The lovely Olivia Wilde just had a baby about eight weeks ago. Otis Alexander Sudeikis arrived and clearly stole the heart of mom and dad, Jason Sudeikis. Those first weeks of parenthood are often a hazy mix of pure joy and feeling terrified all while battling sleep deprivation. Which often means that it's really hard to pull yourself together for outings. Many days during that time, I was a take a shower and put pajamas right back on kind of person. If I was lucky enough to get in a shower. Most days I'd prefer to use that time to nap due to the up every two or so hours situation. Still, it was one of the best times of my life. Another great time? Stepping out as a new mom.

Being a superstar, Olivia has events to attend and outfits to wear, all while the cameras follow her around. What she chose to wear to a recent event is not only bold, but shows how empowered she is. This is what motherhood has done to her!

Skin-tight leather pants! Sky-high stiletto heels. A bad-ass lightning bold tank! Olivia! Absolutely stunning.

This is the amazing outfit she wore to the Ghetto Film School's 10th Spring Benefit at The Standard Biergarten in NYC. What better time to wear leather pants than when you are a new mom. It's like her "hear me roar" moment, showing off her strength as a woman, as a mother, and the empowerment that comes with it. 

More from The Stir: Olivia Wilde's Public Outing With 1-Week-Old Is Risky But Worth It

This is how you get your mojo back. If you feel good, you look good. Putting on clothes that make you feel strong, beautiful, and confident is a must for new moms. I would even go as far as to suggest replacing all your old sweatpants with pretty pajamas to help lift your mood when you are in the house as well. Embrace your motherly body. Wear whatever you want that makes you feel amazing. Because all mothers are.

What do you think of Olivia's leather pants? Do you feel that dressing up helped you get your mojo back post-baby?

Images via Olivia Wilde/Twitter; Dave Kotinsky/Getty

You know what your baby doesn't need? A gold- and diamond-encrusted bottle because, well, that's just straight-up insane. Suommo, a Spanish company that sells luxury products for the posh baby, recently came out with this poppycock, and the price tag? $272,000. Or as it's more commonly known: A house.

The ergonomic bottle, which, thank god, is the world's most expensive baby bottle, is advertised as "a jewel and a refined decoration piece inspired by Russian dolls, whose five-size set is the expression of the most exquisite sensitivity." Oh, and Suommo will even throw in some free engraving if you'd like, so you don't have to worry about it getting mixed up with the other gold and diamond bottles at the playground. Thoughtful!

It's hard to imagine that too many moms are going to run out and purchase this bottle or add it to their registry, as there's one glaring issue here: What if baby chokes on a diamond while she's suckling down her warm milk? (Also, out of curiosity, can you put this thing in a bottle warmer?) It likely will only be a matter of time before we hear about how a diamond came loose on this bottle (maybe after it was repeatedly thrown on the floor by baby?); baby sucked it down; began to choke; then swallowed it, presenting mom, dad, or nanny with a sparkly surprise during diaper duty. Not cool, Suommo, not cool at all.

Or parents likely will shy away from purchasing this gem, as they'd rather do things like retire, send their kids to college, or, um, eat. Also, as anyone who's ever had a baby can attest to: Kids have the uncanny ability to screw up anything. So what's the point in spending obscene amounts of money on their stuff -- even if you have it?

What do you think of this crazy baby bottle?

Image via Suommo

Depending on your baby's birthday, they may be extremely competitive, fiercely independent, or super-clingy. But moms of kids born under water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces!) may have the honor and challenge of parenting the most family-oriented and emotional kids in the whole zodiac.

AstroTwins Ophira and Tali Edut,identical twin sisters and astrology experts astrologers, wrote Momstrology: The AstroTwins' Guide to Parenting Your Little One by the Stars to help moms better grasp their kids' unique personalities and tailor their parenting, based on a mom's sun sign -- and her child's! They recently sat down to chat with The Stir about what water sign babies' are like and the best ways to deal with a mom-dependent Cancer (born June 21–July 22) super-secretive Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) or Pisces (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) who may be empathetic to a fault.

Check it out ...

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More from The Stir: Mama's Boy, Prodigy, or Most Popular: Which Will Your Baby Be? (VIDEO)

Is your child a typical Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces? How have you managed their sign's unique quirks?

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For several years now, moms have been making the choice they thought was best for their little ones: Steering clear of bisphenol-A (BPA), the toxic substance in plastic that may mess with the endocrine system, disrupting hormones, and causing a variety of short- and long-term health concerns for our children including asthma, cancer, infertility, low sperm count, heart disease, liver problems, and ADHD. But apparently, even if you've been incredibly conscious and checked every sippy cup and water bottle to ensure it's marked "BPA-free," it may not be enough!

According to a new paper the journal Environmental Health, which notes that various plastic products marked "BPA-free" are not nearly as safe as we thought.

