ML Interest Tag: nap

These 2 New Strollers with Carry Straps Will Change Your Life

by Eva Ingvarson Cerise

Ready, carry, go! These two new strollers will get you out and about without slowing your roll. The Uppababy Minu and Oxo Tot Air are both compact, lightweight strollers big on handy features, including a carrying strap so you can tote them around when not in use. Perfect for buses, trains, airports, stairs and other tricky spots. Read on for all the details about these two awesome rides.

Oxo Tot Air Stroller
Oxo, the company known for its clever and comfort-focused kitchen products, has taken that ingenuity into the baby market. Their latest stroller, Air, launched in October and clocks in at only 11 pounds, a light weight that makes it easy to pick up and go.

The Air folds into a compact package, stands upright locked in place and is a snap to carry with the built-in strap. You’ll also love the 5-point safety harness, large storage basket, UPF 50 canopy with peek-a-boo window, and zippered pocket for your cell phone, keys, wallet, and more.

For babies starting at 6 months. Available in black, orchid purple and jade green, at oxo.com, $179.99.

UPPAbaby Minu
There’s a new entry in UPPAbaby’s collection of stylish and highly functional strollers. The Minu, which launches in spring 2018, is 14.5 pounds and folds into a super tiny package. You’ll be amazed at how easily it folds and unfolds with just one hand so you have the other free for holding baby. Pop the folded stroller into your car trunk, or use the carry strap and sling it over your shoulder.

The seat reclines for napping on the go, there’s a large canopy with peek-a-boo window, and the large basket and parent pocket lets you bring along all your essentials. When folded, it stands upright for easy storage even in small or crowded spaces.

For babies starting at 3 months — or at birth with the company’s From Birth Kit. Available (in spring 2018) in black, charcoal, red and teal, at uppababy.com, $399-$429.

What’s your favorite stroller feature? Let us know below!

— Eva Ingvarson Cerise

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Adorable Interrupting Toddler Proves You’re Never Alone When You’re a Mom

by Shahrzad Warkentin

photo: NTD TV

Every mother since the dawn of indoor plumbing has faced the struggle of the mom in this hilarious video, who just wants a minute to pee in peace. Instead she is faced with a pint-sized intruder who is so unbelievably cute and polite, you might actually take her side in the bathroom battle. Check out the video below to share this mom’s adorably familiar frustration.

The Denver mom whose voice you hear in the video gently urging her daughter to close the bathroom door, told Newsflare, “My infant was napping so I figured it was my time to escape to the bathroom without an audience or the door wide open. I left my toddler in the living room occupied (so I thought). Moments later I hear her footsteps down the hall. She eagerly joins me. I try to convince her I’ll be out shortly but she just won’t take the hint. We’ve always known she was a hoot, now the whole world gets to laugh with us.”

While the inclination is to feel sorry for the mom who just can’t manage to get a minute to herself, even when nature calls, it’s impossible not to be swayed by her daughter’s cuteness. She can’t stop coming in, but her mom handles it calmly. Just when you think the coast is clear she pops right back in again to say “You’re welcome,” when her mom thanks her for closing the door, again and again.

Can you relate to the mom in this video? Share your own funny experiences in the comments!

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Study Finds That Preschoolers Who Nap Have An Easier Time Learning

by Red Tricycle

Photo: Jessica Lucia via Flickr

Naps don’t just provide kids (and parents!) with some good ol’ rest, it can also boost the memory in younger children. New research from the University of Arizona suggested that napping during the day has helped preschool-aged kids retain information.

The research team evaluated 39 three-year-olds and found that those who napped after learning new verbs had a better understanding of the words when tested 24 hours later. The three-year-olds were divided into two groups: habitual nappers (those who napped four or more times a week) and non-habitual nappers (three or fewer naps a week). Both groups were taught imaginary verbs– “blicking” and “rooping” — and showed them a video in which actors demonstrated with each ‘verb.’

The following day, the researchers quizzed the children on “blicking” and “rooping,” and noticed something interesting. Children who had napped within about an hour of learning the verbs performed better than those who stayed awake for at least five hours after learning, regardless of whether they were habitual or non-habitual nappers.

