3 Tips for Making Memorable Baby Shower Gifting A Breeze

Posted on April 26, 2018

Once you hit that certain age, it seems like every one of your friends is having a baby. Every other weekend you have a baby shower and the birth announcements are inundating your mail. Buying baby shower and newborn gifts can be stressful.

Things Remembered, Pottery Barn, BabyBox.com, Stork Baby and a few other companies offer personalized gift boxes to help make the process seamless, but Rock a Box Babyclaims to be the first customizable baby gift box company.

Kylie Kaufman, its founder, offers on how to get through all your baby shower and newborn shopping:

Keep it simple: You more than likely have numerous baby gifts to buy, so don’t spend too much time stressing about what to buy. “Our boxes are so simple and easy, they take less than a few minutes to make, yet look super sophisticated. People will think you spent a ton of time, but in reality, you didn’t,” Kaufman explained. Moral of story, find one gift that you can give to everyone, yet looks custom.

Give something that will last forever: Babies grow so quickly, so why spend hundreds of dollars on stuff that they will use for weeks or months. “Our boxes are meant to last forever. They’re lacquer keepsake boxes with names and monograms that look adorable in nurseries as well as nightstands in master bedrooms. They grow with the baby.”

Don’t break the bank: Baby shower and newborn gifts don’t come cheap when you have one every other weekend. Before you know it, half of your paycheck is going to baby showers. “Our boxes start at $25 and can go north of $250. Because they’re completely custom, you can pick exactly how much you spend.”

Good luck shopping!

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All About Baby’s Teething And What to Do about Discomfort

Posted on April 26, 2018

Just when you think you’ve cracked it, sleeplessness once more is afflicting you and your child! As an infant begins to sleep through the entire night more consistently what is often experienced by the weary parents is that the child will start to teeth. Once more the exhausted parents are enduring sleepless or certainly sleep depraved nights.

Pediatricians will tell you that a baby as young as 3 months old can begin to teeth although usually it doesn’t occur until the five to six month stage. It can begin as late as 12 months.

For all twenty of the deciduous teeth to emerge through the gums it can take a few years.

Cutting teeth is a phrase often used in this stage of an infant’s development. The teeth are not actually cutting the gums. What is occurring is a group of chemicals being released in the baby’s body which make some of the cells in the gums to expire and fall apart which facilitates the teeth to be able to come through.

Parents often think their child is sick because the symptoms of teething can begin to manifest a good while prior to the first teeth exposing themselves through the gums.

The following is a list of typical teething symptoms:

Whatever the baby can put in his mouth he will begin to chew.

Even the most passive of babies will begin to become more irritable and harder to comfort.

The baby will often have a runny nose. With teething, the fluid coming out of his nose will be clear. However, if the fluid is yellow or green the baby is likely to be suffering from a cold or an infection.

Excessive drooling

Swelling of the gums caused by the drooling.

A rash around the baby’s mouth is often seen caused by the drooling.

Upon discovering these symptoms in your baby you should feel his gums. You may be able to feel the milk tooth underneath the surface. There are suggestions below to assist in alleviating the pain or discomfort experienced by your baby.

Medicine’s as recommended by your baby’s pediatriciaan.

A teething ribgbwhich has been cooled in the fridge. The coolness helps soothe baby’s gums

Teething rings. These can also be placed in the fridge or freezer. Be careful not to let the baby get his hands on anything breakable or too small which he could choke on.

Giving the baby (as long as over six months old) food to chew on like a rusk (unsweetened). Cooled (but not chilled) food is good like slices of bread, carrot sticks and bananas for example.

Gripe water has been noted as an aid to teething. It is often used for problems with colic and gas. When teething, the infant is usually fussier than normal which can affect his breathing and cause him to take in more air than usual. This, then leads to gas. Gripe water is known to relieve gas, which in turn then helps to relax your teething baby. It doesn’t necessarily help with the pain felt by the baby but it is a comforter because it alleviates the gas problem.

