So you need to choose a toy for a child? What an exciting task! Toys can be keys to unlocking the vast and fertile imagination of a child. When you are thinking of purchasing a toy there are several things to keep in mind. Aim for toys manufactured in the United States, Canada or Europe [...]
A lack of sleep, coupled with your newfound responsibilities, makes it a challenge to keep your house from looking like a combat zone. Stop stressing about it. “Consider using just one room to entertain,” says Maureen Wild, a certified hostess from The Protocol School of Washington, in Washington, D.C., which provides hospitality training for the [...]
Home … but Not Alone! The phone starts to ring, the doorbell goes off like an alarm, and well-meaning friends and family members start trooping through your home. Even though they promise not to stay long and insist that you not go to any trouble, you probably feel compelled to make them comfortable. The [...]
What’s Normal: Babies are tightly curled while in the uterus, so it’s natural for a newborn’s feet to turn inward from the toes. This should self-correct within a few months because baby is now kicking freely in the outside world. What’s Not: If the front part of a baby’s foot is markedly curved inward and [...]
What’s Normal: At birth, the breasts of male and female babies can vary in size from tiny to nearly an inch in diameter, and the degree of enlargement can differ between breasts. This is due to pregnancy hormones and is harmless. The breasts shrink over the first few weeks of life. Mom’s declining pregnancy hormones [...]
What’s normal: You may see small, red hemorrhages on the whites of the eyes from tiny blood vessels rupturing during delivery. These red marks normally disappear within a few days. Plus, the eye medication doctors use at birth to prevent infection may irritate baby’s eyes, causing some lid swelling or discharge that usually lasts only [...]
Little Bodies, Big Questions Any first-time parents expect a silky-skinned and delicate-featured cherub at birth. Surprise! Plenty of babies are born with wrinkles, strangely hued skin, not to mention misshapen heads and puffy faces. You’ll love yours regardless, but here’s a realistic head-to-toe guide to prepare you for what to expect.
Make sure you have these supplies on hand. Zinc oxide or a petroleum-based diaper ointment Baby wipes Burp cloths Baby-size nail emery board
One of the people you’ll rely on most during your baby’s first year is your pediatrician. Follow these tips to keep her happy to see you — again and again.
How can I get my newborn to sleep through the night? At first, you can’t, so don’t bother trying. A newborn wakes up frequently to eat, sometimes as often as every two to three hours. “If she’s sleeping too much, she’s not eating enough,” says Laura Jana, MD, coauthor of Heading Home with Your Newborn: [...]