When your due date is near and you prepare for labor, there are going to be several signs and symptoms that it's almost showtime. As you go into labor you'll experience symptoms that may include emotional changes, pains that feel like menstrual cramps, back pain similar to sciatica, Braxton Hicks contractions, the "bloody show," and the breaking of your water before labor begins. Learn what else you should expect before birth.

It seems like everywhere you look, there’s a child with a cell phone. Even if they’re young, there’s a good chance that the phone belongs to them. If your child doesn’t have one, they’re probably asking you when they’re going to get their first smartphone. Studies show that more than half of children have their first smartphone by the time they’re 11 years old with that number jumping to 69% for 12-year-olds.

Spice up your life with these sassy name options perfect for your little girl. Though it can be hard to tell exactly what their personality will develop to in the early days, shake things up with one of these fun choices.

More: 75 Elegant Girl Names for Your Baby Name Search

For picks that highlight that attitude and spunk she’ll grow into with age, look no further than these girl names:

When you bring home your new baby from the hospital, you will want to be ready with a safe and soothing sleeping area for your little angel! A bassinet is the ideal place for a newborn to sleep for those first few months.

In a newly-released study for the American Academy of Pediatrics, (AAP) pediatrician/Motility Fellow Dr. Danielle Orsagh-Yentis explains that kids six and younger are ingesting foreign-body objects (such as coins, toys, jewelry and batteries) more than ever before, during a 20-year time period.

Editor’s Note: We know raising kids can be hard. That’s why we’re dedicated to making your life easier with the latest and greatest parenting advice and products. We wanted to let you know that if you chose to purchase one of the items featured in this post, we may receive a small commission for it.

Editor’s Note: We know raising kids can be hard. That’s why we’re dedicated to making your life easier with the latest and greatest parenting advice and products. We wanted to let you know that if you chose to purchase one of the items featured in this post, we may receive a small commission for it.

Nutrition for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Toddlers and preschoolers grow at a slower rate than infants. They need enough energy or calories to fuel their active play and their various stages of growth, but they do not need adult-size portions. Large portions can overwhelm their small appetites and are too big for their small stomachs.

Avoiding Arguments and Power Struggles with Your Kids

The Top Five Misconceptions About Homeschooling

Isabel Shaw

When a woman gets pregnant, so many questions run through her mind: Will it hurt? How much weight will I gain? Will I poop during labor? One question that likely never crossed any woman's mind when they got the news about being pregnant is whether she will be forced to birth alone, with limited pain relief, and possibly be separated from her baby at birth due to a global pandemic.

​If you live in the south, double names, also known as double-barrelled names, are nothing new, and you’re probably used to hearing names like John Taylor or Mary Margaret. But if you live in another part of the country or world, this may be a new concept for you.

A double name, or double-barreled first name, is often seen in Southern naming traditions and is when you choose two names for your little, often joined by a hyphen. It is an excellent option for those seeking unique baby names.

Chances are, if you don’t know what a rainbow baby is, you haven’t experienced loss during your time of having children. A "rainbow baby" is defined as a baby born after the miscarriage, stillbirth, or death of an infant from natural causes. The name rainbow baby comes from the feeling of seeing a rainbow after a storm. Rainbow babies are extra special and so deeply loved even before they are born. However, a rainbow pregnancy is usually accompanied by very strong feelings of anxiety and sometimes doubt.

My older daughter was diagnosed with Celiac disease (No consuming wheat!) last year; and ever since then we’ve had to change around our whole lifestyle by eliminating gluten from her diet—and answer lots of questions about Celiac from curious friends, as well as strangers. 

Being “gluten free” is NOT a cool, trendy diet fad—it’s a lifestyle choice some parents make for their child’s health. But, is it okay for all kids? We asked and experts answered.

There is something about dad jokes that foster a weird mixture of satisfaction with a dash of annoyance. Maybe it's the fact that dad jokes are short, corny, and relatively harmless that makes them so lovable. Or perhaps it's the sparkle in dad's eye when he knows he's about to get super cheesy?

More: 40 Thanksgiving Jokes For Kids

Editor’s Note: We know raising kids can be hard. That’s why we’re dedicated to making your life easier with the latest and greatest parenting advice and products. We wanted to let you know that if you chose to purchase one of the items featured in this post, we may receive a small commission for it.

History for Homeschooled Girls

Isabel Shaw

History Revisited, Not Revised

As homeschoolers, we have the freedom to incorporate a wealth of new information about women into our history studies every day. But must we rewrite history to do so?