These NASA-Inspired Baby Swaddles Really Help Babies Sleep Longer

Ah, sleep! All new parents cherish every minute of it. We buy the best swaddles and baby carriers to help our little ones snooze. We read anything and everything about getting our babies to sleep at night. Long-suffering new moms and dads will be interested to know that one innovative company, Little Lotus, is offering a new NASA-inspired solution in the form of baby swaddles, blankets, and sleeping bags that help regulate a baby’s temperature, so the infant is neither too hot nor too cold, and sleeps longer. Really.

The spacesuit tech behind Little Lotus’s baby products draws away excess heat when babies get warm and releases heat when they start to cool down. The technology was first developed in 2008, when Little Lotus CEO and Co-Founder Jane Chen and her Stanford graduate school classmates invented the Embrace infant incubator after being tasked with creating a low-cost solution for baby warmers. The life-saving incubator has helped more than 200,000 babies thrive, earning the praise of former President Obama and a contribution from Beyoncé to provide Embrace incubators to nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

“We realized that we could help babies sleep better after receiving feedback about our Embrace infant incubators from doctors all over the world who had used the product. They reported that babies were sleeping better, and longer, thanks to our temperature regulation technology,” says Chen. Once Chen realized that the Embrace incubators helped premature babies sleep longer, she developed Little Lotus, a consumer-based brand, which would bring this tech to new parents who struggle with getting their babies the rest they need.

Chen and her team consulted with dozens of moms to design products that would solve the ultimate new-parent problem: sleep. In addition to the NASA-inspired fabric, a bottom zipper makes it easier for nighttime diaper changes, and velcro shoulder straps make it easy to take on and off — even while your baby is sleeping. The Little Lotus Signature print is a collaboration with artist Drue Kataoka and features hand prints from moms and babies from 14 countries who have been helped by the Embrace incubators. Dozens of notable figures also lent their hand to the Signature print, including the Dalai Lama, Chelsea Clinton, Christy Turlington Burns, Heidi Klum, Stella McCartney, and Arianna Huffington.

“With every Little Lotus purchase, we donate a portion of the sales to ensure more preterm babies in the developing world get access to the Embrace incubators,” says Chen. We consider it a huge win to help babies across the world to develop while also allowing sleep-deprived parents to get some extra rest while their baby naps or (YASS!) sleeps through the night.

What are some of your fave baby products to help your little one sleep? Share your tips with us @BritandCo.

(Photos via Embrace Innovations)

The baby name business has gotten a bit out of hand. While we love unique names, sometimes names like Toaster or Tree just don’t have the same ring as, say, Leila or Patrick. But we totally get the desire to have a name that differs from the mainstream. After all, our names are Olivia Taylor and Jasmine Williams…which are very popular.

People are literally paying Baby Name Consultants, like TikToker Colleen, to generate a list of top names for their little bundle of joy.

This concept isn’t all that new, but the idea of paying thousands of dollars for a list of names certainly is. The Wall Street Journal reported on the rise of baby name consultants and “the art of ‘branding’ your newborn” in 2007. With the boom in baby naming books circa early 2000s and the rise in funky celeb baby names like Apple Martin and Shiloh Jolie-Pitt (and today’s celeb baby names like Moxie CrimeFighter Jillette, Pilot Inspektor and Exa Dark Sideræl), baby-naming has become a source of stress and incredible importance. So stressful, in fact, that a few thousand dollars doesn’t look so bad.

Don't worry though – we definitely won’t charge you $10k for your baby’s unique name. Instead, here are 16 baby names that are cute and unique, and might be the perfect fit for your little one.

Unique Baby Names for Girls 

Photo by Daniel Thomas / Unsplash

  • Aria — All we can think about is, "Here comes Queen Aria," whenever we see this name. Similar to Arielle's name from The Little Mermaid, Aria is synonymous with something melodic.
  • Iris — Just like the iris of your eye, this name means your daughter will more than likely have a bright and colorful personality!
  • Maia — Instead of the traditional spelling of Mya, this name has Latin roots and means "great."
  • Ayla — Your daughter will have sturdy characteristics thanks to her Hebrew name!
  • Asha — Let your little girl's name remind you that there's much to be hopeful about.
  • Naomi — Take a cue from famed model Naomi Campbell and let your daughter's name introduce her beauty to the world.

