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I try real hard to make sure my family members hear validations from me. After all, they are usually the subjects of my writing and their otherwise-private details go on public display in the name of trying to create some universal connection with other parents out there. So, my hope is that they feel a little more [...]

Get inspiration for toddlerdinners from food blogsbloomsberries / Flickr Food and I, we have a long, complicated relationship. It became even more complicated when we found out my son is allergic to corn and eggs. I can spend hours at the store reading labels (there is no bold lettered warning for corn, sadly, like there is for egg) and calling companies to learn more about a specific ingredient contained in their foods. I spend a lot of time thinking about and dealing with food. And still, ... [read more]

Brain research, let alone centuries of history serve as testament to the many differences between men and women. However, the “battle” that has been waged can and should end. Yes, we make inroads with humor and well-studied tolerance, but we still fall into the traps of insecurity that allow us to often ignore each other’s [...]

Thanks to Cassie Melvin for sharing this picture of 2-and-a-half-year-old Tony.How to Get Your Toddler Featured on Wordless WednesdayMore Wordless Wednesday posts at About.comMore Wordless Wednesday Posts from other bloggers Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Wordless Wednesday: Meet Tony originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 08:00:09.Permalink | Comment | Email this

Calling all daddy and mommy bloggers (and anyone else who blogs on family issues): There's a new blog carnival slated to go live Monday that will focus on the topic of St. Patrick's Day. Deadlines for submissions will be this Friday, March 5, so fire up the blog and get crackin'. Here are the rules for the carnival and you can learn more about how to send your submission to Baby Clothes Guide Stacie McClintock here. Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Parenting Bloggers: Join... [read more]

Thanks to JoAnne Atwood for sharing this picture of Ethan.How to Get Your Toddler Featured on Wordless WednesdayMore Wordless Wednesday posts at About.comMore Wordless Wednesday Posts from other bloggers Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on FacebookWordless Wednesday: 20-Month-Old Ethan originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 10:34:41.Permalink | Comment | Email this

"> Many parents take childbirth classes and parenting classes before their baby arrives, but very few of these courses include instruction on how to perform CPR on an infant or child.I find this surprising since it's one of those must-ask questions on the list for babysitters and child care providers. I mean, nobody wants to leave their children with someone who couldn't save their lives if it came down to it... but if you don't know CPR yourself, that's what y... [read more]

Pancakes are a favoritetoddler breakfast.R Stanek / FlickrTuesday is National Pancake Day. I can tell you with 100% certainty what I'm going to be doing: standing in my kitchen making pancakes. I don't need a special day. If you don't plan on standing over a hot griddle, however, you have options, folks. IHOP is giving away free pancakes from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. and in return, they're hoping you'll make a donation while you're there to benefit the Children's Miracle Network. A lot of folks ... [read more]

Thanks to Michelle for sharing this picture of Nadija and Katya.How to Get Your Toddler Featured on Wordless WednesdayMore Wordless Wednesday posts at About.comMore Wordless Wednesday Posts from other bloggers Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Wordless Wednesday: Bathtime for Nadija and Katya originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 at 09:00:40.Permalink | Comment | Email this

Toddler Owner's ManualPhoto © PriceGrabberMaking the transition from infancy to toddlerhood is a time filled with new and exciting challenges for you and your child. Learn how to meet those challenges with these books on toddler care. Have a parenting book that you just can't live without? Share your favorites with other parents by leaving a comment.Toddler Parenting Books originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Saturday, February 13th, 2010 at 22:50:36.Permalink | Comment ... [read more]

Thanks to Jamee for sharing this picture of Ashley.How to Get Your Toddler Featured on Wordless WednesdayMore Wordless Wednesday posts at About.comMore Wordless Wednesday Posts from other bloggers Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Wordless Wednesday: 20-Month-Old Ashley originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 09:00:58.Permalink | Comment | Email this

With Easter right around the corner, pet stores are stocking up on bunnies for sale. Doesn't everyone at one time or another think about buying a bunny for their children at Easter? Many of... iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site ... [read more]

Date night, something we cover again and again at this site, gets the Dr. Ruth Westheimer treatment in this excellent video clip. Say what you will about the mismatching cute grandma persona and the usual sexual frankness, this particular piece has her offering practical tips on keeping a relationship vital while raising kids. She addresses the [...]

