The Boy Scouts of America have refueled the fire by reaffirming their ban on gay Boy Scouts and leaders recently. Read on to decide if they were in the right or if this is an organization you don’t want your children to be a part of.

Would you let your son be a Scout?

The Boy Scouts of America, a private youth organization dedicated to helping boys develop character, leadership skills and self-reliance, is again in the national spotlight for upholding their previous ban on allowing gay members or leaders. This is not the first time they have been in the limelight — most recently, in April of this year, a den mother was ousted because she is a lesbian, and gay parenting is a controversy in and of itself, as the recent JCPenney ads revealed.

The policy

The official policy is don’t ask, don’t tell. It reads, “While the BSA does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA.”

“The vast majority of the parents of youth we serve value their right to address issues of same-sex orientation within their family, with spiritual advisers, and at the appropriate time and in the right setting,” said Bob Mazzuca, chief Scout executive, Boy Scouts of America, according to BSA’s press release. “While a majority of our membership agrees with our policy, we fully understand that no single policy will accommodate the many diverse views among our membership or society.”

It’s their right

Some folks we spoke with felt that BSA has the authority to dictate exclusions such as these. “I don't see a reason to ban openly gay people in the Boy Scouts, but as a private organization I do believe they have the right to ban anyone for any reason they see fit, no matter how stupid I deem that reason to be,” shared John from Missouri.

Wake-up call?

Skye, mother of five, has this message for parents who may feel that their local chapter doesn’t agree with this policy. “I really hope that this is a wake-up call to all of the people who think that it isn't really that bad, or otherwise believed that their family's support and involvement in this organization is anything less than full support of institutionalized homophobia.”

More on gay parenting

Are children of gay parents less happy than their peers?
Same-sex parenting tips
Two babies and no pregnancy for Jillian Michaels

No doctor, no midwife, no problem

Meet Amy, mom of four. Her last baby was born at home, which isn't unusual, until you learn that she had no medical attendant present — at all. Read on to learn why she and her husband chose that route and what their plans are for their next baby.

Born at home with mom and dad

Amy lives in Nebraska with her husband and four children, and is expecting a Christmas baby at the end of this year. Her fourth baby came into this world at the family’s home, but there was no doctor, midwife or other medical personnel there. It wasn’t an emergency — it was a planned unassisted childbirth , and is not as crazy as it sounds.

We were able to catch up with Amy and learn why she chose this method of birth and what they have planned this December.

Origins

SK: Tell me a little about yourself — where you grew up, where you live now?

Amy: I grew up in the small town of Harvard, Nebraska. I lived there my whole growing-up years and graduated high school there. Went to college in Norfolk, Nebraska at Nebraska Christian College for a semester and then got married and we have kind of moved all over Nebraska and for a brief stint in Kansas where my husband is from. Currently we live in Lincoln, Nebraska.

SK: Did you have any attachment parenting role models in your life as you were growing up?

Amy: Funny you ask. I have been trying to figure this one out a lot lately. I wouldn’t say yes per se — although my parents were pretty hands-on, they definitely weren’t AP. I think I had an older cousin who was probably my biggest role model in that department . I know that is where I saw breastfeeding from the light of “no big deal, when Baby is hungry it’s just something you do wherever you are.” I’m very thankful for that.

Despite not having a huge AP role model from an early age, I always wanted to be a mom, and for me I knew very specifically what kind of mom I wanted to be — how I wanted to care for my children; I guess it was just instinctual more than anything. No one had shown me but also no one had taken that away, if that makes sense.

SK: When did you meet your husband? How did you know he was “the one“?

Amy: Austin was from Kansas but was going to school at Nebraska Christian College and needed a summer job. One of his good friends was going to work at a log home building business in my small town. We ate supper together a lot at their house as well as I worked at the grocery store and he often came in there.

He came back to work the following summer also and that is when he offered to fix the stereo in my car. I brought my car over for him to tinker with that night and after that we were pretty much inseparable. When I went off to college he quit his job, followed me — and the rest is history. We were engaged a month and three weeks later to the shock of our friends and family. And as far as how did I know, well, it’s cheesy but I just knew. I think when you know, you know.

SK: Did you both have similar philosophies when you began discussing having children, or did you both inspire one another as your children came along?

Amy: We discussed things a little but I don’t think you really know until you start having them. I think we just both feed off of each other. The one thing I did know was that I wanted to be there, to be physically present. I wanted parenting to be my main focus rather than a nine to five job. I didn’t want to miss one second of their little lives. And I didn’t want them to grow up with a babysitter who was closer to them than I was or feeling like they were constantly being shoved off with someone else.

Having babies

SK: What was your first birth like?

Amy: When it was time to choose a provider, the receptionist said, “Would you like to go with the midwife we have?” and I said, “Sure!” and that’s how it all began. I’m not sure I put much thought into that part but I remember being excited when I heard the term midwife and I vaguely knew what that was.

I ended up being induced on my son’s due date. It was of my own hounding that this came about not because of any medical necessity. I wasn’t where I am now and just didn’t think anything of it. Like many first-time moms, I was a frequent flyer saying, “Is this it? Is this labor?” I didn’t know it was OK and dandy to go after your due date.

I was very excited about the birth pool. My plan was to birth in water. Oh that tub was heavenly. It was a hard-sided Aqua Doula and the depth was amazing! I could go on and on about how it felt to be in there. Contractions slowed down so I ended up getting out so I could be hooked back up [to] the pit and that was kind of a trend… get hooked up, get them going and monitor, get unhooked, get back in the pool and relax. After some pushing in the water I ended up getting out and delivering him on land.

After two and a half hours of pushing, at just after midnight, , I met my little boy Kalel. He was 8 pounds, 2-1/2 ounces. Everyone seemed suprised at his size. I was so so happy! We have it on video and the first words out of my mouth are, “Oh yay! Now we can have another!” Of course everyone laughed but I was serious. I was a mom and I was hooked! Recovery was wonderful!

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SK: What changes did you make before your second was born? Did you go into that birth thinking that you would do things differently?

Amy: The one thing I really wanted to do differently was let my body and my baby work together to decide this baby’s birthday. I started to realize how important that is for me and for the process. I also drilled my husband about the fact that since epidural anesthesia was offered at this hospital I would probably at some point ask for it at the very end and his job was to talk me out of it. His job was to be strong when I didn’t have the strength to push on, or didn’t think I did — I believe my exact words were, “Don’t let me get drugs or I will kick you in the face!”

SK: Same question for your third.

Amy: During this pregnancy I became enveloped in the birth world. I needed to know things, I needed to learn things, I wanted to eat, sleep and breathe pregnancy and birth. I read many, many books, I spent time on the computer. I prayed a lot about this birth and this baby. My husband and I joked often about just “accidentally” having the baby ourselves but never could wrap our minds about it enough to follow through with it. I daydreamed about it. I daydreamed about having this baby in a tent by the lake even.

Home birth in Nebraska

SK: Is home birth in Nebraska legal?

Amy: Yes, home birth is legal in Nebraska, contrary to popular belief. Assistance by a certified nurse midwife during a home birth is Illegal. Certified professional midwives aren’t recognized in Nebraska. And physicians are barred from attending home births by the hospitals who hire them and set their limitations. But yes, home birth in and of itself is perfectly legal.

SK: When did you begin to consider the idea of an unassisted home birth?

Amy: We honestly considered it with our third child but just never could make up our minds to actually do it. After her birth I delved into finding people, especially people in my own little state that I could hound with every sort of question that ever crossed my mind. I wanted to hear stories of people who had done it. I read books. I met people in other states who had planned and carried out home births, specifically unassisted.

SK: Who did you tell about your plans?

Amy: Honestly very few people. We kept it on a need-to-know basis. I did tell my doctor that I planned to stay home as long as possible and if that meant the whole thing then so be it. I think he didn’t take me seriously. I think he rather thought I meant, “Well I’m going to stay home until I’m really, really dilated, not through pushing... with sort of a pipe dream and no preparations for actually staying home.”