Gender-Neutral Unique Baby Names

Image via kaushal mishra/Unsplash

  • Campbell — This Scottish name means "beautiful field" so we're sure it means your son's being will be full of beautiful traits and perspectives .
  • Reese — There's a reason why Reese Witherspoon has such a enthralling personality. Her name means "passion" and "enthusiasm."
  • Greer — We can hear Beyoncé's song "Protector" playing when we say this name because it means "guardian."
  • Lennon — There's a reason the world was so drawn to John Lennon's name. Lennon means "dear one" and we know that's how you'll feel about your newborn!
  • Sterling — "Twinkle, Twinkle little star" has nothing on the name Sterling. On second thought, it could serve as your baby's unofficial theme song.

Unique Baby Names For Your Son

Photo by luis arias / Unsplash

  • Lennox — Trade the 'n' in Lennon for an X to get this Scottish name. It rolls off the tongue, making it easier for others to pronounce.
  • Adler — Your little eagle is sure to soar high under your watchful eye.
  • Rowan — Have a cute baby that was born with a head full of red hair? Name him Rowan which means "little Red one." While you're at it, check out these lucky Irish baby names for more ideas!
  • Banks — If you feel drawn to water during your pregnancy, there's a good chance there's a reason why. Banks translates to "edge of the river."
  • Rigg —Whether you choose this as your baby's first or middle name, it'll be easy for others to remember it!

We know this process can be stressful, but don’t worry. As a new parent, you have so many other things taking up space in your mind, and this shouldn’t be one of them. Whatever baby name you go with, we’re sure it will be amazing.

Got any other unique baby name ideas? Share them with us in the comments!

We've got all your baby needs at Brit + Co.

This post has been updated.

Lead image via Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash

Landman fans, how we feeling? The first season of Taylor Sheridan's new drama came to a close on January 12 with the season finale, "The Crumbs of Hope," and it provided viewers with plenty of to think about as tensions between the cartel and M-Tex Oil came to a head — and one character suffered a potentially-fatal medical emergency.

Here's everything you need to know about the Landman season finale, including THAT (potential) character death.

What happens in the last episode of Landman?

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

The last episode of Landman opens after Monty's (Jon Hamm) ruptured aortic aneurysm in episode 9 lands him in the hospital for a heart transplant...if they can find a new heart in time. (I'm getting flashbacks to Dan's heart transplant catastrophe in One Tree Hill). But based on the fact Monty flatlines and Cami (Demi Moore) and their daughters cry over his bed, things aren't looking hopeful.

Meanwhile, Tommy (Billy Bob Thornton) takes over as M-Tex Oil president, and as he works on smoothing things over between the cartel and the oil company, he gets kidnapped by the cartel, who also blow up an oil tank and drive a nail into Tommy's leg for good measure. But just when it looks like Tommy might meet his end, cartel leader Galino (Andy Garcia) wipes out the other members and helps him escape.

Billy Bob and Andy have actually been friends for awhile, but this is the first time they've acted onscreen together! "Andy is such a great guy and great actor, and when we did those scenes at the end of the last episode, it felt so good, because we kind of had us two old veterans going head to head,” Billy Bob Thornton told Variety. “It was quite an experience, and I have to say every moment of it felt real. Tommy’s dealing with someone now who is really smart. The other guys were hired to work for him, but now Tommy’s talking to the man himself. There are advantages and disadvantages to that. Since he is so smart, who knows what Tommy is going to get tricked into?”

How did Landman end last night?

Landman season 1 ends with Tommy returning home with a proposition (er, more like a friendly demand) from Galino that the oil business and the cartel become allies. After all, the cartel's interested in taking part in the industry — and seeing what it has to offer.

