Top Lists

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.

Hack the Summer: Tips and Tricks for Family Fun in Pittsburgh

July 11, 2016 by The Motherhood

In collaboration with Chick-fil-A Pittsburgh, The Motherhood teamed up with Brown Mamas, Pgh Momtourage and Sugar Aunts — and their friends, families and communities of readers — to create the ultimate list of tips, tricks and places to visit for family fun in Pittsburgh.

The curated list of “summer hacks” includes many free and low-cost activities that will appeal to family members of all ages and are located all across the region. The best part? Even the most in-the-know Pittsburghers may find a few hidden gems that have escaped their knowledge!

Which one will you visit first?

Family Fun in Pittsburgh Starts with Food

The inspiration for curating these tips for family fun in Pittsburgh is the launch of Chick-fil-A One — a digital app that brings together mobile ordering, mobile payment and surprise giveaways!

As the tastiest of all summer hacks, Chick-fil-A One offers families benefits including a super-easy way to customize each person’s order and the ability to pay in advance and skip the line at the cash register. What parent wouldn’t love that benefit, especially during busy lunch or dinner times? We’re guessing the 82 percent of parents who responded to our survey to say they’d do almost anything to avoid long lines when they have their children in tow will be heading straight to iTunes or Google Play to download Chick-fil-A One.

Bonus hack: for an easy and fun way to get in on the Chick-fil-A One action, just tweet #CFAOne with the horizontal cow emoji ???? to receive a prompt to download the app from Twitter directly.

Chick-fil-A is about to make all of your chicken sandwich dreams come true just by ordering with your phone. Chick-fil-A will thank customers who order using Chick-fil-A One with free food offers for their favorite menu items. Sign. Us. Up.

Share your Hacks

We’d love to hear your ideas for creating family fun in Pittsburgh — and other cities across the country! Comment below with your tips, tricks and places to visit in your own hometown.

Hack the summer ART created by alison mckown, graphic designer for the motherhood.

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.

The Motherhood is one of Pittsburgh’s Coolest Offices

September 23, 2015 by The Motherhood

We’re excited to share that our headquarters has been named one of Pittsburgh’s Coolest Offices! Throughout the month of September, the Pittsburgh Business Times is showcasing the most interesting and inspiring office spaces in the Pittsburgh region.

Our new headquarters is located in Sharpsburg’s old Fort Pitt Brewing Co. building. In the early 1900s, this brewery was the leader in the local beer market. The motto, “Fort Pitt, That’s It!” is still displayed on the building’s exterior, as well as in the original terrazzo floor in the front lobby.

The freshly painted red, blue and grey walls of the renovated space match our company’s fun, bright and creative personality. Each team member’s office showcases a unique piece of art that was painted freehand by Stretch Carter, art director.

We love working in a space with such a rich history and fun quirks in the nooks and crannies of this very unique building.

2015 is an incredible year for The Motherhood! In addition to the designation of one of Pittsburgh’s Coolest Offices, The Pittsburgh Business Times also recently named one of Pittsburgh’s fastest-growing companies! The Motherhood is the second-fastest-growing marketing company, ranked #41 overall and one of just two companies in the top 50 with 10 or fewer employees.

The Motherhood’s 5 Top Tips for Bloggers Working with Brands

May 21, 2015 by The Motherhood

Over the years, The Motherhood has worked with thousands of bloggers on hundreds of campaigns for brands. As companies have recognized and embraced the influence of the online community, opportunities for ambassadorships and sponsored posts have increased dramatically.

When you work with brands, PR agencies and blogger networks (like The Motherhood), there are a few things you can remember to make a great impression and get yourself hired again and again.

In a nutshell, the advice from our team is be professional. When you’re hired to write a sponsored post, treat it like you would any other job: Be reliable, communicate with your team, read your emails thoroughly, meet deadlines and follow through on your commitments ethically and respectfully.

If you want to stand out in the business of blogging, take a peek at The Motherhood’s five top tips for bloggers working with brands:

1) Be professional. When you make a commitment to a brand or network to participate in a sponsored campaign, it’s important to deliver. That includes showing up on time for events like Twitter parties, meeting post deadlines, responding promptly (within one business day) to emails and providing email updates if something comes up that might hinder your ability to honor those commitments.

2) Think like a brand. See your posts from their perspective. Often, brand representatives and marketers are on the hunt for great coverage they can highlight for their executive team. Take pride in your work, and imagine how you want your post to look if it ends up in front of the company CEO. For example:

Read the campaign guidelines and requirements carefully, and incorporate the suggested links, key messaging and images in your coverage.
Do not search Google Images for content – it often pulls up outdated photos or logos. Ask your contact instead for brand images; they’d be happy to help.
Proofread to ensure there are no errors or typos in your post before you click “publish.”
Make sure brand names are spelled correctly and include capital letters and proper trademarking if needed.
In your personal photos of the brand’s products, check the background to make sure there are no other brand names or logos visible.

3) Go above and beyond. If you really want to shine, don’t just do the bare minimum! When you’re writing, be creative and tell your own story about the brand while incorporating their key messaging; brands aren’t interested in posts that simply copy and paste their bullet points. Publish your coverage before the day of the deadline and consider throwing in a couple of extra social media posts. Look up the campaign hashtag on Twitter and re-tweet a few times or start a relevant conversation using the hashtag – engagement matters.

