When you're choosing where to settle down and start raising the family, there's a lot on your mind. Are your children going to grow up and look back on a good childhood? Help is on the way! The Annie E. Casey Foundation has looked into the well-being of kids in each state to determine the best and worst places in America to raise children.

Their list is based on several individual rankings, which include: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community statistics. Based on all four sectors of data, the Foundation then ranked all 50 states, from best to worst, and you'll be shocked to read some of the scary numbers.

More from The Stir: 10 Best States for Breastfeeding Moms: Is Yours on the List?

We've included the 10 best (in order of best to worse), and 10 worst (in order of better to worst) in the list below. Take a look:

Are the statistics true for your state?

Image ©iStock.com/akurtz

The wait is over for the first photo of Jenni "JWoww" Farley and Roger Mathews' baby girlMeilani Alexandra! JWoww appears on the cover of In Touch Weekly with Meilani, and the couple also dished several details about how they're handling parenthood so far with the magazine exclusively. Moms, prepare to be GREEN with envy when you hear the revelation JWoww shared about her fiancé.

Not to mention that "aww"s galore will be heard upon getting the first glimpse of little Meilani, whose name JWoww explained means "heavenly flower" in Hawaiian. Gorgeous!

Check out the sweet pic of mama and baby on the In Touch cover ...

Too sweet! And check out JWoww's Instagram for even more adorable shots.

JWoww shared with the mag:

We don’t have any help, so we’re learning as we go. It’s weird because now that I have her, I don’t think I’ve ever slept less in my life. But I’ve never been more content. Having her really changed my life in the best possible way.

Love it. And get this! Roger confessed about being a new dad:

I do diapers and get up with Jenni as much as I can at night. I think it’s only fair. My family is my priority.

Swoon. What new mom wouldn't want to hear those words out of her partner's mouth? After all, deciding how to split the workload of caring for a newborn isn't always a piece of cake. Quite often, moms feel guilty that they're the ones on maternity leave (even if dad had a paternity leave, mom's leave is usually longer anyway), so they should have to do the lion's share of the caretaking. How could she expect him to wake up throughout the night for the baby if he has to go to work the next day?

More from The Stir: JWoww Gives Birth to a Baby Girl & Gives Her an Exotic Name

But even if they're not off of work, dads can still get up and help, and obviously, there are many who want to! Good for Roger for putting his family first, for being such a solid source of support for his wife (whose pregnancy was certainly no picnic!). Seriously, who knew an MTV reality star would be such a doting dad? One who plenty of other fathers could stand to emulate!

How did your partner help out in those newborn days?

Image via Smith/Mejia/Splash News

Natalie Blais, a parenting strategist, founder of A Passionate Parent, and a mom of three from Calgary in Alberta, Canada considers herself a natural-born researcher. So it's no wonder that after delivering her eldest daughter via C-section and deciding she wanted to go natural for her second, she hit the books. She made up her mind early on that she would do everything she could to have a vaginal birth after cesarean (also referred to as a VBAC).  

Natalie talked to The Stir about how she came to this decision that's often seen as controversial in the medical community, how she faced her fears about the potential risks, and how she ended up doing it all over again for her third -- at home nonetheless!

How did your first end up being a C-section? Had you wanted to do a natural birth/what was your birth plan?  
I had taken Bradley Birth classes and had wanted a natural birth, but my first child was frank breech. I am a voracious researcher, so as soon as I found out she was breech -- at 32 weeks -- I read everything I could get my hands on. Some of it was really scary -- about fetal mortality and all of these things -- but I knew it was going to be my experience, and no one was going to push me into anything I didn't want to do. I tried several ways to turn her, but she was stubborn and did not want to go head down. And 14 years ago, breech [natural] deliveries were a no-no. It wasn't even something they'd consider, so I knew going in the chances of me having a cesarean were very high! I labored for 15 hours before we then decided on having a C-section. In the end, I was entirely thrilled with my birth experience even though it ended up with a cesarean. My goal was to bring home a baby who was healthy.

What was recovery like from the C-section?
I felt amazing about my birth experience. The nurses were fantastic, the OB/GYN was amazing and very supportive. She allowed me to make the decisions and helped me to understand the risks and why a C-section was my best option. My recovery was very quick and had no complications. In fact, the day I was released from the hospital, we had to stop and pick up a few things, and I was able to walk around the store, and I felt great.

When you were expecting your second, how did you come to the decision that you wanted to pursue a VBAC?
It was a given I was going to have my second baby as a VBAC, and I made sure that I had tremendous support for my entire pregnancy. We hired a monitrice (like a doula, but she is also an RN) and had a game plan right from the beginning. I wholeheartedly believed I was capable of having a VBAC with my second.

Did you get any "pushback" from your health care provider or anyone else about having a VBAC?
Incredibly, I did not get pushback from my doctor. He was in full support of my decision but was obligated to give me all the details about what could go wrong. I was advised about uterine tears and baby distress. I was also warned that I would labor longer, because my body wouldn't know what to do. In reality, I was in labor less time, by one hour. I personally believe it was because I made sure I had a long labor the first time before we chose the C-section. My mom, being a mom, was worried and concerned. She was like, 'Well, are you sure, because it would just be easier [to have a C-section]?' But in the end, she supported my decision.

How did you prepare for the birth?
I made sure I took very good care of myself by really allowing my husband, mom, and friends to help me out. I had to learn how to accept the help, because I didn't want to be stressed out in a pregnancy. I made sure I was aware of that support offered to me and learning to say yes to it. So I was way more relaxed! When you're tired going into labor, you have to work twice as hard, but if you've dialed it down a bit before, you have a bit more energy. I also talked to a ton of women who had successful VBACs, and I talked to a lot of women who said, 'Yeah, you know, I tried, but it didn't work, and I ended up with a cesarean.' I read Birthing From Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz, which was a really good, empowering book with the message that this is your baby, this is your labor and delivery.

Were you anxious about any possible risks?
That little voice in your head does say to you, 'Are you out of your mind? You don't want to just go with what is easiest?' And I went into that labor with a little bit of fear that I was going to have this crisis in my birth. What if my uterus ruptured, and then the baby's in distress, and then it's my fault if something's wrong with the baby. You run that entire movie through your brain, taking full responsibility of something that's kind of out of your control.

