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Clik here to view.Most moms have heard that giving their baby tummy time is important. It's the gateway that enables babies to lift their head, roll, crawl -- in short, it opens the door to freedom! That's why doctors recommend moms have baby up on their tummy working those neck muscles right after they're born. But for many babies, the instant they're placed on their stomachs, they start to fuss and cry. Which can be frustrating -- since moms hate feeling like meanies but know tummy time is a necessary evil.

"Tummy time allows for the development of strength in the neck, stomach, arms, and legs, as well as the development of stability in the joints," says Amy Baez, a pediatric occupational therapist at Playapy. And the benefits of tummy time can be felt long past the crawling stage. "In particular, shoulder stability is important in the development of hand skills needed to complete tasks at a later age including tying shoelaces," Baez adds.

Ultimately lack of tummy time can lead to poor coordination, bad posture, hyperactivity, and difficulty with handwriting. So if those aren't enough reasons to get your kid on their stomachs, we don't know what is!

Thankfully you don't have to just leave baby on the floor to cry. There are plenty of ways to get your baby more comfortable with tummy time and maybe even like it.

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Try these tips to warm him up to the idea:

What are your best tummy time tips for other moms?

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Clik here to view.All moms know they shouldn't smoke while pregnant. But once the baby's out -- and shrieking for hours straight -- just about anyone might start itching for cigarette to calm her nerves. Still, if you're breastfeeding this presents problems. Even if you don't smoke in front of your infant and expose her to the fumes, that nicotine enters your bloodstream, and your breast milk to boot. Moms might feel forced to pick one or the other: smoking or breastfeeding. Yet experts say that the two aren't as mutually exclusive as we might think.

"While it is highly recommended for a mother to stop smoking while she is breastfeeding, it is not an absolute contraindication to NOT breast feed," says Melissa Goist, MD, an ob/gyn at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Or put in plain English, "Although smoking while breastfeeding is strongly discouraged, if you do smoke, we still highly encourage you to breastfeed."

In other words, the positive health perks of breast milk outweigh the negative impact of smoking. Still, the negatives are extensive. "Smoking has been shown to reduce the quantity and quality of breast milk, producing milk with lower fat content," Dr. Goist explains. Research also shows that mothers who expose their child to tobacco through breast milk increase the newborn's risk of respiratory issues, ear infections, diarrhea, colic, and -- scariest of all -- SIDS by seven-fold. Long-term concerns are increased risk of cavities, asthma and possibly cancer. And to top things off, "newborns of mothers who  smoke tend to sleep less compared to mothers who abstain," Dr. Goist adds.

More from The Stir: The Ultimate Guide to Breastfeeding

Yet for breastfeeding moms who just can't give up the smoking habit, experts do have some general guidelines to keep in mind. "Here’s what we know from research: If you smoke, try to limit yourself to three cigarettes per day," says Barb Dehn, RN, a practicing Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and author of Nurse Barb's Personal Guide to Breastfeeding. This keeps the levels of nicotine, tobacco and other toxins in your bloodstream and breast milk to low levels. 

Also time your smoke breaks for right after you breastfeed, to give yourself time for these toxin levels to ebb. "It takes about 97 minutes for one half of the nicotine to leave your system," Dehn continues. "So wait as long as possible until after you breastfeed to smoke, at least 90 minutes."

As an added safety measure, wear a different shirt and cover your hair while smoking -- far, far away from your baby. "After smoking, wash your face and hands and change your shirt to decrease the baby’s exposure to the chemicals in cigarette smoke," Dehn adds.

For moms who smoke a pack or more per day (20 cigarettes), it's recommended that they ask their health care provider about using a low-dose nicotine patch to curb their smoking and decrease the levels of nicotine in their breast milk.

Bottom line: While smoking and breastfeeding is hardly ideal, in the risk/reward balance, there is a way to do both that doesn't mean you've sentenced your baby to certain death. And hey, moms can't always be perfect, so there's no need to judge a breast-feeder who needs a puff or two to deal with a very hard day. 

Did you smoke while breastfeeding?

