MINI FO R T H E M O D E R N PA R E N T
P LU S T H E
M O S T P O R TA B L E BOOSTER ON
THE MARKET!
Morgan Stewart McGraw T H E U LT I M AT E TA N T RU M G U I D E H OW TO D E S I G N M I N I S PAC E S , AC C O R D I N G TO A P RO WELLNESS WO N D E R S TO S TA R T N OW
The Nightly Pop host and new mom of two talks finding her parenting groove
RADAR
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d i d yo u k n ow t h e “ d o g day s o f s u m m e r” r e f e r to t h e dat e s f r o m J u ly 3 r d to Au g u st 1 1 t h ? ON THE EDITOR’S LIST
This year, Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Platinum Jubilee and what better way to celebrate than with Meri Meri’s new collab with iconic Parisian patisserie and macaron making experts, Ladurée! The 14-piece tea-party inspired entertaining range includes macaron pyramid napkins, Parisian floral plates, a macaron cart centerpiece, and macaron suprise balls, and many more party stapels. —merimeri.com
THIS JUST IN
MEET FREESTYLE The diaper is evolving, Mini friends! New brand Freestyle just rolled out a subscription service offering 100% tree-free, bamboo pulp core diapers— and it’s the only brand in the U.S. to do so! Founded by Mike Constantiner, founder of Cameo, and Russ Wallace, founding member of Hello Bello, Freestyle diapers are the first net plastic negative diaper on the market and 88% biodegradable, not to mention pediatrician recommended and offer a full 12 hours of leak protection. —freestyle.world
FROM OUR FRIENDS AT
Stokke comes the MuTable, a multifunctional and award-winning play table with four interchangeable, double-sided activity boards and a natural wood cover. It’s modular design features four height adjustable positions, meaning this playroom table can be comfortably enjoyed by kids of different ages and apark creativity for years to come. Available at stokke.com.
Cal
FUN AC T I V I T I E S TO T R Y THIS SEASON
MINI APPROVED P L AC E S A N D E V E N T S TO VISIT
MINI MUST-HAVE ▶
This Tea Collection rash guard swim set has the perfect summer fruit print!
Hitting the Midwest this summer? A trip to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is a must! Occupy Mini minds for hours by gazing at the otters, fish, dolphins, and more!
If you’re traveling to the Hamptons this summer, make a visit to the Montauk Point Lighthouse and climb the narrrow stairwell to reach the view at the top!
Need an indoor activity in the Hamptons? The Children’s Museum of the East End in Bridgehampton has oodles of hands-on fun!
The US Open of Surfing begins July 30th in Huntington Beach, California! Grab your Mini surf lovers and head over to watch the waves!
ON THE EDITOR’S LIST
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MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU ▶
M I N I s u m m e r ‘22
Your favorite yellow goggled guys are back in this Despicable Me sequel! This fun flick follows young Gru in the 1970’s as he tries to join a group of supervillains called the Vicious 6 after they oust their leader, but the interview goes awry.
mini-magazine.com
Head to Mini for more interviews
F E AT U R E S
with parents around the world, style, and more
LIVING
F O L LOW
M IN I Be sure to follow Mini on Instagram and TikTok! We’re sharing behind the scenes peeks at making the magazine, new kids products, nursery tours, and much more! Find us on Instagram: @minimagazine
BABY+KIDS
THE MAGAZINE
30 BEAUTIFUL BABY NAMES INSPIRED BY THE BEACH The perfect sand-and-sun centered names (not just Summer!) are waiting for you. WOMEN AREN’T WAITING LONG ENOUGH BETWEEN PREGNANCIES AN OBGYN weighs in on the best time period between babies. HOW TO CHOOSE NURSERY WINDOW TREATMENTS Drapes or shades? Blackout linings? We asked the expert what to keep in mind when designing your nursery.
25 SUMMER BABY NAMES TO USE THIS YEAR Browse Mini monikers inspired by the sunny season, like August, Coral, and Soleil, among others!
minisclusives LOG ON TO
MINI Find all of this and more on our website!
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21 | THE STYLE SPOT A
Moana collab, sweet suits, adn brightly-hued sandals. 15 | MEET THE TEAM The team that makes all the Mini magic possible 16 | EDITOR’S LIST A carefully-curated list of Kate’s favorites this season
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27 | MOM It’s the style spot for all of you chic Mini moms from bump to beyond 30 | IN THE BAG Melanie
White shows us what’s inside her Louis Vuitton backpack 32 | TECH KIDS Discover the
latest and greatest from the Mini tech sphere
35 | BOOK CLUB Summer tales to tote to the beach or cool off with indoors 36 | ON THE CLOCK Mom of two Dede Raad shares her favorite kids book, what’s on her nightstand, and more 41 | ON THE SCENE Find the
hottest new baby gear, from a pop-up booster, carry-all kids wagon, and instant travel cot
Bugaboo Ant
Your Greatest Travel Companion
You can Framebridge just about anything. framebridge.com
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62 | FERTILITY FOCUSED Halle Tecco takes on the fertility industry with her one-stop shop, Natalist 66 | MODERN MOM Summer cover mom Morgan Stewart McGraw gets personal about life with littles Row and Grey 82 | IN THEIR FEELINGS Big
46 | SCOOP We share the latest clean kids snacks, detangling conditioner, and eco-chic play structures
54 | MOOVE OVER FOR HOLLE This long-standing baby food brand offers three must-try toddler milk drinks
52 | GOOD MAIL DAY
56 | VITAMIN QUEEN We chat
Your Minis will love finding these fun activity boxes in the mailbox
with the founder of MaryRuth Organics on Mini (and adults!) regimens to start now
Little Feelings founders Deena Margolin and Kristin Gallant give us the guide for navigating toddlerhood
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92 | DESIGN CLASS Interior Designer Chauncey Boothby shares her best tips for decorating classic kids spaces
mom behind Chloe’s Fruit, Chloe Epstein, talks how the brand was born, plus a delicious summer recipe 104 | FRESH FIX Longtime
editor Samantha Yanks inspires easy entertaining with three crisp salads— including a classic Caesar and an antipasto chop
jul/aug
MINI-MAGAZINE .com Discover daily content, interviews, and more in between issues.
Exclusive interviews, Mini fashion, Mom hacks—
All in one place.
MINI Founder and Editor in Chief K aitlyn K irby Cover Photo graphy K imberly G enevieve Cover Hair David R ober t Cover Makeup Liz Castellanos Cover St yling M organ Stewar t M cG raw
M ini O ffices M ini M agazine Email | hello@mini-magazine.com Web | w w w.mini-magazine.com M ini M agazine is a digital lifest yle publication for the moder n parent available online at w w w.mini-magazine.com. All r ights reser ved. No par t of this publication may be reproduced, distr ibuted, or transmitted in any for m or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other elec tronic methods, without the pr ior wr itten per mission of the publisher, except in the case of br ief quotations embodied in digital and pr int reviews. Copyr ight © 2022 M ini M agazine.
Editor
INSIDE LOOK: (On Right) Our summer cover mom Morgan Stewart McGraw talks life with 17-month-old daughter, Row, and 5-month-old son, Grey. (Below) We were so thrilled Morgan’s adorable Minis could join in our summer cover shoot!
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It seems we always launch our summer issue when those Dog Days are in full swing (this heat, you guys!) and here we are again— nearly 90 degrees as I type this! But let’s get into the cool (oh!) lineup of moms we have inside these pages. In this 100+ page issue, you will find MaryRuth Organics founder MaryRuth Ghiyam and Natalist founder Halle Tecco, the women behind two topnotch wellness brands taking on a previously male-dominated industry, Deena Margolin and Kristin Gallant of Big Little Feelings (I can’t tell you how excited I
A LETTER FROM MINI’S FOUNDER K AT E K I R BY
am about this one!), Chloe Epstein of Chloe’s Fruit, Dede Raad, Melanie White, kids room tips from interior designer Chauncey Boothby, and our keep-it-real cover mom Morgan Stewart McGraw. In our cover feature, the Nightly Pop host shares a peek into her morning routine, how her personal style has changed with kids, and even her daily coffee order that definitely does not include almond milk. Cheers to the rest of your summer, Mini friends!