What did the experience end up being like?
I had my second baby at the same hospital as my first. This labor, my water did not break spontaneously, so we had to do a couple of fancy maneuvers to get my water to break. I had a monitrice and a nurse midwife, and I was really fortunate to have all that support that was beside me during the entire labor and delivery process saying, 'Okay, next contraction. Let's make a decision after the next contraction. Can you go one more contraction?' I had that medical support there if I needed it, and I didn't, and it was very successful. We were literally heading home eight or nine hours after the baby was born. If I had had a C-section, the standard hospital stay is two to three days. Recovery was very quick. I think that having such incredible support of a monitrice, doctor support, and family close by, I was better able to rest and recover. I was proud of myself for making the decision and doing everything I possibly could to ensure I had the labor and delivery I wanted.

With your third, how did you come to the decision to do not only a VBAC but a home birth? 
I was finally in a financial position to be able to have the birth experience I wanted right from the beginning. I knew that the best thing for my baby was to have a the experience I wanted to have. The more safe and secure I felt, the better the entire experience would be.

What was that experience like, especially compared to the previous VBAC and C-section? 
Having my last baby at home was incredible. My labor was shorter by almost eight hours. When I felt the first contraction, I called my mom and told her we needed to go grocery shopping! It would keep my mind off the labor and would give me the opportunity to walk around while in labor to speed it up.

What would you recommend to other moms who want to pursue a VBAC but are told the risks are too high or that it's simply out of the question?  
Remember that this is YOUR birth experience. If your doctor doesn't support you, find one that does. Find forums or other moms who have had a successful VBAC and ask their experience and ask for their support. There are so many small things that can make a huge difference and women are happy to share what worked for them. No woman wants to see another woman have a horrible birth experience. And as funny as it sounds, in a woo woo way, believe that you can do it. Believe that you are strong enough, wise enough, and your body knows what to do. Everyone has this idea that having a baby is this HUGE emergency. It's not! It is the ONE thing women have been doing from the beginning of time. Believing in the process is more than half the battle.

More from The Stir: VBACs: How to Have a Successful Vaginal Birth After a C-Section

How do you feel about moms attempting to have a VBAC? 

Image via Natalie Blais

When you have a baby boy, parents are faced with the decision of whether to circumcise or not. Currently, according to the CDC, circumcision rates are down in the United States with many parents foregoing the procedure. Many of those people call themselves intactivists. Others choose to circumcise for religious reasons.

Some parents know right away what they will do, while others aren't sure and are looking at research to help them decide. There is a new study with the latest information for those parents to take into consideration.

In a study of men in Kenya where circumcision is not common, it was revealed that men do not take part in riskier sexual behavior after they have been circumcised. AIDS is a huge issue in Africa and circumcision has been shown to reduce risk of being infected. But the concern was that the men would get a false sense of safety and put themselves in risky situations where they can contract AIDS because they thought being circumcised was a form of protection. This didn't happen -- there wasn't an increase in risky behavior. What also ended up happening is protective behaviors like using condoms went up especially among those who were circumcised. The awareness itself created even more awareness. 

More from The Stir: To Circumcise or Not to Circumcise? What You Need to Know

Finally something is being said about circumcision that won't worry us even more. This can be a tough decision for parents -- for many reasons. And with much more focus on it now, there may be generations of boys asking their parents why they choose to have them circumcised or not. The revelations in this study, along with the other information out there, may be what parents point to when discussing this with their kids when they are older.

Does this change your mind about circumcision? What are your thoughts?

Image (c)iStock.com/JurgaR

Celeb breastfeeding selfies are all the rage these days. And they are ALL great because, let's face it, the more images we see of women nursing their babies, the more normal the act seems in the eyes of the public. In other words, there's no such thing as a bad breastfeeding photo.

With that said, some bf'ing shots simply knock one out of the park -- and Gwen Stefani did just that when she posted this amazing, ethereal photo of herself feeding baby Apollo while on the road.

I'll save my gushing until after you get a glimpse at this heavenly image. And here it is:

Sigh ... Gwen with her hair up in a bun as if she doesn't care whether or not she's beautiful, which somehow makes her look even more amazing. Gwen barefoot and holding Apollo in front of a mountain in Switzerland. Every single thing about this picture is perfection -- but what I love most of all is that it isn't a glam shot, which is just what the world needs.

Oh, don't get me wrong, there are few things more glamorous than a Swiss alpine backdrop, but hey, exotic travel is routine for the singer. What makes this shot truly fabulous is the fact that Gwen is just being Gwen, and in this case, she's being the Gwen who stops on the side of the road to nurse her baby and kick off her damn shoes because why the heck not?

I loved Miranda Kerr's breastfeeding photo because she looked like a painting. Glam nursing shots are works of art, in my opinion, and there's certainly a place for them in society. But if our motive is to normalize breastfeeding and make everyone feel more comfortable with doing it in public, women who look perfectly polished and are posing like goddesses aren't going to hit home with most of us the way this photo of Gwen will. Let's hope we see more like this one.

Do you prefer Gwen's photo to glam breastfeeding shots?

Images via gwenstefani/Instagram

There are rumors circulating that Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett's marriage is in trouble despite the fact she just gave birth to their second child, a girl they named Alijah. A transsexual model named Ava Sabrina London offered "proof" of an affair by way of polygraph, but the truth is yet to be clear.

No matter what the truth is, all of this is causing a lot of stress for this new mom, and it's affecting her breastfeeding, which in turn is causing her even more stress.

Stress can be a big issue that can affect moms in so many ways (also during pregnancy and in labor). When it comes to breastfeeding, stress can affect let down and production -- and it may be making Kendra feel like a "bad mom," which is what inevitably happens when your marriage is on the rocks or when you are under the spotlight in an alleged cheating scandal.

One of Kendra's friends told People regarding the rumored affair:

It's affecting her milk production and, quite simply, breaking her heart. [Kendra] said that Hef [Hefner, her ex] has offered to help in any way he can but has been urging her to try and work it out, as he knows how hard divorce can be on the kids. But that if she is going to leave, to do it now while the kids are young enough not to remember life any other way.

The source also said that Kendra "cries every day." She just had her second baby on May 16, and those new mom hormones are still in full swing. There are hormonal changes going on, and when you are breastfeeding, often those changes are good ones. Oxytocin -- the feel-good love hormone -- is naturally released when breastfeeding, but with the added stress Kendra is under, it seems she cannot get relaxed enough to feel those benefits to help her through the stress. Which is all causing more stress.

Her breastfeeding is being hindered by the stress of a marriage on the rocks. In turn, not being able to breastfeed is making her feel like a "bad mom." If I could tell her one thing -- tell any mom who is struggling with breastfeeding one thing -- I'd make sure she knew she was doing a good job no matter what.

Has stress ever hindered your ability to breastfeed? 