Researchers tested 50 resuable BPA-free plastic containers and found that some products leached hormone-altering chemicals (even before they were exposed to heat from a dishwasher or microwave!) and more than three-quarters of the containers tested released synthetic estrogens. So, so unnerving.

Not to mention incredibly frustrating, considering that we think we're doing everything we can to protect our children by doing the research before going shopping for sippy cups, only registering for the BPA-free baby bottles, keeping certain plastics our kids use out of the dishwasher or microwave, etc. But news like this it makes it seem like even our best efforts are all for naught. It makes it seem like even our best efforts aren't enough to protect our kids, and that's nothing short of extremely aggravating.  

Here, the specific plastic products moms will want to avoid, given these recent test results:

More from The Stir: BPA-Free Bottles & Sippy Cups Might Not Be Safer for Kids After All

You can also check out Mother Jones for more on what the study found.

For the wellness of our kids and to save us all continued headaches (and much more), fingers crossed findings like these help put pressure on plastics companies to up their safety standards once and for all.

How do you feel about these findings? Will it change what brands you buy?

Image via nerissasring/Flickr

Every mom-to-be hopes that her pregnancy, labor, and delivery will go smoothly, if not picture perfectly. And who could blame her for just wanting everything to be okay the whole way through until she can welcome her little one into the world? But of course, we all encounter our own personal challenges, "screw-ups," and setbacks along the way. 

Lauren Lawton, now mom to 7-month-old twin girls Mackenzie and Anna, knows that well. Not long after she found out she was pregnant, she was told that the girls shared a placenta. One twin was getting too much blood, while the other was getting too little. As if that wasn't worrisome enough, Lawton found out 24 weeks into her pregnancy that she had an infection in her tooth, which meant she had to give birth pre-term to her daughters, who at the time weighed just over a pound. But believe it or not, there was a silver lining ...

Doctors say that the pre-term birth meant that the shared placenta didn't end up causing problems for the girls! And seven months later, their doc says their progress is "remarkable." Wow.

Not to mention that Lawton's story is proof that even though there isn't really any such thing as perfection in pregnancy or childbirth, that's okay. In fact, it can be a wonderful thing to let go of that natural inclination to make everything just "right." To go with the flow. To let yourself take a backseat and not fret so much about doing everything exactly "right."

Because maybe there is no right anyway, and even the most stressful moment can end up leading to beauty, wonder, bliss! And in Lawton's case, it actually lead to a miracle. Pretty inspiring!

Were you worried about having the perfect pregnancy or delivery?

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As you may have heard, Jimmy Kimmel and his wife are having a baby (woo-hoo! yay babies!). And, in order to prepare himself to be the father of a newborn again, the talk show host asked some of the most brutally honest people on the planet what he needs to do in order to be the best dad he can be: Jimmy got parenting advice from kids.

From not eating poop to figuring out the proper way to hold a baby, Jimmy and the kids cover it all in this hilarious video, which, ironically, actually gives some good parenting advice.

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As usual, Kimmel nails it with a funny kids video. And it's worth noting that Jimmy's light-hearted attitude about having a baby is certainly one worth adopting. (Granted, I doubt he'll really eat poop or hold his baby upside down.)

Newborns, for those of you who don't know, are insane. Truly, truly insane. And if you don't have some sort of sense of humor about things, and can't laugh through all the spit-up, lost hours of sleep, and, well, poop, you might go insane, too. Actually, scratch that, you will go insane. So even though Jimmy's tete-a-tete with these adorable little munchkins was meant as a joke, his "whatever" attitude about things actually isn't half bad.

How funny is this? Were you able to have a sense of humor during the newborn days?

Image via Jimmy Kimmel Live/YouTube

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock welcomed baby girl River Rose Blackstock a little over a week ago. Instead of sitting back, resting, and doing very little, the singer has already given her newborn a taste of the limelight. Clarkson released River's very first baby photo on Twitter, and it's just about the dreamiest baby photo you've ever seen.

The 32-year-old announced she was pregnant last November, about a month after marrying Blackstock. Even before the baby's gender was revealed, she was SO sure she was having a girl, mainly because she joked about how she couldn't stop vomiting, and we could tell she was over the moon about the idea.

So it makes sense that little River's first baby photo session would be sweet and feminine:

How cute is this?! And is anyone else now pining for that old-fashioned baby carriage? It probably wouldn't last a day on rough city pavement, but it is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

More from The Stir: Kelly Clarkson Gives Birth! Baby Girl Gets Name Inspired by Mother Nature

In the weeks after I gave birth, I thought about hiring a professional photographer to capture the perfect pictures of my babies, but there was so much else to do -- just getting the hang of breastfeeding took up all of my focus -- that I never got around to it. Big regret. I wish I had put everything aside for a few hours to take professional baby photos.

