Standing over baby’s crib with a mirror to make sure she’s breathing? Yeah, we’ve been there. Newborns are scary little creatures. But there’s got to be a better way monitor baby’s vitals, and to let you know ASAP if something’s not right. Owlet found it. And they made it adorable. WHAT WE LOVE The infant Smart Sock uses pulse oximetry—the same technology found in the device hospitals put on your finger—to track baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels....
When it comes to feeding your baby, trust in your decision for what’s best for you and your family. Some mothers nurse their infants, some offer formula and some combo-feed. Some moms choose not to breastfeed, and some—for a variety of possible reasons—simply can’t. At the end of the day, fed is best. Still, there are some powerful benefits of breastfeeding that are important to know about. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusively breastfeeding for six months, then gradually adding in solid foods while continuing to nurse through baby’s first year and beyond....
Regardless of which kind of formula you go with for baby—a cow’s milk-based brand packed with the best blend of protein, carbs and fat; a soy-based blend that’s easier to digest—90 percent of the corn and soy ingredients in formulas are grown from genetically-altered seeds. But Similac, the leading maker of baby formula, now offers a better option: a GMO-free line. WHAT WE LOVE “Eating clean” can start early—no genetically-modified ingredients means you can feel good about what’s going into baby’s body Features Similac’s same signature OptiGRO blend of DHA, lutein and vitamin E—essential for developing brains, eyes and immune systems...
This is the third of a five part guest blog series by Susan Patton, a.k.a. “The Princeton Mom,” who found fame (and a recent TIME 100 nomination) from her controversial views on marriage in her book, Marry Smart. While you may not always agree with her, you’ll definitely want to hear her (often surprising!) stance on parenting’s hottest topics. Would you encourage your children to hit you if you behaved badly?...
“I don’t know what happened—Nora used to eat everything I put in front of her and suddenly she only wants bread!” This is a conversation that has become familiar to me, and likely sounds familiar to many parents out there. In my business as a pediatric dietitian, the number one concern of parents could be summed up in one sentence: “my toddler only wants (fill in the blank).” Sometimes this sentence includes a single food, and sometimes it’s a whole macronutrient group, like carbs....
A photo of your newborn’s first day home. Pics from meeting the grandparents. Snapshots of the first steps, first foods, first haircut. We get it: You’re bursting with parental pride and want the world to see how amazing your little one is. But for your child’s safety, it’s important to stop and think before putting those photos online. That’s because you could be sharing more than a sweet snapshot of baby’s milestone....
Wondering if your kid’s name made the cut? The Social Security Administration revealed the most popular baby names of 2011. Some of them look pretty familiar (Jacob is number one for the 13th year in a row). But one new name made it to the top this year: Mason is number two on the boys’ list for 2011 (maybe parents are taking a cue from Kourtney Kardashian’s son?). Here’s the list: Boys...
The world is going through a turbulent time right now, with COVID-19 tearing through communities and leaving devastation in its wake. But even from the isolation of their homes, children have a message of hope for us all. First inspired by little ones in Italy, families across the US are leaving images of rainbows in windows, on doors and on social media as a symbol of sunshine after the storm, often with a note reading, “let’s all be well....
Breastfeeding may be a lot of things — but a defendant against obesity it is not. New research concludes that breastfeeding is not effective when it comes to reducing the risk of childhood obesity. The research, which began as an intentional study in 1996, followed 15,000 mothers in Belarus. At that time, breastfeeding was not popular among Belarusian moms. Researchers separated the moms-to-be into two groups, ones who gave birth in hospitals (and received training designed to encourage breastfeeding), and the other group who also gave birth in hospitals but did not receive any extra support....
You knew you’d have some emotional moments when this whole pregnancy thing began, and we’re not discrediting the severity of those hormone-induced meltdowns. But in retrospect, they’re kind of funny, right? Here, women (and their partners) own up to the silliest reasons they got emotional during pregnancy. Canned Ravioli Must Remain Intact “Wife was craving Chef Boyardee ravioli. I was cooking it on the stove, haphazardly watching it, when I glance over and it’s at a hard boil....
