Many potential parents feel they’re ready to take on the responsibility of raising a child, but the majority of new parents vastly underestimate the real costs associated with bringing up baby. A Redbook survey says up to 41 percent of new parents believed that in hindsight, they weren’t as financially…
Getting the kids to bed at around the same time each night not only minimizes tantrums, but also can make your child smarter, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. In a recent study, the AASM found that toddlers and preschoolers whose parents enforced a pre-bedtime routine and the…
When it comes to patience, do you feel like you’re always running on empty? When York University conducted a study in 1999, respondents listed patience as the most important parenting skill. Of course, patience is fleeting. Even if you have it, it’s easy to lose once you’re under the pressure…
For a lot of babies, pacifiers can soothe and help fussy babies float off to dreamland, without the help of a sometimes-exhausted mom. But when kids start to depend on pacis — or binkies — to fall asleep or for comfort, often up to the age of 4, then it’s…
The idea of owning a cell phone appeals to most kids, especially tweens, who are forming social groups and getting involved in after-school activities. But how do you know when it’s time to let them phone home with their very own phone? The first thing to investigate is whether or…
So after taking that one crucial test to see if you’re actually pregnant, you may be wondering what else lies in store during the many prenatal visits you’ll make in the course of nine months. If it’s your first time around, all those pokes and prods may seem unnecessary, but…
When you’re tight on time and your kids are foaming at the mouth for food, a snack can be just the thing you need to tide them over. Unfortunately, all snacks are not created equal. Although cookies, fruit snacks, juice, brownies and cupcakes may seem like the ultimate mouth-watering in-between…
No one is perfect, and that fact becomes even more obvious when you become a parent. It’s tough not to hold yourself up to traditional mom role models, like June Cleaver, but even June Cleaver wasn’t that perfect. She just didn’t have “experts” like Dr. Phil and Oprah telling her…
New year, same old dilemma — how do you stave off those horrid hangovers after the biggest party night of the year? While the only tried-and-true way to ward off is abstinence of alcoholic beverages, there are some steps you can take that may lessen the blow. Of course, there’s…
Are your kids getting more than the vitamins and minerals they need in their food? Likely so, if they eat a lot of processed, packaged food. Some of the most common food additives can have some pretty unsavory side effects, so it’s a good idea to check labels before buying…