Some babies cruise around holding onto furniture for months and months while others start walking practically the moment they get up on two feet. Here, pediatrician Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP describes the signs that signal those first steps are coming, so keep an eye out and then keep your video camera close at hand. And if you’re worried your baby is a little behind the curve, be patient—there’s really no need for concern until 15 months....
Yay, you finally got baby to sleep! But believe it or not, not all sleep positions are created equal. Placing baby on his back is by far the safest sleep position. Even if you believe baby will sleep more soundly on his stomach or side, resist the temptation. Tummy sleeping dramatically increases the risk of SIDS. But if baby starts rolling over from his back to his stomach in the crib on his own (this usually happens around 4 or 5 months, it’s safe for him to sleep on his tummy....
From cooling gels to wacky shapes, you’ll find teethers in many shapes, sizes and styles. But one teether, the classic Sophie, has consistently delighted petits bébés since 1961. WHAT WE LOVE Made from 100 percent natural rubber and food paint, she’s perfectly safe for nibbling Soft, flexible and ideal for little hands, Sophie lets out a fun squeak when squeezed, doubling as a favorite baby toy SUMMARY Sophie’s definitely a registry splurge, but millions of parents believe she’s worth it....
The Bump presents #MomBoss, a series dedicated to showing off all-star moms. We catch up with mompreneurs behind products we love, influencers who get real about motherhood and SAHMs who can multitask in their sleep. Smooth as a baby’s bottom—or so the saying goes. But what happens when baby’s bottom, or entire body for that matter, is anything but smooth? Sweta Doshi was faced with this challenge when she gave birth to her second child....
As you prepare your home for baby’s arrival, plenty of questions are probably whirling about: “Will the nursery be ready in time?” “Is the crib in the right place?” “Darn it, should I have ordered that shelving unit from IKEA after all?” But no matter how put-together the nursery is, in order to bring baby home, you’ll need to focus on car seat safety. Word to the wise: Don’t wait until the last minute!...
You wash, he dries? Turns out divvying up the chores can pay dividends in the bedroom. Using data from the 2006 Marital and Relationship Survey (MARS), researchers at Georgia State University found that heterosexual couples who split childcare duties have better relationships and sex lives than those who don’t. For the purposes of the study, “childcare” involves factors like rule enforcement, praise, playing with kids and supervising them. While analyzing the data, researchers grouped the couples into three categories: relationships where women do most of the childcare, relationships where men take the lead in childcare, and relationships where duties are split....
The transition phase, usually defined as the time your cervix dilates at about 7 centimeters to when it’s fully dilated at about 10 centimeters, is considered the most challenging. But the good news is it’s also the shortest. The length of transition depends on a variety of factors, but it can typically last about 30 minutes to two hours. Of course, for some moms-to-be, this can feel like an eternity. Contractions here last longer (60-90 seconds) and come quickly (every 30 seconds to two minutes) although they can also overlap (seems unfair!...
When to throw it Since you want friends and family to be able to make it, aim for a weekend party. You’ll be home from work (and hopefully slightly less stressed), and they probably will be too. Time of day is key for unpredictable three-year-olds. “If the kids are still taking a nap, you should definitely throw the party before (or after) naptime,” says Kate Landers, a children’s event planner and stylist....
Whether your child has been in daycare since she was an infant or she’s been at home with you, as she develops and grows into an inquisitive toddler, you may start wondering if and when you should think about preschool. The choice is largely a personal one and the decision will likely be based on your family’s educational philosophy, your child’s personality and readiness, finances and other factors. Here, early education experts weigh in on the potential benefits of preschool, how to tell if your child is ready for school and how to best prepare her for this next phase of learning....
Meet Dina DiMaggio, MD, and Anthony F. Porto MD, MPH, official spokespeople for the American Academy of Pediatrics and the co-authors of The Pediatrician’s Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers. Each month, they’ll write about the latest AAP guidelines, studies and seasonal issues affecting babies and toddlers. Follow them on Instagram @pediatriciansguide. It’s getting hot out there! With the start of summer, vacation and beach time, we wanted to share tips on how to keep your babies burn- and bug bite-free....
