Newbies: New Moms, New Babies

How you diaper your baby will impact both you and the baby every day. Cloth diapers have many benefits, but the whole process can often seem more complicated than it actually needs to be. So, what are the most common mistakes new moms make when cloth diapering their babies? Will "one size fits all" actually fit your baby? How often should you change your baby's diaper? And what's the best way to get rid of all that poop? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes parenting doesn't turn out the way we planned. We may envision our birth plan unfolding perfectly, followed by days, weeks, months, or years of complete happiness as we watch our children grow. But reality can look much different. What happens when our expectations aren't fulfilled? How can that lead to depression and fears of failure as a new mother? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Traveling with a baby can definitely have its challenges, and sleep could quite possibly be at the top of that list. So, how do you get your baby adjusted while you're traveling through time zones, or driving long hours in the car? And then once you get to your destination, how do you create the best sleep environment possible... even when you don't have everything you would typically have at home? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your baby seems irritable or she's having a hard time sleeping, you may want to consider swaddling. After all, it just makes sense that your child would feel most comfortable in an environment similar to what your baby felt while being cradled in the womb, right? How do you successfully swaddle your baby? What type of swaddles typically work best? And do all babies really need to be swaddled? Plus, what safety precautions should you take to make sure your baby is safe? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You recently had a baby and your transition into motherhood may leave you a little puzzled. Who are you, now that you're a mom? How do you shift between caring for yourself, your partner and this new little being that just came into the world? How do you discover your new identity? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your baby seems to cry, a lot. She also spends a lot of her time moving, grunting, and cooing. Maybe she is trying to communicate what is going on in her tiny little body, but you don’t understand. Is there a way to decode what your baby’s body language is saying? Does this baby come with a user manual? Help! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adoption can happen through many avenues and under a variety of circumstances. Each baby’s adoption story is uniquely beautiful and uniquely challenging. How do you know if adoption is right for your family? What are some of the challenges you may face when adopting a newborn? How do you overcome obstacles that may come your way? In this episode, moms of adopted newborns share their personal experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people think mood disorders, such as postpartum depression, must begin immediately after having your baby. But that's simply not true. Delayed postpartum depression can occur 18 months after birth or later depending on hormonal changes within the mother's body. So, would you know if you're experiencing delayed PPD or if something else is wrong? Today we're looking at the main symptoms that when left untreated, can even impact future pregnancies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your baby's birth weight is important. And for those first couple weeks of life, your primary goal as a new mom is to keep that birth weight from falling more than 10%. Why is it important to maintain that birth weight right after birth? Why is 10% the magic number? And what does it mean if your baby loses more than 10% of her initial weight? What are your options? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You birthed your baby, and then you birthed your placenta. So, now what do you do with it? The hospital could whisk it away and discard it as hazardous material, or you could take it home with you... and perhaps eat it. What? It's true and moms all over the world (including some in our studio) are convinced it helped them after childbirth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your baby's head is uniquely made to mold for birth and move to accommodate a growing and developing brain. So, what are those soft spots that most new parents are afraid to touch? Where can you find them? And what changes can you expect within your baby's first year? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you go to the pediatrician, they take all sorts of measurements and track your baby's progress through infant growth charts. So, who created these charts, and how are averages determined? Do breastfed babies grow any differently than formula-fed babies? And what does the term "failure to thrive" actually mean? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caring for a toddler is both an exciting and challenging adventure, for any parent. If you're struggling with postpartum depression or another postnatal mood disorder, this transition may seem completely overwhelming. So, how can you better prepare yourself? How do you manage your child's temper tantrums when you might be on the verge of doing the same thing yourself? We'll explore some tips to help give you more structure to help both you and your child feel more secure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all want our children to do what we tell them to do. But even the most obedient children fall short sometimes. So, when is it time to discipline your child? What systems seem to work best? And how do you make this transition when your child is just now learning right from wrong?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Giving birth to your baby is usually pretty messy, right? So, it's only natural we would want to bathe our babies immediately. But could there be benefits to delaying that first bath? And when you do decide to bathe your new baby, how should you do it? Should you buy a special baby tub, or perhaps bathe with your baby? And what about those strange baths in the kitchen sink? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices