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When we think about what we hope for our children later in life, being confident is usually toward the top of the list. After all, confidence is key to having healthy relationships with others, doing well in school and excelling in a chosen career. But while it’s an important trait in adulthood, confidence—as well as high self-esteem—are actually first established in childhood, as early as the preschool years. Of course, a person’s sense of confidence and self-esteem will evolve as they move through stages of life, but experts agree that building confidence early on leads to success in later life....

Having a baby can be stressful. From giving birth to caring for an infant, there’s a lot to prepare for, and you likely have a ton of questions. However, one topic your childbirth class probably won’t cover is how to tackle the mountain of hospital bills you’ll receive post-delivery. Even if you have good health insurance, you need to be prepared. It’s a daunting task, to be sure. I have a PhD in public health and specialize in health insurance—but when I got my hospital bills after giving birth, even I found them overwhelming....

Telling a young child they’re adopted may sound earth-shattering, but in reality, this should be a no-drama moment. It’s really just about telling them the truth. “It’s a parent’s job to help a child understand their history,” says Joni Mantell, LCSW, a psychotherapist and director of the Infertility & Adoption Counseling Center in New York City. “Parents may find this to be difficult for various reasons—fears about how the child will feel, or anxiety that the child’s feelings towards them will change....

No matter how fit you were before and even during pregnancy, postpartum exercise presents a unique set of challenges. Your body is still healing from delivery, and with a newborn in the house, you might be feeling more tired than ever. But finding time to fit in fitness is amazing for both your body and mind—it can be just what you need to get back to feeling like your pre-pregnancy self....

And the Winner Is: Diono Monterey 5iST FixSafe Outgrowing the convertible car seat is a huge milestone for kiddos (and parents too!). When your child surpasses their car seat’s height and/or weight limits, they’re ready for a new, big kid perch. But because they’re not quite tall enough to safely ride with just a seatbelt, a booster seat gives them, well, a boost. The Monterey 5iST FixSafe booster by Diono checks all the boxes—it grows with your child, folds up for ultimate portability and is 25 percent smaller than the average booster, giving your backseat a roomier ride....

And the Winner Is: Blanqi If you aren’t already living in leggings thanks to 2020’s shelter in place orders, you will be soon. A good pair of leggings is a maternity essential —they are easy to dress up or down and offer maximum support and comfort in all stages of pregnancy. Blanqi leggings hit all the marks. They are super supportive, made from breathable fabric and totally seamless. They cradle your bump flawlessly and offer built in X back support....

For many nursing women, breastfeeding is something that comes after pregnancy—but if you’re ready for baby no. 2 when your firstborn is still young, you might find yourself breastfeeding while pregnant. Nursing can come with its fair share of surprises and challenges, so you can bet the prospect of breastfeeding during pregnancy raises a bunch of questions for moms, starting with whether it’s even safe. Here’s what you need to know about breastfeeding while pregnant, the hurdles you might face along the way and tips to help make the whole process a little easier on you and your body....

Piping-hot, hearty meals that pretty much cook themselves might sound like a dream—but a crock-pot, aka slow cooker, makes them a reality. We’ve rounded up a few weeks’ worth of yummy recipes that aren’t just healthy—they’re kid-pleasing too. From teriyaki meatballs to chipotle chili to paleo hamburger soup, there’s a meal to satisfy every member of the family. As for soon-to-be moms, you’ll want to take a look too: Many of these recipes freeze beautifully, so you can pack up those (plentiful) leftovers and happily pop ’em out again when baby comes home (and you and your partner have zero desire to cook)....

When baby gets bored with their toys, it’s so easy to pop in a cartoon and let the TV work its magic. Babies get hypnotized by the screen for one simple reason: Animation. The colors, sounds and movement really engage and stimulate little ones—but plopping young ones in front of the TV isn’t the best for developing brains. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping baby screen-free until at least 18 months....

