17 Best Halloween Craft Kits For Kids & Adults

— Anastasiia Krivenok/Moment/Getty Images

There is nothing quite like a good craft kit. Everyone gets all excited about cooking kits with everything already chopped and ready to go, but that’s how I feel about crafts — especially seasonal craft kits. The amount of Halloween craft kits available to choose from is almost overwhelming, but they are all so good. From creating full-on Halloween decor you can put out every year to making things that will probably only last a season, there is the perfect Halloween craft kit out there waiting for you and your kids.

Most of the items on this list are geared towards children, but some are obviously best for older kids (like the cross stitch and embroidery kits) or crafty adults. Even the littlest Halloween fan can get in on some of these though, especially the Halloween craft kits that just need a hand willing to wave a paint brush or decorate a pumpkin. So pick your favorite, break out of all your favorite Halloween snacks, and make a family night out of crafting, painting, and decorating together. These Halloween craft kits come with everything you need (and some just require the items I know you already have in your art supply bin, like paint) to have a spooky and creative time.

Decorate Your Own Pumpkin Stack

7.8" DIY LED Stacked Ceramic Jack-O-Lanterns

Michaels

OK, so this is the only one on this list that doesn’t come with the paint or decorations you may want to use, but the LED stacked ceramic jack-o-lanterns are absolutely perfect for even the smallest members of the family to craft. Paint the pumpkins, cover them in gems and stickers, have some fun by using painter’s tape to make patterns — just let your imagination go wild. And then you can light it up afterwards for a Halloween decoration that will last years and hold so many memories.

Halloween Wreaths For A Crowd

Halloween Wreath Kit 12-Pack

Amazon

This Halloween wreath kit is perfect if you need a craft kit for several kiddos. It comes in a pack of 12 with tons of decorations and even hanging hooks, so this works out really well for a party craft or a crowd of people. I especially love the hanging decoration in the center of each wreath, and the little characters are so bright and fun.

Pumpkin Painting Kit

Crayola Pumpkin Painting Kit

Target

Carving pumpkins can be a lot, and if you have a kid like mine who loves painting more than anything, this Crayola pumpkin painting kit is perfection. It actually comes with paint sticks, which are way less messy than traditional paint and water, and the paint works on both real pumpkins and fake ones. There are also a few sheets of glow-in-the-dark stickers to really set the spooky tone. Kids will spend all day with this craft.

Classic Paper Chains

Halloween Paper Chains

eeBoo

I love classic decorations and classic crafts, and this one combines both of those things. From eeBoo, this Halloween chain decoration kit includes 120 sheets to make an epic 24-foot long paper chain with incredible vintage and fun Halloween designs. Seriously, the paper in this is so pretty, and it’s also pretty sturdy, so it should last for a few seasons if you pack it up nicely. It’s a nice, mess-free craft that you can do in front of Hocus Pocus one night as a family activity. (And it’s perfect for parties or bedroom decorating.)

All-In-One Halloween Craft Kit

Kid Made Modern Halloween Craft Kit

Amazon

Kid Made Modern is one of my favorite craft brands, and this Halloween craft kit is one of their best. It comes with a wide assortment of crafty things, from spooky shapes and pom poms to felt, you and your kids can make all kinds of fun Halloween things. This is one of those craft kits that is best for those who really just want to glue and make something, but older kids will love making the classic creepy characters and Halloween items.

Halloween Snow Globe Kit

Halloween Glitter Snow Globe Craft Kit 12-Pack

Oriental Trading

Who says snow globes are just for Christmas? This Halloween glitter snow globe craft kit from Oriental Trading has everything you need to make 12 creepy snow globes. This is another kit that’s great if you have a crowd to entertain, and you could even pull it out for a little crafting contest where your family votes on the best one.

Halloween Bead Kit

Creatology Candy Corn Bead Kit in Ghost Box

Michaels

A big box of beads are a must for any crafting family, and I’m obsessed with this candy corn bead kit in a ghost box from Creatology. The colors are perfect for Halloween and it also includes candy corn-themed beads and strings to make spooky bracelets, keychains, and other fun little accessories.