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Clik here to view.Most moms would bend over backward to raise a smart kid. And with the plethora of apps, videos, and other products on the market with brain-boosting claims, it may be hard to know what really works (and what's a scam). Well, look no farther than this list of scientifically vetted ways to make a baby smarter.

Turns out getting baby off to a smart start is a lot easier than you may think.

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Wow, who knew #5 could have such an effect?

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Clik here to view.Thanks to the "Back to Sleep" campaign launched in 1994, just about everyone's heard that babies should be placed to sleep on their back. And for good reason: numerous studies have shown that this lowers the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which may occur when baby is on his stomach and can't breathe well with his face against the mattress. Yet some parents may find themselves in a pickle when their baby makes it abundantly clear that he hates sleeping on his back and seems to prefer going to sleep on his stomach or side instead.

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Clik here to view.First off, know that you're hardly the only one struggling with this problem. "Many infants do not like to sleep on their backs," says Dr. Deena Blanchard, MD, a pediatrician at Premier Pediatrics NY. The reason: "This position is easier to startle in, and infants with reflux who spit up may feel less comfortable on their backs. Most babies do sleep better on their stomach."

Yet that doesn't mean you should indulge your baby's preference. "The risk of putting an infant to sleep on their stomach is not worth it," Dr. Blanchard continues. Even though your baby may sleep better in this position, that's exactly what might be boosting the odds that something could go wrong.

More from The Stir: Milestones: When Will My Baby Sleep Through the Night?

"There is some thought that this deeper sleep may lead to the increased SIDS risk," says Dr. Blanchard. Side sleep is also not considered safe, as your infant could roll onto his stomach.

So what's a mom with a bad back sleeper to do? It depends on the reason your baby hates it so much.

If the problem is reflux, consider slightly elevating the head of the bed by placing the bed at a slight incline, or by "placing a small towel or dish cloth under the mattress," suggests Dr. Dyan Hes, medical director of Gramercy Pediatrics. "This should only be done with a doctor's supervision. And never put anything directly under the baby's head."

If you suspect your baby hates sleeping on his back due to startling, the solution may be to swaddle. "In early infancy, it is great to swaddle babies to help prevent them from accidentally hitting themselves in the face when they startle," says Dr. Blanchard. Yet by 3 months of age, she recommends weaning baby from swaddling, since it's not safe once the baby is moving around. Switch to a sleep sack at that point.

The good news for moms: enforced back sleeping doesn't last forever. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should be put on their back to sleep for every sleep until 1 year of age. Yet once your baby starts rolling onto his stomach -- typically between 4 to 6 months -- you don't need to get up and roll them back onto their backs.

"If a baby can roll over on its own to its belly, then you can feel comfortable leaving him or her in that position," says Dr. Terra Blatnik, MD, a pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic. "This is the only time it is safe to leave a sleeping child alone on his or her stomach." The reason: once baby can move into his preferred sleeping position, he's most likely mobile enough to avoid the dangers that come with it. 

How does your baby sleep?

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New moms need lots of stuff. But before you add anything to your registry or head out to that baby boutique, take a look at our safety lowdown. Just because a baby product is sold in a baby-specific store, child safety experts warn that doesn't guarantee it's safe. In fact, there are quite a few dangerous baby products still sold in stores.

We always thought #5 would make bathtime even safer -- uh-oh!

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Clik here to view.Sure, most moms have heard about the benefits of breastfeeding, from boosting a baby's immunity to bonding between mother and child. Yet a slew of new scientific research suggests that this barely scratches the surface of all the amazing things breast milk can do. Here's a full rundown of its astonishing abilities, which will give you a new-found respect for breast milk (not to mention your own body for putting it all together).

Wow, fact #9 explains so much about why breastfeeders slim down so fast post-pregnancy!

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Clik here to view.While breastfeeding presents challenges no matter who you are, breastfeeding with big breasts is another ball of wax entirely. For starters, your already large boobs get larger. Then you've got to find a nursing position where both you and baby are comfortable for long stretches of time. Luckily lactation consultants have found solutions to these challenges and more that plague large-chested moms.

