Posts

Did you all have a happy Mother’s Day? Mine was pretty good: pancakes and handmade cards and sticky hugs, followed by all the usual sibling squabbles, house-trashing and running out of milk and patience. Life with little ones isn’t exactly a day at the spa, you know? But I didn’t think much of it…until I went on Facebook. As I clicked through update after update about breakfast in bed, bouquets of roses, mimosas, picnics and doting families, I started to feel worse and worse....

The thought of seeing baby in pain after getting a shot is enough to give even a cool-as-a-cucumber parent an anxiety attack. We get it. Luckily, there are some things you can do to help both you and baby get through vaccinations as painlessly and stress-free as possible. Research the Vaccines Baby Is Getting Once you’ve read up on the shots baby is receiving and why, you’ll have a firm grasp on which diseases you’ll be preventing and why getting the vaccine is so important—all of which can make you more confident and at ease with your decision to bring baby in....

And the Winner Is: FridaBaby 3-in-1 Air Purifier There’s a ton of stuff to stock up on when you’re prepping for your newborn’s arrival. But let’s be honest, everyone has only so much room—in their house and in their budgets—for baby items. That’s why we’re huge fans of multi-purpose products, including FridaBaby’s 3-in-1 air purifier. Safety is always top of mind as a parent, and when you want to ensure that your little one is breathing in clean air, an air purifier is a go-to tool....

And the Winner Is: H&M MAMA Maternity Jeans Jeans are a wardrobe staple for many women, pregnant or not—but when you’re expecting, finding your favorite pair can be all the more difficult. Do you sacrifice style for something that comfortably supports your baby bump? Do you splurge on a chic but costly pair of denim you’ll only wear for a few months? Good news, Mama: The cutest maternity jeans we found during our own pregnancies also happened to be the most comfortable—and among the most affordable options on the market....

If one thing is true of kids, it’s that they change, and fast! That newborn you could swear you just brought home suddenly becomes a bouncing infant, then a toddler, then a preschooler. And all the while, their sleep habits are evolving just as quickly. It may seem impossible, but there is furniture out there that will shapeshift to fit baby’s needs—the hard part is figuring out which piece is right for you....

The good news is that your child will soon be seeing clearly — and that keeping the glasses on his face might not be as challenging as you think. Depending on where you live, you might have a choice between a general ophthalmologist (eye doctor) and a pediatric ophthalmologist. Though both are completely qualified to work with children, a pediatric ophthalmologist may be more comfortable with kids and may have an office (and equipment) that better fit your child....

“Should I ask in an interview what a company’s maternity leave policies are like?” Women in their 20s and 30s, maybe not trying to get pregnant at all, feel stuck just knowing this could be coming down the pike. Ask, and you’re labeled with a huge CAUTION sign: “Warning! About to Get Pregnant! Do Not Hire!” Don’t ask, and next year, when you do get pregnant, find out that you’ll be one of the 23 percent of American working moms who are back on the job within two weeks of giving birth....

She may be known as the Queen of the Pose, but Coco Rocha doesn’t fancy herself royalty. As a mom, model and mentor, she maintains perspective and prioritizes life with her husband and three kids above all else. And while she loves the industry that gave her a career, she also acknowledges it has some serious flaws—and she’s not afraid to speak her truth and advocate for others. Just look at her Instagram feed; it’s equal parts glam and fam, fashion model and role model....

If you’ve scrolled through social media in the past couple of weeks, you’ve likely stumbled across the new word game that’s taken the internet by storm: Wordle. Recently acquired by The New York Times, the game was created by Josh Wardle, a Brooklyn-based software engineer, for his girlfriend, who loves playing word games. Each day, he releases a five-letter word that players have to guess through a process of elimination. If you’ve played the game, you know it’s surprisingly addicting....

Does my baby dream? Best First Foods? Transitioning from bottle to cup? See all Q&As Baby today, hellion tomorrow It’s true: Toddlerhood has arrived. And that doesn’t just mean toddling. Expect mealtime messes, new words (like “NO!”), squirmy diaper changes, and mood swings. (In case you haven’t heard, one is the new two.) But don’t worry — there are plenty of positives in store, too, like unsolicited (wet, sloppy) kisses and rocking out to your favorite tunes (who can resist a dancing baby?...

