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As baby gets bigger, so do the messes. Whether it’s a diaper blowout or a sippy cup flip, you’re going to need a wipe tough enough to tackle the job. Strong but stretchy, durable but gentle, the perfect wipe is a lesson in contrast. And it does exist, we swear. WHAT WE LOVE Three times thicker than other brands, Huggies One and Done wipes up more with a single wipe The soap-free and alcohol-free formulation is gentle enough for all-over use, from baby’s bottom and face to hands and feet The non-woven, stretchy design of the Coform fabric means no ripping or tearing....

What’s your diaper-changing defense against a super squirmy baby? You’ll need a mat that keeps baby in place while keeping him or her comfy. And easy to clean is definitely a must. The Peanut is a wonderfully simple parenting hack moms recommend. Get this on your registry soon; it routinely sells out. WHAT WE LOVE Solid but soft to the touch, the Peanut is bacteria resistant and impermeable to fluids. No seeping up waste or staining here—and no extra cover or pad required Cleaning is easy—just wipe down with soap and warm water Worried this material is too good to be safe?...

It folds up accordion-style to become smaller than most shopping bags. It can be carried like a bag. And it’s probably going to get even more use than your favorite bag. Once baby hits the 6-month mark, you’ll be using the Yoyo everyday. Trust us, it’s an accessory you can get used to. WHAT WE LOVE At 13 pounds, this entire stroller doesn’t weigh much more than an infant car seat....

Think your baby isn’t old enough to do arts and crafts yet? Think again! It’s not about the finished piece but rather the process, exploration and opportunity to learn along the way. Here are some fun and (nearly) mess-free projects you can do easily with supplies you may already have in your house. Remember, it’s important to closely supervise your baby during any art activity. Paint with water (age 9 months and up) Set out a plastic container filled with a little bit of plain water, colorful construction paper and a paintbrush with a chubby handle (shorter ones work best)....

As a parent, my guess is your biggest financial fear is not being able to provide for your children. Sure, you’d like to be able to take vacations, buy your dream home and have enough money to not have to work so much. But deep down what you really want is simply to be able to take care of your family. I’m right there with you. While I have plenty of big dreams myself, financial security is by far my biggest priority....

The latest in wearable technology? Your car seat. And Evenflo is suggesting it will save lives using something called SensorSafe technology. The Evenflo Embrace DLX Infant Car Seat ($150, exclusively at Walmart) comes with a sensor that clips onto baby’s chest. Thanks to a receiver that plugs into your car, Wi-Fi establishes an electronic link between the vehicle and the sensor once the ignition is on. When the car is turned off, an alert sounds twice to remind you about your backseat passenger....

Yes! It’s just vaginal swelling from the trauma of pushing baby’s head through, not permanent growth. Give your body time to heal — we’re talking 24 to 48 hours after delivery — and it will get back to normal. Until then, don’t skimp with ice packs; they’re key for helping to bring the swelling down. Plus, they’ll numb up the area to help you deal with any pain as you recover from delivery....

No. Being away from mom can disrupt any baby’s feeding preferences — I’ve even heard of a baby who had been bottle-fed from birth and refused a bottle for the first week at daycare. Feeding — no matter what kind — is part of a relationship with a baby. Clearly that bottle-fed baby took one look at the strange caregiver and said to herself, “I don’t do this with anyone but my mother....

Yes, you’ll poop. If you just delivered, it’s normal to take a day or two (or three) to have a bowel movement, usually due to a combo of weak tummy muscles, soreness, and plain old fear. To be honest, it might hurt. But probably not as much as you fear. And you won’t burst your stitches either. Doing your business just might be a little uncomfortable the first time or two, especially if you have hemorrhoids....

Any time baby is sick, a piece of your mama heart breaks a little. Not knowing the cause or the cure makes matters even more worrisome. Is it just a runny nose and cough, or is it something more? That “something more” is sometimes RSV. Here’s what you need to know about RSV in babies, so you can worry less and give your little one the treatments and TLC he needs....

Here’s something that might be hard for moms to swallow: a recent study suggested that women who are thin give birth to children with higher I.Q.’s. Hm. The report, which comes from the United Kingdom, says that children born to overweight mothers may score slightly lower on I.Q. tests than children with thinner mothers. Conducted by the University College London’s Institute for Child Health, over 20,000 children were tested across three areas: verbal ability, number skills and reasoning skills at ages 5 and then again at age 7....

My daughter Chloe is smart, silly and lovable. Her smile lights up the room, and her laugh is contagious. She’s just like any other child in all but one way, my daughter Chloe has achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism. When I first heard my doctor mention this possible diagnosis when I was 30 weeks pregnant, I fell down the Google rabbit hole of “what if,” and it was a scary, negative place....

If you’re hoping to give birth vaginally, you might be wondering what’s in store for your vagina after birth. The vagina has a remarkable ability to stretch and accommodate the delivery of a full-term baby—but just how much does it stretch, exactly? Will you experience any tearing in the process? What might feel different about your vagina before and after birth? These are all natural questions to be asking. Below, we asked experts to break down the top changes to expect for your vagina after giving birth—as well as what you can do about them....

Months before my firstborn was due, I researched and spoke to local moms about which pediatric practice they chose and why. I also scheduled three separate meet and greets at the physicians’ offices we were considering. I asked questions such as: How many doctors are part of this practice? Do you offer same-day sick appointments? Do you accept routine, non-emergency questions by phone? Do you have a lactation consultant on staff?...

People expect each other to live according to some unspoken standard. It’s human nature. That’s particularly true of spouses, who tend to set a high standard for each other (sometimes too high). But have you ever explicitly defined that standard with your partner? Have you ever sat down and talked about what kind of home you collectively want to create for your children? Because really, how can you expect to live a way of life or for a specific purpose unless you and your partner intentionally decide on it it together?...

Your kid doesn’t want to to listen to you, mom. And that starts earlier than you think: around six months old. A new study from McGill University found that six-month-old babies are much more interested in listening to other babies than adults. In other words, baby wants to communicate, but not necessarily with you! Researchers think this could be a good thing; attraction to infant speech sounds can trigger the processes needed to learn how to talk....

The only thing better than a great birthday party, is a great birthday party with an even greater story behind it! Meet Sophia — she was born over 11 weeks early, weighed only three pounds, and spent six weeks in the NICU fighting for her life. As a thank you to the medical team who helped her, Sophia’s parents included not only family and friends at their 1st year celebration, but also the amazing doctors and nurses that got Sophia healthy, strong, and home with mom and dad!...

We’ve all had gas pain. It’s that uncomfortable, crampy feeling you get when a gas bubble is trying to work its way through your digestive system. Ouch! No wonder gas pain is often blamed when baby’s fussy and squirmy. But baby gas is far from an official diagnosis, and what a lot of parents think is gas in babies might actually be something else. Here’s what you need to know to figure out if you’re dealing with a gassy baby, or if something else is at play....

Gift registries have been a part of baby showers and wedding showers for years — newlyweds and first-time parents would probably shudder at the thought of not having one — but the concept has recently taken off in a whole new field: kids’ birthday parties. It’s already being fiercely debated among parents, with some slamming it as greedy and others defending it as helpful. One thing is for sure: the idea is catching on....

Fall is in the air! And with cooler weather comes the need for a cool new collection of maternity clothes to see you through autumn. But having to put together an entirely fresh wardrobe for each season of your pregnancy is a double-edged sword: It’s kind of fun to revamp your closet every few months and have a legitimate reason for doing it (hello, changing temperatures and growing bump!), but it’s also a major drain on your budget, especially given that you’ll wear the pieces only so many times before their usefulness expires....