Author: Lisa Douglas

Family and friends want to see cute pics of your kids, and you want to show them as well. But not all is safe on the internet—even when you’re in private mode. You risk embarrassing your child, exposing him or her to bullies, or worse, offering a potential target for child predators like this man:

Statistics show that there are more than 50,000 sexual predators online at any given moment. Law enforcement officials warn that cases of identity theft keep their phones ringing off the hook, with parents calling to report that their kids’ pictures have been stolen and used by someone trying to break the law.

In these days of constant digital interaction, it’s nearly impossible not to share some part of your personal life with others with whom you are connected. The key is to be mindful of what you post and know the potential consequences. Here are some pictures that should be left offline.

When They’re Sick

When you’re about to post a picture of your kid, the most helpful thing to ask yourself is, “Would I want someone sharing this type of picture of me on the internet?” If the answer is no, then you know you should refrain. No one looks good when they’re not feeling well. And most don’t want pictures of themselves sky-written like that.

Shaming Pics

Disciplining your child by embarrassing and shaming them publicly seems to be all the rage right now. Often parents who choose this controversial method of parenting open up the door to copycat artists who mimic the same abusive behavior.

Studies have shown that shaming violates the trust between parents and children and can cause severe problems in children, including post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety.

Group Pictures

You may be okay with posting pictures of your kids online, but that doesn’t mean that everyone else is too. Be sure that you have the permission of other parents before you post pictures of their kids in group shots.

Many a friendship has been ended over not respecting others’ wishes or boundaries regarding the privacy of their kids.

Bath Time

As adorable as your baby’s naked bum may look in a bubble bath, that sort of picture is absolutely not for the public eye.

We know how it is: There’s some serious cuteness going on, and you want to showcase it for your hundreds of friends and followers. But don’t. When your child is old enough to understand these things, they’re not going to appreciate their body being displayed on social media. We promise.

Aside from the embarrassment factor, there is the real danger that the photo could wind up in the wrong hands. Pictures of naked babies may seem cute and innocent, but the sad truth is that there are really bad people out there who might see the photos and use them for unspeakable purposes. Don’t be an unwitting accomplice to your child’s exploitation.

Private Information

Private information is meant to be just that…private. Information like your address, where your kids go to school, where they’re traveling on vacation, or (for older kids) where they work is not meant to be public knowledge. It can be used by others for nefarious purposes.

Pictures of your child in their everyday environment can provide information to strangers about their habits and patterns. No one needs to know where your child spends most of their day, what activities they might do after school, or where your house is and what it looks like. The risks of possible harm coming to your child certainly outweigh the benefits of sharing details about your family’s life.

Bullying Fodder

You may think that some pictures of your kids are funny or dorky and that others would get a laugh or a lift at their expense. But it’s important to view your post f
rom their perspective and eyes. Try asking yourself, “Does anything I post make it easy for others to make fun of my child?”

You may love the cute nickname that you’ve given him, but it could make him the butt of a joke or an easy target for bullies. The best practice is to ask before you post. If he’s old enough to determine that he’s okay with it, then it’s up to you to foresee any possible future issues and determine if it’s the smart thing to do.

On the Potty

You may be super psyched that your kid is reading Nietzsche while he performs his first successful act in the loo, but this is absolutely something that should be kept as an inside celebration among family members.

Unsafe Activities

Is the picture that you’re about to post a shot of you holding your kid on your lap in the front seat of a car? Is your 5-year-old playing on a tire swing that’s being supported by a frayed, single strand of rope?

Pictures like these invite criticism and further problems. Before you post, be sure you consider how the shot may be viewed—and if you could be offending or opening yourself up to a world of hate from others.

Pics With Geotags

Smartphones and apps can now post where your kid is at that exact time with the exact coordinates. There is no reason why anyone needs to know where your kids are at any given time…except for you and your close circle.

Pics of Academic Degrees or Diplomas

Experts call these pictures “personal identifiers” and strongly caution against putting anything up that predators may learn about your kid. This includes birthday parties, pictures with passports, and pictures with drivers’ licenses as well.

As exciting as the event may be, it’s best to text or email these to interested family members and friends and keep them away from the gaze of prying eyes. Identity thieves search the internet for this type of information and look for images that can be counterfeited.

Messages Meant to Hurt

Little Suzie didn’t include your daughter in her after school playdate. So you take to Facebook to passive aggressively air your issue and post a picture of your daughter and Suzie’s best friend having lunch.

Behavior like this is not not only immature, it can also end up hurting your daughter in the end. Refrain from airing your issues on Facebook and keep your private squabbles private.

