Evan Porter

If you have a new baby on the way, chances are you won’t be able to hold it in your arms 24/7.

(As much as you might want to at first… Trust me, it gets tiring!)

That’s why there are products out there like baby bouncers and baby swings, specifically designed to simulate the movement your baby feels when you hold him — without you actually having to do it!

Placing your baby in a bouncer or swing is a safe, comfortable way for both you and baby to be happy while you attend to other things.

But which one is the safer, better choice?

In this article, I want to break down the differences between baby bouncers vs. baby swings and help you decide which one is right for your budding family.

Read more

Oh, the excitement that comes along with having a new baby; there’s just nothing quite like it!

Of course, along with all of that joy also comes a lot of questions:

• How many diapers will we use each day?
• What if he cries all of the time?
• How do I get him to calm down when he’s upset?

Look, it’s a given that your baby is going to cry, and probably cry a lot. One of the ways you can calm your baby is by using a gentle rocking motion or some other form of movement, which is one of the reasons people buy rockers and gliders.

It might seem like these two items are one and the same, but they actually have their differences.

In this article, I want to break down the differences between rockers vs. gliders and help you decide which one is right for you; and it might be both!

So…what is the difference between rocking chairs and gliders?

Read more

It’s common knowledge that when a new baby arrives, sleeping parents become a thing of the past; at least for a little while.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that parents want to try everything possible to help their little darlings sleep for longer periods of time. Quite often, what works for your baby might be different than what works for another bundle of joy; so knowing the different options out there is essential.

Some of the many things that parents use to help their babies sleep are swaddles or sleep sacks; or perhaps even both!

Babies are used to being snug and cozy inside the womb for roughly nine months; therefore, when they come out into the big, wide-open world things can be a little jarring.

Swaddles and sleep sacks are designed to help mimic that tight, comforting squeeze but to varying degrees.

In this article, I want to break down the differences between swaddles vs sleep sacks and help you decide which one is right for you. So what’s the difference?

Read more

Congrats!

You made it through all of the questions and surprises that come along with having a newborn–because now you have an extremely enthusiastic toddler on your hands!

Caring for a toddler comes complete with a whole new set of questions like:

• When did he learn to say “no?”
• What’s the best breakfast to give him a good start to the day?
• What is the deal with this whole potty training thing?

Yes, nothing quite tops one of the biggest milestones your toddler will face, potty training.

In this article, I want to break down the differences between training pants vs. pull-ups and help you decide which one is right for you; and it might be both!

So…what is the difference between training pants vs. pull-ups?

Read more

When you’re planning for a new baby you’re faced with all sorts of questions, like:

• What will his middle name be?
• Is there a bottle that’s better than others?
• Will he sleep in our room at first?

When it comes to where your baby will sleep, many parents choose to have their bundle of joy sleep in the same room for the first several months.

In some cases, the baby might be sharing a room with an older sibling, or perhaps you’ll move your baby around to different rooms in the beginning. In cases like these, it makes sense to look at smaller sleeping options like the mini-crib and the pack n’ play.

In this article, I want to break down the differences between a mini-crib vs. a pack ‘n play and help you decide which one is right for you; and it might be both!

So…what is the difference between a mini-crib vs. a pack ‘n play?

Read more

If you’re bottle-feeding your baby or using formula, you’ll find one of the most challenging parts of your first couple of weeks at home…

… is keeping up with all the dirty bottles!

There will be close to a dozen of them per day, at the beginning, which can be tricky for anyone to stay on top of.

(You haven’t lived until you’ve realized baby is hungry and you don’t have any clean bottles. Good times!)

When it comes to keeping them clean, you have a few options:

A bottle sterilizer vs the dishwasher vs hand washing. Which one is best?

Read more

Today, there are more stay-at-home dads than ever. Estimates vary, but the numbers have been on the rise for decades.

Some recent reports say there are about 7 million men in the United States that act as primary caregiver to their children, with between 2-4 million of them being SAHDs (stay-at-home dads).

Still, there’s a shocking sentiment shared by more people in the United States and beyond than you would think. Few say it in such clear terms, but it’s obvious what people are thinking.

Stay at home dads are losers, pathetic, and lazy.

Is it true? Without a shadow of a doubt, absolutely not!

Read more

Oh boy… (or girl).

The baby’s coming any day now. You can’t stop it or delay it.

So you better be ready!

At some point between 32-35 weeks pregnant, you should pack your hospital go-bag so you’re ready to run out the door should baby decide to make his or her grand entrance.

(It’s always at least somewhat unexpected, so it pays to be prepared ahead of time.)

But what should actually be in daddy’s hospital survival kit? What should dad pack in the hospital go-bag?

Read more

It must be tough to be a baby or a toddler and not be able to reach the dinner table!

Luckily, there are plenty of nifty devices they can sit down in and enjoy a meal as part of the family.

If you’re a new parent, or maybe just a rusty one, you might be wondering about the two most common options (outside of stacking phone books on a chair):

What’s the difference between a high chair vs a booster seat?

Read more

One of my favorite ways to organize your child’s artwork is to turn some of it into an amazing keepsake.

Sure, you can take one of the best pieces and frame it.

Or you could take 20-30 at a time and turn them into a beautiful, hardbound photo book.

The two best done-for-you services to accomplish this are easily Artkive and Plum Print.

They’re similar in a lot of ways, and both are great, but there are a few key differences to consider if you’re trying to choose between Artkive vs Plum Print.

Read more