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While we may have reached a certain comfort level with some viruses in our lives, there is one virus that poses a particular danger to young children across the country: Respiratory Syncytial Virus. RSV infects two out of three babies by their first birthday. Many babies can recover from the viral infection with no complications, but for some, it can spread to the lungs and cause a more severe infection. In fact, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization in babies under age 1....

Included in the onslaught of bloodwork your doctor or midwife orders at that first prenatal visit are tests to detect anemia, a condition in which your body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells. While super-common and often easy to fix, anemia during pregnancy can result in extra fatigue—as if you needed to feel any more tired. It’ll typically get detected early on, but if gone untreated for too long, it can cause some problems for you and baby....

Playtime is about having fun, for sure, but it’s also how babies practice new skills and learn about the world around them. SmartNoggin’s new Peek & Seek Rattle, then, is the perfect teaching toy: It hones motor skills and introduces concepts like cause and effect and object permanence—all while showing baby a grand old time. After all, learning is fun! WHAT WE LOVE The soft rattle sounds encourage baby’s auditory skills while the clear sphere on top lets baby see and observe, strengthening visual skills...

Before parenthood, your relationship with your partner probably looked somewhat different. You were likely used to having sex whenever and however you wanted, and found plenty of opportunities to spend time together outside of the bedroom too. But since baby’s big arrival, your schedule has changed a little, to say the least, and sex may have dropped a few notches on the priority list. Let’s be honest: What used to be passionate lovemaking sessions have now turned into five-minute quickies while baby naps in their crib, right?...

It’s one of the less pleasant side effects of pregnancy—that tiny bit of leakage that occurs when you cough, sneeze, exercise, laugh or do almost anything else suddenly. It’s all because baby is growing and hanging out in your equally expanding uterus, which puts extra pressure on your bladder. That adds stress on the muscles of the bladder sphincter (the valve that keeps your urine inside until you’re ready to go)....

We uncovered the latest trend in the talk show host circuit: hard-a— parenting. Kelly Ripa described her tough-love approach on The Wendy Williams Show. Like most moms of teenage girls, she’s currently locked in battle with 13-year-old Lola. “She recently lost her computer and phone privileges, so it’s like taking away oxygen,” Ripa said, explaining that Lola broke the rule of no texting or tweeting during study hours. “I don’t think she likes me, but I don’t care,” Ripa added....

Expanding your family is exciting—and nerve-wracking. Just ask actress Odette Annable. She and her husband actor Dave Annable recently announced the impending arrival of their second child. After struggling with pregnancy loss and infertility, the big- and small-screen star couldn’t be more thrilled. But that doesn’t mean she’s not also feeling the pressure. The dynamic will change; the workload will change—and then there’s all the stuff that comes with the territory of having a newborn....

Yeah, this one’s actually true. Avoiding extreme contact heat to his manhood will keep your guy’s sperm count nice and high. Sperm is best produced when the scrotum is about one degree cooler than the rest of the body. Think for a second about the difference between male and female bodies — ovaries are housed inside a woman’s body, where they’re protected and kept warm. Testicles are outside a man’s body, though, which shows us that their natural preference is to be cooler....

Yes, although more research still needs to be done. Bisphenol-A, or BPA, is a compound found in many plastic food containers, such as water bottles and cans that hold food. There has been some concern that exposure to BPA in extremely high doses may cause birth defects and miscarriage. Other studies have related BPA exposure in utero with low birth weight and childhood asthma, but more research is needed to confirm this link....

For you? Relaxing. You’re in charge of keeping yourself and baby healthy, and enjoying the shower. Let whoever is planning the shower take care of the worrying. Now, if you’re asking because you are the host, these tips will help you deal with the basics. Don’t stress too much, though — the love, support and company of friends and family is far more important than any gift, theme or hors d’oeuvres Time it right Best time for a baby shower?...

I was making dinner the other day and suddenly found myself with my pants pulled down. I looked down to find my 16-month-old daughter with one of my pant legs in one hand and my 3-year-old daughter with my other pant leg in her hands. Both were screaming “up-eee” as loud as they could and crying. As I continued to observe this surreal moment, my husband walked into the kitchen and jokingly said “sexy!...

And the Winner Is: Happiest Baby SNOO Smart Sleeper One of the hardest but most universal things about early parenthood is the sleepless nights. So when pediatrician Harvey Karp launched the SNOO in 2016, it seemed almost too good to be true: A bassinet that senses baby’s cries and automatically responds with sound and motion to get them back to sleep, without you ever having to get out of bed? It’s the stuff of dreams....

The answer is easier than you think. Baby should be eating whatever you’re eating for dinner—so long as it’s balanced, nutritious and free of not-so-great additives, like salt or sugar. Don’t be surprised if baby crinkles his or her nose at your meal—sometimes he or she needs to be exposed to a particular food up to a dozen times before accepting it. “At this point, your job is simply to offer the food,” explains Scott Cohen, MD, a pediatrician and author of Eat, Sleep, Poop: A Common Sense Guide to Your Baby’s First Year....

First things first—what is colic in babies? You know babies are supposed to cry, but sometimes it can seem like your child’s cries go on a little longer than “normal." Even after you’ve checked their diaper and made sure they’ve been fed and burped, no amount of holding, rocking or jiggling seems to console them or stop their cries. Watching baby sob and writhe in pain, you probably feel helpless and at the end of your rope....

About one in four babies has a reaction to a vaccine. Luckily, most aren’t serious — the most common reactions are redness, pain or tenderness at the injection site, mild fever and fussiness, says Cornelia Dekker, MD. These usually go away on their own within one to three days. A minor reaction means the vaccine is doing its job — creating an immune response that will ultimately protect baby from infection, Dekker says....

So you just had a baby—congrats! Up next? Introducing your new addition to the world with a personalized baby announcement. Birth announcements are cards sent out to your family and friends announcing the arrival of your son or daughter (or multiples). They typically feature a newborn photo and essential birth announcement info, including: Name Birthday Weight Length (in inches) Time and place baby was born (optional) Parent or parents’ names...

As with any party, the best baby showers are those where the conversation is lively and time seems to fly. And nothing does that better than a few well-chosen baby shower games. We’ve rounded up our favorites, from co-ed baby shower games that all your guests will enjoy, to easy baby shower games you can pull off in a moment’s notice and even unique baby shower games that’ll impress even the most jaded of guests....

“Babies are used to noise in the womb — don’t put them to sleep while hushing everyone around you.” — Sara K. “Enjoy the middle-of-the-night feedings. They were our quiet cuddle moments, and they don’t last long.” — _Roxanne B. _ “Sleep when they sleep. Sounds trite, but that advice helped me survive when my son was a newborn.” — Laura S. “Never brag about your baby sleeping through the night....

An ultrasound during the first trimester appears to be not only safe but, in many cases, essential to confirming a normal pregnancy. Furthermore, the most accurate screening test available for Down syndrome involves a first trimester ultrasound. But, an ultrasound does involve energy that can theoretically lead to temperature increases when the fetus is exposed to it for a long time. Certain types of ultrasound tests expose the fetus to more energy (and potential temperature increases) than others....

It may feel like just yesterday that you were changing baby’s first diaper, and in the blink of an eye you’ve reached the mother of all milestones: potty training! It may be difficult at times, but you can find comfort in the fact that all parents go through this. While the end goal is always the same—ditching those diapers, and ushering in the era of underpants—it’s not a one-size-fits-all process. Stressing over how to potty train your tot?...