Keep your baby away from nursery hazards.

It’s exciting to plan a nursery — just imagine all the cuteness in one room! Don’t forget though, you should also plan around safety measures. Experts remind us of basic safety issues to make sure your baby won’t fall prey to nursery hazards. Safe Kids Worldwide reports, home accidents send almost two million children to emergency rooms every year. Don’t let your baby be part of that statistic.

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Can’t get pregnant? A few lifestyle changes may be in order.

Like we said, it’s never really as simple as have sex, get pregnant. Even a few lifestyle factors can mean boost or bust if you want to have a baby. If you’ve decided you’re ready to be a parent, consider our fertility don’ts. If you want to get pregnant and have a healthy head-start for your baby, time to start kicking some bad habits — or a least practice some self-control.

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Trying to get pregnant? Here are a few To Do’s.

Having a baby is not really as simple as have sex, get pregnant. I realized this myself when it took us four years of trying before we had our first child. So many aspects of our bodies and minds are actually involved in the wonders of procreation. One thing off-kilter and your body is out of whack. Fertility treatments can be quite daunting, but before you get there or as soon as you’ve decided you’re ready for a baby… we have some advice on how to prime yourself for pregnancy.

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Parent them with some help from science and research.

I was in for a few enlightening shockers, thanks to a book I had recently read. Its central premise is that many of modern society’s strategies for nurturing children are in fact backfiring – because key twists in the science have been overlooked.

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What’s good and safe about pregnancy massage?

Massage offers many benefits for pregnant women. Done properly by a trained therapist, prenatal massage can help alleviate the aches and pains of pregnancy, improves circulation and relieves tension and fatigue. You might hear people tell you to skip massages while pregnant because it can harm your baby. That’s a misconception!

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Check your home for lead dangers!

Recent news on how lead can trigger ADHD made me revisit some child-and-home safety sites for tips on how to lessen exposure to this neurotoxin. The use of lead has been greatly reduced since the 1960s, but it still lurks silently in some unexpected places.

I’m going to be more vigilant for my kids’ sake — starting at home. Read more to see what I’ve gathered from the experts on how to protect our children from lead in everyday objects.

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What’s normal and what ’s not?

That teeny tiny body can raise some really big questions! First time parents often expect their newborns to look instantly like picture-book cherubs. Surprise, surprise… they often come out wrinkly, skin of a strange color, all puffy with their heads misshapen. We love them no less, but here’s a rundown of what makes newborns look more strange than cute. Some may even worry if their baby is normal.

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It’s an important day, make your plans clear.

Seven months into my pregnancy, after much reading and consulting with my doctor, I had a clear idea of how I wanted my delivery to go. It’s the same for most pregnant women. By this time, some have already decided they want a natural, drug-free birth; others sign up for an epidural vaginal birth; or there are women who just want a c-section.

The choice is yours, but it’s important you make it clear to your hospital and medical team or your midwife how you really hope your delivery will go. This is where a birth plan will come in. Trust me, in the throes of labor and delivery you don’t want to be answering too many questions. Your birth plan should be there for everyone’s reference.

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Doctors are easing up and letting women in labor have a sip or two.

The standard protocol for years in maternity wards has been no food or water for women in labor. The best thing you can get after hours of panting and sweating trying to get your baby out would be a few ice chips or sucking on wet wash cloths. Well, doctors say the practice may be outdated. Read on and make sure you know what this is all about before you write down your birth plan.

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Welcome your baby’s first guests at home — minus the stress.

A new baby often heralds a few visits from grandma and grandpa, doting aunts and uncles and a few other people who just want to share in the joy of your new addition to the family. And yet… their well-meaning visits can cause some added stress to new parents already plagued by lack of sleep, round-the-clock nursing and a messy house.

I’ve been there! Much as I had just wanted to shoo everyone away during those newborn days and let us handle this major life transition without having to entertain — we did have to welcome them. They are just being happy for you and waiting to see your new little darling. But how do you entertain without stressing out?

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