Whether you are expecting your first child or a subsequent addition to the family, you are likely to have some feelings about what the new baby’s gender is. Also, no matter how hard you try to avoid thinking about the subject, you are likely to have some amount of desire for your baby to be a particular gender. With my first pregnancy, I wanted to have a little boy. When the ultrasound showed that I was indeed carrying a boy, I was elated. During my second pregnancy, I felt like I was carrying a girl and like I wanted to … Continue reading →

Do you see that picture? That sure is a cute baby. Okay, so I am totally biased because I’m his mom, but that picture reminds me of something that I did not really pay any attention to before I had a baby. I am not sure what I was expecting to see when I welcomed my first newborn three years ago, but I probably thought that he would look something like the baby in the picture. I was wrong. Newborns don’t look like babies. They look like newborns, and when your newborn baby is placed in your arms, you will … Continue reading →

When you are pregnant, sleep does not always come easily. When you do get some rest, you may awaken to find that you had some very, very strange dreams while you were asleep. Strange dreams are par for the course during pregnancy, and it should come as no surprise that there is a connection between these dreams and all of those hormones that have flooded your system. In addition to an increase in the amount of dreams that women have during pregnancy, women are more likely to remember the dreams that they have while they are pregnant than they are … Continue reading →

If it seems like the moment that you announced your pregnancy (or your growing belly announced it for you) coincided with a seemingly unending flow of “advice” from everyone and anyone, you are not alone. For some reason, there is just something about the sight of a pregnant woman that makes people unable to refrain from sharing nuggets of “wisdom” with her even if they have no idea who she is. Of course, pregnancy is not the only time that you will be bombarded with unwanted advice. Just try taking your newborn to the grocery store without a hat on, … Continue reading →

Whether you are thinking of breastfeeding your baby or you are trying to decide whether you will breastfeed your baby, it is important to educate yourself about breastfeeding. Of course, the best time to read up on breastfeeding is while you are pregnant, so that you can be ready to nurse your baby when she arrives. It is also good to become familiar with breastfeeding resources that offer information and support. That way, you’ll know right where to turn when challenges or questions come up along the way. One great resource that I have used to answer many of my … Continue reading →

With so many baby items on the market today, first – time parents are often confused when they sit down to create a baby registry. How do you know which things you will need, and which you can do without? One idea is to look around for lists on the internet. Many experienced moms and dads have shared their opinions about what they used, and what they found useless. Use these lists as inspiration, and as food for thought about whether the items mentioned on the lists fit with your philosophy about how you would like to parent your child. … Continue reading →

Even though your baby has not made his or her arrival just yet, it is not too early to educate yourself about breastfeeding. It may come as a surprise to learn that something so simple and so natural can actually be somewhat tricky to master. Unfortunately, many new moms do not realize that breastfeeding does not always happen easily right away. Don’t feel bad if you have a little trouble getting started and, more importantly, don’t give up. If you would like to breastfeed your baby, here are two of the common difficulties that you may encounter during the early … Continue reading →

If you are preparing for baby and you want to make sure that you have everything on hand that you might need, here are a few items that you may want to pick up to round out your baby gear selection. These are my top picks for things that came in very useful with both of my boys. Even though I did not have one for Dylan (I used a sling), I must say that the Ergo baby carrier is hands down the best babywearing device on the planet. At least it is for me, and from the reviews that … Continue reading →

Ever since you started dreaming about having a baby, you have been dreaming about creating the perfect nursery for your little bundle of joy. Unfortunately, your budget is rather tight, as many expectant parents’ budgets are. Don’t give up on your sweet nursery dreams. Roll up your sleeves and get creative, and you’ll have a nursery that looks great without breaking the bank. Choose furniture wisely. It’s expensive. You don’t have to buy a matching set that costs a fortune. Consider a convertible crib that turns into a toddler or full sized bed. For storage, you may be able to … Continue reading →

There are many things that come along with becoming a parent. One thing that you will be doing a lot of for the next few years is changing diapers. Babies need diapers, so you are likely to be thinking ahead about what kind of diapers your baby will wear once he is born. The two basic categories of diapers are disposable diapers and cloth diapers. There are pros and cons that go along with each of them, and you will have to make a decision based upon what you feel is best for the needs of your family. I wanted … Continue reading →