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10 Unexpected Ways to Use the VTech Digital Audio Monitor

August 29, 2016 by The Motherhood

For new moms, there is no shortage of places to turn for advice on must-have baby gear. Recommendations on the best-of-the-best products for eating, sleeping and diaper changes are plentiful!

However, there is one product traditionally thought of as a baby must-have we’re deeming essential for parents of toddlers through pre-teens (and pet parents as well): the VTech Digital Audio Monitor. We armed a group of social media moms with this awesome new product and told them to put it to use in their homes. The results? Some very unexpected, very helpful ways to use the VTech Digital Audio Monitor!

VTech Digital Audio Monitor: What is it?

The VTech Safe&Sound® DM271-110 DECT 6.0 Digital Audio Baby Monitor with Open/Closed & Motion Sensors, the latest addition to VTech’s award-winning baby monitor line, has brought families of brand-new way to stay connected. The VTech Digital Audio Monitor comes equipped with some very cool features (hello, smart home sensors!) that give parents the peace of mind they deserve anytime, anywhere. Both the open/closed sensors and motion sensors offer parents added safety and security through all phases of childhood.

VTech Digital Audio Monitor: A Must-Have for Toddler Parents — Image courtesy of Stephanie, Olive and Tate

Don’t take our word for it! Read on for some of our favorite ways to put the VTech Digital Audio Monitor to use.

Mom-Sourced Tips to Use the VTech Digital Audio Monitor Beyond Babies

1. Toddler-proof a vacation rental:

“First things first we busted out the VTech Digital Monitor and set about toddler proofing that exterior door. What makes the VTech Digital Monitor my travel go to are two things: one is the ultra low energy Open/Closed Door Sensor and the other is the Smart Home Motion Sensor. We set the Open/Closed smart sensor up on the exterior door (using the mounting tape provided so we didn’t damage the rental house) and programed the hand held parent unit to alert us if the baby somehow managed the get the door open and make a break for it.”

Stephanie, Olive and Tate

2. Feel secure with a sleepwalker:

“I don’t think I’ve ever talked about my 13 year old’s sleepwalking adventures. I never thought about it being an issue while traveling, but it has come up a few times, so I have some steps that I take to feel that he’s safer and so that I get better sleep when we’re away. I bring removable mounting tape for the sensors (or find a spot it can go if I don’t want it on the wall) and turn it on at night. I put the “baby” unit on a console or table near the sensor so that if he does make the sensor go off I can just talk to him from the parent unit and tell him to go back to bed! I can’t tell you how much this helps me to know that he’s safe and get a good night’s sleep while we’re away.”

Allison, All for the Boys

3. Help kids learn to sleep in their own room…:

“Be prepared for multiple interruptions during the night. Your kiddo is going to want to use the bathroom, get a drink of water, check their closet for monsters, and call out for you until the neighbors can hear. Before you dart out of the room with one eye open, answer every whim from a distance. You don’t even have to leave the comfort of your bed. The VTech Safe&Sound DM271-110 Digital Audio Baby Monitor with Open/Closed & Motion Sensors features a two-way talk back intercom that allows you to communicate with your child from up to 1,000 feet in range.”

Jessica, Young at Heart Mommy

4. ….and make sure they stay in bed until morning:

“We have a summer rule that no one is allowed up before 7 a.m. Otherwise he’d be awake playing video games at the crack of dawn. I honestly have no way to know when he’s getting up. Now I do! If he sets off the motion sensor in the living room before 7 a.m., I can head down and send him back to his bed.”

Camille, Growing Up Gabel

5. Host safe, secure playdates:

“I don’t like to hover over my kids – I like to give them a sense of independence. But I also like to know what is going on, especially when friends are over, and I like to do that as unobtrusively as possible to ensure they have fun and safe play dates. A cool feature of the VTech Digital Audio Monitor is its two ULE (Ultra Low Energy) smart home sensors. You can use them to put open/closed and motion sensor alerts on doors, cabinets and open spaces. So you’ll know if your child is getting into something they shouldn’t be. It’s a great way to enforce off-limit zones for play dates.”