E M A I L M I N I ’ S F O U N D E R A N D E D I T O R I N C H I E F AT K AT E @ M I N I - M A G A Z I N E . C O M
M I N I s u m m e r ‘22
The Ada Twist, Scientist x West Elm Kids collab is a playful collection to spark curiosity. —westelm.com
◀
READY, SET, SWIM
GOODNIGHT, ADA
EDITOR’S LIST
◀
MINI We’ve been living in our kiddie pool this summer— Funboy’s prints are adorable! —funboy.com
◀
WELLNESS BOOST
The vegan gummy vitamins from Mary Ruth Organics are a staple in our house! I love them and so do my kids! —maryruthorganics.com
◀
GLOWY, DEWY SKIN
I am newly obsessed with Rose Inc., especially the tinted serum, lip crayons, and brushes. —roseinc.com
◀ BIKER MAMA
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Storq leggings are my favorite so the signature bike shorts are a no-brainer this summer! —storq.com
Meet Belly Oil. Like a prenatal for your skin.
Use code M I N I MAG 1 0 for 10% off your first order
BODEN.COM
T H E S P OT TO SHOP FOR THEIR M I N I WA R D R O B E
Style
D I S N E Y M O A N A CO L L A B FUN IN THE SUN GRAB AND GO
◀ ISLAND ATTIRE
C L I C K TO SHOP THE NEW MOANA CO L L E C T I O N !
Inspired by the islands of Oceania and the courage found inside everyone, Janie and Jack’s new Disney Moana Collection features tropical-inspired ikat, island palm, and floral prints available in ruffled dresses, rompers, french terry shorts (with matching tops!), swimsuits, and accessories. The collection ranges in price from $17 to $84 and is available in sizes newborn to 12 years at JanieandJack.com and in select Janie and Jack stores nationwide. —janieandjack.com
FUN IN THE SUN
Whether you’re spending a day on the sand, in the backyard, or in the pool, these Mini swimsuits will make a serious splash.
SUMMER SIGNS
The ultimate signs of summer, there’s nothing better than these swimsuit prints. Above and Below: $27.99; Mid-Length Swim Trunks, teacollection.com
THE NEW SPACE SUIT
This recycled fabric suit is gentle on Mini skin too. $18; hannaandersson.com
ECO CHIC
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This sustainable suit is made using recycled fabrics. $18; hannaandersson.com
RAINBOW BRIGHT
Long sleeves to keep Minis safe from Mr. Sun on long beach days. $40; bodenusa.com
CLASSIC GINGHAM
This sweet smocked one-piece is perfect for pool and play. $78; minnowswim.com
Made for little foodies. high chair that turns into a play chair
non-toxic FDA grade silicone easy for little mouths to sip
easy for little han9s to grip
dishwasher safe
meetlalo.com
GRAB AND GO
Summer schedules heat up quickly! We’ve rounded up our favorite easyon, easy-off sandals to get your Minis out the door in a flash.
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1. PATTERN-TASTIC
3. SAND FRIENDLY
5. NICE AND NEUTRAL
$69; Ping Pong Fabula Print Sandal, nordstrom.com
$32; Charley Sandals in Regatta Blue, nativeshoes.com
$24.99; Khaki Green Kids Sandals, hm.com
2. SPORTY SPICE
4. GREEN MACHINE
6. SUNSHINE STEPS
$57.99; Liewood Monty Sandals in Dusty Mint, scandiborn.com
$24.99; Toddler Rubber Sandals in Parrot Green, gap.com
$16.99; Yellow Emery Ankle Strap Sandals, target.com M I N I s u m m e r ‘22
J U S T F O R YO U MAMA, FROM B U M P TO B E YO N D
Mom
W O N D E R B E L LY A N TAC I D SHADEDROPS SUNSCREEN MAMAMOODS
◀ THE NEW ANTACID
C L I C K TO S H O P W O N D E R B E L LY A N TAC I D F L AV O R S !
If you’re one of those mamas with wicked heartburn during pregnancy (or long after!), you’ll be glad to know there’s a new antacid in town. Wonderbelly is a natural, over-the-counter antacid that treats heartburn, acid reflux, and acid indigestion in three delicious flavors: Strawberry Milkshake, Watermelon Mint, and Citrus Mint. Non-GMO and free of gluten, talc, artificial dyes, flavors, sweeteners, and common allergens, Wonderbelly is just as effective as TUMS with the same active ingredient, but without the added junk. The brand is also committed to sustainability, using 100% plastic-free packaging, recycled shipper boxes, and carbon neutral shipping. —wonderbelly.com
M I N I s u m m e r ‘22
THIS JUST IN
SHADEDROPS SUNSCREEN Summer Fridays, the uber-popular skincare brand from Lauren Gores Ireland and Marianna Hewitt, just dropped their latest holy grail product ready for your beach bag— ShadeDrops. This lightweight mineral sunscreen is full of antioxidants and vitamins and glides over skin like your favorite serum. No strange texture or cast, ShadeDrops blend beautifully with all skin tones, are reef-friendly, and shield skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays. Available now on summerfridays.com.
RIGHT NOW WE’RE LOVING
The new honest-speaking, mom-centric lifestyle brand, Mamamoods. Founded by Barrett Prendergast and Sonja Teri, Mamamoods celebrates the highs and lows of motherhood with products (everything from phone cases to sweatshirts to art prints!) that bring humor and positivity to all of the moods today’s mamas feel. “It just felt like we all needed a
place to get a big hug and also scream at the top of our lungs that this is all really f*cking hard!” Prendergast says of building the brand with Teri. —themamamoods.com
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M AT E R N I T Y S O YO U C A N K E E P D O I N G YO U
FACIAL SPRAY
“Whenever I need a quick pick me up, I can give myself a quick spritz.” $12; mariobadescu.com BALM DOT COM
“I always need to have lipgloss in my bag. For those no makeup kind of days where I want my lips poppin,’ I either have this or a mini Vaseline.” $12; glossier.com
W H AT ’ S I N T H E B A G
ON THE GO
“I keep all of my cards in the card holder and my keys connected to the keychain part.” Louis Vuitton Recto Verso Card Holder in Black, $765; louisvuitton.com
Melanie White
The mom of two and jewelry designer behind Melanie Marie spills the contents of her Louis Vuitton Palm Springs Mini bag. LOUIS VUITTON PALM SPRINGS MINI louisvuitton.com NAIL FIX
“I have a gel manicure and I keep a file in my purse in case of a nail emergency.” Olive & June Nail File 3 Pack, $3.99; target.com
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CHARGE IT
“I use my phone so much for work, so I always make sure I have a charger.”
Gimme Any Fit Hair Bands
$12; gimmebeauty.com
The coziest & chicest new addition to your wardrobe
FOR ALL YOUR LADY BUMPS.
BUMPSUIT.CO
T H E L AT E S T F R O M THE MINI TECH SPHERE
Tech
H E A R T H D I S P L AY 4MOMS MAMAROO M U LT I - M OT I O N B A BY S W I N G
MINI MUST HAVE
HEARTH DISPLAY
Get ready to take family management to a whole new level. This first-ofits-kind operating system combines beautiful hardware with smart software to create a central hub for the thousands of decisions, tasks, and plans a family makes in a day. Key features include One Central Calendar compatible with existing Google Cals, Task Management, Routine Builder, and Hearth Helper, a virtual assistant service accessible via text message and email that will upload event flyers, email invites, you name it! —hearthdisplay.com
RIGHT NOW IN TECH KIDS
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The latest and greatest model of the parent favorite 4moms MamaRoo ($299) is here! The MamaRoo now comes equipped with Wi-Fi Smart Home integration allowing voice control with Alexa and Google Home, four new built-in sounds including brown noise, updated Bluetooth app functionality for music streaming, and a fresh look with a touch-sensitive control panel, and redesigned, machine-washable seat. —4moms.com
Book Club
Take a stack of these new summertime stories to the beach or stay cool indoors and let your Mini’s imagination run wild— these books will do the trick!
FOR SCHOOL
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE PURPLE SCHOOLS
by Kristen Bell and Benjamin Hart This follow-up to the #1 NYT best-seller follows Penny and her pals into their favorite place— their classroom! EDITOR’S PICK
PINK IS NOT A COLOR
by Lindsay Ward Pink wonders why she isn’t in the rainbow and if that means she isn’t really a color at all. FOR CONFIDENCE
YOU’RE ALWAYS ENOUGH: AND MORE THAN I HOPED FOR
by Emily Ley Kick perfectionism and boost Mini confidence.
