Parenting Articles

Car seats vary widely in the number of years they can be used after their production date, ranging from about 6-10 years. Wondering when your child's car seat will expire? Our car seat expiration guide helps you figure it all out!

Breastfeeding is a journey with a greater learning curve than many new mothers expect. While moms spend 40 weeks planning, prepping, researching cribs, baby monitors, car seats, and strollers, those who plan to breastfeed may not think too much about how to nurse. Many may assume the natural process will come as second nature—after all, they already have the equipment, and evolution has done millions of years of work for us already! And some moms may find little challenge in the process. But the reality for many mothers is unexpected challenge and frustration along with the joys of breastfeeding.

Stuck at home with the kiddos? Going stir-crazy!? To make the days more predictable, download, modify, and print our daily schedules for kids!

Home with the kids for who-knows-how-long? Running out of ideas to keep the kids busy and entertained while you're all at home?

Here are 13 fun activities to keep you and the kids busy while helping their minds and bodies stay active during the time off from school.

These jokes and puns will help your little one think outside the box, cheer them up on a gloomy day, and make the perfect little lunchbox surprise!

We've come a long way since the vintage car seats that our parents and grandparents probably sat in as babies. But, even with the advanced designs and safety features of modern car seats, there are several reasons that your brand new car seat might be unsafe for your baby, toddler, or big kid.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issues product recalls across all categories of consumer goods. Every once in a while, even the best baby products will get recalled due to safety issues. Find out about it here!

When a child receives an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, there may be an adjustment process for some parents as they learn to be the best parent for their child while also navigating therapies, insurance claims, and a new vocabulary.

For parents of a child with autism, there will be new special moments in growth and development that are unique to your child and unique to autism. These might separate your son or daughter from the neurotypical child development pathway; some developmental milestones might arrive earlier than others, and some milestones might be delayed.

DHA is an important Omega-3 fatty acid found in baby formula. Learn about how DHA is sourced, its benefits to brain development, and what to avoid.

Be careful what you wish for! Once your baby starts crawling, you are in for a whole new set of challenges. But when exactly should you expect your baby to start crawling? We reviewed the research and consulted with a developmental pediatrician, and figured out the appropriate developmental milestones you should pay attention to.

Once your baby starts scooting, rolling, crawling, pulling themselves up, and walking around, you'll soon realize why babyproofing is an essential step in preparing a safe and stress-free household!

We solicited advice from our 25,000+ Facebook and Twitter followers and pulled together this list of childproofing ideas for your home. Three hundred and twelve ideas were submitted us! Some of the ideas were amazing and can be done for free, some ideas required inexpensive products, and some were just plain bad!

From Paris Hilton to Rihanna, we’ve got the inside scoop on the crème de la crème of infant accessories that are turning heads from Beverly Hills to the Big Apple

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has published results of a new study demonstrating that 43 of the 48 cereals, oatmeals, and snack bars they tested contained the herbicide Glyphosate, which is classified by several agencies as a likely carcinogen. And Glyphosate was found in all of the Cheerios and Quaker cereals tested. This study builds upon very similar results found in their earlier study of oat-based products.

Circumcision is always a sensitive topic for parents of baby boys, and many parents wonder whether to circumcise their baby, and if so, when to circumcise. There are many reasons to circumcise or not to circumcise, and these include family history ("son should be like daddy"), religious beliefs ("circumcision is religious mandate"), and medical reasons (reduced rates of disease transmission and infection).

These mind-bending riddles for kids will get those creative juices flowing, help your child think outside the box, keep them busy and cheer them up on a gloomy day!

When the world is aglow with holiday lights and spirit, parents and children alike will buzz with excitement and wonder. The holiday season is a lovely time of year, full of tradition, festivities, and vibrant bustle. This time of year can also add stress and dangers to a baby’s routines. Some of the top holiday hazards include decorations, shopping dangers, and celebrations.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently changed their recommendations for how long children should remain in a rear-facing infant or convertible car seat.

As most of you probably know, the AAP previously recommended that children should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 2 years old. But the new recommendation as of 2018 states that children should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the height or weight limits of the car seat. There is no longer any age limit for rear-facing car seats.