Chrystal, Happy Mothering

6. Instill independence in babysitters-in-training:

“I set everything up in my daughter’s room or, as she calls it when she is working, ‘Babysitting Headquarters.’ I was able to show my daughter how everything works and also how I will be just a monitor away to keep an eye on things and also help her if ever needed. We can talk to one another through the monitor, adjust the volume when we put it to the sleep mode to help get little ones to sleep, and when needed, my daughter can page me to get my attention if she needs me.”

Katie, Mommy Katie

7. Care for an ill parent:

“My mom’s health has been on the decline over the last six months. It’s not news to any of you that I am her caretaker and as such, I need to be ‘there’ for her as much as possible. Without physically sleeping in her room, it was hard to get to her in time. Acquiring the VTech Safe&Sound® DM271-110 DECT 6.0 Digital Audio Baby Monitor with Open/Closed & Motion Sensors came at the best timing ever. The VTech Digital Audio Monitor has been a literal lifesaver for the past three weeks.”

Maria, Adventures of the Mommy Homemaker

8. Manage dogs’ outdoor time:

“I’ve been using the motion sensor that comes with the VTech Digital Audio Monitor to keep track of where my dogs are in the house. Specifically when they walk to the front door so I know when they need to go outside. This helps me to prevent nasty accidents in our home and also keeps me aware of where my dogs are. I mounted the motion sensor on the side of the wall near the bottom of our front door and it has been working perfectly to alert me when the dogs need to go outside.”

Andrea, Honestly Andrea

9. Keep cat away from off-limits spots:

“Cats are pretty famous for hanging out on routers. I think there’s probably a whole site dedicated to pictures of cats on routers out there somewhere! Obviously, putting a baby monitor back there isn’t the best idea. The fewer things that interfere with my already not-so-stellar internet connection, the better. Here’s where the VTech Digital Audio Monitor gets really cool. It comes with two ULE (Ultra Low Energy) smart home sensors. One is an open/closed sensor and one is a motion sensor. All I have to do is put the motion sensor in areas that are off limits to Fuzz. Then, when he tries to hunker down in one of those spots, I’ll know.”

Nicole, Pretty Opinionated

10. Enforce rules from a distance:

“Cooper is always trying to steal the cat food. No matter how many times we tell him ‘no’ he still does it. If he hears our voice, though, he stops in his tracks! So here’s what I do: I put the baby unit part of my VTech Digital Audio Monitor in the places that I want to keep Cooper away from. When I hear him digging around in the cat food boxes, I use the two-way intercom feature and firmly say ‘Coop, get away from that cat food!’ Cooper hears my voice and thinks I’m watching him, and he quickly backs away!”

Bonus tip from Nicole!

This post is created in proud partnership with VTech. All opinions are our own.

Featured image at the top of this post courtesy of Stephanie, Olive and Tate.

Britt & Britt Share Their New Mom Must-Haves

June 23, 2016 by The Motherhood

As colleagues, friends and first-time moms, The Motherhood’s Brittnee and Brittney often turn to each other for advice, recommendations and support on everything related to raising little ones. New mom must-haves is a common watercooler topic in our office!

With summer being the top season for births in the U.S., Britt & Britt thought now would be the perfect time for a round-up of favorite items that they often share with others. As members of an award-winning social media marketing agency that connects influential moms with top consumer brands, we are in a unique position of learning about the latest and greatest products and services that make families’ lives just a little bit easier, and several of our favorite partners are included below.

Brittnee’s Top Picks

VTech montior: one of our new mom must-haves — Image courtesy of Meghan, JaMonkey

When she was expecting, Britt put a video monitor on the very top of her shopping list. However, once her son became more mobile, he thought he’d demonstrate his growing strength and dexterity by pulling the camera off the wall and throwing it across the room, rendering it useless. When Britt was researching replacement options, VTech monitors* rose to the top of her list. The VTech Safe and Sound Pan & Tilt Full Color Video Baby Monitor checked all of the boxes of features she was looking for: high-res video, pan/zoom/tilt capabilities, night vision and a talk-back option. She’s already scouting locations in her house to install additional camera units, which will be incredibly helpful as her little one puts his newly acquired walking skills to use!