Image via Kendra Wilkinson Baskett/Instagram

There was a time, not too long ago, when moms raising vegan or vegetarian kids were viewed as kooks. Even today, news stories abound of meat-free parenting gone awry, like a vegan mom in Florida arrested for refusing to take her dehydrated infant to the hospital since that might expose him to animal products in formula. Still, the tide is slowly turning.

"About a decade ago the thought of raising a child vegetarian or vegan was considered a risky move," says Carolina Jantac, RD, registered and licensed dietitian and spokesperson for KidCritics.com, which awards seals of approval to foods that pass health and taste standards for kids. "But nowadays more people are jumping in the bandwagon." And many experts say raising kids with these dietary restrictions can be safe, provided parents take a few precautions.

"There is a lot of nutrition needs for your baby in the first two years, as this time frame is critical in growth and brain development," says Jill Castle, MS, RDN, pediatric dietitian/nutritionist at Bundoo.com, a site where parents can connect with pediatricians and other medical experts. "So care and attention to planning out the diet for a vegetarian or vegan baby is essential to ensuring the overall health of the child." Here are five rules to keep in mind for every stage of a baby's development, from in utero on up. 

During pregnancy ... "The first thing I'd advise any vegan or vegetarian woman who's thinking of becoming pregnant, even before they are pregnant, is to consult with a dietitian who can test her blood levels of calcium, iron, vitamin B12, and folate," says Jantac. For vegan moms, levels of DHA, a nutrient important for vision and brain development found mainly in fish, should also be checked. "Vegans may get some DHA from flax seed, chia seeds, and hemp hearts, but it probably won't be enough," says Jantac. If a mom finds out her diet is lacking in any nutrients, she can change her habits to get what she needs from fortified foods (many soy milks and cereals are fortified with B12 and calcium) or supplements. A prenatal vitamin may cover most of these nutritional needs, but often don't contain enough B12 for vegans (the RDA for B12 during pregnancy is 2.6 micrograms per day). "Vegans will likely need to supplement further with additional B12," says Jennifer Lincoln, an OB/GYN at Bundoo.com. "These can be found in the form of animal-free supplements at vitamin stores, fortified cereals, nutritional yeast, and fortified soy milk."

If you breastfeed ... To a large extent, the nutritional rules for pregnant vegans and vegetarians also apply to the breastfeeding stage: Whatever supplements you were taking or diet you were following back then should continue. "Only because nursing takes such a toll on the body -- and because vegans and vegetarians eat a much more calorie controlled diet -- they have to ramp up their fat and caloric intake to make sure they can produce breast milk," says Jantac. While the exact amount varies, most will need to add another 300 to 500 calories to their daily diet. "Fat is probably one of the hardest ones to get enough of, but vegan moms can bulk up with avocados, extra virgin olive oil, and nuts," says Jantac.

If you use formula ... "Formula today tends to be very nutritionally complete, whether they're made of cow milk or -- for vegans -- soy milk," says Jantac. Nonetheless, "Pediatricians will typically recommend supplements of iron and vitamin D for the baby on top of formula." While some natural-minded moms may be leery of the phytoestrogen in soy, Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, nutrition adviser for the Vegetarian Resource Group, points out, "Soy formula has been used for 50 or more years where researchers have followed babies who've had it well into adulthood. They haven't seen any effect of soy formula on fertility or feminization. There's no evidence it's a problem." Vegan moms should not try to get baby by on rice or almond milk. "They don't have enough protein, fat, calcium, vitamins, or minerals that babies need," says Jantac. "From zero to one, babies need mother's milk or infant formula. Every once in awhile I see a 6-month-old whose mom felt it was fine to go off formula. It's amazing how quickly you start to see slow growth and weakness."

Once baby's eating food ... Once solid food enters the picture at around six months, vegetarian and particularly vegan moms need to keep a close eye on iron. "For a baby age 0 to 6, the RDA for iron is .27 milligrams a day, which is the same amount in breast milk," says Mangels. "From six months to a year, that jumps to 11 milligrams a day." While iron is rich in meat and eggs, vegan and vegetarian moms can find it in fortified orange juice, cereals, and tofu (which is also typically fortified with other important nutrients like B12), as well as naturally in spinach, collard greens, and legumes like lentils and beans. "The goal is to offer two servings of iron-rich foods per day," says Castle. "After a year, provide one to two sources a day. And since plant-based sources of iron are absorbed less efficiently than animal sources, offer a vitamin C food -- orange juice, cantaloupe, mango -- alongside iron foods, as vitamin C helps with iron absorption."

More from The Stir: Raising Kids Vegan: How One Family Is Doing It

Once baby is a year old ... Since kids this age are getting more active, it's important to make sure that vegetarian -- especially vegan -- kids get enough protein. So make sure to serve up plenty of beans, lentils, hummus, tofu, nuts, and soy meat analogues (i.e., meatless “chicken” nuggets and veggie burgers). "Some kids may also need to focus on getting enough calories, since a plant-based diet can be very high in fiber and low in calories; thus, kids can fill up quickly before getting enough calories to support energy needs," says Sharon Palmer, RD, author of Plant-Powered for Life. "In that case, offer a few lower fiber choices, such as breads and crackers, and healthy fats, such as nut butters, extra virgin olive oil in cooking, and avocado."

Last but not least, vegan and vegetarian moms should take special care to get regular checkups for their child to track their growth and blood levels for nutrients (like iron). "That way you can be sure that what you're doing at home is translating to good growth and development," says Castle.

Did you raise a vegan or vegetarian baby?

Images via Daniel James/Flickr; © iStock.com/princessdlaf       

Let's be honest: Moms have it hard. Deprived of sleep, a moment's peace, adult conversation, and other everyday amenities that most non-moms take for granted, these women are often desperate for even small displays of human kindness and courtesy -- trust us, it won't take much to put a smile on her face! Here are eight easy ways you can be her hero that take less than three seconds to do. Try one, try them all, and good karma will be bound to come your way.

Image ©iStock.com/Photoevent     

Babies belong in cradles or Pack 'n' Plays...but a baby behind bars? While it sounds like a Lifetime Movie, it was actually the reality for Deborah Jiang-Stein, who spent the first year of her life in prison with her mother, along with two stints in solitary confinement. She's the author of the memoir Prison Baby, and (out in August) Women Behind Bars, an eBook collection of interviews with women in prison. Here she talks about her past, how she's coped, and is now helping others in similar situations with her nonprofit The unPrison Project which aims to empower incarcerated women.

