Simply classy theme—This picnic is a great occasion to bust out the fancy picnic basket your mom gave you last summer. Straw hats, red-and-white-checked picnic blankets, perhaps a game of croquet in the afternoon – enjoy a lazy afternoon of simple pastimes. Midrange budget—Plan to spend about $11 or $12 per person for this picnic. A grassy knoll venue—Depending upon your area’s topography, you might host this picnic at a park, the beach, near the lake, in the woods, or even in your own backyard....

Very few birthmothers change their minds about adoption after the baby is placed with a family. How do I know this? Because when I was researching a reference book several years ago (The Adoption Option Complete Handbook), I sent letters to hundreds of agencies and attorneys, and one of the questions I asked them was how many cases they had of an adoption falling through after placement. Most had very few such cases....

Average blood sugar levels can be found with an A1c test. This test provides an idea of what your blood sugar average has been for the prior two to three months. Common Blood Sugar and Pregnancy Goals Plasma measurement results can be nine points or more above the whole blood results. This may not seem like a lot, but it can seem like a big deal when you are trying to maintain tight control....

Some of these books are how-to books — books that will give you guidance on specifically what you can do to help make labor more comfortable. This might be physical comfort techniques like positions to use in labor or breathing techniques, but it could also be more of how to find a supportive team to help you during the birth process. This might include finding a doctor or midwife who is used to attending births for women who choose to go unmedicated or other support you can find, like that of a trained labor support person, like a doula....

The motion of the swing will often lull infants to sleep. Babies may look peaceful resting in a swing, but allowing them to stay asleep in this position has been deemed risky by safe sleep experts. Let’s take a look at the proper way to use a baby swing, as well as recommended sleep practices for your child to ensure they’re slumbering safely. Why Aren’t Babies Swings Safe for Sleep?...

“Eating sushi in moderation while breastfeeding is perfectly safe. However, just as when pregnant, breastfeeding women should continue to avoid high mercury fish,” says Claire Virga, RD, MS CDN, registered dietitian with Rooted Wellness, a private nutrition practice dedicated to fertility, prenatal and postpartum health. If you follow certain guidelines for safe sushi-eating, you can enjoy your meal without having to worry. Eating Sushi While Breastfeeding Fish is a great source of lean protein and important vitamins for a breastfeeding parent and their baby....

Shaving your legs easily falls into this category. Because of this, many people have considered a more long-term fix while pregnant, like laser hair removal. But with all the dos and don’ts you have to follow during pregnancy, it’s easy to wonder if it’s safe to get laser hair removal while pregnant—on your legs, or anywhere, for that matter. To find out, we tapped two board-certified dermatologists to weigh in on the topic....

“Different schools will have different thresholds for creating mandates. There are some that have already talked about instituting mandates; others may wait,” says Kawsar Talaat, MD, associate professor of international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. American public schools require children to receive all of the routine vaccinations recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). However, parents who don’t want their kids to adhere to these guidelines can typically seek special permission for an exemption....

Consider Generic Brands Generic diapers can be significantly cheaper than name-brand disposables. Some generic brands are pretty good options, while others leave a lot to be desired. You can discover the most well-loved generic diapers by asking around or by checking out disposable diaper reviews online. Parents and caregivers often have strong opinions about diapers, and they’re usually more than willing to share their thoughts. Note, however, that different diapers may fit better on different babies....

It is not a false pregnancy or a false positive on a pregnancy test, but a pregnancy that occurs before the fetus can be visibly detected on an ultrasound. Chemical pregnancies are often caused by chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo. Chemical Pregnancy Symptoms The majority of people who have had a chemical pregnancy never actually realize they’ve conceived, since the only real symptom is a late period. A chemical pregnancy is sometimes revealed when an early pregnancy test shows a faint positive result but later returns a negative result in a week or two....

Effort: Quick and easy — no sewing required Materials: Black pants Black shirt Green artificial turf carpet Headband Safety pins Glue gun, or another type of adhesive White T-shirt paint and brush Watering can Instructions: Cut out a large piece of the carpet and secure it to the back of your child’s shirt with safety pins. Cut out a smaller piece of carpet for the top of head, and secure this to the headband with glue....

There should definitely be a child-resistant latch on the medicine cabinet. You’d be surprised at how early curious kids are able to climb onto a toilet or use a stool to explore the mysteries that lie behind the mirror! Rub a Dub Dub Once your infant outgrows his baby bathtub, you can use the regular tub with a rubber mat in the bottom. Skid-proof rugs on the floor are a good idea, too....

Tips for Choosing the Outfit Here are things to keep in mind to ensure the baby’s homecoming outfit is comfortable, travels well, and looks great in pictures. Consider the Season Infants usually need to wear one additional layer of clothing over what adults would wear, except when it’s very hot. Think about what season it will be when the baby arrives, and plan the type of outfit accordingly. If you’ll need to be outside in the cold, baby’s going-home outfit should also fit easily inside a sweater or thin jacket....

Kids aren’t the only ones wondering about the upcoming school year. Here are some questions that parents often ask. How much homework should my child expect? Should my child be using a computer? When should my child begin studying a foreign language? Are field trips a good use of class time? What’s the right size for my child’s class? Parents of children in the intermediate grades often ask how large or small the class should be....

“You’re Not My Parent!” Resentment often boils out in those four little words. You might also hear, “You’re not my mom, you can’t tell me what to do!” These words hurt—they’re meant to. Respond with calm authority in your voice, and you’ll soon hear the last of this particular plaintive cry. Here are three not-so-snappy comebacks to help arm you: I live here and this is my house. You need to listen to me....

Cotton balls Clear contact paper Construction paper Scissors Stapler Directions

Available for standard cribs, portable cribs, and play yards, crib tents offer protection from insects while preventing children from climbing out of their cribs. However, evidence suggests that these popular mesh crib coverings could be dangerous—even deadly. Safety Stats and Recalls Between January 1997 and April 2012, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received 27 reports of product failures concerning crib tents manufactured by Tots in Mind, Inc. While most victims suffered only minor injuries, one two-year-old boy died after becoming entrapped between the top rail of his play yard and the bottom rail of a crib tent....