M+A Edit

Cloth diapers can feel intimidating—there’s the old-school origami-style folding, the prospect of having to, um, deal with the contents inside, and the fact that there are over a dozen different types. But the truth is they’re not all that complicated. (Don’t forget we live in the age of the NoseFrida—today’s cloth diapers aren’t your Grandma’s.) Read this primer to decide if they’re worth a shot for your family. The Options: Flat or Prefolds Traditional and super cheap (just a few bucks each), these diapers essentially look like a dish rag...

After leaving her job at IBM in 2008, Leah Busque was excited to launch her new startup TaskRabbit. When the economic crisis followed later that year, Leah didn't know if her new project was going to last. But what she didn't expect was the incredible opportunity this situation gave her.Leah Busque is currently a General Partner at Fuel Capital, an early stage venture fund located in Silicon Valley, and was the founder and CEO of TaskRabbit before it was bought by IKEA in October of 2017. With over 15 years...

From Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Montessori school has some high-profile, deep-thinking graduates. The basic concept behind Montessori—let kids learn through discovery, instead of instruction—can feel vague and mysterious to those who haven’t stepped inside the walls of this less than traditional education system. So to set the scene for interested parents, we chatted with Kitty Bravo, Director of Education at the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, about what to expect. The classroom is the teacher Montessori classrooms are lined with wall-to-wall activities...

'Tis the season for good luck, leprechauns and rainbows! We tapped Katie Baumgartner of Make to Celebrate to come up with some festive activities to help your little celebrate St. Paddy's Day—take a look at her colorful suggestions.1. Make Leprechaun BinocularsThis one's super easy to do at home—simply glue or tape two paper rolls together, and use little scissors to make a slit in each one to add a string. Your child can use paint sticks (these Kwik Stix are a teacher favorite because they dry super fast!) to decorate...

“I didn’t want to do this as a single mom, but I realized I didn’t have the time to find someone, mutually fall in love, make the decision to have a kid, and try it out.” Myriam Steinberg attempted a DIY insemination, seven rounds of IUI, three IVF transfers, and two egg donor cycles—all on her own—before becoming pregnant with twins using donor eggs and sperm. Now, finally home from the NICU with her three-month-old babies Abegail and Isaac (pictured above), just over three pounds each at birth, she’s opening...

You’ve heard it before—maternity and paternity policies in the United States are the pits compared to the rest of the world. But this chart from the Pew Research Center, below, spells out just how far we’re lagging behind other developed countries: Ready to move to Estonia—where parents can expect a year and a half of paid leave? Or how about Japan, Norway, or Austria, where new parents can take a year of paid leave as well? If you need a refresher on US paid leave policy, the gist is that—surprise—we...

The epidural’s more popular than ever for pain relief during delivery (71 percent of all expecting mamas get one!) but what should you know before opting in—or out—of that go-to numbing med? Read on. It’s Ok (And Even Advised) to Get It Early To administer an epidural, doctors insert a tiny tube into your lower back, and you’ve got to sit super still for it. (Yep—hard to do when contractions are coming in fast.) So while you may have planned to tough out contractions for as long as possible before...

Feeling wiped? Mom-of-three Anna Rodney hasn’t slept through the night since 2009—the year she started breastfeeding. (Her youngest, two years old, is still nursing and has yet to stop.) We caught up with the Founder of Chicago Family Doulas for an honest take on what it’s like to nurse a five-year-old (in public, to boot), how nursing on demand impacts her daily life, and why she's still making milk, nine years in. Can you take us through a timeline of your breastfeeding journey? I started breastfeeding in 2009 after my...

Designer, tastemaker, blogger, mom—Wit & Delight founder Kate Arends has had a transformative few years nurturing her St. Paul-based studio and global social following, not to mention two (very adorable) tots at home. We chatted with Arends about everything from designing with cozy corners in mind (she's a fan of Interior Define x Monica + Andy's new line of high-quality kids furniture) to her status as an 'accidental' influencer, and how you can find confidence in your work.How has your design aesthetic evolved now that you have two toddlers running...

Photo credit: Ali Stone for Nurturelife 29-weeks pregnant with lucky #3 (a boy!), Monica + Andy's Director of Events and Brand Experiences Sam Berngard is the perfect mama to kick off our new series on bump style. (She's had a minute to practice!) Sam's maternity formula: a mix of distressed jeans, fun prints, cozy jumpers, and a silk headband to tie it all together—plus a hot pink mani. Check out her week of style inspo (whether you're bumping or not!) ahead. 'Nothing I have on in this pic is maternity,...