Medical History

Facebook can be a wonderful and effective means of gaining support for your child’s medical cause. Unfortunately, child identity theft can occur with medical records. All of your kid’s medical information—including personal IDs, specific conditions, and allergies—should always be kept private.

Your Kids Behaving Badly

Kids can be obedient, they can be naughty, and they can be somewhere in between. The public space is no place to judge and ask for advice for the good or bad behavior of your child. Posts like this will not only embarrass him but also cause others to judge him or to judge you for your parenting skills (and lack thereof).

Anything Your Child Asks You Not to Post

Your child begs you not to put a picture of her up on Instagram. You think it’s so darned cute that you ignore her and post it anyway. You’ve not only betrayed her trust, but you’ve also opened her up to potential bullying. Respect your kids and their wishes—especially when it has to do with their privacy on social media.

In all of these cases, let this thought be your guide: If you find yourself questioning whether a picture should be posted, the answer is always a most definite no.

Pregnancy can be one of the most exciting and wonderful times in a woman’s life. She’s thrilled, and she wants to share her enthusiasm with the world. She wants everyone else to be just as excited too. And they are!

What she may not realize, though, is that her raging hormones, combined with her over-the-top elation, can make her do things that she may not normally do. It’s not that others don’t appreciate all of her cutesy gestures. But sometimes it’s not just one of them, but some combination of them, that makes people want to run for the hills (or log off social media).

Are you wondering if you might be guilty of in-your-face enthusiasm about your pregnancy? Perhaps you find your friends avoiding you lately and don’t know why?

We’re here to help! Here are the top pregnancy trends that women (who asked to remain nameless) wish would be retired.

Look! I’m pregnant!

Before social media—heck, before home pregnancy tests—a woman would have to go to the doctor, get a blood test, wait for the results, and then actually call her friends and family with the good news.

Today, instant gratification is the norm, and one can find out the exact second that they’re pregnant just by urinating on a stick. They can then post it immediately for the world to know. As exciting as it may be to sky-write the news, we feel that urinating on a wand (or anything else for that matter) should be a private matter, and the announcement of a pregnancy more tactful.

Dual Bump Pictures

Pregnancy bellies are natural and beautiful. Everyone wants to see them and touch them because they are a testimony to one of life’s most magical wonders. We love seeing mom’s bellies!

What we don’t love seeing are pictures of her partner’s big, hairy belly (that is not so magical and beautiful) next to hers.

Every…Single…Stage

We were really excited when she posted a picture of her newly pregnant belly. We even toasted to it! We were super pumped when we saw the picture of her in her first pair of maternity jeans. But it started to get old after that.

Every week we’re bombarded with “stage” pictures…in different outfits and different backgrounds. We wish we had a fast forward button and baby Sara were here already.

Empire Waists

Maternity fashion has come a long way! It seems as though every women’s clothing brand on the market wants in on the action, and choices are plentiful. You can get cool maternity clothes like leather pants, hip mini skirts, and fashionably fitting leggings.

So why is clothing still being designed to make a woman’s bump look the most unflattering, as if she were shaped like a tepee? Because some designers think that no clothing will actually fit around a pregnant woman’s waist?

Another Child Kissing Your Belly Pic

We get that brother Jimmy is excited about the baby (and forgive us if we’re a bit jaded), but perhaps a little creativity is in order, because pics of a sibling kissing mom’s belly are so done already (like every other post on Facebook).

As a side note, we did love it the first 80 times we saw it.

LIVE Streaming Births

We all know that one day a woman’s pregnant, and the next day her baby is screaming by her bedside. We also all took eighth-grade health education and know how babies are delivered into the world (and we can’t wait to witness our own baby’s birth). But the interest stops there.

High definition footage of a woman screaming during real time delivery—and everything else that goes along with it—has us begging for it to stop. TMI!

Heart Sign With Your Hands Pics

We know that having a baby is a cute, adorable time but…are we 14 years old on Snapchat?

This has to be one of the most overdone poses in the maternity shoot repertoire. We know you love your baby, and we will too, but a little creativity goes a long way.

Social Media Accounts for Your Unborn Baby

Social media accounts for a baby-not-yet-born ranks up there with fake accounts, pet accounts, and “favorite object” accounts.

There’s something really weird and creepy about it. It’s hardly necessary.

Pregnancy Announcement Cards

In the spirit of defending the Earth, we believe that a couple of trees could be saved by avoiding this trend.

The announcement of such a private and momentous occasion deserves a call to your closest family and friends.