The MamaRoo by 4Moms was an absolute live-saver for Britt! Her son loved the rocking and swaying motions (the “kangaroo” setting was his favorite), and it was often the only way she could overcome his resistance to nap in those early days.

Many a skeptical parent has resisted this one (Britt even originally removed it from her registry because after reading about it she couldn’t fathom using it!), but she later ran out and bought one at the start of her little man’s first cold. She learned firsthand the NoseFrida “The Snotsucker” Nasal Aspirator is a must. Don’t ask, just do it.

When baby’s tummy was upset, Colic Calm was the gentlest, most effective, all-natural solution Britt found. She now gifts this to every new mom she knows! Pro tip: put a bib on your baby when delivering the drops. The product is very dark and can stain clothing.

Those first few months with a newborn can be difficult, beautiful, magical, frustrating, confusing and sometimes isolating — all at the same time. Britt recommends taking a look at the Covey app* for help. Covey is a way to meet other parents based on interests, location and kids’ ages. It’s a nice low-pressure way to connect with others, get advice and share experiences in a supportive, online environment. If you want to take your digital friendships to “real life” friendships, it’s easy to find info on local playdates, family-friendly activities and meet-ups. Covey is available on iTunes and Google Play.

Brittney’s New Mom Must-Haves

MiMedia: one of our new mom must-haves — Image courtesy of Julie, Mommie Cooks

When you take a series of 40+ photos of your child’s first taste of solid food and you can’t bear to delete a single imperfect shot even though your phone is nearly out of space, there’s an elegant solution to this storage dilemma: MiMedia*, a personal cloud that organizes and stores digital files in one safe, secure spot. Britt has been using MiMedia for several weeks and notes that it’s the most simple, user-friendly solution she’s found — and she’s tried many! It’s unbelievably easy to use, even for the most sleep-deprived of parents. It’s well-worth taking a few seconds to sign up online and download the app. Use the code TheMotherhood for a free 10GB account!

Speaking of apps, Britt and her husband couldn’t live without the Baby Connect app, especially during the first few months after their daughter was born. BabyConnect provides a super simple way to track daily activities from feedings to diaper changes, as well as milestones and growth stats. You can even download charts and graphs so you can see trends and patterns over time. The list of features is impressive, and data can sync to more than one mobile device.

After taking turns staying awake holding their newborn all night for the first week after they came home from the hospital, Britt and her husband knew they had to find something their daughter would sleep in. The flat bassinet earned a hard “no” from their daughter and the crib in the next room might as well have been a mile away. However, once they tried the Fisher-Price Newborn Rock ‘n Play Sleeper, the game was officially changed. Parents, the reviews are true: the Rock ‘n Play is indeed made with sleepy dust!

Butt Paste: one of our new mom-haves — Image courtesy of April, April Golightly

No diaper bag or changing table is complete without Butt Paste*. These colorful tubes of ointment kick rash like nothing else! Free from harsh ingredients, Butt Paste saves those baby buns from the 3Ps — parabens, preservatives and phthalates — earning it an A+ in Britt’s book. She always includes a few tubes into baby shower gifts. Are you a #ButtPasteMom, too?

We know 82 percent** of parents would do almost anything to avoid long lines at fast food restaurants when they have children in tow, and Britt is one of them! When all she hears from the back seat of the car is “Snaaack! Snaaack!” Britt knows she needs to find some waffle fries and chicken strips NOW. One of Britt’s best mom-to-mom tips is to download the Chick-fil-A* ONE mobile app. This awesome app allows you to order and pay for food in advance, meaning you can bypass the line at the register or minimize time in the drive-thru. This is a seriously awesome perk, especially if you visit during busy lunch and dinner times, because everyone knows toddlers don’t wait for food. Click over to iTunes or Google Play and download this lifesaver today!

What are your new mom must-haves? We’d love to hear what you couldn’t live without. Share your suggestions via the comments. Another mom out there just may discover her new favorite product.

* Indicates the brand is a partner of The Motherhood. All opinions are our own and none of the content is meant to be medical advice. Be sure to contact your healthcare provider for recommendations specific to your family.