Make Your Own Trick-Or-Treat Bag

Trick-Or-Treat Tote Pattern

Shabby Fabrics

For older kids or adults who just want to get crafty, Shabby Fabrics has this super fun trick-or-treat tote pattern to make the perfect Halloween bag for collecting all the candy. This definitely isn’t an easy craft to do when you’re just zoning out to Nightmare Before Christmas on TV, but it’s a great way to work on big kids’ crafting skills.

Paint Your Own Ghosts & Bats

Mondo Llama Wooden Paint Your Own Ghosts & Bats

Target

Every few months, I wander down the craft aisle at Target and get a few of these Mondo Llama kits. They never disappoint, and I love pulling out my kids’ creations for each season as decoration. The Mondo Llama ghosts and bats kit comes with paint and three different wooden Halloween shapes for kids to paint and decorate. These hold up really well and will mostly stand on their own, so feel free to get several and let your kids paint a whole little world of ghosts and bats as decor.

A Spooky Melty Bead Graveyard

8" Halloween Spooky Melty Bead Bulk Kit

JOANN

Is there anything better than a melty bead craft kit? This Halloween spooky melty bead bulk kit may be my new favorite, as it comes with everything your family needs to make a whole little graveyard set. The decorations are just as easy as you remember from when you were a kid, and your family will love setting it up afterwards and playing with all of the individual pieces. It’s a great spooky little decoration.

Make A Spooky Halloween Cat Decoration

Creatology Halloween Cat Collage Kit

Michaels

Another easy craft that can become fun, memorable decor, there is this Halloween cat collage kit. It comes with everything your kids need to decorate their own spooky little Halloween friend, and it’ll be so fun to pull out year after year. Make sure to write your child’s name and the year on the bottom so you can save it forever.

Make Your Own Halloween Garland

Make Your Own Felt Halloween Garland

PollyChromeCrafts/Etsy

OK, I’m obsessed with this one. Depending on your kid’s crafting skills (and/or your willingness to help), this make-your-own Halloween garland is a must. It comes with all the felt pieces you need to create this incredible decoration that is both spooky and adorable. Individual items could also be little toys for even the youngest Halloween fans if you don’t want to display them on the garland. This might take them all October to do, but what a great way to spend time together and make some fun Halloween memories.

A Spooky Sweet Embroidery Kit

Ghosts in the Garden Embroidery Kit

TalesFromTheHoop/Etsy

Another craft kit that needs a lot of skill, but I’m absolutely obsessed with this ghosts in the garden embroidery kit. It’s absolutely darling, spooky, and such a perfect way to craft with a movie. This might be the best one for mom to do herself when all her little goblins and ghouls are asleep in bed.

A Spooky Pom-Pom Craft

Spider Tissue Pom-Pom Halloween Craft

Target

If you want a really fun Halloween party decoration or just a dose of spookiness in your house, you need this spider tissue pom-pom craft kit. It’s literally so easy to whip together, and you can hang them all over the place for a really fun, creepy effect.

A Spooky Paint-By-Numbers Kit

Nivvey DIY Paint By Numbers Halloween Kit

Amazon

OK, so the littlest ones can’t really do this craft, but big kids and adults will love this paint-by-numbers Halloween kit. It becomes a creepy haunted house with a full moon and a path of jack-o-lanterns, and is cute enough to display in your house every year for Halloween.

Halloween Cross Stitch

Happy Halloween Magic Counted Cross Stitch Kit

The Stitchery

I love a good cross stitch kit, and this Happy Halloween cross stitch set from The Stitchery is just so cute. It’s a great size, and has so many fun details to work through as you craft. It might take you all of October to finish, but that’s what makes it such a great Halloween craft.

Light-Up Witch Lantern

3" Halloween DIY Witch Lantern Art Kit

Joann

For kiddos who love to craft and make a very specific thing, this adorable little witch lantern kit comes with everything they need. The end result is a little lantern decorated as a witch that glows, and they’ll love carrying it all over the house and moving it from place to place like a real lantern.

There’s such a huge variety of Halloween craft kits to choose from, and hopefully at least one on this list has inspired you to get spooky and crafty.

