My niece had a baby last summer. Since I’m a developmental psychologist, I just had to ask her, “How’s it going?” Her answer had a quiet and whimsical grace. “There is nothing more beautiful in this world than his smile,” she said. “Or watching him discover something new. Last night he found the upper register […]
From the moment you know you are pregnant or are part of a pregnant partnership, you are a parent. Even if the pregnancy ends in miscarriage, abortion, or giving the child up for adoption, the memory and effect of having started a new life will be with you always. If you birth or adopt a […]
Want to create a strong attachment with your newborn? These parenting tips can show you how to respond to your baby’s cues and ensure they have the best possible foundation for life. What is secure attachment? Attachment or the attachment bond is the unique emotional relationship between your baby and you, their primary caretaker. It is […]
Researchers who study baby development aim to understand one of the world’s most intriguing stories: How the human mind comes online. The discoveries are fascinating for their own sake. But they also offer many practical insights for parents. What does normal baby sleep look like? How frequently should a baby feed? When and how do you start a baby on […]
Learn what you can do before and during pregnancy to improve your chances of having a healthy baby. Be sure to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. Folic acid is important because it can help prevent some major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine. These birth defects develop very early during pregnancy […]
Now that you’re pregnant, taking care of yourself has never been more important. Here’s how to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible. Prenatal Health Care Key to protecting the health of your child is to get regular prenatal care. If you think you’re pregnant, call your health care provider to schedule your first prenatal […]
I have a picture on my dresser of me and my oldest daughter. She was maybe a month old and lying on a Boppy Pillow. I am curved around her and the pillow and looking at her while she looks up at the camera. On the surface, this picture shows a sweet moment in time—an […]
If you were asked to picture the color of breastmilk, you’d probably imagine a white or yellowish bottle of it. Or maybe you’d imagine its milky white goodness dribbling out of the corner of your baby’s mouth—or, let’s be honest, shooting straight across the room when your baby unlatches. Either way, it’s probably a whitish color […]
If you’re an expectant or new mom, hearing all the scary news about coronavirus can be really nerve-wracking, to say the least. After all, pregnant women are usually more vulnerable to illnesses than non-pregnant women—and any health scares they experience can put their growing babies at risk. Breastfeeding moms may worry if the virus can pass into their milk and whether […]
If you haven’t already come to the conclusion that being in charge of a tiny human’s care is nerve-wracking, well, you soon will. And it might be the moment you discover strange white patches in your baby’s mouth. Welcome to yet another parenting milestone you’d probably rather not experience: thrush in babies. Has your little one been […]