6:30 a.m. He wakes and messes around in crib for 20 minutes while we sleep a little more. Then, he screams for us to come get him. I feed him a 6 oz bottle in bed with us. Then we cuddle, play and tickle until he gets crabby and we go downstairs and get out his toys. He usually crawls around the kitchen while I’m making his breakfast. 8:30 a.m. Breakfast....
When babies are born, their skull is made up of many different bones, and soft spots (officially called fontanelles) are the gaps where these bones haven’t grown together yet. There are two main soft spots—anterior (on top of the head, and the main one people refer to as the soft spot) and posterior (on the back of the head, though you might not actually feel this one). You also might feel ridges, where bones are overlapping....
Breastfeeding is one of the greatest gifts you can give your baby, but did you know that it works wonders on your own body too? A new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that women who breastfeed have a lower risk of recurrence of the luminal A subtype of breast cancer (the most commonly diagnosed of all breast cancers). While we already know that it has tons of other benefits — from burning calories to reducing lifetime risk of breast cancer — this is “the first study we’re aware of that examined the role of breastfeeding history in cancer recurrence,” says Marilyn L....
Baby’s changing fast, but this appointment is pretty similar to baby’s two-month visit. Baby will get another dose of the same exact immunizations as last time. But now, says Preeti Parikh, MD, you can begin conversations about solid foods and sleep training. Questions the doctor will ask • How are things going? Are there any concerns? Is there anything new going on? • What activities is baby doing, and what milestones has she hit?...
How to Transition Your Child From a Bottle to a Sippy Cup Different Types of Sippy Cups Flat top: Flat top sippy cups—aka 360 cups—are a great option for kids transitioning away from the bottle or breast. The innovative spoutless design allows your child to drink from any angle. The rim is sealed to prevent spills, but once your child raises the cup to their mouth liquid will begin to flow freely....
As new parents, we worry about making mistakes with our little delicate newborns. I made a few mistakes, but they had nothing to do with our new arrival; instead, the things I screwed up were all things that had nothing to with baby and everything to do with me. If I could tell my pregnant self one thing, it would be to remember that your body will be ever-changing, so don’t give up on it....
Hate to break it to you, but it’s no myth that moms-to-be sometimes go up as much as a full size during pregnancy. Don’t freak out just yet, though; the good news is, not all women experience this particular side effect, so there’s still a chance you won’t either. The size change is usually due to how much fluid you retain and how much you swell while pregnant. Also, if you’ve gained a lot of weight during your pregnancy, some of it might be going to your feet (hey, no place is safe!...
A convertible car seat means more bang for your buck, lasting from infancy to toddlerhood. So you’ll definitely want to pick the right one. Considerations: What’s the spectrum of weight and size it can accommodate? Does it have any safety features that set it apart? Since it’ll get so much use, how easy is it to clean? The Pria 70 is that carefully considered car seat. And it has a lot going for it....
Maternity leave is coming to an end. It’s time to think about what’s next for baby: Are you staying home? Hiring a nanny? Or leaving him to fend for himself in the scary world of (gasp) daycare? A new study from the Association for Psychological Science is aiming to quell parental concerns about any behavioral issues that might result from day care. And after following nearly 1,000 kids who spent years in day care, the results are in: It has little impact on aggressive behavior (in spite of recent reports of fight clubs breaking out at day care)....
You know you shouldn’t smoke during pregnancy. But now there’s photographic evidence urging you not to. Using 4-D ultrasounds, researchers at Durham and Lancaster universities in the UK found that fetuses of smoking mothers touched themselves and moved their mouths significantly more than the rate typically expected at 24, 28, 32 and 36 weeks. It almost appears they’re grimacing. Since mouth movements and self-touching usually decline as babies gain more control and get closer to birth, this is cause for concern....
In 2018, when I was pregnant with my second child, I emailed a psychologist on Christmas Eve. While my husband, daughter, parents, sister and extended family were downstairs eating, enjoying the revelry of the holiday, I was camped out upstairs in my childhood room after washing my hands for the dozenth time. My aunt and cousin had told us, upon arriving for the party that night, the reason my uncle didn’t come was because he had come down with a stomach virus....
Divorce is rarely easy, and if kids are involved it is guaranteed to be one of the more difficult times of your life. That’s the bad news. The good news is that lots of families survive marital splits — and many go on to be happier for it. If you and your husband decide to separate, take these tips into consideration when communicating with your kids: Assure them they are loved and will be cared for Divorce means your children’s entire lives will be upturned....
Morning sickness: Consider it the first of many concessions you’ll make to your child in your journey as a mother. The swirly-head nausea and vomiting that often accompanies early pregnancy is far from fun—in fact, it can be downright debilitating. Unfortunately, for many expectant mothers, it’s par for the course. So when does morning sickness start—and more importantly, how can you find morning sickness relief? We’ve asked top doctors to dish on everything you need to know about morning sickness during pregnancy....
Caring for one baby can certainly be a full-time job, but don’t worry — two kids doesn’t necessarily mean double the work. Remember, your children will give each other attention too, even lifting a bit of the load from you at times. Let your older tot “help out” with the new baby (holding the diaper at changing time, helping with feedings), and they’ll both get to be the center of attention....
Selecting a new family car is a big decision. Not only is it a significant purchase, but it also significantly impacts your and your kids’ comfort and safety while on the road. Add to that the numerous car options on the market, and it’s enough to make your head spin. Which is why we’re helping you navigate this tricky road. Here’s what to look for when shopping around, and which vehicles made our list of the best family cars out there....
Sure, there’s no place like home for the holidays, but what happens when home is far away, and you’re bringing baby along for the ride? While she may not have believed it herself when she was a new mom, family travel expert Corinne McDermott says there’s really no need to hesitate when it comes to traveling with an infant, even a newborn. “The younger the baby, the easier it is to travel,” she says....
The latest research published in the journal Pediatrics found that kids who get too early of a start at life are more likely to struggle with reading and math by the time they reach third grade. In the study, researchers led by Dr. Kimberly Noble (assistant professor of pediatrics at Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital), analyzed data from the third grade reading and math scores of nearly 130,000 children who were born at a “normal” gestational age, between 37 and 41 weeks....
I’m still pretty new at this whole mom thing, but one thing that I’ve learned so far is that mornings will forever be a bit more chaotic. If I thought that getting to work on time was challenging before our baby was born, then this is a whole new hurdle to jump over. I have a natural obsession to anally organize everything and anything down to the littlest detail, so you can only imagine how I approached our “new” morning routine with baby....
Feeling a little apprehensive as your due date approaches? Totally understandable—childbirth is a bit daunting. (But man, is it worth it.) Let us clue you in on a little trick: Prepping a few songs for labor and delivery can help you relax and power through the tough parts. “This celebration of delivery with music is a great trend,” says Jamie Lipeles, MD, an ob-gyn with the Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Marina del Rey, California....
There’s been a lot of talk lately about nail polishes that are 3-free, meaning they don’t contain the three toxic chemicals DBP (dibutyl phthalate), toluene and formaldehyde. DBP may cause hormone-production problems in a fetus; toluene may cause reproductive issues, headaches, itchy eyes and more; and formaldehyde can cause breathing problems and even cancer. Who knew a pretty mani could be so scary! While some experts think exposure to nail polish could be harmful to your fetus, there’s no clear evidence that the occasional manicure or pedicure is unsafe....
