It seemed fun when you were pregnant and registering for all that cute baby gear. But now it seems like baby clothes, toys and miscellaneous kid paraphernalia take up every nook and cranny in your house. What can you do to get a hold on organizing all the stuff you’ve accumulated?

Start with the idea that everything needs to have a place, so that there’s a place for everything. Then choose an organization system that best matches your space, your needs, and your own personality.

• Invest in drawer dividers for baby’s dresser: Having a way to separate socks from onesies from pajamas is essential. You can even make your own by cutting down boxes that were destined for the trash (think boxes from cereal or pasta).
• Add some sort of shelving to your child’s room: Not just for books, shelving will give you a place to organize toys, clothes and other baby supplies. Make sure these are secure and out of reach so baby can’t pull items off.
• Baskets and bins: If you have shelving, you want to have a way to store things on the shelf. Baskets and bins of all sorts can keep everything in its place. Buy some larger baskets – the kind that can sit on the floor – for larger items.
• Organize clothes by size: Different sizes in different drawers might help. Or buying some hanging tags to help you keep clothes in the closet divided. If you have lots of clothes that your baby won’t fit for a while, consider packing those away in a bin or box. Switch out clothes with the change of seasons, and have a place for the clothes baby has outgrown.
• Rotate toys: Pack away any toys your baby isn’t ready for yet, and keep a small stash in baskets around the house. This is, of course, easier for young babies. For older babies and toddlers, having a large bin or basket in which to quickly clean up is a great way to help you child learn where toys belong. Toy bin is overflowing? Time to get rid of some.
• Make the most of every space: Place hooks on the wall or the side of a dresser or changing table (removable adhesive hooks are great for this). Don’t forget the back of the door! Shoe pockets are great for storing small items. Under the crib is lots of storage space – you might even add a skirt to the crib to hide the bins!
• When deciding on larger storage pieces, like shelving, make sure it will grow with your child. You’ll be surprised how fast your baby moves from rattles to building block to action figures and Legos.
• Become a labeler: You’ll always know what’s in the mystery bin that got pushed into the far corner of the closet.
• Don’t have a closet? Consider a freestanding armoire, or adapt a bookcase by removing a shelf and adding a hanging bar, even a shelf on the wall with an attached bar could give you a place to hang a few outfits.

What methods have you found for organizing all your baby stuff?

Written by Michelle, childbirth instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

You might have learned several things since your baby was born. For example, you might be surprised at how you can get by on such little sleep. You also learned you would go to the ends of the earth to make your baby happy.

One other reality you may have figured out is babies are expensive. How can one eight pound person cost so much? Luckily, there are several things you can do to save a little on baby expenses. Consider some of the following suggestions:

Consider what gear you really need: With all the baby gadgets on the market, it seems you could spend a fortune. But do you need all of them? The answer is probably not. If you’re trying to save some cash, consider what you need and what is not that important. For example, you might be fine without a wipe warmer or a special breastfeeding pillow. Keep in mind, everyone is different and may feel certain items are worth the splurge. Decide what are your must have items and hold off on the rest if money is tight.

Double up. Buy furniture that serves double duty. For example, there are high chairs on the market that can be converted into a booster chair and then a regular chair as your baby grows. Buying double duty furniture and other items may prevent you from needing to replace items as quickly as your little one grows.

Buy secondhand clothes on occasion. Consignment shops may have cute outfits for a fraction of the price you would pay at a department store. Babies grow out of clothes so fast that most items may have only been worn a few times.

Think big when it comes to diapers and wipes: There is no way around it, you’re going to go through countless diapers and wipes before your baby is potty trained. If you buy disposable diapers, consider buying in bulk. Large grocery warehouses often sell diapers, wipes and other baby care items in bulk. Usually the larger the package, the lower the price per diaper. You can also go eco-friendly and use cloth diapers, which may be less costly than disposable ones.

Sign up for freebies: Some manufacturers including baby food and diaper companies may provide coupons or free samples to consumers for trying their products. You can likely signup online to receive coupons through email. Some companies and stores also offer a rewards program for loyal shoppers. Signup is usually quick, and you can earn freebies over time.

Trade and borrow items: If friends or relatives have baby items that they don’t need at the moment, consider accepting their offer to loan you some stuff. You can return the favor when your little one outgrows certain things.

Written by MaryAnn DePietro@writerlady34

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Let’s face it – all mothers work. Women don’t make the decision to return-to-work or to stay-at-home lightly. And neither choice is right or wrong – it all depends on your family’s needs. You’re the best judge of what’s right for you.

If you’re on the fence about returning to work, here are some points to consider:

• Your finances: First and foremost, can your budget adjust to a decrease in income for your family? If you want to stay home and just can’t figure out how to do it, sit down and take a good look at where all of your money goes each month. See if there are ways to make changes that would make staying at home an option.