Preparations and plans

SK: What preparations did you make in the months preceding his birth?

Amy: I did self prenatal care and then saw a doctor after 30 weeks of pregnancy when I knew exactly what we were doing. We had an ultrasound at that point. I ended up nabbing a newborn scale, and a stethoscope at a garage sale when we were in the beginning stages of planning for our home birth. I also got a birth kit. It included things like umbilical cord clamps, chux pads, measuring tape, some tinctures for hemorrhaging and such, just all sorts of things.

I did lots of research. I did a lot of looking into what do you do if this happens? What do you do if that happens? What constitutes a real emergency? What is normal, physiological birth so that I can tell if mine is deviating from the norm? I also borrowed a birthing pool from a friend who had a birth a couple months prior.

SK: Did you have a back-up plan in case of an emergency?

Amy: The ultimate back-up plan was “go in” — we lived four blocks from the hospital, with the idea of taking a bite out of my own placenta, cord, or membranes should bleeding arise. I also had the tinctures on hand. But like I said, the ultimate plan was always go in, that’s what hospitals are for — emergencies. I am in no way anti-hospital.

My perspective is that if the situation warrants it, I want a doctor who is available — not helping someone who doesn’t need help, or overtired because he spent all night with a mom who didn’t need his help. So I sought to be that person, to show him the same respect of not coming in and wasting his time unless it was necessary. I love them and they are good at what they do — I just don’t feel they need to do their thing until it’s necessary.

SK: How did you prepare yourself for recognizing an emergency?

Amy: I think it is instinctual as well as physiological. I think if you take time to listen to your body it will let you know if something is wrong. I feel like it’s important to know what normal is, or variations of normal so that you know what “not normal” is. I prayed a lot, I thought a lot, I daydreamed a lot. I also listened to Baby’s heartbeat with the stethoscope during labor. I also just have this huge deep-down belief that when you don’t mess with the process, it is less likely to go awry. We are intricately and wonderfully made and I believe that includes this process, the giving of life.

My main concern was hemorrhage. So I did a lot of reading about that. Most helpful were Dr. Michel Odent’s thoughts on the whole idea and just birth itself. That reassured me a lot. I didn’t want to just leave it with, “What do I do if it happens” — but even further how can I prevent it from happening?

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Tranden’s birth day

SK: What were your older kids doing during your labor?

Amy: They were wonderful. They fell asleep on the bed watching their movie while I labored in the tub nearby. My daughter actually woke up, got in, rubbed my back and poured water on me. Then was done, got out and went right back to sleep on the bed with her brothers. It could not have went any more smoothly! It was such peace of mind for me to know they were right where they should be — not off with someone else when such a huge event was happening in their lives, in their family.

SK: What tools did you use for pain management during labor?

Amy: I used a birth ball for a while, the pool was the big thing, and my husband did some counter pressure when I needed it. Mainly this time my comfort was in being left alone and having the lights very low and the warm temperature. My husband was always in the same room but for the most part left me alone, like I had asked.

SK: How big of a help was your husband?

Amy: He was amazing. Very hands off like I wanted and never second guessing. He was present but not in the way. Family birth was just what we needed.

SK: How did you know you were doing the right thing by having your baby at home, unassisted?

Amy: I prayed and prayed and prayed — this is not something you go into lightly. I could not imagine it any other way. It was what I need and what Tranden needed. I felt this still small voice saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” I feel like it is individual each and every time and each time deserves all the care in the world. I also feel like it’s important to know that just because it was right for this time does not mean that it will always be right for every birth. It just was and we knew it. And I’m very thankful for that.

We were also at a place in our lives where we felt like we needed to take full responsibility, that this was our birth and our baby and ultimately we would have to live with the choices we made whether it be another hospital birth or a family only home birth.

SK: Did you ever question your decision?

Amy: Not really. I think we did all of our real questioning during the previous pregnancy. This time was right. I did waver once in awhile... “What will friends and family think? How will our community react?” But that is when I had my husband reminding me of what I told him was important and the reasons we decided this was our best option. I also didn’t want other's opinions as well-meaning or fear based or wherever they came from to dictate how our baby was welcomed into this life.

SK: How did you know when it was time to push?

Amy: I checked myself during pregnancy and labor. Looking back I don’t feel that was necessary but at the time it’s what I did. Really, you will push when your body says push and your body isn’t going to lead you wrong. It’s kind of crass but like, well, how do you know when to push when you are having a bowel movement? Because it’s right there and you just do. If it’s not time, you won’t waste your effort trying to make it happen.

It just is another physiological process that works, this time you just get something way cuter out of it! I also know women who never feel the urge to push and the contractions do all the work. In all reality the baby is going to come out, whether you push or not. I think in some aspects it’s simpler than we make it out to be.

SK: What was your baby like when he was born? How did you feel?

Amy: He came out in the caul. It was funny because during transition, I just kept thinking, “Well, if the water breaks, then I’ll really know it’s time.” And then I’d check myself with, “It is working, you checked yourself, you know Baby is coming.” So he was born in the caul with his little hand up on his forehead, sunny side up. It was so neat. And I finally got my water birth. There was no me leaving that pool, that is for sure!

The bag broke as his shoulders emerged and I grabbed him right up. He was pink as can be. I remember his arms were flailing and he came out crying. He was raring to go. It was the most amazing feeling ever, and yes I thought that with each of my births but this one was so different. No one telling me how to feel or what to do or that something was inadequate. It was even better than I could have ever asked for and imagined! I remember the first thing my husband said was, “What is it? What is it?” And I said, “I don’t care.” I was just so excited to see my baby. Tranden Excalibur was born. He was 7 pounds, 9 ounces. And all of the kids were snoozin’ on the bed while he made his entrance.

SK: Were there any complications at all?

Amy: Nope. I believe it was the first time I had had a truly physiological birth, and an unmanaged third stage. The placenta plopped out within five minutes and we carried on with life.

SK: When did you have him checked over by a medical care professional, if you did at all?

Amy: I didn't have myself checked, but we took him in two weeks later. We were told by the clinic to wait until we had his birth certificate back. Really the only reason we took him in was because in Nebraska it is mandatory to have the PKU done, there are no waivers — religious or otherwise.

On to the next baby

SK: Now that you’re pregnant with your fifth child, what are your plans for this next birth?

Amy: As of right now we are planning to have a baby at home in front of our Christmas tree. I am so excited and feel so blessed that God would let me carry and birth another child. How do I get to be so lucky? It never ceases to be miraculous. I just hope the kids get to witness it this time.

SK: Do you have hopes that in the future, a midwife-assisted home birth will be legal in Nebraska?

Amy: Yes, I do. I think it will be a while but as of right now we are one of only two states that don’t allow midwives to attend home births so I do believe our time is coming.

SK: Is there anything being done to attempt to change the law? If so, what?

Amy: Nebraska Friends of Midwives is an organization attempting to help get laws changed. They are a grassroots group that is working hard to push Nebraska legislation in the right direction. They have been around for years and aren’t going anywhere, that is for sure.

SK: What would you say to a mom considering having an unassisted home birth?

Amy: Follow your heart, pray about it and find others who are on that same path. You would be surprised at how normal it is. It is definitely not a new idea, or a movement, as some people think. Know why you are doing it — at some time you will probably be asked to explain it to someone. Know your body and your baby are intelligent and you were made to do this! You can birth your baby with or without assistance.

More on home birth

Home birthing celebrities
Home birth: Is it right for you?
Why I chose home birth

Identify your child’s extreme behaviors

Children often go against what their parents say and ask of them, but when it starts to concern you — or affect your mood and family dynamics — how do you identify your child’s negative behaviors and what are the next steps?

