What if you could do more for your kids, by doing a whole lot less? Parenting today has become a competitive sport, and it seems that everyone is losing. From the very moment that little line turns blue, parents-to-be find themselves in a brave new world where every decision they make is fraught, every action they take is judged, and everything they do seems to be the wrong thing. Formula feed? Breast is best. Breastfeed in public? That’s indecent. Cry it out? You’re causing permanent harm to your child. Don’t sleep train? Your child will never learn to sleep on his or her own. Stay home? You’re setting a bad example for your kids. Go back to work? Don’t you love your kids more than your job? Lindsay Powers—former editor-in-chief of Yahoo! Parenting, creator of the #NoShameParenting movement, and mom of two—is here to help parents everywhere breathe a collective sigh of relief. This laugh-out-loud funny, accessible, and reassuring book sets the record straight on all of the insane conflicts that parents face—from having a glass of wine while pregnant to sleep training, childcare, feeding, and even sex after baby. Drawing on the latest research and delivered in a relatable, comforting voice, You Can’t F*ck Up Your Kids demonstrates that it is possible to take the stress out of parenting and sit back and enjoy the ride.

    From the first month home through the twelfth, BABY PLAY offers doctor-approved, age-appropriate activities that stimulate discovery, begin communication, and nurture parental bonding.Developed in close consultation with the play experts at Gymboree Play & Music, the book contains an introduction that explains the value of "play with a purpose," information on how babies learn, and tips outlining what a parent can do to help their little on get off to a good start.The book also includes a glossary of key terms in child development, beneficial to any new parent, as well as detailed information on how parents can identify development skills as they emerge in their baby. From stretching exercises to puppet games, BABY PLAY encourages learning during that first critical year of life.Look at what this book offers:Includes over 100 activities for babies 0-12 months.Organized by appropriateness for each month of life.Includes wide variety of play activities, from ball rolling to imitative play.Developed in consultation with the play experts at Gymboree.Contains a useful glossary of key terms in child development.

    And then she had kids. Having lost her own mother to cancer as a teenager, Lisa-Jo felt lost on her journey to womanhood and wholly unprepared to raise children. Surprised by Motherhood is Lisa-Jo's story of becoming and being a mom, and in the process, discovering that all the "what to expect" and "how to" books in the world can never truly prepare you for the sheer exhilaration, joy, and terrifying love that accompanies motherhood.Set partly in South Africa and partly in the US (with a slight detour to Ukraine along the way), Surprised by Motherhood is a poignant memoir of one woman's dawning realization that being a mom isn't about being perfect—it's about being present.

    Now it has been completely revised and updated, and dovetails perfectly with the recent major policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued nursing for at least one year and as long thereafter as mother and child desire. In addition to incorporating the new AAP guidelines throughout the book, the Third Edition draws on the very latest research from prominent scholars and practitioners in the field. It presents new information on how breastfeeding offers protection against various diseases for both child and mother; new discussion of the positive impact of breastfeeding on a child's cognitive development; a greatly expanded section on available support systems and their importance; guidelines to help a mother-to-be choose a hospital or birthing center with breastfeeding-positive policies; and a new section on signs of baby's adequate milk intake, with charts. Plus new and expanded sections on nutrition for lactating mothers, the mother's social life, the role of the father, the nursing working mother, how to express, store, and offer breast milk, and how to wean your child. This is the warm, accessible, and authoritative guide for every new mother.

    Infants are born with the ability to communicate their need to "go," just as they communicate hunger or sleepiness. Gross-Loh, a mother of two children who were diaper-free at eighteen and fifteen months, uses the tenets of "elimination communication," or EC, to teach parents how to identify and respond to their baby or toddler's natural cues.Unlike the all-or-nothing approach of some parenting books, The Diaper-Free Baby addresses three categories of parents: full-time, part-time, and occasional EC'ers. Parents can practice EC as much or as little as fits their family and lifestyle. A support group within a book, The Diaper-Free Baby also includes inspiring testimonials throughout every chapter. Parents who have successfully practiced EC identify common struggles, share experiences and problem-solving tips, and provide encouragement for those new to the technique. Their motivational stories together with Gross-Loh's practical advice will appeal to all parents interested in a fresh alternative to traditional toilet training.

    Are you obsessed about your baby's sleep? Do you feel "weak" because you can't leave him to cry himself to sleep? Do you need to relax more and enjoy being a parent? Parenting expert Pinky McKay offers a natural, intuitive approach to solving your little ones' sleep problems and gives practical tips on how to understand your baby's tired cues, create a safe sleeping environment, gently settle babies and toddlers, and feed infants to encourage sleep. Sleeping Like A Baby is a must read for stress-free, guilt-free parenting, and offers down-to-earth and heartening advice on helping babies (and their parents!) to sleep better.

    Start today.If you've been searching for an excellent way to bond with your baby and improve his or her health, Itsy Bitsy Yoga is the solution you've been looking for. Helen Garabedian, a certified instructor in yoga and infant massage, has developed over seventy yoga postures and thirty-five series for moms and dads to enjoy with their growing babies. You don't need any previous yoga experience. Learn the many benefits of yoga, posture by posture, in this accessible guide, with seventy beautiful black-and-white photos, at-a-glance reference charts, and memorable Itsy Bitsy Yoga rhymes. Yoga can help babies up to two years of age: -sleep better -get relief from gas pains and colic -digest food easier -stay healthier with a strong immune system -receive neuromuscularm stimulation -learn to relax The book also features seven Magic Poses that can soothe fussy, upset babies within minutes! So start enjoying more time with your happy yoga baby right now.