“Verbs are interesting because we know they are very challenging for children to learn and to retain over time,” says lead study author and UA alumna Michelle Sandoval. “Individual objects have clear boundaries, and children learn about those very early in development — before they hit their first birthday, they know a lot about objects. Verbs aren’t as neatly packaged. Besides a physically perceptible action, a verb contains information about the number of people involved and can contain information about when the action took place.”

Researchers believe this memory retention is because of slow-wave sleep.

“There’s a lot of evidence that different phases of sleep contribute to memory consolidation, and one of the really important phases is slow-wave sleep, which is one of the deepest forms of sleep,” said study co-author Rebecca Gómez, UA associate professor of psychology, cognitive science, and second language acquisition and teaching. “What’s really important about this phase is that essentially what the brain is doing is replaying memories during sleep, so those brain rhythms that occur during slow-wave sleep and other phases of non-REM sleep are actually reactivating those patterns — those memories — and replaying them and strengthening them.”

Rebecca encourages parents to implement a nap routine in their kid’s schedule.

Will you be adding more naps into your calendar? Let us know in the comments below!

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Step Up Your Milestone Photo Game With Lulujo

by Julie Seguss

You wish you had the energy, patience and creative talent to produce daily photos of your baby napping in whimsical dream set-ups. In reality, you’d be happy to have beautiful monthly snaps of your baby to share on Instagram and treasure for eternity. Lulujo just launched a must-have kit for amazing first year photos that takes milestone stickers one step further by adding a backdrop blanket. Keep reading to find out why it’s a winner.

Why You Need This

While milestone sticker and cards sets are great, they don’t necessarily produce fool proof photos. You still need to style the shot, whether you’re propping your baby up on a chair or using your own blanket. You’ll quickly realize if you don’t have a clean backdrop, your photos aren’t going to pop the way the ones you’re always pinning do.

Lulujo’s blanket and card sets make creating aesthetically amazing pics pretty easy. All you need to do is dress your babe in a cute outfit (or make it easy and stick to a patterned diaper), and get the whole blanket in the frame.

What You’ll Get

Lulujo has created three gorgeous designs to choose from, each featuring a muslin blanket that acts as your instant photo backdrop — the girly “Isn’t She Lovely,” the gender neutral black and white “Loved Beyond Measure,” and the more masculine “I Will Move Mountains.” Each set also includes 14 coordinating milestone cards that state Baby’s age from day 1 to year 1.

Beyond the First Year

The bonus? Long beyond the first year, your baby can use and cherish this special blanket. Whether it’s used for cuddling, playing on, swaddling or hung on the nursery wall as an art piece, this is one photo prop you won’t toss after Baby turns one.

Baby’s First Year Blanket & Cards Set available for pre-order at lulujo.com, $19.99 (shipping mid-Nov).

How do you make your monthly baby photos special? Share your tips in a comment.

–Julie Seguss

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The Secret of How to Have A Play Date During Nap Time

By Jessica Valcarcel

Photo: Jessica Valcarcel

As a SAHM one of the most difficult parts to adjust to was the lack of adult interaction.  Before you have a child most woman work and spend their day talking with friends and coworkers. Suddenly you have a baby and no one to talk too! I mean your husbands, friends, family and coworkers are busy. It gets better I promise. Your baby gets bigger and you start to meet other moms.  So this is where play dates come in! I will admit I love play dates! I know it’s important for children to interact with each other, but I’m just happy it gives me a chance to talk to another adult! My two-year-old daughter loves to talk, but that only goes so far. However, now she’s a toddler I have to constantly intervene to keep the kids from fighting over toys. Which means less time for an uninterrupted adult conversation.

 Well, a fellow mom and myself found a solution to this problem. Schedule a play date during nap time! I know it sounds crazy and frankly how is this a play date. My fellow mommy and I came across this idea by accident. She needed to come over earlier for our playdate and it was around our girl’s nap time. So I set up a pack -n-play in our guest room for her to put her daughter down for a nap. I then put my daughter down for her own nap.  All I can say is we had 90 minutes with both of our girls napping!  It was an eye opening experience for us!

