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How Popular Is the Name Amanda? Along with leg warmers, big hair, and acid-wash jeans, the name Amanda was one of the biggest trends of the 1980s. It was less popular until the 1970s, and in 1979 it broke into the top five names in the United States. Although it reached peak popularity in 1980 as the No. 2 name, it stayed in the top five for another 12 years straight....

Some of you might even contemplate how much easier life would be if you were part octopus. Surely, six extra arms (or legs) would come in handy, right? But nobody ever says it takes an octopus to raise a family. They have said it takes a village but clearly bringing the village home is not viable. For some families, though, all it takes is an au pair or a nanny to help bring manageability to their lives and improve their parenting work-life balance....

Tick Life Cycle Photo source: Animal Diversity Web/Flickr Most ticks go through four stages of development: egg, larvae, nymph, and adult.. When the tick is in its nymph stage, it is most dangerous to humans. This is because it still possesses the disease but is so small – about the size of a comma in a newspaper – that it’s very hard to detect. The longer a tick is attached, the more likely it will pass a disease onto its host, so early detection is important....

In autumn of 2021, millions of families will experience these same feelings while also making critical decisions that will affect their health, safety, and mental wellbeing. Yes, the pandemic instigated by COVID-19 has caused a ripple effect on households. But it does not mean we can’t collectively be enthused for the school year. And perhaps worry about some of the good ole things—like packing nutritious lunches or wondering if your kid will like their classmates....

Effort: Quick and easy — no sewing required Materials: Brown paper bag (large enough to cover your child’s torso) Yellow construction paper Scissors Black permanent marker Tape or staples Instructions: Turn the bag inside out, so that only the brown side shows. Cut one hole in front for the face, and holes on either side for the arms. Write “I’m a baked potato” on the front of the bag. Write “butter” on the yellow construction paper and then tape or staple it to the top of the bag so that it sticks up....

Create a template to speed up grocery shopping. Replace paper catalogs with Web addresses. Create media lists for no-duplicate CD and DVD buying. Capture once-a-year shopping needs. Write wish lists for gift-giving and receiving. Set up a tracking system for orders placed. How many times have you gone to the grocery store for three specific things and left with a cartful? Do you ever get to use the 10 Items or Less lane?...

When talking to your teen about grades, it may be tempting to discuss the dangers of bad grades. But scare tactics like, “You’ll never get into college,” or “You won’t get a good job,” aren’t likely to be effective. Instead, you can talk about the benefits of getting good grades. By giving real-life examples, you can provide motivation for your teen to study hard today. There are five benefits you can use to jump-start your conversation with your teen....

Many parents turn to teen boot camps as a way to try and save their teen from incarceration, substance abuse problems, gangs, or even death. When you’re desperate, boot camps can sound like a tempting option. But before sending your teenager to a boot camp, educate yourself about the resources and services available. There may be better alternatives that will give your teen more effective help. Different Kinds of Boot Camps When boot camps first became popular in the 1990s, they mostly focused on military-style treatment....

It’s now revolutionizing reproductive medicine. When it comes to using IVF (in vitro fertilization) to treat infertility, preimplantation genetic screening (PGS or PGT) now allows parents to choose the healthiest embryos for implantation. If you are considering IVF, then PGT may be something to consider. What is PGT? Pre-implantation genetic testing screens the makeup of an embryo’s chromosomes for genetic disorders and problems that can cause implantation failure, miscarriage, birth defects or serious disease....

Plastic drinking straws Store-bought or homemade bubble solution Scissors Tape Directions

Although abstaining from alcohol is always the safest option, it’s generally fine to drink a limited amount of wine while breastfeeding. Alcohol does pass into breastmilk so it is best to keep an eye on how much you drink as well as when you drink. “Just like many substances, alcohol does pass to your breastmilk, but staying under the recommended limit is not likely to have any short-term or long-term effects for you or your baby,” explains Rebecca Ellison, MS, MPH, RDN, LDN, CLC, owner of The Baby Nutritionist, LLC....

Getting an annual flu shot is the best way to prevent the seasonal flu, but you may wonder whether it’s safe to get immunized while pregnant. In fact, flu shots are recommended for virtually all pregnant women. “Flu vaccines…have been proven safe to get during pregnancy,” explains Harvey Karp, MD, a respected pediatrician and best-selling author of “Happiest Baby on the Block” and “Happiest Toddler on the Block.” What Is a Flu Shot?...

Usually, hCG is present in urine by 10 days after a newly pregnant person misses their period, which typically is when the fertilized egg attaches to the walls of the uterus. While HPTs can tell you if hCG is present in urine, they can’t measure the exact hCG levels at home. If needed, blood tests can measure the amount of hCG in the body. Learn more about home pregnancy tests and measuring hCG levels in your urine....

Your Baby’s First Birthday From the cake (very important) to the decorations, we’ve got you covered on everything you might need for your baby’s first birthday party. First, you will want to decide just what kind of celebration you will want to host. Will you throw a party with family and friends or do you want to have a more low-key affair? You might choose to buy a special outfit for your baby to celebrate it and wrap up a special gift for your baby to unwrap (even though he or she will probably prefer the wrapping paper anyways!...

More: A Complete Guide to Potentially Dangerous Apps All Parents Should Be Aware Of Both high schools and families seem to have an ongoing struggle with youth cell phone use. The ramifications leave lasting effects and challenges. In a 2020 Pew Research Center article, it was shared that “a majority of parents in the United States (66%) – who include those who have at least one child under the age of 18, but who may also have an adult child or children – say that parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago, with many in this group citing technology as a reason why....

5 to 10 minutes Materials PaperScissors Directions Cut the paper into ticket-sized squares. Whatever the behavior difficulty your child is having, such as staying in bed at night, give her a ticket or 2 that can be used to choose an alternative. For example, at bedtime, your child might spend one ticket to come back for another hug and another to get a drink. Extensions Determine a reward if your child saves the tickets and accumulates a certain number....