FOR COUNTING
FOR BAKERS
DOUBLE PUPPY TROUBLE
SUNDAY PANCAKES
by Danica McKellar The newest math-focused picture book is full of puppy-doubling chaos, with messages of gratitude, working together, and tons of silliness!
by Maya Tatsukawa Cat is out of eggs and milk, so maybe inviting friends will fix that in time to make stacks of pancakes!
ON MY NIGHTSTAND
Water, Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, and vitamins. MY WARDROBE STAPLES
Free People bralette and a good cardigan. BEFORE KIDS, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD
MEET DEDE RAAD MINI SPENT TEN MINUTES WITH THE
Fortune Top 25 Creator, lifestyle blogger, and mom of two (to Rosie and Jet) to get up close and personal with everything from her typical coffee order to her favorite kids movie, what she keeps on her nightstand, and the perfect summer show she’s currently watching!
Love being a mom as much as I do. FAVORITE PLACE TO TRAVEL
Any beach.
ON THE CLOCK GROWING UP, I WANTED TO BE A FAVORITE KIDS MOVIE
News Anchor
Lion King PREGNANCY CRAVINGS
Nerd clusters. Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. I love the way it smells!
SIGNATURE SCENT
Brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso. MY COFFEE ORDER
White sprinkle donuts. GUILTY PLEASURE
Trying out a new dinner spot. IDEAL DATE NIGHT
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. FAVORITE KIDS BOOK
CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO
Skinny Confidential.
LAST BOOK I READ
November 9 by Colleen Hoover.
FAVORITE LOCAL SHOP
APPS I USE MOST
Instagram and Chickfil-A.
FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT
in Houston, Texas.
ALWAYS IN MY FRIDGE
SHOWS I’M WATCHING
Coffee creamer.
I Turned Pretty.
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Tiny’s
The Summer
Bean Here Coffee (with locations in Missouri City and Arcola, Texas). IF THERE WERE MORE HOURS IN THE DAY, I WOULD
more.
Sleep
SIRONA M WITH
The only smart-tech convertible car seat that provides essential alerts to keep baby safe while you drive and when you arrive.
LEARN MORE AT WWW.CYBEX-ONLINE.COM/US
on the
Scene
B A BY G E A R E V E R Y PA R E N T NEEDS NOW
◀
BOOSTER TO GO
Upcoming travel plans? The lightweight, portable, and stain-resistant PopUp™ Booster from Bombol fits almost all adult chairs and folds to the size of a book, making it the ideal travel companion for families on the go. Simply slip it in your bag and pop it open when you need a comfy seat. When you’re finished, just unlock and fold it back. The Bombol Pop-Up™ Booster is the most portable booster on the market weighing in just over two pounds with a safe and strong origami structure that Bombol put to the test! The design meets the international safety standard for boosters, but also the standard for adult furniture. How do they know? They pounded the booster with the weight of an average adult 20,000 times to see when it broke. It didn’t! —bombol.com.
BOMBOL BOOSTER VEER CRUISER A E R O M O O V COT
THE MOST P O R TA B L E BOOSTER ON THE MARKET!
VEER CRUISER
What happens when you combine a premium stroller and a rugged wagon? You get the Veer Cruiser, the world’s first All-Terrain Crossover. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF VEER SNACK TIME Removable Tray COOL RIDER Sun Shade
Add a retractable canopy that easily clips to the Cruiser frame!
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ALL TERRAIN
ALL ABOARD
Rugged Tires
Built-In Seats
The large tires provide comfort and traction over any terrain, from the beach to the snow!
The Veer Cruiser is equipped with real, built-in seats for both comfort and safety, including a 3-point harness and interior storage pockets.
M I N I s u m m e r ‘22
Keep snacks and drinks at the ready with this removable tray.
AEROMOOV COT The ultra-light and compact AeroMoov instant travel cot can be set up and folded to store away in seconds— no strain, no stress! PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF AEROMOOV EASY MOVER
Set up and store away your travel cot in just two seconds.
Ultra Light
The Instant Travel Cot weighs less than 11 pounds. Even big brother or sister can carry it!
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GROW WITH ME
ULTRA COMPACT
Two Levels
Carry-On Bag
Adjustable low and medium cot levels allow for easy tending to baby as they grow.
Fold the travel cot into its slimline carrying bag and store in the narrowest of places: next to a wardrobe, under the stairs— and of course, in the car!
M I N I s u m m e r ‘22
SUPER SPEED Quick Set-Up
For life at home.
THIS JUST IN IN THE MINI WORLD
Scoop
YUMI PUFFS C H E R R Y O N TO P C A S S A R O K I D S TOYS
◀ PLANT PALS
Summer is a season of snacking— whether that’s in the car during a family trip, on the way to the beach, or just while relaxing in the backyard. And to please those (seemingly always) hungry Minis, you need options. Next snack time, spring for Yumi Cauliflower Baby Puffs. Only three ingredients, these gluten-free, plant-based veggie puffs offer big taste in a reusable container for easy, clean toddler eating. —helloyumi.com
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serenaandlily.com
Cherry on Top
Summer activities can really wreak havoc on silky, smooth Mini hair and instead cause a big, tangled mess— We found the solution in Dabble and Dollop.
◀ CLEAN AND COOL
After spending hours detangling her kids’ hair and finding no other product on the market to ease her hairbrushing woes, Dabble and Dollop founder Stephanie Leshney formulated the brand’s Cherry on Top Conditioner. Vegan, sulfate-free, and made in California from 100% USA-sourced ingredients, Cherry on Top is comprised of Jojoba Seed Oil, Glycerin, water, and five other simple ingredients that create the best smelling, most effective, children’s hair conditioner available right now. —dabbleanddollop.com
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A simpler way to design beautiful window treatments.
I N T R O D U C I N G
THE NURSERY COLLECTION
D R A P E R Y
•
R O M A N
S H A D E S
everhem.com
•
W O V E N
W O O D S
Ready, Set, Play
Fuel your Mini’s imagination and learning with sustainable structures like climbers, rockers, and ramps from Cassarokids.
BUSY BODIES
Your Mini’s boundless energy is no match for these beautifully made play structures from Cassarokids. Set up a climbing triangle, Waldorf rocker, balance beam, play cube, tower, or ramp to put both wiggles and Mini minds to good use. Oh, did we mention they’re made with wood sourced only from certified sustainable forests in New Zealand? —cassarokids.com
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Capturing the beauty, simplicity and magic of childhood. S H O PP E H R .CO M
AC T I V I T Y B OX E S
G O O D M A I L D AY
FOR EVERY INTEREST!
These activity box subscriptions will have your Minis skipping to the mailbox every month. 1
1. M I N I M A K E R S 5
Kiwi Crate Box
($18.50; kiwico.com)
6
2. M I N I M O V E R S Little Passports Adventure Box ($23.95;
littlepassports.com) 3. A B O U T M E
Lovevery Observer Play Kit Subscription Box (Ships Every 3 Months)
($120; lovevery.com) 4. B O O K W O R M S Literati Kids Book Club
($9.95; literati.com)
4 2 3
5. S E N S O R Y P L AY Pizza Parlor Kit
($39; youngwildandfriedman.com) 6. S U P E R H E R O SuperNow Adventure Box
($39; supernow.com)
3
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Say hello to Holle! This 85-year-old brand has become one of the leading manufacturers of organic baby food and now offers toddler milk drinks that support your growing child with easier digestion and a complete nutrient profile. Just when you thought the milk options for your growing Minis were limited to those found in your grocery store refrigerators, we’ve arrived to introduce you to Holle. Since 1934, Holle has consciously focused its attention on both the families they serve and the environment, aiming to create products that are undoubtedly deserving of the term “sustainable.” Today, the brand offers a comprehensive baby food range with more than 80 products, including toddler goat milk, cow milk, and A2 milk drinks. So let’s take a closer look at the new milk drinks in town, beginning with Holle’s goat milk. Goat milk has been used for weaning babies for over 12,000 years and is one of the
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most popular dairy alternatives for toddlers with allergies. Holle’s Goat Milk Powder is an easily digestible source of fats and micronutrients and perfect for the on-the-go parent and those looking to replace or add to breast milk. Moving on to cow milk— Holle’s cows roam free in open, lush fields and pastures in Europe, grazing on grass which adds wholesome flavor to the milk. Holle’s A2 milk is made with A2 protein (similar to that found in breast milk), from cows originating from ancient middle eastern and Indian genetics, and a great alternative to those with milk allergies. It’s easier to digest and just as tasty! —holleusa.com
VITAMI
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IN
What started as a private practice in New York City not yet a decade ago has now become the blossoming vitamin empire known as MaryRuth Organics. We asked founder MARYRUTH GHIYAM to fill us in on vitamin routines for the family, plus how to boost your immune system now.