 During their nap time we sat on my couch drank coffee and talked. What SAHM gets to spend 90 minutes talking with another parent these days! This was the best play date I had ever had! Our girls both woke up around the same time. But once they did their play date began. Both of us were recharged and ready for whatever behaviors and attitudes the girls threw at us. All because we had our own “play date” giving us the child free time we needed.

This experience made me feel like I found the Holy Grail of parenting!  I had time to talk to my friend without my screaming toddler WOW! Before this experience play dates with a toddler were exhausting! You spend most of the time trying to keep them from grabbing the same toy, pushing and whatever else they can think of. All while trying to have an adult conversation, this never turns out well. From that day forward my fellow mom and I try to host at least one play date a week during our girl’s nap time. I mean parents need play dates too!

I am a former middle school special education teacher. I have been lucky enough to become a stay at home mom to our two year old daughter. When I have a free moment I am a contributing writer for the website Babygaga.

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See Why People Are Freaking Out Over This Dad’s Baseball Catch

by Red Tricycle

Super Dad, or no? During a baseball game between Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays last week, a dad in the stands managed to catch a foul ball with one hand while holding onto his napping daughter with the other. It has reached over 1.4 million views on YouTube since it’s upload last Thursday. Watch the impressive catch below:

Video: MLB via YouTube

Is this dad on expert-level or what? Tell us in the comments below!

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Bring Peace Into Your Family Photos Today

by Christal Y.

Celebrate International Day of Peace with memories that’ll last a lifetime! Nothing serves a better reminder than photographs, so we’ve come up with 10 fun ideas on how to incorporate peace into your pictures. From visiting your local art sculptures to taking a picture of your napping babe, there are plenty of ideas for families of all ages, shapes and sizes.

1. Have your little one draw a picture of what they think peace means and take a picture of them holding it for the memories.

photo: Edwin Lee via flickr

2. Take a pictures of your mini-me while they are sleeping. On International Peace Day, peace and quiet definitely has a new meaning, especially if you have a newborn.

3. Do you have a peace memorial or sculpture in your city? Visit the spot after school and take a picture.

photo: wplynn via flickr

4. Gather around all your family members and lie on the ground to make a peace sign. This is the time to pull out the selfie-stick for a perfect aerial shot.

5. Don’t have enough people to make a human-sized peace sign? Settle for one made from hands!

 

6. Rock the traditional peace sign. Hold your fingers in a V shape with your thumb holding down your fourth and pinky finger.

7. Got competitive little ones? Take a picture of your kiddos hugging it out.

8. Where’s the most peaceful place in your hometown? Head there with your little and take a scenic picture.

https://instagram.com/p/7ltCQ1EziH/

 

9. Do one of our cool peace-related crafts and take a picture of it!

10. Have your kids spell out the word peace with their bodies as each letter. Put the five photos together as a collage.

Got more photo ideas? Show us how you celebrated by hashtagging #redtricycle or #rockedtheweekend on Facebook or Instagram.

— Christal Yuen

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Stay Calm & Parent On With Secrets From Zen Moms

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

It’s not like you weren’t expecting your life to get kicked up a notch (or 10) with a new baby. The shake up is what makes being a new parent so exciting, right? But, if you need a breather, don’t worry. There are simple strategies for sneaking in everything from yoga to acupressure that’ll ensure you won’t lose your cool (or your mind!). Read on for tips from relaxation experts, all who have made it through the newborn stage in the past.

Photo: kellinahandbasket via Flickr

Be a Wall Flower
To create instant calm, lay on the floor with your legs leaning against a wall. According to Gail Grossman, a yoga studio owner and mom of two, it’s super-relaxing for the legs and back and it can also re-energize the entire body. Bonus: when your baby gets old enough, she can join in on the get-zen practice before bed.

