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Clik here to view.It could be said that every newborn baby is a work of art, but that's especially true of the infants starring in a new series by Texas photographer and mother-of-three Lindsay Walden. Called The Newborn Photography Masterpiece Collection, the images feature gorgeous tiny babies on backdrops inspired by some of art history's most instantly recognizable paintings -- and the results are nothing short of museum-worthy!

Walden says she got the idea for the series while walking through a Gustave Caillebotte exhibit at the Kimbell Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. 

"As I was looking at these beautiful paintings I was thinking, how much fun would it be to incorporate some of these elements in my photography?" Walden told The Stir. 

Walden came up with an ingenious way to do it, too: by constructing backdrops re-creating such fine art classics as Van Gogh's Starry Night, using hand-dyed natural fibers and working the babies themselves into the original designs. 

More from The Stir: 17 Stunning Images of Newborn Babies Straight Out of the Womb (PHOTOS)

What could be sweeter? Surprisingly, Walden says her clients weren't immediately into the concept.

"They were like, 'Oh, that's cute,' but I could tell they weren't really into it," says Walden. "And it's important to give clients what they want, so I didn't push it. But then I told my photographer mom friends and they were all like, 'That's a great idea!' So their babies were my models."

And what lovely models they were! Check out Walden's incredibly dreamy re-creation of Starry Night:

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Absolutely beautiful! Though, the process of making the portrait definitely included some trial and error, says Walden.

"The only thing I could think to use for the backdrop was bubble wrap," says Walden. "Then we're trying to lay this sleeping baby down on top, and pop, pop, pop! The mom and I just started giggling and I said, 'This was a bad idea!'" 

Walden refined the process for her next two portraits, based on Claude Monet's Water Lilies ...

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Breathtaking! And Edvard Munch's classic, The Scream.

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Artful angst has never been so adorable! And the response? Huge. Walden says she's completely blown away by how quickly the photos -- which she only posted a couple of days ago -- have gone viral.

"We're on vacation, and my husband is like, 'Why are you on your phone again?'" Walden laughs. "I was hoping they would be popular but I kind of felt like they would be either a hit or a flop. I'm still trying to take it all in!"

More from The Stir: Couple Does Hilarious 'Newborn' Shoot That Isn't What It Looks Like (PHOTOS)

Lucky for the rest of us, Walden will be getting back to work soon; she says she's planning to do 12 portraits based on famous artworks. And it will be a labor of love, to be sure.

"I love newborn photography," says Walden.

"It's really a blessing to be able to work with these babies and give families something they can treasure for a lifetime. I've always described what I do as artwork, so to incorporate babies into actual artwork isn't that big of a leap for me!"

We can't wait to see the next installment! See more of Walden's work at lindsaywaldenphotography.com. 

Images courtesy of Lindsay Walden Photography

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Baby monitors are something that parents use to keep their children safe, so the fact that predators have hacked into the devices to spy on and terrorize little ones is a particularly terrifying fact. For example, a Washington couple was horrified to discover that a man was watching (and sometimes even talking to!) their 3-year-old son through his baby monitor. The same thing could happen to almost anyone!

I spoke with Mike Foley, a wireless technology and bluetooth authority with The Expert Institute, about what parents can do to keep their monitors secure.

Choose your monitor wisely.

"I think the most likely type of monitors to be hacked are those that don’t support security," says Foley, "or more typically, those whose security features aren’t being utilized properly." So be sure to carefully research the security features of a given model before you buy, or, to be extra safe, go with an old-school audio-only monitor (let's face it, kids look super creepy on those video monitors anyway!).

Set your own security password.

This is really the one golden rule to follow above all else when it comes to using wireless baby monitors (many of which come with Internet connection and smartphone capability): "Check your security settings," says Foley.

"Most monitors like this have security such that a password is required to see the video, update settings, use the microphone, etc.," he explains.

"Ensure you change from the default password and don’t pick an obvious one like the baby’s name, your last name, or 'password,'" he adds. 

And if your baby monitor doesn't require a password to operate, he says, "get a new one!" 

More from The Stir: 11 Tots Who Look So Creepy on Their Baby Monitors, You'll Swear They're Possessed (PHOTOS)

"The second area of security vulnerability is with the WiFi network itself," Foley explains. Make sure that the security is turned on, not "open" -- and, again, choose a super-secure password.

Use a wired Ethernet connectivity option if possible.

If your monitor allows you the option of using a wired connection, choose it, Foley says. This physical connection means the WiFi link will be out of the data path, which makes it very hard to get into the network. 

"However, that said, if the house still has WiFi which is bridged to the wired network, then plugging in is the same as using WiFi," he warns.