We are big fans of MaryRuth’s can you give us background on the company?
MINI |
[When] our brand started in 2013, we didn’t have any products. It was just a private practice in New York City on 47th and 3rd where I’d work with private clients, as well as teach group classes and live webinars, teaching what I call the Art of Health. The Art of Health is comprised of 12 actions that are free and accessible to every single person. One concept taught in this is called “liquids ‘til lunch.” People realMARYRUTH GHIYAM |
ly loved it and would tell all of their friends about it, but one of the biggest pieces of feedback I kept getting from clients was that taking a multivitamin pill or capsule made them nauseous. Because of this, we got the idea of making liquid vitamins and then created the first-ever product, the Raspberry Liquid Morning Multivitamin, as well as the Liquid Nighttime Multimineral. People loved these because they created a routine in a 24-hour day where they could have structure around taking their vitamins: a shot in
QUEEN
ucts for prenatal, postnatal, infants, toddlers, children 4 and up, and we’re coming out with a teen line soon. We also have products for adults and adults over 40. When it comes to toddlers, I am a mom to 4 children: a 5-year-old, 3 ½-yearold, and 20-month-old twins, so I do have specific products I give to my own children. I always say to check with your child’s pediatrician or physician before starting any supplement routine. That being said, I think a great place to start is with a multivitamin, a probiotic, and an omega. Sometimes toddlers can even take a nighttime multimineral before bed (ours is recommended for toddlers ages 2 and up). Which vitamin regimen would you suggest for busy moms, especially postpartum?
MINI |
the morning and shot before bed. Now 9 years later, we have 130 employees and 150 products, and it is really meaningful for our entire team that we get to help people start their day right. We’re a company dedicated to making a social, environmental, health, and wellness impact in their daily lives and we hope to inspire and uplift by supporting them in taking care of their health. What products do you recommend for toddlers?
MINI |
MARYRUTH GHIYAM |
At MaryRuth’s, we have prod-
I will share what I did for my postpartum supplement routine, but please keep in mind that everyone’s body is different. Again, always check with your physician before starting your supplement routine. Here at MaryRuth’s, we have a Postnatal Liquid Multivitamin, Postnatal Liquid Iron, Postnatal Liquid Omega-3, and a Postnatal Probiotic that I would take as well as the Liquid Nighttime Multimineral. I’d recommend just that: a MARYRUTH GHIYAM |
Daily Essentials MORNING Formulated for women before, during, and after pregnancy.
PROBIOTICS Full of vitamins, minerals, botanicals, and probiotic strains.
multivitamin, iron, probiotics, omega, and a multimineral. All of those are usually safe for postpartum and breastfeeding. If you’re not postpartum, it would be the same idea: a multi, omega, probiotic, and depending on your bloodwork, maybe also an iron supplement and a multimineral. My daily regimen is just what I listed above, plus sometimes our Megadose Vitamin C Liposomal and Organic Liquid Elderberry if I’m feeling like I want some extra immune support. There are so many prenatals on the market, so what makes MaryRuth’s Prenatal stand out?
MINI |
What I love about our Prenatal and Postnatal Multivitamin is that it’s delicious, sugar-free, and liquid. I had crippling pregnancy nausea, and the worst was the twin pregnancy because of the double hormones. I was vomiting for 6 months, but I could still keep down this delicious, cold multivitamin when I couldn’t keep a lot of other food down. MARYRUTH GHIYAM |
OMEGA-3’S Bolster DHA levels for baby’s cognitive health with this vegan source.
How to keep the immune system in tip-top shape?
MINI |
LIQUID IRON Boost your iron intake with this delicious berry flavored Prenatal and Postnatal Liquid Iron.
I would suggest some immune-supporting supplements such as our Megadose Vitamin C Liposomal, Organic Liquid Elderberry, Liquid Ionic Zinc, and our Quercetin Liposomal, as well as a vitamin D3 supplement. We have D3 Gummies, D3 Liquid Drops, Megadose D3 Liquid Drops, and a Megadose D3 Liposomal as well. MARYRUTH GHIYAM |
NIGHTTIME The Liquid Nighttime Multimineral promotes healthy magnesium levels, key for normal sleep regulation.
What are the biggest misconceptions about vitamins?
MINI |
MINI |
Which vitamins should we stock up on?
If you’re on a budget and can only get one supplement, the number one thing I’d recommend is a broad-spectrum multivitamin. Additionally, liquid zinc, vitamin C, elderberry, and vitamin D3 are also great options. We also have sugar-free Immunity Gummies in a raspberry lemonade flavor that are very popular, and a great choice for those who prefer more nutrients together in one supplement to support immunity. MARYRUTH GHIYAM |
Some people think that they can get potentially all the vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals from their food alone, but the quality of soil isn’t always as nutrient-dense as it once was. So, once a year at the very least, have your and your family’s bloodwork done so you can truly know what you’re deficient in and then supplement with what you have deficiencies in. For example, maybe you’ll learn you’re deficient in vitamin B12 or vitamin D, so by supplementing with the nutrients your body needs, you’ll see a difference in your energy, stamina, and health for life. MARYRUTH GHIYAM |
Learn more about MaryRuth Organics at maryruthorganics.com.
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FERTILITY FOCUSED After encountering information overload during her own fertility journey, Halle Tecco set out to change the reproductive health narrative with Natalist, a trusted trove of fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum essentials.
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interview by K A T E K I R B Y
photography by N A T A L I S T
which products I needed. At the time, the offerings in the market were all faceless brands that were male-owned and led. A lot of these products that were available lacked any evidence and felt outdated. It made my heart break to think about these businesses pushing products with junk science to women who were experiencing one of the most vulnerable stages of their lives. What makes Natalist stand out from the rest?
MINI |
There are many things that set Natalist apart, but in an industry notorious for wastefulness and single-use plastics, we believe the industry must do better for our future generations which is why all of our products are 100% plastic neutral and our shipping materials are 100% recyclable and biodegradable. As a company dedicated to building healthy families, we value the progress we are making toward sustainability and leaving a healthier Mother MINI | How did Natalist come to be? Earth for our future children. Our HALLE TECCO | After years of sifting through biggest differentitons of information and misinformation ator is the inspiraduring my own fertility journey, I was tion and first-hand inspired to create a more evidence-based knowledge driving approach to reproductive care. Even though the brand. NatalI had more healthcare knowledge than the ist is founded and average consumer, I found it difficult and led by moms who frustrating to comb through an overload of have used fertility sometimes inaccurate research to figure out HALLE TECCO |
products for years, and as a result, know what to change from both the experience and narrative around the preconception journey. Can you tell us about your own journey with fertility?
MINI |
It took us four years and multiple rounds of IVF to have my son. During those long months of repeatedly negative pregnancy tests, I felt disconnected from my body and unsure of what to believe from what I was reading on the internet. The products on the market didn’t feel like they catered to me as a millennial woman. Since founding Natalist, I have had ten pregnancy losses including losing our twin girls at 17 weeks earlier this year. This has completely changed my perspective on fertility care, and made me realize how the emotional aspect of fertility is just as important as the physical aspect.
HALLE TECCO |
Let’s talk about the Natalist product line-up.
MINI |
We’ve created a one-stop-shop of trusted fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum essentials for women at all stages of their reproductive
HALLE TECCO |
Fertility Friends C E L L S AV E R S Help support egg and sperm quality with these CoQ10 gummies.
SPERM TEST The Legacy At-Home Sperm Analysis is a clinical-grade fertility analysis for him.
E A R LY T E S T S Get peace of mind ASAP with these reliable and earth-friendly HCG test strips.
journey. Our products range from supplements like vitamin D3, CoQ10, iron, and prenatals to ovulation, pregnancy, and at-home fertility tests. We also have self-care items like anti-nausea tea, cooling cream, belly oil, and a male fertility supplement. Can you give us a brief timeline for women trying to conceive— Which Natalist products should they start with?