Read More

'Greeking Out' Halloween Costumes For Kids Who Love Greek Mythology

— Cyndi Monaghan/Moment Open/Getty Images

The greatest stories in history were told in Greek mythology: gods and heroes, amazing feats, it’s no wonder our kids love Greeking Out so much. They listen to it so much, in fact, that we’ve memorized the theme song and opened the article with it, but you knew that. Yes, the National Geographic Kids podcast has been a favorite for years now, so it stands to reason our little classicists in training might be asking about a Greeking Out Halloween costume this year — which might be challenging. Sure there are plenty of generic god and goddess costumes out there, but how do you make the costumes more specific, realistic, and fun? Don’t worry, there are plenty of options.

This list of Greeking Out Halloween costumes can be used to give you resources, as well as ideas. There are so many different directions you and your kiddo could go for, so feel free to mix and match some of the more generic aspects of these costumes. If you prefer Persephone’s tunic, go ahead and use it for your Athena costume! And never underestimate your ability to DIY!

Zeus Halloween Costume

The youngest child of the Titans Cronos and Rhea, Zeus led the army of Olympians to battle the old gods and became king of Mt. Olympus. He rules the sky and is known for attacking his opponents with lightning bolts. You can keep this one nice and simple— it’s more or less the quintessential Greek god costume, but the inclusion of a lightning bolt is a great, easy way to make it specific.

Child Toga White

Amazon

Rock Legend Beard & Wig

Amazon

Lightning Bolt

Amazon

Greek God Laurel Crown

Amazon

Athena Halloween Costume

This daughter of Zeus is the goddess of wisdom, weaving, and battle strategy. She is often symbolized as or with an owl, so I love the idea of bringing a plush to complete this look. If you glue a strong magnet to its bottom and then put another magnet beneath it, with a little bit of fiddling you could get this owl to “sit” on your goddess’ shoulder. But even if you don’t opt for making more additional work for yourself (I don’t blame you), this is a child’s Athena costume fit for an Olympian.

Of course, Athena wasn’t a soft cuddly goddess, so don’t forget her favorite weapon: a spear.

Golden Goddess Costume

Spirit Halloween

Owl Plush

Amazon

Costume Spear

Amazon

Hades Halloween Costume

Brother of Zeus and Lord of the Underworld, Hades is the god of death and is known for his dark and gloomy disposition. This robe is available with a number of different colored sashes — I especially love purple or red for this child’s Hades costume, just to keep the vibe feeling a bit villainous (though Hades isn’t a villain, exactly, just sort of creepy).

Hades’ prized possession is his helmet of invisibility, and this one looks suitably dramatic for the gothest, dare I say most Halloween-y, god around.

Child's Black Toga

Etsy

Child's Helmet with Dagger

Amazon

Medusa Halloween Costume

In feminist circles, Medusa is getting a little bit of a redemption arc as people realize “Wait... so she was assaulted by a god and punished for it and then all she wanted to do was chill in her cave and this Perseus joker just came in to cut off her head?! Leave Medusa alone!” Also, let us not discount the truth that this is one of the coolest Greek mythology costumes your kid can choose.

I think this slightly darker tunic and sash is perfect. Pair with fangs and snake accessories and you have the perfect Medusa costume for girls.

Child's Drape Toga

Amazon

Medusa Snakes Headband

Amazon

Child's Fangs

Amazon

Snake Necklace & Bracelet

Party City

Poseidon Halloween Costume

Poseidon is Zeus’ big brother who was given dominion over the ocean. His costume is very similar to that of his brother/boss, but for some important details — where Zeus has a lightning bolt, Poseidon prefers a trident. I like this blue-accented tunic as a nod to his watery domain and a slightly longer beard. Also, a king needs a crown, and this seashell one is pretty cool (also great for future Halloween costumes for younger siblings who want to be a mermaid).

Toga With Blue Sash

Amazon

Long Wig & Beard

Amazon

Trident

Party City

Seashell Headband Crown

Amazon

Artemis Halloween Costume

The goddess of the hunt and the moon is a popular one among young girls (she was a patron of theirs) and I get it: she’s cool. In my opinion, she outshines her twin brother Apollo, which is impressive considering he’s the god of the sun.

For this, I went with a slightly shorter tunic (easier for running through the forest after game). I also included a crown that acknowledges her position as goddess of the moon. Add in a wooden bow and boom! Perfect Artemis costume for kids.