• Childcare choices: Consider the cost of childcare when working on your budget. Will your working cause you to spend more than you make, effectively negating your salary? Are there waiting lists at the day care you most want to use? Would it be less cost to employ someone in your home? Do you have a flexible job that will let you bring baby along for the first few months?

• Work options: Does your employer offer telecommuting, so you can work at least part of your hours from home? Could you return to work part time rather than full time? Is job sharing (where two people split the hours and duties for one job) an option? Is your employer willing to let you work flexible hours (four nine-hour days, for example, with three days off each week)?

• Career advancement: How will not working affect your advancement in your profession? Some women consider “sequencing,” dropping out of the paid workforce while their children are young, and re-entering later when the demands of motherhood are less.

• Breastfeeding: Many women successfully combine working and breastfeeding. But consider what you will need in order to do this. Do you have a breast pump? Have you considered where and when you will pump at work? Have you discussed it with your supervisor ahead of your maternity leave, or is this a topic you still need to broach?

While some women are able to take a long paid maternity leave, the reality in the US is that most mothers are back to work very soon after the birth of their baby. And for some families, this is just fine. Maybe before the birth, you had every intention to return to your job; but now that your baby is here, you can’t imagine leaving him every day. Or maybe your job’s demands aren’t compatible with having a family, and you need to either find a different position or stay home. Or maybe you decided even before birth that you wanted to stay at home. Whatever your situation, the decision-making needs to be planned for your family’s well being.

How did you decide whether or not to return to work outside the home?

Written by Michelle, childbirth instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids 

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Wouldn’t it be lovely to live in a world where we all supported each other’s choices? Ah, that would be blissful. Instead, however, we live in a world where it’s perfectly acceptable to criticize other people’s decisions. Even the decisions of new mothers who are arguably at a very vulnerable time in their lives.

You may hear unsupportive comments from friends, family members, colleagues, and even strangers. It’s not easy to hear that people disagree with you. When those comments are unsolicited or unexpected, it can be especially hurtful. The important thing to remember is that every single mother in the world knows what you’re going through. No matter how you choose to parent, there will always be people who disagree with your methods. Remember, you can’t please everyone all of the time. Here are five tips to help you ignore unsupportive comments:

1. Remember, you are not alone

There are plenty of other parents out there who are choosing to do things exactly the same way you are. You’re not the first mother to face criticism and, sadly, you won’t be the last. Reach out to the other moms who share your parenting philosophy. Listen to their stories of criticism and know that you are not alone.

2. Remember, you are the expert

Nobody in the world knows your baby as well as you do. You are the only expert in how to care for your baby. The people criticizing you don’t know your baby the way you do. They aren’t the ones kept awake at night, the ones who feed your baby or the ones who first welcomed him into the world.

3. Be Honest

You don’t have to put up with rudeness or criticism from anybody. You are perfectly within your right to politely explain to anyone who questions you exactly why they are wrong. Or, if you’d rather avoid the confrontation, you can simply thank them for sharing and excuse yourself to the bathroom.

4. Seek out positivity

Being a new mama isn’t easy. You’re surviving on very little sleep, have very little opportunity to think about your own needs and spend most of your waking moments caring for a very demanding, but adorable, little baby. You probably don’t have much energy left to battle off negative comments, explain yourself for the hundredth time or defend your parenting choices. It’s much easier to surround yourself with positivity. Surround yourself with friends and family members who support your decisions, who tell you what a great job you’re doing and who help you to believe that you’re an amazing mama.

5. Remember, the comments come from a good(ish) place

It’s not easy being criticized, but it’s important to remember that the people who are criticising you are doing so out of love. Your grandma isn’t calling your sling risky to be mean, she’s just genuinely worried that it might be dangerous. Not everybody has access to the information you do. Respond politely and thank people for their concern, but make sure they know that you don’t need their opinions. You know what you’re doing.

Have you received any unsupportive comments and, if so, how did you handle them?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

A napping baby is a beautiful thing. Now that he’s 11 weeks old, your baby is probably spending more and more time awake. Even so, he’ll still be clocking up an impressive 15 hours of sleep each day. You may find it hard to believe when you’re feeling so exhausted thanks to all the night waking, but sleep is high on your baby’s list of priorities.

How long should my baby spend napping?

Now that he’s 11 weeks old, your baby probably spends three to five hours each day napping. This will likely be split over two or three naps, giving you plenty of opportunities to wonder what the hell you should be doing when your baby naps in the day. Your baby may nap whilst you’re out and about, snuggled up in the sling or tucked up in the pram, allowing you to get on with your day whilst he sleeps.

What should I do when my baby naps?

If you’re home alone when your baby goes down for a nap, you might be wondering what you should do with the free time. Should you use the opportunity to get some housework done, ring a friend for a chat or use the time to fill in some of that baby journal? Of course, it’s your time so it’s absolutely up to you what you choose to do with it.

