Watching baby grin and giggle as she splashes around in the tub is one of the cutest sights around, and may make you wonder—how soon can you sign up for baby swimming lessons? Maybe you have a pool, are planning a vacation or have just noticed that the bath is baby’s happy place. Infant swim lessons are designed to get kids comfortable in the water and teach them basic water safety....
For a spotlight-shy mom-to-be, throw a casual backyard barbecue instead of a traditional fussy baby shower. Make it original with an old-school rock-n-roll theme, complete with popular ’50s songs and vintage diner-inspired decor. The Invite: For a less formal baby shower, go for emailed invites. Gather email addresses from all your guests; search Evite, pingg, or MyPunchbowl.com for an invite that matches your theme, and just hit send. Easy, green, and cost-effective....
It’s incredibly beneficial for women to keep up a consistent fitness routine throughout pregnancy. Not only does it strengthen your body to help carry the weight of a growing baby more easily, but it also improves your stamina and endurance for giving birth. But figuring out which exercises to do and how often to do them can often feel daunting for moms-to-be. So what does a good pregnancy workout plan really look like?...
Other than finding out whether you’re having a boy or a girl, most women prefer to do without surprises when expecting. We all want pregnancy to go according to plan, and this includes hitting the full-term delivery window of about 40 weeks. So if signs of preterm labor, such as early-stage contractions, appear weeks in advance of your due date, confusion and panic may set in—and that’s absolutely understandable. It’s also understandable that, until reading this article, you’ve probably paid zero attention to what causes preterm labor....
It’s 3 a.m. and I’m on my knees wiping my liquid gold off the floor. My 2-month-old baby, Stella Rayne, is screaming. Eric, my fiancé, is out on a boy’s night. I feel completely helpless and alone. Rewind 15 minutes. Like clockwork, Stella had woken up to feed. She’d been asleep for four hours, which meant the wet spot on the sheets was from my full, leaking breasts. I could feel the milk stream roll down my sides as I pulled off the blanket, swung my legs over the edge of the bed and reached into her bassinet to rescue her from the starvation I think she’s suffering from....
Giving birth is one of the most universally rewarding experiences, but not all countries around the world celebrate this milestone in the same way. While nearly every country has some form of paid leave for mothers after a baby is born, some are more progressive than others when it comes to the length of paid leave. A growing number of countries give new dads paid time off as well or the option to split parental leave with moms....
Babies spend a good chunk of their first few months sleeping on their back, but it’s crucial for them to also experience being on their stomach during the day. “Tummy time,” as it’s called, helps babies build the upper body strength they’ll need to achieve the big milestones that happen within their first year of life, such as rolling over, sitting and crawling. But, despite parents’ best efforts, sometimes babies just don’t enjoy tummy time....
Finger foods? Tricks for giving medicine? Pumping problems? See all baby Q&As One step at a time If baby’s not ready to walk, there’s no reason to force him. Just keep reminding yourself that the age at which he learns to walk isn’t related to his intelligence or other potential, and let him develop at his own rate (as long as your doctor says everything checks out normally, of course). Allow plenty of time for him to practice his moves, and offer a hand if you notice frustration setting in....
Exercising during pregnancy is important to keep you healthy and in shape for childbirth—and swimming is the perfect pregnancy workout. Here are five awesome reasons why: Swimming is a low-to-no-impact activity. Just doing the front crawl, breaststroke or even backstroke laps in the pool helps to work nearly every muscle in your body and gets yours heart rate up for an effective cardiovascular workout with no jarring or impact to your vulnerable joints or your baby....
Amanda Wiss, the founder of Urban Clarity, a professional organizing company, shares her expert advice for creating a tidy nursery. Buy storage-friendly furniture Get a crib with drawers underneath or buy a crib skirt and some under-bed boxes, which are great for stashing all those excess diapers and wipes. Still short on storage? Consider a cube system like the IKEA STUVA, which can grow with your tot and be outfitted with drawers and doors to hold toys and books....