Clarkson was smart to have her baby's image captured while she is still in the "I sleep and look peaceful all of the time" stage. When they're first born, you have to act fast because that phase doesn't always last!

Love this photo of little River and LOVE that Clarkson put it out there for all of us to coo over. Looking forward to seeing even more pictures of this little cutie pie.

Did you set up a photo session for your baby when she or he was first born? What types of photos did you take?

Images via Instagram, Twitter

Wondering how to get your baby crawling? It's simple: Have your dog teach her! A video of a positively adorable baby trying to crawl is making the rounds right now; the reason being her doggie is the one who shows her how it's done.

Check out this hilarious video, and be prepared to lose it at the 17-second mark when the pup doesn't just try to push the babe, but he actually drops to the ground and belly crawls in an effort to teach the little girl. Amazing. But not as amazing as the expression on the baby's face when she sees her beloved pet crawling along.

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Adorable, right? And, when you think about, not a half-bad idea. After all, one of the ways to get your baby crawling, is to place a desirable object just out of reach. What could possibly be more desirable than a super cute dog?!

More from The Stir: Baby Takes First Steps, Then Family Dog Steals Her Thunder (VIDEO)

Moms and dads, take note. If you're looking to get your baby moving, have the dog do it. After all, it's highly unlikely that they'll be the ones to teach baby to walk, as well.

How funny is the look on the baby's face when she sees the dog crawling?

Image via Valerie Stevens-Scott/YouTube

When it comes to breastfeeding, some C-section moms may have a bit of a tougher go than moms who give birth vaginally. Various things contribute to this -- your milk might come in later or you might be in too much pain to nurse post-surgery. But don't get discouraged. You can successfully breastfeed, regardless of how you gave birth.

Here are 5 common breastfeeding problems you might face after having a C-section -- and how to overcome them.

Problem: Pain from surgery is making breastfeeding difficult. By no means is giving birth vaginally equivalent to a spa treatment, but if you've had a C-section you're likely to be more uncomfortable. The area in which your incision was made will still be tender, so sitting up and bringing a baby to your chest could be challenging.
Solution: Find the right position. Many experts tout the side-lying position as the best nursing position for C-section mamas, but registered nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Paula Fitt recommends you go with your gut. "How would take your baby if someone held her out to you?" asks Fitt. "However you instinctively would grab your baby is how you should try nursing. Every body is different -- thin, large, tall, short -- so it’s a personal choice. Do what your instinct tells you and then work around that by trying things like putting a pillow across your belly." Fitt also recommends learning different breastfeeding positions while you're still in the hospital, so you can try to master one before you leave.

Problem: You can't see your baby right away. Skin-to-skin contact and immediate nursing after birth are two factors that contribute to breastfeeding success. However, you might not be able to breastfeed your baby right after a C-section for a few reasons -- whether it's hospital policy or a problem that's arisen during surgery.
Solution:Put Dad to work. First, it's important to let your doctor know that you're committed to breastfeeding and want to nurse your baby as soon as possible, if that's an option. If it's not, there are a few things you can do. "Have Dad or the birth partner do skin to skin with the baby in the recovery room while mom is in the OR finishing up in surgery," says Jennifer Mayer, a maternity wellness expert and co-founder of Baby Caravan. "Not only will this help mom's milk come in, it will get the baby get ready for breastfeeding once mom is in recovery too." If you and your baby are separated after surgery, Mayer suggests you self-express colostrum for the baby (use your hand or a pump). "This will help stimulate breast milk production," she explains. "The baby can then be fed with a spoon, a syringe or a SNS [Supplemental Nursing System] if needed." Worth noting: Baby- friendly hospitals are extremely good at trying to provide skin-to-skin right away. "If your hospital has achieved that Baby Friendly designation, you know you're going to get good care," says Fitt. So it may be worth seeking one out during your pregnancy.

Problem: Your milk comes in later. "Many moms will experience their milk coming in around day 4, rather than day 3," says Mayer. "It isn't the case for everyone, but being aware that it could be an issue is helpful."
Solution: Nurse as often as possible. "In the early days, nursing as frequently as baby demands is key for getting your milk supply going," explains Fitt. "The more you nurse in early days, the more prolactin you'll produce." Hold off on supplements, such as fenugreek or other herbs, as they may actually result in oversupply. "Don’t intervene until there’s a true reason," she says. "If you trust your body and feed your baby every time he's hungry, you should be okay. If you think you’re going to have trouble, you’re going to have trouble."

Problem: You're woozy from anesthesia. You'll likely feel a bit out of it after your surgery and that can affect your ability, or desire, to nurse right away.
Solution: Get help. Ask nurses, your doula, and your partner to help you with nursing. This may mean having them bring your baby to you, and helping you and your baby get some skin-to-skin time after surgery. If you're concerned about nursing because of the anesthesia, talk to your doctor. "We can’t categorically say that breastfeeding after a spinal or epidural is 100 percent safe, but most observational data says it's okay," says Fitt. "The most we've seen are sleepy babies or moms who aren't very into it."

