Preparing for your maternity leave takes planning, preparation, and coordination. A well-designed maternity leave plan is useful not only for your employer and fellow employees—it will also help you and your family, especially if your leave will be unpaid or if it will reduce your pay until you return to work.

Here are a few tips to follow to make your maternity leave snag-free:

See if you’re covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act.  Know what you are entitled to under the provisions of the FMLA (Family ...

For some reason, when you’re pregnant—especially when you’re noticeably pregnant—you become everyone’s property. Relatives, friends and complete strangers say things to you that would never normally come out of their mouths. It seems that some people just can’t resist imparting their knowledge or passing judgment on your diet, clothing and apparent lack of parenting skills, even though the baby hasn’t even been born yet. Conversations that start with a friendly, "When are you due?" can progress to, "You shouldn’t get a C-section ...

New motherhood can be exhilarating but exhausting, wonderful but isolating. With little sleep and barely time enough to take a shower—let alone eat—you can be thrown into a different kind of life than you’ve ever imagined. If you’re looking for some camaraderie, education, and fun, find a "Mommy and Me" support group in your area.

Moms who can rely on the support of other moms going through the same experience with children the same age often say that it makes a very positive difference in their ...

Your baby has been bathed, given her bottle, and has her blankie in hand. She is exhausted and ready for bed . . . so why won’t she sleep? It’s possible her sleep environment is the culprit. Your baby’s sleep environment is a critical piece of her learning to sleep through the night. Make sure to take these steps to help your baby sleep comfortably:

1. Darken the Room

• Keep the room as dark as possible. Darkness cues the brain to produce melatonin, a hormone responsible for helping to induce ...

Getting around with a baby is always an adventure. How can someone so little require so much stuff? Picking the right stroller (or strollers) will make your trip—whether to the mall or the park—easier and more enjoyable. But strollers are an investment, and you should research them carefully to make sure that you’re buying (or registering for) the kind that will fit your family and your lifestyle.

There are several types of strollers, from all-in-one heavy duty strollers to lightweight and simple:

Travel systems:  These workhorse strollers ...