When defiant behaviors are more than just a phase

Defiance and difficult behaviors are a natural part of adolescence, but there are signs and specific behaviors parents should pay attention to. Behavioral and disruptive disorders, like oppositional defiant disorder, are patterns of persistent negative behaviors with hostility and fall outside the normal range of adolescent development, according to The American Academy of Pediatrics’ HealthyChildren.org.

Could the foods your child eats cause bad behaviors? >>

Behavioral and disruptive disorders

Characteristics of oppositional defiant disorder include consistent pattern of disobedience and disrespect towards parents and authoritative figures along with more than four of the following, and for a minimum of six months:

• Consistent pattern of defiance, disobedience, belligerence and irritability
• Easily loses temper
• Frequently gets into arguments and fights
• Annoys others intentionally
• Blames others for mistakes or misconduct
• Always seems angry or resentful
• Often behaves vindictively or spitefully towards others

Oppositional defiant disorder can sometimes lead to more disruptive behavior, or conduct disorder, and without treatment it can present children with a less than ideal future. Signs of conduct disorder typically play out with verbal and physical aggression towards people and animals.

“The diagnosis is established when a child has committed three or more acts connected with this disorder within the past year, and one in the past six months.” — HealthyChidren.org.

The ADHD and defiant connection

“When ADHD is accompanied by oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and mood and anxiety disorders, these coexisting conditions can compound the behavioral challenges presented by children and adolescents with ADHD and can contribute to aggressive behaviors, poor tolerance for frustration, inflexibility, poor problem solving skills, heightened difficulty in complying with parents’ instructions and significant family conflict.” — HealthyChildren.org

Defiance can also show through in the form of a mood disorder with or without ADHD present. “The mood disorders most likely to be experienced by children with ADHD include dysthymic disorder, major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. While every child will occasionally experience discouragement and irritability, children with ADHD may exhibit these behaviors more than most."

The difference between bad behavior and ADHD >>

How to get help and the diagnosis process started

If you have a question about your child’s defiant or disruptive behavior, contact your family doctor to talk further about your child and to get the proper referrals for further evaluations, if needed. Appointments for a formal or full developmental evaluation can take months before your child may be seen. If you are overwhelmed by your child's behaviors while waiting for the evaluation process, talk to your child’s doctor or contact your local resource center for tips and ideas on how to effectively manage and deal with your child’s defiant behaviors and difficulties in the home.

Source: HealthyChildren.org

More on children and behaviors

Learn to recognize Sensory Processing Disorder symptoms
Is your preschooler on the autistic spectrum?
What you need to know about your child's behavior

Gwen Stefani

We love Gwen Stefani because she is such a hands-on mom to her two boys, Kingston and Zuma. This rockin’ mom is back to juggling motherhood with her career as No Doubt has dropped their first album in 10 years and just released the new single, “Settle Down.” Gwen often keeps her Twitter feed focused on her music, instead of her family life, tweeting:

“I keep hearing ‪#settledown‬ on the radio this is insane gx” she wrote.

From the looks of it, she has many A-list fans ready to jam out with her!

She retweeted several celebs who were singing her praises, including Rachel Zoe:  “Who else is rocking out to the new @nodoubt song, ‪#SettleDown‬? Obsessed!”

Check out how to copy Gwen's cool mom style here >>

Rachel Zoe

Speaking of Rachel Zoe, she always makes motherhood sound so fashionable and fun!

“Had the best date with Sky today…lunch, playground and toystore—AND he met a girl at the trains…such a flirt! xoRZ” Zoe tweeted about her son Skylar.

Giuliana Rancic

E! News host Giuliana Rancic and her husband, Bill Rancic, are expecting their first child via gestational surrogate this September — and she recently tweeted that she plans on banking her baby's cord blood.

“So thankful 4 all the fab baby shower gifts! Looking forward to banking w/ @CordBloodRgstry like my sister did!” Rancic tweeted, with a photo of her and Bill holding up the cord blood packet.

Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson tweeted the most adorable photo of 2-month-old Maxwell propped up on a gorgeous daybed surrounded by fluffy pillows and flowers with the caption, "LIfe." It sounds like a nice life, to me!

Simpson, who is reportedly working on shedding over 50 pounds with Weight Watchers, has started getting in shape.

“Just bought all the girls in my @weightwatchers group pedometers to track their steps. 10,000 steps a day = 5 miles! Let's step it up!" she wrote on Twitter.

Victoria Beckham

“Fun day strawberry picking in the rain with the boys and Harper. Love being in London!” tweeted Victoria Beckham.

And who knew Posh Spice did laundry?

“Mummy tip.....Baby Dreft and Vanish stain remover, use together to remove HUGE strawberry stains!!!!” she wrote.

Jenny McCarthy

Jenny McCarthy announced via Twitter that she is making a big move!

“After 20 yrs I'm moving back to chgo. Thanks LA. Ill be back to work here but my heart is in chgo. ‪#happychicagogirl,” she wrote.

She also tweeted about the death of her son Asher’s grandpa:  “Evans grandpa died yesterday. William Asher. Best known 4 director of I Love Lucy and Bewitched. He was sweetest man ever and will b missed.”

McCarthy wrote a bestselling pregnancy book called Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth about Pregnancy and Childbirth — and it sounds like she has at least one celeb fan!

“If it wasn't for your book, I wouldn't have rocked being pregnant! i love your amazing self,” Snooki tweeted to Jenny McCarthy.

Nicole Richie

Don’t be jealous, but Nicole Richie got to hang with The Wiggles.

“PHOTO: Jumping on a tour bus & hittin' the road with The Wiggles! Hot Potato Hot Potato!,” Richie tweeted, with a link to a photo of her with the famous children’s group.

Mariah Carey

As the mother of twins , Mariah Carey has learned the fine art of multi-tasking. "Writing lyrics in the car on the way to see Dem Babies waking up," she tweeted.

Check out more fun, wacky and weird celebrity tweets here >>

Photos: WENN

Christie Rampone

Team USA Soccer

The 2012 London Games will be the fourth Olympics for Christie Rampone. Rampone has three Olympic medals — silver in 2000 and gold in both 2004 and 2008. Like every mom, Rampone aims to balance her career and her family the best she can.

"I try not [to] control everything and focus more on the important things," says Rampone. "I do my best to be there for my daughters, always trying to stay ahead of what needs to be done. And I work with our fitness coach, Dawn Scott, to make sure I am going in the right direction with my training and diet. At the end of the day, I cannot force things with my kids or my training for the Olympics. I do the best I can with both and try to prioritize so the things that truly matter are covered. Whether I am training or being a mom, my focus is always 100 percent. I stay in the moment, always. Having an equal balance with both motherhood and the U.S. Women’s Olympic Football Team helps me as a mother and being a captain."

Even as a world class athlete, Rampone has some of the same concerns of many other moms.

"My [hang-up] has always been my butt and my thighs. But I’m more proud of my body since having kids. This is what I look like and I’m comfortable with it. I’m not a perfect shape, but I’m fit and healthy, so I should be proud of it."

Read about how to throw a 2012 Olympic party for kids >>

Next up: Meet Olympian and mom, Kerri Walsh >>

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Kerri Walsh

Team USA Volleyball

Kerri Walsh is one of the most famous volleyball players in the world. The 2012 Summer Games are the fourth Olympics for Walsh, who has two gold medals. Walsh isn't just an Olympian — she's also a mother of two.

"I have realized that I need a lot more help — it takes a village. Our boys are really reasonable and they travel the world like champs. My husband is also an amazing husband and father. This helps immensely to keep our family close. I want to teach my kids to chase their dreams and they can learn so much by being vulnerable and challenging themselves. Being a mother was my ultimate dream and being able to go after my third gold medal with them behind me is the best feeling in the world. Pampers [Walsh is sponsored by the company] is such a beautiful brand and they make babies and families lives more special and wonderful. My partnership is a family partnership which is so special to me; it’s not just me anymore, I am a working mom. The spirit of play of my children is just beautiful."