Rubbing the baby’s gums using a clean finger can be can very comforting to him. There are some gels recommended by your doctor which can assist this.

A distressed baby can benefit enormously from lots of cuddles and comforting

Be patient. The baby will be hard to please and irritable.

It does not take more than a few days for each tooth to emerge. However, the whole cutting teeth experience in a child will take place many times until all the milk teeth have come through.

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Happy Earth Day: 6 Ways to Reduce Food Waste

Posted on April 22, 2018

Although today is Earth Day, America has a food crisis on its hands.

While there is plenty of food at stores and in the refrigerators and pantries of most homes, the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) says that 1 in 8 Americans cannot get enough to eat. And sadly, the NRDC reports that 40 percent of food in America is never eaten and goes to waste.

The average US household can waste anywhere between $1,365 to $2,275 worth of food every year. This epidemic of food waste is not prevalent in the US alone. Globally, 33% of food is thrown away on a yearly basis, totaling 1.3 billion tons of wasted food.

When an apple rots or leftovers are forgotten about and tossed out weeks later, these edibles are not the only resource lost. The water that was used to grow and produce the food, the energy used to transport it to market and the dollars spent marketing and retailing the products also end up wasted. The good news is that anyone can make a few simple lifestyle changes to help reduce global food waste.

1. Stop Buying in Bulk – Instead of stocking up on perishable foods in amounts that could feed a family for two weeks, just shop for what you need for the meals you have planned for the week. Otherwise you are likely to forget what you bought in the back of the fridge.

2. Plan Meals in Advance – Create a meal plan for the week for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Only purchase the food items you need for those particular meals. If you have a sudden craving during the week you can make a separate trip. If going to the store again sounds like too much work then you did not really need that additional food item in the first place!

3. Invest in Smart Appliances – Technology is playing a huge role now in helping reduce food waste in the home. Some new refrigerators let you look inside them to check what supplies you are out of when you are not at home. If a new fridge is a bit out of you price range, there are solutions to make your existing refrigerators ‘smarter’. The Smarter FridgeCam is a retrofit device that can keep track of your food contents wherever you are via your smartphone. FridgeCam will also alert you to upcoming expiration dates and recommend recipes so you can use up what you have. These types of devices can also help you from over-purchasing certain items that you already bought.

4. Put Your Freezer to Use – Spot check your refrigerator every few days for produce or leftovers that are getting close to spoiling. Before they reach the point of no return, if you will not eat them in the next day, put them in the freezer

5. Only Grocery Shop After a Meal and Have a List – Two sure ways to end up wasting food are to shop hungry and shop without a plan. Impulse purchases end up not creating full meals leading you to make additional trips to the store.

6. Make and Prepare Meals at Home – Many food items can easily be grown at home on a kitchen counter or a backyard garden. If a recipe calls for fresh herbs you can avoid having to toss out the extra by having your own plants. And you will be less likely to let food go to waste when you have invested your own time and effort into growing it.

About Christian Lane

CEO and founder, Christian Lane, has been the driving force behind the innovative London company Smarter. Christian realized early on that the kitchen, the heart of the home, was seriously underdeveloped when it came to connected technology and was primed for disruption. Christian’s vision is to create smart products that are practical, convenient and enhance peoples everyday lives.

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25 Ways To Show Mom Gratitude For Helping Raise Her Grandchildren

Posted on April 21, 2018

With news outlets reporting that Kris Jenner has been instrumental in helping her daughter Khloe Kardashian adjust to motherhood and with Mother’s Day around the corner, it’s a good day time to think about ways to thank moms for being great grandmamas!

If you’re fortunate enough to live close to your mother, there’s a good chance that she’s looked after your own children a time or two. Watching your children for an extended period, like over the cry of “Thanks!” as you pack everyone into the car.

Here are 25 unexpected ways you can thank your mom for looking after your children after the years she spent raising you.

