Is There a Market for an Adult SNOO?

February 27, 2021

A roundup of new guidance and stories from NYT Parenting.

Golden Cosmos

This week, we have two articles inspired by baby sleep (or lack thereof). One, a mini-guide to sleep training options from Dr. Craig Canapari, director of the Yale Pediatric Sleep Center. The other is a goofy piece (also featuring Dr. Canapari's advice) that I wrote about whether baby sleep tricks can help grown-ups, too, in which I pondered: Is there a market for an adult SNOO?

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Also new to NYT Parenting: Melinda Wenner Moyer looked into a new study from Hong Kong, which showed that when children returned to classrooms after their coronavirus-related shutdown, cases of the common cold among schoolkids surged. Another study, from the United Kingdom, showed that cold viruses spiked in parents two weeks after children returned to school there. A caveat here is that because of Covid, people may be more attuned to "every cough, sniffle and runny nose," as Melinda notes, so that could partially explain the spike.

Read about some delicious-sounding cross-cultural food traditions that help nourish new moms. Learn how to keep your family safe during an extreme weather event, like the one Texas just experienced. Make sure you're keeping hand sanitizer stored safely and out of grabby, curious little paws.

Finally, we'd love your input for two upcoming projects. If you are a teen parent, we want to hear about your experience during the pandemic. Tell us about it here.

The New York Times for Kids is working on a special project for your elementary schoolers. Throughout the spring, the Kids team is looking for feedback from 8- to 11-year-olds on a new app. Selected participants will spend an hour chatting over Zoom with someone from The Times, and earn a $50 gift certificate for their input. If your child is interested, please fill out this short survey.

Thanks for reading!

— Jessica Grose, columnist and reporter, NYT Parenting

THIS WEEK IN NYT PARENTING

Jing Wei

How to Get Your Baby to Sleep

An expert's guide to sleep training

By Craig Canapari, M.D.

Marta Sevilla

Can't Sleep? Treat Yourself Like a Baby

Can the "five S's" used to calm fussy babies — swaddle, side or stomach position, shush, swing and suck — also help grown-ups snooze? A reporter finds out.

By Jessica Grose

Rosem Morton for The New York Times

Why Common Colds Might Spike When Kids Return to School

Hong Kong schools reported a surge in colds when students resumed in-person learning. Here's what it means for kids in the U.S., and what parents can do to prepare.

By Melinda Wenner Moyer

Olivia Fields

How Food Traditions Nourish New Moms

Parents still turn to old recipes and customs for postpartum recovery.

By Pooja Makhijani

Andrew Flynn

How to Get Your Family Through an Extreme Weather Event

Take these steps when critical services are affected by freezing temperatures.

By Christina Caron

Getty Images

Children Are Consuming Hand Sanitizer. Here's How to Keep Them Safe.

During the pandemic, there was a dramatic increase in exposures to hand sanitizer reported among kids under 6, U.S. poison center data shows.

By Christina Caron

Getty Images

We Want to Hear From Teen Parents

The Times would love to hear from you about your experience parenting as a teenager during the pandemic.

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Tiny Victories

Parenting can be a grind. Let's celebrate the tiny victories.

Our two grandchildren, who are 2 and 4, have not entered our house since Covid struck, but they stop by with our son every week for an outdoor visit. My husband and I purchased online little toys and figurines, and we hide a few each week in the fig tree in our front yard for them to find. We call it the "Surprise Tree." — Bridget Poizner, San Diego

If you want a chance to get your Tiny Victory published, find us on Instagram @NYTparenting and use the hashtag #tinyvictories; email us; or enter your Tiny Victory at the bottom of this page. Include your full name and location. Tiny Victories may be edited for clarity and style. Your name, location and comments may be published, but your contact information will not. By submitting to us, you agree that you have read, understand and accept the Reader Submission Terms in relation to all of the content and other information you send to us.