What do you know about your birth mother's circumstances -- why was she in prison?
Like many women in prison today, my mother was sentenced for drug-related crimes. She was a heroin addict. While I don’t remember, the records and family stories relate that I was addicted at birth. I spent my first year in prison with her. Throughout that year at different times she was sent to solitary confinement, also called "the hole." Over that period of time I spent a total of four months in the hole with her.

Solitary confinement for a mother and newborn? What could that have possibly been like?
I've tried through hypnosis, visualization, and therapy to access those memories without luck. But I can imagine what it was like. Perhaps she had a pen, a few sheets of paper and a Bible. I'm guessing the guards gave her diapers and blankets and other baby needs for me. Solitary confinement is known as a form of torture, but I'm quite confident I didn't suffer mental torment. In my mind, it sounds like a peaceful place where my mother could mother without distraction, in a room like any other except without a bunch of stuff.

Where did you go once you were released from prison at age one?
I went into foster care and was adopted into an academic family, both my parents English professors, so I had the opportunity of education and a deep exposure in the arts. I think creativity is the foundation and source of resilience and personal transformation.

When you learned about your background how did you feel about it?
I knew from an early age, and used to feel a terrible stigma about being a prison baby. But then again, I longed for my birth mother. I’ve grown to deal with that conflict because I've resolved that sometimes we're presented with impossible choices and unbearable circumstances that we can’t change. I also know I wouldn't be who I am today if we'd stayed together.

How did your life unfold as you grew up and became an adult?
In one sentence, my early life took a harrowing descent into depression, violence, drugs, and crime, as my way to cope with grief.  The pre-civil rights 1960s was a difficult time to grow up multiracial in a white family. Altogether, it was a torturous climb back out of emotional imprisonment to where I stand now, a place of peace and contentment. The longer version is in my memoir, Prison Baby.

After you left prison, did you ever see your mother again?
I never met her again. The little yarn figure on my book cover is a toy she knitted for me in prison craft class and sent to me in my first foster family. I’ve had it ever since. After an extensive search, I did meet the rest of my birth family. We have a wonderful and loving ongoing relationship now.

How did this lead to you founding the unPrison Project?
Ten years ago I was conducting writing and creativity workshops in a few women’s prisons when a warden suggested I speak to the total population. This was the beginning of The unPrison Project, a nonprofit that brings a life skills program into prisons around the country. Mostly the programs serve women, girls, and youth, however several men’s prisons have requested the work, also. Most people in prison have a diagnosable mental health issue, and the majority are sentenced for nonviolent drug related charges, just like my birth mother.

How common is it for mothers to raise babies in prison?
The numbers are staggering: Over a 20 year period, the rise in the incarceration rate for women has increased 800 percent. According to the Department of Justice, the number of women pregnant at the time of sentencing ranges from seven to ten percent. Eleven states now have nurseries inside prison for a selected group of women to keep their babies and raise them in infancy during their sentence. Each state varies for the length of time the baby stays in the nursery, anywhere from 18 months to three years. Even if the mom and baby are released together, those who oppose prison nurseries worry that the potential risk of trauma for the child increases if the mother is sentenced for some future crime and the bond is cut. My understanding, though, is that the recidivism rate for moms drops drastically.

More from The Stir: Mom Who Killed Daughter's Rapist Goes to Prison

How common is it for kids to have a parent in prison?
Part of the urgency in working for the wellness and health of those in prison is that 2.3 million children have a parent in prison. To put that in perspective, it’s larger than the state of Delaware. In fact, 16 states have a census count smaller than that population of children with incarcerated parents, and most are under age 10. If anything is going to change in this fractured part of our nation, it will happen when incarceration is treated as the public health crisis it is, and not a criminal justice problem. Addiction and mental illness are public health issues.

Would moms be allowed to raise their babies in prison? Why or why not?

Image via Deborah Jiang-Stein

The summer my daughter was born was a hot one. As I sweated buckets and downed gallons of Poland Spring to stay hydrated, I couldn't help but look quizzically at my infant and wonder: Does a breastfeeding baby need to drink water, too? At the time, my daughter was nursing exclusively, but that just didn't seem sufficient in this sweltering heat. Was she slowly dying of dehydration? After all, don't all living things need water?

As strange as it seems, even in desert-like conditions, breast milk alone (or infant formula) is enough. "Breastfed babies do not need extra water, even in hot weather," says Tamara Melton, RDN, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics who specializes in breastfeeding and infant nutrition. For one, if a baby's thirsty, he'll just demand more breast milk or formula. And even if it's 100+ degrees out and your body's drenched in perspiration in an effort to cool down your internal temperature, "little babies don't sweat much at all, since their sweats glands haven't developed much yet," Melton continues. "That's why babies can get overheated in a car so quickly." 

Yet since a baby gets all his liquid from breast milk, this does put extra onus on the mom to up her fluid intake. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, during breastfeeding, moms should try to take in around 13 cups of fluid per day, which can include not only water, but low-fat milk or 100 percent fruit juice. "They can drink more if they are thirsty and should keep a water bottle handy," says Melton. "A good time to catch up on fluid intake is to sip on water while baby is nursing.”

Babies should start drinking water when they start eating solid food, which usually starts at around 6 months. "Offer the baby water in a cup or sippy cup while she is eating, and let her drink as she wishes," says Melton. "This may be a little more or less than one cup per day. Since a baby's stomach is small, you don't want to give her too much water, as water can make the baby feel full, and she may refuse to breastfeed or take her bottle." Once babies are fully weaned, they can start drinking more; according to the Institutes of Medicine, children 1 to 3 years old should take in 1.3 liters of water per day. And since kids this age don't always notice or verbalize when they're thirsty, be sure to regularly offer them something to drink, at least once an hour.

When did your baby start drinking water?

Image via reway2007/Flickr

Every mom knows there are a bevy of reasons her little one might be crying -- from hunger to teething or tiredness. But just like grown-ups, babies may get fussy thanks to an annoying, uncomfortable ailment: the all-too-prevalent stomachache. "Breastfeeding mothers will want to see if there is something they are eating in their diet that could be upsetting the baby," says pediatrician and certified lactation educator Christine Wood, M.D. "Common things can include milk and dairy products, and spicy foods." However, gastrointestinal upset may also occur as the result of another wellness woe, such as colic or indigestion.

Here, 5 causes of babies' upset tummies and the best tricks for addressing each.