Problem: You feel like you "failed" at birth, so you'll "fail" at breastfeeding. Some moms who have C-sections can feel dissatisfied or unhappy with their experience, and those feelings can carry over to breastfeeding.
Solution: Skin-to-skin. "It’s such an effective intervention for so many things that go 'wrong' during birth," says Fitt. "It's where where mom and baby can reassimilate. Skin-to-skin truly can fix tough labor, an exhausted mom, and the feeling of disconnectedness during labor. It really raises oxytocin, which helps with nursing." If you can't practice skin-to-skin immediately, don't worry. "I believe, the first hour mom and baby are together needs to be treated as sacred, no matter if it happens right after birth, or some time later," says Mayer. "This is the start to initiating breastfeeding. This process should not be rushed, it's time for mom and baby to bond, connect and 'meet' each other." If you still don't feel good about your birth and feel like it's affecting your breastfeeding, ask to speak with a therapist or a lactation consultant on staff.

How did you overcome any problems you had with breastfeeding after a C-section?

Image via © Charles Gullung/cultura/Corbis; Corbis

When you take your baby to the pediatrician, what do you expect them to prescribe? Antibiotics? Maybe some over-the-counter infant medicines? Surprise! The American Academy of Pediatrics is advising its doctors to make a new prescription to every parent of a newborn: books.

And here you thought they just ate, pooped and slept all day! Nope!

The AAP now says the very early days of a baby's life are crucial for their education later on. Babies who are read to from the get-go have a jump on language skills. In other words, you're making your baby smarter, even if it seems like it's not helping.

Why the big push now? Turns out children in lower income families tend to be read to less than children in higher income families. By age 4, the pediatricians' group estimates, kids in lower income homes have heard 30 million fewer words than their peers. Thirty MILLION!

That's a huge gap!

And it makes you want to grab a book right now and get reading, doesn't it? You have a lot of words to catch up on!

It may seem counter-intuitive to read to someone who just lies there and drools, but we know our babies can hear us, so why not?

The truth is, the baby stage, for all the hardship of adjusting to parenthood and figuring out what it is that baby is crying about, is the easiest time to start setting up routines -- among them the habit of reading to your child. Infants may not know what's going on when you sit down with Goodnight Moon, but as they grow, they will be so used to it, that it will almost be a comfort to them.

And hey, if you're lucky, maybe a kid who is being read to from day one will be less likely to rip the pages. Maybe ...

When did you start reading to your baby? What was the first book?

Image via © Hero Images/Corbis

Think being a stay-at-home mom is for the June Cleaver era? Think again. A new study recently revealed that the number of stay at home moms is currently at an all time high -- and many of these women are far from the A-line skirt-clad, vacuum-in-hand ladies some people still bring to mind when hearing the phrase "stay-at-home mom." Some of these moms are home because they "opted out" of their high-powered, well-paying jobs. Some of these moms are home because they have to be. Some of these moms are home simply because they want to be. The main thing: It's none of our business why they aren't working, and we should all keep our traps shut.

Here, 11 things never to say to a stay-at-home mom (SAHM).

1. Are you afraid that you're setting your career back a zillion years? First off, are we all in agreement that this is just a rude comment in general? If someone took a year off to work on a novel, would they be asked the same question? (Okay, maybe they would, but would it be in the same condescending tone?) Maybe some SAHMs are worried about the effects their decision will have on their careers, maybe some aren't. Bottom line: If you're not a really close friend, it's kinda none of your business.

2. What do you do all day? Wouldn't it be great if all SAHMs just started giving answers like, "Oh, you know, get my nails done, go shopping, see my trainer. The usual."

3. So ... you leech off your husband, eh? Okay, while it's likely that no has ever been that rude (dear lord, we hope not!), comments about other people's money are just ... no. And that includes the ol' "Do you have to ask your husband before spending money" remarks. Not cool.

4. I wish I could sleep in every day. You know who else wishes they could sleep in every day? Stay at home moms!

5. Do you get dressed every day? You're not asking if women who stay home with their kids walk around naked all day, are you?

6. It must be so nice to watch TV all day. Right?! There seems to be a strange misconception that being a SAHM equals being an 18-year-old the summer before his first year at college. From the SAHMs we've spoken to, there's no watching TV all day or funneling beer. Or wait, does that come after heading off to college?

7. Are you going to get a job ever again? Unless you're looking to hire the SAHM you ask this question to, it's best left unasked. Maybe she is, maybe she isn't. If you're not the one writing her checks, what's it to you?

8. If your kids are in school, why don't you work? Last time we checked, school ran from around 8-3ish. And jobs run from 9-5ish. There's still getting the kids ready, picking the kids up, making snacks, and stuff to do around the house

9. Do you mind doing [insert errand/babysitting/etc.] for me today? Like being a work from home mom, being a stay at home mom doesn't mean a mama is available at everyone's beck and call. She's busy. And if she's not, she's not your assistant.

