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Before Instagram, there was Anne Geddes, the Australian-born photographer whose nature-inspired baby photos defined ‘90s baby photography. Remember those irresistible babies dressed as tulips? How about the sweet newborns sleeping on a bed of swans? These and other iconic photos spanning 30 years can all be found in Geddes’s latest book, Anne Geddes: Small World, a retrospective of her prolific career. Her photographs have also inspired a new line of baby-safe nursery paint(natch)....

Some toys are classics for a reason—and the wooden stacker is one of them. They may seem straight-forward, but stackers help baby master fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, pattern and color recognition and concepts like spatial relationships. Now combine those benefits with beautiful craftsmanship, and you have Grimm’s giant Stacking Tower Boat. WHAT WE LOVE Baby can use the 11 wood pieces to either stack into a sailboat or use as building blocks for open-ended play, giving this toy a long shelf-life The blocks are made from non-toxic, eco-friendly materials and are individually hand-sanded for a safe, smooth finish A stacker this big and beautiful easily doubles as nursery decor, and can be passed down to future littles—which is why this makes a perfect baby shower gift...

Oh boy- time for yet another BIG decision! Is it weird to not have family as guardians? Our Bumpies on the Parenting after 35 Board shared their thoughts on choosing a guardian: “We designated the best man from our wedding and his wife. My brother doesn’t want children and DHs brothers are kind of a mess. My brother would be in charge of the money aspect, but our friends would be great at raising our boys....

Before you let your partner order takeout, read this. A new study found that phthalates (which are hormone-mimicking chemicals found on food packaging, plastics, shampoos and colognes) may be hurting his chances of conception when it comes to babymaking. For the study, published in Fertility and Sterility and authored by researchers at the National Institutes of Health,researchers measured urine concentrations of BPA and 14 other phthalates in roughly 500 couples that were trying to conceive....

Pros: • Lightweight • Easy to maneuver • Five levels of recline • Compact design doesn’t take up a lot of space when open Cons: • Not super sturdy • Doesn’t roll well on rough surfaces • Tricky to fold at first Bottom Line The Chicco Liteway Stroller is an excellent choice for your little one, especially when you’re traveling or navigating tight spaces—just don’t expect it to do well on rough surfaces....

As a new parent, your spidey sense is in overdrive, watchful for anything that could possibly harm your little one. You’ve done an A+ job baby-proofing your home already, but perhaps there are some aspects of baby’s nursery that still have you worried—namely, baby’s crib. As a protective parent, those hard wooden crib slats can seem suspect. What if baby hits their head or gets a limb stuck through one of the slats?...

What Is Crystal Energy? How Do You Use Healing Crystals? Best Healing Crystals for New Moms Hematite: According to Askinosie, Hermatine is the No. 1 crystal for new moms because it helps remind them to stay grounded in new situations. “When I was a new mom, I wore a hematite anklet…It brings all of your energy to your feet, and when we’re grounded we make decisions from a grounded space because we’re not in our heads....

Hydration is always important, and during pregnancy those fluids are even more precious than usual. Your body needs water to form amniotic fluid, produce extra blood volume, build new tissue, carry nutrients, help indigestion and flush out your wastes and toxins. (Baby’s too!) Drinking lots of fluids during pregnancy can work wonders, easing constipation (and therefore hemorrhoids), softening skin, reducing edema and decreasing risk of both urinary tract infections and preterm labor....

Fiber is a pregnant girl’s buddy. Why? It keeps everything moving through the large intestine and fights against that all-too-common pregnancy symptom, constipation. Plus, fiber-rich foods are usually nutrient-dense, meaning they fill you up without adding tons of calories. (You really only need an extra 350 extra calories in the second trimester and about 450 extra calories in the third trimester, according to Pooja Shah, MD, regional medical director for Banner Medical Group AZ East and a practicing ob-gyn....

Since my twins were born, I can say that my Instagram feed has one subject and one subject only: babies. And it’s not just me — my mom and my sisters watch and document their every move via some sort of device, whether it’s a phone, camera or iPod. Baby milestones are important! But I have found that it’s important to celebrate mommy’s milestones, too. Here are my top three big moments....

