Author: Mary Sauer

Each year, a whole slew of brand new baby and pregnancy products are released—so many that sorting through every product on the market can be overwhelming!
Parents have to consider their budgets, child safety, and how much space they can afford to dedicate to baby gear based on the sizes and layouts of their homes. It’s a lot of research for new parents to take on, so we did the work for you.
We interviewed baby safety experts, seasoned parents, and well-known baby-product testers. If you’re expecting a new baby this year—or if you’ve just welcomed one into your family—these are the products that just might change your parenting game.

This easy-install car seat will keep your baby safer than ever.

In order for a car seat to be as safe in reality as it is in the manufacturer’s claims, it has to be correctly installed. Unfortunately, a lot of parents are failing to properly hook up their new seats before hitting the road with their most precious cargo.

In fact, nearly half of infant car seats aren’t installed correctly, according to a recent survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
That’s where the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 DLX Infant Car Seat, can be a big problem-solver, according to Child Passenger Safety Technician Liz Tan.

“The new Graco SnugRide SnugLock Infant Car Seat will surely help reduce this statistic with a hassle-free installation process that uses either a vehicle seat belt or LATCH,” which stands for lower anchors and tethers, Tan explains to HealthyWay. “In three simple steps, parents will hear the ‘click’ and feel confident their car seat has been securely installed.”

The right baby gear can help you survive the witching hour.

Those hours leading up to dinner time just might be the hardest part of the day for moms of new babes. Getting dinner on the table with a baby whose heart is set on cluster feeding and a toddler running underfoot is a hair-raising experience, but in our house we’ve found a few tricks for making it a little easier.

For starters, a good baby carrier is my saving grace as a mom of three with a lot on my plate. Once I get dinner in the oven, I strap my sleeping baby onto my chest (or on my back now that he’s sitting on his own) and dance around the house, playing with my big kids or starting to pick up toys.
But not all baby carriers are created equal. New parents should always look for something ergonomic that will allow them to safely carry their baby and avoid back pain that can be caused by poor distribution of weight.

New to the baby carrier market this summer is the Omni 360 by Ergobaby, which is an all-in-one carrier that can be used for babies as small as 7 pounds and as big as 33 pounds.
If minimalism is your goal, the Omni 360 is perfect because it is literally the only baby carrier you will need from birth to 36 months.

Finally, a healthy, mess-free baby food has arrived.

Speaking of life as a busy mom of three, feeding a new baby and caring for two preschoolers isn’t easy. We spend a lot of time on the go—at the park or running to gymnastics, and I need baby food options for my youngest that I can feel good about and aren’t super messy.

In our house, we love Plum Organics for exactly this reason. Of course, Plum isn’t new in 2017, but the company did release some fresh products I am really excited about.
Their Mighty Colors Tot Pouches are packed full of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.

Each pouch is created by grouping together like-colored foods, which is fun for my baby and easy for me since I can just grab a brightly colored pouch without needing to read the ingredient list each time I shop.

Pick a toy your baby can gum on without worry.

Babies put their mouths on just about everything, so it makes sense that so many parents worry about the toys their new babies are playing with.

The new rattle buddies by Finn + Emma are super fun for little ones but also give parents the peace of mind they need. Let’s face it, there is enough to worry about without adding toxin anxiety to playtime.
These toys are beyond cute. The rattle buddies are soft animals and characters with a quiet rattle inside. My littlest has been trying out the Zoe the Flamingo rattle buddy and just loves shaking it all over the place.

I like it because Finn + Emma has high standards for their toys. They use organic cotton and are stuffed with 100 percent wool. All their toys are free of lead, phthalates, mercury, formaldehyde, nickel, and PVC, so I know my baby can safely teethe on their toys as much as his heart desires.

Now you can invest in safe co-sleeping and comfier playtime.

Sleep is a sensitive topic among new parents. Whether you are getting any (or not) and how you are (or aren’t) sleep training your baby are among the sleep-related conversations you can expect to have over and over again during your first year as a parent.