3/4 Length Toga

Amazon

2-Piece Moon Crown

Amazon

Wooden Bow & Arrow Set

Amazon

Heracles Halloween Costume

The hero of heroes (don’t tell Achilles), Heracles (yes, Heracles not Hercules, because this is Greeking Out, not Roman Around) is known for his 12 Labors, tasks so difficult they were thought to be impossible. While he might have had a somewhat tragic end, he was allowed to ascend to Mt. Olympus after his death.

This costume can get pretty elaborate if you and your kiddo are down for that sort of thing. Heracles was known for wearing his lion-skin cloak around, doing battle, and being hella swole, which I think is covered with this tunic, lion cloak, sword, and hilarious muscle shirt that I promise will make for some hilarious but cool Halloween pictures.

Toga With Blue Sash

Amazon

Lion Cloak

Etsy

Hero's Sword

Spirit Halloween

Padded Muscle Shirt

Amazon

Persephone Halloween Costume

Few figures in Greek mythology are as debated or curious as Persephone, daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest, and Zeus. Greeking Out highlights this complication, noting that depending on which story you read, her fate is either one of utter tragedy or unexpected but important growth and love.

Since Persephone’s annual ascent from the Underworld brings in Spring and Summer, I love the idea of lots of flowers. Flower crown, flowers in a basket, and soft lavender on her tunic. Of course, no child’s Persephone costume would be complete without a pommegranate, the only food she ate in the Underworld that ultimately sealed her fate to live there half the year.

Purple Ombre Goddess Costume

https://www.amazon.com/Fun-World-Goddess-Costume-Large/dp/B00C6IKI1A/

Floral Crown

Etsy

Wicker Basket

Amazon

Artificial Pommegranate

Michaels

Icarus Halloween Costume

Tragic and beautiful, the Icarus myth cautions mortals not to aim too high. Icarus and his father, trapped in a tower, spent years constructing wings to fly away, but the freedom was too much for Icarus; he flew too close to the sun, which melted the wax that held his wings together and he tumbled into the sea and drowned.

For this, a standard tunic will do, and this pair of “wings” is large and effective. The seaweed is optional, depending on which point of the story your kid wants to depict. It’s morose but a nice detail (just drape it over them). Instant Icarus costume!

Child Toga White

Amazon

Eagle Wings

Amazon

Seaweed Garland

Amazon

Circe Halloween Costume

Thanks to a book of the same title by Madeline Miller, Circe, a villain of The Odyssey, is becoming redeemed. Greeking Out similarly does a great job highlighting her journey and various motivations, which are often silent by the original source material.

I like this dress for a Circe costume — Greek, but a little more whimsical and witchy, as is befitting a goddess who is also a sorceress. The beautiful circlet completes the look, along with a plush pig, as Circe had a fondess for turning sailors into pigs. (It’s a bit of an IYKYK detail, but the people who get it are going to love it.)

Greek Goddess Dress

Amazon

Handmade Sorceress Circlet

Etsy

Pig Plush

Amazon

There are so many more heroes and gods from these classic tales your kid can dress up like this Halloween, but we hope this at least helps you get started!

Read More

29 College Football Baby Names, From Unique To Traditional

— H. Armstrong Roberts/Retrofile RF/Getty Images

College football is more than just a weekly sporting event. For so many families, it’s an absolute pillar of tradition and joy and meaning. It’s a game of heart, steeped in customs, and honestly, it’s a wonder college football baby names aren’t topping the charts. Whether you’re naming your baby after your favorite college football quarterback or the city where your own alma mater’s football stadium stands, these baby names inspired by college football are a must to consider.

Look, nobody’s suggesting you name your baby Uga or Aggie (although that last one is really cute for a kid named Agatha), but there is a lot of baby name inspiration to be found in college football. For one thing, those college football coaches have some really unique names (looking at you, Dabo Swinney), and for another, some of your favorite college football players have become absolute legends over the years. All of football holds some history and tradition, but there’s something inherently special about a Saturday game day, and these baby names hold some of that magic, too. There are even some gender-neutral options available if you want more wiggle room in your baby names, and this list has everything from baby names inspired by college football mascots to some that just go straight for the championship coaches. But no matter what you name your baby, prepare yourself for those Saturday game days to get a little more chaotic — and a whole lot sweeter. (Even if your team doesn’t win.)