Heed the advice below to make breastfeeding smoother sailing no matter your breast size:

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What are your best tips for breastfeeding with large breasts?

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Trimming a baby's nails can seem like a form of baby torture. Parents often come to dread the task since they're deathly afraid of cutting too close and drawing blood. If you're tempted to skip it, know this: nail trimming is important since babies often don't have very good control of their arms and could accidentally scratch their face -- or worse yet, an eye.

Luckily there are plenty of ways to make nail-trimming easier on babies and on you too. Try these tips to keep everyone's misery to a minimum.

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What tactics help you trim your baby's nails?

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November is National Adoption Awareness Month -- a great time to applaud the many noteworthy stars who've chosen this path to parenthood. Sure, you may have heard plenty about Angelina Jolie's international brood, but she's by far not the only famous mom (or dad) to go the adoption route.

As proof, check out this list of celebrities who've adopted kids. Some may surprise you, while still others will prove that the process is not always easy -- even with mega-watt star power in your corner -- but that the rewards are well worth it.

The backstory for celeb #7 is so sweet!

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It sure is cute to see a baby sign "cookie" or "dog" and express himself before he can even talk. But given a mom's energy reserves are typically near empty, is it worth the time it takes to teach your baby sign language?

Well, according to experts, the benefitsof teaching a baby sign language go well beyond a cute parlor trick to show the grandparents. Even after your baby starts to talk -- and read -- a background in sign language gives them a leg up in these areas and more. Read on for some of the surprising perks to teaching baby to sign:

Did you teach your baby sign language?

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Clik here to view.Zaundia Klingbeil and husband Enoch were two weeks away from becoming approved as foster parents when the call came. A woman was pregnant, and she wanted to place her child for adoption. Would the Klingbeils be interested in adopting the baby girl?

After 13 miscarriages, including the loss of twins at 18 weeks gestation, Zaundia Klingbeil said it was God playing a role in her life. She fell to her knees, thankful. But then came the questions: after the medical bills from all those miscarriages and numerous fertility treatments, could the couple afford adoption?

And then an idea. Zaundia could sell her wedding ring.

"Material things can't come to the grave," the Fargo, North Dakota, mom tells The Stir. "I told my husband, 'I'd much rather have a hand holding a baby without a sparkle on it than an empty hand with a sparkle on it.'"

Not an easy decision, but one that's been making waves ever since.

Zaundia put an ad up on a local garage sale site two weeks ago, and news began to spread. Soon she was getting calls from local media -- and eventually an offer from a local business, High Point Networks, to match donations (up to $8,000) to a GoFundMe site, a site that soon went viral. 

The Klingbeils are the latest in a wave of would-be parents who have turned to the Internet to help fund their adoption, but it's a choice Zaundia makes clear was not her first choice.

In fact, adoption was not the couple's original plan. They welcomed son Elias 11 years ago and thought another pregnancy would be easy. But it wasn't. Zaundia's menstrual cycle has never been regular, and in more than a decade since welcoming their first son, they've encountered hurdle after hurdle -- from miscarriages to early deliveries. In March 2011, Zaundia was only 18 weeks pregnant when she delivered sons Ezekiel and Lucas. Both boys died.

"With all the other miscarriages, it was hard, but I still felt like I was the mom of one," she said. "After we lost the twins, I felt like I was a mom of three but with only one child."

Although the Klingbeils got pregnant again in 2014 and lost the baby before ever hearing the heartbeat, it was the loss of the twins that Zaundia says was really the last straw.

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"We look at it as if we were able to do that, able to give our children back to God, we obviously have a lot to give," she recalls.

That's when they started the process to become foster parents, with the hope that they could one day adopt a foster child. "Ultimately, we were just praying that God would give us the right child," Zaundia explains.

The call for the Klingbeils to adopt couldn't have come at a more complicated time. Not only were they in the midst of the foster care approval process, but they were moving into a new home in Fargo. Still, the call was an answer to their prayers. To protect the privacy of the biological mother, Zaundia will only say that it came from the friend of a mutual friend and that the woman in question is pregnant with a baby girl who has some health issues.