10. I would kill to have free time like you. Free time? Eh, what parent, working or not, has free time? Unless a mama has a baby who still takes multiple naps a day, it's unlikely she has enough time to scroll through her Facebook feed.

11. Are you worried about setting a bad example for your kids? No, they're not. Are you worried about doing the same by making condescending comments?

SAHMs, what comments really annoy you?

Image via © Jan Scherders/Corbis

A Florida mom, who says she has strict vegan beliefs, was arrested and charged with child neglect after she refused to bring her 12-day-old newborn to the hospital to be treated for dehydration.

Sarah Anne Markham, who is 23, reportedly brought her son to his pediatrician and was told he had lost weight and needed to be taken for medical treatment. The doctor gave her formula and told her she needed to feed her baby, but Markham allegedly refused because she feared the formula contained animal by-products. Instead of following doc's orders, police say the woman went home -- where she later wouldn't open the door and speak with authorities.

Police, who were called after the mom didn't show up at the hospital, say they actually had to contact a locksmith to help them enter Markham's apartment. When they questioned her, she claimed she had purchased soy formula to give her baby and that, even though she didn't want to, she would take him to the hospital because she was being "forced" to do so.

Fast forward to one hour later and Markham was STILL at home and hadn't addressed her son's health concern, according to police. She was arrested at her residence that evening.

It's difficult to determine whether this mom was even fully aware of the dangerous situation she had put her baby in. She told doctors her newborn was fine because he was having bowel movements. And, when asked why she didn't want to take him to the hospital, she said she felt it was important to get a second opinion from a vegan holistic doctor.

So many questions, but I have to start with the obvious one: If this mom was giving her baby soy milk, why was he still dehydrated? Something isn't right here.

That aside, I can't imagine hearing a doctor tell me my baby wasn't healthy and not doing everything in my power to help him -- even if it goes against my beliefs. An innocent child's health comes first -- period. When I gave birth to my daughter, I was determined to feed her the "right way" -- with breast milk. But the minute her pediatrician informed me, four days after her birth, that she had lost too much weight, I was terrified. And what I had to do wasn't even a question in my mind -- I grabbed the nearest container of formula and filled up those bottles.

Now that my child is 3, she eats everything -- even though I stay away from eggs, dairy, and most meat. It isn't that I feel a person can't be healthy while vegan, it's that my toddler isn't willing to eat my chia seed puddings and lentil and flax seed casseroles. I'm not confident she would get the nutrients her growing body requires, and in my opinion, it isn't worth the risk.

Granted, I don't follow dietary restrictions for religious reasons, and it's worth noting that Markham is a Seventh-Day Adventist and says her beliefs regarding food stem from her religious beliefs.

I can't say my religion would make the slightest difference to me in this case. Children have their entire lives to make well-informed choices about their dietary beliefs. When they're young, it's our duty to simply make sure they are getting what they need to survive and thrive.

Do you feel this mom deserves to be charged with child neglect? Would you let your children follow a strict vegan diet?

Image via Florida Mug Shots/Facebook

With so many parenting books to choose from, it's hard to know which to get. Some are a waste of money. Others ought to come with a highlighter because they're that good. Whether they're giving useful advice on how to manage toddler tantrums without yelling or simply reminding you that, no, you're not crazy (or alone), there are some books you should know about. But which are they? We went to the real experts -- moms -- and asked them to share their favorite parenting books. Here's what they had to say.

What's the best parenting book you've ever read?

Image via © Jamie Grill Photography/Tetra Images/Corbis

From frozen to alcoholic, parents have had plenty of solutions to ease babies through theirteething stages. But do you really need to slather your little one's gums in medicated gels in order to treat their soreness? Turns out, no. The Food and Drug Administration is now warning parents away from certain prescription and over-the-counter teething medications. 

According to the FDA, the gels and creams parents are using can be harmful to the baby. Specifically, the government agency says drugs like viscous lidocaine have been reported to actually hurt the baby, and popular benzocaine gels and liquids can cause methemoglobinemia, a rare but serious and possibly fatal blood disorder.

Keyword "rare" here, moms.

Still, while it's tempting to try anything to heal those aching gums, this consumer warning means parents need to take a long hard look at what it is they're using and weigh out the risks vs. the benefits.

Now it doesn't mean you have to ignore baby's pain entirely!

The FDA recommends using benzocaine gels, but they call for a doctor's oversight. And if you're uneasy about medications in general, there are good ol' natural remedies to help your little kiddos.

First off, take your finger and gently massage your baby's gums. Then give them a cool (not ice cold) teething ring or a cool washcloth to hold in their mouths and chew. The combination of the pressure and the coolness will help to naturally ease their aches.

