Playing music for baby may not turn him into a baby Mozart, but bouncing him to the beat will definitely boost his E.Q. That’s the verdict from a new study published in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. “There’s this idea that if we just play music in the background, then our kids are going to grow up to be geniuses, and that’s really not what research is suggesting,” lead author Laura Cirelli tells Today....
Finding out you’re pregnant is one of the biggest thrills you’ll ever experience, and so is sharing the news with your partner. Shouting “I’m pregnant!” always works great, of course. But some couples prefer to have a little more fun. After all, what better way to launch a new chapter of your life together than with a super-cute pregnancy reveal? Whatever you decide to do, one thing is for sure: The reaction is something you’ll always remember....
I’m so glad you emailed me. You are a perfect case of the “I think I’m fat, so he’ll think I’m fat too” complex. We women are particularly guilty of this. We get so wrapped up in our own little insecurities — no matter what form they take — that we assume our partners think the same thing. Let me assure you: He thinks completely differently than you do! Once we can get our heads around this fact, most of us tend to relax....
Highly-educated women (think postgrads and beyond) are going against the grain. While studies show the US birth rate continues to shrink, especially among millennials, a new Pew Research Center analysis shows women with a higher education are actually having more kids. Over the last two decades, the number of educated women who remain childless into their mid-40s has dramatically dropped. In 1994, the Census Bureau reported that a whopping 30 percent of women aged 40-44 with a master’s degree or higher had no children....
Your health is so important, especially during pregnancy—and that includes your mental health as well as your physical health. To find a little zen, many moms-to-be swear by pregnancy meditation. And for good reason too: it boasts tons of benefits. But how do you know if it’s right for you? And if it is, how can you incorporate it into your already crammed routine? Here, we walk you through the whys and hows of pregnancy meditation....
We say it again and again: the 12 weeks of federally-mandated (but not necessarily paid) maternity leave is less than ideal. Some companies have done employees a solid and extended it — most recently Netflix, offering a full year of paid leave. But other companies — about 200 nationwide — are taking a different approach, inviting newborns into the office. And parents seem to love it. Take the Washington State Department of Health in Olympia, for example....
In the past, it was recommended that pregnant women keep their heart rate below 140 beats per minute, but those strict guidelines have since been eliminated. Experts now say you don’t need to stick to any specific heart rate limits while exercising during pregnancy. Instead of focusing on the number on a heart rate monitor, know the signs you should look for in your own body. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynocologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week....
The incessant wail of your newborn is enough to send any parent on a roller coaster of emotions, from worry (is baby sick?) to irritation (will it ever stop?) and exhaustion (must sleep now). The good news is, these cry-fests are normal. The bad news? They could go on for the next few weeks. That’s because starting around two weeks old, baby enters a peak time of crying that can last up to three months....
And the Winner Is: Hatch Maternity Collection Embracing your changing body and new curves can be challenging as an expectant mom. Thankfully, maternity clothing has come a long way—you won’t have to sacrifice your sense of style for nine+ months. Hatch Collection was born out of a desire for chic maternity clothing that made dressing the bump fun and easy. This original line of timeless pieces is meant to be worn during every stage of pregnancy and beyond (hello fourth trimester)....
Shampoo is on your hair for only about half a minute before you rinse it off. So it couldn’t do much harm, right? Well, honestly, that’s not exactly certain. Here’s the deal: The ingredient sodium lauryl sulfate, a popular surfactant found in shampoos, has been linked to birth defects in animal studies. (Note that sodium _laureth _sulfate, which sounds similar, is actually proven safe for use.) Other ingredients to watch out for in haircare products include parabens; rosemary; synthetic fragrances, which may contain phthalates; and a preservative called methylisothiazolinone (MIT)....
School’s back in session, and while some say the trick to raising a genius is through flashcards and foreign language classes, we like to think it could be about picking the perfect name. Inspired by some of the smartest people we know (well, know of), these names will move your baby to the top of the class in no time. Albert Albert Einstein was more than a big brain and hideous head of hair....
If you’re desperate to clock more zzz’s during pregnancy, know that you’re not alone. Ask a pregnant person—any pregnant person!—and they’ll tell you that the struggle is real when it comes to trouble sleeping. Heartburn, leg cramps, frequent urination and general discomfort are just a few of the issues that can keep you from getting quality shut-eye. It’s no wonder if you’re considering turning to melatonin for some help in the snooze department....
With the abundance of misinformation surrounding the flu shot, it’s no surprise many moms-to-be debate getting the vaccine while pregnant. And no matter what your concern—the safety of ingredients, possible side effects, risks to baby—you can almost always find someone to agree with you. So here’s the straight talk from the experts about getting the flu shot during pregnancy—whether it’s safe, what the risks and benefits are, and how it can affect baby in utero....
As a parent, your top priority is the safety of your child—and that starts during pregnancy. One important way to keep you and baby safe is to steer clear of certain foods that are known to be harmful or potentially risky to consume while pregnant. Wondering what not to eat during pregnancy? Some may be common knowledge (think: alcohol), while others might surprise you. Here, we asked experts for a comprehensive list of which foods to avoid during pregnancy (and which to at least limit when you’re expecting)....
Some new moms like to go with the flow. Others want to track _everythi_ng. Regardless of which one you are, there are easy-to-use apps out there that can restore order to your life. Here, some of our favorites. Baby’s schedule “Log when the baby eats and sleeps,” suggests parenting coach Tammy Gold. “Once a pattern has formed, you can implement a schedule around the baby’s needs,” she says. “This will also allow for a constancy of care between all caregivers....
Not as much as you may think. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends two to three 8 oz. cups of milk per day, per toddler. Milk can be a nutritious beverage, and young, growing kids benefit from milk’s protein, calcium and vitamin D. The problem is that milk also contains calories, and, in some cases, fat — and some kids drink so much milk that they fail to eat other foods and nutrients....
Some women have nipples that don’t stick out and may appear flat or even inverted. With a little patience, you can get your baby to successfully latch onto your breast. Your baby’s sucking motion can draw the nipple out. Pumping just before nursing can help pull the nipple out too. Some experts recommend using nipple shields during feedings; as the baby sucks, the milk comes out through a hole in the shield....
TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. A TENS unit is a small, portable device that delivers mild bursts of low-voltage electricity through the skin to the nerves; the electricity may interrupt the flow of pain signals through the nerves, providing pain relief. Because TENS is non-invasive and non-systemic (meaning that it doesn’t affect the entire body), it seems like a great choice for labor, especially for women who don’t want to use medication....
If you would’ve told me that I’d one day willingly leave my job to raise a child, I would’ve laughed in your face (or, at the very least, behind your back). Not only did I love working, I regarded SAHM-hood with as much enthusiasm as a Pap smear. Be home with a baby all day? No way, not me, no thanks. But after 12 love-soaked weeks with my newborn son, Joshua, I knew I wouldn’t be able to go back to the daily grind....
How can I help my child avoid sunburn? What’s behind my toddler’s chronic runny nose? Why does my toddler insist on being carried? See all Q&As King of the crib Your toddler is the center of the universe — his own, at least. Kids this age are rarely great at taking turns and can seem downright inconsiderate. Keep your cool and keep modeling good behavior. He’ll catch on, oh, in a year or so....
