Written by Foundling Guest Blogger, Stephanie Kearns, Director of Business Operations

 

A couple of weekends ago, I was frantically looking for the spout piece to match the lid of the pink and yellow cup before heading out for our play date. It must have fallen into a black hole because still today, I can’t find that piece. It’s like case of the missing sock in the dryer. Every mom and dad has a story about the hundreds of parts and pieces of the stuff that our kids accumulate but nothing is quite as maddening as the toddler cup epidemic.

 

I took this photo (attached) to showcase the myriad options that one can choose as a Sippy Cup. This is my own collection pared down.

 

Below is my personal experience of the best and worst options to help save you the headache and wasted money finding just the right one.

 

I’ve divided the options into 3 categories; spout, straw and sip and based my review on three key factors: ease of cleaning, ease of assembling, effectiveness.

 

The spout is your traditional lid with a defined spout with little holes to dispense water when your kiddo tilts the cup back. The straw is the built-in straw sucking mechanism that allows the child to hold the cup upright. Lastly the sip option which mimics the idea of an adult cup by using a lid that, when you tilt back to drink requires soft pressure of your child’s mouth to release water with slower flow than regular drinking speed.

 

Sip – this was the loser for me. The parts are extremely tough to install and if one piece isn’t in place the water dumps all over your child. With at least 4 parts on average, the likelihood of using this cup more than the first time is rare. Thumbs down!

Straw – if I had to pick a 2nd place, this would be it. There are various types of straw cups and some are better than others. The cup with the straw that retracts when you fold over a closing apparatus is the worst kind due to the very difficult installation of weaving the straw through a tiny opening every time you dismantle and clean. But the hard straw option that folds over can be pretty good as long as you keep a watchful eye on your little one since there is usually no flow stopper.

Spout-

This is the winner for me. The spout teaches your child to use a cup the way it is intended so the transition to a real cup is easier. This version also has the least amount of parts with typically 2 or 3 maximum so it is easier to take apart, clean and store parts. The downside to this version is the flow control pieces. Sometimes the removable parts that control how fast or slow the water can come out are too tight and make it hard for the child to get any water and others are too fast and cause the child to choke on water. The Playtex Playtime version has been the most successful option for my little one.

 

A few last thoughts…

 

Don’t count on the “spill proof” promise. Nothing is spill proof when it comes to a toddler! Lastly, the best piece of advice I can give you is don’t collect too many versions of cups. It is tough to remember the matching of parts and cups. You end up relying on the one cup out of twenty because you can’t match the pieces!

 

Happy sipping!

Written by Foundling Guest Blogger, Stephanie Kearns, Director of Business Operations

 

As our family gears up for our 4th trip and the first of the upcoming holiday season with our not quite 2 year old, I’ve learned a lot of lessons about traveling with a young one. I’ve heard every secret in the book to keep kids calm, distracted, and even asleep while traveling on a plane. These tips below apply no matter how you travel but some are tailored to a plane trip specifically as this is the most limiting way of travel and no parent is ever quite ready for what might ensue on your adventures!

 

Activities – I’ve chosen to limit the amount of screen time my child has while in transit to any destination and at home. I’m overly sensitive to the idea that a young child’s brain hasn’t quite developed to properly process the screen defined activities available. However, this is absolutely the easiest and fastest way to calm and distract a child so many parents rely on this in a pinch and I’m one of them. I want to offer some alternatives that give you similar levels of kid satisfaction without the guilt.

 

• Stickers. Listen, I don’t know what it is about stickers but they are pretty much the best thing in the universe according to kids. Our house is proudly littered with (easily removable) stickers. They are easy to pack too. Bring a small composition book and pack of stickers and count on your little one being occupied for a while. Create adventures on each page using different themed stickers. Don’t splurge for the $5 pack of 12 stickers at Container Store, grab the bulk options at a party supply store or the clearance bin at Target.

   

 

• Silly putty – unlike playdough which can be too sticky and fall apart more quickly. Silly putty is sturdy and easier to hold. You can make shapes and stand the newly created objects up on the tray table or car seat tray.

   

 

• Books – don’t underestimate the power of books in transit. Board books are usually easier to carry and there is less chance of a page being ripped out. Toddlers are in the development phase where the idea of repeating the same book over and over again is exciting for them as they recognize the next page before they see it. This can be exhausting on parents to re-read the same book 100 times but stick with it, try voices and sounds and prompt your child to fill in the blank with words so they can contribute to the story telling.

 

Products – There is no perfect travel product collection but there are some pretty great options out there to make things a little easier. I’ve travelled with and without my husband and when I was without him, some of these items were lifesavers! I have personally used all of these products.

 

• Ok this first one is a little pricey but if you are a regular traveler you will not want to live without this! Sit n Stroll car seat http://lillygold.com/ This is a super easy stroller with retractable wheels that easily store inside the unit with one handed action. This is most appropriate for 0-1.5 but I know they are coming out with upgraded designs for a little older and new colors. The cushioned material is easily washable, and the option of being able to pop your baby out of the rental car while fast asleep so you can run into a restaurant and grab a bite adds some extra adult time to your trip! You can also install in a plane seat if you can swing the extra ticket price – splurge if you are flying solo with a kiddo.