Keeping Baby’s Names to Yourself

This was a big one. If a couple really has no idea what they’re going to name their baby, or they do know and let it be known that they would rather not share it, most people are okay with that.

But things get super uncomfortable for everyone when couples say that they don’t know, and others know that they do know…but they’re keeping it from everyone on purpose.

Sonogram Picture Gifts

Nothing is more exciting than seeing a baby in the womb kicking and playing. Some parents want everyone to share in the excitement and take the baby from the sonogram screen to a silkscreen in the form of gifts with said new baby’s pic in utero.

This is the perfect example of a “you had to be there moment,” and although others love seeing the picture in print, they don’t love looking at it during their morning coffee (on their mug), when they run (on their t-shirt), when they’re washing their faces (on their towels), or when they’re paying their bills (on their pens).

Pics of Paintings on Pregnant Bellies

We know that Picasso may agree that everything should be a canvas for the world’s imagination to run wild, but we must stop short at pregnant bellies.

Hearts, baby rattles, gender signs, and smiley faces are all better served on card stock and hung on the fridge for all to admire.

Gender Reveal Parties

It’s super exciting to find out if you’re having a girl or a boy. We get that! And we know that you’re so excited to tell us that you want to make the act of telling us a big deal. But we want you to know that just telling us is the big deal.

You don’t have to throw a big party with the launching of pink or blue balloons or have us shoot each other with gender color coordinated paint or spend thousands of dollars to have us watch colored fireworks in the sky. Can’t you just text or call us?

Not to mention, any dramatic reveal party has the potential to go awry. Just watch what happened to this couple:

Extravagant Baby Showers

First there was the engagement party, then the bridal shower. Next came the bachelor party and then the wedding. After that, the pregnancy announcements arrived, then the gender reveal party, and finally the baby shower.

It’s not that we don’t love celebrating your milestones, but the whole to-do, along with the demand for an $850 stroller, kind of has us thinking that it’s a bit much.

Giving Birth Parties

Yay! You’re giving birth! We actually know that your sweet baby is about to enter the world because we’ve read your weekly newsletters, seen your daily posts on Facebook, and been to both the gender reveal party and the baby shower.

It’s not that we don’t love to party with you, but the festivities that go along with this kind of party kind of have us a little weirded out. Most particularly the part where we slice into and eat the cake that looks like your baby.

Pregnancy Newsletters

As much as we love letters in the mail and via email, your weekly updates about what you’re eating, how big your belly has gotten, what you’re wearing, what makes you sick to your stomach, and how many hours you’ve slept every day are a bit much.

It makes us view our usual weekly phone chats with you as not only unnecessary, but unwelcome, as well.

News stories and friends are always warning you about children’s products that you need to watch out for. They’re right to be worried! Accidents such as burns, drowning, falls, and poisoning are the leading cause of mortality among children in the U.S. each year.

More specifically, for kids under a year old, two-thirds of injuries and deaths were due to suffocation, and in kids ages 1 to 4 years of age, drowning was the leading cause.

These incidents were all accidental, and most of them could have been prevented. Through awareness, preparedness, and proper safety, you can keep these from happening in your house and ensure your kids’ safety.

We’ve targeted the most common accidents with babies and toddlers and the best (and most underrated) products on the market that can help prevent them (and take a load off your mind).

Mesh Window Safety Guard

Studies show that 5,200 kids a year (that works out to 14 per day) get treated in emergency rooms for injuries sustained from falling out of windows. Keeping kids safe from accidental falls used to mean boarding up windows like a prison cell. This product, a mesh window screen, keeps your windows safe from inquisitive kids and still keeps your decor pretty.

Get a guard for one window here for $40.

KidCo Universal Outlet Cover

Electrocution is a real concern with kids. Each day seven kids are treated in emergency rooms for electrical shock or burns caused by messing with wall outlets. The best way to avoid this is to cover all of the outlets in your house.

The KidCo outlet cover allows you to insert plugs by safely sliding them in. When a plug is removed, a spring-loaded cover keeps open outlets (and kids) safe.

Get a 12-pack of these outlet covers for $35.

Safety 1st Blind Cord Wind-Ups

Unfortunately, accidental strangulation on the cords of window blinds and shades happens to kids all too often.

Experts recommend securing all loose, hanging cords. This product bundles all of them together and keeps them securely away from your child.

Get a pack of six cord wind-ups here for $9.

KidCo Stair Gate

Each year 35,000 kids sustain severe injuries from falling down the stairs. Most of the falls occur in kids age 2.5 years, and most of these falls could be prevented with the use of a stair gate.