When it comes to keeping baby safe, all the dos and don’ts can be overwhelming. Between viral TikToks, parenting books and advice from family and friends, it can be hard to weed out what you really need to worry about. To help you discern fact from fiction and sleep a little easier, we’ve consulted the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines on baby safety and recruited help from accredited pediatricians to bust some of the most popular baby safety myths....

Why a travel system? If you’re an on-the-go family—whether that means lots of day trips or lots of trips to the store—you’re going to need a stroller that can keep up. From car to stroller and back again, baby can hang out or sleep in the car seat whether you’re on foot or behind the wheel. The most convenient one moms routinely recommend is the Britax. WHAT WE LOVE The transition from car to stroller is a one-handed motion, no adapters necessary....

Morning sickness: Consider it the first of many concessions you’ll make to your child in your journey as a mother. The swirly-head nausea and vomiting that often accompanies early pregnancy is far from fun—in fact, it can be downright debilitating. Unfortunately, for many expectant mothers, it’s par for the course. So when does morning sickness start—and more importantly, how can you find morning sickness relief? We’ve asked top doctors to dish on everything you need to know about morning sickness during pregnancy....

Becoming a new mom goes hand-in-hand with change—and, yes, your wardrobe will need some switch-ups too. After giving birth, you may find you need pieces that offer more support and functionality than your previous go-tos. Pre-pregnancy, you probably had at least one tank top in your rotation, but now that you’re nursing, you’ll want options that meet your new needs. Enter: Nursing tank tops. Available in an array of chic styles and cute colors, nursing tanks are a versatile postpartum closet staple....

The other day a friend mentioned she’d had lunch at a certain café in town. That made me think of the phenomenal sugar cookies they make there, which made me remember that I was eating one when I went into labor with my youngest son. And just like that, I could feel the labor pains again, even four years later! THAT made me think about the lies people tell you about having a baby....

Keep track of baby’s acetaminophen (Tylenol) dosage with our easy to use chart, and you’ll ease your worries and baby’s aches and pains. But remember: The proper dosage is always based on baby’s weight, not age. Print this out for up-to-date info as baby grows. || | weight/dose | type of medication | | | | child: 6–11lbs dose: 40mg | infant drops: ½ dropper (0.4ml) | | | | | | | | | child: 12–17lbs dose: 80mg | infant drops: 1 dropper (0....

An assisted delivery means one of two tools will make an appearance: Forceps, which look like two serving spoons and help guide the baby’s head out of the birth canal; and the vacuum extractor, a soft cup that suctions onto baby’s head. Attached to the cup there’s a handle that helps the doctor guide delivery through the birth canal (it sounds worse than it is). Your doctor will decide which tool to use, but will only do so if she sees signs of fetal distress or if baby is in a difficult position....

Lupron is a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a). (Say that three times, fast!) It’s used as a way to control ovulation, and is often one of the first drugs administered to women who are going through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Lupron is typically injected under the skin using a small needle. Here’s how it works: During a normal menstrual cycle, the brain makes GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone), which then tells the pituitary gland to make follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)....

As a mom of a 6-year-old and a soon-to-be 2-year-old, it’s easy to forget what my life was like before having kids – you know, back when I could sleep until noon or spend an entire Saturday afternoon leisurely window shopping. Of course, I love my children and cannot image my life without them (that goes without saying) but I think it’s only natural to sometimes miss the freedoms of your kid-free days....

When you’re agonizing through a two-week wait, staring down at that negative sign yet again, and repeating the process month after month, baby making can start to take a toll on your emotional state. And if you’ve ever shared with others that you’re trying to conceive, you’ve probably heard the advice, “Just relax and it will happen.” But, “that’s actually some of the worst advice,” says Jean Twenge, PhD, professor of psychology at San Diego State University and author of The Impatient Woman’s Guide to Getting Pregnant....

Fatherly is a publication for modern fathers looking to make the best of a good situation. When it comes to raising kids, discipline is an act of generosity masquerading as an act of malice. To do it right is to do it in a thoughtful, planned, and ultimately disciplined way. That means that adults need to get a very tight grip on their horses and stay calm while admonishing their kids....