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Effort: Quick and easy — no sewing required Materials: Kitchen trash bags in pretty colors Tights Leotard Pretty shoes or slippers Scissors Hairpins Instructions: To make this cheap Halloween costume, take three of the garbage bags and pull the drawstrings until they’re snug. Lay the bags side to side. Tie the loop/drawstring on one side of one bag to the loop on the second bag. Go to the second loop/string of the second bag, and tie that to the nearest loop of a third....

Balloons Are Hazards Too Surprisingly, latex balloons cause more choking deaths than balls, marbles, or toy parts. In addition to choking or aspirating on broken balloon pieces, some children actually suck in uninflated balloons while trying to blow them up. Of course, that doesn’t mean that kids can’t play with balloons anymore. Just be safe and recognize that they can be a hidden danger if your kids aren’t supervised. Balloon Warnings Although most toys with small parts are labeled as being a choking hazard to children under age 3 if they have small parts, it is important to remember the warning label that should be present on balloon packages: To be safe, parents should:...

Bath time doesn’t have to be a wrestling match. Teach your dog that the bath site—probably the bath tub for medium and large dogs, maybe the kitchen sink for small dogs—isn’t a scary place. Put the dog in the tub or sink, give him a treat, praise him, and cuddle him gently. When he relaxes a little, take him out of the tub. Don’t make a fuss about him or give him a treat after he’s out—you want him to associate the goodies with the tub, not with escaping from it....

Group together several small items such as medicine dispensers, diaper rash ointment, thermometer, burp rags, infant pain reliever or nail clippers. Or create a themed gift by packaging a selection of bath accessories in an infant bathtub. Offer to cook dinner or pay for take-out. Arrange to do dishes, laundry, housecleaning, yard work, or car washing. Once you make the offer, follow through. Don’t wait for new parents to ask for help....

Children who have asthma don’t have to steer clear of sports or be sidelined. Parents will often want to pinpoint the best sports for youngsters with the condition. It’s true that some sports are better than others for kids with asthma. Here’s what parents should know before choosing sporting activities for kids who have asthma. Boost a Child’s Athletic Confidence in Preschool Children may choose the sports they want to play as early as preschool....

If you are a new parent who’s breastfeeding, you may be considering getting a tattoo of your sweet baby. You may even want to immortalize the breastfeeding experience through your tattoo. Or maybe you’re simply at a point in your life where you are ready to get the tattoo you’ve always dreamt about. Either way, you are wondering if getting a tattoo while you are still nursing your little one is safe....

Whether you get migraines or just brutal headaches, chances are you have a bottle of Excedrin (acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine) in your medicine cabinet. But if you’re nursing, experts recommend you steer clear of this medication. “I don’t recommend Excedrin while a mom is breastfeeding,” says Maureen Mills, RN, IBCLC, a lactation consultant at Potomac Pediatrics in Rockville, MD. Learn why you should avoid Excedrin while breastfeeding and what you can choose instead....

Benefits of Oats for Breastfeeding The benefits of eating oats when breastfeeding include the following: Beta-glucan is found in oats: Beta-glucan is a type of fiber that’s thought to raise the levels of the breastfeeding hormone prolactin. Higher prolactin levels can have a positive effect on breast milk production. Oats are full of nutrition: Oats contain proteins, vitamins, and minerals. They are high in iron, zinc, manganese, and calcium. They are an excellent source of soluble fiber....

For most of adulthood, the decision to chemically straighten your hair is a personal stylistic one. But when you’re pregnant, you must take your developing baby’s health and needs into account too. To find out if it’s safe to chemically straighten your hair while pregnant, we tapped two doctors to share their insights. Ahead, learn all you need to know about chemically straightening your hair while pregnant—including why you may want to hold off on making that appointment....

If this describes you, you are not alone. According to one study, 11% of Americans say they have used weed in the past month. Weed and cannabis products are now legal for recreational use in 18 states and the District of Columbia. All but a handful of states allow for some legal use of cannabis, including for medical purposes. There are many reasons why you might smoke or vape weed or eat cannabis....

Research indicates that hormonal birth control taken early in pregnancy does not have adverse effects on the baby, so rest assured you have not caused any harm. “About one to three in 100 women could still get pregnant using the pill,” notes Kerry-Anne Perkins, MD, an OB-GYN on the medical review board of Women’s Health Interactive. “However, studies show that the likelihood that it may lead to congenital malformations or birth defects is extremely low....