The problem is that many of these gates are not well made and are hard for parents to open. Enter the KidCo stair gate! It’s made of sturdy steel, mounts easily, and adults can open it with one hand.

Get one here for $43.

KidCo HearthGate

If your house has a working fireplace, you must secure the area surrounding it. Not only do thousands of kids per year get burned by flames and the hot glass that often surrounds fire sources, but sharp, hard stone surfaces also pose a risk of injury.

The HearthGate is a great pick to help keep your kid away from the danger while still allowing for the enjoyment of a fireplace. It’s made of strong, heat-resistant steel and can adjust to fit any size fireplace (extensions are also an option). The gate door closes automatically, but it can be kept open if necessary with the touch of a button.

Get one here for $170.

Mommy’s Helper Toilet Seat Lid-Lok

Accidental drowning, along with slips and falls from an overflowing toilet, can present really dangerous situations for your toddler. Protecting them is a cinch with the Toilet Seat Lid-Lok.

It’s easy to install without tools, fits most toilets, is simple for adults to use, and most important, is nearly impossible for even the cleverest child to open.

Get one here for $5.

Prince Lionheart Corner Guards

Often-overlooked areas of danger in the home are the sharp corners of furniture and molding. Kids can bang their heads, fall on top of them while trying to stand, and also land on them during horseplay.

Protect your kids’ bodies by protecting all of the sharp corners in your house with these ingenious corner guards. They’re fire retardant, nontoxic, and stick on easily.

Get a set for one table (with four guards) here in beige, light brown, or chocolate brown for $7 to $14, depending on color.

Skip Hop Moby Bath Spout Cover

Children slipping and falling in the tub accounts for about 40,000 visits to emergency rooms every year. Studies show that kids age 4 or younger are most at risk because they’re unbalanced and uncoordinated.

Protect their precious heads and bodies from sharp, hard faucets by covering them. This product covers unsafe faucets in a fun way. It’s nontoxic and has an adjustable strap so that it can fit securely around most spouts.

Get one here for $13.

Vita Guard Medicine Safe

Of the 2.2 million exposures to poison in 2014, half of the cases involved kids under the age of 6 years. Pain medications, vitamins, and antihistamines are all included on the list of “most common substances implicated in pediatric exposures,” according to the National Capital Poison Center.

Keep all of your medication and supplements safe from curious hands with a guarded medicine safe. This one from Vita Guard locks up potentially poisonous medication with a foolproof lock system that can’t be opened by little hands. It’s durable and can be easily stored in cupboards or on countertops.

Get one here for $25.

Mudder Door Stoppers

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that over 40,000 injuries to the fingers, hands, and wrists of kids under the age of 14 are caused by the slamming of doors. Keep your kids safe from this risk by securing all of the doors in your house.

This ingenious little product keeps doors secure. It cleverly fits under most doors and keeps them from moving even a millimeter. It comes with a handy hook to hang the product on the back of a door when it’s not in use.

Get a four-pack here for $8.

Prince Lionheart Crib Rail Protector

Babies love to put things in their mouths, and crib rails are the perfect height and surface for curious teething mouths. Unfortunately, this surface can do a number on your baby’s teeth and gums and also cause her to possibly ingest unsafe paint or wood chips.

These crib rail protectors are made of nontoxic, soft plastic and act as the perfect teething surface for curious babies. They’re easy to install, easy to clean, and fit over most crib rails.

Get a set here for $10.

Lollaland Play Mat

Hard falls account for major injuries in toddlers and babies who are learning to walk and crawl. If only you could cushion everything around them. This play mat does the next best thing!

It’s a nontoxic, hypoallergenic protective play mat that cushions your child during their day. It’s reversible, easy to clean, waterproof, and textured so your baby won’t slip. It is oversized so that it can take the place of a rug in a play room or any other room in your house.

Get one here in one of four colors/patterns for $80.

Summer Infant In View Digital Video Monitor

Keeping your children safe in
volves watching them when you’re near them and also when they’re away from your eyes. A good infant monitor can help be your eyes and ears when you’re not nearby.

The Summer infant monitor is your perfect caretaker. It provides great image quality in regular and zoomed-in viewing, offers black and white night views, digital technology for privacy and security, a nice far range of 600 feet, a swivel camera design that can be mounted on a table or wall, and options to add more cameras for monitoring of multiple children and multiple rooms.

Get the full system here for $82 and an additional camera for $50.