Bennett

Bennett is a baby name that pays tribute to Stetson Bennett, the UGA quarterback responsible for securing two back-to-back championships after a 41-year drought. Stetson’s an equally good baby name, but I really love Bennett as an homage to The Dawgs. The name Bennett means “blessed, well-spoken” and has a cute nickname with Ben or Benny.

Tim

Tim Tebow is arguably one of the most well-known college football players of all time and has left quite a legacy in the sport. Tim is short for Timothy and means “God’s honor,” which tracks given Tebow’s outspoken Christian beliefs.

Lane

Lane is a really great gender neutral name for your little college football fan, especially if you’re rooting for Ole Miss. Lane Kiffin has been a college football coach for a long time, but has been head coach of the Rebels since 2020. Give your kiddo the name Lane if you’re a Mississippi fan or if you just like the meaning of the name Lane — “a small roadway or path.”

Joe

Joe Burrow may be quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals now, but before he was drafted, he was a lot of fun to watch on Saturday as quarterback of LSU. Burrow won the Heisman Trophy in 2019 and holds some pretty great college football stats. You can obviously go with the name Joseph if you want, but Joe (or Jo) could be a fun baby name on its own. The name also means “God will add.”

Kirby

— LittleCityLifestylePhotography/E+/Getty Images

Like Stetson Bennett, the name Kirby holds a lot of meaning for University of Georgia fans. Kirby Smart has been head coach of UGA since 2016 and now holds two back-to-back championships for the school from 2021 and 2022. Kirby can be a great gender neutral name, too, and it means “church settlement,” which gives it some major old English vibes.

Kyler

Kyler Murray played for the University of Oklahoma and won the Heisman Trophy in 2018, throwing 40 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He’s pretty bad*ss on the field and is now the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. Try the baby name Kyler on for size for your own little college football fan, as it’s great for both boys and girls and means “archer.”

Nick

Nick Saban is one of those names that just rings through college football fandoms. He’s been head coach of Alabama since 2007 and has earned six national titles for the school since then. He’s a pretty big deal and the name Nick won’t go unnoticed by other college football fans. You can go for Nicholas if you want, but Nick holds its own pretty well and means “victory of the people” — an apt description for Nick Saban.

Ralphie

OK, so this one is a really fun choice. Ralphie is a pretty unique little guy’s name, and it’s also the name of the live mascot for the Colorado Buffaloes. Ralphie the Buffalo is an institution in college football, and whether you’re a Colorado fan or not, this is a great choice for your own little family mascot. The name Ralphie means “a courageous counselor.”

Peyton

The name Peyton on its own really needs no further introduction when you’re talking about college football. Peyton Manning was quarterback for the Tennessee Volunteers in the ‘90s and went on to have an incredible career with the Indianapolis Colts (and later, the Denver Broncos). He’s another college football legend, and giving your baby his name will definitely tip off fellow football fans. Peyton is gender-neutral and means “fighting man’s estate.”

Sanford

Go deep on your college football fandom with another nod to UGA. Sanford Stadium is where the Georgia Bulldogs play, and you can give your little one the name Sanford as a sweet tribute. Sanford is an old English name that literally means “sandy ford,” but obviously you want that college football connection to shine through instead.

Bear

The University of Alabama literally has a statue of this man and he even appears in Forrest Gump as a college football icon — the man is Bear Bryant. Formally his name is Paul, but he’s known as Bear and for being one of the best college football coaches of all time. Be sure to decorate the nursery in lots of red and white and maybe make sure your little Bear has some houndstooth on their coming home outfit.

Benny

Benny Beaver is the mascot for the Oregon State Beavers and makes for a pretty great baby name. (Benny, that is, not Beaver.) Benny can be short for Benjamin or Benito, but I love it on its own.

Ann

The University of Michigan Wolverines are also known as Big Blue and when they have home field advantage, that means they’re playing in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The baby name Ann is such a sweet tribute to this city, and it also means “grace” or “graciousness.”

