Joyce Slaton

Few moms are lucky enough to make it through pregnancy without experiencing a few discomforts: pressure on your bladder, lower back aches, and round ligament pain, to name a few. Luckily, there s a garment that can help: a pregnancy belly band. Also called maternity belly bands, maternity support belts, or maternity support girdles, pregnancy belly bands are structured garments that wrap around your midsection and fit beneath your bump to provide support for the back and lower abdomen during pre…

Baby socks are an important part of your baby’s outfit, and not just because they help keep your little one warm. Socks also provide protection against rough surfaces, which is especially important as they learn to walk: They needn’t wear shoes until they’re walking outside, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. But baby socks are one of the most irritating items of infant clothing. Mainly because they frequently fall off, a result of wiggly babies who like to play with their feet. Tr…

You may think a toddler backpack is a waste of money. After all, your preschooler doesn’t have books, binders, and homework galore. But they do have some items they bring back and forth, like lunch, a change of clothes, and the occasional art project. Having a backpack that properly fits your child allows them to tote items around while also building their independence. ,Of course, some preschoolers might be tempted to fill their backpack to the brim, especially if they want to imitate an older…

With the exception of spilled milk, the last thing a pumping mother wants to deal with is spoiled milk. So if you plan to pump breast milk outside of your home, a cooler bag with an ice pack is essential to get your liquid gold safely to your final destination, or to bring to daycare for your child’s feedings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that freshly expressed or pumped milk can safely be kept for 24 hours in an insulated cooler with frozen ice packs. So if you’re pumping…

One of the most traditional of all baby gifts is a baby blanket, because it’s both a practical item and a symbol of the comfort and care loved ones hope to offer new babies. Baby blankets are sometimes passed down through generations, and may be the first thing parents reach for when comforting a fussy baby. Baby blankets can serve as a warm layer, a weather shield, and a protective cover for the ground. But it’s important to note that blankets should not be used for baby sleep, according to the…

Babies and germs go together like peanut butter and jelly. But when it comes to bottles, pacifiers, and pump parts, germs are an unwelcome guest. That’s where a bottle sterilizer can help. Although sterilizing bottles fell out of favor for some time, parents and doctors are reconsidering it due to increased concerns about contamination in water supplies and food, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Bottle sterilizers use steam and heat to kill bacteria, viruses, and other germ…

If there s one thing any parent craves, it s sleep. Not only for themselves, but for their child as well. Because when your child sleeps well, your lives together run much more smoothly. And when they don’t, well, the less said about that the better. So when the time comes for your child to graduate from the crib or toddler bed to a big-kid bed, you’ll want to find a twin mattress for kids that helps them sleep comfortably all night, every night. There s good news, though: When you re ready to m…

A few years ago, you probably had full reign over your baby s Halloween costume . But now, they’re older and full of opinions, particularly when it comes to what they wear on Halloween. (And that opinion will likely change a dozen or so times before October 31.) To help you on your quest in finding the perfect outfit for their trick-or-treating adventures this year, we’ve rounded up the best kids’ Halloween costumes that cover a wide range of interests and themes. For 2023, many kids will likely…

Between 9 and 12 months, babies are working on some truly major developments, so expecting big changes is a good plan. According to Lisa Lohiser, Ed.D., Manager Early Childhood Development Research at the Fisher-Price Play Lab, babies this age are starting to master crawling, cruising, and even walking around their environment. “Once babies are on the move, they want to be on the move all the time,” Lohiser says. “Toys that help develop gross motor skills like crawling, cruising, and walking are…

Taking your baby outdoors for exercise and fresh air is an important part of parenting, and a joyful one too. But fun in the sun brings the risk of burns and skin damage, so sunscreen is essential for outdoor activities. The best baby sunscreens protect your baby from both visible and invisible UV damage, are easy to apply, stay on well, and don’t irritate your baby’s skin, eyes, or nose. Experts recommend putting sunscreen on your child on both sunny and cloudy days: the American Academy of Ped…