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Kids will put their beloved blankets through a lot, so you’ll want a baby blanket made from a durable material to help it last over the years. When reviewing products, we carefully looked over many factors, including material, age recommendations, ease of cleaning, and safety guidance from the AAP. Here are the best baby blankets for your little one. The kid’s size measures 30 x 40 inches, so it’s large enough to lay flat on the ground for playtime during the first year, but not too large for them to snuggle up with during the toddler and preschool years....

With those considerations in mind, there are many adorable (and safe) crib sheets available that match any style, budget, and preference. Whatever crib sheet you choose, aim to have a few extra for the inevitable middle-of-the-night sheet changes. Here are the best crib sheets that put your baby’s safety and comfort first. Beyond the aesthetic, the sheets have substance. The crib bedding fits cots and mattresses up to 52" x 28" x 8", so security is top in mind....

If your child has sensitive skin or allergies, consider a toddler pillow that’s hypoallergenic as it will be less likely to cause any type of allergic reaction. Double check the bed’s manual to ensure the bed allows the introduction of a toddler pillow at your child’s age. We carefully looked over design, material, ease of cleaning, and age recommendations when reviewing products. So, if you’re in the market for new bedding for your tot, here are the best toddler pillows to consider....

The toxins in cigarettes take their toll not only on the lungs but also on the health of your entire body. This includes your reproductive system. In April of 2016, European Urology published a meta-analysis on the effect of smoking on semen health. The analysis included 20 studies and just over 5,000 men across Europe. The study found that smoking was associated with decreased sperm count, decreased sperm motility (that’s how sperm swim), and poor sperm morphology (how sperm are shaped....

There will be certain foods you used to love that you absolutely abhor when you are pregnant. But there will also be foods that you crave—maybe foods that you never liked before. There may be some strange combinations of things that you suddenly desire. Pickles and ice cream is perhaps the most infamous combination, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to odd pregnancy cravings. Let’s take a closer look at pregnancy cravings—why they happen, how common they are, what types of food pregnant people tend to crave, and when and if pregnancy cravings become something to be concerned about....

Paths to Early Grandparenthood It’s possible to become a grandparent at a very young age by marrying someone older who has children from an earlier marriage. Technically, those who acquire grandchildren in this way are step-grandparents, but for many, the difference is academic. They consider themselves grandparents. The way most young grandparents are created, however, is when a parent who reproduced at a young age has a child who does the same....

But having your home be your office can cause problems—particularly if your toddler is home with you during work hours. In fact, attempting to be available to work when your toddler is around might be more difficult than any other stage—your little one needs near-constant attention, but unlike an infant, your toddler is mobile. But it can be done: Here are seven tips for working from home with toddlers. Put your to-do list aside, log off the computer, and give your toddler the attention he needs and deserves....

Developmental milestones generally fall into four categories: Physical: Movement and the use of large and small muscle groups (gross motor and fine motor skills, respectively) Social and emotional: How a child identifies and responds to their own and others’ feelings Cognitive: A child’s ability to learn new skills and understand increasingly abstract concepts Communication: Language acquisition, verbal skills, and the ability to understand spoken language It is important to remember that young children develop at their own unique pace and that there is a range of what is considered normal development....

Even if your child only has mild allergy symptoms (which may include a runny or congested nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, and itchy skin or hives), experts say it’s important to be vigilant about treatment and monitoring. Not only to relieve the discomfort but because allergies and asthma often occur together. The Link Between Allergies and Asthma Having an allergic condition like hay fever is one of the main risk factors for developing asthma, says the American Lung Association....

What Is Goat’s Rue? Goat’s rue (Galega officinalis) is a plant native to Europe and the Middle East. It has been used in herbal medicine to treat tuberculosis and lower blood sugar levels. It’s also a popular breastfeeding herb that women use to make more breast milk. Originally used in Europe, the dried leaves of the goat’s rue plant were successful in boosting the milk production of cows and goats. Then, in the late 1800s, the plant was brought over to the United States as a food source for livestock....

Some states won’t allow a teen to get a tattoo or a body piercing regardless of parental consent, while a few states don’t have any rules. That means your teen may be able to walk into a salon and get a tattoo or piercing without your knowledge. So it’s important to talk about these procedures to keep your teen safe. What You Need to Know Some states have specific rules about types of piercings....

FSH testing has traditionally been used to evaluate ovarian reserves, though that’s not the only purpose of testing. Ovarian reserves refer to the number and quality of eggs left in the ovaries. High FSH levels may indicate diminished ovarian reserves, which can make getting pregnant more difficult. Fertility treatments may not be as effective as stimulating ovulation or follicle development. However, research has found that calculating FSH levels is not the best way to check ovarian reserves....

Yet, psychologists and educators have researched gifted children enough to provide a profile of the traits these children tend to have. Schools look at these traits along with IQ tests and other achievement scores to help them identify gifted students. The federal government does not mandate gifted programs in schools, and only 29 states have mandates and/or funds earmarked for gifted programming. Your principal or school district administrator can provide details on the gifted education available at your child’s school....

However, it’s best to wait until the expected first day of your period. Even better is to hold off until your period is at least one day late. Taking a pregnancy test too early is more likely to result in an inaccurate result. Learn more about the accuracy of early home pregnancy tests. Accuracy of Early Pregnancy Testing A urine-based early pregnancy test works by measuring the amount of ​human chorionic growth hormone (hCG) in urine....

You know you want to be more involved in your child’s school, but you aren’t sure what the PTA, the PTO, or the PTSA is. Are they the same thing? Why so many different acronyms? What does this mean for you and your child’s school? Almost every school has a parent-teacher organization. Knowing which one your child’s school has tells you about that school’s organization. Many of these differences are subtle at the local parent level—you may not notice a difference until you take on an officer or other leadership position....

The kind of help you may be considering can come in many forms—from hiring full-time childcare to volunteer assistance with chores and meals. Tips for Arranging Help Whatever your needs are, it’s never too early to start thinking about what kind of help will be most beneficial to your family and begin making arrangements. Consider Your Needs Start by thinking about what you’ll need the most help with once you bring your babies home....

If you would like to attempt a VBAC, but your doctor and/or hospital is not willing, the following strategies may help. Know Your Medical History Get copies of your original surgical reports. Find out what type of incision was made on your uterus, which may be different than the scar on your abdomen. Find out what type of closure was done, double or single layer repair. Find out the reasons given for your original cesarean....

Thankfully, as has been the case throughout the pandemic, most children experience milder cases of COVID-19 than adults. As the Academy of American Pediatrics explains, this is still true even in light of the delta variant. While more children are contracting COVID-19 these days, the vast majority do not experience severe cases. Still, it’s very important to take COVID-19 seriously in children. If your child catches COVID-19, you’ll want to be able to recognize the signs and do your part in decreasing the chances of them spreading it to others....

Of course, some teasing, competing, misunderstandings, and bickering now and then is normal. But what about when siblings don’t seem to get along at all? Or they ignore each other altogether. It can be difficult to distinguish between healthy-sibling ups and downs and an unhealthy relationship. Learn what to do if your kids are seemingly always fighting and how to heal their relationship. Is Their Relationship Healthy? First off, it’s vital to distinguish between occasional spats and a dysfunctional relationship....