When it was time to get baby the perfect car seat, you were all over it. You understood why it was important to have one, and what could happen without one. But booster seats remain a bit of an enigma for many parents. For instance, did you know that most kids aren’t ready to be out of a booster seat until at least 10 years of age, sometimes even 12? And that seat belt?...
Pros • Well built • Comfy, padded seat • Multiple seating positions Cons • Not very compact when folded • Need to take baby out to adjust certain features Bottom Line Lusting after a high-end set of wheels for baby, but more interested in paying about half the price? This all-in-one stroller is super adaptable, with plenty of seating position options and color choices. You won’t be left wishing you splurged more....
Are you a working mom who wants some easy meals under your belt? Are you a stay-at-home mom who doesn’t have a bunch of time (or hands!) available to make dinner? No matter your situation, we all want to have some easy meals at our disposal. Here are some meal ideas for you that are centered around hamburger. (See my other post on meal ideas involving chicken.) Since many of these use browned beef, you could easily brown all the hamburger at the same time, reserving some for later use....
When you visit your OB after 20 weeks, she may measure the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus, which is known as the fundal height. Moms expecting singletons are measured regularly, but many docs won’t even measure women pregnant with multiples. Unfortunately, when you’re having twins or more, it’s more difficult to assess “average” fundal height. However, as long as you are gaining weight consistently and sufficiently and your fundal height is growing steadily, your doc will likely be satisfied....
Something was clearly burning. “Did you take the Bagel Bites out?” I called out to my husband from my desk. I went into the kitchen, opened the oven and saw that the cheese had turned from creamy yellow to the color of rust. “Oh, I forgot,” he said. The kids had “extra-toasty mini-pizzas” for lunch as I went back to typing this story, peeved. Oh, the irony. Here I was, researching the concept of “emotional labor” and simultaneously dealing with it IRL....
As a pediatric oncology nurse, Jean Gribbon witnessed suffering every day. But she also witnessed hope, strength and determination among her tiny patients. As a way to honor that and help children mark the milestones in their treatment, Gribbon created Beads of Courage in 2003. “I think any nurse will tell you that you always have a compelling need to give your patients something, not as a reward but as a way to acknowledge the courage you bear witness to,” the mom of three says....
One of the biggest side effects of pregnancy is fear of the unknown. This affliction impacts almost all mothers-to-be, and runs the gamut from being a little worrisome to mentally crippling. Nuchal cord, or when baby’s umbilical cord is wrapped around her neck, is one such condition that can conjure up an exceptionally scary image of baby. “One really old wives’ tale about nuchal cord is that as a woman reaches up, say to get something out of the cabinet, the umbilical cord will strangle the baby—this is not true,” says Kecia Gaither, MD, director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln....
Some moms-to-be think they can’t get dental treatment during pregnancy, but that’s not true. If you suspect you have a dental infection, you should see your dentist right away. That’s because there seems to be a link between oral infections and the risk of preterm birth. Especially with something as simple as a cavity, it will be easy to treat your dental infection without causing any harm to your baby. Many antibiotics are safe to take during pregnancy, and you can even get X-rays as long as your dentist covers your belly with an abdominal shield to protect the baby from potentially harmful radiation....
And the Winner Is: Munchkin Bluetooth Enabled Baby Swing Babies are cranky. Motion can help. If you’re on the fence about getting a swing, consider this: A rocker, bouncer or swing gives baby a designated place to chill. It also gives you (and your arms) a break from being the perpetual rocker. Fortunately, the Munchkin Bluetooth Enabled Baby Swing is designed to emulate your natural movement with varying speeds to calm and quiet your little lovebug....
And the Winner Is: Bio Oil Skincare Oil Your body undergoes a remarkable transformation during pregnancy in order to safely house and nourish baby and support their development. And with that rapid change often come stretch marks. Tiger stripes, love lines, mommy medals—whatever you call them, they’re a token of the incredible ability you have to create new life. But if you’re eager to reduce their appearance, body oil is a smart bet....