Deion

The name Deion means a whole lot to college football. Nicknamed “Primetime,” Deion Sanders played cornerback/defensive back for the Florida State Seminoles in the ‘80s and was (is!) an absolute legend. Now coaching for the University of Colorado, Deion is a college football institution (much like Ralphie the buffalo) and is just a great sports icon. The name Deion also means “follower of Dionysus” — and Dionysus is the god of pleasure in Greek mythology.

Buzz

Georgia Tech’s mascot Buzz deserves a spot here on this list, too. Located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia Tech is a college football institution, and so is the yellowjacket mascot Buzz. It’s a pretty unique option for your little one, but a nice tie to football.

Johnny

Johnny Manziel, also known as Johnny Football, didn’t really have a stellar NFL career, but he was a huge college football icon. Heisman Trophy winner and record-breaker, Johnny’s time at Texas A&M is the stuff of legends. Bring some of that energy to your baby with the name Johnny, which means “God is gracious.”

Goldy

Goldy (or Goldie) is the sweetest baby name and is making a comeback, but I especially love it if you’re a fan of the University of Minnesota. The school’s mascot is Goldy the Golden Gopher, and it is just the cutest little nod to college football.

Theodore

Here’s a deep cut: Theodore W. Drake was a sports artist in the ‘60s who designed The Leprechaun, the University of Notre Dame’s mascot. The Leprechaun is an absolute icon of college football, and naming your baby Theodore is such a sweet way to honor that legacy. The name Theodore also means “gift of God” or “divine gift.”

Woody

Woody Hayes was head coach of Ohio State from 1951 to 1978 and had a pretty spectacular career. Give your little one the nickname Woody (Hayes is also cute) as tribute to the coach with five national championships under his belt and 13 Big Ten conference championships.

Knox

Knox has become a very popular baby name in recent years, but is it because everyone’s giving their kid an ode to the University of Tennessee? Probably not. Located in Knoxville, the Volunteers are known for a whole lot of orange and a lot of rivalries, so it’s definitely a fun name to give your own little Volunteer.

Austin

Like Knox, this name pays tribute to a city represented well by its team. In this case, the name Austin pays homage to the University of Texas and the Longhorns football team.

Cam

Cam Newton may have had a pretty great NFL career with the Panthers, but before that, he was an Auburn University quarterback on Saturdays. The name Cam can be short for Cameron, but I love it on its own — it has a really great spunky quality.

Boomer

— Jamie Grill/The Image Bank/Getty Images

Oh you know where we’re going with this one. The University of Oklahoma’s fight song is “Boomer Sooner,” which is where this fun name comes from, but you could also name a kid Boomer after the blue-eyed horse mascot for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Lee

It’s just not ESPN College Gameday until you see Lee Corso. Give your baby the name Lee as a thank you to Lee Corso and all of his college football analysis on Saturdays.

Owen

Owen Field, also known as The Palace on the Prairie, is where the University of Oklahoma plays and is also great baby name inspiration. Owen means “noble born” or “young warrior,” so it has a lot of strength and tradition weaved into it outside of football.

Kirk

Like Lee Corso, how do you even know who to root for if Kirk Herbstreit isn’t giving you all the info? (Just kidding. You know who to vote for.) Herbstreit has been on College GameDay forever and played for Ohio State in the early ‘90s, so his name is pretty synonymous with college football. The name Kirk also means “church,” so if you think of the football fields on a Saturday afternoon as your own version of a pew, this name has even more meaning.

Rose

The Rose Bowl is the 16th largest stadium in the world and is the home stadium of UCLA. Give your baby the name Rose in tribute to this iconic field and the Rose Bowl Game played every New Year’s Day.

Kyle

Kyle Field is where the Texas A&M Aggies play, and it’s a great place to get some baby name inspiration. Kyle means “narrow” or “trust” and feels like a strong, steadfast choice for your little football fan.

Lou

Lou Holtz used to play and coach college football, and then became a college football analyst on CBS. He’s known for his predictions for seasons and rankings, so give your little fan the name Lou as an ode to this college football icon.

College football is a huge pillar of so many families — it can become just as much a part of your identity as anything else. So why not name your little one after your favorite college football moments and fandoms? These college football baby names offer a lot of inspiration for your future quaterback. (Or tight end. Or wide receiver. Or offensive lineman. Or just future college football fan.)

