Baby Stuff

Pregnancy fact or fiction: making baby

Filed under: Just for moms, Love and sex, Pregnancy and birth, Health and safety, Eating and nutrition

Based on my own personal experience, I've decided that getting pregnant is more of an art than a science. Those who've spent some quality time getting pregnant, and perhaps even those who got pregnant after only one attempt (and I find myself in both categories) would agree, even with the factual information out there.

According to the powers that be--scientists, doctors, your health teacher from the 6th grade--pregnancy occurs one way and one way only. A sperm, offered by the male, implants itself in an egg, supplied by the female, and voila'--you make a baby. Science also points out that whether you do it the old-fashioned way, through intercourse, or through other means such as in vitro fertilization, the mechanics are the same. Sperm meets egg, and the rest is history.

But, getting through that simple task can be daunting. It can seem to take forever. Many gals have turned to old wives tales and gossip heard through friends and family to get themselves in the family way. Do any of these methods work? Well, science would argue no, they don't. Experience might say otherwise, however.

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Free Shipping with $99 purchase # Expiration: 5-31-2008

What I really want for Mother's Day

Filed under: Just for moms, Love and sex, Money and work, Holidays

Moms are great. Dads are too, for sure, but this week, and this month, we're talking mamas. And you know what? Mamas work hard. I knew when I first got pregnant that being a mom would change my life, be unlike anything I'd ever done, and be very, very hard. Rewarding, yes, above all that heaven could offer, but HARD. So, I'm going to be totally honest with you when I say that not all moms go in for cards, candy and maybe some flowers.

It's not that we think we deserve the world for doing what millions of women have done before us. No, it's that life is more complicated now than it ever was. We work full-time, we're fitness frenzied, we're suffering through war and a housing crisis and a terrible economy. We're expected to keep a perfect house, perfect children, have the perfect body and be able to do it all in a day while working full-time. Oh, and we're supposed to be happy about it! So, without further ado, here's a short list of the kinds of things moms would really love for Mother's Day:

1. Quiet. Also known as "peace and quiet." Moms love it and can't seem to get enough of it. Muzzle the dog, send the kids off to a play date and lock yourself into your office (or a Starbucks with wi fi) and let mom bask in silence. After all, silence is golden, and it's a lot cheaper than jewelry. And she'll get more use out of it.

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Product Recall: Playworld swingsets

Filed under: Health and safety, Toys and games

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 17,300 Playground Swing Sets made by Playworld Systems Inc., of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. The clevis bearing on the swing set can wear out and cause the swing to detach, posing a fall hazard to children.

There are seventeen different swings involved in this recall and the model numbers can be found here.

These were sold through authorized dealers nationwide to day care centers and children's learning centers from January 2007 through February 2008 for between $770 and $3,100.

If you have one of the recalled swings, you should immediately remove it from the swing set until a repair kit can be installed. The company has sent direct mail notices to consumers, but for further information you can contact Playworld Systems at (800) 233-8404 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit their Web site.

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Online programs let parents view kids' grades

Filed under: Just for moms, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens and tweens, Just for dads, Life and style, In the news, Education

In a recent NY Times article we were introduced to online programs that allow parents to track their children's grades. Many parents are choosing products like ParentConnect, Edline and PowerSchool to assist them in conversing with their children about their grades.

As the Times article points out, it cuts out the middle portion of the conversation. The parents know what the grade is, good or bad. There can be no hiding of the grades or pretending they're something other than what they are. ParentConnect allows the parent access to the grade, and lets the child know that information is out there, and that discussion is sure to follow (especially if the grade is less than desirable).

Such programs are currently being utilized by 10,000 schools in all but one of the states. Studies have shown that parental involvement can have an effect on grades, and with test scores being more important than ever these days, many are turning to such sites to assist them in their quest for kids with good grades, even though several of these sites have been around for ten years.

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15% off $100 purchase # Expiration: 6-30-2008

Do parents worry too much about their child's temperature?

Filed under: Health and safety

No one likes to see their kids get sick, and fevers can be especially worrisome. When my daughter caught the flu this winter, her fever soared to 104.5 and she felt like she was on fire. I think I checked her temperature every hour that night, until I could feel that she had cooled back down.

But researchers say that parents may be worrying too much about childhood fevers, and that many tend to medicate (or worse, over-medicate) a condition that doesn't even need treatment, even waking up comfortably sleeping children to give them medication.

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$15 off $200 purchase # Expiration: 5-15-2008