**According to a recent survey commissioned by Chick-fil-A.

Brand and Social Trend: Emoji Use on the Rise

November 4, 2015 by The Motherhood

A recent survey conducted by Emogi (a real-time platform that decodes sentiment in online posts) found that 84 percent of women and 75 percent of men believe that emojis express their feelings more accurately than words. The survey also showed that not only are all generations using emojis, but they are using them often – 30.4 percent use emojis several times a day and 33.5 percent several times a week.

Brands are jumping in on the trend, too, and creating unique emojis for their social media campaigns!

In September, Twitter worked with Coke to create the #shareacoke emoji – its first paid brand emoji. This cute image with two Coke bottles automatically pops up when users tweet the hashtag #shareacoke. While Twitter has created the same emoji pop-up function for Star Wars and the MTV Video Music Awards, this is the first time it has been part of an ad deal.

Similarly, Dove Love Your Curls recently announced a partnership with Twitter that auto-generates a custom Dove curly-haired emoji every time #LoveYourCurls hashtag is tweeted. Dove also launched a free emoji keyboard with 27 curly hair designs and 131 variations of skin tones and hair colors. We have previously worked with the Dove Love Your Curls and love the message behind the campaign, which makes us particularly excited about these curly-haired emojis!

dove Love Your Curls emoji — Source: Mashable

Dominos is a key player among brands revolutionizing emoji use for consumers. They’ve introduced a way to let their registered customers order a pizza by tweeting #EASYORDER or the slice of pizza emoji (????) to @Dominos.

Dennis Maloney, the company’s chief digital officer says, “This wasn’t just a marketing campaign, we’re creating an ordering platform.”

It will be interesting to watch how emojis become a more integrated part of brands’ social media campaigns and customer experiences in the future.

In fact, @theMotherhood recently tweeted its inaugural emojis during a Twitter party on behalf of LISTERINE last week that garnered nearly 4,000 tweets and 25 million impressions, triggering a $20,000 donation from LISTERINE to Oral Health America’s FALL FOR SMILES campaign! You can see a couple example tweets with those emojis here:

Now, take a look at some of our team’s favorite and most-used emojis:

???? Purple heart + ???? Dog

Cooper: I sign all my texts to my kids with a purple heart. And the dog, because it kind of looks like our dog, Atticus!

???? Baby

Serena: I’ve been using the baby emoji almost daily lately since I’m expecting my first little one in April!

???? Party Popper

Erin: My most-used emoji is the one that looks like a noisemaker with confetti and streamers. I use it to show enthusiasm and support, or excitement for an upcoming celebration.

???? Grinning Face With Smiling Eyes + ???? Horse

Kahlianne: I definitely overuse the grinning smiling face, but I make the same face all the time when I read tweets/messages so it’s the perfect reply! And horses are involved in the majority of my conversations, so its only natural I use the horse emoji all the time.

???? Face With Tears of Joy

Brittnee: I love using the smiling/crying emoji because I feel like it replaces the “LOL” that so many of us became accustomed to using 15 years ago as a way of indicating a laugh and smile during conversations.

Brittney: I use this one frequently when texting family to tell them hilarious things my toddler says and does. At least half of those texts also include ???? to convey her sassy personality!

???? Thumbs Up Sign

Nicole: For me, the thumbs up emoji replaces “OK” and “sounds good” in so many texting conversations and when making plans with friends. I even use the thumbs up when I’m texting about something I love, like a new song that comes out or a meal I just tried.

???? Waving Hand Sign + ???? Face Throwing a Kiss

Kayla: I use the waving hand constantly to say hello or to show that I’m over a subject by saying ‘bye!’ to it! I also use the blowing a kiss emoji with my family and my best friends because they mean the world to me and I love them tons!

???? Sunflower

Sarah: Sunflowers are my favorite flower and seeing one always makes me smile! I like to use this emoji to brighten someone’s day!

What are your most-used emojis?

Father’s Day Gift Guide: TM Selects Special Edition

June 16, 2015 by The Motherhood

This Sunday is Father’s Day, and the team at The Motherhood will be celebrating all of the special guys in our lives – dads, grandpas and husbands. In the spirit of TM Selects, a few members of our team have recommended an item or service they’re giving this year (or have given in the past). Read on for inspiration from our complete Father’s Day Gift Guide.