More from The Stir: Baby Monitor Hackers' Creepy Website Is Full of Photos Inside Our Kids' Bedrooms

Image via iStock.com/Jodi Jacobson

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The art of babywearing is something that's been around for quite some time. In fact, mothers and fathers alike can't get enough of this bonding experience that allows them to enjoy mobility with a few snuggles -- and oh so cuddly moments.

Not only does babywearing have some amazing benefits, but there are also some enjoyable activities that extend beyond the obvious things you're able to accomplish with free hands.

More from The Stir: 10 Tips for Safe Babywearing

Whether you're a novice or a pro, here are 13 fun babywearing pastimes that also allow you to bond with baby.

Image via mimagephotography/Shutterstock

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The human body is a miracle! Women are able to grow babies inside their own bodies, give birth to babies, and then create nourishment to feed their babies. What the female body is not capable of doing, however, is squirting breast milk from across the room and having it land on some dude buying donuts in a doughnut shop. At least not to my knowledge. 

Today's crybaby of the day is a guy who visited a doughnut shop in Winnipeg and says he was disturbed to find the owner of the bakery breastfeeding her baby. According to CJOB.com, the dude, who goes by the name "Lord Igor" in his online review on the site Zomato (formerly Urbanspoon), had this to say about Bronuts Donuts and Coffee Shop:

Too much for donuts. They won't last long. Six donuts and coffee, eighteen dollars. Good luck hipsters, you are going to need it. Oh and the baby being breast-fed behind the counter and the dude using his finger to level off my coffee before it was perked were nice touches too.

Later, he defended his comment, saying: "Behind the counter at an eating establishment breast feeding a child, without a privacy cover, is not only unprofessional, it is non hygienic."

More from The Stir: 15 Memes That Capture the Hilarity That Is Breastfeeding

For her part, owner Meghan Zahari told told Buzzfeed Canada that she does breastfeed her daughter in seating reserved for customers, but has never breastfed behind the counter. She also took to her Instagram to inform her customers of what the deal really is:

[code]

Today I had the fun task of reading through and replying to online reviews. One of them being the negative review about me breastfeeding in the shop. Turns out people are still commenting on that initial post, so it needed a reply. From the business account, I wrote a nice reply explaining that breastfeeding within the shop does not affect the hygiene of the kitchen (duh), but I wish I could have said many more things...I hope those people are, at the very least, grateful for their own mothers' efforts and I hope that next time someone leaves a negative review about me as a business owner, it's actually about my work. (Thanks for being a sweet end to our day, @parlourcoffee. Emelyn enjoyed the coffee as much as we did. �) #motherhoodrising #coffeeshopcorners #livefolk #thatsdarling #brettandemelyn #emelynday #normalizebreastfeeding

A photo posted by Meghan Zahari (@meghanzahari) on Mar 16, 2016 at 5:11pm PDT

And then she posted another (totally adorbs) follow-up: 

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It's been an interesting few days. The media caught wind of the negative reviews I encountered and two news stations ended up covering the story and my thoughts on public breastfeeding. The community has been overwhelmingly positive and I think it's the perfect way to drown out a few negative voices. And to empower all mothers, as I know my story is just one in a million. Thank you for all of your support. �

A photo posted by Meghan Zahari (@meghanzahari) on Mar 19, 2016 at 3:48pm PDT

I am sure Meghan wasn't nursing behind the counter, because, um, she says she wasn't. But even if she was, BIG WHOOP, Mr. Lord Igor -- if that's your real name, which I HIGHLY doubt.

I mean, even if Meghan had some freakishly awesome letdown, her breast milk isn't unhygienic, because it's not going anywhere besides her cute baby's mouth. Breasts don't work that way!

I had a crazy letdown, and not that I ever tried it, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't squirt my milk that far of a distance -- and what mom would anyway? Any lactating mamas out there who feel like testing their aim and distance, get back to me. 

More from The Stir: Woman Breastfeeds Her Nephew and Posts a Selfie Like It's NBD

This is such a silly critique. I mean, if someone doesn't appreciate a business owner breastfeeding in public, then by all means, haul ass to Tim Hortons or something, but to say it's unhygienic is just silly. Restaurants are for eating. That's exactly what that baby was doing. It's not any more unhygienic than some dudebro scarfing down a doughnut in public. 

Image via dek-dokkhamtai/Shutterstock

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Man, the best laid plans of parents hiring a professional photog to snap a beautiful moment between baby, mom, and dad. As sweet and precious and lovely and beautiful as babies are, they are also one more thing that is very important to remember: unpredictable. 

Which is why we all need to give it up to photographer Abbie Rogers, who clicked at just the correct time to capture this precious moment forever. 

