From the Peloton App to iPhone Hacks,Parenting Tips and Tricks from a Pro

“I found this voice-recording button on Amazon when dealing with my daughter’s sleep struggles. I recorded myself singing our bedtime song and a little mantra saying “Mommy is near, I’m safe…” so she could push the button as she closed her eyes. I recommend it for sleep but also for families where the parents are divorced. Some families use it for school drop-off or sleepovers. It’s proved to be a great attachment-separation tool.” Neutral Voice Recording Button, $11, amazon.com

“When my son is playing a mindless videogame, I make him set a timer [similar shown] for 15 minutes. Even though he gets more screen time than that, he has learned to pause, put the screen down and take three deep breaths to check in with his body. It’s a helpful form of intervention and leads to a great conversation with your kids. I tell them, ‘Do you know those games are designed to feel like you’ve never played long enough? And that’s not your fault.’” Minimalist Danish Kitchen Timer, $27, food52.com

“I don’t ride the bike but I use the Peloton App for yoga. To a parent who doesn’t have 30 minutes I would say, ’What amount of time do you feel like you could do?’ You can do a lot in one minute. You could do deep breathing, a few squats. You could just do the end of the yoga class and lay down.” $13 a month, available on iOS and Android

“I set up my coffee pot [similar model, shown] at night and press the button in the morning. I don’t think of it as a chore, but as a gift to my tomorrow self.” Brew Central Programmable Coffeemaker, $100, cuisinart.com

“All my kids used the traffic light clock. You set it to red at night and when it turns green, that means it’s morning. It gives kids a sense of order. If it’s red, they know it’s not time to get up yet. Until kids can tell time, this does the trick.” It’s About Time Stoplight Sleep Enhancing Alarm Clock for Kids, $34, amazon.com

“I often record voice notes to myself [with the iPhone’s free, built-in app] and use them to practice how I’m going to express something. When you’re trying to set boundaries, for example, you can try out different tones and ways of putting an idea into words. You might think to yourself “that would feel too firm and aggressive,” but often it doesn’t actually sound firm at all.”

—Edited from an interview by Rebecca Malinsky

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