Pros • Comfortable ride for baby • Seat can be adjusted to face you • Full-coverage sun canopy • Sleek design Cons • Non-swivel front wheel • Wide profile • Difficult to transport Bottom Line If you have the means, live in the suburbs and are looking for a single-purpose jogger, look no further than the Runner, Bugaboo’s newest addition to its family of strollers. Rating: 3.5 stars Features I’m not one to get caught up in brand names, but I have to admit I felt pretty hip running around town with the Bugaboo....
Wellbutrin is an antidepressant medication that can also be used to help quit smoking. It’s not thought to affect fertility or compromise your ability to get pregnant, but it’s classified as a Category C drug, which means that there are either no good studies in pregnant women or that the medication has shown an adverse effect in animal studies. In other words, you likely shouldn’t take it during pregnancy. If you’re using Wellbutrin as a way to break your smoking habit, it’s probably safest to try and quit first and get off Wellbutrin before trying to conceive....
Women who follow a Mediterranean-style diet high in vegetables, vegetable oils, fish and beans are more likely to increase their chances of getting pregnant, according to dietitians at Loyola University Health System. You hear that, ladies? Dietitians want you to eat more like a Greek — and to that, we say: BRING. ON. THE. FETA. Brooke Schantz, who was involved in the study, says: “Establishing a healthy eating pattern and weight is a good first step for women who are looking to conceive....
Pros • Wall plug saves money on batteries • Straightforward, easy operation • Padding is removable and machine washable Cons • Takes up a lot of space • Lowest speed is faster than expected Bottom Line While it may not be ideal for small spaces, this feature-filled smart swing is versatile, easy to use and offers plenty of options to soothe and satisfy baby. Rating: 4.5 stars Ready to register? Shop our catalog for the Fisher-Price My Little Snugabunny Cradle ‘N Swing with SmartSwing Technology....
You knew having a baby would be a lot of work, and you assumed that juggling the role of caregiver with that of a devoted employee might be another challenge. But just as you didn’t know exactly how crazy your new-parent life would be, you may not have fully anticipated that going back to work would once again throw you for a major loop. But when that return-to-office date starts creeping up on your calendar, the mixed emotions (and stress!...
What are itchy or watery eyes during pregnancy? Sure, you’re hormonal, but these tears aren’t falling because of that sappy life insurance commercial. Your eyes are itchy and irritated. What gives? What could be causing my itchy or watery eyes? Karen Deighan, MD, FACOG, department chairperson of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital of Loyola University Health System, says the most common cause of itchy, watery eyes, even during pregnancy, is allergies....
In the best news ever for dog-loving parents, early exposure to dogs is linked to a lower likelihood of asthma in kids. Over the course of five years, Swedish researchers analyzed information from babies born between Jan. 1, 2001 and Dec. 31, 2010. Their findings, just published in JAMA Pediatrics, shows that the earlier puppy and baby become friends, the better. Dog exposure during he first year of life was linked to a 15 percent lower risk of asthma in school-aged children....
A hunch, eh? Actually, that’s not a bad clue — mother’s intuition starts early. Get more conclusive evidence with an ultrasound — after eight weeks, it will almost always be accurate. A Doppler device can sometimes pick up an extra heartbeat (or two!), but there’s always a chance the extra beat was actually background noise or your own heart. Elevated hCG levels are another clue. Morning sickness and fatigue can be more severe if you’re expecting multiples, and you’ll probably also notice that belly start to protrude a little sooner (and a little more) than normal....
Yep. Breastfeeding passes your antibodies to baby, helping to protect her from sicknesses now and in the future. There’s no guarantee that you won’t pass her an illness (through coughs, sneezes, and kisses — but not through your milk), but chances are good that baby has already been exposed to whatever ails you so it wouldn’t make sense for you to stop now. If there’s something particularly nasty going around and you want to play it super safe, you can always pump some breast milk and have your partner feed baby until you feel better, or wear a mask over your nose and mouth while you’re in close contact with your child....
Moms inevitably gain a new appreciation for the wonderful convenience of machine-washable everything. That’s because whether you’re wearing fine cashmere or Fruit of the Loom cotton, baby is not in the least impressed and it’s fair game for baby reflux. All this sartorial stress is, of course, miniscule compared to the very real mommy stress—and questions— that crop up every time baby spits up. How much is too much? And is baby okay?...