MINI |
Generally, women start their TTC journey with our Get Pregnant Bundle which includes everything you need to get started. We give you the tools to track your cycle, identify your fertile window, increase your chances of getting pregnant, and plan your life as parents. It’s important to be taking a prenatal vitamin before you are pregnant. We have two options: The Prenatal Daily Packets and our new Prenatal Gummies. If you’ve been tracking your cycle and timing intercourse but aren’t getting pregnant, I recommend checking out our Women’s Fertility Test and the Legacy Sperm Analysis. Education is power and we have a ton of valuable content on our site!
HALLE TECCO |
H I S P R E N ATA L The Prenatal for Him was developed by a urologist and male fertility nutrition specialist.
PEAK TIMER Track your ovulation so you can increase your chances of getting pregnant.
MINI |
Tell us more about how Natalist is filling the
need for women trying to conceive. Natalist is rebuilding the experience for women on their personal fertility journey with products that are backed by science and built by a team of doctors and moms who have been there and are focused on making the journey better for others. We’ve taken the confusion and intimidation out of shopping for these products with evidence-led resources and jargon-free product information backed by our experts.
HALLE TECCO |
What do you think is the biggest misconception surrounding women’s reproductive health and fertility?
MINI |
Historically, there has been a lot of judgment for those that do not experience a straight-forward fertility experience, and while there are many brands and products on the market offering to support women on their journey, many still do not feel particularly confident when it comes to understanding their fertility health. A big misconception
HALLE TECCO |
is that infertility is a woman’s issue, but the reality is that a third of infertility is due to the female, a third is due to the male, and the remaining third is still unknown. MINI |
How do you think we can change that?
Fertility brands need to put in the work to tackle the misinformation, secrecy, and shame that has been attached to this space for years with more transparency. A women’s fertility journey could look a million different ways, and it’s our responsibility to provide them with educational resources and stigma-free products to support them and erase the judgment that has been attached to the experience for so long.
HALLE TECCO |
As the host of E! Nightly Pop and online show Necessary Realness, a literal fashion icon, and now a mom to both Row and Grey— a day in the life of MORGAN STEWART MCGRAW is never dull. We visited her stunning Los Angeles home to talk finding her parenting groove with two littles, how motherhood has changed her personal style, and tackling the ever-present mom guilt.
Having grown the renowned, celebrity-loved footwear brand, Loeffler Randall, for more than a decade alongside her husband, there was one more facet of her brand just waiting to be brought to life. We caught up with NYC mom of three JESSIE LOEFFLER RANDALL, in her first-ever retail store to talk design, business, and her most recent motherhood challenge.
photography by
K I M B E R LY G E N E V I E V E
makeup by
LIZ CASTELLANOS
hair by
DAV I D R O B E R T
styling by M O R G A N S T E WA R T M CG R AW
FANCY FOOTWORK photography courtesy of LOEFFLER RANDALL
MORNING ROUTINE “I’m back filming my show. I was doing two before and I wanted to be able to focus on my kids. I get up, get Row, [she] comes in and hangs out with me. Grey gets up a bit later than she does. We’re big on Elmo; I kind of use that to calm her down before we get breakfast going. Then Grey comes in the bed and now we’re in the phase of her being upset that Grey is [there.] I thought the jealousy came later, but she is very much like, “This is my bed. This is my room. This is my Elmo. Why is this kid here?” So there’s me bouncing him around in a bathrobe, and then I have to hand him off to the nanny that gets there because I have to get ready to leave. Row does not leave at that point and is trying on all of my shoes and will not leave unless she gets to. I eat breakfast and say bye to her, she walks me out to the garage, we have to wave goodbye, she presses the garage button to close it, and then we start the day.”
doesn’t matter if you’re tired or hungry, you have a whole human. Two is easy and I say that in terms of, could I have a third? Probably not. But I think zero to one was way more challenging.”
MOST SURPRISING ABOUT MOTHERHOOD “How much I love it and how full on it is for me. Also, I feel like I still feel like myself but a way better version. All of the loose ends that I had, or disorganization, or things that were just more juvenile about myself have come together and I love it. It’s important to me to try to do as much as I can [while] working. I was worried and while I was pregnant, I did a lot of therapy to make sure I dealt with any concerns that I had and I think that did a world of wonder for me. So when [Row] came, I was doe-eyed from the moment I saw her.”
“I still feel like myself, but a way better version.”
THE BIG SHIFT “Zero to one [kids was the hardest]. Once you have one, that’s the life shift. It’s not about you anymore, you try to balance, but it really is about your children. That selflessness is not innate within us, or at least it was not innate within me. Realizing that it
MOST IMPORTANT ABOUT RAISING MY KIDS “Being around. I was fortunate enough to grow up knowing that my mom was going to be there for me, no matter what. I knew that. I want them to know that I am their number one support. I’m going to be there for them, no matter what accolade comes, no matter how busy— they are my priority.”
BIGGEST PARENTING WORRY “Putting my shit on my kids. Things that they’re not necessarily born with, but over time, they see me doing things and then they pick up on it. Like we all do with [our] moms: “I don’t like that about you, and now I’m doing that.” I try to be as neutral of a person around them as possible while guiding them; that is my goal. To not put all of my ism’s on Row and Grey, but probably more Row. You are who you are, so it’s tricky. I also want them to not think that I’m over-reacting all of the time.”
BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF MOTHERHOOD “Knowing what to do in certain situations. Not second guessing myself as much as I do. I think that goes away over time, but even in instances where I’m more relaxed about something, and I’m like, ‘I totally got this.’ Then I’m like, ‘Wait. Was that the right decision? Should I have done that?’ Navigating getting into a flow and not [overthinking] has been the hardest. The challenge is also not comparing Row
“I was doe-eyed from the moment I saw her.”
to other kids. They are their own people and we just have to accept them and support them. If they’re not doing the same thing as another kid, that’s okay.”
CHOOSING BABY NAMES “With Row, I was maybe five weeks pregnant and we were driving down the [Pacific Coast Highway] and I was like, “What about Row?” That’s it. It just came to me, it was like that was the name, no question. I think we decided on Grey’s name two days before he came out. It was really hard. My older brother’s name is Oliver. I loved Oliver, but I wasn’t going to straight up take the name, so we incorporated it as his middle. It was really tough finding a cool boy’s name. It can’t be too try-hard, can’t be too common, McGraw is also like a fine wine, you have to balance it.”
DIFFERENT PREGNANCIES “I was so violently ill with Row. Migraines, throwing up every single day, [it was] awful. And with Grey, I was nauseous a few days. It was night and day. Boys are much easier, in my experience, at least.”
THE FOURTH TRIMESTER “Hands down, postpartum was easier this time. With Row, I didn’t know where I was. I was like, ‘What’s going on in all of my areas?’ I didn’t know if it was going to come back together, but it does somehow. It was what I expected— I thought it was going to be difficult and it was.”
PARENTING TEAM “[My husband and I] are very good in general because we’re opposite in our strengths. He’s good at being patient with them, and not losing it every time they lose it. I’m very good at the doing. He’s very settled with them and can sit in a pen and play games and make every sound in the world and I’m very much like, “Let’s get in the car, let’s go to the park, let’s go to the play date. So we’re very good in those aspects.”
RAISING KIDS IN LA
MOM GUILT “My daughter has a class two days a week and it’s during my work hours. My husband takes her which I feel really good about, but it kills me to not be able to be there with her. I’ve filmed a million of these shows and I haven’t had a million of these classes. It takes a minute in the morning to get out of that head space and realize, ‘It’s okay, you’re there every single day.’ I just have to talk myself out of it, but it’s crazy it doesn’t go away.”
“I grew up in LA and it’s so cheesy, but [I love] the nature of it. I grew up with my parents, we went hiking all the time, going to Franklin Canyon, seeing the ducks, [experiencing] that outdoor living and sunshine. I’m excited for them [to have that]. I still feel like I feel that now as an adult.”
HAVING IT ALL “I love that. I feel like in stages, you can have it all. I feel like I’m in a stage right now where I have it all. By the way, having it all takes a lot of fucking work. You are balancing a million balls in the air, you are double checking. I’m Virgo Rising, so I’m very OCD, and having it all
MORGAN ON THE CLOCK
N O W W AT C H I N G
“We just finished The Bear.”
IF I HAD MORE TIME KIDS SHOW
“Elmo.”
