Pregnancy, Parenting and Beyond

Need two options for sleeping arrangements. Get a sleeper for your bedroom... baby can co-sleep with you for the first 3 months. The First years - Secure Sleeper better option is to get  Arms-Reach-Mini-Co-Sleeper-Bassinet and a play-yard for your living room/kitchen/main floor... Graco-Pack-Playard-Bassinet-Morgan  Available in variety of colors, easy to install, convenient for diaper changes, storage to keep diapers, wipes, creams, easy to carry around. I have the Arms reach co-sleeper, my DS used it until 3-4months...once they learn to turn over... u need to take out the higher position of the cosleeper... and make it into a playyard. I wud leave DS in there with toys, or when I needed to attend the door, or go to the restroom. At 2yrs, we still take it on our road trips, so easy to fold and use... and we know we have a safe space for him to sleep in at hotels or even at friend's place.

One could start using a high chair/booster seat from the time u start solids at around 4-5mnths and use it all the way until your LO in into the toddler/pre-school years. I personally have this one:  http://www.walmart.com/ip/The-First-Years-Reclining-Feeding-Seat/14254250?findingMethod=rr Available in colors. Main features are:  Safe and durable feeding seat Adjustable height helps the seat fit most tables. I kept it reclining until he was 10mnths, helps in feeding younger infants. By age 1, he was fine with sitting upright. When DS turned approx 16-18mnths, I placed this on the floor - we eat on the sofa on most days. Since its on the floor he can sit by himself, and goes there for all meals and drinks Removable, dishwasher-safe tray makes clean up a breeze.  Full-sized pad is soft, reversible, and machine-washable. Best feature. Features an 123 tray mat, which is easy to clean. DS loves to count the animals on the mat. BPA-free plastic Reversible, washable s...

4 Power-Food Pairings for Kid s Strawberries and Whole Wheat Toast The vitamin C in strawberries converts the iron in whole wheat bread to a form that cells can absorb. Oatmeal and Milk The magnesium in oats increases the amount of calcium your child gets from the milk by keeping it from binding to fiber and other nutrients. Olive Oil and Veggies Spritz spinach, green peppers, squash, and dark greens with olive oil. This healthy fat helps your child absorb the veggies' antioxidants. Chicken and Carrots Don't save chicken soup for sick days -- and always include carrots. The zinc in chicken helps the body metabolize the carrots' vitamin A.  Originally published in the October 2008 issue of Parents magazine.

Find answers to your questions like What's the best way to brush my child's teeth? When should I let my toddler start brushing his own teeth? What should I do if my child won't brush? When does my child need fluoride and how can I tell if he's getting the right amount? When should I start taking my child to the dentist?

How should I treat my toddler's cold? No medicine will make a virus go away faster, but you can help your toddler feel better and prevent the infection from getting worse by making sure he gets plenty of rest and liquids. Since most children don't master nose blowing until about age 4, here are a few ways to help ease his congestion: It's not worth struggling over, but if your toddler tolerates it, tip his head back and squeeze over-the-counter saline (salt water) drops into his nostrils to loosen up the mucus. Then suction out the liquid and mucus a few minutes later with a rubber bulb syringe . Apply petroleum jelly to the outside of your toddler's nostrils to reduce irritation. (Don't use nasal sprays on your child unless his doctor says it's okay. They may work temporarily but can cause a rebound effect in which the congestion gets worse with continued use.) Use a humidifier or a cool-mist vaporizer to moisten the air in his room. Or take your toddler into...

At this age, children learn best from unstructured play, so just make the toys available and off she'll go. Plastic tea set or playhouse : Your child will get a kick out of play eating and drinking. And in general, scaled-down toys, from rakes, push brooms, and shopping carts to miniature kitchens, give her a chance to do one of the things she loves best — mimic what she sees the adults around her do and organize her world to her own satisfaction. Large and small blocks : Working with blocks lets your toddler build her handling skills by grabbing, stacking, and sorting. Large cardboard bricks easily add up to toddler-size forts and hiding spaces. Small wooden ones can be sorted and organized into any number of original designs. Toy instruments : Children generally love music and the chance to create their own sound, no matter how cacophonous. Give her a toy guitar to strum or a keyboard to bang on and she'll treat you to many original compositions. Make sure whatever in...