Tummy Trouble #1: Colic
Although the jury is still out on the exact cause of colic -- defined as uncontrollable, excessive crying in babies under 5 months -- recent research asserts that babies with colic also happen to develop a certain intestinal bacteria later than babies who don't have colic. And the lack of proteobacteria and probiotics leads to stomach pains, which triggers the crying. Poor baby!
What you can do: You may want to consider asking your pediatrician about a probiotic (Lactobacillus reuteri in particular) supplement, which could help reduce symptoms. "In the meantime, parents can try swaddling, swinging, playing soothing music, or other similar relaxing techniques," advises pedatrician Kevin Polsley, M.D., Loyola University Health System in Illinois. "However, changing from one formula to another is generally not recommended."

Tummy Trouble #2: Constipation
Although infants, especially breast-fed infants, can go a couple of days without a bowel movement and still not be considered constipated, many babies are affected by and suffer stomachaches if they're having difficulty passing stool. A general rule of thumb from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): If you suspect constipation in a newborn, one tip-off is firm stools less than once a day. But no matter what age your little one is, if their stools are hard, dry, and painful to pass, they may be constipated.
What you can do: "Parents need to monitor babies' bowel movements, because one of the worst things that can happen is that a little constipation problem turns into a much bigger one," says Matthew Levy, D.O., emergency physician and assistant professor of emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland. "You want to avoid them being impacted with stool, because that can be especially uncomfortable." As for treatment, Dr. Levy suggests speaking to your pediatrician about using a fiber supplement to your baby's formula or an over-the-counter laxative (like Miralax).

Tummy Trouble #3: Acidreflux
Most babies spit up, or even throw up on occasion, after feedings. But if your baby seems to be suffering from a stomachache and seems to be spitting up or vomiting often, she may be suffering from gastroesophageal reflux, also referred to as "reflux." This occurs when the valve between the baby's esophagus and stomach doesn't work properly, and food and gastric acid come up from the stomach into the throat. The upshot is often an upset stomach and burning sensation in the chest and throat. Ouch.
What you can do: Usually your pediatrician can diagnosis reflux by discussing your baby's medical history. A few lifestyle measures can be taken to speed relief, such as elevating the head of the baby's crib or bassinet, holding your baby upright for 30 minutes after a feeding, or thickening bottle feedings with cereal (which you'll want the doctor's go-ahead for). Thankfully, most babies outgrow their reflux symptoms by the time they're 12 months old. "If the reflux is causing severe symptoms, or if there is poor weight gain, a medication may be necessary," says Dr. Polsley.

More from The Stir: 6 Natural Ways to Treat Infant Gas

Tummy Trouble #4: Gas pain
In their first three months of life, infants are especially susceptible to gas pain, as their intestines are still maturing, making digestion far from a piece of cake! Then, from 6 to 12 months, they may also have trouble as a result of trying different foods. Either way, gas pain is no fun for mama or baby.
What you can do:  The good news is that there are many natural measures you can take to help get things moving and offer relief for your baby. If you're feeding from a bottle, you could try using an "anti-gas" bottle, like Dr. Brown's Natural Flow. It also helps for your baby to always be on an incline when eating, with her mouth above her belly. You might also consider Mommy's Bliss Gripe Water, a combination of herbs and other natural ingredients, is a go-to recipe to quash gas.

Tummy Trouble #5: Stomachflu
While we tend to think of wintertime as flu season, babies may fall sick with the flu or gastroenteritis anytime of the year. In fact, it's the second most common illness in the U.S. after the common cold. Tell-tale signs include vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, as well as a fever, loss of appetite, and in turn, dehydration.
What you can do: If you think your child may be fighting the flu or is at risk of getting dehydrated, reaching out to your pediatrician ASAP is best. In the meantime, ensuring he is getting enough fluid (either breast milk or formula) is imperative.

It's important to bear in mind that certain red flags may mean your baby's stomachache requires more immediate attention. Dr. Levy notes, "Warning signs for something more serious include any behavior out of the ordinary, including inconsolable crying not alleviated by normal activities that typically soothe your child, poor feeding, persistent vomiting, vomiting green liquid (which can indicate a bowel obstruction), baby acting not as alert as usual, decrease in number of wet diapers (which may signal dehydration), fever, or bloody stool or vomit, which is an automatic sign to go to the ER."

What has been the culprit of your baby's stomachaches more often than not? What did you do for relief?

Image via iStock/JenniferPhotographyImaging

Have you heard about the Monterey, California, restaurant that is banning strollers, high chairs, booster seats, and even crying children?

In a move that not surprisingly has some parents very upset, the Old Fisherman's Grotto restaurant has adopted what can be described as a "your kids are welcome here, but only if they're above a certain age and know how to act like civilized individuals" policy.

And they're apparently pretty strict at enforcing it, as there's even a sign that clearly states that unruly and loud babies and kids are simply not allowed to dine there. Including their gear.

Hmm. They can't really get much more blatant than that, can they?

But while some parents are deeming this to be unfair, outrageous, and everything in between, I can't help but want to high-five the restaurant owner for sticking to his guns by allowing other patrons to enjoy their dining experience in his establishment.

Here's the thing. When my son was a baby/toddler, I still took him out to eat all the time. But we went to restaurants that were known to be very kid-friendly for a couple of reasons. First, I didn't want to feel stressed out or embarrassed if he did happen to make a bit of noise during the meal. And second, call me neurotic -- but I worried about the people seated around us when we went out to eat.

It's no secret that a crying baby or unruly child can ruin a good meal in a heartbeat. I never wanted to feel like I ruined someone's dinner out simply because my child was still becoming accustomed to going to restaurants.

By the same token, when I go out for a kid-free meal? I want to enjoy every minute of it without having to listen to incessant whining, whimpering, bawling ... whatever.

More from The Stir: Restaurant's Discount for 'Well Behaved Kids' Is an Insult to Good Parents (PHOTO)

Seriously, it's common courtesy, people.

If diners in Monterey want to bring their children out to eat, I'm sure there are a whole host of other places they can go without feeling the least bit offended. And in turn, I guess now adults in that area know there's at least one place they can go where they're guaranteed to be able to hear the conversation at the dinner table.

Do you find this restaurant's policy offensive?

Image via ©iStock.com/baona

Walker Colt Pruett was born on April 25 and spent the next 80 days of his life in the neo-natal intensive care unit at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Like about one of every eight infants born in the United States, Walker was born premature, at just 26 weeks. He weighed 1 pound, 3 ounces, and Capturing Hopes Photography captured every day of his stay in the hospital.

The company, which is led by a team of volunteer photographers, takes pictures of premature babies as they continue to develop until the moment they go home with their parents. In Walker's case, when he turned 3 months old and weighed more than 5 pounds, mom and dad took him home. See his journey below:

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

From his first day to the moment he opens his eyes, starts wearing clothes, begins breastfeeding, and finally goes home, the cameras captured everything. You can see him growing and developing right before your eyes.

