Magazine

Marcus inspecting a printed baby t-shirt for safety and organic cotton quality

Debugging Your Kid's Wardrobe: The Ultimate Graphic Baby Tee

It was 2:14 AM on a Tuesday, and I had seventeen browser tabs open, deeply confused about how the internet works. Leo, my 11-month-old son, had finally entered a sleep cycle that didn't involve him kicking me in the ribs,...

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A sleep-deprived mom holding a massive pile of stained tiny baby bodysuits.

The Truth About Newborn Onesies (And What You Actually Need)

It's 3:14 AM in November of 2017. Maya is exactly three weeks old. I'm wearing a milk-stained nursing bra, one single maternity sock because I lost the other one in the hallway, and I'm holding a mug of coffee that...

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A very tired parent holding two identically dressed babies in white organic cotton sleep suits

The Absurd Reality of Buying Newborn Outfits for the First Time

It's 4:13 AM on a Tuesday, and I'm actively wrestling a pair of miniature, stiff denim jeans onto a creature that has the structural integrity of a warm Yorkshire pudding. This was my grand introduction to the greatest myth of...

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Tired mom sorting through a pile of useless baby clothes on a bed.

Surviving baby clothing stores: a nurse's guide to what works

I was thirty-four weeks pregnant, ankles swollen to the size of grapefruits, standing in the middle of a high-end boutique in Lincoln Park. The air smelled like lavender and expensive regret. In my hands, I held a pair of stiff,...

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A dignified floral adult dining scarf protecting a woman's blouse during a messy family dinner

How to Buy Good Bibs for Adults Without Sacrificing Dignity

We were twenty minutes into Thanksgiving dinner two years ago when it happened. My grandmother, who has always dressed like she’s about to have tea with the Queen, was trying to lift a spoonful of gravy. Her hand gave that...

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A very tired father attempting to fasten a baby onesie in the middle of the night.

The Utter Chaos of Trying to Dress a Very Small and Angry Newborn

Before the twins arrived, I was cornered at a family gathering and given three entirely contradictory pieces of advice regarding infant wardrobes. My mother-in-law insisted on knitted cardigans with actual, functional miniature buttons (a stylistic choice I'm still unpacking with...

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A tired mother sorting through practical organic baby gifts for boys on a nursery floor.

Surviving loud baby gifts for boys and what parents actually want

It was 2:14 in the morning on a Tuesday. I was standing in the dark hallway of our Chicago apartment, holding a baby who had finally stopped crying after forty-five minutes of unexplained misery. The silence was thick and fragile....

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A frustrated mom holding a stiff infant outfit covered in spit-up

Why high-end infant clothes usually aren't worth the headache

My oldest son, Wyatt, is the reason I've trust issues with zippers, snap crotches, and the entire children’s clothing industry. When he was about three months old, I got it in my head that we needed professional family photos out...

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Dad trying to put a quarter-zip sweater on a squirming 11-month-old baby boy.

A Letter to Past Me About Surviving The Boys Sweater Phase

Dear Marcus from six months ago: You're currently standing in the baby apparel aisle holding a tiny, adorable, heavily patterned wool pullover. Put it down. Seriously, drop it right now before your wife sees it and you both convince yourselves...

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