Nope. We know your skin can do some pretty wacky stuff during pregnancy, but hold off on a chemical peel until after baby arrives and you’re done breastfeeding. The chemicals used in the process haven’t been proven safe for baby. The only exception is lactic acid, which is considered okay to use during pregnancy because it’s found naturally in your body. It also can be gentler to your sensitive skin. If your doctor approves it, you can have a lactic acid peel....
We love twins. We love em. But they’re not the inevitability that IVF patients think they are. And that’s probably a good thing. The RMANJ Infertility in America 2015 Report found that 94 percent of those trying to get pregnant think that transferring multiple embryos will boost their chances of having a child. That’s not the case anymore. But it certainly will boost your chances of having multiples. Fertility treatments only account for one percent of America’s births, but they contribute to 20 percent of multiple births, because so many couples are still transferring more than one embryo....
Co-sleeping has become a hot-button parenting practice Co-sleep with baby and you increase the risk of SIDS, the majority of pediatricians warn. Don’t co-sleep with baby and you miss out on an important bonding experience, co-sleeping parents say. It’s enough to keep an already overwhelmed mom up all at night (if she weren’t up already) and wishing: if only there were a happy medium. But guess what? There is. Read on to learn the myths and truths of co-sleeping and how to co-sleep safely....
Breastfeeding is natural, instinctual, and above all, normal. And while photographer Ivette Ivens sought to normalize breastfeeding by stripping away everything that gets in the way, these amazing photos are anything but normal. Ivens, a mom of two herself, brings her subjects outside to capture breastfeeding in nature. “I want people to look at it as if it was a cat nursing her baby kittens. Or any other mammal, if you’re not a cat person,” she tells the Huffington Post....
Some of our own personal favorites, along with recommendations from our users: Baby Bargains, 9th Edition: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on baby furniture, gear, clothes, toys, maternity wear and much more! by Denise Fields Lstaylor73: It’s a must. It will answer so many questions. _ _ The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer by Dr. Harvey Karp debbiej: a lifesaving baby book for DS’s first few months....
As soon as you notice the first hint of a baby bump, you may start wondering when to buy maternity clothes. You’ve probably scrolled past and admired that Instagram fashion blogger with the perfectly shaped pregnancy belly who makes dressing her bump look effortless and fun. Now for the reality check: Figuring out which maternity clothes actually fit and flatter can be a daily challenge for many moms-to-be. But with the right maternity clothing, you’ll look—and feel—your best as you count down each trimester to your delivery day (promise!...
You’re not pregnant yet—so does that mean you can still enjoy a few drinks safely? Really, you should stop drinking alcohol as soon as you start trying to conceive. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol can affect baby’s development in the very first weeks—even before you know you’re pregnant—and could potentially lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or a range of lifelong physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities for baby (otherwise known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders)....
At the start of a new year, it’s easy to lay out well-intentioned resolutions. But a couple months (or weeks) in, they start to feel harder to keep. As a mom-to-be, you’ve got a lot on your plate. Do you deserve a little slack? Absolutely. But you also deserve to accomplish whatever goals you set out for yourself. Don’t worry—we’ve got your back! Here are 10 things we’re loving right now that’ll make those resolutions feel a little less daunting and help keep you on track for a healthy, happy year ahead....
And the Winner Is: Zella Live-In Maternity Ankle Leggings Early on in your pregnancy, you may be able to get away with wearing your regular leggings. But, trust us, as that bump of yours begins to grow and show, you’re going to need a designated pair of maternity leggings to stretch with and support your changing form. And, FYI, not all maternity leggings are created equal. This pair from Zella is a cut above the rest....
Bikes aren’t bad for below You’ve probably heard the rumors that bikes can do damage to his nether regions, but there’s actually not much truth to this one. One small study from Austria found that male mountain bikers may experience more infertility from scrotal damage caused by jolting over rough terrain — but the study only looked at men who logged at least 3,000 miles a year (that’s an average of two-plus hours a day, six days a week), which is pretty extreme....
