Blog Posts by Redbook

We all know those people, the Parenting Peanut Gallery, strangers and friends who are "experts" in parenting, and as such quick to give a meddlesome opinion, a disapproving eye, or an outright countermand.

While these digs don't leave visible scarring, they can undercut your natural mothering instincts and leave you plain old fighting mad. "There is no shortage of people ready to pick apart your parenting skills," says Michele Borba, author of 12 Simple Secrets Real Moms Know. "It can be hurtful, but when you let them shake your confidence in who you are as a mom, that's when the real damage is done."

Learn how to unspoil your child.

The secret to being a great mother is believing in yourself. And one of the best ways to do that is to silence that Parenting Peanut Gallery, once and for all. Here's how:

Stand up for yourself.
Address criticism as soon as it happens, so you don't hold in your anger and let it fester. "We women spend a lot of time questioning whether something should

It is a question every mom asks as she stares into her baby's big eyes: What the heck is he thinking about? Milk? Ducklings? Nothing? Turns out, your baby's brain is working harder than we ever imagined, says Alison Gopnik, Ph.D., author of The Philosophical Baby. "Until about 20 years ago, scientists thought babies were egocentric and illogical," Gopnik says, "but we are discovering that, in many respects, babies and toddlers know more, learn more, and experience even more than adults!"

Bet you don't know these three parenting rules

Here, some of her fascinating findings:

Baby's got your number early on.
The conventional wisdom was that kids couldn't understand how other people's minds worked until they were 7, but new studies show they're figuring it out by 7 months. "Even young babies know that people have desires and goals," Gopnik says. "When your baby sees you reach for an object, he gets that you want to grab it."

Learn how to raise a healthy eater

Your toddler knows there

Did you ever think dropping 5 pounds could be as easy as finding a bra that actually fits your body? Not only can a wrong bra be uncomfortable, but it makes you look heavier. When your breasts are lifted to where they actually belong, your entire body looks slimmer. Susan Nethero, owner and founder of Intimacy boutiques, has tips that will help you get the perfect fit.

Scenario: Lisa was wearing a 34B, but she's really a 32A. Susan says: "You're underfilling your bra if you see puckering in the cup. It helps to think of your bra like a seesaw: If the band is too loose and rides up in the back, the girls will sag. If it is level all the way around or lower, they'll be lifted."
Tip: Adding a little volume to your bust is as simple as using a bump-up pad.
Try... "Isabella" all-over lace bra, Le Mystere, $82; bloomingdales.com. "Every time the band gets bigger, the cup size gets an inch deeper. So a 36C is a bigger band and cup than a 34C."

Check Out Our Bra Recommendations Here


Scenario:

With a new movie, a solid marriage, and a pair of adorable 2-year-olds, goal-oriented Jennifer Lopez knows how to wear many hats, and look stylish in them all. This month, she worked it for REDBOOK's cover, and while she was at it she shared some wisdom we can all (superstars or not) subscribe to.

The pop diva tells REDBOOK that she's always believed in fairy tales, and her glam look proves fairy tales can come true. Plus, she gabs about motherhood, children, and turning 40: "In fact, 40 turned out to be an empowered place for me, because I also realized how much I didn't know when I was 20 or even 30."

Is J.Lo not as different from the rest of us as we might have thought? Do her words resonate with you?


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• Dress for Sex-cess
  
• 10 Hottest Health Trends
  
• Get More on Love, Family & Fashion - Subscribe to Redbook & Save up to 82%!

We asked Rachel Venning and Claire Cavanah, the owners of adult toy store Babeland and the authors of Moregasm: Babeland's Guide to Mind-Blowing Sex, to share some of their insights on what helps women have great sex.

The biggest barriers between most women and a great sex life are...
Not taking initiative to get the pleasure they want, and worrying about how they look during sex.

Women can achieve better orgasms by...
Learning to masturbate and give themselves pleasure, which makes it easier to have better partner sex. Any healthy change you make for yourself requires making a commitment, so set aside the time to explore yourself and have some fun. Experiment with a vibrator that delivers clitoral stimulation, and then try a G-spot toy, which stimulates the little bundle of nerves inside the vagina.

The most orgasmic sex position for women is...
Woman-on-top is great because you're in control and have choices: You can grind yourself against his pubic bone for stimulation, you can

Get ready for the sunshine ahead with these fun, inexpensive beauty buys. Find even more fresh mint green fashion accessories and April shower products, plus the newest (affordable!) fashion trends for spring!

How do you change your beauty routine for the new season?

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• Foreplay Tips: The Moves Men Love
  
• 5 Dresses Every Woman Should Own
  
• Get More on Love, Family & Fashion - Subscribe to Redbook & Save up to 82%!

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

What to do when you already love your life? Help improve someone else's by volunteering or donating to a charity. Don't have the funds to give? Here are a few ways to make some money for your favorite cause-and have some fun while you're at it.


School bake sale or carnival
If your cause centers on children, connect with your child's school to plan an afternoon family fund-raiser.

Try selling these delicious, easy chocolate crackles




Fashion show
Local retailers and boutiques will love the opportunity to showcase and promote their new looks, and fashion-conscious guests will have fun in the audience.

We're loving these new spring trends


Sports days
If your social circle enjoys playing golf or tennis, enlist a club to host a tournament and publicize the event, then solicit local businesses to sponsor the holes for a set price. A sports tournament encourages whole families - especially the guys! - to get in on the fun.

Why is your man so obsessed with sports? We get the answer from...

photo credit: Alexander Crispin/Getty ImagesClimbing the walls because the weather is keeping you and your kids inside? We've got tried-and-true solutions from real moms to keep the kids from going stir-crazy (and you from going crazy) on rainy days.

Combat these other motherhood challenges.

What Rain?
"We don't let a rainy day keep us inside: We get bundled up and get outside to play in the puddles! But if it's raining too hard, we like to head to an indoor gym to be active." - Rachel Zetooney, 37, Eatontown, NJ

Learn how to have stress-free family time.

Paint the Town Red (and Blue, Green, Yellow . . .)
"Living in Alaska, we spend a lot of time playing inside. I stock up on one-dollar items from Michael's - small sticker books, wooden 3D puzzles, and foam animal kits. Then I let my sons, ages 1 and 3, go to town playing. We also finger paint, blow bubbles, make collages, and use medicine droppers to combine different colors of water to make new colors." - Robin Klein, 26, Delta Junction, AKphoto credit: Frank Schnabel/Corbis

These fun crafts will get you