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More from The Stir: 16 Creative Photo Ideas for Tracking Your Baby's First Year

I can so relate to this. I mean, one of my friends can. Yeah, a friend who would be cool with my telling this story that happened to my friend's kid that will live on the Internet forever.

Anyway, my friend had just finished giving her baby a bath and had him on the bed and was rubbing that yummy lavender-scented baby lotion all over him, and this friend lifted her son's teeny little legs up to put some Desitin on a tiny rash he had, and she suddenly heard him giggling -- and she looked up to see my her son peeing in his own face.

Sadly, this friend did not have a camera handy. 

Let this be a lesson to all of you moms out there ... always have a camera handy. 

Image via Abbie Rogers Photography/Facebook

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The first time I left my baby with a sitter, she was 6 months old and I was a mess. Okay -- maybe not a hot mess, but definitely lukewarm. Put it this way: I was enough of a mess that I needed some extra hand-holding and support before I would (gulp) leave my kid with a total outsider.

Let me back up. All the firsts applied with Eva. She’s my first baby (I now have two daughters). I had been scared when I took her out in public the very first time (What if she cries? What if she barfs? What if I have to breastfeed her in public?). There had been the first time she took a bottle, the first time she rolled over, or the first time she slept through the night. I marked these firsts in a notebook. I studied them. I anticipated them.

So, when she was 6 months, I still hadn’t left her with anyone other than a family member. Every time I thought about handing her over to a complete stranger, a million different horrible scenarios ran through my mind.

More from The Stir: 15 Things You Should Ask a Potential Babysitter (Some Will Surprise You!)

Around that time -- I think to make me feel better -- my mom offered up stories of how she babysat several children at the age of 12. Her parents (my grandparents) would go into downtown Los Angeles for dinner dates. It was a 45-minute drive from their home in the ’burbs, but no one blinked an eye at a 12-year-old taking over full responsibility for a few neighbor kids (one of whom was a small baby) as well as her two siblings. All she had in case of an emergency was the phone number for the restaurant where the grown-ups were going.

I’m a journalist, so I did what I knew how to do best -- and what I was most comfortable doing next. I researched. I asked for recommendations from other moms. And soon, I learned about a babysitting agency that background-checked every sitter. Sitters were also trained in CPR. And, because this was important to me at the time, the sitters knew the different variations of infant and child CPR.

More from The Stir: Why I'm Jealous of the Babysitter

Even knowing that, I felt I needed more reassurance. My husband, who desperately wanted some alone time with me (it was the day before Valentine's Day), urged me to contact the owner of the agency. It wasn't exactly customary, but when I spoke to her by phone she offered to come over before our date night, with her proposed sitter. We could meet and talk things through.

I will never forget sitting in a cozy semi-circle on the floor of our then-apartment with Cristina and Emily, the kind-eyed grad student who liked to babysit in her spare time. These two women lounged in my living room for a good half hour making goo-goo faces at Eva and asking me all about her nighttime routine.

And then Cristina said, “If you want, we can take a walk while you decide if you’d like to go out tonight.” She offered me an out, but I had felt instinctively at ease with both of them. Their unwavering positive, confident attitudes propelled me to take that next leap of faith and grant Eva’s care to someone other than a person I knew well. A few minutes later, I grabbed my coat and gave Eva a kiss on her forehead.

From here, I could go on and on about the benefit of going out that night.

The date was only three hours, but I kept in touch with Emily by text and knew when Eva nodded off to sleep and had her last bottle. Those hours, relatively minor in Eva’s world, worked wonders for getting her two frazzled, fatigued parents outside, where they could look into each other’s eyes, share some wine ... and, you guessed it, talk all about her.

Meredith Franco Meyers has written for Fit Pregnancy, Momtastic, Ladies' Home Journal, American Baby, The Bump, SELF, Parents.com, and more. She is a contributing editor for EuroCheapo.com and is on the faculty at Gotham Writers' Workshop. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two girls (ages 6 and 3). Follow her on her blog, Stay-at-Home Writer, or via Twitter.

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Clik here to view.If the screaming in your home seems to never stop, you’re not alone. When a healthy, well-fed, and well-cared-for baby cries inconsolably for more than three hours a day, more than three times a week for more than three weeks – and there aren’t any health problems causing the crying – a doctor will diagnose it as colic.

An estimated 20 percent of all babies under 4 months old have colic. That’s a lot of tired, stressed-out parents currently in the trenches. And a whole lot more who’ve made it through.