“The cartel and the oil industry are kind of these odd neighbors living side by side in West Texas,” co-creator Christian Wallace tells Variety. “Now Andy’s character is thinking he is going to make a change and utilize that proximity in a way that could benefit him.”

Hopefully Paramount+ greenlights Landman season 2 so we can see just what happens between Galino and Tommy in the future...and if Monty makes it out of the hospital alive.

What did you think about the Landman finale? If you're a Taylor Sheridan fan who's still reeling from those final moments — and the Yellowstone finale — check out 17 TV Shows Yellowstone Fans Should Watch Next.

Whether you're a new or seasoned parent, it seems like finding mom-approvedorganizationtips to help keep your space tidy feels like another never-ending task that may or may not get done. Even though we'd love to keep everything clean, I'm sure other moms will tell you that clutterwins more often than we'd like to admit. To be blunt, I've even given myself permission to stop feeling guilty when my apartmentdoesn't look presentable. Still, it doesn't hurt to be able to know where things are instead of accidentally leaving my keys in the refrigerator or having to run to the pantryto find a backup diaperduring blowout moments — *blank stare.*

Luckily, moms' prayers have been answered thanks to Ria Safford's new book The Organized Home for New Parents. Not only is Ria a certified organization queen, but she's also a wife and momof three. Arguably the best thing about Ria is her willingness to be honest about *not* always having it together. "I'm messy at heart. Like, I want people to understand that being a walking hot mess and being organized aren't mutually exclusive," she said.

It's the main reason she wrote The Organized Home for New Parents — she honestly gets how hard it is to navigate motherhood while caring for little people. Since I'm getting ready for the threenager stage (send help) of being a toddler mom, here are five mom-approved tips from The Organized Home for New Parents I've started putting into practice.

1. Change your approach and mindset to organizing.

Photo by The Organized Home for New Parents/Blue Star Press

Unless cleaning and organizing makes you feel absolutely giddy, chances are...you dread doing it. This isn't a call-out because I'm right there in the trenches with you. I went from loving being a part of the cleaning process to realizing my mom intended to spend half of Saturday morning doing *just* that. Although I maintained the understanding that cleaning my space is necessary, I was never thrilled about it.

However, Ria said it's important to shift the way we think about cleaning. "I think the biggest reasons my kids look forward to helping me keep different parts of our home clean is because I make things fun. We're a very competitive household, so I make up games like 'who can clean the fastest,' so it doesn't make them feel I'm taking away time they want to spend doing something else."

2. Ask yourself why it's important for you to get organized.

Photo by The Organized Home for New Parents/Blue Star Press

Raise your hand if you've ever asked yourself why you didn't remember something or uttered, "How could I be so stupid?" First, here's a virtual hand-to-heart moment because I've done the same. Second, know that being clear about your reasoning for having an organized space is necessary for you to get started. "Maybe you feel you can't function unless things are perfectly organized and experience discomfort when they aren't," Ria said.

Reading the book helped me personally identify my main goals for wanting an organized space and I realized two things:

  1. I want my apartment to feel peaceful.
  2. I don't want to feel like I never know where anything is when I need it.

It may look completely different for you and that's totally okay. Ria's organization tips are designed in a way that help you tailor them to your needs.

3. Involve your partner or supportive village in the organization process.

Photo by The Organized Home for New Parents/Blue Star Press

Ria and I both agreed that there are tons of books about how to prepare for your baby's arrival, but there aren't many that shed light on truly helpful organization tips in the midst of it. It can be overwhelming when you realize all of the gifts or clothes you received during your baby shower have to find a place to go in your home. On top of it all, you probably didn't even think about discussing with your partner or supportive village, or ask them to help lighten your housework's load.

"When my first daughter was born, I wanted to do everything myself," Ria said. While it's cool to have an independent nature, it can lead to feelings of burnout. The Organized Home for New Parents outlines how to have conversations with the people in your life so everyone is able to effectively work together to provide support that goes beyond feeding the baby while mom takes a nap.

"Labeling things and letting your support system know where they are so they feel adequately equipped to help is one of the things I was adamant about putting in the book," said Ria. The fact she doesn't gloss over this section in Chapter 2 is so helpful, and serves as a conversation starter for those at different stages of parenthood.