Sometimes babies simply don’t sleep, but there are products out there that make this aspect of having a newborn a little easier. The DockATot had a lot of people talking in 2017. It serves as a safe and snug sleeping option for young babies and is especially great for travel.
“The DockATot was hands down my favorite baby item. It was great for traveling—taking for naps on the go at the grandparents—and for just keeping our little one cozy, comfy and secure,” Lauren Hartmann, mom of three, tells HealthyWay.

“She loved it so much she squished herself in it until she was 10 months old!”
This year, DockATot is back at it with a safe and snug playtime accessory. Their Mobile Toy Arch hooks directly to the original DockATot and was created as a response to parents’ reports that their babies loved spending waking time in the cozy little nest provided by their bed.

According to Lisa Furuland, the founder of DockATot, the toy arch encourages newborn to engage in activities that build upper body strength by stimulating use of their necks and engages their fine motor skills, which will lead to important milestones during their first few months of life and beyond.

Reach for the easiest way to ease your stairway fears.

In the United States, preventable injury is the the leading killer of kids, according to Safe Kids Worldwide, and each year some 8,000 families in the States lose a child after a preventable injury. These facts alone should make baby proofing a top priority for expectant and new parents.

“We try to encourage people to baby proof before they have their baby,” explained Stuart Babb, a home safety expert at Safety 1st.
“Ideally, you don’t want to wait to do it after three to six months. That is when the baby can start … sitting up, maybe starting to move a little on their own, and we find that a lot of people tend to be reactive, and that is where a lot of kids start to get injured.”

Instead of waiting for something to happen and then beginning to baby proof your home, parents should add this to their “to-do” list before their baby arrives.
Making baby proofing easier than ever is a new product released this year: the Ready to Install Everywhere Gate by Safety 1st, which can be fully assembled in a third of the time as comparable competitor gates.

The Kid Transport Solution for Adventurous Parents

Being part of a family that does a lot of hiking with friends, I find myself using the phrase “stroller friendly” an awful lot. That’s because as much as we love our stroller for family walks and days at the zoo, I have yet to find an option that works well for our more adventurous outings.

The Veer Cruiser is the new baby product that is changing the kid transport game for adventurous parents. It’s an all-terrain wagon that can be used for children ages 0 to 5. Armed with cupholders and easily folded for storage, this wagon is every parent’s dream.
“This thing is built to last,” MariClaire, a 34-year-old mom of three and Veer Cruiser owner tells HealthyWay.

“There’s nothing like three boys to stress-test a new product. It feels indestructible, which translates to some serious safety features, which is priority number one. I’m also a big fan of its adaptability. The option to push, pull, or pull-along combined with the array of attachments and accessories make[s] it suitable for any outing.”

Sleep more soundly with this anxiety-easing mattress.

Bringing a new baby home from the hospital is nerve-wracking for parents. There are so many things to worry about, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) finds itself at the top of the list. Although research is still inconclusive on exactly what causes SIDS, parents today benefit from clearer guidelines for safe sleep than ever before.

Still, crib mattresses are a concern for many parents. They are known for not allowing proper air ventilation, and many are covered with potentially toxic flame retardants.
This fall, Baby Trend is releasing a mattress called the Respiro, which they hope will allow for safer sleep for infants and increased peace of mind for their parents. Constructed from mesh fabric that is stretched tightly across a frame, it is the only mattress option designed to offer 100 percent ventilation.
“It’s kind of a game changer in the mattress category,” Meg Collins of Lucie’s List tells HealthyWay. “Most crib mattresses have be[en] a miniaturized version of an adult mattress but with what we are learning about what causes SIDs, Baby Trend created this mattress that is totally breathable.”

Ultimately, the very best pregnancy and baby products are going to be the ones that work best for your family and support whatever lifestyle you want to create for your children and yourself.
Once you have the basics—like car seat safety and baby proofing your home—under control, the remaining choices are fun details you get to explore as part of your new-parent learning process.

In a way, modern parents have it easier than any generation of parents before them. Thanks to advancing technology, we can keep track of our kids, schedule our responsibilities, and even get our groceries delivered to our front doors.

At the same time, we have more to worry about than ever before. Thanks to the internet, just like most parents my age I have access to more information than any previous generation of parents—helpful things like the dangers my children could be exposed to or how I could totally screw up their childhood with one bad decision.