More From The Stir: 21 Celebrities Who've Adopted Kids

The Klingbeils had already signed up to foster children with special needs, so that did not present a problem. What did were the finances. Enoch works as a HVAC contractor, and Zaundia had been working at a nursing home, but she had to leave her job to be able to travel at a moment's notice to the delivery of the baby -- which could happen any day now -- and be home with the newborn.

Adopting a child via an agency could be around $13,000, Zaundia found, and that didn't address the costs of improving their house to meet home study requirements or the various fees of out-of-state adoption. 

That's when she floated the idea of selling her wedding ring and decided to create an online fundraiser. She get the GoFundMe goal at $8,000, although folks familiar with adoption costs have since told her she should have gone higher. Covering the paperwork for an out-of-state adoption alone is in the neighborhood of $1,500. 

Funding adoption online is becoming more common, but it isn't a choice that comes without its critics. About 10 percent of people who have visited her GoFundMe site have been negative, Zaundia says.

"People have asked, 'If you don't have money to adopt, what makes you think you have money to parent?'" she noted.

Her answer is simple.

"Just because you make payments on a house doesn't mean you can't be a homeowner. With adoption there isn't a payment plan; it's all up front."

Besides, whatever monies the GoFundMe draws above and beyond adoption expenses -- including fees such as airfare to travel out of state to the location of the child's birth -- will be put into a fund to cover medical expenses for a girl who Elias has named Elise Grace, names that mean "God's oath" and "gift from God."

"If we had saved all the money we spent on miscarriage and fertility treatments, we'd probably have enough for two or three adoptions," Zaundia said, "But you never know what's going to happen in life."

Because of the offer from High Point, Zaundia should be able to keep her wedding ring, and the viral nature of the family's Internet appeal has given them something a little extra: she is printing out the positive comments on the GoFundMe site and on a Facebook page about the adoption and will make a scrapbook for little Elise to read in the years to come.

"Before she's even born, she's touched so many people," Zaundia says. "I want her to see that."

What would YOU give up for a child?

Images via Zaundia Klingbeil

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When Melinda Mack adopted her baby daughter Hannah in 1998, she gained something far more surprising in the process: she became friendswith the biological mother of her child, Danielle Vincent.

"I think the most amazing part of this is how much Danielle and I love each other," says Melinda, a 55-year-old therapist living near Seattle, Washington. "She wasn't just our birth mother, she is part of our family."

Melinda first started down the adoption road at the age of 38, after struggling for years unsuccessfully to have kids with husband Keith. They found they disliked the traditional "closed adoption" approach -- which keeps the identities of the birth mother and adoptive family confidential. Instead, they decided to try an "open adoption," where they would not only know the birth mom, but could pursue an ongoing relationship.

"We thought it would be important for us and our child to know her birth mom and care about her," Melinda explains.

At that time, Danielle was a 22-year-old college student with an on-again-off-again boyfriend named Don, and she was pregnant. She knew she never wanted kids, but while adoption appealed to her, a closed adoption did not.

"To me, it seemed to perpetuate the idea that adoption is a shameful thing," Danielle explains. "It also didn't seem to be in the child's best interest."

The two women are part of a growing trend. While no statistics exist on the number of adopted kids in contact with their birth parents, "openness is part of the discussion in adoption planning more so today than in the past," says Victor Groza, a professor of parent child studies at Case Western Reserve University.

The dynamics of such an arrangement can be difficult to navigate. "It may feel threatening for the adoptive parent," Groza explains; it also sets up both parties for disappointment if their relationship isn't as close as they hope. 

More from The Stir: 21 Celebrities Who've Adopted Kids

Nonetheless, Danielle and Melinda knew these were risks they wanted to face together as soon as they talked on the phone. "We talked for over two hours, and not just about the baby, but our favorite rides at Disneyland -- it was like I'd found a best friend," Danielle recalls. "From there, we made the weirdest double date ever at a Thai restaurant and had a blast. We even popped across the street to a photo booth and took some ridiculous photos of all four of us hamming it up."