Check out these free Olympics printables for kids >>

Next up: Meet Olympian and mom, LaShinda Demus >>

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LaShinda Demus

Team USA Track and Field

LaShinda Demus is the three-time USA Outdoor 400m hurdles champion — and she's also a mother of twins.

"This is by far one of the most exciting and proudest moments in my life," says Demus. "They are now 5 years old and very protective of their mother!"

Demus was an Olympian in 2004, gave birth to her boys in June 2007 and is now back at the Olympics this summer.

"I'm still trying to figure out what's the best solution for balancing motherhood and training, and I always come up with the same answer," says Demus. "You have to start by having a husband that's on the same page and willing to split the load."

Read about what your kids can learn from the Olympics >>

For photos, videos, and all-things-Olympics, visit www.teamusa.org or www.NBCOlympics.com.

Images: Mitchell Haaseth, NBC Olympics

Watch this video to see members of Team USA talk about their kids and about taking part in the London 2012 Olympics.

Nobody ever said motherhood was an easy job, but some days can be tougher than others. If you find yourself feeling stretched too thin, try some of our sanity-saving tips to rejuvenate and de-stress. Remember, no one’s happy when Mama’s not happy!

Get your namaste on

Since ancient times, people have harnessed the power of yoga to promote positive thinking, reduce stress and foster tranquility. Regular yoga practice has been proven to lower blood pressure and decrease stress hormone levels naturally. Don’t have time to join a gym? Try a mommy-and-me yoga DVD and work out on your own schedule with your baby.

Yoga for moms: The perfect stress relief >>

Make some mom friends

When you barely have time to get a shower or brush your teeth without tiny people screaming in the background, finding time for friends can feel like too much to ask. But women thrive on relationships and the validation of close friends. “When women get stressed, our instinct is often to find a friend and talk things through,” says Joan Borysenko, author of Inner Peace for Busy Women. “Both touch and talk release the hormone oxytocin, which has a profoundly calming effect on your mind and body.” Finding mom friends with kids the same age as your own can be the perfect way to add some adult time into your daily schedule. Kids play, moms chat and everyone comes home happy!

Why all moms need good mom friends >>

Discover five-minute miracles

When you are a parent to small children, the years go by fast but the days can be oh-so-long. Feeling overwhelmed? Ditch the dishes and give yourself a quick five-minute pick-me-up.

Sometimes all it really takes is a five-minute miracle to help you kick back, take a deep breath and relax.

Take a mother’s day out

No matter how savvy you are about fitting mommy-and-me exercise, momversation, five-minute miracles and other stress-reducers into your daily life, there is simply no substitute for an occasional mom's day out. It is easy to get so wrapped up in taking care of others that we often forget to care for ourselves. Whether you choose to hire a babysitter, a mother's helper or enroll the kiddos in a regular mother’s day out program a couple times a week, remember that nurturing your own needs is a gift you can give the whole family.

Childcare solutions: What is a mother's helper? >>

More stress relief for moms

How to de-stress your stressed mom life
Mommy meltdowns: Make it up to the kids
How to sneak in a little me-time

Young adult literature is flying off the shelves lately, and it’s not due to a sudden surge in the teen population. Adults who aren’t exactly young are indulging in books written for teen readers. Series like The Hunger Games and the Harry Potter books brought widespread attention to YA books and gave parents the opportunity to enjoy what teens were reading. Whether you have a teen or not, here are six YA books to check out this summer.

Girl Unmoored

Author: Jennifer Gooch Hummer

Age: 12 and up

Price: $12

Jennifer Gooch Hummer's Girl Unmoored has been Judy Blume's classic 1970 novel, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, due to the engaging way it tackles tough issues such as death, grief and infidelity. This book is smart, funny and quirky. It's also a poignant coming-of-age story that continues to enjoy strong cross-over appeal. Loved by young adults, those who came of age in the 1980s and anyone looking for a good read, this book should definitely be on your must-read list.

Bonus: For this weekend only, July 21 and 22, the ebook of Girl Unmoored will be *FREE* wherever ebooks are sold! You can get the free ebook on your Kindle or for your NOOK.

Author: Elizabeth E. Wein

Age: 14 and up

Price: $11

Since its publication in May, Code Name Verity has received glowing reviews. If you’re looking for an alternative to paranormal romance, this riveting historical drama is for you. Featuring strong female leads and friendship, it’s also a great book to share with your teen daughter. Code Name Verity follows the story of a young spy captured in Nazi-occupied France. She tells her own story to avoid horrific execution.

Author: Veronica Roth

Age: 14 and up

Price: $10

Veronica Roth’s dystopian series begins with Divergent. The follow up, Insurgent, was released this summer and has already blown up with rave reviews. Taking place in a broken, futuristic Chicago, this series follows a young girl through the aftermath of a difficult choice she must make when she turns sixteen. Popular with teens and adults, Divergent is a thriller with an element of romance.

Author: Sarah Rees Brennan

Age: 14 and up

Price: $10

If your teen isn’t interested in reading about female protagonists, it may be harder to find popular YA books. The Demon’s Lexicon is the first of a series of books that follow two brothers through a paranormal world of demons and magic. This urban fantasy series has a wide appeal and a buddy-adventure theme reminiscent of the popular television series, Supernatural.

Join the SheKnows Book Club >>

Graceling

Author: Kristin Cashore

Age: 14 and up

Price: $10

Published a few years ago, Graceling is the introduction to Kristin Cashore’s fascinating world where certain individuals are given a special talent called a Grace. Graced with the ability to fight, Katsa is forced to live as a killer. If you’re looking for a series to get swept away by, Graceling is the way to go. Follow-ups Fire and Bitterblue take you deeper into the unique world crafted by Cashore. Each features a strong female heroine.

Grave Mercy: His Fair Assassin

Author: Robin LaFevers

Age: 14 and up

Price: $11

Following the popular theme of girls who can kick some major butt, Grave Mercy is the first book in a series. Ismae escapes an arranged marriage and becomes an assassin. This romantic adventure mixes careful history with fanciful elements, for a great alternative to fantasy worlds and contemporary romances. Perfect for ages 14 and up, this is one you might need two copies of unless you can put up with sharing with your teen.

Find books for a girls' getaway >>

More books for moms

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5 Books to read this year that you might have missed from last year
New twists on classics

This Southern California metropolis is known for family-friendly fun, especially when you're looking for a Disneyland resort-style experience without blowing your summer vacation budget. Both the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, formerly known as the Wild Animal Park, promise a full day of fun at each location. Then, hit up Sea World San Diego for sea-faring creatures and a summer-long fireworks show nightly. And, be sure to head over to nearby Legoland for a more amusement park-style experience — princesses included.

Summer fireworks and baseball games go hand in hand, so take your family's love of both on the road with a vacation idea that is sure to be a blast. However, you'll first want to check with your favorite baseball parks, like Great American Ball Park, to ensure that they have summer fireworks in effect, as not all of your favorite fields may boast a sky-lighting show. While you're there, catch a behind-the-scenes tour of each baseball field before taking in the ball game to give your kiddos a new understanding of America's favorite pastime.

Before you hit the road, pack up these tips for road trips with kids >>

Walt Disney World isn't the only family-friendly vacation destination in the sunny state of Florida — when traveling with kids other can't-miss theme parks offer a vacation full of fun. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay combines exotic animals and roller thrills into one theme park. Then, cool off at Adventure Island water park, where slides, a rambling river, waterfalls and more offer fun for the entire family. Or, snuggle up at the Universal Orlando Resort with close access to Universal Studios — with a daily movie character parade — and Universal's Islands of Adventure theme parks for movie-sized adventures.