4) Blog with integrity. When you’re invited to blog on behalf of a brand, it’s important to disclose work you’ve done (or are currently doing) for brand competitors before opting in. (In this case, it’s easier on everyone if you ask permission up front rather than forgiveness later!) In your blog coverage, remember to properly attribute photographs if they aren’t your own, provide links to source materials as needed and add a disclosure notice at the top of your post, per FTC guidelines.

5) Build respectful relationships. The most productive relationships between brands or networks and bloggers are ones built on mutual respect and open dialogue. For example, if you opt in for a campaign with a brand and begin to realize that particular program is not a good fit for your blog, you should feel comfortable sharing that feedback behind the scenes. Your honesty and discretion will be remembered.

Bring your best self to your work and business relationships, and it will make a difference. We hope you find these tips on working with brands helpful, and we hope to work with you through The Motherhood soon!

Best Children’s Books: The Motherhood’s Picks

March 2, 2015 by The Motherhood

Today is Read Across America Day (also known as Dr. Seuss Day), and there’s no better way to celebrate than by sitting down with your kids to crack open a new book – or by perusing an old favorite together.

Giving-the-Gift-of-Books — Image created by Angela of About a Mom on behalf of the Fuel for School campaign with Champions for Kids.

Over the years, The Motherhood team has worked with a number of clients on campaigns that encourage reading, including one for the kid-friendly VTech V.Reader and – most recently – a charitable initiative called “Fuel for School” with Champions for Kids to facilitate local book drives for children in need.

We all love a good book, and we know that often, an appreciation for reading develops during childhood, when kids find their favorite stories.

To inspire ideas for your family, The Motherhood has compiled a list of our personal must-haves for any child’s bookshelf. Feel free to share your own in the comments!

1. Stone Soup, by Marcia Brown (Favorite of Brittnee Hammonds)

Winner of a Caldecott Medal, Stone Soup is a folk story that tells the tale of how cooperation can lead to bigger and better things (in this case, a big pot of tasty soup), as a group of travelers bring together the entire town to put together a pot of soup, one ingredient at a time. The beauty of it? It all starts with just water and a stone, hence, “Stone Soup.” It’s one of my favorites because it’s a story I read with my dad over and over again, and we’ve actually made “stone soup” a time or two because of the story.

2. The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt (Suggested by Erin Olson)

While it’s not an old classic, The Day the Crayons Quit is a funny, creative story that parents and kids alike will enjoy reading together. I read it as an adult when I visited a kids’ bookstore with my best friend – she sought it out, pulled it off the shelf and told me it was one of her nephew’s favorites (and one of her favorites to read to him). After just a few pages, I could see why.

3. Pat the Bunny, by Dorothy Kunhardt (Favorite of Brittney Coburn’s family)

I love Pat the Bunny! We started reading to our daughter when she was a newborn, and I couldn’t wait to introduce her to one of my favorites. She’s becoming so curious and interactive and loves to feel the fuzzy fabric, play peek-a-boo and smell the flowers. As a child, I often snuck in some extra reading time with a flashlight after bedtime, and I hope to nurture that same love of books for her!

4. Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein (Favorite of Serena Mounts)

I was a big bookworm as a kid, and I remember being so intrigued by the format of this book when I first read it: a series of short (but complete!) stories and poems. It was so different than anything I’d read before, and I never, ever grew tired of reading it. The poems were diverse, silly, imaginative and witty and I loved the simple but bold black-and-white drawings that accompanied some of them. I haven’t read through it since I was a child, but I’d love to introduce it to my niece and nephew who are just around the age I was when I first read it.

5. Tacky the Penguin, by Helen Lester (Favorite of Sarah O’Rourke)

I loved this book because it’s so fun, lighthearted and always made me laugh, but it also taught me an important life lesson – it’s okay to be different and unique, and you should always accept others for who they are!

6. Meet Kirsten! and other American Girl books (Favorites of Nicole Paladin)

My favorite books to read growing up were from the American Girl book series! I collected as many of the Girls’ series as I could, and I even saved up my own money (which was a lot for an eight-year-old) to buy the Kirsten doll and accessories. Every American Girl book series started with a book titled, “Meet [doll’s name]“, and I was so inspired by them, I even wrote by own “book” about my life and titled it “Meet Nicole!”

7. 10 Minutes Till Bedtime (Favorite of Cooper Munroe’s family)

A child, along with pet hamsters (and the pet hamsters’ many hamster friends) have an epic adventure tour of the house after the “10 minute warning” countdown to bedtime. There are many hidden, fun hamster antics to discover in the illustrations, and reading the book always got my kids giggling. There’s even a website for the Hamster Tour.

8. Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch (Favorite of Kayla Geahry)

It’s an incredibly sweet book that my mom used to read me all the time, illustrating the amazing bond between a mother and her child. It tugs on the heartstrings whether you’re the kid or the parent.

9. On the Day You Were Born, by Debra Frasier (Favorite of Emily McKhann’s family)

A dear friend gave me this book on the day my first child was born. After nursing my new baby in the hospital, I read On The Day You Were Born aloud to her, and when I reached the last page with the words, “And as they held you close and whispered in your open, curving ear, ‘We’re so glad you’ve come!,'” I burst into tears. It was just so beautiful. My girls now know all the words and love it too, and to this day, Debra Frasier’s poetry takes my breath away.

Finally, of course, no child’s bookshelf is complete without a few of the many whimsical and wonderful stories by Dr. Seuss himself. Check out classics such as Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat or One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

Happy reading!