The gift of giving

When their daughter was born last year, Brittney C. and her husband made the decision to donate to charitable organizations in each other’s names for Mother’s and Father’s Days. Months ago, Brittney decided to make her Father’s Day donation to the March of Dimes, a wonderful organization dedicated to maternal and baby health that has since become a client of The Motherhood.

Some partners of the March of Dimes are offering special discounts on Father’s Day gifts, too:

The gift the whole family can enjoy

Kahlianne reports that her dad is obsessed with his Big Green Egg grill, which her family gave him several years ago. It’s provided a good source of follow-up gifts, since he loves any kind of accessory for the grill, but his favorite has been the Italian Calzone Press. Kahlianne says, “He makes some really great calzones on his grill now, and we all get to continue enjoying it!”

The gift personalized just for him

For Father’s Day this year, Emily ordered a handmade, customized keychain from Etsy for both her husband (“Dad”) and father (“Grandpa”). She gave a shout-out to Cool Mom Picks, where she originally spotted it, for the idea.

The gift that keeps on giving

Last year, Brittnee H. gifted her dad a monthly beef jerky subscription from Mouth.com, a subscription service that offers an assortment of themed packages that include edible items from all over the country. They call their offerings “indie food,” because like your favorite small bands or films, they offer an alternative experience to mainstream mass production. They also make every effort to include products that are made in the U.S.

Aside from those DIY gifts she made him as a child years ago, Brittnee said this gift was one of her dad’s all-time favorites. She loved that he received something every month, so instead of a one-time gift on Father’s Day, it kept giving all year.

The gift to highlight a bond you share

Erin and her dad both love to read, but finding a book he’ll enjoy – and hasn’t already read – can be a tricky proposition. This year, she found a solution in Brilliant Books, “Your Long Distance Local Bookstore.” Based on feedback to a short questionnaire, the service chooses and sends a new book each month to the recipient (which he or she can then read and keep). You can send hardcover or paperback books for four months, six months or one year, depending on your budget, and the price includes book selection, packaging and postage.

The practical gift

While Serena has given her dad a variety of gifts, from a hot sauce of the month subscription service to a Kindle, her go-to as a child was her dad’s favorite: a Soap-On-A-Rope. Sometimes useful gifts are the most appreciated. Consider asking the father in your life which practical items he might be able to use on a daily basis.

Happy Father’s Day to all the great dads out there. We hope you all enjoy celebrating the day together with your families.

Online Influencers Rave About The Motherhood Selects Program

May 15, 2015 by The Motherhood

Last week, The Motherhood team announced the launch of The Motherhood Selects (#TMSelects), our first-ever program that spotlights beloved brands and products that our team internally nominates for recognition.

The team also handpicked 10 online influencers to receive the inaugural #TMSelects packages, and here’s what each had to say:

“This fabulous group of ladies decided to share some of their own favorite things (Oprah-style!) with some of the bloggers they connect with. I loved this concept, because this was not driven out of any sort of campaign. It was simply women sharing with other women products that they adore. I felt like I got to know these ladies better by trying out these products for myself, and in the process I started to fall in love with the products, too!” – Tiffany, Stuff Parents Need

S'well Bottle — Photo Courtesy: Tiffany, Stuff Parents Need
“The thing that has really impressed me about the S’well bottle is how long the water I put in it stays honest-to-goodness COLD. Hours and hours, people!” – Tiffany

“Although I loved everything in the box, the Wild Explorers moccasins are my favorite. Even though they are ironically not even mine. Sissy has worn her bright yellow moccasins every single day since the box arrived. In fact, getting a photo of the soft-soled, leather shoes proved to be difficult since she won’t take them off! These shoes have already been well loved.” – Jen, The Suburban Mom

Tésa of 2 Wired, 2 Tired also had a lot to say about the #TMSelects package, and was kind enough to share a video of herself opening it! Check it out on her YouTube page.