With just a few minutes spent on social media, I can learn about the risks of letting my child sleep on his belly, I can read the statistics on window blind–related injuries, and I can discover that screen time might be turning my kids into digital addicts.

I try not to get sucked into alarmist articles related to how I raise my kids. I don’t need anything more to worry about, to be perfectly honest. But when I read a recent New York Post article claiming that the amount of time our kids spend looking at screens is turning them into addicts, I couldn’t help but feel concerned.

We limit screen time in our home, but we definitely don’t avoid it altogether. If I need to get a few things done, I often fall back on a little screen time as a “digital babysitter.” My kids hang out with Daniel Tiger while I get dinner ready or catch up on email; it is one of the conveniences I employ to make my mom life a little simpler.

After I read this article, which likened screen dependence to a substance addiction, I couldn’t help but feel like I have made terrible mistakes exposing my kids to technology so early on and allowing them to use it so regularly.

At the same time, I found myself wondering if this article was extreme, blowing the dangers associated with screen use out of proportion. So I decided to do some research on my own.

Here’s what I found out.

The risks are real.

An article like this is written with a very specific purpose. With its shocking headline and bold claims, the publishers are trying their hardest to get more clicks from internet users. Although he acknowledges that the New York Post used a clickbait headline to grab readers’ attention, Dr. Adam Pletter, a licensed psychologist specializing in screen addiction in children, is clear that the risks associated with overexposure to devices are very real for today’s children.

“Kids are truly at risk for significant impairment due to the pull of electronic devices in their lives,” he says. “Screen-based activities feel good, releasing dopamine in very similar ways to many other addictive substances and [they] reward us in a compulsive loop.”

According to Pletter, children who use devices too frequently are at risk for experiencing a number of consequences. In general, the most common effects of screen addiction are being highly distractible, experiencing sleep deprivation, or becoming obsessed with thoughts of what they could be missing when they are not using a device.

Some children will begin to use devices compulsively, checking their phone excessively or posting above and beyond what is considered normal.

Screen use is now the norm in many public schools, and teachers see a wide range of consequences from this change. Jace Alphin, an art teacher at Reeds Spring Middle School in Branson, Missouri, tells HealthyWay he has mixed feelings about teaching in a school that provides laptops or tablets to each of their students.

“I don’t believe it is that aggressive of an addiction or a problem where I am teaching,” Alphin says. “However, I do think parents need to be aware of the issues it can cause. …Most students will respect the teacher enough to put away the device when asked even when they don’t want to (even if they pull it out as soon as the bell rings). On the flip side, there are those students who, with a sense of entitlement will not let go of their device.”

Addiction isn’t the right word…yet.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5, is the go-to handbook for diagnosing mental illnesses, including all forms of addiction. At this time, screen addiction has not been added to this manual, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future.

Although the risks of overuse of devices are very concerning, calling it an addiction isn’t technically accurate. According to Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization “dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology,” the truth is that psychologists are still working to agree on a definition of screen addiction.

Many experts believe that what parents are experiencing in their homes may not be addiction but instead is excessive use that can be expected in an age group known for struggling with self-regulation.

Others believe it is
only a matter of time before current research allows for an official designation of screen addiction along with more revealing information about the relationships that both adults and children have with their screens.

“The symptoms of feeling uneasy or anxious when apart from the device (withdrawal) and requiring a higher involvement in the digital world to feel satisfied (tolerance) certainly sounds like an addiction profile,” Pletter notes.

The Symptoms That Should Alarm Parents

Whether it is an addiction or simply problematic behavior, we know that excessive use of screens can keep children from devoting time to the things in their life that matter most. It is important for parents to be on the lookout early on so they can address problematic screen use when it arises.

Pletter says that it is developmentally typical for children and teens to crave experiences that make them feel included and connected with the world around them, so becoming hooked on screens is a high risk when social media is so readily available.

At the most basic level, parents should be concerned when time with a screen becomes a replacement for other childhood experiences, according to Pletter. If your child or teen prefers to be online instead of being physically active, interacting with their peers or spending time outside in nature, this is a red flag that something is out of balance.