For moms of premature babies, the project is inspirational. If your child has to stay in the hospital, seeing a video like this or viewing daily picture updates of him or her can show you that things are really progressing. It's inspirational to see just how strong these little nuggets are and how hard they're fighting.

How did you capture your child's first moments?

Image via Capturing Hopes/YouTube

An Australian couple wanted to have a baby but were experiencing issues so they did what many do and went to a surrogate for help. In many cases, surrogacy is an incredibly beautiful thing. It builds families. But this wasn't what happened for this unnamed couple. The surrogate was from Thailand, and the surrogacy was set up through an agency. About three months into the pregnancy, the surrogate, 21-year-old Pattharamon Janbua, learned she was carrying two babies for this Australian couple. Twins! I would think that this couple was ecstatic. I'm a mother of twins and remember when the doctor told me there were two babies -- it was so exciting. I felt blessed.

When Janbua was in her fourth month of pregnancy she got the news that it was believed one of the twins had Down syndrome. That's when the Australian couple asked her to abort. She did not. And when the twins were born -- a girl and a boy with Down Syndrome -- the Australian couple only took the girl.

There is "risk" of some sort in every pregnancy. There is risk of some sort in all of our lives. During any moment of any day something could go wrong. Something could happen that isn't according to your plan. While I understand this Australian couple wanted healthy babies, the fact that they abandoned their child is baffling to me. It doesn't matter what the child had or what challenges that child would have -- that's what we face when we decide to become parents. And this couple very clearly decided to become parents and went to great lengths to fulfill their wish. The surrogate carried their babies -- this was their child, with their DNA, made from them, carried by a woman they paid around $16,000 to deliver.

Have some of us become so cold, so mechanic and computerized that we fail to see how wrong this is? This is the Australian couple's child that they abandoned, and because of the lenient rules on surrogacy in Thailand this is something that happened without much incident. (Those rules have reportedly since been changed.)

This baby boy is named Gammy. He is now six-months-old. In addition to Down syndrome, he has a congenital heart condition, and is battling a lung infection. Janbua has cared for him like he was her own child since the Australian couple abandoned him. She said:

Why does he have to be abandoned and the other baby has it easy? I chose to have him, not to hurt him. I love him, he was in my tummy for nine months, it’s like my child.

Janbua became a surrogate to help with her bills. She isn't a rich woman. When she went public with Gammy's story, donations started to come in -- over $50,000 -- and all the money is going to the treatment and care for Gammy.

I'm having a hard time understanding how this family could just take the sister and leave the brother behind? I know they wanted to abort the unhealthy twin and that in itself is its own issue worthy of a lengthy debate, but that didn't happen because of Janbua's religious beliefs and they knew it. They knew they were going to have two babies -- their babies, their blood. But they chose to keep one and leave the other without any kind of care set up for their child.

More from The Stir: Aborting One Twin While Keeping the Other Is Wrong

Perhaps they felt they couldn't care for a baby with Down syndrome. Perhaps they were scared. But to leave their own baby with the surrogate they paid only to carry their child -- a surrogate with financial issues -- just seems heartless and empty. It's wrong. It's criminal. They left their sick child without a plan, without his parents, without his twin sister. Thank goodness for the love of Janbua, and the community of people who donated money to help him.

Gammy is said to be fighting for his life. Doctors aren't sure how long he will live. I can't help but wonder how that Australian couple feels. If they think of their son. Or if the distance of a surrogacy created the distance of parental emotion. As an outsider, someone just writing about this story, as a twin mom of a boy and a girl, I'm so saddened by this. Gammy is in my thoughts, as is Janbua.

What do you think of this story? How does it make you feel?

Image via Adrian Drebler/Flickr

I always knew I liked Alanis Morissette. The singer, who is now 40 if you can believe it, has always been outspoken and smart -- a woman's woman who you just knew would have your back and felt strongly about women's issues.

It comes as very little surprise that Alanis is a breastfeeding advocate who chose to nurse son Ever, who is now 3, until he made the call to wean. She took to Instagram to post a fantastic throwback photo of herself feeding her baby.

Alanis appeared on The Billy Bush Show in 2012 and was very clear about her position on breastfeeding: "I'll breastfeed, and I'll be breastfeeding until my son is finished and he weans. I think it affords the child, when he grows up, to have a lot less therapy to go to. For me, I protect his safety and his well-being and his attachment. That stage of development is a very important stage."

This is the first photo we've seen of Alanis breastfeeding and it's just beautiful:

Doesn't she look happy and healthy?

Gotta love the caption on the photo, too: "family on tour ;) europe 2012 #worldbreastfeedingweek #isupportyou @msjamielynne #everlovedhischakraglasses @jaygordonmdfaap,"

Leilani Rogers has breastfeed four children. The Texas mom nursed her youngest child for 18 months. And for 18 months, she managed to schedule every outing, every doctor's appointment so she never had to nurse in public. In fact, it wasn't until Rogers, a birth photographer, began to take photos of breastfeeding mothers that she felt her own inhibitions about feeding your child out in the public's eye fall away.

It's why Rogers created the Public Breastfeeding Awareness Project (PBAP), an annual drive that draws hundreds of moms across America to allow themselves to be photographed ... while breastfeeding. This year's event kicked off in concert with World Breastfeeding Week, and the hashtag #PBAP2014 has already taken social media by storm, spreading photos of nursing moms across the globe. 

"On a global level, the purpose of this project is to help normalize public breastfeeding, something the world unfortunately sexualizes," Rogers told The Stir. "The majority of people support breastfeeding, though the minority that trolls pro-breastfeeding articles/pictures online is very vocal."

Ironically, it's online where the breastfeeding project really got its start. Rogers ran a poll during World Breastfeeding Week in 2013, asking moms where they felt most uncomfortable nursing in public. The answers were fast and furious -- churches, grocery stores, the park, the pool, work, libararies ...

"It dawned on me that I could target specific situations where mothers felt uncomfortable nursing in public by photographing them in those situations," Rogers explained.

"I love preserving this beautiful and natural bond for mothers, and I've seen that through exposure, society becomes more accepting of it and it becomes more "normal" in their eyes. Not only that, but other mothers see the images and feel a stronger sense of community and support. They walk away from conversations about these images with more confidence, and they are empowered enough to not place so much importance on their society's misguided views about breasts."

