The Eco-Friendly Nursery

Decorating the nursery can be exciting, emotional, and… eco-friendly.

Keep in mind that as babies’ immune systems are developing in the early months of their life, they are more susceptible to their environment and could have a harder time handling toxins.

This is not just about living green – it’s about creating the safest, healthiest, most non-toxic environment possible for your children.

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What to Do When Baby Gets Sick: 7 Solutions

My son has always been a happy, easygoing kid. But at 4 months, Samuel was really cranky for a few days. I called the pediatrician's office, and the nurse said it sounded like teething. That, though, didn't seem right, so I asked to come in for a doctor's take. I felt awkward. After all, I'd been a mom for a fraction of this nurse's career. Who was I to second-guess someone with so much experience?

What I didn't consider was that I'd developed my own expertise on Samuel. I could differentiate his feed-me wails from his cuddle-me whimpers and his I'm-so-sleepy sobs. Turns out, he wasn't teething. He had an ear infection, one we were able to catch and treat early.

Indeed, parents can help docs diagnose properly. Follow this guide to common childhood illnesses, how to treat them, and when to see the doctor.

10 Things to Know About Potty Training

Oh, how time flies. Could your child be ready to potty train? This ten-step guide from Parents Magazine will get you started on the right track and help you and your little one find potty training success.

The first step? Wait until your child is ready. Read more about all of the steps.

Halloween Trick or Tears

As Halloween stretches its creepy claws toward us again this year, a terrifying array of sights and sounds is just waiting to scare the daylights out of your baby. Ghosts wail from drugstore aisles, goblins howl from front lawns, and strangers lurk about in spooky costumes. For some kids, the whole thing can be extremely distressing. What's a mom to do?

Read this article on how to soothe babies on the spookiest night of the year.

No texting at dinner! Parenting in the digital era

We all know teens love their gadgets — more for texting than talking. But the devices are posing some new challenges for parents. How can they teach their tech-savvy kids some electronic etiquette? So far, parents are learning on the fly, imposing new rules for their young offenders such as "no texting at dinner."

Read the full article.

5 Mood Boosters for New Parents

Having a baby changed your life. There is nothing quite as exhilarating. But learning how to take care of him, while coping with sleep deprivation and postpartum hormones, can lead some first-time parents to feel less than joyous.

If you're experiencing some post-baby blues, check out these five tips to help you get through the first few months of your baby's life, and your new life, a little more happily.

Baby Names That Drive You Crazy

It seems to get crazier each year, as parents strive to distinguish their baby by giving it a name that makes your head turn twice. In this article, they surveyed iVillage community members to share the wackiest baby names they've ever heard.

Here's a sampling – read on!

Half of babies born in rich world will live to 100

More than half of babies born in rich nations today will live to be 100 years old if current life expectancy trends continue, according to Danish researchers. Increasing numbers of very old people could pose major challenges for health and social systems, but the research showed that may be mitigated by people not only living longer, but also staying healthier in their latter years.

The study showed that by 2050, its population will be substantially older and smaller than now -- a situation it said was now typical of rich nations.

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How to have a green pregnancy

Going green for your baby -- even before birth -- is an easy way to make eco-friendly living a permanent part of your lifestyle, says Jennifer Taggart, who wrote "Smart Mama's Green Guide. " And it's well worth it. Soon after conception, toxic chemicals absorbed by the mother through breathing, eating or skin exposure can harm fetal development.

In this article, Taggart offers four tips to protect your child and the planet.

Disney FamilyFun's 18th Annual Toy of the Year Awards

In homes across the country, toothbrush robots vibrated, rockets shoe skyward, plush pets frolicked, and all manner of playthings were put through their paces. Disney's FamilyFun magazine testers assessed quality, value, and the fun factor of more than 375 toys to create a list of 30 kid-and-parent-approved winners.

View the top 10 winners!

Money-savers for the new arrival

The ultimate joy of a new baby can be tempered by worry in an economic climate like this one. In this article, Erica Sandberg, a personal finance expert and author of Expecting Money: The Essential Financial Plan for New and Growing Families, presents strategies to help working new moms survive and thrive.

Handmade Halloween Costumes

Halloween is quickly approaching! Don't get caught last minute without a costume. For some whose budgets are tight, consider getting crafty! Steal stuff from the garage, your kitchen, and the recycling bin to make the way-creative (and totally simple) costumes outlined in this article.

Kanye, Miley, Serena and More: Talking to Your Kids About Celebrity Faux Pas

Last week was fraught with celebrity screw ups. How do we, as parents, make sure our children don’t emulate the poor choices their role models might make? Better yet, can we turn a negative episode into a positive lesson?

Here are some recent celebrity faux pas and the teachable lesson that can be gleaned from them…from one mother to another.

Playing Favorites

We're all guilty of going through phases of favoring one child over another. But what are the lasting implications of our behavior? In this article, a mother of twins, for whom favoritism is a constant, nagging issue, shares her wisdom.

Coping with empty nest when the kids clear out

What can parents do when children leave the nest? The house is suddenly quiet, the vibrancy of children gone. The days seem empty without soccer games, school plays and bake sales. The job you've been doing every day for 18 years is over.

This article presents tips on how to cope when the kids clear out.

The (Swine) Flu Stops Here

Your child, husband or roommate is down with the flu, be it seasonal or swine. You’re okay… for now. But you know how quickly the flu virus can spread through your household, with new victims getting infected just by touching a contaminated object, like a door knob or telephone, and then touching their face. Can you care for the sick while keeping yourself and other family members safe from infection?

Yes, you can. This article presents how.

Recycled Crafts

So art projects probably don't have a huge carbon footprint, but wouldn't it be nice to turn all that stuff you have lying around into cute little collectibles for your kids?

This article features three easy trash-to-treasure ideas they can help with.

Avoiding Colds - The Best Ways to Protect Your Baby

Cold viruses flourish in winter—and the more everyone is indoors, the less likely it is that virus-containing particles will blow away. Infants are especially susceptible to the common cold because they haven’t developed resistance to most of the viruses that cause them. That’s why the all-time No. 1 cold-prevention strategy—washing hands frequently— is especially important for all baby-handlers to keep in mind, and that’s true even if no one around your baby has the sniffles.

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6 Ways Sleep Keeps Kids Healthy

Losing half an hour of sleep may not seem like much, but regularly missing that amount over two years added up to increased feelings of depression and lower self-esteem among a group of eighth-graders, according to new research from the University of Massachusetts. Sleep loss is normal as kids enter adolescence, but it's a good idea to keep an eye on their shut-eye -- losing too much could take a toll on kids' mental health over time.

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5 Ways to Pack a Healthier Lunch

The new school year has arrived and it the perfect time to start packing healthier lunches for your kids. Need some ideas?

Read this article and find out how to give your child's lunch an extreme — and deliciously nutritious — makeover.