoc on your skin, between the bitter cold weather outside and the blasting heat inside.

With five minutes or less to spare, here are some of my go-to winter skincare tips for moms:

Always stay hydrated; drink plenty of water throughout the day.
One shower a day is just enough; especially for parents of young children, finding the time to even get in one shower can be tough, but a 10-minute warm shower will do the trick. That said, although hot water may feel good, make sure the water isn’t too hot otherwise you can dry out your skin. Same goes for your little ones, one bath a day works just fine.
Use a gentle body wash daily and exfoliate once a week at most if you feel the need to.
Pat your skin dry leaving it a slightly damp; follow with a thick moisturizer which absorbs better when the skin is moist.
In the morning, wash your face with gentle cleanser and follow with moisturizer or serum. I like creams with antioxidants or a vitamin C serum.
Always apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30+ with zinc or titanium. Even in the winter, your skin needs sun protection. You may not realize, but just getting in and out of your car while running errands exposes you to sunlight.
If you wear makeup daily, you can minimize your time getting ready in the morning by using a tinted moisturizer with SPF. It’s 3 steps in 1.
At night, use a gentle cleanser to take off makeup and remove dirt and oil buildup.
Over the counter or topical Rx retinol will help with fine lines, aging, tone and texture. 20-30 minutes after you wash your face, take a pea size amount and apply around your whole face. A little bit goes a long way! Apply remainder to the back of your hands to keep them looking young!
If your skin is dry, moisturizers with ceramides will help keep your natural oils and repair your skin barrier.
A good moisturizer with Lactic acid can help with dry, cracked feet/heels. Apply this routinely and by summer your feet will be ready for flip flop season.
Throughout the winter, parents are quick to grab hand sanitizer at any sign of sickness or germs. Not so fast! Avoid alcohol based products as they’ll dry your skin right up.
Cotton lined gloves are a savior for your skin in the winter. Your hands are one of the first places to show signs of aging, so pay extra attention to them. At night, moisturize your hands and apply gloves for extra absorption. Don’t have cotton lined gloves or the time to go get some? Cotton socks work just as well for this.
Treat yourself to a monthly facial or an at home treatment mask or chemical peel.

Now that I have written this and the kids are in bed, I probably should take some of my own advice and treat myself to a nice facial treatment!

Feature Photo: Noah Buscher via Unsplash

Shari Sperling

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

My name is Shari Sperling and I am a board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical, cosmetic, laser and surgical dermatology. I am passionate about my patients and I strive to treat them with the utmost sensitivity and care. My goal is to help people achieve their potential through great skin care.

Here’s How Much Screen Time Little Kids Are Really Getting, But Is It Too Much?

by Shahrzad WarkentinFebruary 1, 2019

Yet another study weighs in on the topic of screen time. This researchers examined the following questions: how much screen time do kids really get—and is it too much?

Screens are ubiquitous in our now digital society and at some point all kids will be exposed to them, no matter what you do. The question remains: does the amount of exposure matter? A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found a link between excessive screen use in kids and delays in development. The study concludes, “When young children are observing screens, they may be missing important opportunities to practice and master interpersonal, motor, and communication skills.”

photo: StockSnap via Pixabay

The study included 3388 moms and kids tracking their stages and screen use at 24, 36, and 60 months. On average, kids aged 24, 36, and 60 months in the study were watching approximately 17, 25, and 11 hours of television per week, “which amounts to approximately 2.4, 3.6, and 1.6 hours of screen time per day.”

So how much is too much? A recent study conducted by the National Institutes of Health suggests that kids should have no more than two hours of screen time per day to avoid impacted kids’ cognition. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids under 24 months should have no screen time other than video chatting, while those ages two to five-years-old should be limited to no more than one hour of quality screen time per day.

With so many different studies and recommendations it can be hard for families to know what to do, but ultimately it’s up to parents to decide what is best for their own kids.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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