Summer is here and if you’re looking to upgrade your backyard fun, we have you covered! In our roundup of Best Outdoor Toys of Summer, we look beyond the usual swing set and share toys that will keep your kids outside and off screens for hours—and make your backyard playdate central.

We spoke with our legal partners, Lyons & Associates on stepparent adoptions to help guide you through the process in New Jersey.

More Moms are gravitating towards sustainable clothes for ourselves and our kids, and for good reason. If you buy well-made, sustainable clothing, you can limit your family’s impact on the planet, while saving time and money because the clothes will be worn longer...

This story originally appeared on and was shared by Westport Moms.

Doodles — aka poodle mixes — are one of the most popular mixed breed of dogs, and for good reason. They’re adorable, friendly, fun, smart and non-shedding, making them a better choice for some people with allergies. But there is one doodle who is even more popular (way more popular!) than all the rest. Samson the Dood, an 8-year-old pup, has over 1 million followers on Instagram.

  As mothers, it can be easy to feel totally disconnected from not only our pre-kid life, friends and extended family, but from the world and current events in general. Before we had children, we could take a few minutes in the morning or evening, or during our...

Congrats to Rihanna on the birth of her first child! We love her fashion forward maternity style – from baring her belly to announce her pregnancy to her high fashion looks that had paparazzi covering her pregnancy like it was the Met Gala. When interviewed by Entertainment Weekly, Rihanna shared: “[Pregnancy’s] a long nine to 10 months. You have to enjoy it…Fashion is one of my favorite things, so, you know, we’re defying what it even means to be pregnant and maternal.”

This Build Your Own Rice Bowl Board allows each member of your family to create a dinner plate they’ll love–and actually eat! Picky eaters may just choose chicken and rice, while more adventurous ones may add edamame, spicy Sriracha sauce or cilantro. We’ve been long-time fans of these boards from The Bakermama because they are so family-friendly – and fun! Visit her Instagram and site for more.

This original story was shared by The Local Moms Network Contributor Harvey Karp, M.D.

Toddler truth: Tantrums usually peak at 18 to 24 months, subside a bit, then crest again around 3.5 years. So, knowing how to prevent—and quell—these meltdowns now will for-sure pay off in spades down the road.

As moms, we’re always looking for ways to have fun outside as a family, and for products that are truly safe and non-toxic. All Terrain is our latest find that fits both bills, and we’re thrilled to partner with this effective, environmentally friendly and yes, safe, line of insect repellents, itch relief soap, cream & spray, bandages and poison ivy products!

  10 Awesome Activities to Head to Over Spring Break:    Are you looking for some fun, exciting or unique ways to spend your days over spring break? Explore any of these places below from parks to hike, beaches to explore, museums to learn or rides to get...

Earth Day is April 22, and all of us at The Local Moms Network love celebrating with our kids—but try to keep it genuinely fun. Depending on the age of your little ones, celebrating Earth Day may be as simple as going for a walk outside in the stroller or as in depth as talking to teens about global warming. We’ve rounded up some great ways to note the occasion. Hope it gives you some inspiration for celebrating Mother Earth all year long!

At the end of March, one of our favorite mom-founded organizations, Miss O and Friends, launched its first NFT project that will celebrate girls! Previously, we’re shared all about Miss O and Friends, a safe socialization brand for girls, which already encompasses a website, streaming TV show, app and much more. So we were fascinated when co-founder Juliette Brindak Blake reached out to share the news about their NFT launch.

  Spring is here! It's time to set up mosquito and tick control for your yard. Ticks now emerge in April and May, but they can come out as soon as there is a sustained period of 45 degree weather. Setting up treatments now with Mosquito Squad  lays the groundwork so...