Allswell Launches Their Littles Collection & We’re Smitten

by Erin LemSeptember 30, 2020

Home lifestyle brand, Allswell has been sending grown-ups into dreamland with their thoughtfully-designed line of affordable mattresses, bedding and decor. And now, your mini-me’s can join in on the fun thanks to Allswell’s first-ever baby collection, which just launched with a line of stylish gender-neutral products that range from crib sheets to bibs. Read on to find out more about this inaugural collection that promises the same comfort and affordability that Allswell is known for.

What’s in the new collection
This is the brand’s first foray into the baby and toddler space and the collection doesn’t disappoint. Expect gender-neutral designs that imbue a subtle impression of color, pattern and texture to any room or nursery. The entire collection—from baby blankets to reversible playmats—features pieces that are GOTS and OEKO-TEX certified and designed with 100% organic cotton.

Baby is in good hands wrapped in or laying on this oh-so-soft fabric that is made to last (no thin fabrics that will deteriorate after one wash here). We can’t get enough of this collection and eagerly await what baby and kids styles Allswell will release next.

Scroll down to peruse our favorites from this new line and to learn more about each product.

Organic Cotton Oversized Quilted Playmat
You’ll love that this playmat folds up easily (easily bring it on a picnic or to grandma’s house) and is made of uber soft organic cotton. It’s larger than the typical playmat, allowing baby to roll and play with ample space to spare. Machine washable and available in two colors. Buy now for $75.

Organic Cotton Oversized Baby Blanket
Whether you’re wrapping baby up for a brisk walk or need an extra place to put her down, turn to this soft baby blanket, a must for any new parent. You’ll adore that it’s lightweight, breathable and machine washable. Buy now for $32.

Organic Cotton Hooded Towel
Make sure he’s bundled and warm after bathtime with this organic cotton hooded towel. Both sides are soft and can grow with him from baby to toddler years. Buy now for $22.

Organic Cotton Bandana Bib Set
Take the mess out of meal time (or at least try) with the bib set, which comes in sets of two and are available in two different styles. Enjoy the easy-on, easy-off velcro. Buy now for $18 for a set of two.

Organic Cotton Crib Sheets
Make sure baby is set up for a successful night of sleep with these cotton crib sheets, which also come in a set of two. Available in four styles, these sheets safely fit snuggly in place and are lightweight and breathable. Buy now for $28.

View all products in the Allswell Littles collection here.

—Erin Lem

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New Survey Finds Parents Spend More Than 5 Hours Daily Trying to Get Their Children to Sleep

by Erica LoopSeptember 18, 2019

Does your baby struggle to drift off to dreamland? If so, you aren’t alone. A recent survey of 500 U.K. and 500 U.S. parents by Sleep Junkie found that parents spend an average of five hours and 25 minutes a day getting their babies to sleep.

With a little basic math, those five hours and 25 minutes per day equals roughly 82 days a year. That’s 82 days lost to bedtime-based activities such as feeding, walking, driving, reading, bathing and burping.

photo: Dominika Roseclay via Pexels

Sleep Junkie broke down the data into how much time parents report spending on each get-ready-for-bedtime activity, with feeding coming in at first place (one hours and 46 minutes per day).

The second highest time-suck was walking at one hour and 21 minutes––that’s a grand total of 4.23 miles per day! Driving followed in third with parents driving an average of 41 minutes, or 20 miles, per day just to get junior to sleep.

Other time spent engaging in bedtime activities included 34 minutes on reading, 29 minutes on bathing and 24 minutes on burping.

—Erica Loop

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Disney’s Bedtime Hotline Is Back & Here’s How Your Kiddo Can Talk to Mickey, Woody & More

by Erica LoopSeptember 17, 2019

Starting Sep. 16 your kiddo can get a special goodnight wish from their fave Disney character. The Disney store is launching its “Disney Bedtime Hotline” for the second year in a row—and with a dial of your phone, your child can connect with Mickey, Woody, Jasmine, Anna, Elsa, Yoda or Spider-Man.