   

 

• The is my favorite option for kids between 22-44 lbs. It is a seat belt mechanism that is used with the existing seat belts in plane seats (THIS IS NOT FOR CARS!) http://store.kidsflysafe.com/ Bonus: they have a separate product to serve children and adults with special needs. Super reasonable and with the frequent Buy Buy Baby 20% off coupons, it’s a steal!

   

 

• Portable high chair. I recommend 2 different options. One that stands alone and another that fastens to any dining chair. This first is the Ciao Baby Portable Highchair, it works like the foldable park chairs that you can buy at your local bodega during the summertime. The other is the Munchkin travel booster seat. The second one gets mixed reviews online but I found it to be the best of the options with a 3 point harness and storage compartment in the seat giving it double use when not being used as a chair.

 

Planning – Try not to drive yourself or your loved one crazy. If you’ve decided to travel with a child, embrace it and get to a place where you feel relatively comfortable so you can reduce your and your family’s stress. Just own that you WILL forget something but as long as it is not your child or significant other you can pretty much buy anything you could possibly need!

 

• Booking travel at the right time, on the right day for the right price is daunting! Here’s the thing: You will not get the perfect plan in place so stop agonizing and save yourself some cash to use for a special treat at your destination by booking the cheapest at a reasonable hour! Traveling can dramatically change the nap hours of your child so don’t count on the perfect hour on the plane where they will drift into sleep. This happened once for us but due to all of the other travel discomforts she was cranky the rest of the day!

 

• Airport arrival time: check in and load up do require more precise planning on the day. You don’t want to arrive too early as you’ll be sitting in the airport for too long. Just go with the average suggestion time by the airport. Print your boarding passes before you get to the airport. Airport security are usually a little more lax when you have a kid cause they can see you coming a mile away and want you to get through fast. Have your stuff in hand before getting in line and take a deep breath. It is just travel with a kid, not the bar exam. Note: airlines don’t let parents with small children board early anymore but if you have to install one of the devices above, talk to the attendant and they usually allow you to board early.

 

• Hotel stay – try to find a room that mimics your set up at home. If your child sleeps in a separate room attempt to locate a hotel that has a door separating rooms to establish the same patterns. I recommend a hotel with guest laundry – no matter how much you pack, puke, spills, messes are even more frequent on vacation. Murphy’s law.

 

HAVE FUN!

 

Embrace the mess, love the mistakes and support each other. Happy travelling!

Internships present a great opportunity for students and young adults to learn about working at a nonprofit. This summer, a group of interns from across New York City had the chance to see our work in action, collaborate with staff and make a difference in the lives of the people and communities we serve. Each week this summer, we will highlight one of our interns, sharing what makes them special, and recognizing their accomplishments and achievements.

 

Where do you go to school?

 

I go to Horace Mann School in Riverdale in the Bronx. I’m going to be a senior in High School.

 

What is your favorite subject in school to study?

 

I really enjoy math, psychology and certain types of history. I think that getting to look at history through a specific lens and in one type of aspect is so interesting. I love math because I really like problem solving and I love how there is (usually) just one answer. I also think psychology is really cool because I think it is so interesting to look at how people’s minds work.

 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

 

I see myself definitely working in the field of public policy or advocacy. I would definitely love to work at organization like the New York Foundling and I would love to be able to say I made a huge positive impact on many people.

 

Who is your role model and why?

 

My mom has always been my role model. I’ve always really admired how she’s done such an amazing job of balancing working and her career and being around to raise her children. She’s also extremely caring and honest and has many admirable qualities.

 

What project did you work on while working at The Foundling?

 

 

I really loved being able to spend time with children at the Crisis Nursery and teens at the Haddad Brands event.  I think that especially at the teen event, I was able to get to know some of the people in the Foundling’s programs and I am definitely proud of that. I also enjoyed gathering statistics about foster care and nutrition in the U.S. I am happy that I was able to contribute to raising awareness about very significant issues and getting others to know how they can help change the alarming data.

 

What will you take away from your experience at The Foundling?

 

I have definitely gained an understanding of how important every small project is and a sense of accomplishment. It’s a great feeling knowing that even though I am not necessarily seeing the people I am helping every day, my work has gone towards such an amazing cause. Every project benefits the Foundling, whether it is spreading awareness or collecting data, and I am very proud of that. I definitely think that I will take away a lot of organizational skills and also an emphasis on how important it is to communicate while doing projects.

 

What piece of advice would you tell future Foundling Interns?

 

I would definitely encourage future interns to always take the opportunity to go on “field trips” or do projects that are outside the department they are working in. It’s such a great opportunity to be able to explore other aspects of the Foundling and it’s always fun to get out of the office and experience something new. There are also so many amazing events and departments around the Foundling so it is definitely a unique experience to be able to be a part of them all.

 

What is your spirit animal and why?

 

I think that a kangaroo is my spirit animal. Female kangaroos are very protective of their young and carry them in pouches on their body. Although I don’t usually physically carry my friends and family, I think I’m very supportive and protective of them, just like a kangaroo.

 

If you could take a trip anywhere, where would you go and why?

 

Santorini, Greece. It’s relaxing, has beautiful beaches, and has a cool culture.

 

 What is the last book you read, what are you reading now?

 

The last book I read was Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and now I am reading another book by the same author, Dark Places. I initially wanted to read Gone Girl because I love mysteries and wanted to read the book before I saw the movie. It was such a good book and I love a shocking ending.