Feeling a little stressed? Struggling to keep all the balls in the air? You're certainly in good company. Studies have shown that the majority of mothers who work outside the home experience a chronic time crunch: there simply aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that needs to be done.

"Our twins are one year old, but they are still waking up a lot at night, and it usually falls to me to deal with them. What can I do before I go out of my mind with sleep deprivation?"

What every working mother needs is a fairy godmother -- someone who will arrive on the scene, wave her magic wand, and make all the work and family related-chaos disappear. Since your chances of watching your to do list go up in a puff of smoke are pretty much next to zilch, you're going to have to settle for the next best thing: a recipe for sanity!

You've bought your kids toboggans, hockey sticks, and cross-country skis. You've signed them up for indoor soccer, swimming lessons, and gymnastics classes. You've told them all about the benefits of physical fitness. In fact, you've done everything possible to encourage your kids to put down the TV remote and get physically active.

We all know at least one Cindy Crawford-type: a new mom who was able to slip into her skin-tight workout leotard within days of giving birth. What we sometimes forget, however, is that the Cindy Crawford's of the world are the exception rather than the rule: it takes most of us a lot longer than a couple of days to get back in shape after giving birth!

Your toddler hasn't shown any interest in playing with other children. In fact, you've noticed that he'd rather play quietly with his blocks in the corner than join in any group activities. Should you be concerned?

It's a subject that pregnancy books tend to gloss over and prenatal classes frequently choose to ignore -- the possibility that you might give birth to anything other than a picture-perfect baby. Consequently, those couples that do end up giving birth to babies with special needs can find themselves feeling shocked and alone.

You're child has been sick. When can he return to daycare? Do siblings need to stay home? Since illnesses are transmitted differently, answer can vary. Find out for these common diseases:

Planning to travel by car with your kids? Here are some tips that will help to ensure that you arrive at your destination with your sanity relatively intact!

Choosing someone to care for your child is a big responsibility one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. That's why it's important to avoid making any of these all-too-common mistakes.

Sleep. It's the stuff of which dreams are made - particularly when you have a newborn baby. Ann Douglas, author of The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby, has some information about your new baby's needs.

Feeling good about yourself is the key to making the most of the childbearing year. A woman who feels good about herself will celebrate the changes that her body experiences during pregnancy, look forward to the challenge of giving birth, and willingly accept the physical and emotional changes of the postpartum period.

Your baby is here! You've heard a first cry! The announcement of boy or girl has been made. The first test, the Apgar, has been administered and everything is great, but there's more.

It begins before your first child is born: that incredible moment when you know you’ve conceived a new being, the long pregnancy, fixing up the baby’s room, finally the birth itself, and then the little breathing bundle, the life delivered into your arms.

Considering breastfeeding for your baby? Anai Rhoads answers some common questions ranging from latching issues, benefits, effects on birth control and more!

Kangaroo care is a form of skin-to-skin contact between a parent and their preterm baby. The baby, wearing only a diaper, is held in an upright position against the parent's bare chest. The baby is held this way for 20 minutes to four hours a day. This is called Kangaroo Care because it is similar to the way a baby kangaroo is snuggled against its mother. Discover more and get started making the most of your time with your preemie today.

I am so excited to be going home. I am also a little scared. It is okay if you are feeling a little scared too. Even if I have had a big brother or sister, I may be different because I was born so early and so small. I decided to write this list of activities that can help preemies like me learn how to use our bodies and minds as we grow...

If you have other children, deciding how and when to tell them a new family member is on the way can be a challenge.

Selecting a doctor who will care for your new baby is an important decision. The following information will help you in the process of finding the right doctor for your baby.

I have found it most difficult to get the time I needed to write this essay! When our children were little, it was obvious why it was impossible to get much "private" time. With small children the day to day tasks are like "digging a hole in the sand on the beach," no matter what size the hole, the water will fill it up.

Many new fathers -- not all, to be sure -- love their children enormously, but from a safe distance. Studies have found that the average mother is working about twenty hours a week more than her partner is -- doing one task or another -- whether or not she's drawing a paycheck. OK, so we all know that it's important for a dad to help with the baby. But how do you accomplish that, especially if his idea of childcare is putting her in a motorized swing while he watches Sportscenter?

Being discharged without your baby may feel like the most devastating separation. Even if you knew you were likely to deliver prematurely, you probably didn't envision leaving the hospital with empty arms. Seeing other mothers being discharged with their healthy newborns presents an unbearable cruel contrast with your situation.

Parenting an adoptive child presents unique set of circumstances. Authors Amy Coughlin and Caryn Abramowitz offer some important Do's and Don'ts as you get started.

Besides hold up glasses, what is your nose good for? One very important thing -- your nose allows you to smell. Without your nose you wouldn't know how wonderful a flower smells. Holding up your glasses and allowing you to smell the flowers are only 2 of the many reasons we have a nose. Every time you take a breath your nose is very busy doing many different things.

Occasions are a wonderful excuse for a unique, home-made card -- birthdays, holidays, thank-you's, get-well wishes or just because. Everyone loves a child's creative, one-of-a-kind endeavors! Harness that commodity with these tips.

When a baby finds that her signals are validated and responded to appropriately, that troubles are soothed and pleasure enhanced, she begins to sense that her feelings, expressions, of her very being, are of value and important. A baby learns that she counts for something. This is the foundation of the development of self-esteem -- a combination of who you are, how you feel about yourself, and what you think about your future potential.

Anticipating the arrival of a new family member is an amazing time for all family members. There are many new and exciting emotions that will be shared and experienced.

Is your babysitter watching the kids and your k9 family member?

