Santa, would you settle for tap water and saltines this year?
Christmas is just a month away, and unfortunately, inflation did not get the message. For many families this year, the holiday season might be filled with financial stress, but we have good news... you can spread holiday cheer without breaking the bank!

This article has some great tips on how to decorate, give gifts, and prepare a nice holiday meal on a budget.

One of our favorite tips from the list? The customizable four gift rule.

Not everyone is spending less this year though, as a recent survey has found the average US consumer expects to drop just over $1,000 this year on gifts.

🧱 Would you settle for an iPhone made out of LEGOs?
Speaking of gifts, a survey of over 1,000 parents found the five most common items kids are asking for this year are: toys/games (Barbies, LEGOs, Slime, etc), electronics (iPhones, Nintendo Switch, Apple Watch, etc), concert tickets, clothes and novelty items like Labubu dolls and Sonny Angels. More here.

💊 Prozac might be whack
Experts are saying Prozac may not actually help depressed kids any more than a pill full of sugar. A huge review of studies found the benefits were minuscule while side effects like weight gain, poor sleep and difficulties concentrating caused greater harm. So, what do the experts recommend instead? Unfortunately, there's no single best approach, as what works for one kid might not work for the other. Read more here.

👨 Stay-At-Home dads are on the rise
Turns out more dads are trading briefcases for baby wipes. A new Pew Research Center study has found that stay at home fathers have nearly doubled in thirty years and now make up about 18 percent of parents at home. And it's not just due to layoffs or injuries anymore. Shifting gender norms and sky high childcare costs mean some families choose dad to be the one at home. 

🚨 Are you giving your kids your full attention?
Psychologists are stressing the importance of creating an emotionally safe environment for your children. As parents, we often focus on making sure they're physically taken care of. We want to make sure they have food and a roof over their heads, but what goes on under the roof is just as important. Here are 5 ways you can be more emotionally present with your kids, and yes, one of them is to put the dang phone away!

🎅 Want an advent calendar idea that doesn't contain candy?
We have you covered with over 85 creative ideas, just in time for December 1st!

🤖 Experts warn parents against AI toys this holiday season
Here's why.

🧸 Black Friday toy deals
Here are some of the best early Black Friday toy deals, AI not included!

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, here’s my favorite hack: make a pot of Curried Butternut Squash Soup in the morning (or better yet the day before) and let it quietly simmer away while you tackle the turkey. Lunch is handled, the house smells amazing, and no one is asking what they’re supposed to eat while the big meal is still hours away.

Get the yummy recipe here!

Last week, we asked you how you felt about your child's school using laptops or tablets in class, and the majority of you said, "It's fine in moderation!"

1/3 of women leave their jobs within 18 months of returning from parental leave - not because they want to stay home, but because their workplace let them down when they needed support the most.

This week on the weekly parent podcast, we talk with Beth Wanner, founder and CEO of Mother Cover, an agency dedicated to helping companies support parents during leave without sacrificing performance.

If you've ever taken leave, managed someone on leave, or wondered why it still feels so hard to be both a parent and a professional, this one is a must-listen!

Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

The infant botulism outbreak has expanded. If you have any ByHeart formula in your house, PLEASE THROW IT OUT! This is a very serious recall. Read more here.

Also, more than 100,000 Zippee toddler toys have been recalled due to a choking hazard that has already sent one toddler to the hospital.