If all else fails, talk to your doctor about what's safe and go with your gut!

Does this change how you approach baby teething?

Image via Rob Friesel/Flickr

What a strange world we live in -- one in which a mom breastfeeding her baby at a Starbucks makes another woman angry enough to complain, but gets a compassionate response from ... a male teenage barista? Yep.

Julia Wykes stopped in to a Starbucks in Ontario to grab a drink and realized her 5-month-old was hungry. She decided to, oh, you know, do the only humane thing possible and feed her child, gasp, from her breast! This was enough to royally piss off a customer who clearly hadn't had enough caffeine that day. The woman walked right up to the young barista and reportedly told him in a very loud voice, "Could you get that woman to stop doing that in public? It is disgusting."

Well, his response was priceless -- and a model for how ALL companies should treat women who breastfeed in their establishments.

The 18- or 19-year-old gentleman (and he has earned the right to be called one) reportedly refused to engage in an exchange with the nasty woman about her opinion on keeping the human race alive, healthy, and thriving.

Instead, he walked right up to the nursing mom with a smile on his face -- and offered her a refill, as well as a voucher she could use for a free drink. He also apologized to Wykes for having to put up with horrifyingly unpleasant people who stick their noses where they don't belong (oh, okay, those are my words, not his).

What a class act!

It never ceases to amaze us that, in this day and age, breastfeeding is still not deemed socially acceptable. How could anyone put their fear of seeing a real life breast ahead of a crying child's need to eat? It's a cruel, inconsiderate way to think about women, and it's important that we continue to hear about stories like this one to remind us of how ignorant and wrong it is.

And -- Starbucks price hike be damned -- this young barista makes me want to run out and throw down $10 on a Venti Frapp ASAP. All businesses should train their employees to handle situations like this in a similar manner. What a gem of a worker and human they've got there. It's just unfortunate that all women and men don't respond to nursing moms the way this obviously well-raised teen did.

Are you surprised another woman complained about this mom? What do you think of the way the Starbucks employee responded?

Image via @istock.com/josiephos

Maternity leave is supposed to make moms' lives easier -- and their babies' lives better. But if you've ever had a co-worker drop a snide comment about your time off after giving birth or dealt with a boss who hemmed and hawed about giving you your legally protected leave, you know it's hard out there for moms who take maternity leave. And a woman's unusual break from work is about to make it even harder for all the moms out there.

Tanya Oliva is on maternity leave .... for her puppy.

No, this is not a story out of a supermarket tabloid. Oliva did not give birth to a canine.

She has, however, convinced her bosses to let her take time off to spend with her new "four-legged child" (her words, not ours). As Oliva told a Canadian TV station,

I believe in making sure every man, woman, child, animal has the best chance in life, and by taking maternity leave for my puppy, he is going to be just a great dog.

As if women don't have it hard enough justifying sometimes as little as a week or two off from a job to recover from the painful and exhausting labor and delivery, establish a good breastfeeding routine, and try to help a new human being get settled into life? Not to mention doing it all on little to no sleep?

Sorry, folks, but this goes beyond ridiculous and straight into insulting, even for moms who love their doggies. We are talking about creatures that eat their own poop and can legally (and morally!) be left in a crate for hours on end.

More From The Stir: White House Working Families Summit: The Good, the Bad & the Bizarre

Oliva is generating a lot of jokes on the Internet for her days off for doggy, but for mothers -- especially moms here in America -- this is no laughing matter. Only 16 percent of employers offer fully paid maternity leave. More than 40 percent of moms end up taking unpaid leave, while nearly 50 percent end up cobbling together a leave by using up their sick, vacation, and personal days in order to stay home with their baby. 

And why do we do it?

It's not because babies are cute, folks.

It's because scientists have proven maternity leaves are crucial for the health of a mother and health of her baby both, from lowering the risk of postpartum depression to increasing the chance that a mom can successfully breastfeed.

We're talking about successfully changing the lives of human beings. And Tanya Oliva wants to equate that with cuddling a puppy?

Let's just call this what it really is: vacation. Not maternity leave.

What do you think of Oliva's stunt? Is this insulting to "real" moms and their fight for fair leave?

Image via © iStock.com/GlobalStock

Have you ever heard of Infant Self Rescue (ISR)? If you haven't, you should familiarize yourself with it in the form of a Google Video search, because, guys? It's terrifying. But also, it can save your baby's life.

In (hyperbolic) layman's terms, ISR is the act of tossing your barely-out-of-the womb child into a body of water and letting them fend for themselves. Scary? Um, that'd be correct. But, fascinatingly, your baby is born with the ability to both swim and hold her breath under water. (But, please, don't go tossing your babies into the pool!) Due to the fact that about two children under 14 die every day in the U.S. from drowning, the purpose of ISR is to teach children as young as 6 months to float, get comfortable in the water in the case that they accidentally fall in, and hone their innate skills of holding their breath. Some claim that ISR can help babies save themselves from drowning.