Cruise ships aren't reserved for your golden years; tons of big-named cruise lines offer families traveling with kids a vacation experience you can't find on shore. Norwegian Cruise Line boasts a Nickelodeon at Sea encounter, complete with slime and SpongeBob SquarePants. Or, come aboard Royal Caribbean for the DreamWorks experience and cruise alongside the characters from Madagascar and Shrek. However, those hankering for a little time with the famous mouse himself can still hop aboard the Disney Cruise Line, complete with character experiences, live shows and tons of Disney-themed fun without ever stepping foot in Disneyland.

Baby on board! Taking baby or toddler on a cruise? Check out tips for smooth sailing >>

The Caribbean is well-known for its all-inclusive resorts, ranging in activities and amenities for everyone in your family when you know where to look. One comprehensive resort to consider when traveling with kids is the Harborside Resort at Atlantis which lays claim to kids' clubs, aquariums, water parks, a pirate museum and more. Or, check out the family-friendly Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort boasting a DJ academy, aquatic playground and tons of activities featuring Sesame Street characters.

While you don't have to go to Walt Disney World to have a family-friendly vacation, call ahead to your destination to let them know you're traveling with kids; the concierge may have invaluable tips or money-saving discounts that you won't find online. With a little creativity when planning the perfect family vacation, ideas that go beyond Disneyland will help you create your own happiest place on earth without having to drag your kids down Main Street!

Check out more family vacation tips

Sneak in family exercise on vacation
Must-have gadgets for family vacations
Cheap family vacations

Moms at work

A message to the new Yahoo! CEO

Undoubtedly you have heard all the chatter online about new Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer. A long-time executive for Google, she's the youngest CEO of a Fortune 500 company... and she's pregnant.

While working moms navigate compromises every single day after giving birth, the time when a woman first becomes a mom is uniquely special. I have personally taken two maternity leaves, one while co-heading the Mergers & Acquisitions group for IAC and one while running Urbanspoon, Citysearch and Insider Pages, a collection of consumer internet businesses that serve 50 million unique users a month and employ about 100 people.

When I saw my Facebook newsfeed alight with lively celebration of Marissa Mayer, I was similarly ecstatic both because she is a young, talented woman and because she announced her pregnancy on the same day as the Yahoo CEO news. As the post below notes, she is giving Yahoo a whole new meaning for women looking for relatable, or at least inspiring, role models.

Out of these public and private media Marissa celebrations, it seems a new zeitgeist is developing around the importance of women with topics as diverse as the obvious — Influential Women in Silicon Valley — to the should-be obvious — Why Women Matter Online.

She joins the ranks of the all-too-limited women running Fortune 500 companies. According to Catalyst, a NYC nonprofit that researches women's issues, Marissa becomes the record 20th female CEO of Fortune 500 companies.

Whether Marissa likes it or not, the pregnancy news was truly the icing on an already great success story.

Women are still digesting how to have an impact after the recent Anne-Marie Slaughter article. Many were depressed by the inertia of the industries in which they work or hope to work. I for one was inspired, because as a thirty-something woman in an executive position, I felt I could start making a difference. I was left asking questions such as, ”What if every woman moved by this article came up with structural improvements for the world they influence?” and, ”Are there small changes to norms and scheduling that could go a long way in each of my talented friends’ professions?”

Whether Marissa realizes it or not, the way she treats maternity leave will serve as an example or an anti-example for all women looking for a path, for those women who do not want "to gap" their ambition, but also want to enjoy being a parent.

To be sure, Marissa is not a typical woman and her dilemma is not an easy one. But, I am a big believer that macro change is most likely to have an impact by starting at the top, with the most visible examples, however unusual the circumstances. The good news is that gender diversity is tied to economic results.

McKinsey put out a 2010 study called Women Matter that suggests companies that have women most strongly represented on the board or senior positions perform the best. McKinsey looked at European companies across six countries, comparing the performance of companies that fell into the top-quartile in terms of share of women in executive committee roles to companies with all-male executive committees. Companies with the highest share of women outperform companies with no women when looking at both return on equity and operating margin.

Figuring out how to strike a balance was a struggle for each. While I was out, there were mistakes made, but it also gave my direct reports a chance to execute against a plan we put in place prior. Maternity leave creates opportunity for senior leaders to manage their business through time-lapse photography. After a limited time of light management it is much easier to tell who moved through walls to execute and who did not. As I was struggling to determine the best course for me, my family and my businesses, I received unsolicited advice from many women who appreciated or regretted the way they took their leave. Much of the regret advice came with warnings such as "She was a hard worker" never graces anyone's gravestone.

With the benefit of time and distance, my unsolicited advice to Marissa: Take a real maternity leave of some variety! Or at the very least, do not downplay its importance. Celebrate your role as the first ever pregnant CEO of a Fortune 500 company. While Yahoo may end up as the greatest internet turnaround of all time or it may limp along, 90 days will not ultimately determine its outcome. It will change you and may even make you better with the rare opportunity to gain perspective from the side of a crib.

Specifically, put together 12 week plans with clear defined metrics for each of your teams while you are on leave. Create rules by which your team should reach out to you and you will respond to emails. For example, “timely” goes for topics such as a decision around a critical partnership that may lock you up in exclusivity for a year. Generally speaking, any major decision that cannot be changed when you return should be run by you. Focus your time and attention on the big needle movers — key hires and key strategy decisions. If your brain has to work well early in the morning, meet your friend, the coffee pot, or ask your husband to take the nighttime feedings.

Marissa, you have an opportunity to create an even greater legacy to women and men everywhere by building a culture that finds the balance between business achievement and emotional satisfaction. Yahoo is your company. You are a rock star. Do not be afraid to be different and change the world. I look forward to reading your story to my grandkids someday.

Kara Nortman is the senior vice president, consumer businesses for CityGrid Media, an IAC owned online media company that connects web and mobile publishers with local advertising organizations by linking them through CityGrid®, its local content and advertising network.

More about successful women

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Nicole Lapin's tips on being young and successful
Career women: Mentor your way to success

Don't let your kids catch you reading this article! Real moms tell us about the Tooth Fairy traditions at their home.

Tooth Fairy traditions from real families

How much does she bring, does she bring more for certain teeth, does she bring money or a prize and what to do if she accidentally falls asleep watching Downton Abbey and forgets to put the money under the pillow .

World traveling tooth fairies

Melody Goeken says, “We have one son who is now 16. The tooth fairy always brought some sort of toy, such as a Batman action figure, and coins/money from other countries. The poor fairy travels all over the world and can't always get her currency right! The morning after we look at the money and see where it is from and go to the internet to see what they are worth and find some details about the country.”

She continues, “Luckily we have many friends who travel all over the world and they would bring us currency to stockpile for the next tooth. Our most unique is an Iraqi dinar!”

Barb Davis-Pyles, mom of two, calls her tooth fairy a “geography geek,” saying, “she always leaves coins from around the world for each lost tooth. That way, the next day we get to explore the location she has obviously flown in from — as in, ‘Oh wow! A kid from the Dominican Republic must have lost a tooth right before you did!’”

Find out: Should money be a reward? >>

Grandparent rates trump going rates

Eileen Zyko Wolter says her son lucked out when he lost his second tooth at his grandparent's house. “For my older son we decided the first tooth got $10 and the next ones $5 each. Of course he lost his second tooth while staying at his grandparent's who gave him $10!”

More on the tooth fairy and baby teeth

How much does the tooth fairy pay?
Liar, liar! Top 10 lies moms tell
When will my child lose baby teeth?

You know your mom blog stands out, but how do you get the brands at BlogHer 2012 to know it too? Here's how to get your blog noticed and make a good first impression.

Be a mom blog standout

Whether you are heading to BlogHer for the first time, or you are a seasoned conference veteran, BlogHer can be an overwhelming experience — or a very fruitful one. Wondering how to get your blog noticed? The key is to set your goals before you go, plan and be ready. And if one of those goals is to connect your mom blog with brands , then you can. Start now.