4. Be open to pivoting as your children grow.

Photo by The Organized Home for New Parents/Blue Star Press

Although Ria wanted to specifically make sure new parents felt seen with her book, she wrote it in a way she hopes feels timeless. "Organization is never over. There's always going to be constant editing that occurs over time. Look, my kids are 8, 6, and 4 so I had no choice but to pivot," she said.

If you don't have small kids, The Organized Home for New Parents is still helpful because it can help you think about how you want to approach organizing in the different seasons of your life. You might not have to organize your kids' diapers anymore, but they're still going to wear other clothes that need to be folded and put away. And let's not forget the mountain of toys kids tend to accumulate over the years...*side eye*

5. Don't be afraid to find ways to optimize small spaces.

Photo by The Organized Home for New Parents/Blue Star Press

Regardless of where you live — house, townhouse, apartment, or otherwise — you probably have a few small spaces that you haven't figured out how to organize. They could be your kitchen drawers, a corner in your living room or even the small space on the side of your toilet that's collected random Amazon boxes. Yes...I'm speaking from experience.

The Organized Home helps you reimagine those spaces so that you're able to collect your overflow in a more organized way. One of these ways is by making use of a three-tier rolling cart. Since I built one of my own over the weekend, it's helped to transform my bathroom so that other essentials are securely stored there. Surprisingly, my toddler thinks it looks "cool" and even helped me put back his Boogie Wipes that were on it.

My final verdict of "The Organized Home for New Parents"

Photo by The Organized Home for New Parents/Blue Star Press

I'll be honest — I'm pretty critical of books geared towards parents because some feel like you're having a ton of instructions thrown at you. Although The Organized Home for New Parents is filled to the brim with actionable steps you can take to get your home organized, they're easy to digest and break down step-by-step. Ria said, "The goal isn't to tackle everything at once. Do what you can a little at a time to help lessen the chance you feel overwhelmed."

Taking her advice, I chose three areas of my apartment to clean this weekend, and I was able to organize my pantry and my toddler's bathroom station without feeling discouraged. I also didn't do everything in one day. Ria's tips are helping this mom communicate better about the household things I need help with, and the areas I've gotten around to organizing feel damn good to look at and walk into.

Take it from me, The Organized Home for New Parents by Ria Safford is worth buying and isn't another pretty book that's going to collect dust on your coffee table. You'll probably bookmark and annotate sections throughout it for years to come. Plus, it makes for a great gift for other moms in your life!

Purchase a copy (or two) of "The Organized Home for New Parents"

Photo by The Organized Home for New Parents/Blue Star Press

The Organized Home for New Parents

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Lead image via The Organized Home for New Parents/Blue Star Press

It Ends With Us has quickly become the most memorable movie of Blake Lively's career after rumors of drama between her and costar & director Justin Baldonimorphed into a full-on legal battle. And after the feud was uncovered, the internet has spiraled over what Blake Lively's relationships with her other costars are like — and whether what's happening behind the scenes of her movies are going to delay them. Well, A Simple Favor 2 director Paul Feig had the perfect response to rumors that another feud between Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick caused Amazon to shelve the movie.

Here's exactly what A Simple Favor 2 director Paul Feig had to say about Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively's relationship.

Paul Feig offers a very promising update on 'A Simple Favor 2'

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- YouTube

When a viral tweet claimed that Amazon had indefinitely delayed A Simple Favor 2 because of a feud between Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, director Paul Feig stepped in to clear up the rumors.

"Despite glowing test screenings, Blake Lively’s refusal to promote—amid her messy legal battle with Justin Baldoni—and growing tensions with Anna Kendrick have derailed the sequel," X user Eric B tweeted on January 10. "Anna is furious. Paul Feig is disappointed. Hollywood is in shock. This isn’t just a movie—it’s an implosion."

"This is total BS. Sorry," Feig said in his retweet that same day. "The movie is finished and coming out soon. Don’t believe anything you read on social media these days."