Though it seems like a colicky baby is in pain, no one is really sure they are. Some think colic could be the result of the naturally immature nervous system making some babies extra sensitive to stimuli; others suggest a hormonal reason. It’s a misconception that colic is caused by gassiness -- it's actually quite the opposite. Most docs agree that in fact many colicky babies become excessively gassy as a result of swallowing so much air during their screaming episodes.

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

So without an explanation, many parents dealing with colic feel helpless in soothing their babies. The good news is that most cases of colic (which tend to start when the baby’s around 3 weeks old) resolve on their own by the fourth month. So if you’re a parent struggling with this phase, know that it will get better soon. In the meantime, here is some advice to help you through it from moms who’ve been there.

Feed On Demand

“I quickly learned that feeding on a schedule wasn’t going to happen with my son. He was most at ease when nursing.” -- Barbara R., Bergenfield, New Jersey

Ask the Doctor About Probiotics

“When my second baby was just as colicky as my first, I started her on infant probiotics right away. They helped tremendously.” -- Liz L., Orlando, Florida

Wear Your Baby

“I carried my little guy upright in a baby carrier 99 percent of my day. It was a lifesaver and the only way I could get anything done. Nothing else worked. Even putting him down in a bouncy seat or swing was almost impossible.” -- Allison M., Shamong, New Jersey

More from The Stir: The Babywearing Safety Test: Can You Pass? (TRIVIA)

Take a Dip

“My daughter loved being in water, so she took lots of baths and we went swimming every chance we got.” -- Teresa S., Stamford, Connecticut

Make Some Noise

“Also, white noise would sometimes calm my girl. The most helpful was our old 1960s bathroom fan. It was very loud.” -- Teresa S.

Sing Your Heart Out

“When all else failed, I’d belt out one of my favorite lullabies or pop songs.” -- Michelle O., Barrington, Rhode Island

Record Your Voice

“I used Garage Band to record myself reading my little lady’s favorite books. I’d play them for her at bedtime so she could still hear my voice after I left the room. Those recordings were a big help on long car rides, too.” -- Lena N., Bedford, New York

Get Some Air

“Sometimes during a crying fit, I’d just pop my fussy guy in the stroller and head outside. The change of scenery would distract him, and the fresh air did me good, too.” -- Michelle O.

More from The Stir: 11 Reasons Your Baby Might Be Crying

Can’t Get Out? Order In

“I avoided taking my cranky baby of the house by ordering most of what I needed online. Grocery deliveries were my best friend.” -- Scarlet P., Greenville, South Carolina

Ask for Help

“I had a group of friends that helped me maintain my sanity. They somehow didn’t mind the screaming. A few of them even offered to take the baby while I did things alone with my older daughter. I’m so grateful to them.” -- Sari B., Pound Ridge, New York

Know When to Walk Away

“It is absolutely necessary to walk away sometimes. It’s not your fault that you can’t get your baby to settle. There were many times I would just hand my son over to my husband and go upstairs to have a good cry or take a shower.” -- Allison M.

Karissa O'Reilly is a freelance writer and work-from-home mom. She lives in Westchester County, New York, with her husband, two children, and two dogs.

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We may still be years away from a time when diaper-changing machines and breastfeeding bots bring a space age simplicity to parenting, but technology is still making moms' lives easier -- especially the latest crop of ingenious items on the market designed to take the guesswork out of caring for your baby (and make it more convenient, too).

Whether you're looking for some high-tech reassurance when baby's under the weather, or some digital assistance in keeping your little one on schedule, there's something on our list for you. Temperature-controlled onesies? Check! Breast-milk alcohol gauge? Check! And oh yes, there's an app for that!

Image via owletcare.com

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So you want to make your own baby food? Good news: You don’t need to clutter your baby registry -- or your cabinets -- with special equipment designed just for babies.

Here are 16 things that you may already have in your kitchen that you can use to whip up homemade meals for your little one. And no, you don’t need all of them. But you might want to pick up one or two you don’t have. Don’t worry: You can use them long after baby’s moved past purees to make meals for the whole family.

Stephanie Kivich is a personal chef and culinary instructor. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and her twin toddler sons.

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Few things are more precious -- or busy -- than the first weeks after bringing home a new baby. In addition to getting acquainted with the little one and debating whether showering or eating is time better spent, parents are faced with a revolving door of visitors. 

Friends, neighbors, family members -- these people all mean well when they pop in to see how mom and dad are doing, and to (let's be honest here) get in some delicious baby snuggles. But sometimes their visits can wind up being a little stressful -- and a lot of work -- for new parents. 

Planning on visiting new parents and their little bundle soon? Keep these seven etiquette tips in mind to ensure you're a gracious guest. 

