Can playing music to your baby or young child make her smarter? That was the claim of the much-hyped “Mozart Effect” several years ago, but the truth isn’t exactly black and white. Certainly, music is a great complement for stimulating babies’ brains and teaching toddlers vocabulary, but the jury’s out…
Many expectant mothers have seen their due date come and go, only to still be pregnant and miserable. The only upside to going past that date is freaking out strangers when they ask when you’re due. Aside from being admitted to the hospital and undergoing an induction — a process…
Does the thought of bacteria give you the creepy crawlies? Well, you can be harboring this hazardous element in bath toys, toothbrushes, sippy cups and other places. Believe it or not, bacteria can be hiding in places you never thought it would be. Think your bathtub is in the clear?…
When new moms-to-be are filling out their baby registry or shopping for everyday infant must-haves, they often overlook a very important item: the portable playpen. It’s hard to look at a helpless, wrinkled newborn and understand that within a matter of a few months, she’ll start to roll over, which…
Dinner is the last meal of the day and a time when families can get together and discuss their day. It is also a hectic meal for busy moms who are just getting off of work or who have been busy with other activities all day. If you are a…
Do you earn an ‘F’ when it comes to shopping for school supplies? This year, get more for your money and send them to school with everything they need. First, take an inventory of the items that you have lying around in playrooms, bedrooms or offices. You may have enough…
Dessert takes on a new meaning when you try to work the word “healthy” into it. You can tell by the looks on your husband and kids’ faces that they have visions of dry, hard, granola bars and vegetables masquerading as dessert. But you can spin a lot of healthful…
There’s nothing worse than a spoiled sport. While you want your child to strive to be the very best, the last thing you want is to raise a child who pitches a fit when something doesn’t go his or her way, especially when it comes to team sports. The name…
Their plates are barely clean and your children are already demanding to know what’s for dessert. In most households, dessert is a reward, not a guarantee. And while many parents try to dodge the dessert bullet as often as possible, it’s possible to make the post-supper snack a truly nutritious…
When it comes to their education, you want to know that your children are in good hands. That means having an open line of communication with his or her teacher that goes beyond the annual parent-teacher conference. We’re not saying you should assume the role of a helicopter parent, hovering…