Reach out before the conference

Now’s the time to reach out to your contacts at brands and public relations companies to let them know you’d love to chat at BlogHer 2012 if they are attending. “Let us know you’ll be there and find out if we’re planning to attend. If we haven’t worked together before, tell us a little about yourself and your blog,” says Erin Olson, director of client services for The Motherhood.

Olson suggests checking for contact information on company websites or to make contact through Twitter and Facebook.  “A few bloggers we work with have emailed us their cell phone numbers and several dates and times during which they would be available to meet briefly at BlogHer, which is a great way to build relationships.”

Prepare your elevator pitch

Do you have an elevator pitch? This concise statement of who you are, what your mom blog is about and what you want is key for when you are meeting people from brands and PR companies when you want to make a good first impression. “Be confident in yourself and what you have to offer,” says Chelsea, who blogs at Someday I'll Learn.

Make sure you're specific too. "When we ask what you blog about or what kinds of projects you like to work on, there is no more forgettable answer than 'I do a little bit of everything,'" says Olson. "It’s much better to say, for example, 'I love cooking and creating recipes, I’m a great photographer, and I have a background as a teacher, so I’m an education expert as well.' When a client approaches us and asks us to connect them with talented photographers who know a lot about education, you become a shoo-in for the blog campaign."

More on blog conferences

BlogHer Conference: A networking guide for new bloggers
How to turn your blog into a business
Why it's important to attend blog conferences

After the mass shooting at a Colorado movie theater during a midnight premiere of Dark Knight Rises, the newest Batman film series installment, you may be wondering how much detail to share with your child -- if any at all.

Ease your child's fears and worries

Read on for helpful information on how to talk to your kids about violence and how they can feel safe at the movies.

People around the world woke up to news of the worst sort on Friday morning -- at a midnight showing of the highly-anticipated The Dark Knight Rises at a theater in Aurora, Colorado, a gunman shot dozens of people, killing at least 12 and wounding many more, including children. As shock spread throughout our communities, parents may wonder how to talk with their kids about this terrible event.

“All families feel the fear and apprehension created by these tragic circumstances,” said National PTA President Betsy Landers. “We all share in the sense of loss and hurt.” PTA has developed resources for parents on how to handle questions, thoughts and feelings after a tragedy such as this one. Here are a few suggestions.

Don’t shield your children from the story, but you don’t have to go into specific details about the shooting with younger children, which may frighten them even further. Feel free to express your feelings of sadness or anger -- it’s healthy for children to see the adults in their lives feel serious emotions.

The story continues to unfold, but be there for your children -- they need adult guidance, honesty and reassurance in times of uncertainty and tragedy.

More on feelings and emotions

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How to help kids manage their emotions
Explaining world tragedy to children

Haba Magica clutching toy

This fun toy from Haba will delight your little one. Made in Germany from wood from sustainable forests and colored with non-toxic water-based stain, you’ll feel good about your baby playing with this colorful toy.

Price: $12

Skwish Color Burst

This colorful web of rods, beads and balls is connected by a flexible cord that allows your baby to squish, stretch and grab to her heart’s content. Your little one will love this eye-catching toy.

Price: $18

Don't miss these learning baby toys to boost brain power >> 

P'kolino puzzle stacker

This fun stacking toy helps develop your toddler’s emerging fine motor skills. The easy-to-grip rings stack onto the pole, offering your little one a fun puzzle challenge. Made of rubber wood, this toy is both eco-friendly and durable.

Price: $20

Classic alphabet blocks

Each of these classic hand-crafted blocks feature an animal illustration, a number and four letters. Whether stacked to make a tower or laid out in rows, these blocks allow for hours of happy play and fine motor skill practice for your toddler.

Price: $36

Haba Rainbow Whirls pegging game

Pegs and rings made from sustainable German forests come together in this colorful game. Your little one will love experimenting with colors and patterns.

Price: $31

P'kolino extra jumbo triangular crayons

Kids and crayons go hand in hand. These simple, vibrant crayons have no fussy paper wrappers, won’t roll away and are perfectly oversized and shaped for toddler hands.

Price: $7

Here's our list of top educational toys for toddlers >>

Haba Technics - Basic vehicles set

This fun vehicle set includes 26 uniquely shaped and colored blocks that encourage your preschooler to push his imagination to the limit. This fun set works with other Haba sets, too, so expansion is simple.

Price: $63

Melissa & Doug lacing beads

Encourage your preschooler’s creativity with these brightly-colored beads and laces from Melissa & Doug. Planning out their patterns and lacing up the beads will challenge your little one’s mind and hands.

Price: $10

Beleduc Your Body - 5 layer puzzle

Curious kids will love this unique 28-piece puzzle. It is comprised of five layers, each of which features bones, muscles, organs, skin and clothing to complete the little girl. This puzzle earned the Child's Best Toys Of The Year Award.

Price: $22

Creativity For Kids My First Scissors kit

These safe, simple scissors are ergonomically designed for both left and right little hands and offer preschoolers the chance to practice their fine motor skills with simple but fun cutting. This kit includes a glue stick and wiggly eyes too.

Price: $16

More educational play

5 Ways to build fine motor skills in kids
Educational alternatives to annoying toys
Are parents really taking the “fun out of toys?” 

The Great Nurse-In

August 4: Save the date

A peaceful nurse-in will be taking place August 4 on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building to raise breastfeeding awareness as well as support and empower nursing moms.

Read on to learn about what prompted the nurse-in and how to join in.

Mark your calendars — on August 4, breastfeeding moms and their supporters will descend upon the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building for a peaceful nurse-in. In the Washington, DC area? This is an excellent opportunity to help raise breastfeeding awareness.

The origins

The Great Nurse-In was prompted by a number of individual mothers who have been harassed or embarrassed for breastfeeding their babies in public . While most publicized breastfeeding-in-public stories resulted in local nurse-ins, Rachel Papantonakis, founder and lead organizer of the Great Nurse-In, wanted to do something on a larger scale.

“While the events planned in response to many of these individual incidents have their merits, I thought having a proactive, positive event would also help the cause, where we're promoting public breastfeeding as a whole,” she told us. “Our goal is to empower and support current and future nursing mothers, and to educate and engage non-nursers. We aim to remove the social stigma of public nursing so that all families can make the feeding decisions that work best for them without the fear of public scrutiny.“

Breastfeeding obstacles

Mothers face countless obstacles that their grandmothers may not have faced, especially issues surrounding nursing in public. “We hear that we should exclusively breastfeed until 6 months and then nurse until at least a year as solids are introduced, but since the United States, in general, has woeful maternity leave policies, we have to be away from our babies far too soon, which can cause strains on nursing relationships, work dynamics and other aspects of our lives,” Rachel said. “Somehow, particularly in the United States, it became socially unacceptable to feed our babies the way our bodies were made to do it.”

Aspirations

Rachel shares the goals of many breastfeeding advocates — that a federal law be enacted that makes provisions for workplace standards for breastfeeding and pumping, improved maternity leave, public breastfeeding protection with an enforcement provision and breastfeeding education funding.

“By doing the Great Nurse-In, we're showing other moms that it can be done, teaching children that this is what our bodies were made to do, and making it a normal sight for non-nursers so that it will be a non-issue in the future,” she explained.

More on breastfeeding in public

Is breastfeeding in a military uniform taboo?
Breastfeeding a toddler and conquering challenges
Target experiences nationwide nurse-in

Life has changed so much since graduation that many days I go to bed having only read a few articles, a blog post or two and a handful of Fancy Nancy books all day.

Why reading is important

I’ve missed reading, but haven’t been able to find enough time to get lost in a book. Books require commitment… once you open a good book, there’s no putting it down or getting it out of your mind until you finish it.

Reading transports us, introduces us to new ideas, both confirms and challenges our beliefs and helps us to make sense of the world around us.

In Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, Anne Lamott writes about this idea far more eloquently than I ever could: “For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.”