1. Don't come around dinnertime ... unless you're bringing dinner. 

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Dinnertime is a notoriously stressful time for parents -- especially parents of a newborn. Often dubbed the Witching Hour, moms and dads usually find themselves stressed out from simultaneously dealing with a fussy baby and trying to get dinner on the table. Please don't expect them to whip up a four-course meal for guests, as well. Don't even expect them to order pizza. Ask when a good time to visit is, and if that happens to be near suppertime, bring some takeout and offer to hold the baby while mom and dad eat. 

2. Wash your hands before holding the baby.

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Regardless of how ridiculous and germaphobe-y some people may find it (looking at you, old-school parents and in-laws), new parents really do want people to wash their hands before holding their baby. Spare mom and dad from making the awkward request that you scrub up, and head over to the sink on your own before you get your snuggle on. 

3. Don't just hold the baby.

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Speaking of holding babies, please don't visit new parents just to hug and hold the baby. Yes, everyone loves a good newborn snuggle, but what mom and dad could really use is someone to take their trash out and wash their crusty dishes. They'll be on cuddle duty; you be on pesky chore duty.

4. For the love of God, don't visit a newborn when you're sick.

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Just ... no. If you think parents are hypochondriacs for wanting people to wash their hands, wait 'til you see a brand-new mom or dad around someone with a nasty cough. Reschedule, please.  

5. Don't bring your kids.

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All kids are cute, yes. And it's true, few things are more adorable than a little one holding a newborn. But! Kids are also wild and germy, and their "inside voices" are about as quiet as a One Direction concert. Bringing your child will only make for unnecessary chaos, and it will take away from the real reason you're there -- to see the baby and help out.  

More from The Stir: The Average Age of First-Time Moms Around the World -- How Do You Compare? (PHOTOS)

6. Hold off on posting photos to social media.

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General rule of thumb: Always ask a parent before posting a photo of his or her child to Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. Not only may mom and dad not want their baby's photo on the Internet at all, but they also may not have posted any photos themselves. And obviously they should be the ones posting baby's first selfie. 

7. Don't surprise the new parents by showing up at the hospital.

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If you haven't given birth, or it's been a really long time, know this: It's bat-crap insane. Unless you're super close with the new mom and/or have explicitly received an invitation, wait until everyone is home and settled to pay a visit. Between the millions of nurse visits, breastfeeding tutorials, and complete lack of sleep the parents are getting, there's rarely a good time to visit in the hospital. 

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So, you’re going to bottle feed your baby. Congratulations! Believe it or not, that was the easy part. Now you have to decide which kind of formula to use. And there are lots of choices out there! There’s a formula for sensitive stomachs, for supplementation, for excessive spitters, for preemies, for allergies, soy-based, milk-based, with OptiGRO, organic, and now there’s non-GMO!

Similac® was the first leading infant formula brand to label a non-GMO formula with its Similac® Advance® Non-GMO. It was created to give moms a choice, a dependable and nutritious option. Moms are as different as the babies they raise and what works for one won’t necessarily work for another.

Most of the Similac® infant formulas, including Similac® Advance® Non-GMO, contain OptiGRO which is a unique blend of DHA, Lutein and Vitamin E. OptiGRO helps support your baby’s overall growth, brain, eye and immune system development. And now, for the fussy and lactose-sensitive babies, there’s Similac® Sensitive Non-GMO!

All of the Similac® infant formulas are equally regulated and have been trusted by moms for over 90 years. The main difference between non-GMO and conventional infant formulas is that the non-GMO contains ingredients that are not genetically engineered. More and more moms are choosing to go non-GMO and now there’s an infant formula option to support that choice.

What non-GMO products have you introduced in your household?

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There are lots of things you can do to raise your baby in a more natural, “green” way, and organic infant formula is a practical and accessible option. If you’re on the fence about whether to start your baby on organic foods and formula, here are some things to consider.

1. Just like other organic products, organic infant formulas are regulated by the USDA and produced according to certain strict standards.

2. All the ingredients must be organic! And that means that the milk used must come from cows that were organically fed and raised without hormones or antibiotics.

3. Organic formulas provide all the essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional building blocks your baby needs.

4. If any synthetic ingredients and preservatives are used, they must be approved by the National Organic Standards Board.

5. Similac® has been helping moms nourish babies for over 90 years and is a trusted and pediatrician-recommended brand that offers organic infant formula.

If you choose to go organic with your baby, Similac® Organic has all the essential nutrients, plus OptiGRO™ to support brain and eye development.

What factors helped you decide to feed your baby organic infant formula?

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It’s simple. What goes in must come out. In an ideal baby world, that’s exactly what happens – smiles and coos included. But in real life, it’s just not that simple. Your baby’s fussiness is more often than not nothing to be worried about, but you should definitely consult with your pediatrician with any concerns. In the meantime, here are some tummy troubles explained.