More From The Stir: Incredible Images of Babies Being Born Give Us a Look at the Miracle of Birth

So she put out a call for models and got to work taking photos. As she posted the nursing in public, or NIP, images to Facebook, word spread. She began to see other photographers starting their own, similar projects in their own cities, and the idea to step outside of her hometown of Austin was born. 

"It occurred to me to join forces and make this a worldwide effort. I've got at least 50 photographers signed up to participate in the Public Breastfeeding Awareness Project this year, in locations all over the US as well as Ireland and Canada," Rogers tells The Stir.

And it isn't just the person behind the lens who has changed. "Model" moms have come out in droves, and from all walks of life.

"This year I have expanded to include working mothers who pump on the job, as well as mothers who bottle feed or even tube-feed breastmilk," Rogers says. "You may notice a mom in a wheelchair in [some] pictures. She was in a terrible car accident after she'd already signed up to both participate in my session and be a photographer herself. Her breasfteeding relationship was cut short due to complications front he accident and told me she didn't think she was a good fit for the project anymore. I told her to come anyway, if anything to honor the dedication she had to breastfeeding her 21- month-old."

Work your way through the images on Facebook from the project, and the response is overwhelming. The word most often repeated? A simple, "love."

"One thing I realized after last year’s project is that these images were encouraging a sense of community among breastfeeding moms," Rogers says. "I received emails and messages from moms who, like me, had avoided breastfeeding in public for fear of scrutiny not only from the public but from other mothers.

"There are organizations like LLL (La Leche League) that offer tremendous support to breastfeeding mothers. But images like these are encouraging and inspiring mothers to breastfeed outside of those walls with more confidence.

"This is one way I hope for this project to make an impact," Rogers continues. "Breastfeeding mothers do face some barriers, but the more the public sees it, the more normal or accepted it will become."

***

Want to get involved? Check Rogers's list of participating photographers on her Facebook page to find out if someone near you is involved in the Public Breastfeeding Awareness Project. Post a photo of yourself breastfeeding in public on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, using hashtags #PBAP2014 #worldbreastfeedingweek #supportpublicbreastfeeding #breastfeedinginreallife #thisisnormal. Or share the photos below with one of those hashtags!

Where are YOU most uncomfortable breastfeeding? Does #6 help you feel more comfortable?

Image via Leilani Rogers, Photographer

When to stop breastfeeding a baby is a highly personal choice: Some moms throw in the towel once they reach the American Academy of Pedetrics' recommended one-year mark; others play it by ear and let their kid call the shots on when to quit. To help you decide when the time is right to wean your child, we polled moms on the instant they knew they were ready. Their answers ranged in age from 6 months to 6-plus years, based on the onset of teeth (ouch!) to the cost of formula to their own child's growing self confidence.

"Six months, once teeth were in. Sorry, I'm not a chew toy. Getting bit only happened once with each kid and that was enough for me."

"Both of my nurslings self weaned -- my son two months shy of his 6th birthday, my daughter two months after her 7th birthday. Yes, there were times when I wanted my body back. There were times when the thought of pumping one more time made me want to scream. And there were plenty of occasions where I was made to feel uncomfortable nursing in public. But in the end, their need for comfort, nutrition, and mom won out. I have no regrets for nursing as long as I did. It was something they needed, and when they were ready, they stopped. There were no tears, no sense of loss, just completion. My guys are now healthy, active, and independent 7- and 9-year-olds. They are not clingy or babyish. They're very confident kids. I owe a lot of that to letting them reach their milestones in their own time; not pushing them to 'grow up' on society's timetable. I feel very good about that."

"I nursed my daughter until she was 13 months. I absolutely loved the convenience of nursing, along with her sweet little head resting against me. However, right around 12 months, she started to periodically slip her head under my shirt and find her own way to the breast. The final straw was when she was seated on my lap while I attending a meeting. She promptly proceeded to pull up my shirt and nurse, in front of everyone. Fortunately I grabbed her blanket to cover up before she got into position. Needless to say, I knew it was my duty to close shop!"

More from The Stir: 6 Things You Can Do While Breastfeeding

"My goal of a year was based on the fact that I didn't want to pay the cost for formula, knowing I could feed my kids for free. Once I reached my goal, I began the process of weaning; my son nursed at night until 14 months then just stopped on his own."

"I am still breastfeeding my son, but as his first birthday fast approaches, I realize I am ready. A string of moments made me realize that while the beautiful bond of breastfeeding has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life, I am ready to move on to the next chapter. It was the moments that my husband had to play on his phone quietly because I was nursing. It was the time I had to spend in the car nursing before heading into a store or restaurant. Having a baby does put a strain on a marriage, and breastfeeding makes it that much harder, and it's time to shift back some of the focus I originally had on my husband. It will definitely be a bittersweet moment but it's the best for our family."

"We took a cruise when my son was 11 months old. Before the trip we had started the weaning process, but during the cruise, my son would barely eat and nursed like crazy. My milk came back in and I felt like a cow once again! That's when I knew I needed to wean this boy quickly, once and for all. After we returned from the cruise, it was four weeks and my son was finally off the boob for good. Now I'm nursing my daughter, currently 4 months, and I'm counting down the months to her turning 1 so I can wean her and have my body back to myself."

"I knew I was ready to stop breast feeding when my 6-month-old was nursing every hour! I could not keep up with him. There wasn't enough time in the day!"

"I nursed my son for 24 months; right around his second birthday he stopped. It wasn't a planned of conscious thing; it was more of a mutual agreement. As my son started to walk, then run, he became more confident, needed me less, and I celebrated each independent moment. I kept thinking while nursing him, Will this be the last? I didn't notice until a week or two went by and I realized my breasts weren't so full and that he wasn't climbing into my lap or sending me signs he wanted to nurse. He had grown up. And as with each stage of growth of a child, I felt sadness and joy."

When did you know the time was right to stop breastfeeding? 

Image via Ozgur POYRAZOGLU/Flickr

In further proof that we absolutely need Breastfeeding Awareness Week, a new report has come out showing there are still people out there who have a problem with nursing moms. Still! And if you think at least the laws are on our side, think again: it turns out there's one state in the nation that does little to protect breastfeeding moms, particularly in public -- Idaho.

Some 47 states, including Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands, allow mothers to nurse in any public place. South Dakota and Virginia exempt them from public indecency or nudity laws. But Idahoans have no such luck.

More from The Stir: 10 Best States for Breastfeeding Moms: Is Yours on the List?

Idaho's single protection is that nursing mothers have jury duty exemption.

All other laws? Nonexistent. 

