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It’s no wonder parents get a bit stressed trying to capture baby’s first holiday on camera. Time is fleeting with little ones, and they have only one “first”—whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, or another holiday that’s important to your family. That’s a lot of pressure, and those picture-perfect moments can seem few and far between. It’s important to remember, though, that the magic usually happens during unplanned moments. You’ll probably get some drool or other body fluids on the outfit you’ve hand-picked for the shoot....

Your days (and nights) of waking a grumpy, sick baby for a temperature reading are over. This easy-to-use no-touch thermometer let’s you take baby’s temperature without waking her. WHAT WE LOVE Position thermometer two inches from baby’s forehead for an accurate reading Backlit, color-coded display instantly shows if a fever is improving or getting worse Sounds can be muted so you don’t have to worry about a single beep waking baby...

Most people say they’re going to have a natural birth, right? Not the case, a new study found. And it’s the media that’s steering most women towards medical intervention, like epidurals. Researchers from Monash University and Queensland University of Technology found women’s magazines are largely biased towards promoting the benefits of a medicalized birth. And it makes sense — with more and more interventions becoming available, the media is going to report on them....

The Bump: Congratulations on your pregnancy! Can you tell us a little bit about White Ribbon Alliance and Star Showers, the causes you’ve partnered up with to help moms-to-be in need? Daphne Oz: Sure! White Ribbon Alliance’s Star Showers works to bring everybody — from individual men and women, local organizations and also local and government authorities — together to create a really powerful voice that demands improvement to care before, during and after birth....

Everyone knows fairy dust has magical powers. But when you’re fresh out, all you need is a pair of DIY fairy wings to transform your child into a perfect little pixie—whether for Halloween or everyday dress-up. Lane Huerta, founder of Lovelane Designs, which offers creative, hand-sewn costumes for kids, walks parents step-by-step through how to make a fantastic fairy costume for kids in her new book, Superhero Sewing. “The power of playing dress-up is its ability to further empower the imagination,” she says....

Birth Defect Risk The number-one to-do on your list while you’re trying to conceive should be to take at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day — most women don’t get enough of this B vitamin in their diet (good news: most multivitamins already have folic acid — check yours out). Taking folic acid before you get pregnant and in your early pregnancy will help your future baby’s future brain and spinal cord develop and can prevent serious birth defects....

Your pregnant body is going through a lot of changes and doing some pretty marvelous work—after all, growing a baby is no small feat! No wonder you need extra rest during this time. The irony is, it can be hard to get a good night’s sleep right when you might need it most. Pregnancy insomnia can happen at any point while you’re expecting and is attributed to several factors, including hormonal shifts, intensifying pregnancy symptoms and, of course, a growing baby bump....

Imagine being just weeks away from delivering; you’re tired and feeling huge, when suddenly you contract an extremely itchy, hive-like rash that flares up all around your belly, keeping you up at night as you scratch, scratch, scratch to seek relief. For the one in 160 to 300 pregnant women afflicted by it, PUPPP rash tops the list of the most agonizing parts of pregnancy. So what’s the deal with PUPPP rash, which—with its bumpy, veiny streaks—looks as terrible as it feels?...

You sure can, but only with the help of an infertility specialist. After having tubal ligation surgery, pregnancy can be achieved either through a tubal reversal procedure, called a tubal reanastomosis, or through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Pregnancy outcomes after a tubal reversal relate to the age of the patient, type of sterilization procedure performed, the site of anastomosis, and the post-operative length of the fallopian tubes. Although tubal reversal surgery is a viable option to repair ligated fallopian tubes, it really isn’t being done anymore because pregnancy rates are higher with IVF, it’s a surgical procedure that isn’t done by a lot of infertility specialists, and it’s associated with an increased risk of tubal re- occlusion and ectopic pregnancy....

If baby is consistently gaining weight, there shouldn’t be any reason to worry and certainly no reason to supplement. Growth charts aren’t a contest — a baby in the 75th percentile isn’t necessarily any healthier than a baby in the 25th percentile. Let’s say baby is in the 15th percentile on the weight charts; that means about 15 percent of other babies weigh the same as or less than her. Your doctor will probably expect her to stay near that 15th percentile “curve” as she grows....