Aside from this, the symptoms of screen dependence can vary from child to child. Some children may become obsessed, ignoring the boundaries their parents have set for them, according to Common Sense Media.

Additionally, the way children think about sex and gender can be heavily influenced by the media they watch. Kids who are prone to rigid gender stereotyping or mimicking problematic behavior such as aggression may be consuming an excessive amount of media that reinforces these harmful ideas about what it means to be a man or woman in our society.

If your child is struggling to focus or irritable when they cannot watch screens, these are also symptoms that your child is a little too attached to their devices.

Avoiding Screen Addiction in Children of All Ages

When it comes down to it, kids of all ages struggle with self-regulation, and parents should see it as their responsibility to help them maintain a healthy relationship with their devices. Although many parents may choose to eliminate screens entirely for younger children, as they grow older a more balanced approach is what experts suggest. The best method, according to Pletter, is one that doesn’t just provide rigid rules but actually trains children to practice self-control.

“By [parents] having clear guidelines and limits and then mentoring their child to learn and practice better regulation skills, the child will be motivated to earn more digital access as he or she demonstrates more appropriate, controlled behavior,” he says. “Parents should use the tools available, such as [parental control device] Circle, to turn the internet or specific apps on remotely when the child demonstrates better control over their own screen usage, therefore encouraging and reinforcing better regulation and less ‘addiction.’”

Use of screens at school can leave some parents feeling discouraged, since they may not feel they have control over the choices their children make while they are apart. But many teachers are eager to work with parents to encourage healthy and appropriate screen use during school hours.

“It’s these kinds of situations, as far as the classroom goes, that takes the parent and teacher alike to control the technology addiction,” suggests Alphin. “Overall, I truly believe if parents and teachers both realize the potential problems that technology can bring early on in a child’s life, both can work together to make it less of an issue.”

Here’s what to do if your child is already hooked.

If you suspect your child is hooked on devices, you can take steps to help them create healthier boundaries with screens.

Beginning with a discussion about the new family guidelines for screen use is a good start, according to Pletter, who suggests that parents create very clear expectations that are realistic and easily enforced. Additionally parents should remain involved in their child’s online life, getting to know the apps and social media platforms their child is using so they can have regular discussions with their child about their digital life.

Once expectations are clear, parents can automate enforcement of the rules, which really makes it easier for both parents and children.

“I use Circle in my home,” shares Pletter, who is a child psychologist and identifies as a Digital Parenting Pioneer. “Circle is
brilliant as it allows parents to easily regulate their child’s digital diet and even set time limits for apps.”

Having clear rules automated by a device like Circle, which controls internet use on all family devices through an app, doesn’t just make it easy to enforce the rules. It gives parents the chance to teach their child to learn how to self-regulate media use by slowly increasing screen time limits as the child begins to exhibit more appropriate use of their devices.

Of course, parents who are struggling to make changes to the way their children use technology should never be afraid to bring up their concerns with their pediatrician, who can connect them with a specialist if it seems the child (and family) needs extra support while learning to regulate their relationship with technology.

My first two children were born in different hospitals, each with their own strengths and flaws. When I gave birth to our third child, it was a completely different experience.

Insurance issues required me to pick a new hospital, and this one was unusual because it didn’t have a nursery for newborn babies.

As long as your baby was healthy and didn’t need extra medical support, they were expected to “room in” with you. For me, this was a good fit. I have always slept best with my baby in a bassinet next to my bed. I was curious about the change, however, since each of my first two kids had spent a couple hours away from me during our stay in the hospital.

When I asked around at one of my prenatal visits, I learned my hospital wasn’t the only one making these changes; it wasn’t even one of a handful of hospitals. My hospital was part of a bigger initiative happening globally to make hospitals and birthing centers more baby friendly.

What makes a hospital “baby friendly”?

A Baby-Friendly Hospital isn’t simply a hospital that is safe for newborn babies. These hospitals follow very specific guidelines created by the World Health Organization (WHO) with one goal in mind—to increase breastfeeding rates.

Baby-Friendly Hospitals are set up in a way that provides the best environment for moms and babies to get their breastfeeding relationship off to a strong start.