So how can your child hear one of six special goodnight messages? Simply call the toll free-number, 1-877-7-MICKEY, from Sep. 16 through Sep. 30! You can also get a one-time text instead of a voice message.

Along with the goodnight message, your child can drift off to dreamland with Disney with the retailer’s newly updated Sleep Shop. You’ll find plenty of PJ’s, plushes, fleece throws and more on Shop Disney right now.

As if that’s not enough goodnight Disney fun, The Disney Bedtime Adventure Collection Box is coming soon! Each box ($27.99) comes with Disney store pajamas, activity cards, a rewards chart, stickers and more. Visit Shop Disney here for more information on ordering.

—Erica Loop

Photos: Courtesy of Disney

Featured image: pyromaster via Pixabay

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New AAP Study Sheds Light on Letting Babies Sleep in Car Seats

by Erica LoopMay 21, 2019

We’ve all been there: there’s 15-minute car drive after a half-day warehouse club shopping trip and your kiddo is out cold. Should you wake them up? According to new research from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the answer is yes.

Sitting devices, such as car seats, bouncers, swings and high chairs, aren’t made for sleeping, but that won’t stop your baby from drifting off to dreamland. A recently released 10-year study of 11,799 sleep-related infant deaths found that 348 of the fatalities happened in these types of devices. So what does this data mean?

photo: Sharon McCutcheon via Unsplash

The study, which was published in the AAP’s journal Pediatrics, found that using car safety seats as sleeping devices during non-traveling times may pose a safety risk to infants. In other words, letting a child continue to sleep in the car seat outside of the car such in your living room, bedroom, daycare or anywhere else is a problem.

In over 90 percent of the cases of sleep-related infant death, the car seats weren’t used as directed. Even though plenty of parents use these devices as make-shift cribs in a pinch, the car seat isn’t intended to support your child as they sleep. Instead, the AAP recommends taking the baby out of the car seat, placing them on their back and removing all loose bedding or soft objects from the area.

—Erica Loop

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This Acupressure Point That Puts Your Baby to Sleep May as Well Be Magic

by Shahrzad WarkentinFebruary 22, 2019

Want your baby to go to sleep? Try pushing their literal “sleep button.” According to an expert, certain acupressure points for babies can work like a charm to send your little one off to dreamland.

Speaking with Romper, licensed acupuncturist Ashley Flores revealed the secret spot that can help your baby go to sleep. Flores explained that the sweet spot is right between the eyebrows. “Just a really gentle stroking on that point is really calming for babies,” says Flores, “I recommend using a very light pressure. Just a little stroke with the fingertip going down toward the nose.”

photo: Kimpton_house via Pixabay

The REAL magic? Just 30 seconds (or so) should do the trick to help lull your baby to sleep.

That trick isn’t the only one you can use to help relax your baby. As the Mayo Clinic explains, baby massage can be a useful tool in helping your baby relax and sleep, reduce crying and a great way to bond with your baby. The Mayo Clinic suggests waiting 45 minutes after a feeding to massage your baby, use very gentle touch to slowly stroke and knead each part of your baby’s body for about a minute each, including your baby’s head, neck, shoulders, upper back, waist, thighs, feet and hands.

Not sure if it’s for you? Check with your pediatrician; otherwise, check out the Mayo Clinic’s tips to get started.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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Goodnight Kiddo Sends Your Kids to Sleep with Mindful Meditation

by Erica LoopJanuary 18, 2019

Bedtime: it’s not always easy—for parents or kids. Well, now there’s an app that offers guided sleep meditation for kids. If your child struggles to fall asleep, Meditation Studio may just help them to drift off to dreamland. Yay!

So how does guided sleep meditation work anyway? Meditation Studio’s new “Good Night Kiddo” collection pairs voiced meditation narratives with original music. Designed for children ages 4 through 8, the soothing combo of music and a gentle guided meditation helps your little one to relax and fall asleep without strain, struggle or tantrums.

