Parenting Tips and Tricks - Motherly
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Parenting

From feeding to milestones to parenting styles, our expert-guided parenting section dives into tips, tricks and research to support modern mamas.

Dad realizes kids' nostalgia

You don’t have to create perfect memories. Your kids remember how care feels.

You realize that your child’s memories are forming quietly, without announcement, while you are just trying to get through the day.

A quiet pause at McDonald’s revealed something many parents recognize only later

The kids were excited about their boxes. That part made sense. The moment seemed complete. Except it wasn’t.

Christmas shift

The quiet Christmas shift every parent eventually feels

Not the last Christmas. Not the end of magic. Just the year when your child starts seeing things a little differently.

A toddler drew on her doll—and changed how her mom saw herself

Children don’t rank bodies. They don’t compare. They don’t critique. They celebrate the features that feel familiar because those features belong to the people they trust and love the most.

Close-up image of mother's hands holding newborn baby's feet

Why surrogacy stories deserve to be told

When families share the real paths that brought their children home, they replace silence with connection. Here is why surrogacy stories matter and how to tell yours with care.

Uuoeebb infant walkers recalled after failing federal safety standard

This recall was previously issued as a Product Safety Warning (26-080) on November 6, 2025, and has now been escalated to a formal recall.

Primark recalls Little Bear 2-pack soother clips due to choking and laceration hazards

Primark is recalling about 1,330 Little Bear 2-pack Soother Clips after reports that the wooden button can come off, exposing a sharp screw.

YCXXKJ baby bath seats recalled after failing infant bath seat safety standard

If you experienced a tip-over, defect, or near-miss with this (or any) bath seat, consider reporting it to the CPSC. Reports help identify patterns and can speed up safety actions.

Baby eating diced apple and diced cheese on a plate while sitting in high chair

6 signs your baby’s feeding routine is working well

Wondering if feeding is on track? These steady, real-world signs can help you feel confident, whether you breastfeed, combo feed, or use formula.

son door drawing

The unexpected “protest sign” a five-year-old created when his feelings spilled over

On the door, in bold looping strokes, was a giant circle with one unmistakable word inside: MOM.

Siblings dressed in Monster's Inc. costumes sitting beside three-layer Monster's Inc.-themed birthday cake

Why sibling age gaps don’t matter as much as we think

Families are built in seasons, not formulas. Here is how to reframe the “perfect” sibling age gaps and focus on what actually grows closeness.

Kid sitting in bed reading a bedtime story to her stuffed animals

The quiet magic of bedtime rituals

A simple, steady bedtime rituals routine can help kids feel safe and help you find your own exhale. Here is a gentle, realistic guide that works in real homes.

Mom sitting in chair taking notes on questions she wants to ask the doctor about choosing a surrogate

10 questions to ask before choosing a surrogate

Choosing a gestational carrier is a profound decision. These questions help you align expectations, protect everyone legally and emotionally, and set up a compassionate, respectful partnership.

Two kids each with a toy bow-and-arrow set and ready to practice shooting foam targets

Why your child’s play is serious work

Play looks simple, but it is the engine of childhood learning. Here is how to protect it, fuel it, and feel good about doing less so your child can do more.

Parents in festively-decorated house celebrating adoption anniversary with their child

What adoption shows us about chosen family

Adoption is one path many families take to love and belonging. Here is what it can teach all of us about building chosen family with care, clarity, and lifelong commitment.

CreateOn Crayola-branded pip-Cubes recall

A popular magnetic toy is being pulled from shelves―parents are urged to check their playrooms

CreateOn has recalled several Crayola pip Cubes sets after the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found that the seams on the cubes can weaken.

A new AAP study just raised a big question about when kids should get their first phone

The study examined more than 10,500 adolescents and compared the age they first owned a smartphone with their mental and physical health outcomes at ages 12 and 13.

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