Surprise House Cleaning – Your mom not only watches your kids, but also spent a significant chunk of her life cleaning up after you. Say thank you by springing a surprise house-cleaning on her sometime!
Flowers – Whether you buy a bouquet of her favorite blooms or present a hand-picked bunch, there’s something about a gift of flowers that shows gratitude and appreciation beautifully.
Homemade Cards – Get the kids together and create a handmade card to present to Grandma as a token of your collective appreciation. It’s sure to end up proudly displayed on the refrigerator.
Store-Bought Greeting Cards – Sometimes a spontaneous gift is best. Snagging a “Thinking of You” card that’s not occasion-specific while you’re at the market and inscribing a message that expresses your thanks lets your mom know that you’re thinking of her and that you’re appreciative of the things she does to help you.
A Special Meal – Who knows your mom’s favorite meal better than you do? Preparing her favorite dish is a great way to say thank you, especially if you modify it to meet dietary needs that are changing with age.
Offer a “Free Favor” – Present your mom with a card promising one free favor, to be called in at any time in exchange for watching the kids. When you hand it over, explain that it’s a show of gratitude, and that her help makes a difference in your life.
Pick Up the Tab – Your mom has been buying you dinner for decades. If you want to thank her for all the time she spends watching your children, consider taking her out to a nice place and picking up the tab.
Give Her the Title of “World’s Best Grandma” – It may be a cheesy coffee mug or a hokey baseball cap, but a bit of merchandise emblazoned with your mom’s title of “World’s Best Grandma” lets everyone know just where she stands.
A Meaningful Gift – There are always things that people want, but can’t justify purchasing for themselves. Listen to your mom when she talks and glean bits of information from what she says to find the perfect thank-you gift.
Handle an Unpleasant Task – Whether it’s clearing a stubborn clog or cleaning the toilet, there’s always some distasteful task that needs to be completed around the house. Taking care of one such task for your mom is a practical and considerate way of thanking her for the things she does.
Give Her the Gift of Quality Time – The frenetic pace of today’s world can leave you spending no more time with your mom than it takes to drop off and pick up the kids. Even if it’s just a cup of coffee before work, carve out some quality time to spend with your mom to thank her.
Baked Goods – Cupcakes, cookies and other baked goods are always a welcome gift, and a great way to show your appreciation for someone you love.
Video Thank You Notes – Get the family together and create a video thank you note for Grandma. Encourage little ones to sing a song or do a dance, and address the things she does that you appreciate directly.
A Scrapbook – There’s nothing quite as powerful as a scrapbook filled with precious mementos and photographs. It may be a time-consuming task, but compiling a scrapbook full of memories for your mom is a great way to show that you care.
Arts and Crafts Projects – Handmade gifts can be more personal and heartfelt than the store-bought variety, so consider making a few things to give to your mother in appreciation.
A Handwritten Letter – Today’s high-tech world relies on emails and text messages to communicate, and the art of the handwritten letter seems to be dying. Put pen to paper and share your appreciation in a way your mom can save for posterity.
Sweet Surprises – Show up to collect your kids with your mother’s favorite candy or other sweet treat. Even though it’s a simple gift, it shows your appreciation.
Gift Cards – Picking up a gift card to your mother’s favorite store or restaurant is a great way to show your thanks, especially if you tuck it inside a card or letter.
Poetry – If you have a flair for words, why not pen a quick poem? Whether it’s sentimental enough to be a greeting card verse or a few silly rhymes designed to bring a smile to mom’s face, the effort will certainly be appreciated.
Inscribed Plants – Moms with green thumbs will be thrilled with an inscribed plant, like Magic Bean in a Can. When the plant grows, a message of your thanks is actually inscribed upon the leaves. It doesn’t get much cooler than that!
Banners and Signs – Surprise your mom with a large banner or sign expressing your thanks. For particularly special occasions, you may even want to integrate party whistles and hats.
Subscription to a Favorite Magazine – Print magazines haven’t quite gone the way of the dinosaur, especially for the older set. Gifting your mom with a subscription to her favorite periodical as a token of your appreciation really is the gift that keeps on giving!
Public Recognition – Few things show just how proud you are of your mother and how much you appreciate the time she spends with your kids like a public recognition of her efforts. Whether it’s a speech at a party or a post on her Facebook wall, let the world know you’re grateful to your mom!
A Phone Call – If the hustle and bustle of each day’s demands leaves you only enough time to call your mother for drop-off and pick-up coordination, set aside a block of time to really talk. She knows just how busy you are, and it will mean the world.
Group Hugs! – An enthusiastic group hug with choruses of thank yous is an exciting and affectionate way to show your gratitude to your mom for looking after your brood.

