Posts

It’s a great time to raise children in the Midwest and New England. These regions include eight of the top 10 states (along with New Jersey and Utah) that have the highest overall well-being for American children, according to new information released from the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual KIDS COUNT Data Book. The ranking considers data from four areas: economic well-being, education, health and family and community. Southern states didn’t perform as well: Louisiana, New Mexico and Mississippi ranked last....

And the Winner Is: Earth Mama Organics Pregnancy Tea Pregnancy can come with its fair share of discomforts. Not only that, but whatever you take to ease those ailments has to be deemed safe for you and baby. Good news: The right herbal tea blend can help soothe your body and support your pregnancy. (Just make sure to first get your OB or midwife’s stamp of approval.) Earth Mama Organics is a 20-year-old brand offering herbal mom and baby care products, including an array of organic pregnancy tea....

Why is it that every toddler learns to say “no” before they even say their own name? While they can barely pronounce something like “car” above a whisper, they can scream “no” in a perfectly pronounced and annunciated manner in the middle of a crowded store. Every toddler begins to learn “no” as a part of developing their own independence and personality around the age of 2. It’s actually a good thing as they are learning to develop their own free will and beginning to realize that their desires aren’t always the same as their parents....

The day you share your first family photo to the virtual world, all eyes will be on your newborn—and then they’ll be on you. The truth is, to everyone else, you’ll look beautiful. While you may be sweaty and exhausted from labor, people will focus on the joy and pride you’ll no doubt be radiating. But if you want your hair to help enhance that new mom glow for your first photos with baby post-birth, you may want to choose a hairstyle that can go the distance....

Fatherly is a publication for modern fathers looking to make the best of a good situation. Remembering things isn’t easy. Even you have trouble keeping track of all the things you should. Your head is just filled with so much crap, like what’s going on at work, what’s happening with friends and family, what you have to pick up from the grocery store, and…something else? It’s okay, toddlers can’t remember crap either, but that’s mostly because they’re new people trying to figure out the world....

With _ Oz the Great and Powerful _gearing up to make a very magical splash into movie theaters across the country, we figured it was only a matter of time before the stellar cast, crew and characters made their way into your hearts — again! Growing up, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was one of my favorite films. I watched it with my parents, begged my grandparents to watch it with me, reenacted scenes with my cousins at every possible instance, and even now in times of trouble, I click my ruby red heels together and pray I’ll end up back in Kansas....

Knowing that breastfeeding is best for baby is the easy part, but actually doing it exclusively for baby’s first six months of life (the recommended time by the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics)? Well, that’s the tougher part for moms—for lots of reasons. The good news? Moms have universally come a long way in recognizing the many benefits of breastfeeding, according to Lansinoh’s annual survey on the topic....

If you’re nearing the end of your pregnancy, you probably still have a mile-long list of things to do. But a word to the wise: Don’t save the car seat installation for the last minute. After all, trying to properly install a car seat while catching your breath and trying not to pee isn’t fun. Plus, you may want to leave time to have your installed car seat inspected (for free!...

Just as COVID has evolved since it first emerged in the US in January of 2020, so has experts’ understanding of the virus. And while there are still plenty of unknowns, the only thing that seems more contagious than COVID itself is the spread of information—and misinformation. While it’s nerve-wracking for everyone, that’s especially true for pregnant women, who need to keep themselves and their babies safe. Want to sort the facts from the fiction?...

If you think it’s hard getting a gaggle of excitable ladies to play “Guess The Baby Food Flavor,” try coaxing a bunch of guys who’d rather be at home watching sports. Indeed, the coed baby shower trend doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon, so we’ve decided to go rogue. Ready for a real party? Bring it with these next-level coed baby shower games. Game: Shower Squares Pay to play is the way for this football-inspired game that everyone loves....

Haven’t had your daily dose of crazy yet today? Well, allow me. The genomics company 23andMe has made it possible for parents to pick and choose the perfect traits for their soon-to-be baby to have. The patent has been a long time coming — it was filed in 2008 and approved days ago, on September 24 — but the company insists that they won’t use their DNA-based super-system to make “made to order” babies....

It’s no secret that babies need a lot of food to fuel their growing bodies. If you’re breastfeeding, you’re probably paying close attention to your breast milk production—and may even be concerned about low milk supply. In fact—because all parents want to ensure their child’s health and growth—a common question among new moms is how to increase milk supply. The good news is, if you are struggling with production, there are plenty of ways to increase milk supply....

PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome — a common reproductive endocrine disorder that is associated with irregular or absent menstrual cycles and excess production of the hormone testosterone (called hyperandrogenism). Increased secretion of this male hormone generally causes excess hair growth, oily skin and acne. Due to the lack of regular ovulatory cycles and monthly release of an egg, PCOS is often accompanied by infertilty. Should a woman with PCOS become pregnant, the chance of early loss may also be increased....

Feel like there’s a disconnect between you and your pediatrician? You’re not alone. A soon-to-be published study in the Journal of Pediatrics examined how healthcare providers reacted (or didn’t react) when parents voiced concerns about their children — and discovered that it plays a major role in delayed autism diagnoses. A group of Oregon-based researchers analyzed a nationwide survey of parents whose children have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or nonspecific intellectual disability/development delays (ID/DD)....

And the Winner Is: Coterie Water Wipes There is nothing worse than having a wipe rip in your hands as you tackle a messy diaper change. Thin, flimsy baby wipes are simply nonstarters in our book. So imagine our delight when we discovered the new and improved wipes from Coterie—hands-down the thickest, most durable wipes we’ve encountered, ready to take on the toughest of jobs. But don’t let that fool you: they’re still incredibly soft and gentle on baby’s sensitive skin, and gentle on the environment to boot....

While Memorial Day is a holiday that honors military service members, in recent years it’s also become the unofficial start of summer—a weekend full of beach days, barbecues and massive sales from brands. The holiday weekend usually also offers big savings in tech, home appliances, mattresses, clothing and baby gear. Had your eye on a particular stroller, car seat or other type of baby gear that can cost a pretty penny?...

Talk to any mom about labor and delivery and the question “what do contractions feel like?” is bound to come up. Contractions are what help move things along during labor, although it’s also common to get them before you go into labor. And, as most women will tell you, they feel less than amazing. The uterus is a large muscle, and just like any other muscle in your body, it will flex when it’s stimulated, explains Sherry A....

It’s no secret playing with your little one is an important part of their growth and development. Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows when kids engage in developmentally appropriate play, they’re not only having fun, but also building social skills, enhancing brain function and gaining key language and motor skills. But sometimes it can be tough to figure out what to play with your kids, especially babies and toddlers....

For moms-to-be, pregnancy brings about so many physical and emotional changes. Your back is aching and your feet are swollen. You’re crying at the sight of chocolate bars. Even your belly button is looking different these days! But if you’re doing this thing with a partner by your side, remember that the pregnancy isn’t just about you. Here are a few ways to make dad-to-be feel part of the pregnancy process and get involved every step of the way....

Yoga-inspired exercises are ideal for women who are thinking about getting pregnant or having trouble conceiving. They focus on three main health benefits: reducing stress, improving circulation and increasing flexibility (especially in the pelvic and hip area)—all fertility boosters that are key for baby making, not to mention having a comfortable pregnancy and healthy delivery. Here, certified trainer and health-and-fitness expert Christine Bullock demonstrates a series of flow exercises that are great for both mind and body....