Skip to main content

4 secrets to understanding teenage girls every parent should know

A teen hugging their parent where both are smiling
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Emily Pidgeon
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Emily's work has appeared in the Tube City Almanac, Tube City Online and our Affinity Sites. When she's not writing, she is…
6 sleep training methods that all new parents should know
Sleep training methods when you have a new baby in the house
Infant boy sleeping on bed.

Even if you think you're ready for a newborn to take over your life, nothing prepares you for the lack of sleep and trying to establish a sleep routine. After a few restless nights, parents will try anything to get their little bundle of joy to realize how lovely sleep is. If you need a hand putting your baby down to bed at night, here are the sleep training methods all parents need to know.
The more extreme sleep training methods

These are a little more on the controversial side, but they are recognized sleep training methods.
Cry-it-out method
One of the most controversial sleep training methods is the cry-it-out method, which might be the hardest on parents. You put your child to bed as you normally would and do not, for any reason, go back into their room. If your child still takes a night feeding, you feed the baby and get right back out of the room. Experts don't even agree about if and when it's OK to go in and comfort the baby.
Chair method
The chair method is also a little controversial because it is like the cry-it-out method, except the parent is sitting in the room. You put a chair next to the crib and sit in it to comfort the baby. Once your little one is asleep, you leave. If the baby starts to cry or wakes up, you go to the chair while they fall back asleep. Each night, you move the chair a little further away from the crib. You don't pick the baby up, pat them, or do anything to soothe them but sit in the room with them.
Fading methods

Read more
Should your kids have an Apple Watch?
These are the pros and cons of an Apple Watch for your kid
A person checking their Apple watch.

Kids love gadgets, especially ones that keep them online at all times and parents love knowing their kids can be reachable at all times, which makes the Apple Watch appealing for everyone.  Smartwatches are the height of convenience, allowing users to leave their phones in their bags and do everything right there on their wrists. But since there isn't a kids' Apple Watch version available, children are getting the real deal, along with the real price tag.

With all the convenience, though, some people have major privacy concerns about wearable devices, especially when it comes to their children. When used correctly with appropriate parental controls, smartwatches, especially the Apple Watch, could be a boon to both kids and parents alike. But should your kid sport a device designed for adults? Let's see if children should wear an Apple Watch or if it's one more device they shouldn't be left alone with.
What Apple Watches do for kids

Read more
The 5-month-old sleep schedule every new parent needs
How much should your 5-month-old be sleeping?
A baby sleeping in a sleep sack.

Now that your baby is at the five-month mark or almost to it, you are probably wondering how much sleep your little one needs, especially if you want baby to sleep through the night. Those first couple of months, your baby was sleeping for a big chunk of the day and night while waking to eat. Most pediatricians recommend transitioning to a sleep schedule around the four-to-six-month mark. Five months is the perfect sweet spot.

Getting your little one into a sleep routine is beneficial for baby and for the whole household. Doing so isn't as difficult as you may think. We have an easy 5-month-old sleep schedule that will have everyone enjoying quality z's.
5-month-old sleep schedule

Read more