“I would work out more. It’s impossible.”
BEFORE KIDS
“[I never thought I would] have kids. I knew I was going to, but you can never prepare.” LISTENING TO
COFFEE ORDER
“A cappuccino with whole milk and chocolate powder on top. That’s what I have in the morning; my husband makes it. Everyone’s like, ‘Whole milk?’ Yeah, I know I’m the last person. Put the whole milk in it.”
“I’m into the new Drake. I’m sorry, I like it. Everyone’s like ‘Ew.’ But OK, we’ll see you at the club. We’ll see you in Ibiza this summer.”
FA V E R E S TA U R A N T
“E. Baldi, hands down. It’s the only place to eat.” 375 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA
gravitating towards. There’s also more of a long dress vibe because in my mind—it kills me—if I have to bend down with Row, it’s easier. I’m going more for the convenient dressing for my kids. I can’t believe that’s happening. On my show, I get to wear 12 inch heels because that’s who I still am at heart, but I’m definitely [opting for] more of what’s going to get me through this easier.”
SUMMER MUST-HAVES “I’m packing for my trip and as contradictory as it is to what I just said, I feel like [the summer essentials are] short sets. Like a pajama top and a short set. Easy, two-piece sets that you can just throw on, it’s no big deal. For shoes, I’m going to do flat sandals. You know, when you go on vacation you bring heels, and then you’re like, “I’m not putting those on, I’m on vacation.” in place, I thrive. But I don’t think you can have it all forever.”
STYLE CHANGE “I do [think my style has changed since becoming a mom]. We’re going on vacation and I didn’t realize it was the hardest thing in the world looking for bathing suits. I feel like I’ve always just worn bathing suits that I liked, and now I find myself adding full pieces to my cart. It’s not even because of anything I feel insecure about or that I don’t feel like I can rock a two piece, it’s just something I’m
SHOP FOR KIDS “There is a place in Beverly Hills called English Rabbit. A part of me doesn’t want to shout that out, because I don’t want everyone to go there now, but I really love going in. I’m big on the nostalgia, so when I grew up, I went to a store with my mom and I like having that with my kid. I don’t want to shop online all the time for my kids’ stuff.”
“I’m feeling really good about where we are. It’s definitely a whirlwind. You look around and you’re like, ‘I made two babies?’ I think it’s just now hitting me that I did it as close together as I did.” —Morgan Stewart McGraw
What began as an Instagram account sharing toddler tips quickly grew into a global parenting movement with over 2.5 million followers. Now Big Little Feelings founders DEENA MARGOLIN and KRISTIN GALLANT give us their best advice for navigating meltdowns, mealtimes, and everything in between.
IN THEIR FEEL INGS
We are big fans of BLF and their approach to the tricky toddler stage! What would you say is the biggest misconception about toddlers or parenting this age group?
MINI |
We find that a lot of toddler behavior is (incorrectly) perceived as “bad behavior,” when in reality, it’s totally normal and more often than not, it’s actually a sign of healthy development. Tantrums, meltdowns, screaming, kicking, hitting, biting— they’re all common and a sign that your toddler’s development is right on track. So next time you feel guilty or embarrassed about your kid’s behavior, don’t! You’ve done absolutely nothing wrong, and your toddler is probably expressing a healthy developmental milestone. BIG LITTLE FEELINGS |
What should parents keep in mind when approaching little ones dealing with big feelings?
MINI |
There are three key things to keep in mind when your toddler (inevitably!) has a tantrum or a meltdown: BIG LITTLE FEELINGS |
1. Tantrums are a normal, healthy part of toddler brain development. Toddlers haven’t yet developed the areas of their brain that help with impulse control, language, and managing emotions, so it makes sense for them to cry, scream, and fall to the floor when they’re upset. (Oh, the drama!) 2. Tantrums are NOT a result of YOUR parenting. In other words: you’re not doing anything wrong— and trust us, you’re the best parent or caretaker for your little one.
3. The way that we (as parents and caregivers) respond to tantrums will do one of two things: level up the tantrums or dial them down, reducing their strength, length, and frequency. Your response is everything and if you stay calm and let your calm be contagious, over time you’ll see your toddler’s tantrums become shorter, less intense, and less frequent. How can you be sure, or what tools can you use, to avoid or at least mitigate tantrums or major meltdowns in the future?
MINI |
Real talk— you can’t totally stop or prevent tantrums. That said, there are some tips and tricks to help prevent tantrums altogether. One of our favorites is The Timer Trick! BIG LITTLE FEELINGS |
For context, here are two things we know from neuroscience: Time is a concept that toddlers don’t understand and their toddler brain craves power and control. This is why transitions like bedtime, bathtime, leaving the park, leaving a friend’s house, or turning off the iPad are so hard for toddlers! The Timer Trick gives them age-appropriate power and makes the vague concept of time something firm that they can understand and we can use this for any transition. Here’s how to use the Timer Trick:
PREP AHEAD OF TIME
“In two minutes, when our timer goes off, we’ll head to bed.”
LET THEM START THE TIMER
You can totally keep it simple and use your phone! “Do YOU want to push the button? Okay! When it goes off, we’ll know it’s time for bed.”
WHEN IT’S TIME TO GO
“That’s the timer! Do you want to turn it off? Let’s head up to bed.” When you let them press the timer button, they feel as if it’s their choice. They’re in control and leading the show here! It sounds simple, but it’s actually magic. Tips and tricks aside, the ultimate way to prevent future meltdowns is all about boundaries: may we set them, may we hold them! When your toddler is pushing back or having a meltdown, avoid begging, pleading, and scolding— just swoop in with that boundary, and hold it in a loving, firm way. The more we do that, the less pushback and tantrums we see, because our kid knows that when mom says it’s bedtime, it’s bedtime. This applies to everything: screentime, bedtime, bathtime, all of it! We’ve all been in a situation where we implement a boundary, our toddler has a meltdown, and we renege on the boundary. This happens to ALL of us, so if and when it happens to you, don’t feel guilty! Nobody gets it right 100% of the time. You’re doing a great job! What is most important to avoid when dealing with big feelings from your little ones? Any major no-no’s when handling tantrums or meltdowns?
MINI |
BIG LITTLE FEELINGS |
In the middle of a meltdown
(or any type of unwanted behavior), avoid punishments or fear-based tactics. Using punishment might stop unwanted behavior in the moment, but research shows that in the long term, punishments don’t work to change behavior. Punishments are rooted in fear and when the brain senses fear, it goes into fight, flight, or freeze mode. That’s why it seems to work in the moment: your kid freezes! But then they go right back to the unwanted behavior. The fear impedes long-term learning, so they didn’t actually learn what to do differently next time. The true meaning of discipline is “to teach [or] learn.” Our job is to teach our kids how to handle their emotions, needs, and wants in healthy ways. Discipline is a whole topic, but a super helpful takeaway about discipline is what we call “The Two R’s.”
RIGHT AWAY
Your child’s brain—especially the areas responsible for logic and time—is super under construction. So taking away ice cream 7 hours after the behavior took place is simply not going to make sense to your toddler’s brain.
RELATED TO THE BEHAVIOR
Ice cream has nothing to do with throwing a toy car at someone; the connection is confusing for a young child’s brain. Instead, relate the teaching directly to the unwanted behavior.
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We also want to avoid using food as bribery or punishment so that we don’t accidentally create a dessert obsession! Let’s assume your kid throws a toy car at their sister. The Right and Related looks like this: “I see that you’re throwing your car at your sister. It’s not okay to hurt someone, and I won’t let you do that. The toy car is going up here until tomorrow, and then we can try again.” And reminder, when your kid is in the middle of a meltdown, avoid having a BIG reaction. (They love your attention, so when you have a big reaction, it can actually reinforce the behavior!) Instead, dial down the tantrum by being calm, and letting your calm be contagious. Let’s move on to another tricky toddler subject— picky eating! How can parents keep from losing their minds at mealtime?
MINI |
Our #1 [tip] for eating is “play it cool.” We can’t make our kids eat, and research shows that parental pressure to eat—even well-meaning pressure—actually leads to more picky eating. BIG LITTLE FEELINGS |
The best way to prevent or reverse picky eating is to keep it low pressure. Parents pick what foods go on the plate, and kids decide how much goes into their body. Here are some of our go-to phrases for picky eating:
“You don’t have to eat it.” “Listen to your body.” “You don’t like broccoli yet. That’s okay!”
