When my daughter was born three weeks early, I was worried she’d have a hard time breastfeeding. Luckily, she latched right away and nursed like a pro. I brought a travel nursing pillow with me to the hospital, and I immediately realized it wasn’t a great fit for me. Once we got home, I tried out the other nursing pillows I had — but they all had downsides. Some required me to hunch to reach my tiny newborn, others got too hot during long nursing sessions, and others just didn’t sit comfortably on my waist/lap. When I tried the Momcozy MaxSupport Nursing Pillow, I knew I had found my perfect fit.

Honestly, the experience of testing out different nursing pillows made me feel a bit like Goldilocks; some were too big, some were too small, but the Momcozy MaxSupport Nursing Pillow was just right. Here’s what I love about the Momcozy nursing pillow:

The post Finally, a Nursing Pillow That Gets It Right — Meet Momcozy’s New Comfort Upgrade appeared first on Mom.com.

When you’re expecting a baby, it can be overwhelming to figure out which baby products you actually need. It seems like every product is marketed as a “must-have,” but you’ll probably question what’s a necessity and what’s not.

Since every baby has their own preferences, they all respond differently to items designed for them — and parents will give you conflicting advice! Some parents swear by wipe warmers, while others say they never use them. Some babies need their milk to be warmed to the perfect temperature, while others couldn’t care less. Some newborns like to be swaddled to sleep, while others want to stretch their tiny limbs.

Of course, there are some baby products you really can’t live without. Here are some of the items you’ll use every day.

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When you’re putting together a baby registry, it can be really easy to get distracted by all the adorable baby products and forget about the essentials. It’s so fun to pick out newborn outfits, nursery decor, and toys, but it’s important to also register for postpartum recovery products.

After you give birth, your body is going through a lot. When you’re dealing with the physical recovery and taking care of a newborn, you want to make sure you have all the postpartum care items you need on hand. Here are some postpartum recovery products to put on your baby registry:

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Pregnancy and childbirth can be beautiful, but they can also be full of scary and potentially dangerous conditions. In the past few years, more and more women have been speaking out about their pregnancy experiences, and they aren’t always positive. While most expecting parents have heard of preeclampsia, a serious blood pressure condition that develops during pregnancy (typically after the 20th week), there’s much less information out there about postpartum preeclampsia.

Recently, Meghan Markle opened up about her experience with postpartum preeclampsia, sparking a broader conversation about the dangerous condition. “It’s so rare and so scary,” she shared on her podcast.

Here’s what expecting parents should know about postpartum preeclampsia.

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During the summer, it’s really fun to spend time outside with your kids. Whether you’re playing at the park, going for a long walk around the neighborhood, or heading to the beach, it’s important to keep your baby’s needs in mind. As you prepare for the summer, you’ll want to stock up on lightweight baby clothes, sun protection (like hats and sunscreen), and summer stroller accessories.

While many parents enjoy the summer heat, babies’ and toddlers’ bodies can’t handle extreme temperatures. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a heat index of 90°F poses a significant health risk for babies and children. Extreme heat can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, which can all become medical emergencies.

Babies and toddlers tend to spend a lot of time in their strollers during the summer, so it’s important to make sure you have all the necessary stroller accessories. These simple products will help protect your baby from the elements this summer.

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You’d think dressing a newborn baby in the summer would be easy. After all, dressing a newborn baby in the winter is when you run the risk of freezing and frostbite. What’s the worst that can happen in the summer? They get a tan? Definitely not. Bad things can happen if your newborn baby is not dressed appropriately for the weather.

Here are some tips for how to dress a newborn in summer:

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My daughter is almost a year old, and to say she loves baby food pouches would be an understatement. When she started eating solids at six months, we decided to do a mix of classic purees and baby-led-weaning (which primarily uses finger foods). In my search for purees, I bought a variety of jars and pouches. Although my daughter was originally open to any type of food, she’s definitely developed preferences as she’s approached the 12-month mark. And like so many other infants and toddlers, baby food pouches have become her favorite. So far, it doesn’t matter what’s in the pouch — fruit smoothies, plain applesauce, yogurt blends, meat and veggies — as long as it’s in the pouch, she’ll eat it.

I know we’re not alone when it comes to the baby food pouch obsession. According to the Los Angeles Times, pouches are the most popular baby food on the market, with sales increasing 900% over the past decade.