This is actually a common misconception — Kegel exercises are usually recommended for the postpartum period only. The primary reason for doing them is to improve or maintain pelvic muscle strength, but birth relies on the relaxation of pelvic muscles, not the tightening. As for exercises that will actually make giving birth easier, it’s a rare woman who says giving birth is easy! It’s hard, demanding work. But staying active during your pregnancy can help....

Daily schedule for a 10-month-old, breastfed baby girl (submitted by Tina) 7 a.m. Wake up and nurse her. 8 a.m. Breakfast and play time. 9 – 10 a.m. Go upstairs to get ready for her morning nap. Nurse her to sleep. 11 a.m. Wakes up and is nursed again. Gets dressed for the day. Noon Lunch and play time 1:40 p.m. Go upstairs for afternoon nap. Nurse her to sleep. 3:30 p....

And the Winner Is: Yogasleep Hushh Portable White Noise Machine Two words: white noise. It’s a new parent’s best friend, and for good reason. It reminds babies of the womb, where everything was loud and in constant motion. Shhhhhhhh sounds will help, but even the most patient parents can get tired of sushing, especially, say, at 2 a.m. A white noise machine can calm a fussy baby or signal bedtime, helping soothe and transition your little one to this new world....

Despite sore feet and aching backs, the vast majority of pregnant women will plow through their day, accepting that discomfort is par for the course when you’re carrying a human inside of you. But when chest pain hits, it can be nevertheless unnerving. So we spoke to experts to find out what causes it and whether it’s something dangerous. (Spoiler alert: in the vast majority of cases, it’s normal, though in rare cases it can be problematic....

Ready to start a family? There are no “wrong” sex positions to conceive baby—but there may be a few positions that increase the likelihood of sperm meeting egg. While the scientific proof behind each best sex position for getting pregnant may be scant (or, truth be told, nonexistent), physics is on your side, so why not give them a whirl? You’ve got nothing to lose, and maybe a baby to gain....

When it comes to raising a newborn, seasoned parents will tell you to expect the unexpected—and they’re totally right. Just when you start to feel like you’ve got the feeding and sleeping routine down pat, baby can suddenly become a seeming insomniac who’s ravenous and irritable all the time. And then, just as quickly, they’ll bounce back to normal. So what gives? Chances are, you can chalk up this roller-coaster ride to baby growth spurts....

When you’re pregnant, everyone and their mother-in-law (not to mention your own mother-in-law) is giving you unsolicited advice, from what to eat to how to spend your free time. Not only is it annoying, it’s often unhelpful—and sometimes laced with absolute untruths. Here’s some of the terrible advice and alternative facts real moms-to-be have heard about pregnancy, plus the actual facts you need to know to stay healthy and sane during those nine long months....

Toddlerhood can be tricky in more ways than one, especially when it comes to diapers. An infant diaper will most likely struggle to keep up with your active little one (read: leaks galore), but they might not be ready for full-on potty training pull-ups just yet. Huggies Little Movers Diaper Pants are there for the transition. What We Love Slip it on, tear it off: The reattachable sides make changing a squirmy toddler as easy as possible for parents The absorbent core eliminates saggy diaper syndrome, giving your toddler the freedom to run and roam....

Meditate Okay, this may sound loopy and unrealistic, but just try it. Close your eyes and clear your mind. Try to find a quiet place and do some deep breathing. Hey, if the meditation turns into a nap, go with it! Work out Why not squeeze in some exercise? Yes, you can totally get in a great workout in 10 minutes. It’ll help you get closer to your prebaby shape and keep you energized....

Fatherly is a publication for modern fathers looking to make the best of a good situation. Maybe you thought having a kid wouldn’t change things — at least, not that much. You were wrong, of course. Things have changed, and not always for the better. Let’s be real: Your partner is more focused on someone other than you for the first time in your relationship. Meanwhile, all that freedom and independence that used to allow you to say, “See you in an hour, honey, I’m going to the gym” and “Don’t wait for me for dinner, I’m getting together with the guys is gone....