Parenting Tips & Advice
How true! That's why we are creating one. We consider this the internet guide to bringing up baby. Everything you need to know from cradle to college and maybe even beyond. We've researched, collected and categorized some of the best resources on the net. And we are hoping to add your contributions too. We want your suggestions and advice. In fact, we are begging for it. You can read every book on any topic and still something will happen in life that wasn't covered in the black and white or tiny, fine print.
Share your laughs or your words of wisdom. We want to hear from parents, grandparents, anybody who is or has raised a child. Because nothing ever stays the same, we will always be a work in progress. Always searching for the most up to date resources for you on all things parent and child related. We include grandparents, aunts and uncles, caregivers, and step-parents because we understand that it's not always the biological parents or only the parents that care for children.
There are two very important sections of this site that we want to share first. One is the Safety area. This is where you will find many resources for keeping your family safe on the internet as well as in the real world offline. The world today is a scary place for kids. Technology has made things easier for all of us including predators. You need to understand the dangers that face your kids every day on the web. Keeping up with their internet usage is essential to their safety.
The second section is the forum which we call The Family Room. It's a place for families and kids of all ages to share their opinions on things. Please take a minute to look around. We cover topics such as potty training, bedtime, movie ratings, and a place just for kids to connect with other kids. We will be monitoring this area closely. We are very concerned about the safety of all who visit this site.
Pre-Pregnancy Through Baby's First Year
Pregnancy and childbirth have changed a great deal over the years. Women are more informed than ever today. Options for couples with infertility have increased as well. When the doctor said my daughter was unable to conceive I did some research. Fortunately, God had a plan the doctor didn't count on because Rhiannan was conceived in the natural way. But not all couples are as lucky. We've put together some great links to resources for anybody trying to conceive naturally or with the help of fertility specialists. Once you do conceive, there's a lot to do. So we followed up with everything you need to know about pregnancy, childbirth and baby's first year.
One thing most women may not be prepared for is Post-Partum Depression, which we will discuss later in this section. I've just learned that it may last longer than a few weeks and it can become severe. As mothers, particularly new mothers, we have a fantasy view of motherhood and parenting. We need to be prepared for the realities. It is a joy but it is difficult. It is a good idea for all family members involved in caring for both baby and the new mommy to prepare for what lies ahead. The baby needs TLC and so does the new mother. More than that she needs compassion, understanding and help.
Fertility Life Lines is a good place to start if you are having difficulty conceiving. The site also features some info on fertility health which may be helpful even to women who are able to conceive on their own. They offer free fertility meds to qualified cash paying patients and calls are free and confidential .
Their international site at www.fertility.com is an excellent site. It features both a free ovulation calculator and a fertility calculator. There is also a section on maintaining a healthy pregnancy that is helpful to all expectant parents.
WebMD has a three part article, Before You Get Pregnant, Getting Pregnant and Prenatal Care. It's a great resource for medical info. You can search any topic. But definitely check out their Health & Baby Guide. The site also contains sections on Women's Health, Men's Health, Parenting and Children's Health topics. There are tons of articles and interactive features for you to use free.
Once baby has arrived life changes. Now you are seeing life in ways you never did before. As a parent most of us want to do everything we can to raise a happy, healthy child. We record everything, take a gazillion pictures, and talk non-stop about everything baby. There are so many decisions to make. To breastfeed or not. Which formula? Which Babyfood? It can be overwhelming on top of the dozen feedings and diaper changes through the night. You may even want to make your own baby food with all of the recalls in the news lately. Brighton Baby is a site that contains many free recipes for when baby is ready for solids. There are several places where you can purchase small food containers, kits and accessories for making and storing home made goodness for baby.