Of course, any parent would want their baby to be armed with the knowledge of how to save themselves from drowning, but, please, please let's hope that this doesn't give any moms or dads out there a false sense of security. Just because your tiny baby knows how to swim doesn't mean they should be around a pool or bath alone! Infant Self Rescue ultimately sounds like a smart thing for parents to do (if they can handle it, emotionally), but in no universe should small children ever be left alone by water -- ever. We should think of this as an added bonus, not a reason to kick back at the beach and relax.

More from The Stir: 2-Year-Old Girl Swims Like an Olympian Already (VIDEO)

That said, it truly is pretty unbelievable seeing babies so small swim around in the pool as if they've been doing it forever (which, in a sense, they have). This video might make you squirm in your seat a little bit, as the swim instructor seems to be wildly cavalier with the 8-month-old who's in the pool, but this little cutie sure knows what she's doing.

Check it out. And would you ever do this to your kid? Or will you stick to simply being on them like a hawk whenever they're around water?

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Image via © Romona Robbins Photography/Corbis

When you think of the many hardships homeless mothers must face, being asked not to nurse their babies in public probably isn't among them. But for Karen Penley, this is very much a real issue. Penley is currently staying at a homeless shelter in Oahu, Hawaii, and she's been asked on numerous occasions to cover up or leave the room when nursing her baby. The mom says that a worker at the Institute for Human Services recently told her that she wasn't allowed to breastfeed her baby without a blanket on over herself.

"He's like, 'You must cover to nurse your baby.' And I was like, 'I have the right not to cover,'" Penley says. "And he goes, 'I have the right to refuse services.' In other words ... kick me out, make me leave." The Executive Director at IHS says that Penley wasn't threatened to be kicked out and that they've given her other areas to nurse in, which are air conditioned, but she continually refuses. "The air conditioner is actually broke," Penley said. "It's super small. I'm claustrophobic so I don't like being in small areas."

Regardless of who's being completely truthful here, can we all agree on one thing: Respect to this mama for breastfeeding her baby even under the most difficult of circumstances. Yes, it's free, but as anyone who's ever nursed can tell you -- breastfeeding isn't a walk in the park, particularly in the beginning. Good for Penley for sticking it out and opting not to find means to obtain formula (like she likely did for diapers). She wanted to nurse her baby and she did. This is also, in a weird way, a reminder of just how little we need to feed and comfort our babies when they're so small. Basically, all it boils down to is breast milk and cuddles from mama. A far cry from the stores and websites trying to sell 974 things to new moms every day.

Hopefully, Penley and the homeless shelter she's staying at will be able to resolve things quickly and amicably, as it would be terrible if both she and her infant were back on the street. But again, good for this mama for sticking to her guns.

[code]Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL[/code]

Do you think Penley should be forced to cover up while breastfeeding?

Image via Hawaii News Now

In the market for a stroller? Before you hit the stores, a new Consumer Reports stroller test is out, along with a warning for parents. The consumer advocate group has rated a number of Graco strollers a "don't buy; safety risk" in its latest assessment.

So what does that mean for parents?

According to Consumer Reports, the Graco Ready2Grow Classic Connect LX and similar Classic Connect, Click Connect LX, and Click Connect double strollers -- made to carry two kids at once -- have unreliable brakes that allow the popular baby item "to roll and potentially put both children at risk."

Consumer Reports put the strollers up on a tilted table with a 20-degree incline to test the brakes, which is more than the 12-degree incline required by federal safety standards. Their findings showed bending and stress marks on the brakes, and the Ready2Grow Classic Connect LX, in particular, started rolling at 18 degrees. The safety group is urging parents not to buy the strollers and, if they already own one, to contact Graco for a refund.

Graco, for its part, has reportedly said it will work with parents on a case-by-case basis, but parents should be aware that the company has reportedly refuted the risk and is standing behind its strollers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has not released any sort of recall or warning.

It's certainly something for parents to think about -- this test exceeded federal safety guidelines. Are those enough for parents? Or should the tests be more hardcore?

Either way, parents who are on the market for a stroller have other options -- including Graco's FastAction Fold Duo Click Connect -- that did get good ratings from Consumer Reports this year, and the more information parents have, the better off they are to make a good choice for baby. 

Do you feel the federal standards are enough? Do you follow Consumer Reports' guidelines when shopping for your baby?

Image via © iStock.com/Entienou

Nursery rhymes may be popular with little kids, but if you take a deeper look, the lyrics tend to be dark and forbidding. It seems only fitting that a documentary meant to peel back the curtains and reveal one of the darkest times for mothers would take its name from one. The producers of When the Bough Breaks are calling their film an "honest look at the lives of women who have or had postpartum depression."