Babies can do this for several different reasons. Sometimes it’s when the milk flow slows down or the breast is drained. Switching to the other side at this point can often help. You can switch back and forth several times if you need to. Since the breast is continually producing milk, your baby may be able to drink again on that side. Sometimes babies pull away from the breast and fuss because the milk is flowing too fast....
Every toddler is different, but following some basic sleep guidelines can keep your toddler healthy and happy—as well as do wonders for your sanity. The total number of hours your child sleeps is incredibly important. Even losing just one hour of appropriate sleep time will compromise a child’s alertness and brain functioning as well as increase fatigue in the early evening (and as you probably know too well, a tired toddler equals a cranky toddler)....
Twenty million babies are born early and underweight each year, and a staggering 3.3 million of these infants die within the first month of childbirth. But the Embrace Warmer , a sleeping-bag type incubator that keeps babies comfortable and temperature-stabilized without using electricity, is hoping to change that and lower infant mortality rates around the world. The device, which was initially designed for a class project by TED Fellow Jane Chen and a group of classmates at Stanford University, has already helped more than 150,000 babies across 10 developing countries and three continents....
After last week’s news that ethnicity plays a role in birth weight, a new study answers that the most influential factor for baby’s size is a healthy mom. A global network of researchers and health care professionals called INTERGROWTH-21st looked at babies’ growth in the womb and size at birth in eight urban areas across the world. They found that, when born to healthy, well-educated and well-nourished mothers, babies were “strikingly similar” in size, especially length....
What is a two-vessel umbilical cord? Most babies’ umbilical cords have three blood vessels: one vein, which brings nutrients from the placenta to baby, and two arteries that bring waste back to the placenta. But a two-vessel cord has just one vein and one artery — that’s why the condition is also referred to as having a single umbilical artery. What are the signs of a two-vessel umbilical cord? There usually aren’t any before it’s diagnosed....
Your toddler may be able to walk short distances around your living room like a champ. But send him out into the hustle and bustle of the real world, and he won’t be able to keep up the adult pace for long. He simply can’t move his little legs fast enough, let alone for more than a few minutes — and trying leaves him exhausted (and you frustrated). Plus, it’s uncomfortable for him to keep his hand raised high in the air to hold yours....
“When my son’s feeling really bad, he likes to cuddle and have his back rubbed until the Motrin kicks in.” — LDriscoll “Steam from a shower does the trick.” — AKay “Eucalyptus aromatherapy oil has always worked wonders!” — SQusic “Swaddling is my go-to solution. That, combined with lots of skin-on-skin contact, really calms my daughter.” — KThomas “I make sure to suck the snot out of baby’s nose. It works....
And the Winner Is: Thinkbaby Clear Zinc SPF 30 Baby’s delicate skin requires a special kind of sun protection. Rather than chemical formulas, baby sunscreens use mineral blockers—like zinc oxide—to help block harmful UV rays. While there are many baby-safe options on the market, finding a lotion that rubs in easily and provides broad-spectrum protection can prove surprisingly difficult. That’s where Thinkbaby comes in. The brand has long been hailed as the standard for safe sunscreen; their products are made with skin-safe ingredients and offer a high level of UVA and UVB protection....
Parenthood is chock-full of surprises—that’s what makes it exciting! And there’s much about your unborn baby’s future that’s unknown: The color of their eyes, whether they’ll have your dimples or your partner’s smile, what their first words or favorite foods will be. When it comes to your child’s health, however, surprises aren’t as welcome. But thanks to a relatively new screening method known as non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), doctors now have a better idea of what the future holds for baby’s wellbeing....
Daphne Oz is one of those women you’d want to plan a play date with, if you could. She’s friendly and warm, quirky and real — personality traits that shine through on The Chew, the daytime lifestyle talk show she stars on with chefs Mario Batali, Michael Symon and Carla Hall and entertaining expert Clinton Kelly. Her success has skyrocketed in recent years. She joined the cast in 2011 and in 2013, wrote the cookbook and lifestyle guide, and _The New York Times _best seller, Relish....