Read More

Stevie Nicks' Barbie Reminds Her Of Her "27-Year-Old Self"

— Mattel

The iconic Stevie Nicks has finally been immortalized as a Barbie. Formerly the lead singer of Fleetwood Mac, multiple award-winning solo artist, the poster girl for independent women of her generation, and now... a Barbie made in her likeness. Complete with the trademark blonde bangs and the winged black dress, perfect for twirling and dancing and owning every stage she’s ever performed on.

On Monday, Mattel debuted a doll created in Stevie Nicks’ likeness as part of its Barbie Music Series. Nicks’ Barbie, available for pre-order now, has a smoky eye, the blonde bangs and flowing black dress, much like the one Nicks wore on the cover of Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 Rumours album, along with a pair of groovy platform boots and her signature golden moon necklace. “We wanted to wish Stevie Nicks a happy 75th birthday in the best way possible. So we created a Barbie doll to capture her iconic style,” Mattel said in a statement, a nod to Nicks’ birthday in May of this year.

The singer shared the launch of her own Barbie on Sunday onstage at Madison Square Garden, telling the crowd that she “hoped you love her as much as I do, because here she is! Stevie Barbie!” They clearly did love it, because Stevie Nicks’ Barbie was made available for preorder on Monday on Mattel’s website and has already sold out.

The “Landslide” singer was not without reservations about having a Barbie created in her likeness, as she explained in a moving post on X. “Of course I questioned ‘would she look like me? Would she have my spirit? Would she have my heart…,’” she wrote on social media. “When I look at her, I see my 27 year old self~ All the memories of walking out on a big stage in that black outfit and those gorgeous boots come rushing back~ and then I see myself now in her face. What we have been through since 1975~ the battles we have fought, the lessons we have learned~ together. I am her and she is me. She absolutely has my heart.”

The official Barbie Instagram page also shared the news of the Nicks’ Barbie along with a lovely little tribute to the singer in the caption reading, “Soulful stage presence. Spellbinding style. With a career that’s touched generations of music lovers, @StevieNicks is the latest legend to be celebrated as part of the Barbie Music Series, bringing her inspiring story and chart-topping career to artists and audiences of all ages. #Barbie #YouCanBeAnything.”

In a year joyfully dominated by all things Barbie, we love to see another icon honored. And honored so well, at that.

Read More

Should I Get A Pulse Ox Baby Monitor? Doctors Weigh In

— OR Images/DigitalVision/Getty Images

In a world of wearable technology that gathers data about our sleep, activity levels, heart rate, and more, it’s no wonder we now have so many smart gadgets for nurseries that can do the same for our newborns. Especially when it comes to preventing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), having a baby monitor that tracks your baby’s pulse and oxygen saturation just feels like an added protection against every parent’s worst nightmare. But are pulse ox baby monitors the solution to parents’ anxieties? Can these wearable monitors actually prevent SIDS? It’s natural to reach for a product that might protect your baby, but when you hear about how often they can cause false alarms (and more anxiety than comfort), you might hesitate.

Smart baby monitors connect to parents’ smart phones, allowing you to see and hear your baby from anywhere. They usually include some extra sensors to read the room’s temperature and humidity. Some smart monitors include wearable pulse oximetry sensors, which track your baby’s heart rate and blood oxygen saturation levels. Many parents hope that being alerted to changes in their baby’s vital signs could help them prevent SIDS, which might make them more likely to add a pulse ox baby monitor to their registry. But can it actually help?

Should I get a pulse ox baby monitor for my baby?

Right now, there’s not enough evidence that pulse ox monitors are helpful to families to outweigh the stress they might cause, according to experts. There is currently no evidence that using these wearable baby monitors can prevent SIDS, or uncover any sort of undetected medical condition, says Dr. Michelle Hjelm, M.D., board-certified pediatric pulmonologist and sleep physician at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

— Catherine Delahaye/DigitalVision/Getty Images

“The American Academy of Pediatrics hasn’t recommended these devices for standard use,” says Hjelm. “I understand the questions that families and parents are asking of these devices, but I just don’t think they’re giving the answers that we want. Can you protect your kid from everything every minute of the day? No. And can we truly have a sense of a diagnosis from these devices? I don’t think that’s true.”

