How to win the bedtime battle 😴

TOP OF MIND

Bedtime? NOOOOOOOOO!
One of the most challenging parts of parenting? Getting your kid to sleep. A new C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll revealed that 1 in 4 parents confirmed their child has trouble getting to sleep because they're anxious or worried.

And over one-third of parents reported their child doesn't stay asleep throughout the night and often wakes up crying.

It might seem like they're doing this to torture us, but according to research scientist Sarah Clark, their imagination is to blame.

The important bits
More interesting data from the poll? 1 in 3 parents said their child often insists they stay in the room with them until they fall asleep. And while that might provide temporary relief, it doesn't actually fix the problem, because if they wake up in the middle of the night, they're going to be scared when they see you're not there.

So what can you do? Well, in case you missed it last week, there's a game developed by the Yale Department of Child Psychology designed specifically for anxious sleepers.

Basically, the process involves asking your kid to "put on a show" by demonstrating what falling asleep looks like on their own.

Initially, kids practice mimicking bedtime routines for two minutes, gradually increasing to 15 minutes over weeks. Parents set timers and encourage their child to stay in bed alone during the process. Many kids end up falling asleep in their bed after about 10 minutes. Read the full instructions here.

Experts also say sticking to a routine is most important. You have to be consistent, which we all know is easier said than done.

Another important tip? Limit the amount of screen time they're consuming in the hours leading up to bedtime. A study in 2022 found that kids are even more sensitive to light at night than adults. It can easily interfere with their production of natural melatonin.

What's it all mean?
We're all in this together. The great thing about studies like this is that they confirm you're not alone. In addition to some of the tips above, we recommend reaching out to your parent friends to see what's working for them. And if they have a particularly useful tip, please send it to us! We'll share it!

DID YOU HEAR

🗿 Meet my son, Quasimodo!
Disney pretty much owns everything these days, including our minds. A recent study looked at the top 10 states with the most Disney-influenced baby names, and oddly enough, Nevada was first. In fact, it wasn't even close. They scored a 39.85 "Disney score" compared to 25.92 in Arizona, which came in second. So what are the top Disney names spreading across the country? Merida, Koda, Moana, Finnick and Mirabel make up the top five. Click here to see the top ten!

💨 Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be vapers
Let's start with some good news. Vaping is on a downward trend in high schools across the country. In 2019, vaping rates among high schoolers reached nearly 30%, but in 2023? The rates dropped to 12.6%, though that's still too high. As more research is conducted, experts are discovering that vaping is just slightly better than smoking cigarettes, and in some cases, there's no difference at all given just how often people are vaping. Don't believe us? Take a look at 10 dangers of vaping, including lung damage, heart problems, and even fertility issues.

⛔️ Social media apps might be tagged with warning labels
Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is demanding Congress to take action against social media apps. As most of you know, nearly all experts agree social media is having a negative impact on our children's mental health. Murthy wants Congress to put warning labels on these apps, much like they do with alcohol and cigarettes. In his argument, he cited this 2019 American Medical Association study, which found that teens who spend three hours a day on social media double their risk of depression.

🙍‍♂️ Men should be screened for postpartum depression too
According to the experts, around 10% of new dads will experience postpartum depression, compared to around 14% of new moms. This has led some people to suggest men should be routinely screened for postpartum depression as well. Read more on the matter here.

🚰 The secret to removing stains from clothes?
This mom swears by boiling water.

A DOSE OF GOOD

@leslie.okayy

I was so scared, but his reaction ❤️❤️❤️😭 #pregnancyannouncement #pregnant #firsttimemom #babytok #fyp @Chris

BITES WITH KIYAH

We all know that sinking feeling when the kids ask, “What’s for dinner?” and you have no idea. By spending a little time planning ahead, you can avoid the last-minute scramble and ensure your family enjoys nutritious meals all week long.

Here are some strategies for how I approach meal planning every week:

1️⃣ Take a look at your calendar. Planning meals around your schedule helps you avoid ambitious cooking on nights when you have little time or energy.

2️⃣ Take stock of what you already have. Eating leftovers and using up what’s in the fridge prevents waste and saves money.

3️⃣ Read this book, A New Way to Dinner, which just might change your life. I'm serious. It even has recipes!

For the rest of my tips and tricks, watch the video here!

Kiyah is the co-founder of Kizingo Kids and an expert in nutrition. Follow her on Instagram.

THINGS YOU NEED FOR THE SUMMER

Summer is here, and if we were putting together a mini-survival kit, we'd probably include the products listed below!

Don't let your beverages get warm this summer. This YETI 12 oz rambler/can insulator is double walled and will keep your drinks cold for a looong time. And right now, it'll only set you back $25

A $10 waterproof phone pouch because no one wants to spend their summer trying to remember all their lost contacts.

Want a tan without putting your skin at risk? These self tanning drops will leave you with a safe summertime glow. They're pretty great!

And finally, we all need a super cute handheld mini fan, because you know... WE'RE MELTING OUT HERE!

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week, we asked you at what temperature you usually avoid going outside, and around 40% of you said 90 degrees, while 20% answered 95 degrees. There was one brave soul who said 100+ 😬

RECALLS

Not the cookie dough!
The FDA saddened us all this month by announcing the recall of several frozen cookie dough products because they might be contaminated with salmonella.

The cookie dough in question was sold at Costco and Sam's Club. They include, "Costco Chocolate Chunk Frozen Cookie Dough,” “Member’s Mark Chocolate Chunk,” “Panera Chocolate Chipper Cookie,” “Rise Baking Jumbo Chocolate Chunk,” and “Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie."

These products were sold at stores across the country. What's interesting is that this recall was first announced back in early May, but then this month, they had to expand the recall because more products tested positive.

If you have the contaminated cookie dough, you're encouraged to throw it away or return it to the store.

And for right now, just to be safe, bake all your cookie dough! As tempting as it is, don't eat it raw!