Keep reading to get some easy-to-set-up water activities from experts who are also parents. Whether you have a huge backyard or live in the middle of a big city, these water activities will have the whole family spending the summer months engaged and excited. Car Wash Washing the car isn’t just a chore. “A car wash is a great way to incorporate water play with a bit more direction,” says Jennie Monness, co-founder of Union Square Play, a global virtual parenting community and play space in NYC....

Your Baby’s Development at 20 Weeks At 20 weeks, baby is almost 6 3/4 inches (17 centimeters) from the top of the head to the bottom of the buttocks (known as the crown-rump length), and the baby’s height is approximately 9 1/2 inches (24.3 centimeters) from the top of the head to the heel (crown-heel length). This week, a baby weighs a little more than 11 1/2 ounces (330 grams). Which Trimester?...

More: 4 Mindful Alternatives to Meditation for the Whole Family Some of the benefits of mindfulness activities are that they can help children focus and pay attention, recognize how their body feels and what they need, calmly react to stressful situations, and increase positive self image. Mindfulness is also extremely helpful for children with learning disabilities such as ADHD and Autism as it can increase focus and regulate emotional responses....

Here are the best deals on toys, electronics, baby items, and more. FridaBaby Baby Basics Kit Echo Show 5 Kids Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine by Breville ZokerLife Cordless Vacuum Apple Airpods Transform family movie night with a movie projector that turns your favorite films into a theater-like experience. This movie projector features a 5G Wi-Fi connection and screen mirroring to give you a smooth streaming experience. Set the projector up indoors or outdoors, at least 6 to 23 feet away from the screen, and enjoy the projector’s built-in stereo speakers, so you don’t miss any important scenes....

Having a baby can come with so many added to-do tasks. As a Maternity Concierge, a large part of my job is to take care of these time consuming tasks for expecting parents. From designing nurseries to planning baby showers, Tranquility by HeHe Maternity Concierge Services does it all. In the last 12-18 months, we have seen a drastic shift from traditional baby showers to more of a relaxed gathering in honor of celebrating your little one’s arrival....

Newborns can begin their musical journey in age-appropriate classes. Other classes cater to toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. If you have multiple children of various ages, you can even find programs that will let all of you participate in one class together. Be sure to ask about a free introductory class too so you can find the right program for your family. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends all get to play along in this musical activity that teaches kids about a variety of music, the musicians, and the history behind the music genres....

How Your Body Prepares for Labor As labor approaches, your body starts to prepare itself. After all, giving birth is a lot of work and you need to be as ready as possible. There are several early signs of labor that will be noticeable long before active labor begins. Not every woman experiences labor in the same way and certain signs can occur either before labor starts or during active labor....

Contractions occur in pregnancy when you have a certain level of oxytocin flowing in your blood. This can be very normal, like labor, when your body and your baby’s brain release oxytocin to stimulate contractions for labor. Or it can happen if you are dehydrated, meaning a little bit of oxytocin your body would have ignored earlier is in greater concentration, and now you’re having contractions. Here are some times when contractions happen and what you need to do about them....

When you think blue, you may associate it with open spaces and expansiveness like the sky. For many people, blue can also be the color of wisdom, calmness, and confidence. Blue definitely gives off calming vibes, and blue-inspired names for girls and boys have been used across many cultures in different languages. More: 50 Tropical Island Baby Names In 2012, superstar Beyonce made headlines for naming her first-born daughter Blue Ivy....

This inspiring message is in honor of all the caregivers, mothers, teachers, frontline workers, and other strong women who have worked tirelessly through the COVID-19 pandemic of the last two years. The month-long celebration of trailblazing women in history started as Women’s History Week in March of 1980, centered around International Women’s Day on March 8 As the National Women’s History Project notes, 14 states had already declared March Women’s History Month by 1986, and in 1987, Congress designated March the official month to honor Women’s history, activism, and fight for equality....

How Children Learn to Behave Badly From Parents Not being consistentYou say no to that extra piece of candy. Your child throws a fit. You give your child that candy. You have now established in your child’s mind the clear message that throwing a fit will give him exactly what he wants, and what you say in one moment doesn’t matter because you may change your mind. Not following throughHave you ever seen a parent make empty threats?...

More: 25 Winter Baby Names That Are So Hygge The following is a list of 75 inspirational baby names for boys and girls, as well as gender-neutral options to help you find the absolute perfect name for your little one. Don’t have time to read now? Pin it for later: Inspirational Names for Girls Greta Inspirations: The meaning of precious jewel; Greta Thunberg. Michelle Inspirations: The meaning of like God; Michelle Obama....

In recent years, baby names from this period have also become more trendy. Old money baby names are classic and have connotations of wealth or higher income lifestyles. Some of the most popular baby names have an old-money feel to them. From names with a Victorian vibe inspired by Downton Abbey to old Hollywood Americana monikers, choosing a unique name from the past gives a feeling of class and style....

However, there are some things that women who have experienced both say hurt more than giving birth. Everyone experiences pain differently, so what might be more painful for one person may not be for another. The location of the break and how you use that part of the body can also determine how painful it is. A broken rib might ache every time you take a breath, whereas a pinky-finger fracture might be fairly well stabilized and not as painful once it’s in a splint or cast....

The trillions of bacteria, fungi and viruses that make up the human microbiome evolve throughout our lives, and research suggests we first come into contact with those microbes inside our mother’s womb. As we’re born and growing, the gut microbiome continues to diversify, and this diversity is highly beneficial to our health. “The gut microbiota is closely linked to the body’s immune and nervous systems and influences many aspects of health and well-being,” says Whitney Casares, MD, pediatrician and Gerber medical consultant....

While Accutane is the best-known brand name, isotretinoin is also marketed as Claravis, Sotret, and Amnesteem. It is an oral medication taken once or twice a day over a period of several months to help decrease acne. Isotretinoin is often prescribed for teens and young adults—an age group that is at peak childbearing potential. Isotretinoin Risks During Pregnancy Isotretinoin is a known teratogen, which means it can cause birth defects....