Every parent wants their baby to have a special sleeping place that is nearby, comfortable, and safe. This desire leads many parents to purchase a bassinet, co-sleeper, bedside-sleeper, or moses basket. Many of these options offer a sleeping surface inclined between 10-30 degrees that is intended to help babies with reflux or colic fall asleep more easily and stay asleep for longer periods of time.

ARA is an essential Omega-6 fatty acid found in baby formula. Learn about how ARA is sourced, its benefits to brain development, and what to avoid.

No parent wants to see their baby uncomfortable, fussy, or feverish. This is why, when vaccination time comes around, many parents administer Tylenol before heading to the doctor's office or immediately following the appointment. This practice has been reinforced by several past studies showing that Tylenol decreases fevers following vaccinations. However, a recent study published in the journal The Lancet may deter parents from administering Tylenol to prevent these symptoms.

Helping your baby be comfortable and happy during bedtime is a long-term endeavor that requires a lot of dedication, tolerance, and sometimes total exhaustion! Many moms start off putting their newborn baby to sleep by breastfeeding or bottle feeding, lulling them into sweet dreams while rocking them in their new glider (check out our list of the best nursery gliders). But your newborn will become a baby, and the baby will soon be a toddler. All those hour-long rocking sessions will not be so fun anymore, and you’ll be wishing you never taught your baby to only fall asleep after eating and rocking!

Here are seven things you might not know about potty training:

1. The younger you start potty training, the longer it will take and the more you and your child will suffer through the process.

2. Potty training fails when it starts during a major transition, like when starting a new year of school, having a new baby, or moving into a new home.

3. Girls tend to potty train faster than boys, and the first child usually takes the longest.

Choosing a daycare center is a difficult task both logistically and emotionally. Parents seek daycare centers for a number of reasons, which may include personal and professional obligations, social skills development, and others. But no matter the motivation, all of these parents are searching for a clean, quality daycare center with passionate, experienced staff.

What to Look for in a Daycare

When researching and touring daycare facilities, parents should notice signs of a high-quality childcare operation.

Baby’s first solid food is an exciting milestone. Parents are often eager to sit with their child at the family table. Additionally, for babies who were exclusively breastfed, the start of solid foods means the child’s other parent may now be involved in feeding and that special bonding time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics indicates solid foods should be introduced at around six months of age. At this point, babies are “supported sitters” and have...

Dropping temperatures generally motivate more indoor activities like snuggly pajamas and warm cocoa. However, the outdoors are not always off limits through late fall and winter, and a little fresh air is always great for health and mood. Many parents want to escape the house and even bring their baby to winter sports activities such as sledding, skiing, showshoeing, and more.

From the very beginning, we are told how important it is to read to your kids, even before they know how to speak. But why is it important? What is it about reading that is so important to their development? Which baby and toddler books are the best?

We all know reading is an important step to learning. When children know how to read they are a step closer to understanding concepts and topics. It is crucial to school success. But why read to your kids at a very young age? Here is our list of reasons why reading to your kids is so important.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC), 1 n 37 boys in the United States are diagnosed with Autism, with boys being about 4.5 times more likely than girls to receive a diagnosis.

Autism is a spectrum that varies in severity and symptoms. If you have concerns about your baby's development, please seek the advice of your pediatrician and contact your local early intervention program.

Are teething necklaces safe? The answer is NO. Any teething necklace worn by a newborn, infant, or toddler is unsafe. There are two primary risks here. The first risk is that necklace beads will break apart or pop off the necklace itself, posing a major choking hazard. The second risk is that anything worn around the neck poses a strangulation hazard.

Both new and experienced breastfeeding mothers want what is best for their children, and no one ever said breastfeeding was easy. But in addition to soreness, changes in appetite, learning various feeding positions, and sleeplessness, many mothers also wonder if their babies are receiving enough milk. They know their babies are nursing, but without a measurement standard like the ounce marks on baby bottles, breastfeeding mothers must rely on other signals to indicate how much breast milk is being consumed.

Looking for a way to vent your frustration about the coronavirus? Check out this easy-to-make coronavirus piñata that will let you bash and smash the virus, revealing a delicious treat inside!

