There's no such thing as too many cuddles
Ever had a friend or family member tell you that you're "spoiling" your baby by holding them too much? Well, science disagrees with them. Touch is crucial to a baby's development. In fact, research on mammal development has shown that primate babies prefer physical closeness over trying to find food.

According to science, cuddles are life-saving.

This is backed up by multiple studies, including a 2020 study that found infant-caregiver physical closeness activates oxytocin as well as certain nerve fiber pathways.

Read all about the importance of cuddles here.

☀️ Pregnant? You need vitamin D!
Early childhood tooth decay affects children under six through cavities, missing teeth, or fillings and is a major pediatric health concern. How can we as parents prevent it? Well, it starts during pregnancy. A new study has found higher maternal Vitamin D levels lower the odds of your child having tooth decay.

📱 YouTube's CEO has strict screen time rules for his kids
Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube, revealed he limits his children's use of social media platforms, including YouTube. Read all about it here.

🇦🇺 Speaking of social media…
This country has banned it for children under the age of 16.

☣️ PFAS are deadly
Studies show pregnant women who drank well water downstream from PFAS-contaminated sites saw higher rates of low birth weight, preterm birth, and infant mortality. This article is shocking.

👥 Are you a velcro parent?
Find out here.

🤥 The most absurd lies we tell our children
"Sorry, honey... Siri is on vacation."

This heater is a true safe space
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, every year portable space heaters spark nearly 2,000 fires across the country. This Dreo Space Heater is the safest one on the market, complete with a child lock, flame-retardant material and 45° tip-over protection.

The softest blanket ever
If you want to feel extra cozy this winter, you'll need this Faux Fur Luxury Throw Blanket. It'll make you feel like you're wrapped in a cloud… speaking of which, throw on some equally soft Cloud Socks to heighten the snuggly experience.

Gloves that won't annoy you
The worst part of wearing gloves in the winter is having to take them off to use your phone. These gloves (which are currently 50% off) have SmarTouch touchscreen technology, so you can reply to the group chat without risking frostbite. And they come in multiple styles in case you’re going for a more minimal look.

The holy trinity of moisturizing
Don't let yourself get all dried up this winter. The LRP Cicaplast Lip Balm is a holy grail for cracked lips (fun fact: cica comes from cicatriser, which means “to heal” in French).

For your extremities, Prequel has a non-greasy hand cream that can be applied throughout the day without getting in the way. They also have a heavier duty foot treatment which can be left on overnight to work its magic.

And voilà! You're going to be the most hydrated parent on the block.

Pantry Peanut Noodles
I tend to cook with recipes, and have more cookbooks than I care to admit. But sometimes it comes in handy to have a meal that you're confident you can pull together without needing to reference a recipe.

And if that meal is made up of pantry staples, even better. This is one of those meals.

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 oz noodles (spaghetti, rice noodles, ramen — all fair game)
• ½ cup peanut butter (smooth works best)
• 2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
• 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar or lime juice
• 1–2 cloves garlic, grated (or ½ tsp garlic powder)
• Hot water, as needed to thin
• Optional add-ins: frozen edamame, shredded carrots, leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken, or a soft-boiled egg.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cook noodles according to package directions. Reserve about ½ cup of the cooking water, then drain.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, vinegar, and garlic.
3. Add a few tablespoons of hot noodle water and whisk until smooth and saucy.
4. Toss noodles with the sauce until coated. Add more noodle water if needed — this sauce loosens up as it warms.
5. Top with whatever protein or veggies you’ve got and call it dinner.

Quick Tip: When making sauces, a French Whisk works better than a balloon whisk (which is great for adding air). This one happens to be on sale.

Also, this sauce keeps well in the fridge for 3–4 days. I often double it on purpose so future me can throw dinner together in under five minutes and feel like a genius.

Last week, we asked you what the worst part of the holidays was, and it was a close race between "Putting up lights" and "Nothing! It's all lovely!" No one picked Christmas music, which is honestly a little shocking.