Summer Infant Step To Open Gate

Keeping your baby safe from harm often involves keeping him or her in one area (and out of others). Room-to-room gates are a pain because they’re usually made from flimsy metal and require an engineer’s degree to open, making them ridiculously frustrating to use.

This Summer Infant gate is a cleverly designed, sturdy, and easy-to-use model. You simply step on the pedal on the bottom of the gate and the door swings open. It’s pressure mounted so it fits in most doorways.

Get one here for $92.

Way back when, women who were expecting weren’t given a lot of freedom, and medical advice was often pretty restrictive. They couldn’t exercise or have intercourse, were advised to gain a lot of weight (“feed that baby!”), and basically had to lie on their backs and rest for 9 months waiting for the baby to come. To be pregnant could feel somewhat stifling.

Well, our current era is an exciting time to be having a baby!

This is the 21st century, and we have so much more information about pregnancy and pregnancy health than ever before. What was once considered taboo is now a green go-ahead. Pregnant women hear cries of envy from their mothers and grandmothers, “I was NEVER allowed to do that while I was pregnant. How lucky you are!”

Even though times have changed, there are still some things that you need to keep in mind when you’re expecting. Here are some of the most important.

Watch your caffeine intake.

If the thought of ditching your morning cup of “liquid enthusiasm” drives you to insanity, don’t fret! You have to limit your caffeine while you’re pregnant, but you don’t have to eliminate it altogether.

Studies show that caffeine, in excess, can have some ill effects on you and your baby. It’s a stimulant and a diuretic, so it increases heart rate and blood pressure and causes you to urinate more—which can cause dehydration.

Although you may feel like you can handle your big morning cup of joe, your baby can’t.

Caffeine crosses over into the placenta and affects the baby as well. Studies show that up to 200 milligrams of caffeine is fine (equivalent to a grande cup of Starbucks coffee). Just be careful, because caffeine is present in things other than coffee and tea (like soda, chocolate, and certain medicines) and can put you over your daily limit.

Watch these foods.

What you eat influences your baby now—and possibly forever. Essentially, what you eat, your baby eats too; so you need to be mindful about certain unhealthy choices.

Most medical professionals recommend that pregnant women avoid the following foods.

Raw or undercooked meats, etc. Rare meat, raw oysters and clams, and sushi can contain bacteria, viruses, or parasites that can cause food poisoning and worse.

Deli meat. Deli meats, hot dogs, and unpasteurized dairy (Roquefort, feta, Gorgonzola, Camembert, and Brie cheeses) can be contaminated with listeria—bacteria that can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, and other major problems.

Certain seafood. Large fish like shark, king mackerel, swordfish, and tilefish have high levels of mercury that can interfere with your baby’s brain and nervous system development.

Raw vegetable sprouts. Raw alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean sprouts can have harmful bacteria that’s impossible to wash out and can cause serious illness.

Raw eggs. Homemade Caesar dressings, Hollandaise sauce, mayonnaise, raw cookie dough, and homemade eggnog can contain unpasteurized raw eggs that pose a risk of salmonella and other illness from harmful bacteria.

Watch hot tubs.

You’re feeling sore, and what would feel better than soaking your achy, pregnant muscles in a nice hot bath? Don’t be too quick to jump in!

Studies show that an elevated body temperature during pregnancy, especially the first trimester, can lea
d to hyperthermia (an abnormally high body temperature) that can increase your blood pressure and heart rate—and also increase the risk of birth defects.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women not allow their core body temperature to rise over 102.2 degrees F. Since hot tubs are normally programmed to 104 degrees, it can take only 10 to 20 minutes for your body temperature to rise too high.

If you’re going to soak in a tub, reprogram it to a lower temperature, limit your time to 10 minutes or less, and monitor your body temperature so that you don’t overheat.

Watch kitty’s litter.

For most people, toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease found in birds and animals, doesn’t pose a problem—but in pregnant women it can cause severe problems for her growing baby, like brain damage and vision loss.

Although the chance of infection is low, it’s good idea to take care to avoid getting exposed. Ways that you can get infected are:

–Changing an infected cat’s litter box (the feces carries the parasite)

–Getting scratched by an infected cat (they can have feces under their claws)

–Eating food that has touched the counters your cat has walked on

–Digging in soil where an infected cat has left feces

–Eating infected meat that hasn’t been fully cooked

If you’ve been exposed to any of the above, you can see your doctor to get tested. Many women don’t present symptoms upon infection, and others feel like they have the flu.

Watch people who smoke around you.

Most women know that smoking is awful for a pregnant woman and her unborn child, but what many don’t realize is that secondhand smoke can be nearly as bad. Indirect contact with cigarettes can have severe effects on a mother and her baby’s health.

