Advice & Tips

I was so convinced that my vagina would be demolished after childbirth that I spent close to $100 on a makeshift repair kit: plus- size adult diapers, perineum-shaped ice packs, and Tucks antiseptic wipes. Although labour was an insane thirty-six hours, with an epidural that ONLY froze my legs (thank you, modern science), my vagina

Hollywood parents are talking about breastfeeding, publicly sharing photos and even becoming advocates. Photo Gallery Celebrities on breastfeeding 1 / 39 Photo: @madymooremm via Instagram Stories Mandy Moore New mom Mandy Moore loves to hike, but when you have a baby there are things you gotta do—like pump. Luckily, she didn’t let that stop her

As a paediatric allergist I am constantly answering questions from friends, relatives, patients and colleagues about introducing allergens to babies. Many people have heard that it’s important to introduce them early, but aren’t clear on exactly why or how to do so. I strongly encourage early introduction of the major allergens, including milk, eggs, peanuts, tree

You’ve taken a prenatal class, packed your hospital bag and installed the carseat. You’re all set and ready to meet your baby! But have you thought about what you’ll do when they actually get here? Just like creating a birth plan can help set you up for a positive birth experience, creating a postpartum plan

Here’s everything you need to know about babywearing, including how to choose the right carrier and why it’s important to start slow. Toronto’s Allie Dennis requested a stretchy wrap and a buckle carrier when she was creating her baby registry. But once her son was born, she found she was too nervous to actually try

The inverted metal V in the middle of my living room separated my life as a parent into two eras: the before-Jolly Jumper times, and after. Before-JJ, I bounced my colicky baby on a yoga ball for hours, cramming granola bars in my mouth with one hand. Post-JJ (and after the colic had waned), I

This simple act helps researchers learn more about breastmilk antibodies and makes me feel like I’m doing something that matters. I love maternity leave, but staying home during a pandemic with my baby and preschooler for more than a year left me with a weird sense of nearly-constant helplessness. Playing with my kids and binging

I’m going to do things a little differently—and not be so hard on myself—with my second baby. Now that I’m pregnant with my second child, I’ve had some time to reflect on the way I managed the newborn stage with my firstborn, and how I might want to do things a little differently this time

Did you spend hours planning the nursery and scrolling online for decor ideas when you were pregnant? Then there’s the adorable monthly milestone photos, with newborns snoozing peacefully in Moses baskets or pillow-y baby loungers. But not all of those cute pics you double-tap on Instagram or save to Pinterest are safe to replicate at

I know we’re all used to saying “breastfeeding,” but as a lactation consultant, I believe that inclusive language is vital. Last month, in my first virtual meeting with a new client, I asked them how they identify and what they call their anatomy. Their baby was three weeks old. They were surprised I even asked

The following is an excerpt from Dad Up! by Steve Patterson. Copyright © 2021. Reprinted with the permission of Penguin Random House Canada. So far in her young life, Norah has not been bullied. I believe this will continue to be the case because, as a Leo, she is already exhibiting lion-like qualities. As Norah’s parents,

If you’re counting down the days until it’s safe to sleep train, here’s what the experts say. Sleep training is one of the most polarizing topics in new parenthood. But many people do swear by it—like a friend of mine who had the date she was going to start sleep training her second child circled

Before my first was born, I read three breastfeeding books cover to cover. I’d graduated from college when I was five months pregnant and I spent the next five months turning motherhood into my new course of study. I soaked up as much information as I could, and thought I was ready to ace this

There is literally no job more thankless than caring for an infant, so try not to take it personally—and look for the subtle signs of baby’s love. When your newborn is screaming in your face and nothing you’re doing is helping, it can lead you to the question of whether your baby hates you—to which

Until you’ve parented a baby, the idea of holding one can send you into a nervous sweat. Here’s what you need to know. Before I had my own kids, holding other people’s babies had me breaking out into a nervous sweat. Because, confession: I didn’t actually know how to hold a newborn, beyond supporting the

Nursing your baby can feel like the Mount Everest of early parenthood, but many moms agree it gets better with time. Between latching and tongue-ties, too much milk or not enough, engorgement and leakage, and will-breastfeeding-make-my-boobs-sag worries, there was no shortage of breastfeeding questions among the new moms I’ve talked to. Some sobbed through cracked

Every exhausted new mom wants to know when the endless night time wakings will end. Here, a sleep expert weighs in. I don’t know a single parent who’s never googled about baby sleep, and anyone who says they haven’t is probably lying. We all want to know how much our babies should be getting, if

Some babies just need to cry, but the good news is it won’t last forever. Here’s how to tell if your baby’s tears are the colicky kind. Colic is typically defined as full-force crying for at least three hours per day, on at least three days per week, for at least three weeks. But lots

When I had my first baby, it went well, all things considered. I was induced at noon, gave birth 15 hours later in the wee hours of the morning, and my beautiful little boy went right on my chest, snuggling in and latching. I remember him just gazing up at me endlessly, taking in my

Some changes are temporary while others may settle in for the long run. Here’s when you should actually worry (or even change doctors). When you’re pregnant and imagining the days and weeks after the birth, you tend to focus on your baby, not so much your own body and recovery. Maybe that’s why so many