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Three c-sections and three babies later, I still remember everything about my first loss. I was 17 weeks pregnant when the nurse called to tell me our baby might be showing signs of trisomy 13 or trisomy 18, two types of chromosomal disorders. While an amniocentesis didn’t confirm any complications, Francisco was born with bleeding in his brain. He died a day later. The experience made me realize that no matter the risk of complications, I wanted to spend less time worrying during any future pregnancies and instead focus my energy on creating a happy home for my child....

Yes. However, “regular” birth control pills (a combo of estrogen and progestin) will hurt the quantity and quality of your milk supply. It’s better to go with a progestin-only pill (aka “the mini pill”). There is no evidence that the progestin-only pill has any negative effect on baby, but the hormone will enter your milk. IMPORTANT: You’ll need to take the mini-pill at the EXACT SAME TIME every day to be protected....

And the Winner Is: Lovevery Play Gym Playmats come in all sorts of adorable patterns and themes. If your goal is to get a cute little gym for tummy-time practice, go ahead and pick one that matches your preferred aesthetic. But if you want to invest in a mat that will grow with your child throughout that milestone-filled first year of life, stimulate their developing brain through the different stages of babyhood and, honestly, not look like a total eyesore in your living room, you’ll want to snag this one from Lovevery....

If you’re from Minnesota, New Hampshire or Massachusetts, congratulations; fatherhood is in your favor. Those are the three states with the highest overall rankings for dads of kids younger than 18, based on four broad factors: economic and social well being, health, work-life balance and child care. The team at WalletHub looked at 20 different metrics — including everything from unemployment rates and life expectancy to childcare quality — across all 50 states and DC to determine the rankings....

Feeling a bit clumsy these days? Blame it on pregnancy. It’s because your center of gravity is shifting. Think about it: your body has to compensate for your growing belly somehow. Most women instinctively lean backward a bit as their bellies grow, in order to account for the shifting center of gravity. The problem with pregnancy is that your body changes from day to day. So just when you get used to being one size and shape, you change!...

When to register You can start registering as early as week 12 of your pregnancy. But feel free to wait until week 20, when you’re able to find out baby’s sex, which may influence your choices and color scheme. Make sure to complete your list before baby shower invitations go out. Who to shop with This isn’t a solo mission so invite your partner to join you. If they can’t make it, it doesn’t hurt to bring along your mom, sister or a friend who’s done this before— but stick to just one person (so you don’t get overwhelmed with opinions)....

The first year of baby’s life was all about feeding schedules and did-they-eat-enough worries, and then the excitement (and stress) of introducing of new foods, textures and flavors to your little one. That was the easy part. You’ve now entered the toddler years, when vocal, mobile and opinionated tots wield their new-found spunk against your best-laid healthy eating plans. “Parents often panic now because their toddler starts rejecting foods,” says Yamileth Cazorla-Lancaster, DO, a pediatrician in Yakima, Washington and host of the podcast Veggie Doctor Radio....

What Is a Pikler Triangle? Benefits of a Pikler Triangle It satisfies a child’s natural impulse to climb and explore It helps children meet key milestones, like standing upright and cruising Open-ended play encourages creativity It increases spatial awareness, problem-solving and balance skills Active play develops gross motor skills, which is an important prerequisite for learning control and coordination of the body, explains Linn Knight. What to Consider When Choosing a Pikler Triangle Size: Pikler triangles range in size from approximately 20″ to 30″ in height....

Wednesday, February 16, 2011 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Burlington Basket Company just announced a recall of about 500,000 bassinets, after 10 instances in which the bassinet collapsed when its folding legs were not locked properly in place. As a result, two infants received minor injuries, including a bruised head and shoulder. The recall affects all Burlington bassinets with folding legs that attach to the basket with white plastic pins, that were made prior to June 2010....

We all get startled now and then. But the startling reflex in infants is a bit different. “The startling reflex, known to physicians as the Moro reflex, is usually caused when your baby’s head changes position or falls back abruptly, or when she hears a loud or unusual noise,” explains Rallie McAllister, MD, MPH, a family physician and coauthor of The Mommy MD Guide to Your Baby’s First Year. “When babies exhibit the startling reflex, they typically react by throwing out their arms and legs and extending their necks, and then rapidly bringing their arms back together....

