For most new parents, it’s the eternal question: How to get baby to sleep? When it comes to putting baby down to sleep—and helping baby stay asleep—it can feel like mission impossible sometimes, especially in those first few days, weeks or even months with your newborn. That’s because no two babies are exactly alike, and there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy when it comes to how to get baby to sleep at night....
My husband and I have a date coming up this weekend and it will be the first time that our son has had a babysitter. Kind of. While I work, my sister babysits and all the other times we’ve had a babysitter it’s been a family member who has watched him at their house. This will be the first time we’ll have a “they come to your house, get the rundown on your child, you leave and they stay with your child until you get back” scenario....
Waiting until you’ve traveled the world (or a good chunk of it) or gotten to a certain point in your career to have a baby? You aren’t alone. A new study conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more women over the age of 35 are giving birth for the first time. The study’s data was gathered spanning the past four decades, and some of the findings are:...
Whether you’re aiming for part-time or full-time care, there comes a time in every working mom’s life when she asks herself an important question: What are the best childcare choices for my child? You’re not alone in agonizing over this decision. Sixty-two percent of parents say it’s really hard to find affordable, quality childcare—and this is true for all parents, regardless of how many zeros are on your paycheck—according to the Pew Research Center....
If you know someone who just had a baby, chances are they’re living in a cocoon of (sleep-deprived) bliss. As for you? You’re working on giving them a card with a heartfelt message that shows just how excited you are for them in this moment. But where to begin with your new baby wishes? Naturally, it depends partly on how close you are to the parent in question: Is he or she a sibling, a close friend, a distant relative or a work colleague?...
Dena Larsen-Gazeley thought she had her history of eating disorders under control. At age 8, she began binge eating. In her early 20s, she developed anorexia and bulimia. By the time she got pregnant with her first child at 29, Larsen-Gazeley had found her “perfect balance:” binging and compulsive eating accompanied by excessive exercise as a way to purge. She thought she was in control—of her weight, her pregnancy and her still undiagnosed and untreated eating disorder....
Pros • Lightweight—just 12 pounds • Easy to fold and unfold • Smooth recline • Large storage basket Cons • Canopy storage pocket can get in the way • Tips backward with a heavy bag on the handles without baby to balance the weight Bottom Line Lightweight, easy to maneuver and a cinch to fold, the Summer Infant 3D Lite is an ideal traveling companion. Rating: 4 stars Ready to register?...
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.What is sweating during pregnancy? Perspiration (or sweat) comes from sweat glands in the skin and helps to regulate your body’s temperature when you get too hot....
Whether your first “child” was your four-legged friend or you gave your baby a new “pet sibling” later on, chances are, you considered the same names for each. But is it that human names are inspiring pet names or pet names inspiring human names? Rover.com, a site that helps pet owners find sitters and walkers (like an Airbnb for pets) recently released the most popular dog names and most popular cat names in their database from 2014....
Pros • Super easy to set up and use • Three recline positions • Extended sun canopy • Stands on its own when folded Cons • Can be tricky to collapse in a hurry • Though washable, difficult to get clean Bottom Line The UPPAbaby G-Luxe is a lightweight umbrella stroller with a recline feature that allows for much-needed naptime on the go. The essential conveniences and smooth ride make this the perfect pick for the young toddler just graduating from that bulky first stroller....
By the time you reach those final weeks of pregnancy, you can’t help but feel as if you’ve been pregnant forever and are more than ready to meet your baby. And yet the idea of labor induction—a process that nudges the birthing process along—can bring on some anxiety, especially if you’ve had your heart set on a medication-free birth. Understandably, you’ll have questions—so we spoke with top experts to bring you answers....
Your labor experience will be as unique as your baby—no two are ever really the same. Which means that going into active labor isn’t exactly tightly scripted. In general, you probably should head for the hospital when your contractions get longer, more intense and more frequent. The contractions themselves typically feel like a menstrual cramp, or a lower backache that wraps around to the front of your body or vice versa....
When inventor Kenton Lee realized just how many children in developing countries are stuck with too-small shoes (or no shoes at all), he decided to do something about it. Lee, the founder of humanitarian organization Because International, describes his mission as one of “practical compassion.” During a 2007 trip to a Kenyan orphanage, he realized the shortcomings of donating shoes: Within six months to a year, children would easily outgrow the shoes, leaving them either barefoot or in pain....
At 39 weeks, you’ve reached what’s officially considered a full term pregnancy—and you’re probably more than ready to meet your baby. But even with your due date around the corner, there’s really no telling when baby will decide to make their grand entrance. Which is why many moms-to-be, eager to put pregnancy behind them, try to take things into their own hands and help move labor along. One tactic? Trying out certain exercises to induce labor....
We Don’t Really Like Those Children’s Books About Gay Dads Gay dads, like all dads, like to cuddle up at bed-time and read the kids a story. But almost every single example of a fairy tale or children’s book involves a traditional family with one mother and one father, or a princess and a prince. And the stories about gay dads? Well, the problem is, they’re about gay dads, and they always say something to the effect of, “Some people have two daddies, and some people have two mommies....
Say goodbye to working mom guilt — a new study demonstrates that being a working parent could have big payoffs for your kids down the road. The Harvard Business School study looked at 50,000 adults in 25 countries, and found the biggest positive impact on daughters of working moms. In addition to having higher employment rates overall, these daughters have higher incomes and more supervisory roles as adults. “Part of this working mothers’ guilt has been, ‘Oh, my kids are going to be so much better off if I stay home,’ but what we’re finding in adult outcomes is kids will be so much better off if women spend some time at work,” study author Kathleen McGinn tells The New York Times....
The following story, “How To Deal With Your Crazy-Mom Anger” by Alyssa Shelasky was originally published on Boomdash. I used to consider myself a pretty laidback person. Okay, yes, I’m stubborn and can hold a grudge (as my loving husband can attest) but overall, I like to keep things chill. Then, I had kids and my patience and easy-going demeanor was put to the test. Staying even-keeled when your newborn baby has been up for 20 hours shrieking or you’ve asked your toddler 15 times to put on her damn shoes and then she hurls one at your head can reeealllly work your last nerve....
So you’ve been cleared by your doctor to start exercising post-baby. You have the gear, you have the fitness program (check out our Move Like a Mama program on obé Fitness!) and you have the space. The only thing that’s MIA? Your motivation. First of all, cut yourself some slack. Your body and mind have just gone through a life-changing event, and everything feels different. “It is so hard as a new mom to get workouts in,” acknowledges Kathryn Avery, a PROnatal certified fitness instructor at obé Fitness and a new mama herself....
Whether you’re pregnant or have a little one crawling around the house, beating colds and the flu is a whole new ball game. But don’t worry, mama — you and baby will both be on your way to a healthy recovery soon enough. From determining which meds are actually safe to knowing when it’s really time to call the doc, our experts dish on everything you and baby need to start feeling better faster....
A new study led by Sarah Kimmins from McGill University found that your daddy-to-be’s diet before conception may play just as big a role in baby’s development as a woman’s does. Yep! You heard that correctly, dudes, so pass on the fully loaded cheese fries, will ya? The research, which focused on the vitamin B9 (also known as folate and can be found in green leafy veggies, fruits, cereals and meats)....