It's hard to imagine that in this day and age, breastfeeding is even still an issue. About 77 percent of mothers begin breastfeeding after the baby's birth, and while this number drops significantly after the six-month mark, that's over three-quarters of new mothers who choose to nurse. There's even good news IN Idaho -- more moms breastfeed in the Gem State than anywhere else in the country (according to CDC statistics).

And yet, nobody's looking out for them or their babies.

So why? Why is it that mothers who are feeding their children are not given certain protections? Or, more importantly, why are actions not being taken to ensure they're safeguarded?

Currently, the Idaho Breastfeeding Law Coalition has started a petition on MoveOn.org to modernize the breastfeeding laws. There are over 1,500 signatures and people who have lent themselves to the cause, so there is potential for action. Though the state has yet to make any steps in favor of mothers, the petition and citizens' opinions can give us hope for possible future change.

Sign up. Get involved. Because we still need "awareness" that public breastfeeding should be legal!

What's your take on the Idaho breastfeeding laws?

Image ©iStock.com/Sam_Schro

From the minute your OB/GYN shares your little one's due date, there's plenty you can surmise about their personality, before you've even met. Whether they'll be determined to win, driven to own the spotlight, or intent on traveling the world may very well depend on their birthday! In fact, moms of kidsbornunder fire signs (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) have both the privilege and the challenge of raising the most adventurous, passionate children in the whole zodiac.

AstroTwins Ophira and Tali Edut,identical twin sisters and astrology experts, 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!

The Twins recently sat down to chat with us here at The Stir about what fire sign babies are like and the best ways to deal with a competitive Aries (born March 21-April 19), drama-loving Leo (July 23-August 22), or Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) who may be open and honest -- to a fault!

Check it out.

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

If you're viewing on mobile, click HERE.

More from The Stir: Clingy or Confident: Which Will Your Baby Be? (VIDEO)

Is your child a typical Aries, Leo, or Sag? How have you managed their sign's unique quirks?

Image via iStock/real444

Sixty years ago, moms and dads had pretty defined roles in the American family. Dad went out and made a living, while mom took care of the home. She cooked, cleaned, and did the lion's share of the childcare, while dad spent his time earning the money that kept the family afloat. For some, this system worked. But for many, it was ultimately unsatisfying, which is why now, decades later, things have changed so dramatically. 

Today it isn't uncommon to see a dad at the park alone with his kids. Just the other day I watched my neighbor play in the baby pool with his three children under 4 while his loving wife did her shift at the hospital as an emergency pediatrician. Pretty impressive but also pretty standard nowadays.

Dads are more involved than ever. Of course, the old ways still peek through sometimes, and with them come a series of myths about the bumbling or clueless dads of old. Here are seven of the biggest myths about dads and the new reality that sets them straight:

1.) Myth: Dads should be the breadwinners.

Reality: Stay-at-home fathers are more common than ever, says Dr. Harley Rotbart, a pediatrician and author of No Regrets Parenting and the upcoming 940 Saturdays. The National At-Home Dad Network estimates that at least 1.4 million dads are at home with their kids.

"Today, men are embracing fatherhood in ever-more intense and meaningful ways," says Dr. Rotbart. "[Staying home is] the ultimate in commitment to fatherhood, of course, but many millions more dads have chosen to be involved in their kids’ lives in ways their own fathers never did for them."

2.) Myth: If Dad works outside the home, he shouldn't have to wake up with the kids during the night.

Reality: Getting up in the night isn't the sole responsibility of the mom anymore. In our house, only I can nurse the baby, but my husband is capable of changing diapers and rocking and shushing. Most families we know have chosen to mix it up and not leave only one parent responsible for night wakings.

3.) Myth: Dads shouldn't be at the baby shower.

Reality: For my own baby shower eight years ago, my husband was present and proud. I can't imagine it any differently. Our daughter is his baby, too! According to Robert Nickell, father of seven and founder of Daddy and Company, dads are not only getting in on the mom's shower, they are getting their own, too!

"Just how moms-to-be also have baby showers to celebrate a new arrival to the family, fathers-to-be now also now celebrate with 'Dadchelor parties' and 'Daddy showers,'" Nickell says. "Fathers show a much greater pride in fatherhood and their daddy status."

4.) Myth: Dads can't be as nurturing as moms.

Reality: In my house, my children run to daddy first if they skin their knee. He is just a more sensitive person than their "buck up and deal" mama.

"I treasure being able to stay home and raise my children," says Mike, in Michigan, who stays home to care for his 6-year-old twins and 8-month-old baby. "A lot of my friends ask how I can do it because they never could do it 24/7. But I get to see (and teach) the Firsts of everything. To me, as long as my children are growing up in an environment that is loving, caring, and supportive, it doesn't matter which parent is doing it -- as long as it's best for my children and family." 

5.) Myth: Dads can't dress their kids (especially girls).

Reality: My husband may not have the same attention to detail I do when it comes to clothing for our children, but there is no doubt he is just as capable as I am of brushing their hair and getting them ready for school.

Last year a photo of a father doing his daughter's hair went viral because it was so cute. But you know what? It's the norm now. It's happening every morning in so many homes all across the country.

6.) Myth: Dads don't need to be at pediatrician appointments or prenatal visits.

Reality: My own husband attends every well visit with me for all three of our children no matter how busy his work is. Dr. Rotbart says that is much more the norm now.

"In my own practice over the past three decades, I have observed dramatic changes in the number of fathers accompanying their kids to physician visits -- either solo or with mom," Dr. Rotbart says. "Dads are researching kids’ health on the Internet and asking physicians relevant questions about child safety, preventive medicine, anticipatory guidance, vaccines, and antibiotics."

7.) Dads can't be involved until the baby is older.

Reality: Yes, nursing a baby is a full-time job for mom and the bulk of that falls on her. But that doesn't mean dads can't lend a hand in other ways.

He can change diapers, rock the baby, bounce her, play with her, and more. For many men, it's difficult, but there ARE things he can do.

Asking around for this article, a friend told me she was slightly offended. She pointed out that HER dad did all these things (and more) 25 years ago. It's true that there have always been good, involved dads. The difference now? Those dads are being recognized and respected.

"What we have seen in the past two generations has been revolutionary. Perhaps not as revolutionary as the women’s movement, but in a more understated way, men have had their own movement," Dr. Rotbart. "The 'Fatherhood Movement' has impacted their kids, their spouses, and perhaps most importantly, the dads themselves. Dads now know the joy of parenting."

Have you seen a "new dad" emerge in your house?

Image ©iStock.com/pascalgenest