And Anna Kendrick says reuniting with Blake Lively was "lovely."

Anna Kendrick also spilled on reuniting with Blake Lively, claiming that working together felt "a little bit like riding a bike."

"She lives on the East Coast, I live on the West Coast, so we don't get to see each other often," she told PEOPLE. "But it was lovely, and I think that those characters have such weird chemistry that it's so fun to just get the gang back together."

We don't know many details about the plot just yet but we do know it involves a destination wedding — and Blake Lively's Emily in a very fancy wedding dress. Stephanie and Emily "head to the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman," according to the movie's synopsis (via People). "Along with the glamorous guests, expect murder and betrayal to RSVP for a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri town square."

Sign me up!

Check out The Best Blake Lively Movies to get ready for A Simple Favor 2.

Are you anxiously waiting for new TV shows to debut this year? Me too, particularly Meghan Markle's series With Love, Megan (January 15). But, we at Brit + Co have the perfect buffer that'll hold you over — revisiting the '90s.

Instead of trying to cram the likes of Dawson's Creek or Sex and the City into one weekend, we have the best show you should watch based on your zodiac! We've already made cozy plans to curl up with a cute blanket from T.J. Maxx so we can watch endless reruns of the shows associated with our signs, and we hope you join us!

Scroll to find the '90s show that perfectly matches your zodiac sign!

Brit + Co

Aries (March 21 - April 19): Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Bold, fearless, and always ready for a fight, Aries will love Buffy's courageous spirit and kick-ass attitude. She's got all the makings of a fire sign who means business.

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Taurus (April 20 - May 20): Friends

Taureans appreciate stability and comfort. Friends offers warm, familiar characters and a cozy, sitcom vibe. If you really want to tap into this vibe, call your besties and have an impromptu watch party!

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Gemini (May 21 - June 20): Felicity

Curious and ever-changing, Geminis will relate to Felicity's journey of self-discovery and her endless quest for knowledge. There's also the inevitable complicated relationship Felicity has with Ben and Noel that's hard to resist.

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Cancer (June 21 - July 22): Moesha

Cancerians are nurturing and empathetic. They'll connect with Moesha's family-oriented values and emotional depth. Though she didn't get everything right, Moesha always tried to remedy things whenever they went wrong — just like a true Cancer.

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Leo (July 23 - August 22): Beverly Hills, 90210

Leos love the spotlight and drama. 90210 delivers glamorous characters, high-stakes situations, and plenty of over-the-top moments.

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Virgo (August 23 - September 22): The X-Files

Virgos are analytical and detail-oriented. The X-Files offers a perfect blend of mystery, science, and a touch of the paranormal. What's not to love?

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Libra (September 23 - October 22): Sex and the City

Libras appreciate beauty, balance, and social connections. Sex and the City explores love, friendship, and fashion in a stylish and sophisticated way.

P.S. We won't be shocked if some of you discover you're more of a 'Charlotte' than a 'Carrie.'

Brit + Co

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21): Charmed

Intense and passionate, Scorpios will be drawn to the supernatural world of the Charmed Ones, filled with dark magic and powerful sisterhood.

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Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21): Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Adventurous and optimistic, Sagittarians will enjoy the Fresh Prince's witty humor, vibrant personality, and knack for getting into trouble.

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Capricorn (December 22 - January 19): Dawson’s Creek

Ambitious and disciplined, Capricorns will appreciate Dawson's intellectual pursuits and the show's exploration of complex relationships and coming-of-age themes.

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Aquarius (January 20 - February 18): Daria

Quirky and independent, Aquarians will identify with Daria's unique perspective and her ability to see through societal norms. It's also not surprising that Daria has what some call a 'black cat' personality because Aquarians can have a dry sense of humor that's borderline sarcastic.

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Pisces (February 19 - March 20): Sabrina, the Teenage Witch

Dreamy and imaginative, Pisces will love Sabrina's magical adventures and her ability to navigate the challenges of adolescence with a touch of magic.

Revisit your weekly horoscope to see if our predictions for your zodiac came true this week!