Your Baby Is 34 Weeks Old

Nighttime separation anxiety? Diaper table distraction? Getting libido back? See all baby Q&As Ahead of the class Baby’s starting to understand that objects have certain functions — a phone is for talking, a sponge is for cleaning, and a cup is for drinking. Interactive activity centers make great toys for him right now, but anything that he can bang, shake, open, and explore will capture his attention and help him learn....

March 21, 2022 · 1 min · 154 words · Bertha Mccrory

Natural Cesareans Improve C Section Experience

A c-section probably isn’t the empowering, magical birthing experience you had in mind; there’s a lot more sterility and a lot less bonding. But family-centered cesareans are gaining popularity, and making the whole procedure a little bit gentler. Also referred to as a natural cesarean, the technique has a two-fold aim: to help mom feel more engaged in the delivery and to promote skin-to-skin contact immediately after. While doctors typically curtain off the operating field to block mom’s view, a natural c-section uses a clear or lowered drape so she can watch....

March 20, 2022 · 2 min · 369 words · Robert Nelson

2020 Best Of Baby Standout Hatch Rest

The age-old idiom “sleep like a baby” can feel like a cruel joke in the early days of parenthood. Everyone wants more sleep and better sleep for years to come. The Hatch Rest+ does both, promoting a restful night and evolving with your child as they grow. Use the white noise to soothe your crying infant and the dimly lit light to change baby’s diaper in the wee hours. When your child graduates to a toddler bed, use the time-to-rise settings to let them know when it’s okay to get up, or set a color-tinted nightlight for them to drift off into dreamland....

March 20, 2022 · 2 min · 324 words · Jeanette Smith

21 Meaningful Godparent Gifts

After careful consideration, you’ve chosen who you want to be baby’s godparents. Now there’s another tough task to tackle: picking the perfect godparent gifts! Maybe you’re planning a sweet godparent proposal complete with “will you be my godparents” gifts. Or maybe they’ve already accepted the honor and you want to express your gratitude with meaningful presents. Whatever the case, we’re here to help. We scoured Etsy—a marketplace famous for its personalized, handmade and otherwise extra-special products—to find the best godmother gifts and godfather gifts out there....

March 20, 2022 · 6 min · 1109 words · Sue Fisher

A Mother S Day Psa How To Avoid Mom Burnout

“No, I got it.” It’s a phrase so many moms use when family and friends try to help—even on Mother’s Day. In fact, a lot of moms I know think there’s too much emphasis put on this holiday. Don’t get me wrong: Moms appreciate being recognized and getting help on Mother’s Day—but they’re so used to doing it all themselves, it’s hard for them to accept it. If you don’t make a mom sit down, they’ll just keep going and giving....

March 20, 2022 · 5 min · 959 words · Andrew Rollman

Excess Saliva During Pregnancy Why Your Mouth Waters

We bet no one warned you about this one before you got pregnant, huh? You expect the nausea, the crazy cravings and the swollen feet. But excess saliva? Seriously? Unfortunately, it’s one of those rarely talked about pregnancy symptoms. On the bright side: It’s a harmless symptom and generally doesn’t last long. On the not-so-bright-side: It can get pretty embarrassing in certain social settings and tends to make nausea even worse....

March 20, 2022 · 1 min · 187 words · Jacob Kirker

Exercise During Pregnancy How Much Is Too Much

Lea-Ann Ellison, 35, never expected to find herself at the center of a social media firestorm. But when the Los Angeles–based mom of three logged on to her Facebook page one morning, she was stunned to find more than 5,000 comments on an image she had posted of herself lifting a barbell during her daily CrossFit workout. Why the backlash? Ellison was 32 weeks pregnant at the time—and the weight above her head looked almost as big as she was....

March 20, 2022 · 7 min · 1283 words · Leonard Rivera

How To Deal With Picky Eaters

There are few things as frustrating as working hard to prepare a delicious, nutritious meal, only to have your child refuse to eat it—especially when you know he’d like it if he’d just try a bite. When picky eaters constantly turn down food, it’s all too easy for mealtime to devolve into an all-out battle—or for you to reach for the chicken fingers yet again just to get your child to eat....

March 20, 2022 · 10 min · 2120 words · Esther Heyward

Kyle Larson Talks Potty Training Son Owen

Kyle Larson is a professional stock car racing driver competing full-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. He’s also a full-time dad to Owen, 2. Potty training always sounded like it was going to be tough. Since my son, Owen, is our first child, we didn’t know what to expect besides what other parents have told us. We knew it was a good idea to have a prize to give him when he was able to go successfully....

March 20, 2022 · 3 min · 463 words · Lee Wright

Major Baby Milestones

Watching baby grow and gain new skills is incredibly thrilling—and it happens fast. That first year is packed with moments when your infant masters a tricky movement and reaches exciting baby milestones. They actually smiled! They clapped their hands! They pulled themselves up! Can’t wait, right? So when will baby be able to do what? Every child hits baby milestones at their own pace—so don’t worry if yours doesn’t follow this guide to a tee—and there’s a big age range for when little ones meet these milestones....

