The recent revival of the Young v. UPS case brought pregnant workers’ rights front and center. Should they be entitled to the same workplace accommodations given to similarly restricted workers? Yes, the Supreme Court ruled, although Young will have to take her case back down to the Fourth Circuit. Why the fixation on a case that began in 2006? It hits home for more and more women as time goes on....
Watching or hearing that your toddler is biting his playmates is always upsetting. But it’s actually really common for toddlers to go through a biting phase. Since they’re not yet able to communicate their emotions, particularly frustration, they bite. Most parents are pretty understanding since they know next week it could be their child who’s doing the biting. So how do you handle a biting incident? First, you should always console the other child first....
It’s the family dynamic parents dream of: a protective older brother watches out for his baby sister. And for newborn Ruby Jane, that protectiveness is sixfold. Corey Lowenstein of The News & Observer shared a video (watch it here) of six big brothers meeting the newest addition to their family: a baby girl. As they candidly share their reactions to having a sister, we feel confident Ruby is in excellent hands....
What is a stiff neck in babies? It’s very unusual for a baby to develop a stiff neck, unless he’s either born with a specific condition or has developed one owing to nerve or muscle problems. What could be causing my baby to have a stiff neck? Many parents automatically think of meningitis — a potentially life-threatening infection — when they think “stiff neck,” but babies with meningitis are actually unlikely to have that symptom, even though it’s a hallmark of the virus in kids and adults....
Two years ago, we gave you five brilliant ideas for last-minute family Halloween costumes on the TODAY Show. Since we’re willing to bet a lot you still need them, let’s take a look back, shall we? So skip the party store reject costumes and use supplies from around the house for a DIY costume that’s quick and creative. How to be: Family Game Night Let everyone pick their own favorite board games and use white pillowcases as the base for your crafty design....
Just because you remember getting lots and lots of shots as a child doesn’t necessarily mean you’re fully protected by the time you’re planning to give birth to one of your own. It’s quite possible that you’re due for a booster or even a brand-new vaccine that wasn’t available when you were a kid. That’s why, if you’re trying to conceive, you need to confirm which shots you’ve got covered and which ones you still need....
The concept of co-parenting isn’t anything new. Many separated or divorced couples choose to create or maintain a family dynamic for the sake of their children, even though they’re no longer romantically involved. But the idea of platonic co-parenting—aka proactively starting a family and raising a child with someone you don’t have a romantic or sexual history with—is a bit more novel. There are lots of different paths to parenthood, and platonic co-parenting is one road you can explore....
Smart playtime? Treating cradle cap? Six-month checkup? See all newborn Q&As Octo-baby Baby loves to grab at things, but any hand preference she may demonstrate is no indication of whether she’s a righty or a lefty — you won’t know which hand she favors until she’s at least two or three years old. There’s nothing you can do to affect which hand she chooses, though — hand preference is genetically determined, and trying to encourage her to use one hand more than the other can hinder her development of dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and handwriting....
Most babies love their bottle. But there comes a time when your child needs to kick the habit. The idea of transitioning away from bottles can be emotional (and slightly terrifying) for you and your partner—it marks the end of babyhood in many ways. It can be an even harder transition for your little one. A few simple steps can help ensure that the process is relatively painless for everyone involved....
If you’ve ever seen or received a Ceci New York wedding invitation, you know you’re the lucky recipient of a breathtaking work of art. So when it came time to design her almost-4-month-old daughter Elle (“Ellie”) Hazel’s nursery, the award-winning graphic designer brought the same discerning eye, glam touches and personal details that are hallmarks of her luxe stationery. We talked with the creative director to find out her inspo for turning a white box into a trendy yet timeless colorful space she hopes Elle will enjoy for years to come....
If bedtime is a nightly struggle in your household, the solution may be the flip of a switch. Or two flips of a switch, to be exact. Saffron has come out with a new light bulb, the Drift-Light, to make falling asleep easier. The LED bulb twists into any light fixture. Turn the lamp or light on once, and it acts as a normal bulb. But turn it on, off, on, and the Drift-Light enters " midnight mode....
“When we first started trying to conceive, he said it wouldn’t take long because his sperm wouldn’t wait for my egg to be released; they would go and get it.” — Kelle017 “After we have sex, he says something along the lines of, ‘Okay, that got you pregnant.’” — ILoveMyDucks21 “Last night, my husband got home from work late, but it was an ovulation day, so we wanted to do the ‘baby dance....
You’re a devoted mother (or plan to be), but you’re also dedicated to your career. Luckily, these two passions don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Growing numbers of companies are permitting flexible arrangements—such as telecommuting, job sharing and condensing the workweek—so employees can enjoy time with their families. In fact, in 2005, 44 percent of U.S. firms allowed some percentage of employees to telecommute, up from 32 percent in 2001, according to a survey by New York-based Mercer Human Resource Consulting....
In the weeks, months, and years after you have a child, your needs as a parent and as a person will change. Most times, parents are showered with support before and immediately after the birth of your child. When those days and weeks pass and the initial throng of visitors tapers off, you may be left in a different situation than you envisioned. I personally envisioned my family and friends being not only extremely close but also extremely helpful when I pictured the first months and years of my child’s life....
A tender breast lump with reddened skin often signals a plugged milk duct, especially if the lump is beneath your areola. If it is a plugged duct, you might (or might not) also notice a wedge of redness or fullness extending back from the lump toward your chest. You might also notice a little white dot on your nipple (that’s a plug of dried milk in your nipple opening). With a plugged duct, the pain is pretty mild, and it comes and goes....
The time you once spent shaving has been replaced with prepping a bottle. You now shop for clothes that are sized by month. And your eating habits? They’re always secondary to baby’s. This is fatherhood. And an exhausted — but appreciative — Patrick Corr summed up the highs and lows in a two-minute video. The Cork, Ireland dad is a filmmaker who prides himself on storytelling. And the star of this particular story is baby Benji....
Compared to other species, human babies are incredibly (and adorably) helpless and slow to develop. But a new article in Science News looking at a 2011 study published in the journal Acta Paediatrica shows that our fragile little offspring actually achieve many major milestones in just 70 minutes after being born. Their motivation? To find mom’s breast and start feeding. The study videotaped 28 infants, all of whom received skin-to-skin contact with their mothers right after birth....
And the Winner Is: Lovevery Play Kits With so many milestones in baby’s first year, it’s easy to fret over development. That’s where the Lovevery Play Kits come in. Every box is filled with non-toxic playthings, selected to give your child the right tools for brain development at exactly the right time. The toys are carefully reviewed by child development experts and stand the test of time (total hand-me-down potential). These happy boxes also include a very handy play guide for parents, walking you through the purpose of each toy’s inclusion and helping you create meaningful playtime with your little one....
Wondering how early you should plan on ordering nursery furniture? It’s great that you’re thinking ahead. We put this question to our users, and the general consensus was to go ahead and decide on a style or theme as soon as you want, and then start getting your furniture together in the second trimester. Some things to ask yourself when working out your timing: How long will my furniture take to ship?...
Like many little girls that envision their wedding day long before they find their prince charming and walk down the aisle, I dreamed of naming my children at an early age. Whether in dance class, at the park, or while watching a movie, my ears were keen to baby names that I would one day bestow upon my child. From Alexis, to Julia and Joslyn – I was in search of the perfect name that was used as practice on Cabbage Patch Kids and Barbie dolls alike....
