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Finding out that you’re expecting is always exciting—and a little nerve-wracking—no matter how old you are. But when you’re of advanced maternal age, you do have more to think about when it comes to keeping you and baby healthy throughout your pregnancy. “Advanced Maternal Age (AMA) is the term for the general reality that the risks of having trouble conceiving a healthy pregnancy, as well as carrying a healthy pregnancy, are increased in ‘older’ women,” says Joshua U....

In a recent study administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC examined more than 1,115 ready-to-eat toddlers’ meals. Of the over 1,000 meals studied, researchers concluded that nearly three-quarters were high in salt, with some containing as much as 630 milligrams of sodium per serving (which is about 40 percent of the recommended daily sodium intake for children, recommended by the American Heart Association). The findings raise a red flag for government researchers because high salt intake is known to increase the risk of high blood pressure....

Ahh, a case of the midnight snuggle visitor. The first night, it’s sort of cute. The second night, you realize you don’t sleep all that soundly with a toddler foot resting in your clavicle. The third night, you’re kicking yourself (or is that your kid doing the kicking?) for creating a bad habit. This exact dilemma is one of the reasons we recommend that parents keep their children in a crib until at least three years of age....

A brand new study led by Helen Rockliff analyzed more than 23 previous studies in order to identify what types of coping strategies, personality traits and social circumstances are available to help couples going through IVF treatments. Turns out, all you really need is a friend. By taking a look at 23 previous research studies, Rockliff found that at least all of them at explored how at least one psychosocial factor was related to one psychological health outcome, like how social supports, used to help couples cope during the IVF process, can affect a woman’s chances of getting pregnant....

And the Winner Is: Bella Tunno Wonder Bib Bibs are the MVP of mealtime! And if you ask us, it doesn’t get much cuter than a baby in a bib—especially if the bib makes you laugh or starts a conversation with another restaurant-goer. Bella Tunno’s silicone bibs do just that. You’ll love the roomy pouch, perfectly sized to catch anything that doesn’t make it into baby’s mouth (and in our experience, that can be a lot)....

And the Winner Is: Dr. Brown’s Deluxe Warmer and Sterilizer When baby is hungry, there’s no time to waste. A bottle warmer allows you to quickly and safely warm breast milk or formula to baby’s preferred temperature. Dr. Brown’s Deluxe Warmer uses steam heat and has a one-button start—very handy when you’re holding a fussy baby. Choose from the pre-programmed settings based on bottle size or customize your own. Best of all, the warmer has a stellar memory, allowing you to use your last saved settings for even faster future bottle prep....

Choosing a baby name is a big deal. After all, it’s bound to become a significant part of their identity. But there are so many options to choose from. Need help narrowing them down? The Social Security Administration keeps tabs on which baby names are trending in popularity, year over year and state by state, so you can learn what names other parents in your area are picking for their kids....

We all had our house rules and personal pet peeves before the COVID-19 crisis hit. Maybe you were a TV-free household, or were strict about snacks, or put the kibosh on super-messy indoor activities. But a lot has changed since then. With stresses and responsibilities mounting like never before, parents are desperate for ways to entertain their kids and give themselves a much-needed break—and a little leniency has been proving to go a long way....

With all the focus on putting baby to sleep on their back, it’s easy to forget that tummy time is actually pretty important. Though it’s tough to see at first, all those little wiggles and attempts at half-lifts are contributing to baby’s development in major ways, preventing flat spots from forming on the back of their head (a side effect of all that time on their back) and preparing them for a few down-the-road milestones like rolling over and crawling....

Pycnogenol is a supplement that’s made from an extract of pine bark. It has several uses, from improving circulation problems and high blood pressure to treating menopausal symptoms. But one of its key roles is how it may help in the bedroom. Some research has shown that Pycnogenol may help treat erectile dysfunction (ED) by increasing levels of nitric oxide in the blood. One study found that among men with erectile dysfunction, nearly 93 percent of those who took a combination of the supplement L-arginine and Pycnogenol were able to maintain a normal erection without any side effects after three months of treatment....

