What happens when mom leaves for the day? This dad’s breastfeeding hack can help all those dudes on dad duty keep their kiddos happy and full in a BYOB-style—that’s for “bring your own boob.” Confused? Read on.

When Allen Lamarr Fails Jr.’s wife left the house, baby Ava wanted nothing to do with the bottle. Even though she was hungry, she wanted only one thing, but it wasn’t exactly on the menu with dad in charge. That’s when Fails had an idea.

So how did the dad save the day? He cut a hole in his shirt and put the bottle inside. With the bottle’s nipple just barely sticking out of the tee, baby Ava took to it without hesitation. Problem solved—hilariously, to boot.

Fails’ genius hack isn’t exactly the first breastfeeding dad dude discovery. Last year dad Anthony Favors tried this trick with his baby daughter and nearly three years ago another dad, Chris Allen, tried the same thing. Whatever works and gets baby fed, right?

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Burst via Pexels

 

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If you’re confused by how to read food expiration dates, you aren’t the only one who just doesn’t get it. Best by? Sell by? Use by? Before you toss a seemingly ancient box of pasta or a might-be expired can of tomatoes, read on.

Do you assume that the “sell by” date on your milk, cheese or any other product is set by some sort of research or government standard? Even though this is a popular view, expiration dates aren’t actually regulated in the United States.

photo: difisher via Pixabay

A recent study published in the journal Waste Management examined what consumers really understand when it comes to food expiration dates and wording. According to the study, one-third of the 1,029 adults surveyed incorrectly believed that the “best if used by” or “use by” date was federally regulated. Another 26 percent of consumers were unsure whether the date was, or wasn’t, regulated. Along with confusion over whether use by dates are or aren’t regulated, a whopping 84 percent of study participants threw away food that was near its package expiration date at least occasionally.

So what do the different phrases and dates really mean? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, manufacturer-provided food dating that says “best by” refers to when food is of its best quality—an arbitrary determination made by the company and not a safety guide.

The only current exception is baby formula. “Best by” dates printed on baby formula are safety indicators, meaning that you need to follow those strictly.

photo: Alan Levine via Flickr

Phrases are a bit trickier to understand than dates. A “use by” date refers to the last day of the food’s peak quality. A “sell by” date is more for retailers than consumers, indicating the last day a seller should display the item for sale.

This brings us to the big question: should you throw away food that’s past its “use by” or “sell by” date? There’s no clear answer. Properly stored food that has no evidence of spoilage typically doesn’t need to go in the trash. Unsure about how long perishable items—such as ground beef, chicken or milk—can stay fresh and safe in the fridge or freezer? Foodsafety.gov has a handy chart to use.

—Erica Loop

 

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Sorry Geoffrey, we hope you didn’t get too comfortable in retirement, because there’s a chance that Toys”R”Us is coming back. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, the beloved toy store may not be so dead and gone as we all thought earlier this year. It looks like the Toys”R”Us we grew up with might be reincarnated as something a little different.

If you’re confused, you aren’t alone. The mega-toy retailer famously closed its doors this summer following a downturn in sales, and eventually bankruptcy. Despite this, Toys”R”Us is still poised to make a comeback—we just don’t know all the details of exactly how or when—but we do have some clues.

Photo: Philip Pessar via Flickr

Instead of going ahead with the previously scheduled bankruptcy auction, the controlling lenders decided not to sell off the retailer’s intellectual property assets. This includes the brand names Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us, along with the image and character of Geoffrey the Giraffe and multiple domain names.

The group of private equity funds that currently owns the controlling stake in the now-closed toy retailer has a re-organization plan in the works. So what would that look like? Reportedly, the hedge fund funders want to re-launch the brand as a toy wholesale business.

But there’s also this curious tidbit as the The Toy Association’s annual Fall Toy Preview gets underway in Dallas, Texas. Geoffrey the Giraffe has been spotted on the trade show floor! Note what’s on his cape: “Back from Vacation.”

But he’s not carrying his previous “Toys”R”Us” mantel, instead attached to a company called “Geoffrey’s Toy Box.” According to The Toy Book, a leading toy trade magazine, the company has been restructured as Geoffrey, LLC.