"As soon as I met her, I thought, Wow, I really like this person," Melinda recalls. Since the feeling was mutual, the adoption paperwork was soon finalized, giving Danielle and Don the right to visit their biological child up to six times per year. Throughout the pregnancy, Danielle and Melinda continued to hang out a few times a week. On Melinda's 39th birthday, Danielle celebrated by taking her to the movies.

And on the day Danielle gave birth, Melinda and Keith were right there in the hospital room. They named their child Hannah, with the double middle name "Don Danielle" as an homage to the birth parents. From there, even though Don gradually faded from the picture and Danielle moved down to Los Angeles, Danielle continued to fly up to meet the Macks for birthdays and holidays. Hannah grew up knowing she was adopted and that she was once in Danielle's tummy.

But by the time she turned 6, having two moms started to mess with her head.

"At one point Danielle, Hannah, and I were walking on the beach, and I had to run back to the car to grab something," Melinda recalls. "When I got back, Hannah was clearly distressed. Later on she cried and cried, saying, 'I thought you were leaving me.'"

At that moment, Melinda made one of the hardest decisions of her life: to tell Danielle that they needed to take a break from seeing each other. It did not go over well.

"At first I took it personally," Danielle recalls. "I felt like Hannah really deserved to know more about me and have me more in her life. But I'd given up that right. This could have easily compromised our friendship, but the reason it didn't was I knew Melinda was just making what she felt was the best decision for Hannah. And if I didn't like that, I should shove off."

For years, Melinda and Danielle barely spoke, and Hannah seemed fine with that.

Then, when Hannah turned 13 and got her own Facebook account, she sent a friend request to Danielle. Once Melinda heard they were in touch, she followed her daughter's lead and started corresponding more with Danielle herself. In 2013, Danielle met with Melinda, Keith, and Hannah for coffee and heard all about Hannah's latest robotics projects. 

"Hannah's going to set the world on fire," says Danielle. "And seeing Melinda and Keith made it easier to recall how much I love them."

Since then, Melinda, Danielle, and Hannah have continued to stay in touch regularly through emails, phone calls, and the occasional visit when Danielle is in town.

While Melinda feels she "struck the jackpot" finding Danielle 16 years ago, she acknowledges that open adoptions are not for the faint of heart.

"When you know so much about each other, it can make things harder -- sometimes it's easier not to know!" admits Melinda. "We had the best situation because Danielle was intelligent, didn't use drugs, and had financial resources. But even with highly functioning people, it still feels like your heart is being ripped out of your chest. With adoption there are always feelings of loss -- for the birth family as well as the adoptive family. Still, I'm glad it's an option and am so glad I met Danielle."

"Open adoption is not all sunshine and roses," agrees Danielle, now 39. "But it's one of the most rewarding respectful and mutually admiring relationships I've been blessed with. I couldn't have hoped to find a better mom. And even when she made decisions I didn't agree with, I knew she was doing it for Hannah. And that made me respect and value our friendship even more."

How do you feel about open adoption? 

Image via Danielle Vincent

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Clik here to view.Sure, babies are bundles of joy ... they're also huge, tangled, tear-your-hair-out wads of mystery, too. Yet believe it or not, their constant crying, atrocious sleep habits, and other peculiarities are not an attempt to turn your life upside down. In fact, scientists have studied baby behavior and found an internal logic (or at least some good theories) to explain all that addles you.

Read on and you may not only sleep better, you'll also understand your baby a whole lot better.

Did you know #4? Pretty cool, huh?

Image © Lisa Petkau/First Light/Corbis

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Jess Mulroney never set out to adopt an embryo. After marrying her husband Sean in 1998, she started trying to get pregnant immediately. But after a year with no luck, an infertility specialist informed the couple from St. Louis, Missouri, that their odds of conceiving were slim.

They weren't deterred. The Mulroneys decided to try adoption and nearly succeeded -- twice. But after two adoptions fell through, they found themselves turning to IVF to make a baby. Four attempts later with no success, they were ready to give up. That's when Jess learned through an online infertility forum about embryo adoption. 