Make a Face
When you’re feeling wound up, let loose by making a funny face, suggests Emily Francis, mom of two and author of Stretch Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide to Basic and Assisted Stretching. Start by inhaling and holding your breath. Shut your eyes and  tighten your jaw. Then open your eyes and mouth as wide as you can, stick your tongue out as far as you can and do a very audible exhale to push out the tension, and make your bambino crack a gummy smile.

Turn Your Bathroom Into a Spa 
Can’t make it to yoga? Don’t worry, says Rebecca Rissman, certified yoga instructor and author of Yoga for Your Mind and Body. Instead, find another way to devote quiet time and energy to yourself. Anything can be yoga if you do it with intention. Do you love painting your toenails? The next time your little one is napping, head to your bathroom, light a candle, and paint away.

Press Here
Acupressure has been used for thousands of years for many types of ailments, including stress, says Kerry Boyle Jenni, a licensed acupuncturist in Montpelier, Vermont. The point right between your eyebrows can be slowly and repeatedly tapped on for a quick calming effect.

Photo by Phoebe via Flickr

Pretend Your Stress is $$$
See your stress level as currency, says Anita Marchesani, Ph.D, a licences psychologist. . How much stress” do you really want to expend on your crying babe, knowing you have a limit to how much you can comfortably give without stretching yourself too thin? Resist giving away too much of your peace and joy in life in exchange for something that has no value.

Don’t Forget to Breathe
When your baby starts to cry, pause and take one slow deep breath before responding, says Stephannie Weikert, a yoga therapist in Baltimore. You can add to this practice by saying to yourself as you inhale, “I breathe in peace,” and when you exhale, “I breathe out love.” The words peace and love can be replaced with anything that feels right to you.

Do you have any tips for finding inner peace as a new parent? Dish in the comments section below. 

–Ayren Jackson-Cannady

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Meet the Red Tricycle Dog Crew

by Erin Lem

The Red Tricycle office has always been dog-friendly. In fact, many of us were parents to our furry children before our actual kids came along. Meet some of Red Tricycle’s pooches by scrolling down below.

Indy the Bulldog

photo: Kevin Cabral

Lovable Indy loves to slobber, snort and pass gas for anyone lucky enough to be sitting near him. In his free time, he likes to lounge and dress up. Last year, he got lucky during Red Tricycle's Secret Santa and scored big time with this festive costume. He's still learning how to interact appropriately with children and enjoys being the apple of his dad's (aka Kevin Cabral's) eye. 

Murphy the Lab/Hound Mix (but Mostly Hound)

photo: Ian Lynch

When Murphy was a puppy he used to come into the Red Tricycle office until he had a few accidents and his mom (aka Erin Lem) became mortified by her pup's bad habits. He's since grown out of his puppy antics, and now spends his time napping all day, preferably on the bed. He's mentally preparing to be a big bro when baby comes into the picture next year. 

 

Dipper, the Labradoodle

photo: Jacqui Boland

While not born in the Bay Area, Dipper loves being a California dog. He is a great companion to Jacqui Boland and family, and enjoys long walks on the beach and trail running with his mom. Dipper is also a great watch dog—he notifies everyone in the office anytime the mailman or delivery drivers are about to knock!

 

Marshmallow (aka Mel) the Labradoodle

photo: Jacqui Boland

Marshmallow (Mel for short) is Dipper's younger sis. She's a smart and savvy pup who has been known to escape her yard to chase deer and eat Christmas presents. Mel and Indy love to play and have been known to dominate the Sausalito dog park during their lunch breaks. 

 

Rocky the Golden Retriever

photo: Erin Lem

While not an official Red Tricycle team member any longer, Rocky stole our hearts with his innocent puppy looks and great behavior. He was a good sport, enduring many hours of Indy playtime and even more hours of a certain editor taking countless selfies with him. 

 

Faith, the Senior

photo: Kevin Cabral

While Faith's age keeps her from visiting the office often, when she does make an appearance she is royalty. She tends to keep to herself and spend her days napping on her bed, which is placed high up on a desk. After all, who can blame her? At that age, you wouldn't want to be around rambunctious puppies either!

 

 

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