Vanessa Leigh

Vanessa Leigh is a busy mom of three (including twins!), a Midwesterner turned East Coaster, and a chocolate enthusiast. She’s a copywriter specializing in Early Childhood and Motherhood, plus the creative force behind her Etsy shop. When she’s not writing or designing, you can find her indulging in dark chocolate peanut butter cookies at Levain Bakery. Connect with Vanessa at www.vanessaleighagency.com or browse her creations at MamaMagicByVanessa.etsy.com. She loves chatting with fellow parents—don’t hesitate to reach out!

Latest posts by Vanessa

Best First Birthday Gifts: Toys and More for 1-Year-Olds

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Thu, 07/20/2023 - 12:00pm

Toys make perfect first birthday gifts for budding toddlers! But which ones? We've got you covered.

If you're looking for some fabulous first birthday gifts for a special child in your life, check out our ultimate gift guide for 1-year-olds.

A child's first birthday is a big milestone, and often comes with plastic gifts that delight kids for all of 5 minutes, and then clutter the house up before becoming landfill. To avoid that fate, we've rounded up the most amazing first birthday gift ideas that will delight any 1-year-old—and their parents!—for a very long time.

Naturally, toys make some of the best first birthday gifts. The best toys for 1-year-olds foster sensory exploration and help develop fine and gross motor skills. Open-ended toys that can be played with in different ways as kids grow, such as building blocks, are the #1 gift among the parents at Mommy Poppins.

But of course, you don't have to stick with toys. On our list of the most beloved first birthday gifts we've included books, clothing, furniture, and other unique suggestions that delight kids and parents.

Check out our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties for more fun ways to celebrate, including tips for planning an at-home birthday party and great birthday cake ideas. And if you're looking for gifts for kids older than a year old, the Mommy Poppins Gift Guide for Birthdays and Holidays is literally your one-stop shop!

Best Road Trips from NYC for Summer Adventures

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Tue, 07/11/2023 - 3:46pm

The road trip is only part of the adventure when your destination is Camelback Resort with its mountain coaster, plus family-friendly restaurants, and waterpark fun.

When you're planning for a summer road trip adventure, the preparation is just a part of the fun. To beat the summer heat, you may be dreaming of an oceanside retreat or perhaps a mountain getaway not too far from home. Tri-state area families are lucky to have several great road trip destinations within easy driving distance of Midtown Manhattan.

To help you plan the perfect summer road trip from NYC, be sure to bookmark our ultimate road trip planning guide for essential tips and read on for 12 summer road trip destinations near NYC.

If you're venturing further, we've got an entire Family Road Trip Guide to fill your travel needs and fuel your sense of adventure from coast to coast.

Best Inflatable Water Parks to Visit in New England

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Sun, 07/02/2023 - 6:34pm

Bounce, splash, and make the most of summer at the best inflatable water parks in New England. Photo courtesy of Brownstone Adventure Sports Park

The best inflatable water parks are some cool spots to beat the heat. Summer in New England is a truly special time. We've crawled out from our winter hibernations and are fully ready to embrace the sun, fun, and season of... water parks! Water parks come in all shapes and sizes. Some parks are an integral part of one of America's top amusement parks for families. Others stand alone and are great for family day trips. If you're looking for a new adventure, check out New England's inflatable water parks. We've also included an inflatable adventure park in Massachusetts that is coupled with a separate water park.

What's an inflatable water park? Inflatable water parks are just that: inflatable, blow-up play structures meet water park features. If you visited one of New England's indoor water parks during the winter months, now's the time to enjoy some fresh air and splash around in the great outdoors. And if you're looking for a completely dry theme park experience, check out the best amusement parks near New England for families.

How Much Sleep Do Kids Need? And What To Do if You Have Kids Who Can’t Sleep!

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Thu, 05/11/2023 - 10:23am

A warm bath, a bedtime story, and a squeezable elephant just might make the perfect bedtime routine for your little one.

How much sleep do kids need? Sometimes it feels like they'll never go to sleep. And then a new phase hits, and it seems like all they do is sleep. (This is mostly babies and teens.)

For sleep-deprived parents, hearing stories of babies sleeping through the night can be frustrating. It's hard not to compare or wonder if you're doing something "wrong." But I'm here to tell you, all kids' sleep patterns are not created equal! While there are kids who conk right out at bedtime, many have trouble falling and staying asleep.