There are 4,000 chemicals in secondhand smoke, and cancer is only one consequence of inhaling it. The others are premature delivery, low birth weight, miscarriage, learning or behavioral issues, and sudden infant death syndrome. If someone is smoking near you, avoid them and the environment altogether.

As a side note, there is also something known as thirdhand smoke. This is the residue that’s left behind by cigarette smoke on furniture, rugs, and paint. These toxins can enter your bloodstream when you touch something that contains it or if you breathe it in. Studies show that thirdhand smoke can have detrimental effects on prenatal lung development.

Watch what you drink.

In the past, doctors have recommended moderation during pregnancy, but studies have shown that drinking can have serious detrimental effects on a developing fetus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Surgeon General state, “There is no known safe amount […] to drink while pregnant. There is no known safe time during pregnancy or safe type …”

The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that “drinking even small amounts […] while pregnant can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, or sudden infant death syndrome.” The substances in adult beverages have been shown to be a neurotoxin to developing babies and can cause the death of developing brain cells.

A study at the University of Queensland found that women who regularly drink as little as two glasses at a time can adversely affect their child’s educational development.

Watch high heels.

It may be tough to let go of those beautiful platforms while you’re pregnant, but you may thank us for our advice to d
itch them until you give birth. As you move further in your pregnancy and your belly grows, your center of gravity changes and you can become unbalanced and unsteady on your feet.

When you wear heels, the chances of losing your balance and falling are greater. Additionally, being pregnant comes with calf cramping, back pain, water retention, and sore muscles. All of these get exacerbated when you wear heels. This will not only cause you more pain, but perhaps injury as well.

Watch well-meaning people with well-meaning advice.

Your friends and family love you. And they love that you’re pregnant. And they love to “help” you during your pregnancy. This often involves the (over generous) giving of advice.

We agree that they are well meaning and have only the baby and your best interests at heart. We also sympathize that said advice oftentimes becomes a bit—shall we say—overwhelming. We find that one of the best ways to handle this situation is to calmly defer to your obstetrician and firmly respond with, “Thank you. My doctor and I have it all taken care of.” That should do the trick!

For new parents, the cry of a child is ranked as one of the most stressful sounds that you can hear. Studies show the sound invokes feelings of anxiety, uneasiness, and panic—and humans are hardwired to quickly respond to it. But things can get pretty troublesome for a parent when they can’t console their child because they can’t figure out what’s wrong.

Crying is a baby’s most effective means of communicating, and a cry can mean different things. Babies often cry when they’re sad, when they’re frightened, or when they’re bored. For the most part, babies have only one type of cry, and it becomes up to the parent to figure out, by trial and error, what’s wrong and how to help them.
Need some help determining what may be upsetting your baby? Here are some reasons why your little peanut may be crying—and what you can do about it.

They have gas.

Why they’re crying: Belly troubles associated with gas seem to be the issue that causes the most crying. Some babies have no trouble passing gas, and others can have a bit of a problem.

Signs that your baby is crying because she has tummy troubles are fussing and crying right after eating and squirming and pulling up her legs. If your baby fusses then passes gas and calms down, then you know for the future that she may have a little trouble in this area.
What to do about it: Some parents love over-the-counter anti-gas drops while others like using gripe water (an all-natural product made from herbs and sodium bicarbonate).

Check with your doctor about which she may prescribe. Also try putting her on her back, holding her feet, and pushing her knees to her chest in and out gently (or try a bicycle-type motion). This may break up gas bubbles and move them out.

They’re hungry.

Why they’re crying: Feeling hungry is another common reason why babies cry. Wouldn’t you, if you couldn’t get food on your own?

Some signs that your newborn may be hungry are opening and closing of her mouth; rooting (a reflex that makes babies turn their heads toward a touch); sucking on her lips, hands, or clothing; moving her head frantically from side to side; and fidgeting.
What to do about it: This is an easy one…feed her! But in the future, you may want to take note of the telltale signs of hunger before she gets famished, because often things can get out of hand. When babies are really hungry they’re panicked and distressed, and feeding time can become stressful.

Be careful that she doesn’t try to eat too fast or feverishly. Eating too quickly can cause frustration, extra air bubbles to be taken in (causing gas later), and possibly choking. If she gets panicked, try to calm her as she feeds by caressing her arm or rubbing her head to relax her eating pattern.

Something’s hurting them.