The filmmakers promise to answer "all the unanswered questions" about a disease that affects as much as 41 percent of new mothers. But what will that look like, and why should moms watch? The Stir spoke with producers Tanya Newbould and Lindsay Gerszt and Director/Producer Jamielyn Lippman to find out why they've turned their lens on moms and what they hope talking about postpartum depression will do:

What inspired you to make When the Bough Breaks?

Tanya Newbould: I'm originally from England, grew up in Michigan, and moved to California for acting. Met and married my husband and, after 11 years, had our beautiful daughter Ava. To my shock and dismay, I had severe PPD. It began while Ava was in utero and continued for five and a half months after she was born. It was very devastating, and there was a lot of shame around it. No one seemed to be able to vocalize what was wrong with me until I read Brooke Shields' book, Down Came the Rain. It was the first time I identified what was happening to me.

I knew how important it was to get information about this crucial subject to as many people as possible. I had the fortune of being interviewed by Jamielyn Lippman for her documentary, Die Trying. We began to converse about being new moms and discussed the possibility of doing this documentary. Jamielyn didn't have PPD, but identified the importance of this subject matter.

Why is postpartum depression something worth making a documentary about?

Newbould: Because one in five women are affected by peri/postnatal mood disorders. It can range from baby blues to Postpartum Psychosis. Our goal is to help women and families identify the signs of this and therefore help them, possibly even save a mother's or child's life.

Jamielyn Lippman: There so many misconceptions about postpartum depression and perinatal mood disorders, the same misconceptions that I had. One in five women suffer from some form of postpartum depression and many suffer in silence because of the stigma and shame that surrounds it. There is so much attention in the media right now because of these infanticides that could have been avoided if the signs weren’t missed. This documentary will not only bring awareness but save lives.

Lindsay Gerszt: Too many women and families are suffering. When I think about what I went through six years ago after the birth of my son, I wish I did things differently and wish I understood more about what was happening to me. With this film, we have the opportunity to educate women and families who are going through this very scary illness. There is so much stigma attached to postpartum depression. The more we speak out, the less scary it is for others to do the same. This is an incredible opportunity we have to make a difference.

Who are the moms featured? How did you find them?

Newbould: The moms vary. I am one of the moms, and Jamielyn did a blog post and we had hundreds of responses. Lindsay was one of the women we interviewed, and she and Jamielyn formed a friendship. She is now a producer with the two of us and brings so much value to our documentary. We couldn't accomplish what we have without her. She is still suffering from PPD, and part of our story is her finding the help she needs to move through this.

More From The Stir: 9 Celebrity Moms Share Their Postpartum Depression Battles

Lippman: Some of the women came from the ad I put up on an LA website. We had over 100 women write to us who wanted to share their stories to help others who are suffering. Some of the women are friends of ours and others we met along the way during this journey.

Can you share some of the stories that have really moved you most from some of the moms?

Newbould: Every story moves me so strongly. It's heartbreaking to see these amazing mothers in so much emotional and sometimes physical pain. I cry for every one of them. We just want to help.

Lippman: We interviewed a women who committed infanticide, she comes from a wonderful family, is intelligent, had no history of mental illness, and wanted a baby. This was the hardest interview we had, lots of tears were shed, and I think it will really open people's eyes to see how serious this is.

Gerszt: In all honesty, I am moved by every story we have heard. These women, men, and families have shown such bravery in telling their stories. We were honored to be sitting there with them, and I am truly a better person for meeting them. Each person we interviewed holds a very special place in my heart.

You guys ended up on the Real Housewives during filming. How did that help get out the message about PPD? What was the response like?

Newbould: Peggy Tanous and I used to model together, and we've been friends for years. She also suffered from PPD and invited us to film her on RHOC. It brought much needed attention to our documentary and was such a blessing. Any positive media shed on this subject is always welcome.

Where's the film at in terms of production right now? When can we see it?

Lippman: We just finished shooting and will now move to the postproduction phase and hope to have it released early 2015.

What are you hoping to accomplish by putting out a film about PPD?

Newbould: Plain and simple: help raise awareness to this very crucial subject matter. Personally, I would like to see a screening process put into place for every pregnant woman, with or without insurance! Early detection can make a huge difference.

Gerszt: We want to raise awareness about postpartum depression. We hope that by raising awareness, there will be less shame in having it. The more people understand about it and speak about it, the more lives can be saved.

Lippman: I hope this documentary shows women that postpartum depression is nothing to be ashamed of and you need to speak up and ask for help. One of the women in our film said something that really sticks with me: “It's amazing when you share how many stories you will hear back."

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Check out the trailer for When the Bough Breaks:

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Visit Facebook more information on When the Bough Breaks or GoFundMe to donate to help the filmmakers cover the costs of the independent project.

Have you suffered from postpartum depression? Share your story below.

Images via © iStock.com/MachineHeadz; Jamie Lippman