No, it wasn’t just you. We really did see more baby-gear-related recalls this year than ever before. (Though it’s hard to say if more products are being carelessly made, or more companies are just responding sooner to concerns.) Not sure if you missed one of the top stories this year? Let’s take a look back… January 20: Graco Recalls 1.5 Million Strollers and Travel Systems The lowdown: With the first big recall of 2010, Graco declared 1....

And the Winner Is: Frida Mom Labor and Delivery + Postpartum Recovery Kit After giving birth, your body is going to need some serious TLC. There’s a list of postpartum essentials that are key to easing your recovery—but instead of dropping a dozen individual items into your cart, grab the Frida Mom postpartum recovery kit and call it a day. This kit made major waves when it was first introduced in 2019, as Frida took the standard care products expectant women typically stock up on—a peri bottle, maxi pads, ice packs, witch hazel pads, etc....

Fire up some acupuncture needles with a little electricity and, voila! You’ve got electro-acupuncture, which is starting to gain in popularity among certain practitioners. Yow! Why electrify the needles? In principle, adding a slight electrical current gives the acupuncturist more control over the amount of stimulation provided. There’s not a lot of good evidence that electro-acupuncture is any better than the more traditional methods, especially as it relates to fertility. However, one small Chinese study did find that women who received the treatment before and after embryo transfer had double the success rate of having a successful pregnancy compared to those who got a mock treatment....

While previous studies have hinted that eating like a Greek might help you conceive, there’s one thing we can all agree on (feta-lover or otherwise): A hearty, healthy breakfast is more important than you would have ever thought. Sure, you’ll need your nutrients and vitamins to power through the day, but did you ever think that tucking in for a big breakfast could actually help you conceive? Oh yeah, it can....

As eager as you are for baby to arrive, there are certain things you’ll want to tackle free from the distraction of a crying newborn. And if you’re reading this, the clock is probably ticking! From car seat installation to interviewing a pediatrician, here’s what’s most important to check off the list before that first contraction. 1Image: ShutterstockTake a childbirth classYou can brush up on labor basics in advance, but it’s worth it to practice breathing and relaxation techniques with someone who knows what they’re talking about....

If you’ve never breastfed before, you might think it’ll come naturally to you and your newborn. Baby is hungry, you offer up your nipple, baby latches on and sucks sweetly until he’s full. Easy, right? But what’s natural isn’t necessarily always intuitive (at least at first)—for either mom or baby. We talked to breastfeeding experts and moms who’ve experienced nursing challenges to round up the best breastfeeding tips to help set you and baby up for success....

Wondering if you should skip leg day during pregnancy? As long as your doctor has given you the green light to exercise, keep up with those squats, deadlifts and bridges! Now that you’re walking for two, maintaining a strong lower body is actually more important than ever. From start to finish, incorporating prenatal-friendly strength training will do wonders for your pregnancy—and there are four key reasons why powering up your legs, hips and glutes is especially beneficial....

If you’re pregnant, you’ve probably been feeling joyful and excited as you dream about your new little one. But there’s a flip side as well: Fear and anxiety can also creep in, as you start to accept the idea that you’re growing a tiny person inside your body, and that your life is about to completely change. Plenty of moms-to-be find themselves feeling overwhelmed with worry—and it’s completely understandable. You’re suddenly in charge of another life, and the thought of anything harming your child can be terrifying....

Average Age for Baby’s First Cold Baby Cold Symptoms How Long Does a Cold Last in Babies? Home Remedies for a Baby Cold Create a steam room. If your child is coughing a lot, bring them to the bathroom, close the door and turn the shower to piping hot until steam fills the room. The humidity will help break up the mucus, Blumberg says. Turn on a cool mist humidifier. To help baby sleep better (and aid with congestion and coughing), use a cool mist humidifier in the nursery; it works to infuse more humidity in baby’s room, which naturally has lower humidity level at night....

New moms: Meet your new best friend, one that you’ll seriously want by your side. All. The. Time. If you and baby hit the road without it, we’re guessing you’ll slam on the brakes and make a U turn, just so you can head back home and retrieve it. We’re talking about your diaper bag, of course. Consider it a security blanket for parents, or a mom purse on steroids. Whatever life with a tot throws your way—from incomprehensible freakouts to sudden hunger pangs to, yes, poopy diapers—a well-packed pouch that slings over your shoulders (and clips easily onto the stroller) can make messy situations disappear....