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11 Questions to Ask When Picking a Family Orthodontist

Posted on April 13, 2018

I am on the hunt for an orthodontist for myself and my middle kid.

The search can be difficult to choose the right doctor for the family’s orthodontic treatment.

Lucky for me (and you readers), renowned orthodontist Dr. Jamie Reynolds, author of “World Class Smiles Made in Detroit,” has complied a list of questions to ask and consider before making a selection.

Making a wise decision can seem daunting, so review this list of important questions to ask while you’re doing your research that Reynolds came up with:

1) Is the doctor a specialist in orthodontics?

2) When should your child be evaluated?

3) Does the office have a great reputation?

4) Does the office treat adults?

5) Are the results guaranteed?

6) Is the quoted fee all inclusive?

7) Is the office up to date with the latest technology?

8) Are there affordable payment options?

9) Does the office run efficiently?

10) Does the office support the community?

11) Does the office feel fun?

Good luck, parents!! I’ll try to remember to tell you guys how these questions help me out.

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Here are Some Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Every Type of Mom

Posted on April 12, 2018

It’s time to start thinking of what to get for your mom or another new mom, grandmother or maternal figure in your life for Mother’s Day next month. We’re putting together some recommendations and are curating a list of fun, useful and great gifts for mom.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for some creative or unique ideas for different types of moms, the cat lover, the mom who loves the color black, the mom who loves to travel etc, feel free to click through past guides below!

Good luck!

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These Are The Tips You Need For Air Traveling with Kids This Summer

Posted on April 11, 2018

Summer vacation travel season is on the horizon.

Emirates Airlines recently conducted a U.S. Travel Survey on Family Travel, identifying key struggles of traveling with kids and what parents say are the most effective ways to make the experience better for them and the kids.

In the survey of 4400 adults with a passport, planning to take an international trip in the coming year or have taken an international trip in the past few years, and who travel at least once every two to three years and are between the ages of 18 and 64.

It’s no secret kids can get antsy during flights. Emirates found that while kids get better at flying as they get older, many kids across all ages are already antsy within the first two hours of a long-haul flight:

Under 2 Years Old: 70% of travelers say kids under 2 get antsy in the first two hours of the flight
3-5 Years Old: 57% of travelers say kids 3-5 years old get antsy in the first 2 hours of a flight
6-10 Years Old: 32% say of travelers say kids 6-10 years old get antsy in the first 2 hours of a flight, with another 50% saying this older group gets antsy between 2-4 hours into a flight

The survey found that parents serve a child’s favorite snacks as one of the top needed distraction.

Additionally, while kids across the U.S. reportedly get restless in the early parts of their flights, kids from Boston tend to be the antsiest flyers in the U.S., with 38% of respondents reporting kids under 2 and 24% of kids 6-10 years old are antsy as soon as the plane takes off.

Keeping kids busy on the ground can be tricky, let alone on a plane. The number one way to keep kids occupied during a long flight? People say devices are the best at keeping kids occupied across all age groups.

The most helpful methods across age groups include:

Under 5 Years Old: 57% of respondents say devices to watch movies, TV shows or videos are by far the most helpful, followed by devices to play games (17%) and activity books and toys (16%)
6-10 Years Old: 96% of respondents say devices to watch movies, TV shows or videos and devices for games tie for being the most helpful in keeping kids content, but are followed closely by having snacks kids enjoy on hand (88%)

However, parental worry about keeping kids entertained through a flight isn’t created equal – Emirates survey found that flyers in Orlando, Houston, Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles are the most concerned about this issue when flying.