If you’re feeling sleepy (and, really, what new parent isn’t?), then your baby’s nap time is the perfect time for you to catch up on some sleep. Not everybody finds it easy to sleep in the day, but it may help you to restore those depleted energy levels. Close the curtains, get into your pyjamas and switch off the lights. Even if you don’t manage to fall asleep, the rest will do you some good.

If you’re not feeling sleepy, you can do whatever you like during your baby’s naptime. Unless your baby has settled into a predictable routine, you might find it frustrating that you can’t predict how long your baby will sleep for. Some days you might rush around doing odd jobs, expecting your baby to wake up any moment, only to find he sleeps for hours and you could have relaxed in front of a movie.

The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to do something useful just because your baby is asleep. You don’t have to wash the dishes, do the laundry or cook dinner. Looking after a baby all day is exhausting work, so you’re perfectly entitled to enjoy any downtime that comes your way. Read a book, watch a movie or have a bath. Do whatever you need to feel a little more like you.

What are your favorite things to do whilst your baby naps?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

You want to do everything you can to help your baby thrive. One way you can encourage the development of certain motor skills is by creating plenty of opportunities for tummy time.

Why the Need for Tummy Time?

Over a decade ago, experts recommended putting babies to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS. As a result, the incidence of SIDS dropped by about 50 percent. Although that’s great news, if your baby spends all that time on his back, it can cause the back of his head to become flat.

Giving your baby opportunities to spend supervised time on his tummy can help prevent the flat spots from developing. But that’s not all. When your baby spends time on his tummy, it helps him strengthen his shoulder, neck and back muscles, which helps with the development or certain motor skills. In fact, research has indicated, that babies who spend time on their tummies may roll over, crawl and sit up without support earlier than babies who don’t practice tummy time.

Experts differ on exactly when to start tummy time. But placing your newborn belly down on your chest is one way to get her used to tummy time. Starting supervised tummy time early may help your baby get used to the position. Once your baby has a bit more head control, you may want to start formal tummy time.

Make Time for Tummy Time Every Day

Consider making tummy time part of your everyday routine. When your baby is awake, place her tummy down on a blanket or baby mat for comfort. Be sure always to supervise your little one during tummy time.

Keep in mind, your baby is probably used to spending time in other positions, such as on her back. So she may protest when you put her down on her belly, especially at first. Start slowly with a few minutes of tummy time a couple of times a day, and consider increasing a little at a time. Avoid putting your baby down on her tummy when her belly is full, which may be a little uncomfortable.

Placing your baby on a baby mat, which has different colors and textures is a great way to keep him distracted. Putting a mirror in front of your baby will also keep him interested when he is practicing tummy time.

Tummy time toys are also a good idea to capture your little one’s attention when he is belly-down. When your baby is a bit older, consider putting toys just out of his reach, so he tries to move towards them.

Of course one of the best things you can do during tummy time, is get down on the floor with your baby and hang out with her. Sing, play peekaboo and just enjoy this time together.

Written by Maryann DePietro @writerlady34

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

If you were to ask most new moms what the sweetest things about their newborn are, they would probably give you a list something like this:

1. The baby smell
2. The tiny toes
3. The soft spot

Because, yes, as weird as it may sound—that soft spot on a baby’s head is precious. And you would be hard pressed to find a new mom who hasn’t spent a fair amount of time caressing that spot as her baby sleeps.

But it turns out, that soft spot could also be responsible for your baby suffering from a flat head. Kind of.

Before we can explain how that happens, though, we need to understand what the soft spot is all about. The simplest explanation is that when babies are born, their skulls aren’t yet fully fused together—allowing gaps so that his or her little head can be pushed through the birth canal. Those gaps will slowly close over the next two years, accommodating your baby’s growing brain throughout.

So the soft spot is a good thing! But, it also means your baby may be susceptible to a flat head—otherwise known as plagiocephaly.

It wasn’t until the 90’s, when pediatricians started recommending babies sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS, that plagiocephaly became a more common condition. The longer little ones were on their backs, the more their skulls shifted to accommodate that extra pressure to the back of their little heads; thus the flat spot.

Don’t go switching your baby onto his or her stomach to sleep, though! They are still much safer on their backs. But you can do a few other things to help prevent a flat head instead, including carrying your baby when he or she is awake, offering lots of supervised tummy time during those waking hours, and limiting the time your baby spends in a car seat or otherwise lying on their backs when not sleeping.

Most babies with plagiocephaly will be just fine—the flat spot often rounds out by six months of age, when they start rolling over on their own. But as the soft spots close, it can be harder to correct plagiocephaly; so don’t hesitate to bring the issue to your pediatrician’s attention if you have concerns. It may be that your baby could benefit from various treatment therapies, which could include simple repositioning, or the use of a helmet to protect your little one’s skull from excess pressure.

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.