Mulroney was intrigued -- and about to tap into a small but growing trend. Nationwide, approximately 600,000 frozen embryos are in storage. And while some will eventually be used by the parents who created them, many will not.

The biological parents of those unused embryos can choose to discard them, donate them to research, or donate them to potential adoptive moms, who then have the embryo implanted in their uterus. The latter option -- resulting in so-called "snowflake babies®" -- is relatively new, but growing in popularity. Between 2004 to 2011 (the most recent year statistics are available), the National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) has tabulated that nationwide, 6,573 embryos have "transferred" (AKA been adopted out) to families like the Mulroneys.

To Jess, the idea of embryo adoption offered certain advantages over the "traditional" adoption they'd tried twice in the past -- namely that the birth mother couldn't change her mind and back out after delivery! And at $2,500 to $4,000 per transfer, embryo adoption was also cheaper than adopting an infant, which typically costs $10,000 to $25,000.

Not to mention, the adoptive mother gets to experience being pregnant.

"One huge plus is that moms get the experience of carrying the baby herself," says Stephanie Moyers at the NEDC. "Moms also can control the prenatal environment and know she's done everything she possibly can to give this baby the best possible start in life."

Still, embryo adoption does have its downsides.

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Clik here to view."We learned that the average success rate was around 40 to 50 percent," says Jess. Much of that success rate depends on the quality of the embryos and age of the genetic mother. And while Jess was given some information about the embryo donors, it was not nearly as much as a prospective adopter might want or get with a traditional adoption.

"We knew the genetic parents were in good health, and not known to be carriers of genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis or Huntington's," Jess says. "I would have loved more information, but more or less would not have changed our decision. It is not uncommon nowadays for children to be born and raised by single mothers, often not knowing the father's health history. We viewed this as something similar."

Still, Jess points out, "The biggest concern my husband and I had is that it wouldn't work, and we would be right were we started: childless."

More from The Stir: 'How I Ended Up Friends With My Daughter's Mom': 1 Mother's Story

Nonetheless, they decided to transfer a donated embryo and hope for the best in 2009. Five days later, she took a pregnancy test, which turned out positive. "It was the most amazing feeling!" Jess recalls. "I still tear up remembering it."

At first, Jess admits, being pregnant with another parent's biological child felt a little weird. "I worried a bit that I wouldn't bond with a child not genetically mine," she admits. All that changed after the birth when she laid eyes on daughter Maddie. "The moment I saw that tiny little girl, I thought: she is mine!"

In January 2013, the Mulroneys transferred another adopted embryo. This time they weren't so lucky. The transfer didn't "take."

"I took a couple of months to deal with that disappointment and geared up for another transfer in May, only to have it canceled due to an ovarian cyst that required surgery and a few months to heal," Jess says. "At this time I was about ready to call it quits. The process can be expensive, time consuming, and exhausting. It was then that the coordinator at the adoption clinic told me that those that don't give up are the ones that have success and to not give up. We decided to give it one last try, and in August we had two embryos transferred. Five days later, we again saw two pink lines!"

More from The Stir: 'I Gave My Baby Up for Adoption': A Birth Mom on Making the Toughest Decision of Her Life

Today, Jess's youngest daughter Olivia is 6 months old, her oldest Maddie 4 years. While there is no genetic link between the two since their first clinic had donated the rest of that batch of embryos to other couples, the Mulroneys do have two remaining frozen embryos from Olivia's batch, so if a child is born from them in the future, two of the sisters will be genetically related. But most of the time, Jess doesn't think about genetics or the fact that the girls aren't "hers" in a biological sense.

She does, however, think of the biological "parents" of her girls and the gift they gave her by allowing their embryos to be adopted.

"I will see something that reminds me -- a look, my youngest daughter's blue eyes, my oldest daughter's love of horses -- and I smile," she says. "I genuinely love that they have characteristics that are clearly from their genetic parents. I do think of the genetic parents and it is always with fondness."