Read on to find out just how much sleep kids actually need, plus some popular suggestions on how to help kids sleep—from bedtime routines to sleep aids and more. Keep in mind that, just like a baby's developmental milestones, there are no magic numbers. But eventually, everyone will catch their ZZZZZZZZs.

Deinfluencing Your Baby Registry: Baby Products You Totally Don’t Need

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Tue, 05/09/2023 - 12:00pm

Adorable? Yes. Useful? No way. Babies don't need shoes.

Congratulations, you're expecting... and now you're being spammed with influencer ads telling you about all the baby products you need to have. Sure, influencers can be super helpful in showing you the coolest new baby products to add to your registry. But they can also make you end up with a house full of trendy baby gear and cutesy items that—trust us—you won't actually use. So we're here to rescue you by deinfluencing your baby registry.

That's right—we're sharing 12 baby products you don't actually need. We've been there, done that, and wasted our money so that you don't have to! By deinfluencing your baby registry, we're helping you make room for the baby products you actually will use—from the best baby sleep aids to space-saving baby gear—and helping to keep unnecessary items out of landfills. That's a win for you and the planet!

Best Diaper Subscriptions in 2023: Amazon, Honest, and More

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Thu, 04/06/2023 - 12:00pm

Kudos diapers use four times more plant-based materials than competing brands. Photo courtesy of Shark Tank Products

With babies using nearly 3,000 diapers on average in their first year of life alone, diaper subscriptions can be a lifesaver for busy parents. After all, newborns go through up to 12 diapers per day, making it hard to keep track of just how many diapers are left in that giant box. And, trust me—you don't want to be elbow-deep in a blowout only to realize you are out of diapers.

Diaper subscriptions bring a steady stream of diapers right to your doorstep, so you don't have to worry about panicked, late-night runs to the store. Plus, companies charge less for diapers when you set up regular deliveries, so diaper subscriptions will save you money. And because you can easily adjust the size of the diapers you receive and the frequency at which they arrive, your diaper subscription will always suit your family's needs.

We've got you—and your little one's bum—covered with this list of the best diaper subscriptions, including the Honest diaper subscription, the Amazon diaper subscription, and even some cloth diapering options. Check out our Best Baby and Kid Gear Guide for more of our favorite baby essentials, from the best bath toys to great baby sleep aids.

Best Maternity Stores in NYC for Expecting Moms

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Tue, 04/04/2023 - 4:46pm

Shop the stylish and locally made collection at Hatch, which has a pair of NYC locations.

When it comes to maternity stores in NYC, most pregnant mamas load up on cheap Target and Old Navy gear. After all, you're only going to wear it for a few months, right? But great maternity clothes can make you feel like yourself again—or at least the NYC mama you want to be. We've found 10 New York City maternity stores selling maternity clothes, plus great postpartum gear like nursing bras, breast pumps, baby carriers, and even adorable bespoke onesies. Some even offer pre- and postnatal classes, and all are worth the splurge to find the best for you and your baby to be, even if that super cute onesie will be covered in spit-up in no time!

So, hit up the big box maternity retailers for your everyday T-shirts, and save these local New York City maternity stores for special occasions or to find something that truly fits. Besides, you'll likely be visiting this store again to try on nursing bras, and nothing beats a dedicated, knowledgeable staff and a carefully curated selection of excellent clothing and gear. Several even offer perks like lounge areas and nursing pillows for on-the-go breastfeeding.

While these maternity stores will get you through nine months and beyond, we've got more curated picks for the best baby stores in NYC to carry you through toddlerhood. You'll find other new parent resources in our NYC Baby and Pregnancy Guide.

20 Awesome Easter Movies to Get the Whole Family Hoppin'

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Mon, 03/27/2023 - 11:07am

Hop is an Easter movie even tweens and teens will enjoy. Photo courtesy of Relativity Media and Netflix

Enjoy these Easter movies that kids of all ages—and parents, too—will all love.

From Easter egg hunts and Easter Bunny pictures to Easter parades and festivals, there are so many fun ways for families to get out and celebrate the impending arrival of Easter. But sometimes, you just want to put on some cozy PJs and spend some quality time at home with your peeps. For those days, we've rounded up 20 of the best Easter movies for families, including Easter Bunny movies, animated films, religious Easter movies, and more.

For more at-home Easter fun, try one of our easy Easter crafts for kids, put together a creative Easter egg hunt, or make one of our kid-pleasing Easter desserts and recipes to enjoy during your Easter movie marathon. Don't forget the popcorn!

Vanessa Leigh

Latest posts by Vanessa

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