Our Favorite Parenting News Stories Of The Week

We’ve all heard of helicopter parents, but now the term “snowplow parents” (read: those who attempt to clear any obstacles for their children at all costs) is gaining traction. Director of Residence Life at Sarah Lawrence College Carolyn O’Laughlin makes a case for easing up on the reigns. (The Washington Post)

Those who fell in love with the viral photos of a toddler and his puppy sharing some shut eye are about to see a lot more of the adorable napping duo! Theo and Beau (or rather their mom—our friend Jessica Shyba) just scored a book deal, with the first of two volumes set to hit shelves in 2015. (Huffington Post)

Playtex has issued a recall on its popular Hip Hammock Infant Carriers. Parents are urged to stop using the carriers after the company received 87 reports of buckles breaking and, in some cases, causing injury to babies. (The Stir)

Technology has helped reinvent many things, and Santa is no exception! Check out some of the clever ways kids can now interact with Santa digitally. (Babble)

With Christmas now being so entrenched in mainstream culture, it can be tough for parents who don’t celebrate to explain their sensibility to their kids…and even more so when one parent celebrates and the other doesn’t. One Jewish mom reflects on her feelings about Christmas as kid, and now as a mother. (Motherlode)

Still trimming the tree? Check out some fab (and super-easy) DIY ornament suggestions, all perfect for family bonding time and keeping kids engaged over winter break! (Elizabeth Street)

The eternal debate of whether or not to screen newborns for disease continues. This particular story about Matthew and Brianne Wojtesta concerns Krabbe disease, a deadly, neurological disorder. (NPR)

When a baby has two film/photography buffs for parents, what happens? The Cardboard Box Office happens, a project that recreates famous movie scenes using a few homemade props and a lot of creativity.  (Today.com)

Would you name your baby after your favorite forest critter? Kate Winslet would—and in fact, she did! Kate just gave birth to baby Bear Winslet! (Crushable)