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was started in 1991, spearheaded by WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), after research showed that breastfeeding rates were as low as they had been since 1979.

Researchers believed that this decline was in part due to a lack of support and poor education. By encouraging more hospitals to work toward a Baby-Friendly designation, these organizations hoped to boost breastfeeding rates all over the world.

To be deemed Baby-Friendly, a hospital has to go above and beyond supporting breastfeeding by complying with 10 set standards and applying for a Baby-Friendly designation.

Since the implementation of this program in 1991, more than 20,000 hospitals and birthing facilities in 150 countries have been designated as Baby-Friendly, according to Baby-Friendly USA, and 447 of these facilities are located in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Baby-Friendly hospitals have to follow 10 standards.

Before a hospital can be given a Baby-Friendly designation, they have to strictly adhere to the 10 standards that are at the core of the BFHI. At the hospital where I gave birth to my second son, there were actually posters on the walls of each office outlining these standards exactly.

Each of these standards was created to support expectant and new moms in their breastfeeding journey. Baby-Friendly Hospitals are required to create a clear breastfeeding policy, train their staff member extensively on their policy, and make sure every new mom is fully educated on the benefits of breastfeeding.

Additionally, official Baby-Friendly hospitals must actively assist the mother during the first few days of breastfeeding her new baby. Specifically, they are required to help Mom initiate breastfeeding with her new baby before their first hour of life is up and talk with Mom about how to continue breastfeeding when they leave the hospital.

This is accomplished through education during her hospitalization and the offering of support groups after discharge. Moms who give birth at BFHs are encouraged to breastfeed on demand, and their babies are not offered formula, sugar water, or a pacifier during the hospital stay.

Lastly, mothers are encouraged to room in with their baby, which is what has led to the rapid disappearance of baby nurseries in hospitals across the globe.

Why are mothers being encouraged to room in?

Mothers have not always been encouraged to share a room with their babies after birth. In fact, in the past, when mothers stopped giving birth at home and started choosing hospital births instead, they were expected to room separately from their infants.

Mothers were believed to get more sleep if their babies slept in a nursery at night, according to the Journal of Perinatal Education.

Since then, opinions about where babies should sleep during their first few days of life have certainly changed. Research has shown that when mothers share a room with their baby, they both benefit. When their baby is nearby, mothers are quicker to learn their hunger cues.

In general, they are also more responsive to their needs, which sets them up for breastfeeding success. Additionally, moms who room in with their baby actually get more sleep at night, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

For babies, rooming in also means getting better sleep. In general, babies who sleep near their mother are more content and experience less crying-related stress.

Additionally, being near their mother has a stabilizing effect on their body temperature, and breastfeeding on demand regulates their blood sugars.

What has been the response to these policies?

Since their implementation in 1991, the 10 standards of BFHs have received a mixed response. On one side, there are mothers and professionals who strongly believe that a fed baby is a healthy baby and that Baby-Friendly Hospitals push an agenda that puts moms and babies in danger.

For instance, an organization by the name of Fed Is Best has recently received a lot of media attention for sharing the story of one family whose child tragically starved after exclusive breastfeeding with an inadequate milk supply.

This organization, along with their supporters, believe that Baby-Friendly Hospitals and the message of “breast is best” can be harmful to young families because it fails to educate moms on the alternatives to exclusive breastfeeding and increases the stigma that exists around formula feeding.

Their research indicates that exclusively breastfed babies are at a higher risk for excessive weight loss, may experience jaundice at a higher rate, and may have developmental complications associated with hypoglycemia.

Of course, this is just one side of the story. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative was not founded with the intention of isolating or shaming moms who are not able to breastfeed.

Instead it was begun to encourage increased education on the benefits of breastfeeding along with providing moms with the support they need to successfully breastfeed their baby if this is what they choose.

Since the founding of the BFHI, there has been improvement in breastfeeding rates. A 2001 survey by the journal Pediatrics found that BFHs had a breastfeeding initiation rate of 83.8 percent compared with a rate of 69.5 percent at hospitals without a Baby-Friendly designation. Most recently, a 2017 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics found that BFHs have a breastfeeding initiation rate of 89 percent.