Don't miss our interview with Marie Tillman, author of the poignant memoir, The Letter >>

Making time for reading

I wrote last week about my commitment to slowing down, leading a simpler life and savoring the small moments more. As part of that promise, I put reading on my list of ways in which I would recenter my life and find more happiness in the everyday.

Over the past week, I read The Arrivals, by Meg Mitchell Moore, which enveloped me in a Vermont home in the middle of summer, with a family that grappled with the meaning of family and redefined how it viewed parenthood. I closed the book with a better understanding of myself, which for me, is one of the most amazing rewards that come from reading.

More hot summer reads >>

And now I’ve moved on to Elevate the Everyday: A Photographic Guide to Picturing Motherhood, by the brilliant photographer and talented storyteller Tracey Clark, and I’m finding it difficult to do anything but devour it from beginning to end. Her words and photos have pulled me in and I’m happy to be lost between the covers. I love that this book is pushing me to see my world through a different lens.

Allowing myself time to read

Now that I’ve given myself permission to just sit and read — to lose myself in those moments — I’m feeling more like myself.

And I refuse to apologize for the time I’m stealing to spend reading.

So, as I near the end of Elevate the Everyday, I’m eager to find my next book. If you’ve read something lately that you’d recommend, please leave the title in the comments so I can keep my momentum!

More on reading

Red hot memoir of the month: Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
Mom Blogger Face-off: Have you read Fifty Shades of Grey?
Mommy time: Escape with these good books

The Quinny Zapp Xtra is standing out this summer. With a modern and ultra-sleek design, this compact stroller goes with you anywhere, anytime and offers a ton of great features for your growing child. The Zapp Xtra is a great travel system for parents and children with an urban lifestyle.

Price: $300
Age and weight range: 6 months to 50 pounds

Features:

• Lightweight, compact 2-piece fold.
• Forward or rear facing full-size seat with recline.
• Infant car seat adapters included for the Maxi-Cosi Mico for use from birth.

The Quinny Moodd provides parents with a complete stroller mixed with comfort, style and a smooth ride. The Moodd is literally poetry in motion with its sleek design and modern style built-in from the top of the handle bar to the bottom of the wheels. With one push of a button, the Moodd unfolds automatically within seconds and it's ready to go wherever your life takes you – and in style.

Price: $700
Age and weight range: 6 months to 50 pounds

Features:

• Forward or rear facing seat with one-hand recline.
• Infant car seat adapters included for the Maxi-Cosi Mico for use from birth.
• Discrete and flexible UV sun canopy that blends with the style of the stroller.

When you’re spending a lot of time outdoors, you need a stroller that can handle it all. The eco-friendly Orbit Baby Stroller G2 can handle the bumps on the trails, the uneven grass at the park and everything in between with the innovative QuadShock feature. Speaking of handling it all, as the world’s first fully adaptable and interchangeable stroller, the Orbit Baby stroller chassis accommodates the Stroller Seat G2, Orbit Baby Infant Car Seat and Toddler Car Seat G2 making it the ideal choice for summer travel, as well as casual strolling with the family.

Price: $780
Age and weight range: Birth to 45 pounds

Features:

• 3DRotation allows parents to rotate and recline the seat in one fluid motion while in the forward-facing, rear-facing, upright or reclined position.
• Large, full coverage UV sunshade with Paparazzi Shield extension.
• One-handed adjustable footrest, handlebar height and chassis fold with automatic lock.

When purchased as a travel system with the Summer Infant Prodigy infant car seat, this do-it-all stroller has everything parents and babies need for summer strolling and beyond. With elliptical shaped tubing and high-end fashions, this stylish and techie stroller is designed to grow with your child.

Price: $330
Age and weight range: Birth to 50 pounds

Features:

• One-handed, freestanding fold.
• Fully adjustable canopy with clear peek-a-boo window.
• 3-position adjustable handle and extra large storage basket for comfort and ease.

The Valco Baby Zee is a lightweight stroller with amazing maneuverability and practical features. The sleek style, mixed with the superb maneuverability, makes strolling fun, stylish and practical. And if the summer sun is too bright, extend the canopy to fully cover and protect baby while out and about.

Price: $330
Age and weight range: Birth to 45 pounds

Features:

• Rear-wheel suspension and lightweight design make for an easy and comfortable ride.
• Adjustable footrest and one-touch infinite recline makes for comfortable sleep while on-the-go.
• Large storage basket is easily accessible.

More new baby gear for 2012 >>

Next up: The summer's hottest car seats >>

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As one of the lightest premium infant car seats, the Maxi-Cosi Mico makes it easy to move through your day. The Mico easily adapts to Maxi-Cosi and Quinny strollers but has the ability to adapt with other strollers as well -- with a separate infant car seat adapter.

Price: $190
Weight range: 5 – 22 pounds
Height range: 19 – 29 inches

Features:

• Integrated, adjustable sun canopy is easy to store.
• Includes Cozi-Dozi insert for smaller babies.
• Ergonomic and adjustable carry handle and built-in side impact protection.

Expert potty training tips

Is it better to have a potty seat in the family room or the bathroom? Better to use the big toilet or a little toilet? Better to initiate or let your child ask to nix the diapers? Pediatricians and potty experts offer their scoop on how to potty train with less mess and less stress.

5 Potty training must-knows

Learning to use the potty is a huge step in your toddler’s life — and your own. It may seem like a simple process… after all, you just poop and pee in the toilet, right?

There are a lot of options and circumstances though, and each kiddo is unique on how and when to go diaper free. Here are five things every parent should know before their potty adventure begins.

Learning to use the potty is a skill that must be worked on and mastered over a period of time, and don’t expect immediate results. “First, Baby has to be aware of the pressure sensations of his bowel and bladder,” writes Dr. William Sears, pediatrician and author of over 30 childcare books. “Then he must make the connection between these sensations and what's happening inside his body. Next he learns to respond to these urges by running to the potty, where he must know how to remove his clothes, how to situate himself comfortably on this new kind of seat and how to hold his urges until all systems are go. With all these steps, it's no wonder many babies are still in diapers well into the third year.”

Don’t let your emotions undermine the process. Letting your frustration, anger or anxiety show to your child can have a detrimental effect on his progress. Take a step back from a potty situation that is rapidly spiraling downward and re-evaluate. Strive to maintain a neutral expression if you aren’t feeling chipper and positive. “The most important tip I give to parents is that they must relax in the presence of their child,” shared Bill Corbett, producer and host of the cable TV show for parents, The Parenting Show. “If a toddler detects even the smallest amount of stress or worry, it could freak them out over learning to eliminate, which is a huge milestone in life for them.”

Susan Glaser, co-author of Who’s the Boss: Moving Families from Conflict to Collaboration, urges parents to let their child shoulder the responsibility for learning to use the potty — and not the other way around. “Children of potty mastery age are torn between wanting to be independent and wanting to remain a baby,” she explained. “Using a method which helps a child become the ‘boss of his body’ increases a child’s sense of self-worth — as well as being a highly effective way of getting the pee and poop in the right place! Rewards are not external treats but rather arise from the pride a child feels when he has used the potty.”

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for potty seats. Some toddlers prefer small, stand-alone potties, while others do better with the big toilet. And there are even more variations — some prefer to poop in a little potty and pee on the big one. She also may appreciate a potty seat nearby, at least until she has mastered holding it for longer periods of time. Go with your little one’s flow. You might think about purchasing a small, foldable potty seat for your bag for potty time when you’re out — your child may prefer not dangling over a big toilet at Target.

Keeping the pressure off your little one is of utmost importance. Calmly explain to your little one that if she doesn’t use the potty then she may make a mess in her clothing or on the floor and let her understand the natural consequences of not making it to the potty. “Parents often find themselves torn between two conflicting feelings: They want their child to use the toilet but they are fearful of doing something that will cause psychological damage,” said Susan. “They can end up first bribing, then nagging and possibly threatening, which makes both the parent and child feel awful.”

