It’s a hard habit to break, but it can be done. We’re talking about the dreaded thumbsucking. Parents – take heart. Eventually, the time is going to come, probably just not soon enough. Research shows that 30 percent of preschool children still suck their thumbs, although most outgrow it by…
Peanuts, dairy, gluten, soy, eggs, sulfites…many foods contain potential allergenic products. And up to 8 percent of kids have life-threatening food allergies, and those limitations can become problematic as kids enter school or change schools. But parents and administrators can keep all kids safe and happy as they deal with…
There are an array of dizzying options for how you might deliver your new baby, so how can you figure out what’s right for you and your new bundle of joy? Many hospitals and birthing centers offer doulas — a strange word that describes a birth helper. But with midwives,…
When you think you might be pregnant, you want to know as soon as possible. So you may do what many women do and run out to the drugstore a few days after the alleged conception to pick up a pregnancy test. But how do you know you’re getting accurate…
There’s plenty to bond with other moms about, especially when your kids are the same age. But how do you make and retain those friends of yours who don’t have kids? Keeping things relatable on both sides is the key to retaining those friends who either don’t yet have kids,…
Want to get a little something more out of your vacation than a sunburn or some souvenir mouse ears? Try taking the kids on an educational vacation this year, where they can supplement what they learn in school with some real family fun. Museums and zoos close to home are…
You can’t stand the suggestive lyrics in your tween’s favorite music, but your preschooler’s Wiggles obsession drives you batty. It’s tough to explain to a child terms like “sexy,” “booty” and “hooking up,” but it seems like that (and worse) is all over the airwaves. And if you catch yourself…
What’s not to love about Valentine’s Day? Plenty, if you don’t get your act together for this favorite pastime. For kids, there’s nothing grander than exchanging those traditional Valentines with classmates, friends and family. And face it, you don’t really have an excuse for not being prepared. From card stores…
There’s plenty to do inside on rainy summer days, and if you have a child who’s not a big reader, then there’s no time like summer to get him interested in books. They’re great to take along on road trips and airplanes, too, and it does today’s kids good to…
Sugar and spice may be nice, but these days, girls need to be made of hardier stuff to get through tween-hood and adolescence. But building a girl’s self-esteem into that of a confident young woman begins in the nursery. Congratulate your little girl on the things she does, not how…