Parents Swear By "Butter Before Bed" Trend

TOP OF MIND

You butter believe it!
There's a new parenting hack spreading online, and it's all about butter. Well, grass-fed butter, specifically. A number of moms online have been posting videos, boasting the bold claim that if they give their little one a spoonful of butter before bed, they fall asleep faster and stay asleep through the night.

This mom tried it on her 9-month-old, and she claims her baby slept from 8:45 p.m. to 7:45 a.m.

Sounds amazing, right? Almost too amazing?

The important bits
Unfortunately, pediatric pulmonologist and sleep medicine physician Funke Afolabi-Brown, says there is no research that supports butter helping babies sleep better or longer. And no, before you ask, a random video on TikTok doesn't count as research.

Doctors also say you should never try this "hack" with babies under 6-months-old. You want to start introducing them to solid foods before you start shoving butter down their gullet.

While fatty foods are associated with feeling fuller and sleeping better, there are healthier fats out there than a stick of butter. Dr. Brown recommends adding foods like avocados, olive oil and nut butters.

What's it all mean?
First of all, if you put an onion under your child's bed, please go throw it away. Secondly, if there was a magical sleeping hack, everyone would be doing it. The truth is much less exciting. Sleep experts recommend proper feeding, ideal timing and duration of sleep based on the child's age, as well as a consistent response from parents if a child wakes up early. Read all about it here.

DID YOU HEAR

🍧 Sugar-free, but not pain-free
Sugar-free alternatives to our favorite desserts have become increasingly popular these days, but according to a new study, some of these sugar-free additives can make kids really sick. Researchers looked at the cases of 21 children under age 4 who fell ill within an hour of drinking a sugar-free slushie. Nearly all the children experienced a drop in consciousness and had dangerously low blood sugar levels. Why? Glycerol.

📱 TikTok upgrades features to protect kids
A 2022 study found that 67% of U.S. teens are on TikTok, and 16% of them admitted to being obsessed with it. New research has shown that even younger kids are beginning to use the app. Thankfully, TikTok is at least making an attempt at protecting younger users. This past week, they announced new parental control features, such as activity monitoring and the ability to block them from using the app during certain times of the day. Get the full list here.

🥗 How to eat cheap and healthy
60% of Americans cited the cost of healthy food as their single biggest barrier to achieving better nutrition, but the American Heart Association wants you to know eating healthy doesn't have to cost an organic arm and a leg. They've shared some budget-friendly swaps for your kitchen, which include simple things like replacing meat a couple times a week with beans or tofu, both of which are typically much cheaper than beef, fish or chicken. Click here for all the tips and tricks.

🧴 The Ordinary is now on Amazon
Skincare just got easier (and cheaper!) thanks to The Ordinary joining Amazon. If you don't know, The Ordinary is one of the few brands that offer affordable products that actually work. Our recs? Their Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner, which reduces wrinkles and dark spots for just $13, and their $10 Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, which leaves skin looking plump and hydrated.

🙏 The average parent spends HOW LONG bargaining with their kid?
Yiiikes!

DOSE OF GOOD

@tara.seaman

BITES WITH KIYAH

As a new mom, I had the naive belief that cooking with my kids would be a peaceful bonding experience. The reality was anything but!

Still, I knew that if I wanted them to be comfortable in the kitchen, I needed to start early.

When we invite them into the kitchen, we’re not just teaching them how to stir or spread peanut butter—we’re helping them develop fine motor skills, independence, and a positive relationship with food.

So this week, I'm sharing 10 essential skills you can start teaching your toddler right now!

(I apologize in advance that "Don't make a mess" isn't one of them!)

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week, we asked you how much the tooth fairy should give out per tooth, and it was nearly split between $1 and $5. No one answered $20+... phew!

RECALLS

International Delight? More like International Defright!
The company is recalling over 75,000 bottles of their coffee creamer after reports of illness and "spoilage."

The recall impacts some 32-fluid-ounce bottles of International Delight Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll Coffee Creamer and Hazelnut Coffee Creamer distributed by Danone US, LLC.

We don't know how many have been sickened by the creamer, but don't let them add you to their scoreboard.

Find out all the specific products being impacted here.