Posts

If you’re a parent to young children, you’ve probably heard about the importance of sensory play. Still, you may be wondering what exactly sensory play is and how it can benefit your kids’ development. Sensory play engages all of the senses. It teaches children how to be problem-solvers, scientists and explorers. It can be anything from digging in the dirt outside in your backyard to squishing playdough to experiencing the sensation of water in the bathtub....

I’ve often heard women discuss the strange sense of loss they feel leading up to the delivery of their second child. It’s not that they’re unexcited for their new addition, but more about the guilt they feel over bringing a new person into their first born child’s life. Unless there’s a significant age gap between the two, chances are your older child is still too young to really understand what’s going on....

With COVID-19 still on the rise in many states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend that all children 2 years and older wear face coverings in public. But for parents of toddlers, this recommendation is often easier said than done—getting a 2-year-old to brush their teeth is hard enough, let alone wearing a mask over their nose and mouth for more than a few minutes. So what’s a parent to do?...

Google “baby names,” and you’ll find almost as many baby naming sites as baby names themselves. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, check out our very own Bump Baby Namer and browse through tons of baby name options either alphabetically or by origin. Then watch as our namer makes personalized suggestions based on your tastes! The Bump Baby Namer Get started now Want to see what else is out there?...

Maybe you’re dreading buying maternity clothes. (Guess what? You don’t have to! You can rent your favorite items instead.) Or maybe you can’t wait for those stretchier fits and—finally!—a legit excuse to go shopping. But either way, that day is coming—it just might happen sooner for some people than others. When you’ll start wearing maternity clothes entirely depends on the person. Here’s when it happened for some Bumpies: “At 13.5 weeks, I’ve just started wearing some maternity....

Let’s be clear: This is not a public service announcement. The doctors and technicians at my hospital did not seem to approve of what I did (they looked kind of dismayed, actually). But what I did—or more accurately, what I didn’t do—felt right for me. I did not get an amnio. I was well past 35 when I became pregnant, the age that doctors start recommending prenatal testing. Amniocentesis, usually done between 15 and 18 weeks of pregnancy, was the gold standard for determining whether a baby has a chromosomal abnormality, such as Down syndrome....

Are teething tablets helpful? Theory of cry it out? Musical toys for baby? See all baby Q&As Getting mouthy Baby’s teeth are sprouting, and it’s causing her to drool like crazy. She’s also starting to experiment with her voice. Don’t worry if these first teeth — usually the center bottom — grow in a little crooked. By age three, when all 20 teeth have come in, they should straighten out. To-do:...

Is this the ultimate show of empathy? Three UK dads are taking on a month-long challenge, wearing 33-pound “empathy bellies” to honor their wives, mothers and pregnant women everywhere. Yep, we know, one month isn’t exactly nine. But we’re still pretty impressed by the commitment of Jason Bramley, Steve Hanson and Jonny Biggins. Meet the Three Pregnant Dads, who are documenting the entire experience on their website, complete with daily video and diary entries....

Kids need a lot of stuff—and shopping isn’t usually a one-off experience. From clothes and diapers to age-appropriate playthings, parents constantly find themselves needing to stock up on supplies—which is why baby subscription boxes can be a lifesaver. (Plus, who doesn’t love to get a package in the mail?) But with so many baby subscription boxes out there, it can be overwhelming to figure out which one is the best fit for your family....

Baby’s mind and body are constantly developing in the most amazing ways right now, and we get your enthusiasm about maximizing every moment of this key period. But the truth is, you don’t need to do a heck of a lot to entertain a newborn. Forget “mommy-and-me” French lessons—right now, baby can benefit most from a few simple activities, says Lisa M. Asta, MD, a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California at San Francisco and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics....

According to pediatrician Vicki Papadeas, MD, the benefits of vaccines outweigh any risks. “I firmly believe in vaccines,” she say. “In my pediatric lifetime, I’ve seen a lot of diseases disappear. We’re a victim of our own success, in that since we don’t see these diseases anymore, parents forget how nasty they were. People used to line up around the block for vaccines! Vaccines are incredibly safe, and the diseases they protect against (polio, hepatitis, pneumococcal, meningitis, whooping cough, etc....

One of the best parts of visiting your baby’s pediatrician for wellness visits is finding out how your little one is progressing. Baby growth charts can track how your infant is developing physically, and you’ll learn where they fall in terms of weight and height compared to other babies their age. But what is the average baby weight at birth, and how many pounds will they pack on in that first eventful year of life?...

Expecting a summer baby? When thinking of the right baby name, you might look towards the activities that reign over those warm summer months, including picnics, backyard barbeques, pool days and, of course, beach trips. To help you find the perfect one, we’ve gathered baby names from around the world, inspired by the sun, sand, sea and everything else that screams summer. Below, some naming options perfect for a summer baby....

So you just found out you’re pregnant–congrats! It’s an exciting time for sure, but between having to pee all the time and fighting back the urge to throw up every time you brush your teeth, the first trimester can be filled with some pretty uncomfortable moments. While we might not be able to soothe your morning sickness or tame those mood swings, we can make you laugh. Here, 14 memes that hilariously sum up your first trimester....

When you become a parent, it’s normal to expect it to be tough. You never really know just how tough until you have your child, but when they arrive, many new parents realize it is probably going to be both the hardest and best thing they’ve ever done. But when your children are young, tough can be somewhat of an understatement. I haven’t been through any stage of parenting past the age of two, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say that — for myself — I think parenting infants and toddlers is going to be the most difficult stage....

There are certain basic blood tests one needs prior to getting pregnant or early in pregnancy. All women should have a complete blood count to check for anemia, a type and screen to check your blood type and see if you have any antibodies that could affect the fetus’ blood count, a Rubella titer to see if you are immune to German measles (if you contract Rubella during pregnancy, the fetus can be severely affected), an HIV test, and a test for the Hepatitis B antigen....

All babies are different but, on average, formula-fed babies do tend to be a little chunkier than their breastfed buddies. Breastfed and formula-fed newborns have similar weight gain in the first few months, but formula-fed babes tend to pack on the ounces a little faster during months four to six. (Head circumference and length don’t seem to be affected.) After six months, breastfed babies tend to stay a little slimmer. Nobody is exactly sure why this happens, but some think it may involve water retention and a different composition of body fat....

Unintended pregnancy rates are falling across the US, according to a new study from the Guttmacher Institute. While the rates aren’t consistent across the board, 28 states did see a drop in unintended pregnancies of 5 percent or more since 2006. This decline coincides with the introduction of new, more effective birth control methods like IUDs, and the resurgence of older methods like natural family planning. But this data doesn’t incorporate families who gained access to birth control after Obamacare picked up the tab for out-of-pocket costs; analysis starts in 2002 and caps off at 2010....

We finally gave my twins their first solid food: avocado. They were 26 weeks and three days old — at the time it felt like my sweet little babies are growing up so fast. Since then, we’ve progressed and have been giving them some vegetables and fruit or meat once or twice a day. At first, we gave them the vegetables lightly boiled, no salt added and cut into long strips or “finger” shapes, giving them a good handle for the babies to grip....

As a new mom, you’re carrying a lot on your shoulders: Taking care of your house, yourself, your partner and now, that (adorable) new baby. With so much to juggle, you’re not going to get it right all the time. It’s normal to feel like you could do better (everyone does!). You see those moms who look like they’ve got it all — perfectly coiffed hair, a smiley, happy baby, a killer bod and floorboards that sparkle — and it’s hard not to get jealous....