Is this Seat Available?

It’s no secret that many people try to avoid sitting near kids to ensure peace and quiet during their flight. Emirates found that the average traveler’s willingness to sit next to kids depends on how long the trip is. It turns out that 61% of fliers would say no to sitting next to kids on a flight over 10 hours, and of that, men are actually more likely to agree to it (57%) than women are (64%).

While the West Coast is known for friendliness and the South for hospitality, residents in San Francisco and Fort Lauderdale are actually the least willing to sit next to kids on long-haul flights.

Here are Emirates’ Cabin Crew’s top tips for traveling children this vacation season:

For parents flying with babies, try to choose a flight that is as close as possible to their bedtime. This can help them sleep for a large part of the flight. Also, make sure you have sweets or a bottle of milk for babies/toddlers to suck on during take-off or descent, as they may have difficulty equalizing their ear pressure and feel uncomfortable.For small children, keep one new toy aside to give them mid-flight to ensure they don’t grow bored of the ones they already have. This will provide a fun, distracting surprise, and will keep them occupied longer than one of their old toys.

For kids of all ages, find ways to break up activities during the flight. Don’t depend solely on games or videos – pack a small puzzle, colouring book or interactive toy in addition to devices or in-flight entertainment systems, and use time between shows or movies to try something different.
When kids are awake, take brief strolls when they are already in good moods. This will help them stretch and break up the time between activities in their seats, and help prevent a restless-child meltdown.
When going through an airport, bookend your kids with one parent upfront and one taking the rear (if possible) to ensure you don’t lose any little stragglers along the way, and keep them moving quickly through checkpoints.

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How to Relieve Your Post-Baby Breast Engorgement Pain

Posted on April 10, 2018

For the first few days after giving birth, a new mother’s breasts remain soft. They will produce colostrum. Colostrum, the first milk, is available in just the right amount, and is rich in immune factors that protect newborns. Sometime during the next few days, the breasts will become full, firm, warm, and perhaps tender. When this occurs, people say: “the milk is coming in!” The scientific term for this event is: engorgement. Engorgement is normal, and lasts for various periods of time depending on the individual woman. Some women experience only a day or so of mild, easy-to-manage engorgement. For other women, engorgement may be more intense, and can last from several days to two weeks.

Some women seem to bring in a larger early milk supply. Others seem to experience more breast swelling. For these women and their babies, the engorgement period may seem more difficult. The breasts will adjust over time, eventually making exactly the right amount of milk for the baby.

It is the baby’s job to help the mother through engorgement by removing milk. If the baby is not latching properly or feeding frequently enough, the breasts may become overly full. This reduces the elasticity of the breasts and nipples. When the breasts are too firm, some babies cannot grasp enough tissue to latch on well. They may suck overly hard trying to pull in the breast tissue. This can lead to sore nipples. If poor latch results in poor emptying of the milk, the build-up can cause breast engorgement to become severe. The breasts may redden and become painful. Mothers may sometime develop a low-grade fever. (Fever may also signal infection, so at the first sign, call the doctor.)

Along with making mothers feel ill, severe engorgement may interfere with milk production. The milk pooling in engorged breasts releases chemical signals that tell the body to decrease milk production. If unrelieved, prolonged engorgement can contribute to insufficient milk supply or begin the weaning process.

Prevention:

Begin breastfeeding as soon as possible after the birth, to give the baby time to learn to breastfeed before the breasts become full and firm.
Unless medically indicated, avoid early use of bottles and pacifiers while the baby is learning to breastfeed.
Once the milk comes in, breastfeed at least 8 times in 24 hours to prevent over fullness.
Ask for help from the hospital lactation consultant so that latch-on problems are solved as soon as possible.
Any time a feeding is missed, use hand expression or a breast pump to remove the milk.
Always wean gradually

Treatment:

