If you’ve made it through the first year of motherhood relatively unscathed, congratulations! It’s a trying time for your mental health, sometimes tainted by baby blues or postpartum depression. But a new study out of Australia warns you might not be in the clear yet. In fact, maternal depression is more common at four years following childbirth than at any time during the first year. This may sound a little doom-and-gloom....
Any parent knows, having a baby means dropping some serious cash. Here’s the good news: If you have a Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Accounts (HSA), a smart way to save on certain baby essentials is by buying them with pre-tax dollars. Through insurance plans and company benefits, many of us have access to an FSA or HSA. They essentially work like personal savings accounts, but the money is deposited on a pre-tax basis and can be used only for qualifying medical expenses, such as co-pays and deductibles, certain prescriptions and some medical equipment....
No more are the days where playgrounds and parks are populated solely by moms. As a dad, it’s cool to be at the park with your kid. And more likely than not, you might end up sharing it with a fellow father. These are the people you’ll turn to for advice, support and reassurance…maybe. Even though these dads don’t exactly share the same parenting style as you—and you may not see eye-to-eye on things like bottle feeding or babywearing—there are still some things you can learn from a few of them....
Pregnancy sure has a way of taking the fun out of holiday cocktails. But you don’t have to completely say arrivederci to your Bellinis just because baby’s on the way—you can still enjoy the taste of your favorite drink, albeit without the alcohol. Here, some of our favorite mocktail recipes to spice up your holiday celebrations. Mocktail recipes in this article: Sparkling berry and pomegranate mocktail Cran-raspberry martini Peppermint orange syrup soda Mock sangria Ombré grapefruit mocktail Moscow mule Ginger basil grapefruit mimosa Tiki mai Safe sex on the beach Peach buttermilk shake Dirty Dr....
Gisele Bundchen Gisele seems like a great mom to baby Vivian and big brothers Benjamin and John (Tom Brady’s son from a previous relationship), but we’ve got to admit that we’re not devout followers of everything the supermodel mama says and does. We totally support breastfeeding baby for as long as possible (the benefits are awesome!), but when Gisele called for a nationwide law requiring moms to nurse for at least baby’s first six months and said, “Are you going to give chemical food to your child when they are so little?...
Better brush up on your understanding of the metric system; pediatricians are calling for children’s liquid medicines to only be measured in metric units. The push comes as an initiative to reduce overdoses associated with mixups of teaspoons and tablespoons. Overdoses send tens of thousands of kids to the emergency room each year. “Even though we know metric units are safer and more accurate, too many healthcare providers are still writing that prescription using spoon-based dosing,” says Ian Paul, MD, lead author of new metric dosing guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics....
Can’t stop showing off your baby photos to everyone you know? Get ready for the next level: personalized illustrations, with a touch of cartoonish magic for good measure. The clever idea was brought to life by Costa Rica-based graphic designer and illustrator Maria Jose Da Luz of Behance.net. She neatly sums up her ongoing project in just four words on her site: “little people, little portraits.” According to the Huffington Post, Da Luz was originally inspired after finding a subreddit called Reddit Gets Drawn, in which users post real-life photos for artists to illustrate....
No matter if you’re a vegetarian, vegan or macrobiotic, it’s important to be aware of your diet during pregnancy. If you think you aren’t getting enough protein (the building block for baby’s cells), be sure to talk to your doctor. Otherwise, don’t stress about it too much. As long as you maintain a balanced diet and keep track of what you eat, your baby should be just as healthy as one born from a mom who ate meat during her pregnancy....
By saying no to your toddler, then ultimately giving in and letting him have whatever it is that he wants, you’re teaching him that “no” means “you’ll get your way eventually if you keep pushing.” If you really want your toddler to listen to you when you say “no,” you have to stick to it. Consistency is crucial, or he’ll learn that challenging you is an effective strategy — not a road you want to go down....
Pregnant with places to be? Get after it! According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynocologists (ACOG), it can be perfectly safe to fly during your pregnancy, and even well into your third trimester. So what’s the cut-off point? Air travel is not recommended after 36 weeks—in fact, most airlines won’t let pregnant passengers on board after the 36-week mark. Note that if you have any sort of pregnancy complications, have had any contractions, are at risk for pre-term labor or have a history of delivering early, your doctor may recommend that you not fly in the later weeks of pregnancy....