And when it comes to rooming in, not every mother wants to sleep with her baby next to her bed all night.

In fact, some mothers have reported that rooming in made their postpartum recovery more difficult and that being expected to respond on demand to each of their baby’s cries contributed to extreme exhaustion and frustration after birth, according to BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.

Ultimately, this is a choice, and many believe it should not be mandatory. For mothers who prefer not to room in with their babies, this leaves them with one option—to find a hospital that doesn’t adhere strictly to the Baby-Friendly standards.

Even though millennial women account for the majority of mothers in the United States, they’re having fewer children than previous generations, according to a May 2017 report by the Pew Research Center.

This same study shared that millennial women who did choose to become mothers were waiting longer than ever before, with the mean age of mothers at the time of their first birth being 26. In 1970 the mean age was 21.
So, what accounts for millennials’ lack of enthusiasm for becoming parents? Is it because they’re self-centered, entitled, and lazy, like other generations seem to believe? Not surprisingly, it’s not that simple. In fact, this generation of adults are pretty clear on why so many are planning to opt out of parenthood altogether.

Women are under less pressure.

These days, one-fifth of women will not have children at all, according to the Pew Research Center. One obvious explanation for this change is a shift in what is expected of women.

Previous generations experienced a lot of pressure to bear children, but that isn’t the case for today’s woman. Instead, people are more likely to see the choice to remain childless as a personal decision, leaving women be to make decisions about motherhood based on their own desires and circumstances.

Women have more options.

Women are not only free to make their own choices about whether to have children, they also have more choices in general. If they decide motherhood isn’t for them, there are more alternative options to consider.

Today’s woman can get an advanced degree, pursue a challenging and exciting career, run her own business, and remain single with plenty of options for their future.
This certainly hasn’t always been the case, and some women of the past may have felt marriage and motherhood were the only options they had after a certain age.

Millennials aren’t that financially secure.

Money is a big stressor for most adults, but this generation seems especially worried about their financial future. This should come as no surprise. Millennials, on average, are more highly educated than previous generations, but they’re making a lower income, according to The New York Times.

Without the security of a healthy income, young adults simply don’t feel ready to make the jump into parenthood, what with the cost of diapers and daycare.
Add to this the stress of debt—probably from the college degree they thought would set them up for financial security—and it really makes sense why money is holding some millennials back from having kids.

Millennials aren’t ready to commit.

It seems that fewer millennials are having children because fewer millennials feel ready to commit to marriage.

As progressive as this generation may be, many still believe that marriage should come before children. Unlike previous generations, their reasons are less about morality and more about providing financial security to their offspring.
Financial concerns are to be blamed for millennials’ apprehensions about marriage as well, since more millennials believe that putting off marriage is better than being married without a strong financial foundation.

Millennials are worried about college.

Yes, you read that right. Fewer millennials are having kids, because they are worried about the cost of college.

It isn’t their own college education they’re stewing about, though. Instead they’re opting out of parenthood because they’re not sure they’ll be able to afford putting their own kid through college.
It may be a pretty fatalistic perspective, but it makes sense. The cost of college tuition is rising. Millennials know what it’s like to be burdened with student loans, and they believe college is a big part of a successful future.
If they’re not certain they can put their kids through college, they’d rather not take the risk. There seems to be a common theme among millennials who don’t want children—they’re worried about money.

Millennials have lost faith in the American Dream.

Go to college, get an awesome job, get married, and have kids. That’s the formula for a happy life, right?

If you’re feeling a little skeptical, you just might be a millennial. This generation is less enticed by the idea of the American Dream. Specifically, fewer millennials see value in trying to balance a demanding career and a family life.
For women especially, the American Dream doesn’t seem to be much of a reality—and even if it were possible, it doesn’t sound all that enjoyable.

This is because for women, having kids often requires adjusting or leaving their careers or working a “second shift” after they clock out while men keep advancing along on their path to success.

Family life in the United States is the worst.

It may sound cynical, but millennials don’t love the idea of raising a family in the United States because our society simply isn’t built for family life. Take maternity leave, for instance.