“Now this line of lip balms, lotion and more have been my favorites for a while as well! I love the product and it really works! The oval design is great for whole lip care and is clever to boot! Next time you see some, pick it up! It will be on your favorite lists as well!” – Lori, A Day in Motherhood

EOS Lip Balm — Photo Courtesy: Lori, A Day in Motherhood

“You know it felt like Christmas getting these! I am a HUGE fan of moccs {as you ladies already know!} but I hadn’t heard of Wild Explorers! They are high-quality, soft-sole moccs AND can we talk about that color?! IN. LOVE. RIGHT. NOW.” – Danielle, Today’s the Best Day

“Since LÄRABARs are both gluten and dairy-free, my older kids were able to snack on them too. We were all thrilled to find a product that we were able to eat and also tastes great.” – Alea, Premeditated Leftovers

Photo courtesy: Alea, Premeditated Leftovers

“Can you believe that I have never tried the EOS lip balm before now? I was excited to see the EOS lip balm in this package as I have so many friends who love this stuff. It came at the perfect time, too, as my older daughter had been so sick this past week & her poor lips were chapped from being sick. Great time to put the EOS to the test for her & me, and it did not disappoint. EOS lip balm is paraben-free, petrolatum-free and phthalate-free, so not only great to use for moms but also our kids, too, knowing we are putting safe products on our kids lips! Love that they offer SPF 15, too, in their lip balm, perfect for the summertime weather.” – Jen, Thrifty Northwest Mom

Photo Courtesy: Jen, Thrifty Northwest Mom

“I’ve never tried LÄRABARs before, but they are perfect for on-the-go snacking for me and the kids. I always have snacks in my purse or diaper bag because you never know when you’ll be out and need a little something to eat.” – Jamie, The Denver Housewife

Photo Courtesy: Jamie, The Denver Housewife

“I have mad love for companies that give back. S’well Bottles not only keep drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 12 hours, they also work with charity partners to provide clean water to places that need it. I was just talking this week with a friend about how water is such a luxury and how much we take it for granted. I love that every time I use my S’well water bottle I can be reminded just how lucky I truly am. And they aren’t kidding about the cold thing. It really truly is amazing.” – Jill, Just Jilly

“What a fabulous list of favorite things from The Motherhood. These ladies sure know how to pick some amazing items to share. One of the most incredible, and my favorite, item in the box was the original piece of artwork from The Motherhood Art Director. Love it!” – Staci, 7 on a Shoestring

Photo Courtesy: Staci, 7 on a Shoestring

The Motherhood Selects will return later this year, so stay tuned to see what we share next!

The Motherhood Selects: S’well Bottle

May 8, 2015 by The Motherhood

If you’ve been following along this week, you know that The Motherhood launched The Motherhood Selects (#TMSelects) just days ago, an exclusive program that features products that The Motherhood team personally loves and uses. You can read all about it in Monday’s blog post.

The #TMSelects package that was recently shared with some of our network’s top influencers included four products, one of which was the S’well Bottle, a unique stainless steel bottle that can hold both hot and cold liquids.

One of The Motherhood’s co-founders, Emily McKhann, was the first to fall in love with this uniquely designed bottle, which she later introduced to the entire team when she gifted each of us with the IVY S’well bottle (from the Glitter Collection) which matched up with The Motherhood’s color scheme oh-so-s’well!

It wasn’t long before each of us also fell in love with the mission behind the bottle — to reduce the number of plastic water bottles used every day. Additionally, S’well puts community and charity at the forefront, contributing to several charitable organizations on a regular basis.

The stainless steel bottles have such a unique design, they’re easy to spot, whether it’s in the office, in the city or on the hiking trails.

Sarah, of The Motherhood, participated in the #5BoroBikeTour in New York City over the weekend, S'well bottle in hand! — Sarah, of The Motherhood, participated in the #5BoroBikeTour in New York City over the weekend, S’well bottle in hand!

While some of us use it as our go-to water bottle for the gym and hiking, others opt to load it up with hot coffee in the morning for our commutes. Drinks stay cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 without any condensation on the outside, ever. The cap also prevents leakage and can even hold carbonation.

Check them out. Which S’well Bottle would you pick?