Richard Barry, executive vice president of global merchandising at Geoffrey LLC, told The Toy Book that Geoffrey’s Toy Box is a new initiative for the re-organized company. Per The Toy Box:

Barry told The Toy Book exclusively that the company will launch a “shop-within-a-shop” concept, called Geoffrey’s Toy Box, with a prominent regional midwest retailer this November. The concept will feature a train of branded Geoffrey’s Toy Box displays.

Hmmm…curiouser and curiouser! For now, we’ll just have to wait and see what’s next for Geoffrey the Giraffe.

—Erica Loop

 

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Where do you get your parenting advice? Um, scratch that. Maybe the more appropriate question here is — what is a chatbot? ParentSpark is redefining what parenting advice looks like, and AI chatbots are it. So what does artificial intelligence have to do with what you do as a mama?

Let’s say you want some advice. Your kiddo won’t go to sleep, the littles refuse to stop fighting or you’re just plain at a loss when it comes to what to do to stop the tyrannical tantrums. Now what? Well, the startup LifeSpark created a chat or messenger bot, ParentSpark, that gives parents a personalized info and advice experience.

photo: pexels.com

Instead of just handing out random bits of advice or making you feel like a parenting dummy (in the face of child development jargon), ParentSpark’s chatbot is like that totally non-judgmental mommy friend you’ve been dreaming of.

The chatbot uses engaging, interactive stories to help you understand and learn about parenting. This makes the experience real, and realistic too (at least, from a parenting advice perspective). If you’re kind of confused, feeling like this whole parenting thing is more than challenging or you just want some friendly advice, it looks like ParentSpark is an option to try.

What do you think about using a parenting chatbot? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

—Erica Loop

 

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At one point or another, every parent must face the dreaded question: where do babies come from? For some lucky parents, avoiding the question is a little easier because their kids are already baby experts. Check out these hilarious quotes from real moms whose kids dropped some knowledge bombs on where babies come from.

Alternative choices.
“My 6 year old was fascinated to learn all about how babies grow. She took a very scientific view of the process, asking questions and seeking clarification. No emotions would interfere with her quest for knowledge. Until she discovered how the babies come out. Her response to that realization? ‘I think I’ll adopt.’”
—Jessica H.

They come in a 5 pack.
“My son asked if we could get him a baby girl. I asked him where he thought we could pick up a baby and he said Costco!”
—Katie S.

Don’t be silly, that’s not what vaginas are for!
“My son asked if all babies got “cut out” of mommies tummies. I explained that no, some women have c-sections and some babies come out another way. He asked how. I told him they come out through the mommy’s vagina….there was a long pause and then he burst out into hysterical laughter, ‘mommy that’s ridiculous!’”
—Justine F.

The student becomes the teacher.
“When my oldest was 6, I was pregnant and so we told him, in a kid version, how babies were made and all about pregnancy. We used the correct terms. Well, at school one day a little girl said something about how babies grew in the tummy. My son corrected her and the class ended up having a lesson/discussion about pregnancy.”
—Heather W.

Give it a few years.
“My husband is a doctor so with all the anatomy books laying about they know EXACTLY where babies come from. Finally told my 9 yr old how babies are made and his response was “that is gross”.
—Nicole T.

What’s for lunch?
“When I was pregnant, my daughter wondered how a baby got into my belly so she asked me if I ate the baby.”
—Diane W.

Just google it.
“My daughter knows exactly where babies come from. She googled it on her brain pop jr. app. Although, she is still quite confused how ‘the sperm cell just JUMPED from Daddy to Mommy’s uh-ter-us (uterus) and noooobody saw it….’ (we tell her it was a very small cell and probably happened at night when it was dark).”
—Alison D.

K-I-S-S-I-N——Baby!
“My 6 year old thought you get married, kiss and then have a baby. We went to a friend’s wedding and awhile after she asked if they had a baby, I told her no and she said ‘but I saw them kiss!!!’”
—Sandra B.

Knock, knock. Who’s there? A baby!
“My older child knew babies were carried in a special place inside of a mommy, but hadn’t asked how they came out yet. One day, he asked me if he could look at my belly button. It was an odd request, but sure. It’s a belly button. He looked, thanked me, and made a kinda perplexed noise as he turned to walk off. Then I hear him mutter as he walked off, ‘…but there’s no door!’ It took me a second, then it hit me. He somehow had worked out in his head, without asking how babies came out, that women had a door in their bellies.”
—Jayme H.

