New Moms, New Babies: Tips, Tricks, Sanity Savers

Babies and Mommies on the go – things you don’t leave home without! What’s in the diaper/baby bag? What should be in your bag? Two smaller bags or one “mother load” bag? Are emergency items stashed in the car? What could this emergency stash include? Plus, this week’s Mommy Matters.

What’s so important about shoes? What shoes conform best to your baby's foot? Hard sole or soft shoes… Why? Are boys' shoes different from girls'? How to know if a shoe fits correctly? Will you have to pay more for recommended shoes? What about Crocs?

How are you preserving those special moments, photo books, video, blogging, etc. This week's panel share the ways they are holding onto those special moments. Plus, offer some easy idea you can try. And, more Mommy Matters.

Melissa and Doug wooden toys, or plastic toys? Which toys are great and which not so great? How many toys are too many toys? Some ideas about where to store them, rotating them, and what are "toy trades"? And, this week's Mommy Matters!

We know long term breastfeeding is a wonderful thing for both mom and baby but how can you keep it through the inevitable and welcomed changes, through the night, adding solid foods, and going back to work. RN, MPH, IBCLC, Rose deVinge-Jackiewicz is this week's breastfeeding expert.

What is and what causes plagiocephaly or flat head syndrome? Can it be something serious? What should you do if your baby's head seems to be developing a flat spot? What does cranial orthotic therapy involve? What questions and options should you discuss with your pediatrician? Dr. Frederick Johnson, Chief of Pediatrics at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital, is this week's expert.

As many as 1 in 10 babies has colic. What is colic and how is it different than acid reflux or GERD? What are the signs and symptoms of each and why it is so hard to distinguish between them? What medications can be used in treating colic, acid reflux or GERD? Plus, simple things you can do at home to help with colic or a fussy baby. Dr. Michael Nelson, pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente is this weeks expert and answers our questions.

Sharing your bed with your baby can be a beautiful experience. What are the advantages for you and for your baby? What about all the warnings you've heard about? Where should the baby sleep, side or middle? When should your baby transition from co-sleeping to sleeping in his/her own bed, and what's the best way to make this transition? Lysa Parker is co-author of Attached at the Heart Parenting Consultant, Parents Lifeline and is this week's expert on New Moms, New Babies.

Introducing solid foods without the mess and process of pureed babyfoods. Gill Rapley is this weeks expert and is here to share her knowledge and importance of introducing solids and letting your baby "explore their food". How old should your baby be and do they need teeth? Does Skipping Purees pose a choking hazard? Can it help for Colic? What are good starter foods and how best to prepare these foods? How does breastfeeding interplay with baby lead weaning? And Gill Rapley's 5 tips to getting ready to try baby lead weaning. Plus, this weeks Mommy Matters.

Home, work; can they really be balanced or is it a myth? What are the keys to this balancing act, and how important is "me" time"? What about guilt? Julie Cohen, PCC is this week's expert with insight and resources on developing a greater sense of personal awareness​.

Graco, BOB, Phil and Ted's, Orbit, UPPABaby, Charriot! What's the perfect stroller or is there a perfect stroller? What are some things you should consider when stroller shopping? Plus, some listeners' suggestions and recommendations on strollers.

Opinions and criticisms, either way sometimes new moms feel a little bombarded with friends and/or family advice. What's the best way to say, "thanks, but no thanks"? What to do when you are unfairly criticized, and what to do when caretakers don't follow through with your requests. Who should talk to the in-laws, you or your husband? Certified Parent Coach, Beth Morton, is this week's expert.

What you should know about early childhood development. Learn how to better communicate with your baby, and some insight on how infants see the world. Plus, are high tech toys beneficial or not? And, the importance of relaxing with your baby. Mark Hamilton of Just Ask Baby.com is this week's guest.

Is it realistic to expect to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight and body? When and how should you get started? How to rid yourself of the excuses? Plus, ideas to exercise with your kids, even your new baby and dealing with the guilt if you fail the first time. Arlene Pellicane author of Losing Weight After Baby: 31 Days to A New You, is our expert.

How does having a baby change your tax year?  When can you start claiming your new dependent?  Can you claim the babysitter, nanny, grandma, or even the new $800 stroller? What receipts and records should you keep? Itemize or standard deduction and how much is the child tax credit? Plus, how not to have to pay a load of taxes at the end of the year.  <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> CPA John Hart is this week's expert.

Should you stand in front of the microwave? What about microwaving breastmilk, baby food, bottles...? How does the microwave work? What is safe and not so safe to put in the microwave? What are plasticizers and can they be dangerous? Plus, using your microwave to sterilize. This week's expert is Dr. Kristen Pangallo.

Researching baby strollers is time-consuming, but it is crucial! Knowing more about the different models can save you money, time and lots of frustration. Leyna and the crew share a few of their favorites and why? Is rear or front facing better? Why might you consider a frame only option instead of a "travel system"? Is there really a perfect stroller, and if you could build the perfect stroller what would it do?

What is the optimal for our bodies to start thinking about having the next baby? Do I need to worry about birth control even if I am exclusively breastfeeding and my period has not returned? What are my options for preventing pregnancy? Will it interfere with breastfeeding?  What is an IUD? Certified Midwife, Alisa Smallwood is this weeks expert and shines some light on the reality of it all.

What would happen to my children if something were to happen to me and the father of our child? Who can I trust to take care of them? What can I do to make sure things are taken care of how I would want them to be? Attorney, Krista Dupps is this week's expert.

Music therapists often use music to communicate to young children. This week Dayna Koehn MT-BC of Munchkin Musik shares how music can create an enriching and stimulating environment for your baby and how music can help children reach milestones or promote language. Plus, the major differences between listening to and making music and how it can be the glue to enhance your bond with your child.