Professional women who want to become mothers have to face the fact that the United States has quite possibly the worst maternity leave options, without any mandated paid leave available to new moms.
Once you head back to work, things just get more complicated. Middle-income earners won’t qualify for daycare assistance but really can’t afford it on the money they’re making.

So many millennials look at the current state of things and decide that having a child would be near impossible to pull off in their situation.

Millennials are really smart.

Before you jump to any conclusions, we’re not trying to imply that it’s smarter not to have kids. We’re just pointing out that women with an advanced degree are less likely to have children.

Perhaps it comes back to student loans or maybe it is devotion to a career. Whatever the reason, there is some kind of connection between being highly educated and deciding not to become a parent.
We also know that millennials are the most educated generation to date, so it seems to make sense that they’re having fewer kids, too.

Millennials are worried about the future of the planet.

Most millennials aren’t anticipating a zombie apocalypse, but they are genuinely concerned about the future of planet Earth. Climate change is on the minds of many young adults—so much so that they aren’t sure it makes sense to bring children into the world.

For starters, having kids increases a family’s carbon emissions. From producing more waste to consuming more energy, it makes sense that having fewer kids is one option being considered by adults who feel a strong personal responsibility to do something to slow climate change.
Of course, personal responsibility for the Earth isn’t the only climate change–related motivation for avoiding parenthood.

For millennials there is also fear, according to NPR. Since some scientists believe that the consequences of climate change are just around the corner, millennials really do worry about what kind of world their hypothetical children could be living in.
Perhaps it goes without saying, but not everyone sees eye to eye with a decision to remain childfree. Some have expressed a concern about falling birthrates and the effect on the economy. And some just want a grandbaby.

When it comes down to it, the decision is a highly personal one. Whether it is motivated by the burden of finances or being stressed out about the future of mankind, millennials don’t necessarily owe older generations an explanation for their choice to remain childfree.

Turning 13 is a major milestone. For many kids, it feels like one big step toward adulthood. Of course, teenagers don’t just take on the responsibilities of growing older on their own because they’ve turned a page on a calendar.

Parents play a big role in guiding their kids by equipping them with the skills they need to take care of themselves and contribute to society.
There are so many opinions out there on how to best raise teens that it can make it difficult for parents to know exactly what their kids need at each stage of their life. For kids who are about to turn 13, independence is likely the goal you both will have in mind.

Here are seven skills your kid needs before they cross over into their life as a teen.

1. Money Matters

By the time their thirteenth birthday approaches, young people should understand some basics about money and how to manage the money they earn. These skills are best taught through modeling and practice.

As their parent, you can model financial responsibility by talking openly with your kids about the decisions you make, from how you earn money to how you spend and save it once you have it.
Of course, hands-on practice is going to provide the most effective learning for middle school–aged children, so letting them earn some cash by providing an allowance or offering extra tasks to them at home is a great way to start teaching them lessons on money management.
At this age, kids need to have a practical understanding that money is not limitless, Anton Simunovic, founder of ThreeJars.com, told Money. To teach this skill, parents should really avoid bailing their kids out when their money runs out, especially since the consequences are pretty low risk at this age.

A 13-year-old should also understand and practice habits like spending and giving. As soon as your kid is able to earn money, they should be expected to save a portion and set aside a portion to practice charitable giving.

2. Scheduling Solutions

Up until this point, there is a good chance you’ve been helping your child get up and out the door for school and extracurricular activities. Before they hit their teenage years, shift this responsibility onto their shoulders.
Kids this age are more than capable of getting out of bed on time and getting ready for school without assistance or reminders. So set them up for success by giving them an alarm and talking through their morning routine once or twice. Then back off and let them figure it out.

Here’s the most important, and most difficult, aspect of teaching young teens to manage their own time—let them experience the consequences of their own actions if they choose not to get up and out the door in the morning.
This might mean they have to face a frustrated teacher or discipline from a coach who expects them to be at practice by a certain time. And that’s okay. Sometimes consequences that come from outside the family leave the most lasting impression.

“There are days [a child] will come racing out with only a few minutes to spare before they have to be out the door,” parenting expert Amy Carney told Red Tricycle. “The snooze button no longer feels luxurious when it’s caused you to miss breakfast.”