You’re not totally ready to tell friends and family that you and your partner are trying to get pregnant, so how do you hide all your babymaking behavior? We asked other women what worked for them—and here’s what they said: “Tell your friends that you’re on a diet and the easiest thing to cut out for you is alcohol! (For me, chocolate is the last thing I’ll cut out. Alcohol is the first thing to go so my friends weren’t really surprised when I pulled this on them!...

The Extra Push You may have heard about Dick Hoyt, the 73-year-old dad who’s pushed his son, Rick, a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy, while running in over 1,100 races, including marathons and triathlons. Team Hoyt’s simple message? “Yes, you can!” Dancing Machine Mike Hanley didn’t settle for a typical father-daughter dance at his daughter Jessica’s Bat Mitzvah. He and Jessica planned a routine to a medley of pop songs from Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson and more....

Prenatal care in the US follows a pretty standard formula: You give a urine sample, your doctor weighs and measures you, and you get a refill of your prenatal vitamins. Maybe you discuss what you’re eating, how you’re feeling and your plans for the birth. But this standard of care is uniquely American. In many countries, pregnant women have fewer prenatal visits. In some poor countries, if you see a health care provider _once _before giving birth, you’re among the lucky ones....

*_Camden *_Two celebrity couples — Nick and Vanessa Lachey, and Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari — named their baby boys Camden this year. The Gaelic name means “winding valley.” Nick and Vanessa say they were inspired by the street Vanessa’s OB’s office is on, Camden Drive. No word on how Jay and Kristin made the choice, but it’s cute, huh? *_Etta *_Carson Daly and girlfriend Siri Pinter named their baby girl Etta Jones....

One of the most special moments during pregnancy is getting to celebrate the arrival of a new baby with a joyous celebration. I was lucky enough to have my aunts and dearest friends put together the most unforgettable baby shower for Rocco and me at Love is Blind, a restaurant in the Coral Gables neighborhood of Miami. Although they were hosting, I was dead set on a bohemian theme, so I did give them a few suggestions about how I envisioned the party and what kind of dress code I wanted for the guests (all white or cream on everyone)....

After pregnancy, you’re probably eager to enjoy certain things from your pre-baby life—like eating sushi, sipping wine or fitting into your favorite pair of jeans. While your dinner menu options basically open up the moment you give birth, postpartum weight loss takes time and patience—after all, it took nine+ months to grow baby! Give your body time to recover, credit for pulling off an amazing feat, and grace as you transition into a new phase of life....

Preschool is your child’s first taste of “big kid” school, and if it’s your first child, it’s likely to be your first experience as well. Because of this, you may have plenty of questions when it comes to preschool age and programs. When searching for a preschool program, you may notice some call themselves “pre-K” while others use the term “preschool.” Many parents often ask if there’s even a difference....

Most often, no. It’s important to treat your postpartum depression, for both your sake and your baby, but the good news is that many of the antidepressants used today are compatible with breastfeeding. You’ll want to look for those that have been approved for use in breastfeeding mothers by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP.org). Know that weaning can often worsen depression, and your milk is providing the best possible nutrition and protection for your baby so it’s actually important not to stop breastfeeding....

When she was writing her second children’s book, Missy President, last year, Randi Zuckerberg had the perfect dedication in mind: “This book is for my sons and for all the awesome women they will work for.” It was just the latest girl-empowerment project launched by the founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media. The New Yorker’s first foray into children’s literature in 2013 brought a spunky, tech-savvy girl named Dot into the world....

It sounds like the punch line in a bad joke, but it’s true that some women do actually have an allergic reaction to sperm. Symptoms of a sperm allergy can include burning, itching or swelling after sex as a reaction to the sperm itself or to the seminal fluid that the sperm swim around in. In some (really unfortunate!) cases, a woman might be allergic only to her partner’s semen or sperm....