Yes, of course a mother can breastfeed twins or triplets. Many have exclusively breastfed multiple infants for their first six months. Others have partially breastfed for a variety of babies- or mother-related physical and social reasons. Some doctors believe it isn’t possible to exclusively breastfeed multiples, but that isn’t true. I suspect that whoever says this hasn’t seen it with patients because they have created a self-fulfilling prophecy. And those who really wanted their babies to get only their milk probably sought a more pro-breastfeeding doctor....
Different babies like different bottle nipples, so try a few versions to see which works best for you. To protect your breastfeeding relationship (and keep your own nipples intact), opt for a nipple that simulates the breast. Ideally, baby should have to open wide and massage the bottle nipple with his tongue, just like he does when he’s breastfeeding. Look for a slow flow and short, wide, round nipples. If the nipple shape (as with standard bottle nipples or even “orthodontic” nipples) makes baby chomp down with his gums and lips, he’s likely to try the same when he’s on the breast (ouch), leading to super-sore nipples, ineffective eating and — sometimes — a preference for the bottle....
The “weekend effect:” urban legend or a bonafide trend? This idea that patients admitted to the hospital on weekends have worse outcomes than those admitted on weekdays now has research — geared specifically to mom and baby — to back it. Still, that doesn’t mean you should panic if you go into labor on a Saturday or Sunday. Using 2010-2012 British health data involving 1,349,599 births, Imperial College London has published what it deems the “most comprehensive assessment of its type of the ‘weekend effect’ in obstetric care....
And the Winner Is: BOB Gear Alterrain Pro Jogging Stroller There are days when powering yourself down the trail or up the hill is hard enough, so when baby is along for the ride, having a sturdy, easy-to-maneuver jogging stroller that’ll keep your passenger happy without slowing you down is key. The newly launched Alterrain Pro checks all the boxes and more. It can take on any terrain while absorbing the bumps, and thanks to some smart designs and feature placements, you can comfortably cruise along while keeping full control of the stroller with a single hand....
And the Winner Is: Newton Baby Crib Mattress Sleep is one of the most talked about (and often elusive) parts of parenthood. Getting baby to sleep through the night requires a little bit of time and a fair bit of trial and error. Set yourself up for success with a comfortable and safe mattress. The Newton Baby Crib Mattress is beloved by parents because of its unique construction. It’s made from 90 percent air, making it ultra-breathable and reducing the concern of suffocation....
This may not be the list you expected to see… I’m not going to tell you how or where your baby should sleep, what the best remedy is for a gassy babe, if or when you should try crying it out, or even the best baby products for your new child. Even though there are a lot of things I won’t tell you, there are still 4 important new mom commandments you must follow in order to keep functioning as a new mom:...
When Can Baby Sit in a High Chair? Make sure the high chair has no chance of tipping. That means placing it far enough from the table or counter so baby can’t use their feet to push themselves back. Don’t let other children play or climb on the high chair either. Always supervise your child when they’re in their high chair and never let them stand. Take advantage of the high chair’s safety straps—they should always be buckled....
As a new or expectant parent, you know that the learning curve is steep and the consequences of every decision feel heavy. It’s a lot to manage on your own—and that’s where we come in. Whether you find us on the web, via our app, on social media or by newsletter, The Bump strives to be your go-to guide for all things pregnancy and parenting. We’re committed to being the ultimate resource—an encouraging and knowledgeable friend you can turn to in times of celebration and moments of concern, and we take our duty to inform and educate seriously....
“I once snagged my partner’s foreskin on my engagement ring when I was trying to, um, insert him. He screamed bloody murder. Also, our cat came in once and batted his balls. (Anything that swings fascinates the cat!) Now we make sure the cat is locked out of the room during sexy time.” — AA* “My husband and I had so much sex during one cycle and in such odd ways that he bruised his penis....
We know it’s painful to watch baby get poked and even worse to hear the inevitable crying, but immunizations are crucial for their health. If baby is extremely sick, then your pediatrician will probably modify the immunization schedule. Otherwise, baby should get vaccinated on a regular basis. Though some children do suffer from mild reactions to immunizations, very few become seriously ill, and any pediatrician will reassure you that the benefits of having antibodies (needed to fight infections) far outweigh the risks of baby getting shots....