Why they’re crying: Studies show that because their nervous systems are still developing, babies aren’t particularly good at making a cry of pain sound different from another one. Sometimes the thing causing them discomfort is not readily apparent.

It could be scratchy clothing, a tag poking them, or even (common and scary) a hair wrapped around a finger or toe—this is called a “hair tourniquet” and can be quite painful.
What to do about it: Experts say that sometimes a cry from pain may be more intermittent and a little more high pitched than the other cries. The best thing to do is a once-over of your baby.

Lay him on his back and check his entire body (especially fingers and toes) carefully. Look for redness or tenderness to the touch. Check your baby’s head and back for scratches or bumps or if a certain position causes him to cry even more.
They need less stimulation.
Why they’re crying: Babies typically love stimulation, but with the lights, the noises, and the new faces, sometimes they get a bit of sensory overload. Additionally, a newborn’s nervous system isn’t yet mature, and this can mean that his body has a tough time managing his nervous system’s response to the stimulation.

It can take months for that nervous system to mature, and during this time (and sometimes for a little while after after) babies often cry to let you know that they need fewer “bells and whistles” and more quiet and comfort.
What to do about it: The best way to comfort a newborn when they’re feeling overwhelmed is to make them feel more secure. Swaddling is comforting to them because being tightly wrapped mimics the security of the womb.

It often does the job of settling a baby’s unsettled soul. You can also try going to a darker, quieter spot and caressing him until he settles down.

They need more stimulation.

Why they’re crying: Under-stimulation can happen when your baby is bored with her environment and feels intellectually undernourished. An active baby may be excited and eager to see and experience the world around her, and she wants to tell you so.

Since you’re her activities director, when she cries and fusses you know she’s telling you that she needs more!
What to do about it: The number one thing that you can do for an inquisitive baby is to wear your baby carrier facing outward—this way she can see all of the wonderful things that go on around her. In order to not completely exhaust yourself entertaining your child, try to plan activities with other parents and babies or with family members.

Kid-friendly places are also great because nothing spells nonstop entertainment to a baby like other kids. Think local playground, park, children’s museum, zoo, or even a bookstore.
They’re teething.
Why they’re crying: Typically the first baby tooth comes through at about 4 to 7 months, and it can be pretty painful while it pushes through young gums. Some babies are particularly sensitive to it, and others are relatively unaffected.

If your baby is about this age, try feeling her gums with your finger to see if you notice any small teeth popping through. Other signs of teething are red and swollen gums, heavy drooling, rubbing the ear on the same side as the erupting tooth, and not feeding as well.
What to do about it: Try to give your baby something to chew on. A teething ring or a cold washcloth usually works well.

You can also try rubbing your finger over your baby’s sore gums to help ease the pain. Eating cold (like applesauce or yogurt) or hard foods (like baby biscuits) may also help.

They’re just not feeling well.

Why they’re crying: When you’ve checked everything else and can’t figure out what’s troubling your baby, it may be that he’s just not feeling well. Listen closely to your baby—and to your instincts—to see if something may be wrong with his health.

Check for these behavioral changes: lethargy, irregular stools or urination, trouble eating (or lack of appetite), spitting up more than usual, inattentiveness or sleeping longer than usual, or inability to sleep.
What to do about it: The most recognizable sign that your baby isn’t feeling well is the presence of a fever. This can indicate that your baby may have a cold, croup, ear infection, stomach virus, urinary infection, or another type of infection.

Medical professionals recommend calling your doctor if your 3- to 6-month-old has a temperature of over 101 degrees. If your child is older than a year, seek medical attention if the symptoms last longer than 24 to 48 hours.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death of children in the United States. Every 33 seconds a child under the age of 13 is involved in a car crash. It’s important to note that most of these deaths are preventable.

A study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that in one year, more than 618,000 children rode in cars without the use of a child safety or booster seat, and of the children ages 12 years and younger who died in a crash in 2014, 34 percent were not buckled up.

Properly securing your child in a car is one of the most important things that you can do to keep your child safe. But you need to choose the right car seat and install it correctly. A ton of information is available on this topic, but it can get really overwhelming and confusing. Below we explain the most important safety tips for choosing and using car seats properly.

Keep kids facing backward.

Experts agree that the backward-facing position of an infant car seat is the absolute safest place for a child to sit. An article in Injury Prevention showed that 1- to 2-year-olds were five times safer in side-impact crashes when facing backward instead of forward.

They tend to suffer fewer leg injuries and don’t feel the effects of a crash on their brains and necks as much because their heads are cradled and immobilized. For this reason, pediatricians recommend that all children continue to ride in a rear-facing seat to the highest weight and height allowed for use in a rear-facing seat.

