Cynical Parent

Whether you’ve been able to grab an actual Nugget or one of the Nugget alternatives, you’re probably wondering what the best Nugget couch accessories are.  You know, the things that can really take Nugget play to the next level.

Aside from buying more pillows, Nugget (the company) themselves don’t actually sell any accessories.  And let’s be honest: if they did, they would probably be sold out right now given how hot this play couch is.  

We did some digging around though – looking through Pinterest, Instagram, etc. to see what other people are using to maximize playtime with the Nugget, and compiled it all in a nice little list.  

Let’s get to it!

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Fall is in the air, and there’s nothing like a cool weather that gets me excited about cooking.  Slow cooker meals, soups, stews, you name it – it’s all good for fall.

With all the junk that comes along with this time of year (Halloween candy, baked goods for the holidays, etc.) it’s good to figure out some meals that are not only healthy but that the whole family, especially the kids, will enjoy.

So, we took a deep dive into all the healthy fall recipes for kids and came up with a good list to share with you.

Let’s go!

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I don’t know if you noticed, but the Nugget (that little play couch for kids) has been super popular lately, especially during these times where we find ourselves at home more often.

It’s perpetually sold out.  And when they do come back in stock, they sell out within a couple minutes. Or you have to sit and wait to win a lottery.  It’s crazy.

So, you might find yourself wondering, “what else is out there? There must be something else like it, right?” 

You’re in luck.

While there’s nothing exactly the same as the the Nugget, there are several good alternatives and knockoffs that are easier to get your hands on and will still provide tons of fun for your little ones.

Let’s dive in and check out the best Nugget alternative (we have a few options).

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Sleep is precious.  And if your baby isn’t getting it, neither are you.

It’s one of the reasons some people are willing to shell out nearly $1,500 for a bassinet (the Snoo) that supposedly helps your baby sleep better.

I’ve tried the Snoo – we rented it for a month when our 3 month old would only nap in our arms.  It’s impressive in the way that it works, and it’s a stylish looking piece of furniture.  

But ultimately, we returned it for 2 reasons:

1) It was too damn expensive.  Not that we couldn’t afford it, but it didn’t seem worth the money.

2) It didn’t seem to do much for us over other similar (less expensive) options.

With all of that said, I know some parents rave about the Snoo, so I’m not going to say it doesn’t work or that it’s not worth the money.  Lots of parents praise its effectiveness and I know it has helped infants sleep better.

What if we told you there are some good Snoo alternatives that won’t break the bank? 

Granted, you aren’t going to find anything exactly like the Snoo for less money, but there are bassinets out there that work just as well.  

We did the research. Let’s check ’em out.

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With many of us stuck either homeschooling our kids or putting them in an at-home, remote/virtual learning environment, the home learning space has never been more important.

Today we’re going to tackle kids homeschool desk ideas; after all, this is where the learning happens.  (If you’re looking for an overall room setup, check out the post we did on homeschool room design ideas.)

This post is going to be about everything from ideas about the actual desk to use, to the types of things you can get for your desk to keep it better organized.

Remote learning may never be quite as good as live and face-to-face with a teacher, but we’re doing the best we can!

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Planning for a baby’s nursery is one of the most enjoyable parts of preparing for a newborn.  There are literally unlimited options! 

Today, we’re going to focus on baby farm animal nursery ideas.  You know, like cows, pigs, chickens, etc.

Although we are going to show you some great examples of nurseries, we’re going to focus on the actual stuff you can buy (like signs and pictures).  

As with any nursery theme or design ideas, don’t feel like you have to copy exactly what you see on the internet.  Look at different pieces and take what you like (and ignore the things you don’t like).  I promise, whatever you come up with is going to look cute.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of these farm animal nursery ideas!

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More than ever before, many parents are faced with a situation where their children will be learning from home, as so many schools temporarily shift to a virtual learning model. And if you’re in this situation, you may find yourself looking into homeschool room design ideas.

There’s no way to sugarcoat it: this is a tough situation for so many parents.

Not only do some families have both parents working during the day, but most parents have never had to deal with formal education in their home.  Depending on the age of your kids, it can be a real struggle.

We’re not about to tackle the issue of balancing your work with your children’s remote learning, but sometimes half the battle is the environment.  

If your kid can’t physically be in a classroom, how can you create an environment that tries to simulate that experience?

That’s what we’re going to figure out here as we look at some really awesome and effective homeschool room design ideas.

Let’s get to it.

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Fall is definitely one of my favorite seasons.  The leaves change colors, you get out of the dreadful heat of summer (depending on where you live), and move into some nice, cool weather before it gets too cold.

It’s an exciting time for kids too.  Halloween is around the corner, and before you know it, the holidays are here.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

We thought it might be fun to look at some activities for kids, and specifically look at fall leaf activities for preschoolers.

Let’s get into it.

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Halloween will be here before you know it, and if you haven’t yet figured out what your little one is going to wear, you’d better do it soon!

When your child is just a baby, Halloween really serves three purposes:

1) You get to admire how cute your baby is in a costume.

2) You get to take lots of pictures but don’t need to go walk outside in the cold.

3) You get to eat all the candy you buy because your kid’s not old enough to eat it (oops).

I love Halloween, and I’ll be damned if a baby is going to stop me from enjoying costumes and candy.  

Picking out a costume isn’t necessarily easy – they all look cute, and before you buy one, you need to have an argument with your spouse about which one you’re going to get.

We previously looked at the best Halloween costumes for a baby girl, but now it’s time to look at costumes for a baby boy. 

Here we go…

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Becoming a dad for the first time is pretty scary.

Every day you find yourself facing issues you’ve never dealt with before. And not only are you dealing with a new child, but likely a new mother as well (I think most mothers would agree that this adds a layer of complexity to the father’s experience).

The good thing is, billions of people before you have managed to become parents and more or less did an OK job. You aren’t expected to know everything, and most of what you need to know you will learn along the way.

As a first-time-dad-to-be, I researched this topic quite a bit.  There’s a lot of information out there for “first time parents,” but most of the writing is from a woman’s perspective and therefore tends to skew toward first time moms.

A lot of first time dad tips are the same, but there are some key differences.

What are they? Let’s get right into ’em.

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