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Pros • Compact when open • Great side storage compartments • Firm yet comfortable mattress • Comes with a detachable toy bar, night light and sound machine Cons • Takes up a lot of storage space • Fairly heavy to carry when traveling • Complicated to set up Bottom Line The Chicco Lullaby LX Playard is a safe and comfortable space for your child to play and nap in. Whether you’re traveling or just need a secure place to leave your child when you’re not near the crib, this playard is a perfect option to give you peace of mind....

A few nights ago at 5:59 p.m., my husband gently asked what I wanted to have for dinner. He wasn’t implying that I get up and make our family of five a four-course meal. He wasn’t even hinting that I should boil a pot of spaghetti. And yet for some reason, this very simple question sent me over the edge. My mind started racing with the options: Should we order pizza (again) or pour bowls of cereal and call it a night?...

Before parenthood, your relationship with your partner probably looked somewhat different. You were likely used to having sex whenever and however you wanted, and found plenty of opportunities to spend time together outside of the bedroom too. But since baby’s big arrival, your schedule has changed a little, to say the least, and sex may have dropped a few notches on the priority list. Let’s be honest: What used to be passionate lovemaking sessions have now turned into five-minute quickies while baby naps in their crib, right?...

You may be thinking, “What is pelvic floor therapy?” Well, guess what: You’re certainly not alone. Many women feel embarrassed discussing pelvic pain after birth, or any pelvic issues in general. But they shouldn’t be, because pelvic issues affect many women—and men! And there’s good news here: There’s treatment for a wide variety of pelvic issues. It’s known as pelvic floor therapy. Read on to learn everything you need to know about pelvic floor therapy, including what it is, who it affects and how it can help you....

Some women do experience more plugged ducts after wearing an underwire bra, and others don’t have a problem with them. It all depends on how you — and the bra — are made. (If you have widespread boobs that extend into your armpits, an underwire might not work out.) Anything that consistently presses on your breast tissue can block milk flow and lead to a plug. If you have been wearing an underwire without any trouble, there’s no need to stop....

Some fast facts about stress and infertility: Infertility causes stress. Stress is associated with lower pregnancy rates. Stressed patients are more likely to drop out of therapy. Interventions to decrease stress may increase pregnancy rates. In other words, you’re not alone. In general, women experiencing infertility report high levels of distress. In one study, 40% of women evaluated for distress prior to their first infertility clinic visit met the psychiatric criteria for anxiety, depression or both....

The best time to start building a supply of frozen breast milk is a few weeks before returning to work. The ideal time to work in a pumping is generally in the morning since that is when milk supply tends to be highest. Try to time this pumping for at least an hour after baby has last fed…and hopefully about an hour before you expect him to nurse again. This will allow your body to produce enough milk for you to pump and also to replenish your supply before baby goes back to the breast....

Don’t freak out, but yes, you might lose some hair — usually within the first few months after baby’s born. During pregnancy, your hormone levels are high — lots of moms-to-be enjoy thicker, shinier hair because of them — and after delivery, they drop. One side effect of that drastic plummet is hair loss. We’re not talking going bald. More realistically, you might notice some extra hair near your shower drain or in your hairbrush....

What is syphilis during pregnancy? Syphilis is a highly treatable sexually transmitted disease (STD). Untreated syphilis can lead to illness and death in women and their babies, so it’s important to catch it early. What are the signs of syphilis during pregnancy? The first sign of syphilis is a sore known as a chancre that generally pops up within 10 to 90 days of infection. It’s usually round, small and painless, so it’s not always noticeable....

Acupressure is just one holistic practice (along with hypnosis and acupuncture) that’s showing up more and more in the delivery room, especially among moms who are motivated to try a drug-free birth. The jury’s out on whether the thousands-year-old technique reduces labor pains or helps progress you through the stages of labor more quickly, but proponents believe it does. And acupressure is considered safe during labor, so you might think it’s worth a shot....

Hair can end up in some pretty annoying places: your mouth, your food, the back of your shirt, on all of your socks. Luckily, you can do something about these pesky strands. Baby, however, is going to need a little help. And as one family learned, if it ends up in the wrong place, that can be dangerous. Scott and Jessica Walker of Wichita, Kansas, couldn’t figure out why their then-19-week-old Molly was screaming last week....

The alpha-fetoprotein screening, or AFP screening, is a blood test that’s generally used to screen for the possibility of baby having a chromosomal disease (like Down syndrome) and neural tube defects (think spina bifida) by testing the mom-to-be’s blood for alpha-feto protein (AFP), a protein your baby produces. That’s because abnormally high or low levels of AFP could signal one or more of those problems. Thing is, your doctor may never even mention the AFP screening to you....

Baby may not be able to speak yet, but that doesn’t mean that your child can’t slay! Invest in some stylish designer baby clothes and your little one is sure to be the trendiest kid on the playground. We hear you: designer clothing for a baby?! It may sound wild, but the truth of the matter is, the same designers you love to wear (or love to love) are making teeny clothing for their littlest clients too—and they are very cute....

And the Winner Is: Beautycounter Got that pregnancy glow going for you? Don’t worry if you don’t. Plenty of women complain of all sorts of skin woes—from acne breakouts to dry patches—during those nine+ months. The good news? You can still look gorgeous, even if you’re feeling anything but. And while some moms-to-be choose to stick with their regular makeup routine, others prefer to adopt a “cleaner” approach to beauty—and with good reason....

The stay-at-home mom / working mom debate will probably continue to wage, but a new survey released today by TheBump.com and ForbesWoman.com gives us a glimpse into what moms of different employment statuses are really thinking and feeling. It suggests that many of those who work full-time and those who stay home full-time aren’t happy with their current roles. 982 women participated in the survey, and of them, 664 were working mothers....

New parents look forward to all sorts of things baby will learn: how to walk, talk and read, just to name a few. But come cold and flu season, there’s another important skill that’s woefully underrated: how to blow your nose. That simple skill would let baby breathe easy and manage colds like they’re no big deal. But for now, you’ve got to find safe and effective methods to help a congested baby along....

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....

What to pack: “Bring the obvious stuff: Diapers, wipes, butt cream, clothes. Take anything you currently use for the bedtime routine (white noise machine, swaddler, blankets). If you’re driving, you could also fit a stroller, boppy or bouncy chair. If you bring a Pack ’n Play, bring sheets for the mattress.” -Jenny952 “Not all rest stops have a diaper changing station, so make sure you have a mat or something to use as backup....

Being a trendsetter is something that comes naturally to Carly Burson, who was a visual merchandising manager at J.Crew. But developing an ethical fashion sense came from a healthy dose of wanderlust and many trips abroad. One trip in particular changed Burson’s life and career: Ethiopia, where she traveled to adopt her then 2-year-old daughter, Elie. “After seeing the poverty my daughter came from, I knew that my corporate job wasn’t going to work long term,” Burson says....

Step aside, Pancake Dad; Chris Durso is laying out a map of America via food. The former art director and self-declared “creative professional and food satirist” is carefully crafting all 50 states out of different foods, working hard to create a pun every time. Think “Kaleifornia,” “Piedaho” and, our favorite so far, “New Jerky.” As he did with “Swissconsin,” Durso tries to incorporate regional foods into the design when he can....