More from The Stir:Mom Gives Birth to Baby After Adopting Her (VIDEO)

Since embryo adoption is such a new frontier, it's not considered "adoption" in a legal sense. Rather, the paperwork the Mulroneys filled out was technically for transfer of ownership of the embryos, similar to what would happen for using donated sperm or eggs. On the birth certificate, Jess and Sean are listed as the parents. Kids do not have a right to know the identity of their parents or the existence of any siblings. But for Jess, the hardest part of embryo adoption was the lack of resources and unbiased information.

"There are tons of websites about embryo adoption, but all are hosted by an agency that has an embryo adoption program," she says. "There is no one place that outlines each option and location." In an effort to address this, Jess and a fellow embryo adoption mom have launched a blog called EDA Community offering guidance to prospective embryo adoption parents curious to learn more.

Jess also plans to be totally open with her kids about how they came into her family. "We have already begun telling our 4-year-old that mommy's tummy was broken and could not have a baby," she says. "Another family had extra baby 'seeds' and they shared with us, and a doctor put the seed in my tummy and it grew to be her. I made a book with a photo of her as an embryo and her early ultrasound photos and use that to help her learn her story. It is her favorite book." 

How do you feel about embryo adoption?

Photo caption: Olivia Mulroney, 6 months (top); Jess Mulroney (bottom). Images via Jess Mulroney.

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Clik here to view.Sure, babies are bundles of joy ... they're also huge, tangled, tear-your-hair-out wads of mystery, too. Yet believe it or not, their constant crying, atrocious sleep habits, and other peculiarities are not an attempt to turn your life upside down. In fact, scientists have studied baby behavior and found an internal logic (or at least some good theories) to explain all that addles you.

Read on and you may not only sleep better, you'll also understand your baby a whole lot better.

Did you know #4? Pretty cool, huh?

Image © Lisa Petkau/First Light/Corbis

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Nursing can be challenging enough with one baby, but twins? "Breastfeeding twins can seem like a daunting challenge to a new mother, but it is achievable," says Cassandra Sampsell, a midwife at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. All it takes is a little timing and organization -- and don't pressure yourself. Heed this advice and you could be well on your way to nursing twins with ease.

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What's your biggest challenge in breastfeeding twins?

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Of all the adorable things we dress our babies in, hats are ubiquitous -- odds are a nurse planted a knit cap on your infant mere seconds after birth. Many moms continue that fashion statement 24/7 through all seasons, even summer, since they've heard -- from their mothers, grandmothers, well-meaning strangers, or otherwise -- that babies need hats year-round, indoors as well as out, to keep too much heat from escaping via their fuzzy little heads.

While the baby hat industry must love the business, medical experts aren't sold on forcing your infant to don a chapeau.

"When babies are first born, they have a hat on them in the hospital to keep them warm, but after they leave the hospital, if the baby is healthy, he doesn’t need a hat," says Jennifer Burns, a child care specialist in Phoenix at the Bienetre Center. "There is debate about even having a hat on a baby. Some experts say that putting the baby next to you will give him enough heat, and that a hat will make a newborn too hot." 

So what are some rules of thumb moms can follow to keep their baby from shivering or sweating up a storm? For one, if you're indoors and/or your baby is snuggled up against you, skip the hat.

"Indoors, a hat is not strictly necessary," says Hannah Chow, MD, a pediatrician at Loyola University Health System, adding that the best temperatures for babies indoors are between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

More from The Stir: 8 Precious Babies in Funny Hats Are Better Than Prozac (PHOTOS)

Outdoors, there are a couple factors to consider: heat loss through the head, and protecting your baby's head from the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays. "I'd probably say under 55 degrees consider a hat for warmth, over 75 for sun protection," says Dr. Chow. But between these extremes, baby can probably go hatless.

When in doubt, just use your best judgment. "If you are cold, the baby is probably cold and needs a hat," says Dr. Burns. Also keep an eye on the baby if he gets fussy or his face is flush, since it could mean that he is too hot.