According to Meditation Studio co-founder and host of Untangle, Meditation Studio’s original podcast, Patricia Karpas said, “The original musical compositions create a truly unique experience with these meditations.” She adds, “It gives kids and parents a calm and gentle experience designed to help them drift off to sleep with the sweetest of dreams.”

The app, which is available for iOS on the App Store requires a Meditation Studio subscription. Parents can choose from either a monthly $7.99 fee or an annual $49.99 subscription. Along with the guided meditations, Good Night Kiddo also gives you access to on-demand parenting content from leading experts. And if you’re also struggling with sleep issues, Meditation Studio offers the “Deep Sleep Collection” of guided meditations with original music and ambient sounds for adults.

Good Night Kiddo is also available as an Amazon Alexa skill. Simply ask your Alexa-enabled device, “Alexa, open Good Night Kiddo” to pick from a few free options, from “bedtime chill” to “sleep journey.”

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Courtesy of Meditation Studio

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Pottery Barn’s Harry Potter Home Decor Collections Are Pure Magic

by Erica LoopSeptember 12, 2018

Accio bed spread and more as the Wizarding World comes to your home with enchanting designs from Pottery Barn’s new Harry Potter collection. The collab, which recently launched across the Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen brands, has all-new textiles, furniture, accessories, entertaining essentials, holiday decor and much, much more.

Pottery Barn Kids and PBTeen President Jennifer Kellor, said of the collab, “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Harry Potter franchise and embark on a new chapter that includes Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids.”

Here are some of the best looks from Pottery Barn’s newly expanded Harry Potter line of decor.

Hogwarts Express Train Bed

Courtesy of Pottery Barn

Your little wizard will adore the iconic design of The Hogwarts Express ($1,999)—in bed form! This is truly a magical way to drift off to dreamland (or Hogwarts).

Gryffindor Beanbag

Courtesy of Pottery Barn

This maroon Gryffindor-crested beanbag chair ($119 to $209) is the perfect PBTeen accent to your older child, tween or teens room. Along with this chair, your kiddo can keep their friends comfy with the other House Crest beanbags.

Hogwarts Castle Lantern

Courtesy of Pottery Barn

The adult-ish collection at Pottery Barn is filled with all kinds of wizarding decor for grown-ups. Deck out your table with these cute and classic table lanterns ($99), perfect for Halloween entertaining!

Organic Damask Crib Fitted Sheet

Courtesy of Pottery Barn

Dress up your baby's crib with this fantastic beasts bedding ($34). The 200-thread count sheets are Certified GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standards), meaning that they're free from chemicals.

Mythical Metal Bed

Courtesy of Pottery Barn

Available in both full and queen sizes, this magical bed ($999 to $1,099) from the PBTeen collection is elegant and whimsical at the same time. Forget about the little kid-like characters of yesterday, this pick is perfect for an older kiddo who wants their room to look sweet and sophisticated.

—Erica Loop

All photos: Courtesy of Pottery Barn

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Here’s How Parents Around the World Tackle Bedtime

by Erica LoopJanuary 6, 2018

photo: Pexels

When is your child’s bedtime? Chances are that it’s not the same as your neighbor’s kids, your child’s pre-k classmates or even your BFF’s baby. And it’s certainly not identical to children around the globe. At least, it probably isn’t. Bedtime is serious business. If your child struggles to sleep, rebels against bedtime or just outright refuses to sleep, it can turn your world upside down. Given the weight that parents put on bedtime, getting a world view may just help you to better understand your own nightly challenges.

Children’s bedtimes aren’t the only sleep-related differences that are found in different countries and cultures. In photographer James Mollison’s book Where Children Sleep, bedtime certainly didn’t look the same everywhere. CNN reported that Mollison said, “I met many families who sleep together in one room or children who sleep in a space of convenience, rather than a place they can in a sense call their room.”

When it comes to the time that parents send their little off to dreamland, the numbers differed almost as much as where the kiddos slept. A 2010 study published in the journal Sleep Medicine found that average bedtimes varied from 7:28 p.m. in New Zealand to 10:17 p.m. in Hong Kong.

