From Milk to Formula to Solids: Helping Baby Transition
By Lisa Pecos
All major American pediatric and health organizations strongly recommend breastfeeding babies for at least the first six months of life. The American Academy of Pediatrics, one of the preeminent authorities on such issues, recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first six months and regularly breastfed for the first year or as long as it is comfortable for both mother and baby. There is abundant research showing that breastfeeding is the healthiest way to nourish an infant. And though formula can be good, the mother’s body naturally produces the right milk for the baby throughout the stages of early development.
Posted in Bottle Feeding, Breastfeeding, Feeding, Feeding Products, Newborns, Preemies, Solids, Twins - Multiples | 
Leave a commentInfant Napping: Everything You Need to Know
By Jamell Andrews
Everyone knows that babies spend a great deal of time napping, but many new parents are surprised by just how much of their time and energy will be devoted to fostering the baby’s naps. Getting a baby to nap regularly and on a set schedule is an immensely appealing idea to new parents who want a little predictability in their lives. But unfortunately, given that newborns’ sleep patterns tend to be unpredictable and may stay that way for several months, it is important to accept that it may be quite a while before your baby has set nap times.
Posted in Activities, Babysitter, Care, Development, General Health, Health, Moms, Nanny, Newborns, Sleep, Sleep Care | Leave a commentFussing in Public: How to Calm an Upset Infant
By Eirian Hallinan
For new parents, there is a special kind of nervousness around the idea of taking the baby into public. On one hand, sometimes you just have to go out-for doctor’s appointments, especially-and of course most parents do not want to keep their infants cooped up indoors all the time. On the other hand, young babies can be unpredictable in their moods, and the last thing you want is to have your baby explode in a storm of fussiness when you are in the middle of a public place. It is embarrassing, and you get dirty looks, and sometimes nasty comments, from other people. Most of all, it is just stressful.
Posted in Activities, Childproofing, Development, Emotional - Social, Moms, Nanny, Newborns, Social Life | Leave a commentFlying With an Infant: How to Avoid Disaster
By Marc Courtiol
Having a newborn can be stressful enough without leaving the house, so it is easy to understand why so many new parents are reluctant to travel. Babies need constant care, they are unpredictable, and their crying is sometimes difficult to stop. All of these things work against travel, which requires as much predictability as possible. The good news is that many infants fall right to sleep as soon as the plane starts moving, but you just cannot know beforehand. Plus, nobody wants to be those poor parents stuck on an airplane with a baby who refuses to be quiet. That is no one’s idea of a fun vacation.
How to Play with a Newborn
By Lisa Pecos
First-time parents are often surprised by just how little their newborns are capable of doing. In the first few days of life, babies can hardly focus on their parents’ faces, let alone participate in play activities. And for weeks afterward, it is difficult to get newborns to focus on toys, look at books, or even pay attention to one thing for more than a few seconds. But despite these factors, newborns are more capable of learning than one might think, and they really can enjoy play. All you have to do is enter the baby’s world, rather than expecting her to come into ours just yet.
Infant Crying: The Secrets to Silencing an Upset Baby
By Lisa Pecos
For new parents, there is just no way to prepare for the onslaught of crying that you will be dealing with in the coming weeks and months. In their first few days of life, newborns spend most of their time either sleeping or in a quiet state of near-sleep, but this is just the calm before the storm. Once you get your baby home, he or she is likely to cry progressively more and more until the habit peaks at anywhere from six weeks to three months. So if you are reading this as an expectant first-time parent, remember not to draw any conclusions from those first few days. The crying almost always picks up by around week two or three, and that is when things may get rough for a while.
Continue reading
4 Common Nursing Problems, Plus Solutions
By Eirian Hallinan
Nursing a newborn is not as simple as it may seem. Veteran moms are usually able to make it look easy by the time they get to their third or fourth child, but for new mothers, the simple fact is that breastfeeding can be challenging in numerous ways. Remember, it is not just the mother who is learning this new feeding method; it is also new to the baby, who of course cannot read books or take instructions from lactation consultants. This makes learning doubly difficult. But it is important to remember that most new mothers experience difficulties initially, and most soon get the hang of it.
Reading to Baby: When to Start and How to Do it Well
By Jamell Andrews
In the age of television, internet, and ubiquitous gadgets, there is something refreshing about the quiet act of reading a good book. And although childcare experts say reading to a child has little significant effect until he or she is around the six-month mark, it is never too early to get started. Young children may not get the same things out of books that we do, but the reading experience is valuable for a number of reasons, and reading daily to your baby is a crucial stepping stone toward future linguistic and educational development.
Posted in Activities, Books, Dads, Development, Language Skills, Learning, Moms, Nanny | Leave a commentBaby’s First Week: What to Expect
By Lisa Pecos
For first-time parents, the first week with a new baby is one of the most exciting, nerve-wracking, and thrilling times in your life. After months of planning and preparing for this moment, not to mention imagining and desiring for it to come, the simple act of walking through your front door with your baby for the first time can seem downright surreal. It is a magical time for many parents, but it also comes with a set of challenges that must be quickly overcome. And while the initial excitement is worth savoring, after a few days you will have to settle into the long-term, routine-driven life of parenting.
Posted in Care, Dads, Development, Emotional - Social, Moms, Newborns, Social Life | Leave a commentHow Does Having a Baby Change Your Life?
For new parents, no two situations are alike. Everyone has their own habits, their own hobbies, and their own experiences. So if you are about to welcome your first child into your life, only you can know how you are going to handle it. Some people have been preparing for years to become parents and are more or less ready, while others receive their first child with no more than a few months to prepare mentally, socially, and financially. Whatever your situation, there are ways to handle the new arrival so that your life and your family’s life become better. One thing is for sure, though: Life will change.