Colic
Oh, that dreaded word! Your baby may have colic if he or she cries for more than three hours in a row, more than three days a week, for more than three weeks for no apparent reason. It is not a disease and it is not caused by gas. But having a gassy belly can make it worse for your little one. While there’s no magic cure, sometimes it's due to sensitivity to the milk proteins in some baby formulas. If your pediatrician agrees, it may be worth trying Similac Expert Care® Alimentum.

Gas
All babies have gas. Some just have more than others. Gas is a natural part of the digestive process that occurs as food is broken down. It also occurs when babies swallow air when feeding or crying. Signs of gas are excessive fussiness during and after feedings, a swollen belly, and pulling his or her legs toward the chest. Burping is a one way to get that gas out of the belly, and bouncing and massaging can also help. Another option is to try an easy-to-digest, milk-based formula such as Similac Sensitive® or Similac Sensitive® Non-GMO.

Diarrhea and Constipation
Diarrhea can be caused by an infection or an inability to digest certain nutrients in the food. Constipation can be caused by dehydration, starting on solid foods, or a medical condition that can be diagnosed by your pediatrician. Check out Similac’s Diaper Decoder for a look at what’s normal and what’s not.

Spit-up
Spit-up is another world for reflux. Your baby’s tummy is really, really tiny and can only hold small amounts of milk at a time. Spitting up can happen when your baby burps, eats too much, or swallows air. Similac® for Spit-Up is a formula that has been clinically proven to help reduce frequent spit-ups!

Some tummy troubles are more persistent than others, some are seemingly inexplicable, and some can be eased simply by switching to a new formula. Knowing that every tummy is unique, Similac® offers a Tummy Care Guarantee. If your baby’s tummy doesn’t agree with the Similac formula you bought, you can try another Similac product for free!

What do you do for your fussy baby?

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Your baby grows more in the first year than in any other time of his life. And not just in height and weight! His cognitive, physical, and behavioral development is so amazingly quick that every day you’ll probably see him learn or do something new. As your baby builds his own personality, try shifting your bonding time from cuddling and cooing into brain-building activities that will stimulate his development.

1. Play peek-a-boo. You’re sure to get a giggle out of this one. Babies love to see you “disappear” behind your own hands, a blanket, or a chair. When you pop back into view, your baby is so excited and is learning object permanence, abstract thinking, and even improving his memory.

2. Read! And then read some more. It doesn’t matter that she has no idea what the story is about. As you hold her in your lap with a book, the sound of your voice and the turning of the pages teach her the basics of reading. The more you read, the better!

3. Create an obstacle course. It’s never too early to learn that life isn’t always easy – there will be meandering pathways and obstacles to overcome! Challenge your baby to crawl his way around an obstacle course you create (and supervise) with big pillows, sofa cushions, or boxes.

4. Tell her why. Start showing your baby how things work. She’ll learn a lesson in cause and effect as you wind up a toy and let it spin on the floor, push a button to start the music, or squeeze a stuffed animal to make it squeak. Pretty soon she’ll be able to do it herself.

5. Let him make a mess. Fill a low kitchen cabinet with all plastic food-storage containers and other baby-safe objects. Sit on the floor with him and watch as he stacks and sorts, learning about sizes, shapes, and different textures.

6. Talk to her. Talk about everything you’re doing. Use consistent words for objects and explain everything. You can never talk too much – at least not to your baby. Not only does she love to hear the sound of your voice, all the repetition sinks in and helps her learn.

7. Make funny faces. Mirrors make for marvelous fun! Hold your baby in front of a mirror and make all kinds of faces. Happy faces, sad faces, confused faces, angry faces. Pretty soon your baby will be imitating Mommy in the Mirror, turning all those frowns upside down!

8. Stretch it out. You can challenge your baby to do just a little bit more by placing objects slightly out of his reach. Lie on the floor facing him with a favorite toy and encourage him to move toward it.

As your baby grows bigger and smarter every day, it’s important that she gets the nutrients she needs to enhance her development. Similac® is the only formula with OptiGROW™, a unique blend of DHA, lutein and vitamin E for supporting brain and cell development as well as eye health.

What’s your favorite brain-building baby game?

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All babies are unique – and that includes their little tummies. The formula that works well for one baby is not necessarily the best choice for another. If you think your baby isn’t tolerating her formula well, talk to your pediatrician to see if a switch might be in order. These are some of the signs to look for:

1. Lots and lots of spit-up: A little spit-up is perfectly normal, but a lot can mean something else is going on. If your baby is healthy except for his frequent spitting up, give Similac® For Spit-Up a try. It is clinically shown to reduce frequent spit-up by 54 percent!