Typically that’s until age 2 or if the child reaches 50 pounds and their head is an inch below the top of the car seat. The longer your child can be in the rear-facing position, the safer they’ll be.

Keep car seat straps well positioned.

What good is a car seat if your kid can fly around in it? The straps on your child’s car seat must be fitted and adjusted correctly because the straps are what is keeping them from moving and becoming injured. They need to be snug (regardless of how much your child protests) and adjusted to your child’s personal measurements.

Be sure to remove bulky clothing like sweatshirts and jackets; these bunch up and make the fit improper. And kids can maneuver in and out of straps by moving their jackets around. You can always put that jacket on them backwards to keep them warm—after they are buckled in safely. It’s also important to make sure there are no twists or kinks in the harness.

Specifications for rear-facing car seats include the shoulder straps being level with (or right below) a kid’s shoulders. In a forward-facing car seat it should be the opposite; the harness should be level with or slightly above the shoulders.

Keep them safe when they’re facing forward.

The change from a rear-facing to a forward-facing seat is a big jump. It’s also a scary jump, because the forward-facing position is considered less safe for your little one’s spine and brain.

Enter the tether! The tether is a system that comes with all forward-facing car seats and is what anchors the car seat to the car. The tether basically saves a kid’s head in the event of a crash by decreasing how far a child’s head can move by 4 to 6 inches. This can mean the difference between an uninjured child and serious or even fatal injuries.

In order for the tether system to work, though, it must be used correctly. Statistics show that only 30 percent of forward-facing children in the U.S. are tethered, and of those children, only 59 percent are tethered correctly. Be sure to follow both the car seat manufacturer’s and your car’s directions to the letter.

Keep your kid in the center.

Most parents put car seats in the side rear passenger seat because it’s easiest to buckle car seats and get kids in and out from there. But studies show that children who are newborn to 3 years old are 43 percent safer sitting in the center rear seat than on the side—especially in the event of a side-impact crash.

When the difference was further compared to the risk on the side of the accident, it was found that the percentage was closer to a 54 percent reduced risk of injury. Why is the center position the safest? During an accident, the person in the center has the most distance from the collision zone and is more insulated in that area.
As a side note, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that all children under the age of 13 ride in that area of the car—car seat or not.

Time the booster seat right.

Experts agree that the graduation to a more advanced car seat should be delayed as long as possible in order to keep a child safe. But studies show that parents prematurely rush their growing children into booster seats because they’re lighter, easier to use, and less of a hassle to get kids in and out of.

The safety rules for a booster seat are that the child must be at least 4 years old, weigh 40 pounds, and be able to sit with a seat belt properly. Experts say that most kids are actually ready a little later, at age 6. The goal of the booster seat is to support the child and keep the belt properly positioned in the event of a crash.

How can you tell if your kid is ready to ditch the booster? The seat belt should fit the exact same when using it and not using it, which most people don’t realize is usually around 10 to 12 years old.

Keep everyone buckled up.

Keeping adults and kids over the age of 12 buckled up in the car not only keeps them safe, but it keeps others safe as well. Studies show that the effects of not buckling up can be very dangerous to others riding in the car, because unsecured humans essentially become torpedoes.

In the event of a crash, an adult rider can be thrown around the car and seriously injure other passengers, particularly very small ones. Research shows that if an adult rides in the back without a buckle, the other people in the car are three times more likely to die in a crash.

When a car crashes, anything that’s not buckled down—people, pets, objects—goes flying until it hits something that stops its momentum or it is ejected from the car. Think you can hold yourself up or down? Studies (and physics) show that you can’t. Multiply your weight times the speed of the car and you’ll get your actual weight in a crash.

Have a pro check your seat.

Worried that you haven’t installed your car seat correctly? You’re probably right! Studies show that 72 to 84 percent of car seats are improperly installed. More alarmingly, 96 percent of parents believed that their seats were up to code.

This is why it’s critically important to have a child passenger safety technician check the safety of your car seat and also teach you how to do it on your own. It usually takes takes only 20 to 30 minutes, and the information is priceless.

The best way to find a certified child passenger safety technician is to log on to either one of the following websites and enter your zip code to find a technician or station near you.
The National Child Passenger Safety Certification Program has a comprehensive car seat guide and will help you find a car seat tech.
The federal government’s SaferCar.gov has everything you need to know about keeping your littles safe while on the move.

Firefighters and police officers aren’t necessarily properly trained to check your car seat, so be sure to ask if they are certified technicians.