With all the variation in places where kids sleep and bedtimes, it’s no wonder that nighttime antics can get parents down. And this isn’t just true for parents of babies or very young children. As kids age and start using digital devices, such as smartphones, shuttling them off to sleep can become increasingly difficult. On top of that, researchers have found a link between using electronics before bed and poor sleep quality, less sleep time, increased fatigue and even higher body mass index (in children who either used cell phones or watched television prior to going to sleep).

What can you do to help your child sleep? There isn’t a clear-cut answer. Creating a routine, ditching the devices and creating a sleeping environment that soothes is a start though.

What time do you think is the perfect bedtime? Tell us in the comments below.

Woof! Roar! Oink! 11 Animal-Themed Books Your Baby Will Love

by Oz SpiesSeptember 7, 2017

Have a baby or toddler who loves visiting the zoo and waving to all the neighborhood dogs? Then we have some books for you. Your little one will love learning animal sounds while flipping through these stories packed with pictures of cute and cuddly animals. Below, you’ll find 11 fantastic animal-themed books, from old favorites to soon-to-be classics, that will turn your animal lover into a bookworm.

Baby Animals Take a Nap

Want your little one to drift off to dreamland? This collection of snoozing animal friends just might encourage your babe to go to sleep. Sweet illustrations combine with interesting facts about animal sleeping patterns (dolphins nap while they swim!) in this sturdy board book.

Available at amazon.com, $6.99.

What are your favorite animal-themed books for babies and toddlers?

— Oz Spies

featured photo: StockSnap via Pixabay

The Coolest Crib Bedding Trends for Your Little Bean

by Gabby CullenJanuary 22, 2015

Babies have all the fashion luck: adorable outfits, cute booties, fuzzy hats and now … super-stylish crib bedding. From tribal trimmings to Western patterns, the latest trends will make your nursery the coolest room in the house. Scroll down to see what’s hot.

photo: Serena & Lily

Natural Neutrals
Organic materials and neutral colors will invite restful vibes to the nursery. The Grayson Collection from Serena and Lily is a clean, fresh take on baby bedding. We also love the mod animal illustrations!

Available at serenaandlily.com, starting at $42.

photo: Caden Lane

Tribal Trimmings
You can’t go wrong with anything tribal these days. This arrow bedding in navy, gold and turquoise from Caden Lane is totally on trend. In fact, it might be hard not to want to snag a set for yourself.

Available at cadenlane.com, starting at $38.

photo: Modified Tot

Woodland Wonders
Create a forest nest for your little critter with rich greens and browns. Illustrations of foxes, raccoons, bears and squirrels mixed with a funky geometric print makes a traditional animal theme seem modern.

Available at modifiedtot.com, starting at $60.

photo: Dwell Studio

Cozy Constellations
Star light, star bright … first time your baby sleeps through the night. Get your wee one cozy under the constellations with a galaxy-themed bedding collection from Dwell Studio. The neutral colors are perfect for a little space explorer!

Available at dwellstudio.com, starting at $26.

photo: Land of Nod

Market Fresh
We picked this fresh set just for you. From The Land of Nod comes rich colors in fanciful fruit prints of lemons, strawberries and blueberries designed by artist Erin Jang. Don’t be afraid to mix it up (fruit salad, anyone?) to bring extra joy to the nursery.

Available at landofnod.com, starting at $24.

photo: Carousel Designs

Western Roundup
Rangle yer cowpokes into a good night’s sleep with this adorable Western bedding. The faux suede, cow print and bandana prints are right off the range and ready for your little one. Pick and choose fabrics for a customized look.

Available at babybedding.com, starting at $34.

photo: Unison Home

Nautical Navy
Anchors away! Baby can sail the high seas to dreamland while cozied up in this bedding set from Unison Home. The illustrations give the classic style a modern update and we love the mixing and matching possibilities.

Available at unisonhome.com, starting at $44.

Do you have some stylish picks for your new nursery? Share with us in the comments!

— Gabby Cullen

ML Interest Tag: dreamland

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