Does what my child eats affect how he acts day-to-day?

So, you're throwing a baby shower. The date is set and the invitations have been sent. The anticipation is brewing. But what are you going to do once you get everyone to the party? Baby showers are thrown all the time, but how can you make yours a memorable one? One that the parents-to-be and the guests will remember always? Plan some fun games. Games are great for entertaining your guests and creating a comfortable and fun environment for everyone to interact and loosen up.

Below, you will find valuable information that will save you time and help you create the perfect birth announcement. Be sure to read our etiquette section for more ideas and proper communication for birth announcements and other baby-related events like baby showers, baptisms and more.

Children of all ages love birthday parties! As a parent, you probably know that planning a birthday party that all the guests will enjoy depends on using your imagination to come up with some great party ideas. To help you out, we have compiled our list of favorite party themes that you can use to help with your party planning.

Planning a birthday party for your little one? Check out our tips to make your day a success!

When you send a birth announcement or invite friends to your child's birthday party or a baby shower, most people will send or bring a gift for the occasion. Thank you notes that match the theme of your event are a perfect way to show your appreciation.

When we were expecting our first child, we decided I would stay at home full-time with the baby. I had visions of watching Oprah every morning with a cup of coffee in my hand and a bundle of babe in my lap. The truth is, I found that I worked harder at home taking care of one baby boy than I had teaching nearly 100 teenagers each day.

The umbilical cord provided nourishment to your baby throughout your pregnancy. Now he or she has a purplish-blue stump that is about a half inch to an inch long. It will take some time (approximately 2 weeks but occasionally up to 8 weeks) before the stump dries up and falls off. It will take a little care and attention to ensure that both infection and irritation are avoided.

Babies born before the 37th week of gestation are born prematurely. Premature newborns are sometimes given the nickname, "preemies." Mothers who have their baby prematurely are often scared and nervous. Below is a brief description of what to expect when it comes to the care for your newborn preemie.

I could desperately use some advice on pumping. My daughter is 15 days old and in the intensive care unit. She will most likely be there for months and I have been pumping, trying to build up a supply for her. She currently has a feeding tube and is only getting 3cc an hour, so even the little I have been able to get should last a while.

One of the things you will quickly learn about being a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) is that it can sometimes be difficult to shift gears from Mommy to Hot Mama. When it's 9 p.m. and your husband is giving you that look, it can be a challenge to look at your husband with little more than indifference.

Whether your child is three years old or seventeen -- cards, notes, and letters, are a great way to deliver a message of love and understanding. Here are some ways to use the written word in your relationship with your child:

Enjoy this adoption story from the perspective of a birth mom.

Most parents find a baby carrier to be invaluable during the first year of their baby's life. There are many types and styles to choose from. The different types of baby carriers fall into three main categories: slings, front packs and backpacks.

Babies younger than four months old have very different sleep needs than older babies. This article will help you understand your newborn baby’s developing sleep patterns, and will help you develop reasonable expectations when it comes to your baby and sleep.

For those with children, here's a look at how family life can influence sexuality. We will begin with an overview of the key developmental phases in children's lives, and how these might affect a woman's inclination for and enjoyment of sex.

Breastfeeding is the natural, physiologic way of feeding infants and young children, and human milk is the milk made specifically for human infants. Breastfeeding should be easy and trouble free for most mothers. A good start helps to ensure breastfeeding is a happy experience for both mother and baby.

Because more and more women are now breastfeeding their babies, more and more are also finding that they enjoy breastfeeding enough to want to continue longer than the usual few months they initially thought they would.

Even after you leave the hospital, you will be in close touch with health care providers for the first months of your newborn's life. Learn what you can expect from these "well visits" and more.

You've no doubt seen all the scary statistics on the costs of raising children — numbers that may very well have you second-guessing your decision to toss your birth control pills in the trash! Well, despite what some people would have you believe, starting a family doesn't have to lead to financial ruin. While it may be tempting to wear the numbers off your credit card as you merrily shop for the new arrival, there are plenty of practical steps you can take to minimize the impact on your family's budget. Here are a few ideas.

The signs often show up early in a baby's life: He doesn't babble or coo like other infants. Later, he may fail to gesture, point or make eye contact.

Divorce is rarely easy on the couple -- but can be even more difficult to navigate by the children. Learn how you can help them cope.

Our first-born is showing extreme jealousy towards the new baby. He's obviously mad at us for disrupting the predictable flow of his life with this new challenger for our attention. How can we smooth things out?

Do you have little kids in the house? They love creative crafts and then, of course, they want to give their creations to someone they love as a gift, eager for applause. With Christmas coming, start a craft box with a few basic supplies so they can make amazing little gifts for family, friends and teachers. A handmade gift is always special and unique. There is pleasure in the making and then more pleasure in the giving.

Ensuring your kitchen is childproof is essential for proper safety. Taking a few small precautions can eliminate unnecessary accidents.

Want to find out how to raise a reader? Check out these steps and you'll find you are on your way!

Toddlers and small children face a host of possible safety issues every time they enter a bathroom. Thinking about potential pitfalls of the bathroom from a small child's point of view helps to create a safe and enjoyable environment for the whole family.

You are about to adopt a baby and you want to breastfeed him? Wonderful! It is not only possible, it is fairly easy and the chances are you will produce a significant amount of milk. It is not complicated, but it is different than breastfeeding a baby with whom you have been pregnant for 9 months.

I need help with how to be a NICU mom. My baby was born at term, but was transferred to another hospital because of trouble breathing. Now he is being slowly weaned off the oxygen to room air, and once he can breathe well on his own he has to prove to them he can eat.