We already know that eating together has a lot of benefits, but now new research confirms it. According to TIME, about 40 percent of an average American family’s budget is spent on eating out, which can lead to poorer food choices (fattier and saltier foods that have high calories). Researchers at the Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, looked at 68 studies on obesity and eating behavior and found that families benefit from having meals together....
Any medical term abbreviated with this many letters is bound to be complicated, and this one is no exception. MTHFR stands for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. It’s an enzyme that plays a role in producing certain amino acids (the building blocks of protein), and is especially vital for converting the amino acid homocysteine into another amino acid, called methionine. Why is this important? In women who have this mutation, or trouble with the gene that regulates MTHFR production, too much homocysteine can build up in the blood, which can eventually lead to blood clots....
You may have pictured nursing your newborn as a blissful experience—only to find yourself faced with a reality of cracked and bleeding nipples, a newborn who cries around the clock and a concerned doctor telling you baby has fallen below their birth weight. Breastfeeding can be challenging to be sure, but sometimes nursing difficulties are in fact due to tongue tie, a physical condition that can interfere with baby’s feeding. Luckily, it’s easily treated....
This might be surprising to some people: Children should have a dentist by the time they’re one year old. The exams are simple and can be very easy on your child. Usually, you and the dentist will sit knee to knee, and your toddler will sit on your lap, facing you with her legs wrapped around your waist. You’ll have your child lie back so that her head is resting on the dentist’s lap....
Smart playtime? Adult interaction for baby? Traveling with baby? See all baby Q&As Slow and steady Most babies take their first steps between 9 and 18 months, so whether yours is cruising around on her own or still contentedly crawling, there’s no reason to worry right now. To-do: Chat with other mommies in your area Find time for yourself Prep emergency info for caregiver [tip] Reinforcing good behavior with a smile or hug and redirecting negative behavior with a time-out is a more effective type of discipline than spanking....
Whenever anyone talks about having a child during the summer months, most people automatically turn to thinking about being massively uncomfortable in sweltering heat at the end of a pregnancy. You know — the swelling, the sweating and just the general feeling of discomfort. However, after having two children, both born in the middle of the winter, my husband and I totally see the merit of a summer baby, no matter how uncomfortable I may be....
The Bump has partnered with some amazing mothers who also happen to be amazing writers. They’re dishing out all their thoughts, observations and real life lessons about mothering in the best way they know how. We’re embarking on an essay series and we’re hoping you’ll follow along as these authors share what they’ve learned about motherhood through their inspiring navigation of the written word. First up: Maria Kostaki , author of Pieces....
Maybe you’ve always planned to be a cloth-diaper parent. Or maybe the idea of using anything other than a disposable diaper has never even crossed your mind. Either way, when it comes to cloth diapers vs. disposable diapers, you should know that nowadays, a case can be made for both. Cloth diapers have come a long, long way! To help you decide which one makes the most sense for you and your lifestyle take a look at how they stack up: Image: Smart Up Visuals Health and Comfort There’s no huge difference between cloth diapers vs....
Stop by unannounced Day cares are pretty cool places — babies and children learn, grow, get hugs, interact with other kids and play with some pretty awesome toys during the day. But many parents can’t help but wonder things like: Is my baby getting enough sleep? Is my toddler eating nutritious food? Are the toys safe and clean? Are caregivers paying enough attention to my child? And that’s totally natural. “I always recommend that parents show up at their child’s day care unannounced every so often,” says Marc Bourne, vice president of the Know It All Intelligence Group, a nationwide employment screening and investigation firm that deals with day cares....
Meet Dina DiMaggio, MD, and Anthony F. Porto MD, MPH, official spokespeople for the American Academy of Pediatrics and the co-authors of The Pediatrician’s Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers. Each month, they’ll write about the latest AAP guidelines, studies and seasonal issues affecting babies and toddlers. Follow them on Instagram @pediatriciansguide. As parents, we know how overwhelming choosing a car seat for your baby can be! There are so many car seat models available and it’s also hard to keep up with the ever-changing guidelines: How long should my child be rear-facing?...
