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Our site may earn a commission from shopping links.What does a new mom need? Short of a cook, a nanny, and a live-in massage therapist, she needs some time alone, up-to-date parenting information, and lots of support. For more tangible gift ideas, try these.Great books to listen toNew-mom life can involve a lot of time cocooning at home while the baby is sleeping, so long-playing entertainment with little or no need for hands-on attention is simply wonderful.

Our site may earn a commission from shopping links.Tiny dresses, pants, shirts, and one-piece outfits can bust a family budget faster than you can say & 34;shopping trip.& 34; And since babies grow fast, those cute clothes have a short shelf life. So what& 39;s a parent to do?Use your phoneSmartphones have given rise to a whole cottage industry serving bargain-hunters: shopping apps.

There& 39;s a baby on the way! And you want to give her something to mark the beginning of a new and remarkable phase in her life. Of course she& 39;ll appreciate flowers, dinner out, or some other personal indulgence, but consider giving a gift that a mom-to-be would especially appreciate.An Amazon Prime subscriptionShe& 39;ll think of you every time she needs something yesterday for herself or the baby and it shows up on her doorstep within a day or two, sometimes within hours.

With a baby in tow, working at home takes on new meaning – and new challenges. Whether you& 39;re resuming a freelance career, starting a new one, or telecommuting, you& 39;re in good company. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2015 more than 25 million Americans – almost 25 percent of the work force – are choosing to work from home at least part of the time.

Nutrition has a direct impact on the potency of your sperm. Research shows that having a poor diet and drinking alcohol regularly, for instance, can lower the quality and quantity of sperm and make conception more difficult. And since infertility is nearly as much a man& 39;s issue as a woman& 39;s – about a third of fertility problems can be traced to men – eating healthfully now can boost your chances of conceiving a child.

Hush, Little BabyHush, little baby, don& 39;t say a word.Papa& 39;s gonna buy you a mockingbirdAnd if that mockingbird won& 39;t sing,Papa& 39;s gonna buy you a diamond ringAnd if that diamond ring turns brass,Papa& 39;s gonna buy you a looking glassAnd if that looking glass gets broke,Papa& 39;s gonna buy you a billy goatAnd if that billy goat won& 39;t pull,Papa& 39;s gonna buy you a cart and bullAnd if that cart and bull turn over,Papa& 39;s gonna buy you a dog named RoverAnd if that dog named Rover won& 39;t barkPapa& 39;s gonna buy you a horse and cartAnd if that horse and cart fall down,You& 39;ll still be the sweetest little baby in town.

Note: Your diet can help you meet your daily requirement for most of these nutrients, but the recommended amount for some, such as folic acid and iron, is too high to be covered by diet alone. A supplement or your prenatal vitamin can help you make up the difference. (Check the nutrient& 39;s & 34;daily value& 34; on the bottle label.

What products, supplies, and gear do you need to get your child safely and happily from his first to his second birthday? We know, of course, that you want to give him the world – and your love and patience can get him partway there. But there are a few other basics you& 39;ll want to provide as well.

SightFrom the day your baby& 39;s born, her eyes will aid her physical, mental, and emotional development by allowing her to take in information – a little bit at first, and eventually much more – about the world around her.When it developsUnlike a baby& 39;s hearing, which is fully mature by the end of his first month outside the womb, the sense of sight develops gradually over 6 to 8 months, at which point your baby will see the world almost as well as you do.

You can& 39;t buy a new dad what he needs most – sleep is priceless – but you can help him celebrate the arrival of his baby with some choice gifts.A reliable baby carrierGet your favorite new dad excited about the adventure of fatherhood with a sturdy baby carrier for travel and errands, trips to the park, or just to hold onto the baby around the house.

New this month: Moving forwardEvery day you watch your toddler attempt and accomplish something new, but the 15th month is one that pediatricians and developmental experts consider a & 34;milestone& 34; period. Most babies (around 90 percent) are walking now, and it may seem like with her first steps your baby walked right out of babyhood.

How do I make our preschool arrangement work for my family?Finding a good preschool doesn& 39;t mean your job is over. Be responsible: Pay on time, call if you& 39;re going to be late or miss a day, and don& 39;t send your child to school when she& 39;s sick.Talk regularly with your child& 39;s teachers and the school& 39;s director so you can find out what& 39;s expected of you.

How do I maintain my child& 39;s interest in potty training?It& 39;s hard to maintain a child& 39;s interest in anything unless she really wants to stay engaged. If your child seems to be losing interest, it might help to ask yourself, & 34;How can I maintain interest in potty training when my child is taking a long time to make any progress?

Find out what to expect at this well-baby checkup. Download a printable version of our 1-month checkup worksheet to take with you. You may want to read through the questions and jot down answers beforehand.What the doctor will doWeigh and measure your babyYou& 39;ll need to undress your baby completely for weighing.

New this month: Grand ambitionsYour toddler is still likely to explore her surroundings the way she has for the last few months — grabbing random objects, inspecting them closely, putting them to her mouth, banging them on the floor. But you& 39;ll also notice that she likes to challenge her physical limits.

When do babies start talking?Your baby learns to talk during his first two years of life. Long before he utters his first word, he& 39;s learning the rules of language and how adults use it to communicate.He& 39;ll begin by using his tongue, lips, palate, and any emerging teeth to make sounds (cries at first, then & 34;ooh& 39;s& 34; and & 34;ahh& 39;s& 34; in the first month or two, and babbling shortly thereafter).

What& 39;s a nanny share?A nanny share, or & 34;share care,& 34; is just what it sounds like: Instead of working for one family, a nanny cares for the child or children of two or more families at the same time.& 34;It& 39;s a way for parents to use the services of a nanny, usually the most expensive form of childcare, while sharing the cost with others,& 34; explains Arlyce Currie, program director of Bananas, a nonprofit childcare information clearinghouse in Oakland, California.

New this month: Running out of controlThis month you& 39;re likely to see your toddler continuing to test her locomotion skills. She delights at walking backward, sideways, up and down stairs. And she also wants to run, or at least try to. Her galloping will probably be more enthusiastic than graceful, but that& 39;s normal.

Newborns can& 39;t yet speak a language or fully understand the words they hear, but they& 39;re fast learners. Research shows that babies start listening to their parents& 39; voices while still in the womb. Once born, your baby begins tuning in to your words and sentence patterns to figure out what you& 39;re saying.

Golden SlumbersGolden slumbers kiss your eyes,Smiles await you when you rise.Sleep,Pretty baby,Do not cry,And I will sing a lullaby.Cares you know not,Therefore sleep,While over you a watch I& 39;ll keep.Sleep,Pretty darling,Do not cry,And I will sing a lullaby.