Blog Posts by Parents.com

Sometimes it seems that the only way to get kids to listen is to shout. Learn to take it down a few decibels -- and enjoy better behavior in the process.

By Corinne Garcia

My boys, who are 3 and 5, always seem to want the things that they know they can't have: cookies for breakfast, a movie at bedtime, flip-flops on a snowy day. When they get the inevitable "no" for an answer it often sends them into a tailspin -- whining, writhing on the floor, and kicking the air. Nothing gets to me more than these spontaneous freak-outs. Don't they understand that if they stay up late watching Shrek they'll be cranky the next day? Before I know it, I'm yelling again.

How do things go from movie request to scream-fest in seconds? The kids hit one of my triggers, and like many parents, I react by shouting. (If you've never screamed at your children, know that statistically you're one of the few. According to a study in The Journal of Marriage and Family, 89 percent of parents report doing it.)

You may be secretly sad after finding out your baby's sex. But the feeling is more common than you might think.

By Danielle Braff

Around your 20-week appointment, people keep asking: "Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?" You tell them that you simply want a healthy baby, even though you're secretly wishing for a particular sex. When the ultrasound tech reveals the results you pretend to be thrilled, even though you're heartbroken. It's a feeling that Katherine Asbery, author of Altered Dreams: Living With Gender Disappointment, knows well. She had hoped that her second-born child would be a girl but instead she had another boy. Before she got pregnant for the third and final time, she tried tactics that she found on the Internet to help her conceive a girl. She ate yogurt to try to change her pH balance, and she made her husband take hot baths to alter his sperm. When she discovered that she'd be birthing another boy, she "cried and cried and cried," she says. "Then I felt guilty."

After reading the latest findings on sudden cardiac death, we asked our advisor Darshak Sanghavi, M.D., chief of the division of pediatric cardiology and associate professor of pediatrics at University of Massachusetts Medical School, to put this frightening problem into perspective and help parents understand the prevention steps they can take. Here's what he had to say:

By Darshak Sanghavi, M.D.

Earlier this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics pointed out that several thousand young people die each year of unexplained sudden cardiac death. These cases are deeply tragic, and though rare, the sudden loss of a previously healthy child often leads to a great deal of concern among all parents.

It turns out that children's heart problems are very different than those in adults. Typically, adult problems result from long-standing damage to arteries, buildup of cholesterol, and other long-term problems that can lead to sudden blockages. Doctors refer to these as "myocardial

Yes, you can eat out with your child. This advice will help you handle whatever drama she dishes out.

By Brett Hill

Recently, my extended family shared a meal at a boisterous Italian restaurant. Before our appetizers had arrived, my then 18-month-old nephew had spilled soda, played 12 games of "guess which hand the sugar packet's in," gone on a walking tour of the dining room, dropped two forks, and tried to take off his shirt while in his high chair. As we were leaving, I overheard a couple remark, "He's adorable, but I'm glad we're past that stage." As anyone with a 1- or 2-year-old knows, taking a toddler to a restaurant is no day at the beach (which, by the way, is no day at the beach either). It requires patience, planning, and a glass of pinot noir.

When you take a toddler out to eat, you're including a guest who finds it difficult to sit still, is prone to tantrums, and probably has a limited interest in new cuisine, says Parents advisor Jenn Berman, Psy.D., author of

Do you know that neighborhood kid who never seems to come down with anything? Do his parents know something you don't? Probably not, experts say, but put these six habits of healthy kids to use to avoid illness this year.

By Michelle Crouch for Parents Magazine.

Forget hospital food and roommates. When celebrities give birth, their 5-star accommodations include spa-style pampering, 24-hour concierge service, and more.

By Hannah Werthan

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center: A Natural Oasis
VIP delivery suites are designed to look like the outdoors. Medical supplies are stored away in wood-paneled cabinets and lighting drops down from the ceiling. A special menu caters to moms with dietary restrictions, and food is delivered by a tuxedo-wearing "food ambassador." Rooms come with a flat-screen TV, XM satellite radio, a private bathroom, a refrigerator, and a warming bed for baby.

Rose Medical Center in Denver: High-Tech Delivery
Physicians who attend this hospital are able to monitor patients' labor progress from their smart phones, even if they're away from the hospital. Birthing rooms have private bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs, birth balls, rocking chairs, squat bars, and flat-screen TVs. After giving birth, VIPs can enter one of Rose's six luxury

Keep your kids safe and secure in all types of water situations, such as boating and swimming, with our tips for choosing U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.

By Kate Bayless

Life jackets can be bulky, uncomfortable, and less than fashionable. But there's one crucial fact to remember: Life jackets save lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the second leading cause of death for kids age 1 to 14. In 2009, 3,358 people were injured and 736 died in boating incidents. Of those who drowned, 9 out of 10 were not wearing life jackets. Research indicates that life jackets (often used interchangeably with the term "personal flotation devices") are the safest and best devices approved by the U.S. Coast Guard to prevent drowning. We've gathered the age-appropriate guidelines you need to select the best life jackets -- based on type, style, and fit -- to keep your kids safe this summer.

Know the Rules and Requirements
Boating laws concerning the

Can't find enough time to spend together? These simple and effective tips will help decrease busy schedules and increase quality family time.

By Ansley Roan

Cooking meals, doing laundry, and going to work are all essential, but they often mean less time for parents to spend with those they love most. A recent survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that women spend only slightly more time on household chores than men do, which shows that all parents are pulled in many directions. "Certainly work, marriage, kids, and feeding the family are all high priorities, but there are healthy approaches to all of these that don't require moms to feel so out of control," says Hollee Temple, co-author of Good Enough Is the New Perfect: Finding Happiness and Success in Modern Motherhood. Follow these practical tips to save time on everyday responsibilities and spend more time with your family.

Make Over Your To-Do List
Divide your to-do list into three categories: Don't, Delegate, and Do.