March 20, 2022 · 12 min · 2431 words · Carol Wynn

Pregnancy Spotting And Bleeding What You Need To Know

When you’re pregnant, the last thing you want to see is blood in your underwear. That flash of red or brown can instantly conjure up fears of miscarriage—but bleeding and spotting during pregnancy is more common than you’d think, and it’s not always a signal something is wrong. Read on to help you navigate the ins and outs of pregnancy spotting, including why you might be bleeding and what to do about it....

March 20, 2022 · 8 min · 1586 words · Terry Edwards

Q A Avoiding Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

You’ve got extra blood flowing through your veins right now, and it can sometimes pool up in the parts of your body most affected by gravity (such as, yes, the rectum). The result is swollen, itchy varicose veins, and when these come where the sun don’t shine, they’re called hemorrhoids. Your growing uterus adds pressure to the region, making it particularly prone to swelling, and the forthcoming strains of childbirth can start the problem right over again....

March 20, 2022 · 2 min · 272 words · Melissa Trickel

Q A Breast Infection

Symptoms of a breast infection (or mastitis) are similar to flu symptoms: headache, weakness, aches, fever (usually more than 101 degrees F), and chills. One breast will also be very tender and probably streaked with red. If you suspect that your breast is infected, get in bed, get comfy (take off your bra if it’s tight), and breastfeed your baby at least every two hours — starting on the infected breast....

March 20, 2022 · 2 min · 227 words · Albert Slawson

Q A Is Deet Okay For Baby

DEET has been used safely for many, many years and it works well to prevent insect-borne diseases. In fact this long safety track record is why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends DEET for infants over 2 months of age. Of course it would be nice to avoid all chemicals _but _you have to remember that insects also carry some very serious diseases. (Encephalitis, Lyme, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Malaria — just to name a few!...

March 20, 2022 · 2 min · 400 words · Matthew Clute

The 2020 Best Of Baby Winner For Top Baby Carrier

And the Winner Is: BabyBjorn Baby Carrier One Air Fact: Babies like to be held. All. The. Time. Babywearing can open up a world of possibilities, allowing you to run an errand, tackle a home to-do or zip through an airport. And that’s saying nothing of having baby snuggled in close. As fellow parents, we highly value products with great functionality and growth potential—and the BabyBjorn Baby Carrier One Air does both....

March 20, 2022 · 2 min · 364 words · Angela Mcdonald

The 2021 Best Of Baby Winner For Best Diaper

And the Winner Is: healthynest Diapers The primary job of a diaper is to catch and contain messes, so of course you want to find one that’s reliably leak-proof. But that’s not the only marker of a top-notch disposable diaper. Did you know that babies’ skin is more permeable than adults’, making them more susceptible to chemical exposure? Especially considering that baby is in a diaper all day and all night—and likely will be for at least two years—it’s important to wrap baby’s bum in a diaper made from the safest possible materials....

March 20, 2022 · 2 min · 352 words · Deborah Carrithers

The Best Disney World Rides For Kids Who Scare Easily

This summer, my family and I took our first real trip to Disney World. We’d been lucky enough to score a free VIP vacation, and with just three days’ notice, we were on our way. The kids, at 14 and 10, were more than ready to experience the parks, but we had one problem: My youngest child, Juliet, really doesn’t like scary rides. Our challenge was to discover what her limits were and make sure we still all got to go on rides and leave happy....

March 20, 2022 · 12 min · 2466 words · Edna Nelson

The Ultimate Nicu Cheat Sheet

A Abduction The movement of an arm or leg away from the midline of the body. Abduction of both legs spreads the legs. The opposite of abduction is adduction; adduction of the legs brings them together. Acidosis A condition in which the red blood cells in the blood — measured by a hematocrit, or “crit” — are lower than normal. Adjusted Age Also known as “corrected age.” This is your child’s chronological age minus the number of weeks he or she was born early....

March 20, 2022 · 30 min · 6276 words · Pat Downing

What Should My Toddler Do While I Shower

You’re right to be nervous — toddlers can get into trouble in less time than it takes to lather up. But you deserve a shower. So the key is to figure out a way to keep your toddler busy, happy and safe while you’re getting clean. Elizabeth Pantley, author of_ The No-Cry Discipline Solution_, suggests putting together a box of fun, safe toys or games that can only be used when you’re in the shower....

March 20, 2022 · 2 min · 230 words · Thomas Simmons

11 Hacks For Designing A Small Nursery

It’s tempting to dream of a chic, sprawling nursery—but not all of us have a lot of space to work with when designing baby’s room. Reclining gliders and motorized baby swings might sound nice, but they’re just not going to fit. Don’t freak. There are plenty of ways to work within the confines of a tight space and still get the nursery of your dreams. In fact, sometimes smaller can be even better....

March 19, 2022 · 5 min · 975 words · Elliot Jones