2. Excessive fussiness after feedings: Some babies will fuss and fret for no apparent reason after a bottle. They seem to love their formula when it’s going down but then cry about it when they’re done, even when they’ve been burped. This fussiness could mean your baby is sensitive to the lactose in regular formula. Soy-based formulas have been clinically shown to reduce feeding problems. Similac® Soy Isomil® may help with the fussing.

3. Painful gas: All babies pass gas and most have their fussy times. But some babies are especially gassy, and you will surely know it if yours is one of the unlucky ones. More often than not, it’s just a matter of a developing digestive system and he’ll grow out of it. But in the meantime, try Similac Sensitive®, which provides complete nutrition while reducing fussiness, gas, and spit-up.

4. A combination of lots of fussiness, gas, and spit-up: When your baby is experiencing overall discomfort, whether it’s crying, fussing or spitting, it’s possible that the formula you’re using is not the right one. Try Similac Total Comfort™ with partially broken-down protein that helps promote easy digestion.

5. Skin rashes, diarrhea, eczema, or stool changes: These are more serious symptoms that definitely require a doctor’s care since they can indicate a true allergy. Your pediatrician may have you switch to a hypoallergenic formula like Similac Expert Care Alimentum, which contains a predigested protein that virtually eliminates allergic reactions in most babies who are allergic to cow’s milk protein.

When your pediatrician okays the switch in formula, ask how you should transition. Sometimes a gradual shift is best, mixing the new formula with the old one over the course of a few days until you’re offering bottles just the new formula. Also keep in mind that you shouldn’t expect immediate results. It will likely take several days on the new formula to see any changes. Make sure you monitor stools and pay attention to any other changes in your baby’s behavior during the process.

If you’re unsure of what kind of tummy trouble your baby is suffering, take a look at the Similac® Tummy Trouble Tool to help gauge what’s going on.

Have you changed your baby’s formula? How did it go?

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Bodies are complicated little machines. They need fuel to run, rest to rejuvenate, and the right nutrients to grow. As adults, we come to know our bodies and we can tell what we need to do to look good, feel great, and perform well. We know when we need to eat healthier, get more sleep, or join the gym! But our babies can’t do that. It’s our responsibility to keep them healthy and know what nutrients they need as they grow. Here are six essential nutritional building blocks for babies:

1. Vitamin D protects our bones and regulates cell growth. Vitamin D is needed to help absorb calcium.

2. Calcium helps bones and teeth develop and stay strong and healthy.

3. Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that helps protect cells as they grow.

4. Potassium works with sodium and helps control the body’s water balance which is tied to blood pressure. Potassium is also related to muscle function.

5. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that is important for the growing brain.

6. Iron is needed to make hemoglobin, which helps transfer oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues and is important for metabolism, growth, and development.

When your baby is older and relies on solid food for most of his nutrition, you can offer a balanced diet. Until then, he will get his nutrients through breast milk or formula. The nutrients in Similac™ enable your baby to develop a strong immune system and help support brain, muscle, bone, and organ growth.

How do you support your baby’s nutritional needs?

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Life with a new baby is full of so many decisions. Some are pretty basic, like which adorable dress your little one should wear to meet grandma for the first time. Some are bigger, like deciding if and when you will go back to work. And just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, you might discover that supplementing breastmilk with formula makes sense for you and your baby. Which of course means it’s time to make another big decision. How do you choose the right formula? How do you know if it will agree with her tummy? What if she doesn’t like it?

The formula aisle can be a daunting place, with so many brands and specialized types to choose from. Luckily, Similac ™ helps make the decision easier with an online Formula Finder that asks about your preferences and your baby’s sensitivities to recommend the best product for you.

And to make things even easier, Similac’s range of gentle formulas are backed by the Tummy Care Guarantee™. Which means, plain and simple, if your baby’s tummy doesn’t agree with the Similac formula you bought, you get to try another for free!

Though it’s a major decision, supplementing shouldn’t be an overwhelming one. Let Similac™ take some of the pressure off so you can put your energy into making other important decisions. Like when you’re going to take your next shower!

How did your baby transition to formula?

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One of the first parenting lessons we learn is that things don’t always go quite as we expect. Babies are unpredictable! And sometimes, our bodies are, too. For many moms, this means having to supplement their babies with formula for some feedings, even if they had intended to only breastfeed. That’s why Similac designed their first formula specifically for moms who supplement– to make the transition easier for moms and babies alike.