Use moist heat on the breasts for a few minutes, or take a brief hot shower before breastfeeding. This may help the milk begin to flow. Note: Use of heat for extended periods of time (over 5 minutes) may make swelling worse.
Use cold compresses for 10 minutes after feedings to reduce swelling.
Gently massage and compress the breast when the baby pauses between sucks. This may help drain the breast, leaving less milk behind.
Ask your health care professional about medications such as ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation.
A well-fitted, supportive nursing bra makes some women feel better. Others prefer to go bra-less during engorgement.
Gentle breast massage and relaxation techniques may help improve milk flow and reduce engorgement.
Hand expression or brief use of a breast pump may help soften the nipple and areola so that the baby can get a better latch.
Some women find that a single use of a breast pump to soften severely engorged breasts diminishes painful inflammation. They then return to frequent breastfeeding as the main way to manage engorgement.
Pumping, hand expressing, or nursing to comfort prevents the negative consequences of retained milk. Relieving the milk pressure will not make engorgement worse.
If the baby is premature or complications interfere with breastfeeding, a hospital grade pump can help the mother through engorgement until her baby can breastfeed.
Fever higher than 101° F or severe pain may signal a breast infection. Call your medical care provider for advice if this occurs.

This article originally appeared in Medela breastpump’s blog.

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Where #STEM Took Us at the #SciFest 2018 Expo

Posted on April 9, 2018

I sojourned down to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington DC this past weekend as a guest of Razor to check out some of the various science, technology, engineering and math-related exhibits, stage shows, demonstrations and information being showcased to get children interested in these fields at the annual US Science and Engineering Expo. The event included exhibitors, performers, speakers, partners, sponsors and advisors for major academic centers, colleges and universities, leading research institutes, government agencies, cutting-edge high tech companies, museums and community organizations.

Oh and lots of science and tech camps! Here is an Official Map of the exhibitors, shows and presentations.

I took my eldest son, who is almost 16 and is interested in gaming and so much so, he is in the process of building his very own computer from scratch!

When we arrived mid afternoon on Saturday, April 7, inside, the 2.3K square foot convention hall which takes up three city blocks was electrifying and bustling with families, school kids, neighborhood and community groups in coordinated tops milling about in excitement.

Our first stop was our host Razor which agreed to generously gift us a Razor scooter and cool socks in advance of writing about our experience at the Expo. All two days of the Expo, the Razor booth had a steady stream of fans stopping by to check out the latest products and innovation of the disruptive company that transformed the experience of scooters.

Reps showed us the latest best seller, a pair of electric roller jets that go for themselves! Very cool! My how times have changed from my day of wearing plane metal roller skates on the streets of DC.

I was excited to learn that the scooters made by this top seller of skateboards, hoverboards, trikes and electric bikes have come. One of the more popular and newest products Razor sells these days is the Turbo Jets . They were on display anda brand ambassador wearing the crowd gathered around how to just start skating and then relax as the electric-powered heel wheels amp up to 80-watt, kicking the geared-drive motor that gives the user a boost. The Jets can travel as fast at 10 mph. They looked relatively easy to use and appeared durable from my review and touch. Watch more here:

SEE SOME OF THE VIDEOS HERE:

#ClickThru to check out the pics and vids from @razorworldwide’s exhibit at This weekend’s @USAScienceFest at DC Convention Center. Check out more videos and pics of other aspects of the expo on the blog. Link in bio. #SwipeLeft #spon
A post shared by Bellyitch_Blog – renewed!! (@bellyitch) on Apr 9, 2018 at 8:29am PDT

Another rep gave us a peek at how the spark pads, which are part of the Razor Spark Scooter’s braking mechanism, work. They give off real sparks when the user brakes! Very cool! It reminded me of the character Marty McFly’s Hoverboard in the 80s movie Back To The Future II.

Just so you know, she also shared with me that guests of the convention last weekend (and shhhhhh readers of this Blog too) can take advantage of 15% off using this coupon code. That’s a savings of close to $20 off the Turbo Jets which currently retail for $129 on the Razor website, bringing the cost down to a little over $100! That’s a steal. There is FREE shipping on all online orders through the website.