Have your kids had the baby talk with you yet? Tell us what you learned in the comments.

 

 

Daily
Today Is National Macaroon Day
Treat yo’ self!
1

That’s macaroon, not macaron. Confused between the difference?
Click here to get the definition.

2

Now that you know the difference, it’s time to vote:
which do you think is better?

3
Be sure your whole household is clear on the concept by whipping up a batch of these amazing chocolate-dipped pineapple macaroons.

{ Today’s ideas brought to you by Bakeries }

As if there isn’t enough wonder and mystery in a baby’s world, this youngster is adorably confused after meeting his dad’s twin brother. Stephen Ratpojanakul posted a video on his Facebook of his son meeting his twin for the first time. Watch the viral video to see the twins amusing trick.

All photos and video courtesy via Stephen Ratpojanakul via Facebook

Ever pull a good trick or prank on your kids? Tell us in the comments below!

— Noelle Buckband

 

National Dictionary Day is the perfect opportunity to learn a few new or, in this case, old words. We’ve come up with a list of 20 interesting words you and the kiddos can practice using in a sentence. Scroll down for the list.

photo: Seoulful Adventures via flickr 

bantling: a young child

billfold: essentially, a wallet. A pocket for keeping bills and checks.

bluestocking: a woman of literary tastes or occupation

bonhomie (bon-o-me): good-heartedness

brownie: a beneficial spirit supposed to haunt old farm houses

canzonet: a short song

cassowary: a large bird resembling an ostrich

draggle: to wet or soil by dragging in the mud

firkin: a small wooden vessel for holding butter

gillyflower: a plant of the mustard family

jerkin: a short coat or jacket, not to be confused with gherkin, a kind of pickle

mavourneen: sweetheart, from the Irish

milliner: a maker of hats, specifically for women, including headdresses and other adornment.

orotund: characterized by fullness, clearness, strength and smoothness

pannikin: a small tin cup

rivulet: a little stream

stinkpot: an earthen jar full of various malodorous (stinky!) compounds, and formerly thrown on an enemy ship

superdreadnought: the most gigantic type of modern battleship (according to Webster’s 1940 edition!)

zyzzle: to sizzle or make a sputtering sound

Looking for more fun and quirky words? Check out our nautical dictionary here and our pirate dictionary here.

What’s your favorite new or old word? Share it with us in a comment below! 

—Amber Guetebier

If you’re breezing through Capitol Hill anytime soon with your kid crew, you may want to make a bee line for District Doughnut, the brand new neighborhood bakery that’s already turning heads and tantalizing everyones’ tastebuds. One early taste tester claimed DD (not to be confused with Dunkin Donuts) gives Krispy Kreme a run for their money (GASP!). Don’t take our word for it—chomp down on your own baker’s dozen.

What Kids Will Love
That’s easy. They’ll love everything about this sweet shop, which is ran by a team of chefs and entrepreneurs who have been obsessed with donuts since they themselves were little. Unique flavor combos like Nutella Bacon, Key Lime Pie, Brown Butter, and Dulce de Leche may sound exotic, but they are completely kid palette-friendly and a perfect pick-me-up anytime of the day (they are open from 8 am until all of the doughnuts are sold out).

What’s in it for You
Diet-busting? Yes! But even we deserve something special every now and again. The bakery runs a tight (and tasty) ship, offering just eight to 10 flavors a day—in a mix of yeast, cake, and gluten free varieties. The shop also hawks drip coffee from Compass Coffee, a new Shaw-based roaster started by two former marines. Planning a shindig? Before opening the brick and morter, DD acted as a doughnut delivery service, dropping off confections to offices and parties across the DMV, which they will continue to do.

While You’re in the Neighborhood
The building is small and there isn’t much by way of seating or lounging. But, there are plenty of benches outside to sit on. You and the kids can also walk off the sugar by taking a brisk walk to one of the various parks nearby—Folger Park, Lincoln Park, Marion Park, or Stanton Park.

District Doughnut
749 8th St., SE
Online: districtdoughnut.com

Will you try this new doughnut shop? Let us know in the comments section below. 

—Ayren Jackson-Cannady

Photos courtesy of District Doughnut via Facebook