For my daughter’s first Christmas, my mother gave her a plastic toy fish bowl. Armed with five accessory fish she could place inside and take out again, it lit up in brilliant colors that mesmerized my daughter. When we arrived home after the holidays, this new toy became somewhat of…
Items You Need for a Long-Term NICU Stay
If you know your baby is going to end up in the NICU, you might be trying to prepare ahead of time. Maybe you already have a NICU baby and you’re trying to improve the situation. The NICU is a tough and demanding place (not to mention the NICU during…
My Pack and Play Cleaning Disaster
Take a close look at the photo above. You’ve probably come across the picture on the left while surfing Pinterest or other sites; I’ve seen something like it maybe a dozen times now. It’s a method for cleaning a pack and play, usually with the caption “how to PROPERLY clean…
5 Great Mom Hacks | Part 2
It’s time for the second installment in the Mom Hacks series! I usually call these “mom hacks” because I write to moms, but of course, anybody can employ these tips and tricks, be it dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles, you name it! These posts are so much fun because they’re…
Pediatricians and Postpartum Depression | PPD Series | Installment 3
There’s still work to do, but we’ve come a long way in postpartum depression awareness in the last few decades. Communities now understand the issue and its effects more than ever, and those in a position to help are taking steps to do so. One such group is the American…
Packing Dad’s Hospital Bag
Between nurseries, registries, baby showers, and car seat research, packing dad’s hospital bag might not be at the top of expecting parents’ to-do lists. But it’s so important to make sure both parents’ needs are covered for the hospital stay, especially with dad—he’s on his own for a whole lot…
10 Items You Need For a Short-Term NICU Stay
Are you preparing—just in case—for an unexpected NICU stay? Or do you know ahead of time that your baby will probably be in the NICU? Either way, it’s good to be ready for the possibility, and one way you can prepare is by packing in your hospital bag these 10…
Recognizing Postpartum Depression | PPD Series | Installment 2
Welcome to the second post in a series on postpartum depression! Recognizing postpartum depression can be challenging. I didn’t realize I was suffering from PPD until it got really intense for me. Even once I got better, I never grasped just how bad it got until I reflected on my…
A Mom Mantra for the Bad Days
Dear mama at her wit’s end, I’ve been where you are. I’ve pressed my hands over my ears to drown out the noise. I’ve hidden in the bathroom. I’ve counted the minutes to bedtime only to find bedtime derailed and an already bad day lengthened into eternity. Let me share…
My Postpartum Depression Story | PPD Series | Installment 1
Welcome to the first post in a series on Postpartum Depression! Postpartum depression (PPD) is estimated to affect about 1 in 5 new mothers. Too often, mothers are scared to seek treatment for PPD because they’re ashamed. Or, they don’t even realize that postpartum depression is happening to them until…