Babies | KidsDirect

Changing Diapers

By KidsDirect Editorial Team Changing Diapers Nobody puts diaper duty at the top of their parenting wish list. Somebody has to do it, though, and it’s a lot less scary than it looks. You’ll go through thousands of diapers in the first couple of years, so you’ll be an expert before you know it. Here’s what to know about technique, diaper choices, rashes, and a few tricks that save you a lot of laundry. This is changing diapers in babies. The Basics Every New Parent Should Know Start with a few simple habits. With a baby girl, always wipe from

Games for your Baby

By KidsDirect Editorial Team Baby Games The first year is packed with games that look simple but do a lot of quiet work. Every round of peekaboo, every silly song, every made up rhyme is also bonding time and brain building time rolled into one. You don’t need toys, flash cards, or a real plan. Babies are wired to connect through faces, voices, and repetition, and a lot of that wiring gets built through ordinary play like this. UNICEF has a good rundown on why play matters so much this early, if you want the deeper explanation. Here are some

Breastfeeding Techniques and Positions

By KidsDirect Editorial Team Breastfeeding Techniques Good technique makes breastfeeding feel less like guesswork. It turns into something you and your baby can actually get the hang of together. A lot of early struggles come down to position and latch. They often have nothing to do with your body or your supply. Small adjustments can turn a frustrating, painful feed into a calm one. None of this needs to be perfect on the first try. Most moms land on one or two favorite positions within the first couple weeks and stick with them from there. Our complete breastfeeding guide covers

Breast Soreness During Breastfeeding

Sore breasts catch a lot of new moms off guard. Nobody warns you how much breastfeeding is a skill you and your baby learn together. It’s not something either of you is just born knowing how to do. Give yourself real time to get the hang of it. If breastfeeding never quite clicks for you, that’s not a reflection of your effort or your body. Plenty of moms who want to nurse run into real obstacles that have nothing to do with trying hard enough. Whatever happens, the fact that you tried matters. For now, let’s talk about one of

Labor Checklist

https://youtu.be/TylF0ueGCTM?si=0BIEBA-hlu267YeY By KidsDirect Editorial Team Hospital Bag Checklist for Labor, Delivery and Going Home Somewhere around the third trimester, most moms start eyeing that empty hospital bag in the corner. They wonder what actually needs to go in it. The honest answer is less than you’d think. You don’t need everything the baby superstore is selling you. You need a handful of comfort items for labor, a few things for your birth partner, and a small, separate bag for the trip home. Pack that much and you’re covered. This is your hospital bag checklist One trick that makes packing easier,

Giving Birth, What to Expect

How labor usually starts Labor tends to announce itself in a few different ways. You might notice regular contractions that get stronger and closer together over time, your water breaking in a gush or a slow trickle, or losing your mucus plug, sometimes called bloody show. None of these show up on the exact same timeline for everyone, and some people go into labor with barely any warning at all. If you haven’t already, it’s worth reading through what happens week by week as you get closer to your due date, so labor doesn’t catch you totally off guard. Early

Breast Milk Leakage

Breast Milk Leakage For many new mothers, breastfeeding is one of the first ways they connect with their baby. But breastfeeding can also come with a few surprises. One of them is leaking breast milk. You may be sitting on the couch, taking a shower, hearing your baby cry, or feeding on one side when suddenly your other breast starts leaking. It can be messy, uncomfortable, and sometimes embarrassing, especially when you’re away from home. The good news is that breast milk leakage is common. It doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you or your milk supply. Why Do Breasts

Bathing Your Baby

By KidsDirect Editorial Team Bathing Your Baby Washing a brand new baby can feel like handling something breakable. Newborns really are slippery and a little fragile those first few weeks. Most parents get the hang of it fast though. Your baby might fuss through the first few baths, then start genuinely enjoying bath time within a few weeks. Here’s what you need to know, from the first sponge bath through the first real dunk in the tub. This is all about bathing your baby. Sponge Baths Until the Cord Falls Off Stick to sponge baths for the first couple of

Four Ways Attachment Parenting Can Reduce the Risk of S.I.D.S.

Why closeness matters in the early months Attachment parenting has been around for decades, and it’s stuck around for good reason. When you respond quickly to your baby’s cries, hold them often, and keep them physically close, you’re building the kind of trust that shapes how they handle stress and relationships for years down the road. Parents who practice this style often notice their babies seem calmer and more securely attached, and there’s real research backing up that feeling, not just parental instinct. The case for sleeping close to your baby Breastfeeding at night comes a lot easier when your

Doulas

What is a Doula? A doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a mother before, during, and after childbirth. She believes birth is a natural process, and she sees it as a transformational event in a woman’s life, one worth protecting and making as safe and positive as possible. A good doula understands both the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. She stays with the mother throughout labor, supports whatever birth choices the mother makes, and never pushes her own opinions onto the family she’s

United States Midwives FAQ

By KidsDirect Editorial Team Types of Midwives in the United States, A Parent’s Guide If you’re considering a midwife for your pregnancy, it helps to know that “midwife” isn’t just one job with one training path. There are several distinct types of midwives, each with its own education, licensing, and scope of practice, and knowing the difference actually matters for the kind of care you’ll get. Here’s a breakdown of where things stand today. Midwifery in the United States There are three broad categories of midwife in the US today, certified nurse midwives and certified midwives, licensed or certified direct

Ovulation

Ovulation is when one mature egg gets released from an ovary, and it’s the event your whole cycle is really built around. For most women this happens roughly two weeks before their next period starts, though the exact timing shifts depending on how long your own cycle runs. Once that egg is released, it travels down the fallopian tube, and sperm has about 12 to 24 hours to reach it before the window closes. Worth knowing. None of these methods pin down ovulation with total certainty on their own. Most women get their clearest picture by combining two, tracking basal

Cesarean Section (C-Section)

A Cesarean section, usually just called a C-section, lets your doctor deliver your baby safely and quickly when a vaginal birth isn’t the safer option. During the procedure, your doctor makes a cut in your lower belly and into your uterus, then delivers your baby through that opening. Most people start feeling more like themselves again after about four to six weeks, though everyone heals at their own pace. There are several reasons a C-section might be the right call. Your baby could be positioned wrong, your baby’s head might be too large to fit through your pelvis comfortably, your

Ectopic Pregnancy

A quick note before you dive in This page explains what an ectopic pregnancy is and what the warning signs look like, it isn’t a substitute for medical care. If you’re pregnant and having any of the symptoms below, don’t wait to see what happens. Call your doctor or go to an emergency room right away. What an Ectopic Pregnancy Is An ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus, usually inside a fallopian tube, which is why you’ll also hear it called a tubal pregnancy. Less often, it implants in an ovary, the cervix,

Picking the Right Caregiver for Your Baby’s Birth

By Pat Sonnenstuhl, Certified Nurse Midwife Making the Right Choice Why Your Provider Choice Matters If you’re thinking about becoming pregnant, or you already are, finding a provider who gives you good prenatal care is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Early and consistent prenatal care makes a real difference for your health and your baby’s, and picking a provider before you even conceive can be a smart way to get ahead of it. There are a variety of obstetrical providers out there, so the goal is finding one who meets your need for safe, competent care while