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

17 Ways to Soothe a Crying Baby

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 12:00pm

Hush, little baby, don't say a word. Mama's got some new tricks up her sleeve! Photo by Antoni Shkraba, via Pexels

A crying baby can send even the most seasoned parent into a small panic—especially if you can't figure out just what is wrong. Is your baby hungry? Tired? Colicky? Hot? Cold? Trust me—we've all been there.

The truth is, there are a variety of reasons a baby may be upset. Figuring out which of those reasons is causing the fuss—and learning just what to do to fix the problem—is key to knowing how to soothe a crying baby.

The below tips will help you figure out why you have a crying baby, what to do when babies cry, and how to soothe colic in a fussy baby. If your infant is having trouble sleeping, you can also try one of our favorite baby sleep aids to (hopefully) help your baby sleep through the night. And if you still can't figure out how to calm your crying baby or you think something may be wrong, don't hesitate to contact your pediatrician. After all, when it comes to your child, you could never be too careful. You've got this!

New NYC Playgrounds We Can't Wait to Visit

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Tue, 02/28/2023 - 4:02pm

Ravenswood Playground's renovations include a spectacular new play structure fit for royalty.

These newly remodeled NYC playgrounds are ready for their close up. The changing of seasons has us anticipating the arrival of spring and sunny afternoons to enjoy these new romping spots. Located in parks from Manhattan to Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, the NYC Parks Department has been on a tear remodeling and rebuilding NYC playgrounds.

So, if you've already visited all of these NYC playgrounds worthy of a subway schlep, we've got you covered with some newly opened or renovated playgrounds in NYC for you and the kids to enjoy. From tot lots to expansive climbing structures and top-notch sandboxes, here are six new NYC playgrounds we can't wait to romp in. Find more places to play outdoors in our Guide to NYC Playgrounds.

100 Great Websites for Kids

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Thu, 02/09/2023 - 10:17am

Go ahead. Hand them the iPad; these websites for kids are fun and at least a little educational. Photo courtesy of Bigstock

These websites for kids are both entertaining and at least a little bit educational!

Screen time can be a blessing and a curse. Between worrying about screen time overload and concern about what content little brains might be absorbing, it’s hard to find websites for kids parents can feel good about.

One way to embrace screen time is to channel it toward educational and learning opportunities. There are plenty of websites for kids that are a good balance of quality content and entertainment. Kids can play games online with friends, learn how to code, and much more. We've rounded up not 1, not 2--but 100 websites for kids that are fun and help foster a love of learning. For more things to do both on and offline, check out our guide to Boredom Busters for Kids.

Developmental Milestones for Babies in the First Year

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 10:31am

Walking, talking, grabbing, holding, smiling, laughing... it's all coming. But when? Photo by Tatiana Syrikova, via Pexels

What are the normal developmental milestones for babies? When it comes to baby milestones, there's a wide range for normal! But that doesn't stop new parents from worrying. What should my baby be doing at X months old? Is it normal for my baby to...?

While these baby milestones—like rolling, crawling, laughing, babbling, talking, and walking—follow a general timeline in most children, each baby is a unique individual. So if there's a milestone that they achieve way early or much later in their growth, that is normal. Enjoy each gurgle, giggle, and coo. They'll be walking, running, and even driving before you know it!

When you have a baby, that's all you can see or think about. So, we've got a whole Baby and Maternity Guide filled with everything from helpful tips, like how to get free baby stuff to debates on the latest types of parenting styles (like, what on earth is a panda parent?).

3 Days in Boston with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Fri, 01/27/2023 - 9:45pm

With history, attractions, events, and activities, visiting Boston with kids is three days of fun! Photo courtesy of the Old North Church

So visiting Boston with kids is on the agenda? Great choice! The northeast has so much history, culture, and food to experience when traveling with your family.

Boston is a kid-friendly city that has so much to offer. From museums to historic landmarks to family-friendly restaurants, it’s packed with adventures just waiting to be had. If you have more than 3 days planned for your family vacation, there are tons of great day trips you can plan around the Boston area. We've rounded up a few of our favorite locations for visiting Boston with kids.

101 Questions To Ask Grandparents About Their Lives

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Tue, 01/17/2023 - 2:28pm

These questions to ask grandparents help kids get to know their favorite people a little better.

These questions to ask grandparents are a great way for kids to spend time with their grandparents and get to know them better. Kids love asking questions! "Why...?" "How...?" "When...?" Rather than answering a few dozen rounds of why they have to take a bath, channel their curiosity toward getting to know some of their favorite people a little better.

As the chief present-giver, cuddler, and child spoiler in the family, grandparents can play a huge and fun role in kids' lives. But they're also people in their own right, with fascinating stories and histories. Their history is directly related to the lives of the grandkids. These questions for grandparents will help kids get to know these favorite people a little better. One great question to start with is about the names your kids call their grandparents. Do they know why they call them this?

For more fun with grandparents check out this list of 50 Fun Activities for Grandparents To Do with Kids and 10 Activities to do with Grandparents on Zoom.

Best Baby Registry Services and Why We Love Them

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Wed, 01/11/2023 - 9:58am

Which baby registry service is right for you? We found great ones that are online, in stores, or both!

Baby registries are a great way to organize your own "to buy before baby arrives" list as well as your baby shower gift options. But which one should you use?

We've put together a list of the best baby registries for every expecting parent, from the big guys like Amazon Baby Registry and buybuy Baby Registry to more specialized ones like Babylist. We've included why we love each registry, and if you get a free gift!

Not sure what to put on that baby registry? We've got you covered there, too, with our list of baby registry must-haves. You'll find this and a whole lot more, including our picks for the best money-saving diaper subscriptions, in our Baby and Maternity Guide.

"I’m Bored, What Should I Do?" 100 Things To Do When Kids Are Bored

Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on Thu, 12/29/2022 - 11:39am

When kids are bored, bored, bored, it's handy to have a whole list of fun things to do. Photo by Mommy Poppins

"Moooooommmmm, I'm bored. What should I do?" It's the most common, and annoying, refrain of childhood. But boredom is a good thing! It fosters a child's creative side. When kids are bored, it's a terrific time to explore something new that may pique their curiosity.

So, what can you do when your child says, “I’m Bored?” While it feels like it's up to you to entertain them, that's actually not the best thing to do. Simply give them these prompts and gently guide your child to find activities at home or in your neighborhood that develop creativity, build valuable skills, and encourage independent and imaginative play.

Because we've all heard the "I'm bored" chorus a few thousand times, we've created a whole guide with hundreds of boredom busters for kids of all ages, including indoor exercise games, science experiments, and recipes kids can make. But this list of 100 ideas is our favorite place to start.

Vanessa Leigh

Latest posts by Vanessa

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