3. Courteous Communication

If your new teen wishes to be treated like an adult—and most do—they need to communicate with other adults with respect and clarity. For most parents, teaching respect to teens they perceive as moody and standoffish may feel impossible, but the truth is that teaching respect is best accomplished by modeling respect toward your teen.
Teenagers are wired to demand independence, which means they are less likely to comply with command-based parenting practices, according Carl E. Pickhardt, PhD, writing for Psychology Today. Parents must respect this desire for autonomy if they want their children to move toward independence and learn to communicate like adults.

For some families, this might mean giving space for teens to withhold information or being willing to enter into more discussion about family rules instead of simply expecting obedience without question. When a teen feels their personal boundaries are being honored, they are more likely to give respect back to their parents.
Of course not all teens struggle with respect. For some it is a lack of confidence that keeps them from engaging well with adults. In this case, parents should be careful to intervene if they notice their child is using technology as a tactic for isolating from social situations, Pickhardt wrote.

Instead, make sure your teen understands that you are on their side and want to help them find clubs, sports, or organizations that are a good fit for their personality and interests. It may take time, but social activities your teen enjoys are likely to be the best opportunity for practicing social interactions, according to VeryWell.

4. Body Basics

Those early teen years are full of changes for young people, and these changes are going to require your child to learn new self-care skills. Most teens want to care for themselves but feel intimidated by the task or are too embarrassed to ask their parents for help.

Bridge this sometimes awkward topic and offer to teach your teen what they need to know about taking care of themselves. For both sexes, this will mean keeping themselves clean, dealing with body odor, and safely grooming any newly growing hair.
Female teens may need instruction on buying undergarments for their changing bodies and taking care of themselves during their monthly cycle.

Talking about body-care basics is a great opportunity to further discuss sexuality. Long before your child has reached their teens, they should understand that they are expected to engage respectfully with romantic interests, and they should understand the consequences of engaging in risky sexual behaviors at this age.

5. Housekeeping Habits

Your teen is a member of your household, and it is perfectly acceptable to expect them to do their part around the home. Before the age of 13, your child should know how to do their own laundry, pick up after themselves, and clean the kitchen.

Middle school is also a great time to start teaching them how to cook basic meals for themselves and other members of the family. Along with cooking meals, teens should be expected to pack their own school lunches or budget to pay for lunch from the money they are given as allowance.
In many cases, parents put off teaching their children housekeeping habits simply because it feels easier to do it for them. In this case, it is essential to ask yourself what your goals for your child really are, says Amy Carney.

If your answer is that you want to raise them to be independent adults, then now is the time to start teaching them those skills. If you don’t, you just might find yourself with a high school senior who is still asking you to do their laundry and pack their lunch.

6. Academic Achievements

Most parents place a high priority on helping their teens reach their full potential, but by micromanaging your teen’s academics, you do more harm than good. Parents should find a balance, encouraging their teen and supporting them without doing their work for them or rescuing them from academic failure, according to U.S. News.

Of course, struggling students may need more help, but your average student should be able to meet deadlines without parent intervention, keep up with homework, and show up to class on time.
If your young teen is struggling with their academics, U.S. News suggests you don’t take over for them, but do have a heart-to-heart involving their counselor or teachers to find out what your child needs for academic success.

7. Navigation Necessities

New teens may not be ready to drive yet, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be familiar with navigating the places they go most frequently.

Whether they’re catching a ride with another parent or walking to and from school, being able get themselves where they need to go will bring them one step closer to independence.
In fact, it isn’t a bad idea to teach your teen how to navigate using a compass, map, or GPS.

According to Idaho State University, these skills are invaluable and have practical applications beyond getting to and from school—such as avoiding getting lost or enjoying the outdoors without fear.
It isn’t uncommon for parents to put off teaching their young teens independence simply because it feels easier to manage their lives. In some cases, parents feel fearful about the consequences their child could experience when they manage their life themselves.

The truth is, the consequences of the mistakes your teen might make now are far less risky than releasing them into adulthood without the skills they need to care for themselves, engage in adult relationships, or manage their time and money.