I’m not sure when the coupon code expires so hop on it fast!

Eldest and I then went on to enjoy the rest of the Expo, making stops through Physics Row, the NASA exhibit, some Nature Science displays and caught the last of the stage performances of the day, hip hop scientist Grand Hank.

I missed but would have loved to see Honda’s robot Asimo do a demonstration. Here is a video another attendee captured:

Unbelievable balance. Adjust center of gravity after each step. #SciFest @USAScienceFest @ASIMO pic.twitter.com/md2yOOWhtp
— LMESquad (@LMESRobotics) April 8, 2018

Other stage performanceswe missed that day or that took place the next day include: Science Cheerleaders, Stunt Science showing behind-the-scenes of Spider-Man and Other Hollywood movies, Explosive Science, Mathemagician Art Benjamin, Explosive Science and more.

There was just too much to do and see in one day and in hindsight, I’m kicking myself for not starting earlier in the day so we could have gone downstairs to explore the expansive displays including College and Career row because it’s time for eldest to start exploring colleges. He is also interested in Robotics and there was an entire section on that area of tech.

On the way, we could have explored the halls that included the World Wildlife Foundation display, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the Color of STEM Pavilion featuring Black Girl Code and Howard University. and the Lockheed Martin Orbit and Robo Lab, National Security and Homeland Security displays

Better luck and better planning NEXT YEAR!

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You’d Never Guess Which Family Planning and New Baby Expenses are Actually Tax Deductible!

Posted on April 6, 2018

photo: Bruce Mars

By: Brian Ashcraft, Regional Director for Corporate, Liberty Tax Service

So, you and your significant other are ready to take the plunge and add a new baby to your household. Good for you.

I’m guessing you’re not thinking about taxes as you make this decision, and that’s totally understandable.

But babies do change your tax situation, so I thought I’d share a few of the tax deductions and credits available to families in 2018.

Before Baby

Pregnancy Test Kits. Birth Control Pills. Fertility Enhancement. These count as medical expense deductions. For medical expenses to be deductible, you’ll have to itemize your tax deductions, and your medical expenses must exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income.

Expecting Baby

Nursing moms can include the cost of breast pumps and supplies in their medical expense deductions. Lactation expenses are also deductible as are laboratory fees that may be a part of your medical care.

The New Arrival

The tax deduction that comes with your new arrival can’t match the joy, but this still should make you happy. Under the new tax law, the child tax credit has doubled to $2,000 per qualifying child. And, unlike a tax deduction, which reduces the amount of your income subject to tax, a tax credit reduces your tax bill dollar for dollar.

Planning for Baby’s Future

The new tax law lets parents save tax-free for their child’s education. Under the law you can use up to $10,000 per child from a 529 plan to pay qualified expenses for elementary and secondary school and home school. The 529 plans can also be used to pay for college.

Speaking of college, if you want to think that far ahead, two tax credits are available to help with qualified educational expenses. Those credits are the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides a credit of up to $2,500 for qualified tuition and expenses for the first four years of college, and the Lifetime Learning Credit, which provides up to $2,000 per return.

I apologize if I’ve gotten too far ahead of you by talking about schooling and college and all those things. I’ll bring it back to the here and now by reminding you that whether your bundle of joy is born on January 1 or December 31 of the year, you can take a full $2,000 child tax credit.

And remember, as your child grows, the tax code is bound to change. You’ll want to make sure you get all the tax deductions to which your family is entitled. The best way to do that is to talk with a tax professional. It’s their job to keep up with the tax code. And, because they do their job, you can do yours, enjoying life with your new addition.

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About the Author

Brian Ashcraft is the Regional Director for Corporate for Liberty Tax Service, a leading tax preparation franchise. Brian

Ashcraft is responsible for engaging with franchisees and developing systems and processes that help them meet goals. He works with company leaders at the corporate office in Virginia Beach and with independent owners at franchise locations across the United States and Canada.

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