I
t can be so tempting to be a sportscaster during your kid’s eating experience: “Wow, you ate chicken! Oh my gosh!” or “You’re not eating chicken? Why not?” It’s also tempting to dictate or micro-manage the experience: “Two bites of chicken and one bite of pineapple please, and then you can go.” But how would YOU feel if a waiter was standing over your shoulder, narrating your every bite, then dictating what to eat and when? You’d probably be turned off. Instead, play it cool: put your kid’s plate of food down on the table, and take the pressure off. You did your job! Now you can keep it casual and enjoy mealtime.
you’ve potty trained, like adding underwear, swimming, using public restrooms, and collaborating with childcare. Plus, ALL the poop things! Honestly, the game-changing part of Potty Training Made Simple is that it really, really, really works. The strategies and game plans are backed by science (that’s our jam), and ultimately, it’s an approach to potty training (or “potty learning,” as we say) that’s a success for you and your toddler. We get tons of DMs and emails every day from parents and caretakers about how effective the course was for them and that’s the type of thing that makes our day.
“The true meaning of discipline is to teach or learn.”
You have two amazing online courses to help parents navigate toddler-hood and potty training. What can we find in your potty training course that parents will find particularly game-changing?
MINI |
We made the potty training course we dreamed of— one that was totally comprehensive, with step-bystep instructions, scripts, how-tos, and checklists. It covers the before, during, and after of potty training, including all of those specific situations that pop up after BIG LITTLE FEELINGS |
Even as experts, we love seeing your personal parenting experiences. What is a personal parenting struggle that you deal with?
MINI |
I think my biggest parenting struggle has actually been my marriage. Being on the same page, finding ways to connect and enjoy each other, figuring out how to share the mental load of juggling a million things related to kids without it just being on my shoulders, sometimes feeling like we’re just roommates raising kids together has been really hard. I feel like no one talks about this side of things, which can feel really lonely and sad, as if everyone else you see (on social media especially) has a happy, perfect family. I try to remind myself that social media is a highlight reel, that everyone has struggles, that we are
DEENA MARGOLIN |
Tantrum 101
The Experts Explain Tricky Toddler-hood S TAY C A L M
When we escalate alongside our toddler or try to negotiate with them, we’re only going to make a tantrum worse. Instead, channel your inner calm. Let that calm be contagious, and you’ll see the tantrum start to dial down. P.S. This is really hard and you won’t always get it right, and that is 100000% a-okay! OK THE FEELING
It can be so tempting to try and “fix” feelings, and accidentally diminish them. “Stop crying, you’re fine!” or “It’s just a crayon! We have a million crayons. Calm down!” But allowing your child to express their emotions is healthy and oftentimes, your kid just wants to be heard, even if it’s about a purple crayon being… purpley. Making them feel seen and heard can shorten (or even stop!) a tantrum in its tracks. HOLD THE BOUNDARY
This is a crucial step in preventing future tantrums and power struggles! Sometimes the biggest “hack” is simply holding a boundary over and over again. Your kid might seem like they want to make all the decisions, but in actuality, they feel safest when you’re the confident leader of your home with clear, consistent boundaries. Over time, your toddler learns that when you say “one more episode,” that means one more episode— and no amount of tantruming, crying, or pushback will change that. SHIFT TO THE YES
Toddlers hear “no, no, no” all day long. When you shift to the yes, you’re taking the focus away from the “no” element of the boundary, and instead you’re giving them a little piece of age-appropriate power.
growing and becoming new people as parents, that it’s OK and normal to struggle in certain seasons of life and parenting, and the more we share honestly about these struggles, the more we normalize them and the less alone we all feel. The one constant in life is that things are always changing, so it makes sense that we’re changing and our relationship is changing as parents. We’ve also recently started carving out “dates” which sometimes means ordering food in and just sitting together at our dining room table after the kids are in bed to reconnect and become closer again. I can definitely fall into the mom guilt trap and the comparison game. “Why can’t I keep a clean house? Everyone else can clean why is it so hard for me?” “Did they have too much screen time? Did they eat even one vegetable today? Did I ruin them? Am I ruining them?” We’re so big on on our page about NOT letting the mom guilt eat at you, because you ARE doing great, but it can be really hard for me to give myself the grace I give others!
KRISTIN GALLANT |
How do you two lean on each other when it comes to parenting?
MINI |
We constantly text each other (24 hours a day!) about our insecurities, our fears, our small random moments, our “Hey, did I handle this right?” moments. We also legitimately text each other to celebrate the WINS: the moments we didn’t yell (but almost did), the moment our kid ate a piece of sushi, the proud moments of gushing about the most menial things we do, but we love them so f*cking much that we just have to tell someone! We’re so grateful to have each other—someone who supports BIG LITTLE FEELINGS |
the other fully and completely—whether it’s something we align on personally, or something we do totally differently. MINI |
and mitigate unwanted behaviors. We use the PREP game plan all the time— prepping for a new baby, the first day of school, a trip to the doctor’s office, really any life event that can feel new or scary.
A new sibling rocks your toddler’s world. They suddenly go from having your full attention and love to sharing it with a loud, crying, needy little being. This can bring up lots of feelings and lots of unwanted behaviors, too. Prepping your toddler for the arrival of a new baby can help prevent jealousy
In this case, prepping your toddler means helping them get familiar with the concept of a baby ahead of time to ease this transition. You can read books about babies and becoming a sibling, watch age-appropriate TV episodes, use a baby doll to show them how babies cry and get their diapers changed, and even let them help stack diapers in the baby’s nursery. The more familiar the concept of “baby” is, the less jolting the transition will be.
Welcoming a new baby can be a difficult concept for little ones. As moms of two, how did you prep your kids for the new addition and later deal with any jealousy?
BIG LITTLE FEELINGS |
When the new baby comes, if you do end up seeing jealousy (which is totally normal), you can use the 10 Minute Miracle: 10 minutes of focused, one-on-one connection time done daily. No siblings, no phones— just you and your (one!) kid. This might mean having a partner or family member watch the others, or maybe doing this while your other kid naps. And yes, even if we’re with our kids all day long, carving out focused, dedicated one-on-one time is an absolute game-changer. It can decrease unwanted behavior almost instantly! What is one thing you want parents to remember about Big Little Feelings or navigating unpredictable child behavior?
MINI |
The number one thing we want every single parent in our community to walk away with is this: you are absolutely ROCKING IT! You are so much harder on yourself than you’d ever be on any other human being. Beating yourself up because your kid ate waffles for two out of three meals that day? Hey! Your kid was fed and LOVED it. Celebrate that! Notice the good you did that day, let the “bad” go, and know we’re all in it with you. BIG LITTLE FEELINGS |
Y
ou are not alone. You are not a bad parent. You are an AMAZING parent, and you’re the best parent for your kid. Promise.
To learn more, visit biglittlefeelings.com.
DESIGN CLASS photography by R E A D M C K E N D R E E / J B S A
With a decade of experience with some of the nation’s top residential firms, interior designer CHAUNCEY BOOTHBY has cultivated an aesthetic that is classic yet contemporary (and often playful!) in feel. We asked the design pro for her best tips on decorating kids spaces and here’s what she had to say.
Paint it. Paint is a magical thing. A fun wall color can transform a room, but another great solution that creates the perfect amount of whimsy is pairing a white wall with a colorful trim.
Kids are messy. It’s a fact. A kids room is not the place to splurge on a costly and impractical rug. Vendors like Wayfair, Safavieh, even Home Depot carry lines of inexpensive area rugs in classic plaids and stripes. Opt for a wool or even an outdoor material to make clean up easier.
Curate art.
Invest your time, not your money, in artwork. Etsy is my best resource for children’s art. I’ve spent countless hours lost down the rabbit hole that is Etsy shopping for quirky illustrations, rattan wallhangings, and other fabulous pieces to adorn a child’s wall. And if you can’t find it there, there are many sites where you can print out free botanicals or animal illustrations. Simply purchase a simple, attractive frame, add a double mat with a bit of color and you have yourself a work of art.
Go neutral.
Don’t be afraid of a gender neutral nursery. If you plan on having multiple children, embrace color schemes that can lend themselves to both girl or boy. I love the combination of pale sage green with a sunny yellow. It provides a perfect backdrop to children’s decor. You can switch out small elements for each child without the need to fully redecorate.