Keep your timetable open, adapt your environment to suit your child and make the potty training experience a happy one instead of falling into the trap of negative feelings, irritation and shame. Your child won’t go to kindergarten in diapers, so take heart — you will get through this.

More on potty training

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Potty training a toddler

Everyday craft supplies found in the home

Many crafting supplies can be found around the home. In addition to your trash and recycling bins, create a crafting bin and start collecting items around your home as they appear and teach your children about the art of reusing. Suddenly an empty toilet paper roll, empty tissue box, cardboard boxes and scrap paper all have a new purpose and can be used for fun and simple crafting at home.

Things found around the home to keep for art projects:

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Essential craft supplies to keep on hand for kids

There are easy to find and inexpensive craft supplies that can be used many times over and for multiple arts and crafts projects with kids. Take this list with you next time you’re out and about to stock your craft closet or drawer with crafting must-haves.

• Paint: Paints can be used on paper and with paintbrushes, sticks, marbles, bubble wrap or fingers.

• Wooden sticks: Wooden sticks make a great addition to puppets, stick buildings and fake flowers.

• Beads: Use beads to make homemade jewelry or to decorate different creations.

• Craft glue: Glue is a staple item when it comes to crafting with kids.

• Drawing paper: Every artist needs a place to sketch and draw before creating a masterpiece.

• Markers and crayons: Bring some color to the paper, your puppets and play houses with a wide variety of colored markers and crayons.

• Kid-friendly scissors: Scissors allow a child's imagination to run wild. Create grass by cutting slits in green paper and a sail for your wooden stick boat by cutting a triangle. Just make sure the scissors are out of a young child's reach for safety precautions.

• Ruler: Create perfect lines and shapes with a ruler to enhance your crafting experience.

• Compass: A compass is the best trick in the book when it comes to creating different circle sizes.

Craft supplies that spark a child's imagination

Sometimes children need ideas or something to spark inspiration. Craft kits make a great gift, rainy day activity or help get your child engrossed in a positive activity.

Check out the Alex Toys Eco Crafts Kit . With this mega-kit your kids can create 20 earth-friendly projects using everything from recycled paper to wooden buttons. This craft kit is aimed at ages 6 and above.

Kids love kaleidoscopes and they'll love making their own even more! This Cool Kaleidoscope Craft Kit features enough materials to build 12 of them! It's perfect for parties or anytime your kids want to get crafty.

This ToySmith Green Creativity Kit provides parents and children with the necessary supplies for a creative art project.

Why it’s important for children to have arts and crafts time

Keeping a closet, drawer or space for arts and crafts supplies is an open invitation for a child to use his or her imagination. The beauty about kids doing craft projects is there’s really no need for a child to ask, like he or she would to turn on the TV or go play outside with a friend — with the exception of paints and other messy materials. When you give a child the option to choose an activity at their leisure, they are more likely to initiate the activity and accomplish results with a positive and creative outcome.

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These elegant baby girl names are sophisticated and have an aristocratic sound to them, making them perfect for your future debutante. Traditionally, a debutante is a young woman who is formally introduced as a member of the elite society at age 18 through an elaborate debutante ball or cotillion ball. Many of today’s debutante balls are also charity events, in which families will donate money to a specific charity.

If you are grooming your future debutante, these elegant baby names are the perfect choice, however even if you don’t necessarily want a fancy cotillion ball, you will still love these sophisticated and gorgeous baby girl names.

Sophisticated baby names

These sophisticated and elegant baby names are classic and cool — and never go out of style. They are a perfect choice for your future debutante. Check out some of our favorite picks:

Kourtney Kardashian just named her daughter the sophisticated and old-fashioned name of Penelope Scotland. This name is growing in popularity, as both Tina Fey and celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson gave their daughters this cute name.

You might also like: Preppy baby names >>

French baby names

Debutante is from the French word débutante which means “female beginner,” so we thought it would be perfect to round up some pretty French baby girl names.

Use our Advanced Baby Name Search to search for more beautiful French baby names >>

Royal baby names

Royal baby names from the British royal family have an upper crust and debutante sound to them. Elizabeth is probably the most-well known royal name, as is Diana and Katherine or Kate. If you love the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, perhaps one of these royal baby girl names, taken from the royal family, is the perfect choice for you.

Tips for picking a debutante name

When picking a debutante name, try to avoid names with unusual or creative spellings, such as Cydnee instead of Cindy or Emmalee instead of Emily. You may also want to avoid choosing baby names that are too popular or trendy. For example, Sophia is the most popular girl name of the year, beating out last year’s winner Isabella. They are both pretty names, but you run into the problem of having several other ladies with the exact same name.

Check out the top 100 baby girl names from the Social Security Administration to find out what other baby girl names are popular and in danger of being overused.

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Organizing your baby's nursery

Babies come with a lot of stuff, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the toys, books, clothes, diapers and everything else that finds its way into the nursery. Don’t get stressed — get organized with these pretty and practical storage ideas.

Don't let your baby become a hoarder

An “organized” space doesn’t mean things are “hidden,” say experts at The Professionals, a full-service personal concierge agency in New York. They offer these simple steps to creating a truly organized room:

1. Take an inventory of what you have and rethink what you actually need to keep.
2. Assess your empty nursery for opportunities to create more space. For example, use bare walls for vertical storage.
3. Consider your stuff: What fits where? Where will you use these items? Which items need to be most easily accessible?
4. The fun part: Put things away in these newly found spaces! Choose cool décor items with hollow insides and store things inside!

Design a nursery on a budget >>

Expert tip: Hide your stuff in plain sight! Use unique or decorative storage solutions like beautiful canvas storage bins to hide things in plain sight. ~ Holly Bohn, founder SeeJaneWork.com

In addition to the wonderful array of nursery-friendly bins and baskets on the market, check out these functional baby room storage items:

Diaper duty

Baby essentials — diapers, wipes, baby powder and the like — can become a cluttered mess on a dresser top or changing table.

The DexBaby Organizer is a lovely way to keep those scattered items neatly in one place. It attaches easily and securely anywhere and stores all your baby’s needs in one convenient place. With sturdy shelves and handy pockets, DexBaby holds over 60 diapers! Get it for $25 at Wayfair.com.

Create an eco-friendly nursery >>

Expert tip: Instead of conforming to other's standards, organize your room the way you live and think ~ Janet M. Taylor, professional organizer

Clever closets

A regular closet isn’t the most practical solution for itty-bitty baby clothes, socks, onesies… The I Think I Canvas Hanging Closet Storage system makes it easy to use that valuable closet space without the hassle of tiny hangers.

The hanging organizers are available in narrow and wide widths in 10 cheery colors for the nursery. The polyester construction is easy to clean and very durable. Shop LandofNod.com.

Decorate a gender-neutral nursery >>

Expert tip: Examine what you’re trying to find space for and why. For sentimental items, record the story, take a photo of the object and let it go. ~ Wendy E. Webber, professional organizer and personal historian

Orderly corners

Why is it that we tend to stuff things into corners? The Cameron Corner Bookcase from Pottery Barn Kids is the ideal solution for preventing dreaded corner piles. But this sturdy bookcase isn't limited to storing just books.

Use it for toys, pretty baskets, baby monitors and more. Any way you purpose this bookshelf is better than the alternative: cluttered corners. Buy it for $370 at PotteryBarnKids.com.

Top 10 necessities for the baby's nursery >>

Wall storage

Take advantage of wall space to 1) increase your storage opportunities or 2) keep certain items away from curious crawlers.

The Brandee Danielle Froggy Lavender Toy Bag attaches to the wall, a bookcase, the side of the crib or just about anywhere. It’s a super cute way to store little stuffed animals, diapers or teeny-weeny baby socks. Buy it for $23 at Wayfair.com.

5 Popular nursery trends >>

Expert tip: For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned! ~ Michelle Paxton, The Organizer Gal

More great ideas for the baby's room

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