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Melissa Clark Vickers

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Hospital Practices That Support Breastfeeding Vitally Important

The first few days after birth are a key time for breastfeeding mothers and babies. According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Vital Signs: Hospital Practices to Support Breastfeeding—United States, 2007 and 2009,... more

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What Is Attachment Parenting?

I’ve been hearing different opinions on Attachment Parenting. Exactly what is it and how does it compare to other styles of parenting? more

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Poison Prevention—Keeping Your Home Safe

Poisons are everywhere—in your medicine cabinet, under the sink, in storage areas, kitchen cabinets, and the list goes on. If you have a small child, keeping her safe from potential poisons can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, there are... more

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Does Breastfeeding Lead To Higher Academic Performance?

Are breastfed children really smarter than those who are formula-fed? It’s a hypothesis scientists have been trying to prove for ages. Much like a study conducted in December 2010, scientists in Ireland looked at math and reading test scores of... more

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Perchance To Dream—A Baby Bedding Primer

For many parents, the confirmation of a pregnancy marks the beginning of a redecorating scheme to prepare the nursery for the upcoming birth. Until recently, this often meant purchasing an entire ensemble—crib, changing table, rocking chair—and deciding the all-important theme.... more

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Breastfeeding Products—Take ‘Em Or Leave ‘Em?

You are pregnant and plan to breastfeed. You want to be prepared, and you have friends and relatives wanting to know what to get you for the baby shower. A walk through a baby store or a Google search offers... more

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Is A Planned Home Birth Right For You?

Where will your baby be born? Sometimes the baby makes the decision—in the back of a cab, in an elevator, at home, or in the hospital. Most moms, however, will at least plan where they hope to give birth, whether... more

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Taming Temper Tantrums

They are what put the “terrible” in “terrible twos”—although perhaps that’s giving 2-year-olds a bad rap. Temper tantrums are, in a sense, a result of normal development, and with a little understanding, a lot of patience, and a few preventive... more

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Do Closely Spaced Pregnancies Increase Risk For Autism?

Autism has been in the news a lot lately—mostly because the oft-quoted study by Andrew Wakefield linking vaccinations and autism has been exposed as fraudulent. A new study published online in the January 10, 2011 Pediatrics suggests a possible link... more

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Public Asked To Comment On Break Time For Nursing Mothers Law

More often than not, passing a law is the easy part—implementing it is the hard part. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010, which amended section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), requires that employers... more