Bottom line: Don't automatically stick a hat on your baby without considering the season, temperature, and whether you'll be exposed to sun or not. If you decide after all this to skip the hat, don't let anyone make you doubt your decision.

When do you make your baby wear a hat?

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If you feed your baby formula, you've no doubt wondered: Is this really the best choice for my baby? Well, it turns out a lot of scientists have asked themselves that same question, and the results of their research may surprise you. Formula not only plays a role in how fast they grow, but how much they cry, how long they sleep, and far more -- read on for more "who knew?" scientific facts to help you choose between breast and bottle.

Do you think #10 is true for all babies?

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If your baby spends any amount of time strapped in a car seat as you drive to the grocery store or Grandma's, you've probably considered what you can do to make your little one a wee bit more comfortable. Maybe you've spotted those cushiony car seat liners and thought, My, that looks like heaven to sit on; Junior will love it! Or you've seen those car seat covers that create an accordion-style lip over the top of the seat and thought, What a great way to keep the sun out of his eyes!

But before you plunk down your money, know this: car seat experts say that unless that liner or cover came with your car seat when you bought it, there's no guarantee it's safe.

"As a general rule, if the car seat manufacturer did not provide the liner or cover specifically for use with your seat, don’t use it," says Nathaniel Washatka, Cincinnati Children’s Certified Child Passenger Safety Tech and a Project Specialist at Buckle Up for Life.

The reason: car seat manufacturers don't crash-test their seats with all the various after-market products in stores. As a result no one knows how these items will react in a collision. And liners present other concerns as well.

More from The Stir: 9 Dangerous Car Seat Mistakes Parents Make & How to Fix Them

"In order to work properly, the car seat’s harness straps need to hold your child securely in the seat," Washatka explains. "Puffy liners may alter the fit and snugness of those harness straps."

Another potential danger with liners and covers is the fabric. "Car seat manufacturers use special fabrics that have fire retardant fibers on them to protect children in case of a car fire," Washatka continues. "Some of the fabrics used for covers and lining may have the opposite effect."

Fortunately, many car seats come with optional liners designed to make the seat more comfortable for small children -- these have been crash tested and are safe to use. But beyond these pre-approved items, it's probably best to steer clear.

What's your biggest question or struggle with car seats?

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Sooner or later your baby will smile ... and reveal his first tooth! It's an exciting moment for most moms, but if you've been waiting and waiting and waiting for your baby's teeth to come in with no pearly whites in sight, your baby's gummy grin may start to set you on edge. If your baby has hit her first birthday and still doesn't have a tooth, you're likely wondering if everything's all right.

Good news: experts say that no teeth by age 1 shouldn't worry you.

"Babies typically get their first teeth between 7 and 11 months," says Jessica Baitner, a pediatric dentist in Hollywood, Florida. "But parents should be reassured that there is extreme variability in the eruption of teeth -- plus or minus six months for baby teeth. In fact, my own daughter didn't get her first tooth until 13 months and my niece not until 18 months!"

If you're worried, keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that kids see the dentist soon after the appearance of their first tooth, or even without teeth, no later than their first birthday. So this visit should help clear up any concerns. The dentist can feel for teeth under the gums, or an X-ray will tell you for sure whether they're there.

More from The Stir: Caring for Your Child's Teeth: The Baby Years

In certain isolated instances, no teeth may be a sign of a genetic condition called anodontia (having no teeth) or hypodontia (missing a few teeth). "But they're very rare, and when it occurs, it's usually part of a syndrome or disease such as ectodermal dysplasia," says Kenyon Glor, a dentist in Ohio. For instance, only about .5 to .9 percent of people are missing teeth, and most are missing only a few, which can be fixed with dental implants.

The one thing you will want to keep an eye on with toothless babies is the food they eat.

"The important thing to remember is that babies without teeth cannot chew their food as well as babies with teeth, so they need to be on a softer diet so they don't choke," says Josephine Dlugopolski-Gach, MD, a pediatrician at Loyola University Health System. But aside from that, the only thing you need is a healthy dose of patience while you wait for those teeth to arrive on their own sweet time.

When did your baby get his first tooth?

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