When I was pregnant with my son, I had all the normal concerns, but for some reason, the thing I couldn’t stop thinking about was…what coat was I going to wear? I live in a relatively cold climate, and my due date was in late December. In the weeks leading up to his birth, I was trekking to twice-weekly doctor’s appointments. My normal coat pulled against my belly. Being massively pregnant was uncomfortable enough, I didn’t need to be cold and constricted, too....

Get Involved Get the kids into good game-playing habits. Start by helping them set up the game, whether it’s a board game or a lawn game. You play the role of referee. Tell the kids that all disputes will be settled by you, and maybe give them a limit of disputes they can bring to you … let’s say three disputes per game. If you hear a fourth, the game will be stopped and the kids will have to find something else to do....

Middle School Students vs. Middle School Teaching According to psychologists, as they enter the middle school years, tweens begin to have two new needs. One is a need for increased independence. The other is an increasing need for meaningful interactions with adults who are not their parents. In other words, tweens crave freedom yet also want adult support. Unfortunately, though, middle schools have been found to fall short on both fronts....

You need to consider whether leaving a child with a family member, sending them to daycare, or hiring a nanny or babysitter would be a better choice for your family. Once you have determined which option to pick, you still need to settle on the right schedule, the appropriate person, or the best place for your child. If you have decided to hire a nanny or babysitter, it is crucial that this person is trustworthy and qualified to take care of children....

Most pregnancy-related pain is related, in some way, to a lack of support; you carry a lot of extra weight while growing a baby (much of which is added in a short period of time) and that puts intense amounts of pressure on your back, hips and pubic bone, legs, and feet. This can feel especially noticeable during and after sleep, when it’s easy to remain in a less-than-ergonomic position for hours on end....

This drawing technique, called pointillism, creates an optical illusion. A picture made with many little dots looks like one solid image when viewed from a distance. Directions Have your child draw a picture with dotted lines very lightly in pencil. He can use any of the following methods to fill in the picture:

On the spectrum of infant sleep theories, Sears is pretty much opposite the ideas of Dr. Ferber’s “cry it out” methods. He advocates “gentle methods” of encouraging babies to sleep through the night, rather than methods that might increase a baby’s stress and anxiety level. What Is Cosleeping? Not so many years ago, an incredulous look complete with jaw drop would greet the mother who had just admitted to co-sleeping with her baby....

Dylan is also a common surname. Bob Dylan, an American composer, and performer is one of the most famous people with the surname Dylan. Interestingly, his surname was originally Zimmerman. (Contrary to popular belief, he did not change it to Dylan because he was inspired by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.) Dylan is also a popular name in Welsh mythology. He was the legendary god of the sea who was accidentally killed by his uncle Govannon....

30 minutes Materials Microwave ovenMicrowavable cups or paper cups (these will get hot)Plastic spoonsKnifeCookie or candy molds (optional)Transparent glycerin soap Directions Extensions Add flower petals and a dash of perfume or other scents.For children, add small plastic flowers or bugs.

Pom Pom Chicks This craft is great for toddlers because it’s simple and fast. All you need are poms poms (yellow are the most popular, but have fun with this), glue, and an orange marker. Glue a large pom pom onto construction paper for the chicks body and add a smaller one for the head. Then, draw an orange beak and feet! You can even add googly eyes if you’d like to add some character....

This house has made minimal contributions to the name pool—unless you count the influence of Lady Diana Spencer—as it has followed traditional name fashions already in place. Maud, a variant of the Old German Matilda, is perhaps the most notable of these additions. So, too, is Eugenie, the name chosen by Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, for their second child. Eugenie, the feminine form of the Greek Eugene, means “well-born....

Scissors, tweezers, liquid glue 3 dishes Old paintbrush to spread glue Scraps of fabric that match your room colors or favorite team Yarn, string, or ribbon Something to do collage on, like an old tabletop, bed headboard, frame, or just a cardboard box Liquid acrylic

Breastfeeding The good news is that your body knows how many babies you are having. In response, it will create enough milk to feed all of your babies. In fact, your body will usually provide more milk than one baby needs, even when you only have one. This is to ensure that the baby is never left hungry. Take a breastfeeding class during your pregnancy. Find other mothers of multiples who have successfully breastfed....

One toy that all parents should put on their baby registry is a tummy time mat. While they’re adorable and give little ones a soft place to lay, they’re also instrumental in helping babies hit their milestones. So, if you’re curious about the benefits of a tummy time mat and looking for the perfect activity mat for your baby, we’ve got you covered. Editor’s Note: We know raising kids can be hard....

Fish and High Levels of Mercury In contrast to the health effects for most other people, because of high levels of methylmercury, certain types of fish can be a dangerous, high-risk food for young children, women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. An advisory from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has helped to make fish a safe part of your child’s diet....

Effort: Quick and easy – no sewing required Materials: Pink outfit Pink beehive wig Pink gloves Orange slippers Orange socks Two wiggly eyes (from a craft store) Black felt Cream-colored foam sheets Hot glue gun and glue sticks Scissors Instructions: Glue the wiggly eyes on each side of the pink wig. Cut and fold the foam sheet so that it looks like a long beak, then glue strips of black felt onto it....