As parents we’re overstressed and sleep-deprived, strung out from juggling the demands of job and home, and teetering on the edge of sanity as we deal with our children’s worst behavior, toddler meltdowns, fights over the video game controller, texting at the dinner table. And so, inevitably, we reach the tipping point. We scream at them, we take away privileges, we slam doors. Sometimes we may even say things we wish we hadn’t....

The flip side of this joyful experience is seeing piles of unused toys or trinkets lying around your house in the weeks afterward. One simple approach to avoid this holiday letdown is to choose gifts for kids and stocking stuffers for kids that they’ll actually use (more than once!). We’ve done the searching for you and picked out a selection of 25+ of the best stocking stuffers for kids they’ll actually use – and all under $10 each....

Here, we’ve rounded up the most popular names that begin with the letter “O,” all of which make unique options to help your baby boy or girl stand out from the crowd. O’Shea Origin: IrishMeaning: Fine; FortunateFamous Namesakes: O’Shea Jackson Sr. (known professionally as rapper Ice Cube) and his son, actor O’Shea Jackson Jr.Peak Popularity: O’Shea has yet to make it into the top 1,000 baby names in the U....

Simple, single-ingredient baby foods are best. Always remember to puree completely so there’s no risk of choking. Babies can have food sensitivities, so be sure to try one single ingredient at first and then if there’s no reaction, you can move to combination foods. For 4 to 6 month old’s: Mashed Bananas: Bananas are one of the most popular homemade baby food recipes and frequently called the “perfect” food because they are loaded with potassium and fiber....

During any type of cesarean section (c-section) where you have regional anesthesia like epidural anesthesia, you will still feel some sensations during the birth. You should never feel pain. Though it may come as a surprise to many mothers that during the actual birth most women report feeling something. Here are the sensations you may feel. Tugging Many women will feel a tugging sensation. This comes from the movements of the physicians in removing the baby or manipulating your organs....

But it’s important for parents to keep tabs on how much violent content their children are being exposed to. Research shows that violent media content such as video movies and TV shows affect children, with many studies indicating that violence in media may be a risk factor for aggression, reduced empathy, increased confrontational and disruptive behavior, and other antisocial behavior in some kids. So what can parents do to protect school-age kids from violence and sex in the media?...

More: 25 Winter Baby Names That Are So Hygge Winter brings a peaceful sort of magic along with it. Have you ever heard the mysterious quiet of snow falling or looked out on snow-capped peaks and just soaked in the beauty of an all-white world? If your baby is born during winter, a name that celebrates this time of the year might just be perfect. The winter season lets us look out onto the simplicity of nature, but it also brings immeasurable power....

More: 25 Rustic Country Names You’ll Want to Steal If you want to give your little girl a traditional southern moniker, consider both a first and middle name of southern inspiration. Girls in the South often use double first names. Whether you were raised in the South or you just can’t stop reading Gone With the Wind, take a look through our list of southern baby names. Looking for more baby names and inspiration?...

More: 35 Star Wars Names for Your Baby As Jennifer Moss, CEO and Founder of Babynames.com, suggests, both parents should be involved in the naming process, from brainstorming to vetoing. If you’re the superhero lover make sure your partner has a say in the pros and cons associated with each name choice. Superhero Names for Girls Superhero Names for Boys Gender-Neutral Superhero Names For more baby name inspiration check out these popular baby name lists:...

Due to these lowered immunity functions and hormone changes, many women experience Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) disorders during pregnancy. ENT issues are some of the more common ailments that plague expectant mothers. These include things like hearing loss, nasal blockage, vocal changes, earaches, and ear infections. We’ll discuss why ear problems and infections occur during pregnancy, and how to safely treat these conditions. Causes Of Ear Infections And Ear Pain During Pregnancy The most common type of ear infection is one that impacts the middle ear....

More: Natural(ish) Parenting: A Lesson in Flexibility Use reusable bags for groceries and snacks It can be hard to remember to bring those reusable bags to the grocery store when we have so much to keep track of, but here’s a statistic that might motivate you to find a way to make it happen. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, Americans use 100 billion plastic bags per year, and the average American family will take home almost 1,500 plastic bags per year....

More than 80% of babies born in the U.S. are breastfed for some length of time, but most aren’t exclusively breastfed or breastfed for as long as the AAP recommends. According to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 56.7% of infants are breastfed at 6-months-old, while 35% of infants are still breastfed at 1-year-old. The updated AAP policy statement and technical report detail the medical and neurodevelopmental advantages of breastfeeding and highlight the role pediatricians play as advocates and clinicians....

Don’t call the social worker daily or even weekly unless you have a specific problem or issue to discuss. Don’t call the social worker early on Monday morning or late on Friday afternoon. (Actually, try to avoid calling anyone at these times—most people are not at their best then.) Don’t expect the social worker to be the supreme authority on adoption. Hopefully, she’ll have read a few books and know something....

Do Multiple Babies Have Different Needs Than Singletons? Full or near-term healthy multiples have the same needs as full-term singletons. Depending on the ease of the delivery, you should be able to breastfeed as soon after birth as possible. Premature infants or those with medical complications are going to require a bit more. Because these babies are typically taken to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) immediately after birth, you will not be able to put the babies to the breast....

You’ll want to consider two general areas when sharing information: The family’s daily finances When a family crisis arises After you see the kinds of information to be shared, you’ll get some idea of when you should share it. Daily Finances Growing up, I heard my father routinely say, “Turn off the lights when you leave a room; I don’t own the electric company.” The message from my parent was clear: We didn’t have money to waste....

These kinds of feelings are perfectly normal. In many ways, you have been living on emotional tenterhooks, faced with challenges and disappointments that have gradually whittled away at your confidence and sense of certainty. Even though you’ve finally achieved what you’ve been longing for, you may still have doubts and fears you can’t entirely dispel. Don’t beat yourself up about this. Accept your feelings and take the time to examine where these feelings are coming from....

Traditional discipline techniques aren’t always effective for a child with autism. Depending on where they fall on the spectrum, they might struggle to understand consequences or handle harsh reprimands. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use any discipline at all. Instead, gentler and consistent strategies may be the key to helping children with autism manage their behavior. Understanding Common Autistic Behaviors We usually discipline children because they consciously act in inappropriate ways, whether it’s swiping treats off a sibling’s plate or intentionally tripping a child on the soccer field....