Giving a toddler or small child flavored milk, such as chocolate or strawberry, has always been rather frowned upon by the mommy set. But a study in the Journal of the American Dietetic... iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site has gath... [read more]

A study published in the late '90s by the British medical journal, the Lancet, was possibly the starting point for much controversy surrounding the Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and autism. Still today, the debate rages on and concerned parents avoid or delay giving their children the vaccine in order to avoid possibly exposing their child to any risk of autism. Now, however, the Lancet has retracted the study as flawed after an independent council investigated and reported on several of ... [read more]

Our Everyday Things is one ofmy favorite parenting blogsPhoto © LeonnyEvery morning when I can steal a moment of quiet with my coffee or tea, I like to sit down and see what's going on in the lives of other parents. I remember my mom doing this with a telephone or by sitting down at the dining room table and writing letters. Though she's passed on, I still have boxes of her letters from friends and family members, most of them parents. When I read those, I realize that though the techno... [read more]

Thanks to Sonja for sharing this picture of Una.How to Get Your Toddler Featured on Wordless WednesdayMore Wordless Wednesday posts at About.comMore Wordless Wednesday Posts from other bloggers Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Wordless Wednesday: 14-Month-Old Una originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 09:00:37.Permalink | Comment | Email this

Cast Your VotePhoto © About.com From now until Feb. 24, you can help choose winners for the 2010 About.com Reader's Choice Awards in the following categories: Web Browsers Desktop Publishing Email Family Computing Best of Google Instant Messaging Macs Desktops, Laptops & Computer Monitor Makers Smartphones Web Design Web Search Cast Your Vote in the About.com Reader's Choice Awards originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 15:56:49.Permalink ... [read more]

Thanks to Lisa Claussen for sharing this picture of Isabella.How to Get Your Toddler Featured on Wordless WednesdayMore Wordless Wednesday posts at About.comMore Wordless Wednesday Posts from other bloggers Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Wordless Wednesday: 21-Month-Old Isabella originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 09:00:30.Permalink | Comment | Email this

Ah, it seems like only yesterday that those eight tiny little babies were born and they're already toddlers. Time just flies, doesn't it? Easy for me to say since I'm getting a full night of sleep and only have one child to look after. Suleman told People magazine that she's only getting two or three hours of sleep a night and that's with the help of three nannies! Part of me says, "Hey, she brought this all on herself!" But the other part of me -- the part who remembers what it's like to be... [read more]

Calling all daddy and mommy bloggers (and anyone else who blogs on family issues): There's a new blog carnival slated to go live in February that will focus on the topic of Love and Families. Deadlines for submissions will be Feb. 3, so fire up the blog and get crackin'. Here are the rules for the carnival and you can learn more about how to send your submission to Tween Guide Jennifer O'Donnell here. Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Parenting Bloggers: Join the February B... [read more]

Graco StrollersPhoto CPSC About 1.5 million strollers from Graco (models "Passage," "Alano," and "Spree") are being recalled because the hinges in the canopy can cause fingertip amputations and lacerations during opening or closing. There have been seven reports of this happening with five of those resulting in amputations and two in lacerations. These strollers, which started selling in 2004 at major retailers like Walmart and Target, were made with two different types of hinges. Only those ... [read more]

Dale and Karen write: "How long do you need to keep your child out of daycare if he/she has rotavirus?" State regulatory agencies have differing standards, but as long as your child has symptoms, it's best not to return to care in a group setting. You can learn more about finding your state's specific standards here or find out more about rotavirus and other causes of acute gastroenteritis in toddlers.How Long Should My Toddler with a Rotavirus Infection Stay Home from Child Care? originally ... [read more]

Thanks to Jacqueline for sharing this picture of Armand.How to Get Your Toddler Featured on Wordless WednesdayMore Wordless Wednesday posts at About.comMore Wordless Wednesday Posts from other bloggers Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Wordless Wednesday: 1-Year-Old Armand originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 at 09:00:22.Permalink | Comment | Email this