Perfect for birthdays, graduations, and socially-distanced gift giving, this takes just a couple hours to make and will keep the kids busy and entertained for hours trying to get at the candy inside! All you need is flour, water, newspaper strips, a balloon, paint, and a string. And something fun to put inside!

Over the past few decades, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has allowed more sex and violence to appear in PG-13 movies, increasing exposure to sexual and violent behavior for adolescents aged 13-17. In fact, in 2012, PG-13 movies showed more gun violence than R-rated movies, and sexual activity has increased substantially within the R-rated movies. Some call this "ratings creep" - over the years, increasing amounts of sex and violence appear in movies rated for younger audiences.

Do you feel like the only mom who can't get it together? Between laundry, dishes, toy clean-up, household duties, and work, motherhood (and parenting) can be overwhelming.

If you find yourself laying in bed with a pile of laundry next to you, sitting on the couch surrounded by a pile of toys, or piling up dishes in the sink, you're not alone. It's hard to motivate and re-motivate on a daily basis. One way to regain your control and sanity is by getting rid of stuff. Here are some tips on how to make that dream a reality!

During the first years of life, children go through a wonderful series of changes that are truly unique to every child. We gathered the expertise of a Pediatric Occupational Therapist and asked her to compile some of her experiences about developmental milestones, how to recognize them, and when to be concerned about possible delays. Below is what she put together, organized by age range - from newborn to toddler and beyond.

One of the most important elements of your nursery is a safe and comfortable crib mattress. Check out these 5 tips for ensuring your little one is safe and comfortable with their new crib mattress!

A recent scientific paper gathered the results from several studies examining the head circumference, weight, and length (height) of premature babies. This is an excellent resource for predicting a baby's weight, length and head circumference before birth, and also tracking the appropriate growth of a premature baby through the first several weeks of life.

The growth chart for premature babies is below. Note that weight in kilograms can be multiplied by 2.2 to convert to pounds (so that 1 kilogram equals 2.2 pounds, 2 kilograms equals 4.4 pounds, etc).

Looking for a heart-felt gift for your child to give on father's day? Check out these adorable gift coupons that you can print, clip, and give as a gift.

Dad can use these year-round to spend special time with their daughter or son, or just to get some special treatment!

Breakfast in bed and a car wash? What dad could resist those!? Free to print, share, use, and enjoy!

There’s something absolutely magical about the bond that exists between parent and child. Here’s the great news: Baby massage not only strengthens that bond but also helps your child achieve optimal health. Physical touch is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your little one as she or he grows and in return, you’ll be giving yourself the opportunity to learn more about what makes your baby happy, calm, and feel secure.

Vacations and holidays are wonderful times to gather with family and friends who may be excited to meet your new infant or see how your toddler has grown. Whether traveling by car or by plane, for just an overnight stay or longer at a destination, it is best to get a head start on planning and packing for travel with a baby.

With all the changes in recommendations over the years, introducing your baby to solid food can be a confusing time. This simple guide outlines when to introduce solid foods to your baby, what to feed them, and how to do it. With patience and practice, your little one will be eating on their own before you know it!

From sound machines to smart cribs, six parents provide their best tips for helping your baby fall asleep and sleep through the night.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 83% of all women choose to breastfeed their children. That doesn't mean that it's possible for all moms, or that it's easy for all of them either!

Breastfeeding is one of the most important and satisfying bonding experiences that a mom will have with a new baby, and it carries health and well-being benefits for both baby and the mother.

These would-you-rather questions will get your little one thinking big about silly little things, inspire creative thinking, and help keep their minds busy during gloomy days!

As parents, we are always looking for unique ways to connect and reconnect with our kids after a long day. These 52 awesome questions will help you get started!

We compiled a list of thoughtful and engaging questions that will help you start an extended conversation with your children. We all live busy and distracted lives, but these questions will help you reconnect in deeper ways, even when you only have a few minutes to devote to a conversation.

Babies love lullabies! We share 50 of the most beautiful and timeless baby lullabies, with lyrics, videos, and meanings.

All infant car seats are safe enough to meet federal standards, but some come with extra safety features worth considering. Check out our comprehensive guide to infant car seat safety features and learn what to look for!

Babies are expensive! We review some of the biggest baby costs and how to save serious bucks.