Today's fathers are choosing to be more involved with their children

Dad, you've always been great. But now, you're so much better. The proof is in the amount of time you spend with your kids.

The typical dad devotes 6.5 hours per week to his kids, according to a University of Maryland study. That's still not as much as mom's 13 hours, but it's more than double the time fathers spent with children 30 years ago.

Obviously, much of this societal shift comes from the proliferation of dual-income households. Dad isn't the breadwinner like he was a few decades ago, so duties are split. In addition, three times as many dads stay at home than they did a decade ago. That number still has room to grow: A University of Missouri-St. Louis study found that 25 percent of married women out-earn their husbands.

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Kids' clothes straight from the runway

Los Angeles kids are dressing more like parents these days as celebrity small pints set the fashion. In the last few years, the obsession with dressing little kids like Dogtown skaters, Malibu moms and even Upper East Side socialites has hit a new, Suri-high level.

More clothing companies than ever are producing what the rag trade refers to as mini-me clothes on every price level.

American designers are turning out Lilliputian renditions of clothes that sail down the runway each season. European design houses that have a long tradition of producing children's clothes are paying more attention to their kids wear lines. of just churning out jumpers in Burberry checks or Missoni waves, they're making children's clothes that look like grown-up togs in teeny-tiny sizes.

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Visit ZaraBella.com to see the latest designer baby clothes!

Baby Bucks

In a climate where everything from box office hits to traffic stops makes headlines in blogs, newspapers and celebrity weeklies, it comes as no surprise that the more substantial life events of an A-lister -- say, the birth of a baby -- constitutes news.

Time and again, the if-you-build-it-they-will-come approach to covering the birth of celebrities' babies has worked, but why? While there are some fans who might rush to an online baby registry and buy a token of congratulations, history proves that far more people will rush to a newsstand and part with a few hard-earned dollars so they may catch a glimpse of Celebrity X's little miracle.

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10 Best Towns for Families

When Americans choose an area to live in, most of us yearn for the same things: fewer crowds; less concrete and hassles; more serenity, nature, and neighbors we can count on. That's why Family Circle singled out these small cities, where living costs, commute times, and crime rates are low, and the educational and cultural scenes are way above average. In all of them, moms and dads are stepping up to help their children thrive; they volunteer in schools, coach sports teams, and keep bike trails clean. As the people in these top towns will tell you, life is good. And if your community isn't among the winners, read on to learn ways you can make it warmer and friendlier.

Here are the results of Family Circle's extensive research: Perfect places to call home.

Is it possible to train for the perfect birth?

A growing number of mothers-to-be are choosing to be active throughout their pregnancies, undergoing sometimes punishing regimes in a quest for the perfect - quick and easy - birth. The move is supported by doctors - this year medical charity The King's Fund claimed half of all maternal deaths in childbirth involved women who are overweight or obese.

But can exclusion diets, protein counting, self-hypnosis and strict gym plans guarantee moms-to-be a pain-free labor?

This article interviews three women who went into training for motherhood to describe their pregnancy and then reveal whether the birth went to plan.

Packing Smart for Famiy Trips This Summer

Starting June 15 -- just when we're taking off on long-planned vacations -- American Airlines will charge $15 each way for the first checked bag and $25 each way for the second checked bag, assuming you are flying domestically on a discounted ticket and are not a top-level frequent flier. So what's the good news? First, we do have summer and time with the kids to look forward to. We've got plenty of ammunition now for why our teenage daughter can't bring every pair of sandals she owns on vacation this summer, and why the 4-year-old can't bring his entire collection of dinosaurs, including the big ones.

We're all going to have to pack smarter -- even the kids. Read the full article!

Baby Steps: Get Ready for Walking

Walking is a baby's first big, well, step into toddlerhood. While those thrilling moments may still be a few weeks or months away, you can help him prepare for the big day. "Children love push toys because they allow them to move around in a way they couldn't before," says Tanya Remer Altmann, M.D., a pediatrician in Los Angeles. "Plus, they can help your prewalker find his balance."

Check out more reasons why push toys are a perfect match for your little one right now.

Celebrities and their baby business

Most expectant parents, concerned about the possibility of a miscarriage, wait until after the first three months of pregnancy to share the news with family and friends. But discretion is nearly impossible for those in the media spotlight.

In late December, Nicole Kidman, who had a miscarriage during her marriage to Tom Cruise, denied that she is expecting a baby with husband Keith Urban -- only to confirm it a week later. Jennifer Lopez, who welcomed twins with husband Marc Anthony in February, announced she was pregnant in November following denials by the couple.

Even so, attempts by celebrities to keep their pregnancies private doesn't stop celebrity magazines and gossip Web sites from issuing reports to the contrary.

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Parents juggle kids' wants, needs

Parents in all income brackets have the shaky economy on their minds, but in this spendy era of the $900 baby stroller and the ultra-birthday party, are they resisting the urge to splurge on their kids? Many acknowledge there's a blur between "necessities" and "luxuries" for their young ones as prices soar for everything from gas to milk. Indeed, some parents will always be able to afford designer-wear for toddlers and fancy cell phones for grade-schoolers, but more average earners are considering scaling back.
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