Caramia Drop-Side CribsPhoto CPSC These drop-side cribs ("Diane" by Caramia) are being recalled because the slats on the drop-side can detach from the rails and cause a fall or entrapment hazard. There are only 1,000 of these cribs being recalled, but there have been 18 reports of the slats detaching. Visit the company's Web site or call 877-728-0342 to get a replacement drop side, but you'll need to find an alternative sleeping arrangement until March when the replacements will be available. ... [read more]

"> It's a new year and I'm getting the feeling that a prevalent parenting resolution has been to get better sleep this year. Another reader sent me an email after reading this week's earlier article about getting a toddler to sleep alone with a similar problem: "My daughter is 2-years-old and dad and I take turns with bedtime. We do the routine of bath, pajamas, books, and then we lay with her until she falls asleep and leave the room. We have come a long way to get this far and we are ready t... [read more]

Thanks to Laura Pazzaglia for sharing this picture of Vittorio and Adriana.How to Get Your Toddler Featured on Wordless WednesdayMore Wordless Wednesday posts at About.comMore Wordless Wednesday Posts from other bloggers Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Wordless Wednesday: Vittorio and Adriana originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 at 09:00:02.Permalink | Comment | Email this

It’s difficult to show as much appreciation for the joy family-music entertainers as I feel. It’s even more daunting to select just 10 of the best. But I’m confident that parents cannot go wrong with acquiring this list of fantastic recordings, which represents the finest albums I had a chance to sample. Congrats to the [...]

A reader asks: "We weaned our 28-month-old son from his bottle a few months ago and as a result we had to sleep with him in his bed otherwise he would not stay in his room. My wife stays at home with him during the day while I work and I suppose it is a more natural choice that when he has to go to sleep, he wants his mom to be next to him. In the past, since I bathe him at night, I've been able to distract him and put him to bed myself, but lately he will not go for it and it results in tears.... [read more]

Thanks to Teresa for sharing this picture of Aerin Olivia.How to Get Your Toddler Featured on Wordless WednesdayMore Wordless Wednesday posts at About.comMore Wordless Wednesday Posts from other bloggers Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Wordless Wednesday: 14-Month-Old Aerin Olivia originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 at 09:00:23.Permalink | Comment | Email this

For me, New Year's Day sets off some sort of nesting instinct. It's almost like I'm about to go into labor. Before I even have time to digest my black-eyed peas, I start run around cleaning things, checking things, staring pensively into cluttered closets and working out my game plan. Some people like spring cleaning, but I'm all about starting the year off on the right foot. Usually the first thing I do is go check out the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. I do this with the ti... [read more]

Thanks to Patti for sharing this picture of Jack.How to Get Your Toddler Featured on Wordless WednesdayMore Wordless Wednesday posts at About.comMore Wordless Wednesday Posts from other bloggers Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Wordless Wednesday: 18-Month-Old Jack originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 09:00:06.Permalink | Comment | Email this

Photodisc / Getty ImagesFor many parents, more than any other holiday or event, New Year's Eve is the time to hire a babysitter. Choosing the right babysitter can be a frustrating task, especially when you've got a toddler with limited language skills who can't let you know what's going on while you're away. I wish I could say that I always chose the perfect sitter for my child, but that is not the case. Once, I thought I had found such a great fit for us. We decided to go to a concert and ... [read more]

"> Last week, I talked about getting your toddler enough Vitamin D, calcium and fats without giving her a lot of milk. This week, I want to talk about how to get your toddler enough Vitamin C without giving her too much juice. It can get a little harder in the winter. I left my grocery store this week longing for the good local fruits and veggies, but alas, even down here in Texas with our long growing season, it was slim pickings in the fruit section. Vitamin C is import... [read more]

Thanks to Beth for sharing this picture of Sarah on the beach.How to Get Your Toddler Featured on Wordless WednesdayMore Wordless Wednesday posts at About.comMore Wordless Wednesday Posts from other bloggers Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Wordless Wednesday: Sarah's Dreaming of a Pink Christmas originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 at 09:00:12.Permalink | Comment | Email this