Use Roman shades.
They are a simple way to add a bit of color and pattern to a room without making the commitment of curtains. Plus they can be blackout lined to maximum the function in addition to the form.
Make it grow.
My favorite rooms are the ones that were designed in such a manner that they suit both toddler and eventually teen. The larger pieces in the room should have the staying power, but it’s the smaller accessories that can be swapped out for more mature items down the road.
FROZEN FEVER
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After getting pregnant with her first child, former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney CHLOE EPSTEIN set out to find a clean alternative for her love of frozen treats. But when she couldn’t find one, she made one— and Chloe’s Fruit was born.
We are so inspired by your delicious brand, Chloe’s! Can you tell us how it all came to be?
MINI |
The idea for Chloe’s was inspired by my real life need to fill a void in the market. I always grappled with feeding my intense sweet tooth while at the same time accommodating my commitment to a healthy lifestyle. As an avid fro-yo consumer, when I became pregnant and started thinking more mindfully about what I was feeding my family, I became increasingly committed to eliminating artificial ingredients from my diet. CHLOE EPSTEIN |
I wanted to create something truly delicious that would satisfy my cravings while also being something I could feel great about giving my kids. With Chloe’s, we created a better-for-you frozen treat that everyone could enjoy and we continue to keep that basic mission at the forefront of everything we do. Since Chloe’s are made with real fruit (and nothing to hide!), we’d love to know about your food philosophy at home. Are there certain foods you stick to and others you shy away from?
MINI |
It is certainly challenging to contend with multiple stubborn, little palettes and food preferences under one roof. I have always tried to focus on whole foods and ingredients and teach the kids at a young age about wholesome eating. I keep treats and snacks that are similar in philosophy to Chloe’s— those CHLOE EPSTEIN |
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without artificial and unnecessary ingredients, but are still appealing and delicious. We always have a ton of fresh fruit and raw vegetables for the kids to snack on with hearty dips like hummus and guacamole. I do not want the kids to ever feel deprived, which I’m sure they would argue they feel from time to time, but they appreciate the effort I make to try and keep the house relatively clean. They are at ages where they are making many meal and snack choices on their own and I can only do my best to instill in them an appreciation for feeding their bodies nutritiously. What has been your proudest career moment to date?
MINI |
Seeing Chloe’s Pops in schools and camps was such a great moment. The mission was always to create a better-for-you frozen treat that everyone could enjoy and feel great about eating. Having kids, at an early age, understand that you can enjoy delicious treats that are not filled with artificial, inferior ingredients was and is important to me, so having our pops offered to kids in their everyday routines was especially meaningful. CHLOE EPSTEIN |
What has been the greatest lesson you’ve learned in business thus far?
MINI |
There is always more to learn and it’s important to keep an open CHLOE EPSTEIN |
better is what makes us successful in whatever it is we are trying to accomplish. Let’s shift over to mom life. As a mom of three, can you tell us what has surprised you most about motherhood thus far?
MINI |
I am surprised by how much more challenging it gets as the kids get older. I anticipated that the baby and toddler years would be the doozies, but learned that is not the case. While the early years are physically exhausting, the later years are more mentally and emotionally draining along with exciting, rewarding, and joyous of course! CHLOE EPSTEIN |
How was your transition going from a mom of zero to one, then three kids?
MINI |
With twins, I went from having one child to having three and skipped having two at once! I think going from one to three was dramatic, but I love the energy and chaos of it all that it certainly was and continues to be. CHLOE EPSTEIN |
mind while staying true to your core beliefs. You may end up somewhere different than what you had planned and that can be a great thing. What do you think about the idea of “having it all?”
MINI |
It doesn’t really mean much to me. Everyone’s “all” is different. I think if you feel fulfilled, you are doing something right. I’ve learned it’s hard to feel completely satisfied and in control all the time, but the drive to want more or to do CHLOE EPSTEIN |
What advice would you give to moms about to have their second baby?
MINI |
You got this! As you learn from the first one, it is all CHLOE EPSTEIN |
instinctive. I’d say cherish the alone time with your first child because that is a rare time that the first child gets and it’s magic. Can you tell us how you decided on your kids’ names?
MINI |
My incredibly authentic, funny, charismatic, kind, and smart younger brother, Andrew Russell, passed away when I was younger and so my first child is named after him, Ava Ryan. With my twins, we just had fun and went with names we loved. We chose Charlie Lola and Oliver Ian and I think they are keeping them.
with kids in NYC? When they were young, we loved Central Park outings and now they love going for runs there. It’s crazy! We also love a trip to Hudson Yards and exploring the Vessel and Highline. CHLOE EPSTEIN |
CHLOE EPSTEIN |
MINI |
Where are your favorite places to visit
What do you love most about raising your kids in NYC?
MINI |
The access to culture and the knowledge that they will always have it at their fingertips. And, while it’s intimidating as a parent, NYC living is a lesson in independence that you don’t find in most other places. CHLOE EPSTEIN |
CHLOE ON THE CLOCK
What has been on the agenda for both your family and Chloe’s this summer?
MINI |
As much as I love the city, I equally love escaping from it during the summer. We try to spend as much time as possible out East in the Hamptons and take in every moment of outdoor activity and just the sheer beauty all around. CHLOE EPSTEIN |
Chloe’s is also out East this summer! We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Juice Press and bring our Soft Serve Fruit and Pops to their Southampton shop. Our pops are available in several markets out there as well like King Kullen, Citarella, IGA, and Fresh Direct who will deliver right to your door. We also recently launched our new Marvel inspired family pack pops adding new favorites like Spider-Man Lemon-Lime and Orange and Avengers Strawberry-Mango to our lineup. They are perfect for summer entertaining and already a family favorite.
KIDS BOOK Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud
($7; amazon.com) ON MY N I G H T S TA N D
“Picture of the fam and fresh flowers.” KIDS MOVIE
“They were obsessed with Parental Guidance.” BEFORE KIDS
N O W P L AY I N G
“Lizzo’s About Damn Time and the How I Built This podcast.”
“Have to lock the bathroom door to avoid an audience.”
What are you eating or making most this summer? Any favorite summer recipes?
MINI |
We BBQ a ton in the summer, and we love a good shish kabob. I love that we can please the carnivores and vegetarians at the same time with the same dish. We’re [also] making a lot of our pop recipes. They are a party favorite that look beautiful and taste amazing. I’m personally loving our Chloe’s Margarita Poptail. It’s so easy to make— just rim the glass with some salt, add ice, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Stick the lime pop in, pop down, stick up and enjoy! CHLOE EPSTEIN |
IN MY FRIDGE
“Pickles. In the freezer, Chloe’s pops, obviously.”
D AT E N I G H T
“Anywhere with no cell service.” COFFEE ORDER
“Iced or hot, depending on the season, with a splash of oatmilk.” FA V E R E S TA U R A N T
“Recently, Scalinatella.” 201 E 61st St, New York, NY
#RECIPES
FRESH FIX
Longtime editor Samantha Yanks shares three delicious salads sourced with local ingredients for your summer table.
HOT TIP
Yanks loves to pull ingredients from her own backyard, trimming herbs for easy, summer lunches. Local vendors are also a must in the branding guru’s book— she shares all about her love of New England (including where to find the best produce, like peaches from Woodland Farm!) on The Connecticut Edit, her newly-launched lens into East Coast living. HOT TIP
Mini Boards. A genius hack to get your Minis to eat fruits and veggies? Make Mini charcuterie boards— Arrange berries, cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers on a platter and let them graze!
1 SIMPLE CHICKEN CAESAR WITH LEMON DRESSING
You can’t go wrong with a classic caesar salad in the summer. Opt for crisp romaine, shards of parmesan, crunchy croutons, and grilled chicken.
2 SUMMER A N T I PA S T O C H O P
When the season gives you fresh veggies, chop them into a salad! For this Antipasto Chop, toss together tomatoes, salami, artichokes, and red peppers.
3 GREEK SAL AD WITH HOMEMADE TA R A M A SA L ATA
Nothing says summer like a mix of farm stand tomatoes, cucumber, feta, and olives.
photo by J E N N I F E R B E R N I K E R
Look Local. When you see a roadside stand or farmers’ market, pull over! It’s a great way to meet area vendors, source meals close to home, and teach kids about growing food!