“I definitely cannot recommend them with the information I have right now,” says Dr. Sharada Gowda, M.D., a neonatologist at Texas Children’s Hospital. “From reports that I have been reading, and delving into all the mommy groups, as well as the parental support groups, the parents that are utilizing these are first-time parents, or well-meaning parents with a lot of anxiety about the safety of their babies. But if the alarms keep going off, then they might actually be hurting more than helping themselves and the baby.”

Owlet’s monitors have come under fire before for sending false alarms to parents (oftentimes about low oxygen readings, and having app glitches that caused readings for pulse and oxygen saturation to disappear. This not only causes anxiety for parents, but can lead to alarm fatigue — when monitors are constantly alerting you to potential problems, and eventually, you stop responding with the same urgency you should.

Why would a baby need a pulse ox monitor?

In rare instances, doctors will send a medical-grade pulse ox monitor home with babies who have certain health conditions. This includes babies who have tracheostomy tubes to help them breathe and those born with congenital heart defects, Gowda says. Hjelm says they’re also useful for babies with lung disease or sleep apnea.

If you’re prescribed one for your baby, you’ll receive training from nurses about how to use it, any troubleshooting you may have to do on the machine itself, and how to help your baby if their oxygen saturation does dip. Gowda says her patients also receive the phone number to a hotline that connects to the baby’s care team in case of emergency.

“The biggest piece is going to be the educational aspect, and preparing the parents, if they were to have major desaturation, to act on behalf of the baby at that point, stabilize them, and also be ready to call the medical team who took care of the baby,” she says.

Pros & cons of using a pulse ox smart monitor

— Pekic/E+/Getty Images

Pros:

• For some parents, these devices provide peace of mind that their baby is being supervised while they sleep.
• If your baby has a medical condition, pulse ox monitors can help you care for them at home and alert you if they need intervention (but you should be using a hospital-grade device provided by your doctor).
• Aside from the pulse ox and other health-related readings, they usually have interesting features you might enjoy, like tracking your baby’s movements through the night or being able to take videos with your monitor camera.

Cons:

• They haven’t been proven to prevent SIDS, which is what many parents hope they’ll do.
• They can cause increased anxiety and reduced sleep for parents if the alarms go off unnecessarily.
• Wearable smart monitors with pulse ox sensors are generally more expensive than standard baby monitors.

Are pulse ox baby monitors accurate?

Gowda and Hjelm agree that right now, they just can’t say that commercially available pulse ox monitors are reliable. “No matter what, it’s very hard to predict when bad things are going to happen, even with these types of devices,” Hjelm says. “The best thing you can do is follow the safe sleep recommendations that have been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS. These [monitors] just don’t look to be that answer or that safety net that we want them to be.”

Some newer smart baby monitors are in the pipeline now — at different stages of being reviewed by the FDA for their accuracy and reliability — like Owlet’s BabySat, available via prescription, and the Masimo Stork monitor. For her part, Hjelm is hopeful that models like these could one day be approved by the FDA, giving families a wireless pulse ox monitor to use at home, one that connects to their phones instead of being a “constant beeping thing in your house.”

Gowda says no matter how sophisticated the devices themselves are, parents need more working knowledge of how the pulse ox sensors should be applied to get accurate readings.

“The thickness of the skin, the surface on which these monitors are placed, and the color of the skin all play an important role. You need to have accurate knowledge of, okay, it has to be on the toe, or maybe it should be on the palm. A lot of times, I place it on the radial artery directly. Knowledge like that is important. It’s not just [about] the piece of equipment,” she says.

So, do you have to have a pulse ox baby monitor for your little one? No. In fact, doctors feel they’re more likely to cause you undue stress than be helpful. If your baby needs to have their oxygen saturation monitored, you’ll get a hospital-grade monitor and lots of training straight from their doctor.

Experts:

Dr. Michelle Hjelm, M.D., board-certified pediatric pulmonologist and sleep physician, and assistant professor at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

Dr. Sharada Gowda, M.D., a neonatologist at Texas Children’s Hospital

Read More