Potential good news for moms about to go into labor: If you want an epidural, STAT, a new study says that’s exactly when you should be able to get it. After randomly assigning 15,752 first-time mothers from nine different studies to “early” or “late” epidural groups, researchers from The Cochrane Library found that women who had early epidurals were no more or less likely to need a C-section than those who had a late epidural....

The world of childhood nutrition and wellness is riddled with conflicting advice. Whether you are considering baby-led weaning or sleep training, there’s several experts on either side of the coin. And yet, amid the chatter, there is growing consensus around one topic: the importance of the first 1,000 days. In the last decade, scientists and researchers have circled the first 1,000 days–the period from conception to age 2–as the most important time in a person’s life for nutrition....

This year, the cycle of the water sign Pisces falls from February 18 until March 20. The final of twelve signs, Pisces is represented by two fish swimming in opposite directions. Pisces people are known for compassion, creativity and their dreamy persona. Despite being a dim and overlooked constellation today, Pisces is one of the oldest signs of the zodiac and has heavy representation in both ancient and modern religions....

Remember how unsure you were during your first pregnancy? Everything was a bit of a mystery. Was the pregnancy test really positive? Are you allowed to eat that piece of cheese? Was that your baby’s first kick or just plain old gas? When it comes to your second pregnancy, you might assume you’ll the drill. Been there, done that, right? Well, maybe not. It turns out, there are aspects of subsequent pregnancies that may surprise you....

Two-year-olds often come with their own set of challenges, many of which stem from a growing sense of independence and a shortening attention span. One way to deal with the often-frustrating combination is to present toys that encourage pretend play, like this adorable Leapfrog Ice Cream Cart—which serves up more than just fun. What we love Scooping and serving pretend ice cream is just half of the fun; this toy offers tons of educational games that help toddlers build memory, sequencing, counting, fine motor and social skills Ice cream orders ranging from simple to complex will continuously challenge little ones’ budding intelligence Toddlers can easily push the cart wherever they’d like, allowing for fun on-the-go...

I spot them everywhere. They’re the ones pushing enormous strollers where they don’t belong, like onto hot tennis courts and up muddy hiking trails. They’re the ones at the playground before 8 a.m., the ones making dinner reservations for 5:30 p.m. They convince themselves they’re still fun-loving and spontaneous, even while lugging around a truckload of sunscreen, snacks, diapers and wipes at all times. They are Parents On Vacation with Small Children....

In general, emergency c-sections are called for if anything happens to put you or your babies in danger. As discussed before, if you’re pregnant with triplets or more, your doctor will likely already have scheduled a c-section, but if you’re expecting twins and plan on delivering vaginally, an emergency c-section may still be an option if your doctor feels it’s best. In some cases, the first baby will be delivered vaginally and the second baby will be delivered via cesarean, or it’s possible that you could undergo a c-section for both babies, even if your birth plan doesn’t call for it....

Starting solids is an exciting and important milestone in baby’s development—one that not only opens them up to a brand-new world of flavors and textures, but also puts them on the right path to growing healthy and strong. Here’s what you need to know about how and when to start baby food for a smooth transition. In this article: When to start baby food How to start baby on solids Best first foods for baby Introducing allergenic foods...

The nation is now slowly coming out of quarantine and more states are opening up, and hospitals and doctors’ offices are beginning to schedule routine appointments and procedures. But many parents are worried about leaving their home and potentially exposing their child to the coronavirus. Here are the top questions that we as pediatricians are receiving about continuing kids’ healthcare during COVID-19—and our best answers. Should I Keep My Child’s Well Visit Appointment?...

Co-sleeping has become a hot-button parenting practice Co-sleep with baby and you increase the risk of SIDS, the majority of pediatricians warn. Don’t co-sleep with baby and you miss out on an important bonding experience, co-sleeping parents say. It’s enough to keep an already overwhelmed mom up all at night (if she weren’t up already) and wishing: if only there were a happy medium. But guess what? There is. Read on to learn the myths and truths of co-sleeping and how to co-sleep safely....