Pros • Modern design • Grows with your child • Good value Cons • Shows wear and tear Bottom Line The Babyletto Hudson 3-in-1 convertible crib provides a modern-looking, functional frame that will support baby from infancy through toddlerhood. You probably won’t hand this crib down to future generations, since it does show wear—but for such a reasonable price, you won’t really mind. Rating: 4 stars When I started researching baby items, I liked the idea of a convertible crib that transforms into a toddler bed and daybed, but I didn’t want to compromise on the look of the crib in any of its stages....

If you need a more flexible feeding schedule or if baby’s having difficulty latching on, pumping can be a solution. And working moms often want a pump that’s both portable and discreet. Medela has you covered in both departments. WHAT WE LOVE Plug it in or let it run on batteries; either way, Medela’s signature two-phase expression technology will express more milk in less time With included accessories like bottles, breast shields and an ice pack, this system offers more than most pumps Available in three portable versions: the on-the-go tote, metro bag and backpack...

Imagine what the conversation would be like if you combined Girls’ Night Out with an evening in with your toddler. If you’re picturing a mix of pouring wine and preaching about manners, you’d be right. In a hilarious new video by sketch comedy group The BreakWomb, a trio of moms gets together to catch up, gossiping about good looking actors and recent shopping sprees. But rather than talking to each other using the words and tone you typically would with a friend, they carried out the conversation as if they were talking to their toddlers—and they totally nailed it....

Remember all those times your own parents warned you to eat your fruits and vegetables? Turns out grandma- and grandpa-to-be might’ve been on to something. New research suggests that pregnant women that drink a lot of water and eat a diet rich in veggies, fruits and whole grains are actually lowering their risk of preterm delivery. Using data collected from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, researchers in Sweden, Norway and Iceland set out to examine whether a link exists between maternal diet and preterm delivery....

“Choosing a day care center is one of the most important decisions that a parent is going to make,” says Linda Hassan Anderson, senior director at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Academy. She recommends that parents look for a day care that meets the highest standard of care and nurturing of child development. That’s because the early years are a crucial time in baby’s brain development....

Preparing for a family trip is exciting—just think of all the fun you’re about to have! But a vacation with the kids can easily go awry if their sleep schedules are out of whack. As a dad of two, I know from experience that new, unfamiliar places can make it tough for your little ones to fall and stay asleep. After nearly a decade of extensive trial and error, I’ve learned a trick or two to getting my 2-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter to sleep peacefully while on the go....

If you’re using an acne medication and trying to conceive or found out you’re pregnant, talk to your dermatologist or OB right away — the product you’re using might not be safe to use during pregnancy. It figures, right? Just when your hormones are going berserk (and your skin is out of control), you’re told you shouldn’t be using your old-standby pimple zappers and preventers. But hear this scary stuff: The oral acne medication Accutane is _proven _to cause birth defects....

Pregnant women are told time and again: Don’t eat raw meat, avoid unpasteurized cheese, steer clear of deli counter salads. Why? You can largely blame listeriosis, a foodborne illness that doesn’t pose much risk for mom but can be harmful for baby. Find out what causes listeriosis, what your odds are of contracting it and the steps you can take to prevent it. What Is Listeriosis? Technically speaking, listeriosis is an infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes bacteria....

Zero in on furniture, colors and accents that echo your home’s clean, sleek aesthetic, then add a touch of whimsy, says Shalena Smith, of Shalena Smith Interiors and founder of GaGa Designs. Color is one way to play with that idea. Pair an on-trend power neutral, like gray, taupe or white, with a punchy color, like hot pink, turquoise or yellow. “It makes the space feel more fun and kid-friendly, and you can update it easily, too,” Smith says....

I always thought that getting pregnant would be easy. After all, that’s what my PE teacher in high school said: Sex would inevitably result in a baby. I spent my twenties trying not to get pregnant. I thought babies were cute but I certainly wasn’t ready to have one. I was on a mission to grow my career, travel and dine at trendy restaurants during the coveted prime-time people watching hours....