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This will vary quite a bit from baby to baby and from mom to mom. What’s important is that you let baby finish with one breast before offering the other. By letting baby control their feeds this way, they’ll feed most effectively and ensure that they’re getting just the right balance of fat and fluid—plus, it’ll help your body bring in a good milk supply. Rather than focusing on how much time baby spends on each breast, watch what they’re doing while they’re nursing....

Fatherly is a publication for modern fathers looking to make the best of a good situation. As the father of a 9-month-old daughter, and the husband of a woman on protracted maternity leave due to being laid off while on her initial maternity leave (what? oh, no — it’s totally legal), I can speak to questions about what your wife is doing at home all day with the infant, mainly because my wife has explained to me in vivid — and loud!...

A little birdie told us Twitter is joining the likes of IBM, launching a new service to ship breast milk from moms traveling on business trips home to their babies. The idea stemmed from Twitter’s “Mommy Mentor” program, which helps new moms make the transition back to work. Women will be able to ship the milk in temperature-controlled packaging from FedEx for free. Over at IBM, the service is part of a larger initiative to help the company improve its female retention rates....

Opinion #1: No TV! From the American Academy of Pediatrics: “Children of all ages are constantly learning new things. The first two years of life are especially important in the growth and development of your child’s brain. During this time, children need good, positive interaction with other children and adults. Too much television can negatively affect early brain development. This is especially true at younger ages, when learning to talk and play with others is so important....

There is no need to switch to formula entirely since any amount of your breast milk will have immense benefits for your baby. But it may be necessary to supplement with some formula if you don’t have enough milk to meet baby’s needs on a particular day. There are many tricks to avoid having this happen though: Try to get a head start by building a stock of breast milk in your freezer before returning to work....

If baby isn’t gaining enough weight, you may need to do some adjusting in terms of baby’s latch or your milk supply. Your best defense is to get hands-on help from a certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) ASAP. She’ll be able to help you determine if baby needs a deeper latch and show you how to achieve this. If baby’s latch is too shallow, he might not be able get enough milk....

First things first: Talk to your husband and decide if this is really a tradition he wants to continue. If not, then let him lead the battle. But if it’s important to him, you’ll have to come to some sort of understanding. If it turns out he’s indifferent to the whole idea, then you might want to discuss it with your in-laws. Explain to them that you don’t want to name baby something you might not totally love, just for the sake of tradition....

First, you can stop worrying. A high percentile doesn’t necessarily mean baby is overweight. His weight percentile isn’t nearly as important as his weight-for-length percentile. If he were also in the 100th percentile for length, for example, his weight-for-length percentile would be considered pretty average. Even if baby’s weight percentile is quite a bit higher than his percentile for length, keep in mind that your child is probably at the fattest time of his life....

A recent study, conducted by Dr. Joel Ray of St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, has concluded that birthweight can be influenced by both maternal and paternal ethnicity. It’s no secret that a baby’s birthweight is an important predictor of how he’ll handle the first few weeks of life. But you may not know that the way birthweight is measured isn’t entirely accurate — and it has to do with mom’s and dad’s ethnic backrounds....

It’s nice to be prepared for who’ll be hanging around (and staring at your woman parts) when you’re in the delivery room. Hospitals have differing policies on what staff is present, but here’s a rundown on the basics: • Labor and delivery nurse. As you progress through labor, a labor and delivery nurse will be your support and communication line with the practitioner that will be delivering baby. She’ll be the one to check your progression and monitor baby as you dilate....

This may be an annoying phase in your tot’s development, but it’s an important one. She’s learning to decide for herself what she wants and doesn’t want (separate from what you, her parents, want). So, unless it’s a safety hazard, of course, encourage it. If you really do need an answer, though, you may also want to experiment with questions that aren’t yes-no. In other words, instead of asking, “Do you want lunch?...

Pregnant women are famously tired—after all, your body is working overtime to grow a baby. But feeling weak during pregnancy is often a lot more than just needing another nap. As New York-based OB-GYN Kameelah Phillips explains, “It’s more the inability to move or function normally.” For instance, you might feel lightheaded, dizzy or faint, especially when you stand up. You might get shaky, sweaty, confused or irritable. Don’t rule out headaches or blurry vision either....

Types of Stretch Mark Creams Do Stretch Mark Creams Really Work? When to Start Using Stretch Mark Cream in Pregnancy What to Look for in a Pregnancy Stretch Mark Cream Go for lightly scented or fragrance-free options. Products with strong fragrances can irritate sensitive skin during pregnancy, so try to opt for a stretch mark cream without perfumes or fragrances. Read the list of ingredients. Check the ingredients list to see if it includes irritants or harmful chemicals—especially if you have sensitive skin....

When it comes to feeding your baby, trust in your decision for what’s best for you and your family. Some mothers nurse their infants, some offer formula and some combo-feed. Some moms choose not to breastfeed, and some—for a variety of possible reasons—simply can’t. At the end of the day, fed is best. Still, there are some powerful benefits of breastfeeding that are important to know about. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusively breastfeeding for six months, then gradually adding in solid foods while continuing to nurse through baby’s first year and beyond....

Whether you’re heading back to work or just looking to have bottles on hand, pumping is a great way to stock up on breast milk. But how should you go about storing breast milk? What container you use, where you place it, what temperature you keep it at and how long you store it can all impact how safe and nutritious your milk is for baby. Being smart about breast milk storage is no doubt a science—but don’t worry, we’ve made it easy....

You are sitting there lovin’ on your little bundle of joy when it hits you — do I want another baby? Does my significant other want one? What if he wants another one, but I am happy with one? Our Bumpies on the Parenting Board shared their stories when when it came to discussing their future family plans. Hopefully their stories can help you! “Being the one who has to carry the pregnancy and give birth is major....

Give him quality time with baby… “I’m planning an entire day of just daddy and baby,” says ennlovesrandy05*. “This is coming from a stay-at-home mom whose husband has class three nights a week and works late the other two weeknights.” …Or if he’s overworked, give him the day off If you’re on the other end of the spectrum, and your guy has been logging in lots of daddy duty and could use a break, consider planning a dude day for him....

Postpartum depression used to be a taboo topic. No one talked about it and no one dared to admit they were going through it. Fast-forward to 2017—postpartum depression is now a hot topic. Celebrities like Chrissy Teigen and Brooke Shields have opened up about their struggles, which has helped women realize that postpartum depression is not something to be ashamed of. But what’s the difference between postpartum depression and a typical case of the baby blues?...

Most babies do have the motor skills to make the switch from bottle to sippy cup before they turn one. But many children feel the same way about their bottle as they do about a security blanket, which can hinder the transition. So now’s a great time to get started with your little guy — just make the transition very gradually. Each time you want him to try — and be sure to have him try as often as every day — give him a few different sippy cups so he can choose his favorite; that way, he’ll feel like he has some control over the situation....

You’re smart to schedule an appointment. A preconception visit is a good move for anyone TTC, but particularly those on their first baby, or with any underlying health concerns or problems with previous pregnancies. It’s best to schedule the appointment at least three months before you plan to start trying to leave enough time for any vaccines you may need. These questions should get you started: [ ] Am I at risk for any problems?...