Calling all daddy and mommy bloggers (and anyone else who blogs on family issues): There's a new blog carnival slated to go live in January that will focus on the topic of New Year's resolutions. Deadlines for submissions will be Jan. 1, so fire up the blog and get crackin'. Here are the rules for the carnival and you can learn more about how to send your submission here. Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook January Parenting Blog Carnival Submissions Wanted: New Year's Resolu... [read more]

When Devin Woodrow started preschool at the age of 2, she barely talked. Within 30 days, her vocabulary increased. Her parents initially enrolled her for only three days a week, but within 60 days,... iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting si... [read more]

Some call it a "pacee," a "binky, a "ninny" and even a "dummy." No matter its moniker, the pacifier means comfort to babies and peacefulness for parents. And like all creatures of comfort, babies... iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site h... [read more]

Per Breiehagen / Getty ImagesCalcium, Vitamin D and fats all work together to help your toddler attain optimal brain growth, grow healthy bones and skin and more. Fats help process Vitamin D, which is a fat-soluble vitamin, and in turn, it helps the body use calcium. For parents who choose not to feed their families dairy products or who have children with a milk allergy, getting all the nutrients that milk provides won't be as easy as getting your toddler to drink a couple of cups of milk each ... [read more]

This museum in Pasadena, Calif. offers fun for children up to 7 years old.

This museum in Pasadena, Calif. offers fun for children up to 7 years old.

Early in 2010, rebeldad.com will re-launch, with renewed vigor and regular postings on all things fatherhood. I'll use this space updated with more details as I nail them down. Please know that if you've dropped me a line in the last little bit, I have received it, and I appreciate the thoughts.Even though posting has been sporadic, the blogroll should be up to date. If your blog should be on the list but isn't, let me know and I'll fix within 72 hours.In the meantime, you can keep up with me at... [read more]

Photo: CPSCThere is absolutely no problem with the actual medication in this recall, but there may be a problem with the packaging for families with young children. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission: "The cold and flu medicine contains acetaminophen and is not in child-resistant packaging and lacks the statement, 'This Package for Households Without Young Children,' as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. This medicine could cause serious health problems or death t... [read more]

Photo: CPSCDorel is recalling nearly 450,000 car seats under the Safety 1st, Cosco, Eddie Bauer and Disney brands because of a fall hazard. There have been 77 reports of child restraint handles coming off these car seats with several injuries including bruises and a head injury. The company is offering a repair kit and is advising parents not to use the seat as a carrier or use the seat's handle until the repair kit has been installed. You can call the company to get your kit at 866-762-3316 ... [read more]

What child isn't fascinated with ice? After you delight your toddler by showing him how water turns into this cold cube that keeps his apple juice cold, try these fun activities! ( Adult... iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site has gath... [read more]

On a cold wintery day, a movie theater can be a great escape. But is toddler ready for the experience? Before you buy the tickets, check out some ways to make the outing a pleasant one for the... iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site ha... [read more]

There is a post-holiday syndrome that frequently hits households with children – toy overload. You know, when your child's bedroom or playroom looks like the aftermath of a toy store explosion? ... iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site... [read more]

Stockbyte / Getty ImagesSanofi Pasteur is recalling 800,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine after the company's routine testing revealed that the doses are slightly less effective as they were just before they were shipped. These doses were contained in pre-filled syringes intended for babies and toddlers (6 to 35 months of age) and most have already been given. What's important to know here is that the effectiveness is only slightly lower than it was when the product reached doctors. Parents are... [read more]

Thanks to Phyllis for sharing this Christmas picture of Taylor Rae.How to Get Your Toddler Featured on Wordless WednesdayMore Wordless Wednesday posts at About.comMore Wordless Wednesday Posts from other bloggers Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Wordless Wednesday: 18-Month-Old Taylor Rae originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 09:00:17.Permalink | Comment | Email this

Plush Books" />Monday the Bullfrog BooksPhoto: CPSC Simon and Schuster have recalled these Monday the Bullfrog plush books (ISBN: 9781416912316) because the eyes can detach and pose a choking hazard. To get a safe replacement product, contact Simon and Schuster at 800-732-9531 or on their Web site. Evenflo has recalled a cake toy that is part of their 1-2-3 Tea for Me Exersaucer. There's a toy flame at the top of the candle on the cake that can detach and cause choking. After removing the cake... [read more]