Whatever the reason for needing to or simply wanting to add formula – and there are many, and they are all valid – making the decision can be an emotional one for moms. Here, 10 moms share their experiences supplementing, and how they came to terms with their decision.

If you supplemented while breastfeeding, how did you feel about it?

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If you’re a breastfeeding mom who’s thinking about starting to supplement with formula, you’re probably wondering how your baby (and you!) will adjust. Introducing formula can certainly have its challenges, but the process doesn’t have to be daunting. Like anything else, simply being open, aware, and informed will help make things easier. Here are eight ways to make supplementing easier – for your baby AND for you!

1. Give someone else the job! Your baby associates your scent with breastfeeding, and if you’re the one to give him his first taste of formula, he might resist the bottle. Get Dad on duty. It will be good for all three of you.

2. Slow down. A bottle delivers formula faster than breastmilk from the tap. Make sure you’re using the slowest flow nipple, and don’t worry if your baby seems to guzzle the bottle. It doesn’t mean she’s starving! Make sure to burp her several times during the feeding to relieve the pressure that can build in her belly with quicker eating.

3. Measure up! If you’ve been feeding your baby breast milk from a bottle, you probably have a good idea of how much she has been eating. If you’ve been feeding strictly from the breast, there’s no way to tell. Start with two ounces of baby formula at a time, paying attention to how much she eats and when.

4. Keep an eye on your baby’s diapers. If your baby is wetting six to eight diapers and has one or two dirty diapers a day, he is probably getting enough to eat. Regular weigh-ins will help you and your pediatrician determine if your baby needs more food. And while shifts in stool patterns are quite common, it’s important to watch for constipation or other changes. Talk your pediatrician if you have concerns.

5. Don’t neglect your own feelings. If supplementing wasn’t in your plans, you might feel emotional about having to introduce formula. And that’s okay. Get support from other moms who’ve been in your shoes. Make sure you spend plenty of non-feeding time bonding with your baby in other ways, too.

6. Keep trying for the best formula “fit.” There is no one formula that is perfect for every baby. Similac® for Supplementation is a good place to start because it is designed for breastfeeding moms who choose to supplement. It has all the essential nutrients and contains OptiGRO™, a unique blend of DHA, Lutein and Vitamin E that supports brain and eye development.

What’s your best tip for supplementing?

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One of the biggest expenses a parent can incur is the cost of childcare. In some regions, it can be a family’s largest monthly expense, accounting for more than 30 percent of the total family budget, according to a 2015 report from the Economic Policy Institute. The good news is that you’re not stuck simply paying the going rate for a traditional daycare or preschool. Here’s how to design your own discount:

1. Work your work options. Some employers will exclude as much as $5,000 from your taxable wages for childcare expenses, and some will even contribute money to pay for childcare, so check with your company to see if that’s something you should be taking advantage of. It’s basically free money, so go get it, girl!  

2. Take the childcare tax credit. If you’re eligible, this can be a HUGE help in cutting down your overall daycare/preschool/nanny bill. As opposed to a tax deduction, which reduces the amount of money you’re taxed on, the childcare tax credit is an actual credit, which means it reduces how much tax you actually owe. In some cases, this can be as much as $1,000 per kid. Do a little research to see if you’re eligible and if taking the credit will get you more money than taking the childcare deduction.

3. Kid swap. If you don’t need regular or full-time daycare or preschool but still need some childfree time now and then, consider trading playdate hours with another family in your position. Sending your kid off to spend a morning or afternoon with a friend is a big help for you but also a fun time for the kiddos. Everybody wins!

4. More kids, more savings. Whatever you’re paying to have your kids enrolled in -- daycare, preschool, swimming lessons, summer camp -- check to see if you can score a multi-child discount. Even though you’re paying more overall for several kids instead of one, knowing you’re paying less per kid can take some of the sting out of the bill, and voila, you now have some extra time to yourself.

5. Share a nanny. You might also be able to work a multi-kid discount if you team up for a nanny share with a friend (or a local mom who will become a friend). One nanny + two (or more) kids = savings for you!  

6. Consider flex time. If you work, talk to your employer about flex options that might, for instance, allow you to work from home during naptime or maybe work longer hours four days a week and then take Fridays off. Be creative, but also be realistic about what work (if any) you can get done with kids at home; if you can’t keep up your end of the bargain, you may lose the privilege.   

7. Hire a babysitter. A college kid with a flexible daytime schedule, or even a grandmotherly-type neighbor, can be a great, affordable option as “mother’s helper” -- someone who can supervise your child and assist with simple household tasks while you’re in the next room answering emails.

How does your family save on childcare expenses?

For more money-saving strategies during your baby’s first year, check out Allstate’s tips and tools for new parents.

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