While pouches are incredibly convenient, they aren’t always the healthiest. According to a 2019 study published in Nutrition Today, infant and toddler food pouches contain significantly more sugar per serving than comparable food in other types of packaging. Many pouches feature a blend of ingredients: fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, etc. Unfortunately, what this means is that many pouches are very fruit-forward. For example, a pouch that says it contains “apple, sweet potato, and green bean” will often be almost all apple puree, with a bit of sweet potato and green bean.

Many pouches list their key ingredients on the front, and some will break down the amounts on the back (I swear I found a pouch that said it had spinach, but when I looked closely, it said “one spinach leaf”). Once I started checking the ingredients on pouches, I was disappointed to find that they almost all had fruit bases. Don’t get me wrong, fruits are great for babies and toddlers, but they’re high in sugar — this gives pouches the sweet flavor that kids love.

Luckily, there are some really great pouch options out there! Here are some of my favorite baby and toddler food pouches.

The post Delicious (and Nutritious) Options for Pouch-Obsessed Babies and Toddlers appeared first on Mom.com.

Since becoming a mom almost a year ago, there’s one question I’ve been asked hundreds of times that always makes me mad: “Is she a good baby?” This question is always asked with good intentions, usually as a way to check in on how I’m doing as a mom, but it always strikes me as a ridiculous question.

What do you mean, “Is she a good baby?” Of course she’s a good baby! By virtue of being a baby — by existing in this world as an infant — she is a “good” one. Let’s be clear here: Every baby is a good baby. The only thing a baby needs to do to be “good” at being a baby is to just exist.

I’m never sure how people expect me to respond to this question — what parent is out there telling people they have a bad baby? My sarcastic answer is always, “No, she’s actually a terrible baby. She goes out every night to rob banks and kick puppies.”

More from Mom.com: Sleeping in Shifts Saved My Sanity During the Newborn Phase

In reality, what would qualify as a “bad” baby? A baby with colic? A baby who wakes up every hour? A baby who is struggling to latch? A baby who isn’t gaining enough weight? “Bad” implies a poor quality or a moral failing, and that isn’t the way I’d describe any infant.

I understand that people ask this question as a way to check in on new parents, to see how they’re coping with the big life changes. So here’s my suggestion: Ask the direct questions you want to know about. Is she sleeping well? Is she fussy? How are you feeling? Has recovery been challenging? Are you settling into parenthood OK?

Parenting, especially when you have a newborn, is challenging, and it can be especially difficult if you don’t have an easy baby. If your baby is having difficulty adjusting to life outside the womb, it’s important to remember that it’s not your fault. And in the tough moments, remind yourself that your baby isn’t giving you a hard time, they’re having a hard time.

No matter what, your baby is a “good baby.”

The post Please Stop Asking Me if My Daughter Is a ‘Good Baby’ appeared first on Mom.com.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s important for us to be in tune with our bodies and stay grounded in our environment. Many people use smart watches and smartphones to track health, wellness, and fitness in an effort to understand their bodies more — so why would that be any different when it comes to babies? We all know that knowledge is power, so staying informed about our babiy’s wellness can make us more empowered, confident parents.

When you’re a new parent, you have so many questions dancing around your head: Is my baby sleeping enough? Is my baby resting well in their bed? Is my baby too warm/too cold? Is my baby’s breathing steady and comfortable? All you want to do is make sure your baby is happy and cared for, but it’s hard to know how they feel when they can’t express that to you.

When it comes to understanding babies’ wellness, there’s nothing quite like the Hälsa Baby All-in-One Wellness Monitor. This innovative baby monitor combines the benefits of a camera monitor, a smart sensor and ankle band, a hub, and an app to give parents reliable, accurate insights and ensure peace of mind. The engineers behind the brand are also parents, so they know what’s actually important when you have young children. They wanted to take a more human approach to baby technology, combining their engineering expertise with their parenting perspectives. With the Hälsa Monitor, staying connected with your little one has never been easier.

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Setting up your baby’s nursery is one of the most fun parts of pregnancy — you get to imagine how they’ll sleep and play in their new room. You might picture yourself running through the perfect bedtime routine, rocking your baby as they fall asleep, and watching as they doze peacefully in their crib.

One of the most important things you can do at this stage is make sure you create a safe and comfortable environment for your little one to sleep. All parents know that when your baby isn’t sleeping soundly, neither is anyone else. Prioritizing your little one’s sleep can be beneficial for the entire family — and it can help them grow up with healthy sleep habits.

Here are some helpful tips for creating a safe and cozy baby sleep environment.

More from Mom.com: How to Get the Whole Family More Sleep (Yes, Really!)

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