Blog Posts by TheBump.com

Parents are naming their babies after vampires and werewolves. Here's how to do it tastefully.

By Sarah Yang for TheBump.com

Summit Entertainment LLC

With Breaking Dawn: Part 1 currently ruling the box office, it seems like everyone has Twilight fever. So why not get some baby name inspiration from the popular book and movie series? We're not joking -- there are a ton of characters in the series, so chances are you'll like at least one of their names. Check out these ideas for Twilight-inspired names -- and if you're embarrassed about naming your kid after a teen romance novel, you can tell your friends that it's just a coincidence!

Worst celebrity baby names ever!

Combine Two Names
Okay, it was really weird when Edward and Bella named their kid Renesmee, which is a combination of their moms' names Renee and Esme. (Side note, did anyone catch that funny nod to the unusual name during the movie? Jacob's puzzled face when Bella told him her name wishlist said it all). But, there are some

Read More »from Biggest Baby Name Trend of the Moment: Twilight

It's common in some cultures to be confined at home a month after you give birth. Some moms who believe in this practice are now doing it in style.

By Sarah Yang for TheBump.com

Thinkstock / The Bump

This might drive some women crazy: Imagine not leaving your house for an entire month after giving birth -- with just your baby and mother-in-law to keep you company. Are you pulling out your hair at the thought of it? Well, a new article in Time focuses on the Chinese practice of "sitting the month" or postpartum confinement. According to Time, the practice has been around since the 1st century B.C. and involves new moms spending about a month indoors after they give birth. Many believe that it helps the mother heal faster and rejuvenate. Normally, a woman's mother-in-law takes charge during the 30-day period by making meals and helping the new mom care for the baby.

Common new mommy fears

Okay, now consider this: Even though many new moms in countries like China and Taiwan still observe

Read More »from Staying Indoors for Baby's First Month -- Crazy or Genius?

All-natural strategies to get through baby's first cold season.

By Paula Kashtan for TheBump.com

Treat Baby's Cold Without Medicine

Cold season is here and you've got to make sure that baby stays safe and healthy. Since antihistamines and decongestants aren't safe to give babies, what's a mom to do? We've got some easy and effective non-medicinal alternatives.

Use Steam
Make your own steam room. Dress baby in light layers (no blanket), bring her in the bathroom and close the door, and run a hot shower. Sit for 10-15 minutes up to four times a day, and wipe baby's nose or use a bulb syringe afterwards. Remember -- never leave baby alone in the bathroom or bring her in the shower.

Keep you and baby flu-free!

Keep Her Head Elevated
Keep baby in an upright or semi-upright position to encourage nasal drainage. You can also put a pillow under the on end of her crib mattress to elevate her head, but never put pillows in the actual crib.

Invest in a Humidifier
Use a humidifier to keep the air

Read More »from Treat Baby’s Cold Without Medicine

The most annoying parts of prenatal appointments-and how to deal.

By Meagan Francis for TheBump.com

Why Going to the OB Sucks

You hate: The long wait

By the time the nurse calls your name, your butt is numb and you've played 16 games of Angry Birds (fun, but not exactly how you wanted to spend your afternoon). And if your partner came along, he's probably getting pretty antsy.

How to deal: When you make your appointment, ask for the first time slot in the morning. The earlier the appointment, the less likely the office is to be running behind, says Robin Elise Weiss, pregnancy and childbirth educator and author of The Complete Illustrated Pregnancy Companion. Didn't get an early slot? Call ahead and see if things are running on schedule -- the receptionist may tell you you're in the clear to show up a little later.

Pregnancy myths busted!

You hate: Getting exactly 2.5 minutes with your doc

You'd think after all that time you spent in the waiting room, you'd get to have a nice, long

Read More »from Why Going to the OB Sucks

One more thing to be aware of while you're pregnant - baby girls exposed to BPA in the womb are more likely to develop emotional and behavioral problems.

By Sarah Yang for TheBump.com



Here's another reason to watch out for BPA (bisphenol A) exposure: According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, BPA exposure in the womb may cause behavioral and emotional problems, especially in girls. Researchers tested urine samples from 244 mothers during pregnancy and at birth for BPA, and their children were tested every year from ages one to three. The mothers then filled out surveys about their kids' behavior when they turned three years old. Researchers found BPA in 85 percent of the mothers' urine samples and in over 96 percent of the children's urine samples. The data showed that none of the children had clinically abnormal behavior, but some did have more behavioral Read More »from Warning! BPA Products May Cause Harm to Unborn Babies

What's the dumbest thing you did while pregnant? We asked. They revealed what they could remember.

By Sarah Yang for TheBump.com

"I put Resolve cleaner in my fridge by accident. My husband went to get something from the fridge and asked me why I put it in there. I just stood there with a deer-in-the-headlights look and told him, 'At least it won't evaporate?'" -- homegirl44

"I was goofing around with my husband when I was 20 weeks pregnant. Somehow, I totally forgot I was pregnant and ran from our bathroom and jumped bellyfirst onto our bed next to him." -- JessiRaye

Craziest places moms went into labor

"I went on a camping trip at eight weeks pregnant. I was throwing up the whole time, and there were only port-a-potties there. Ew." -- Sniffer2.0

"I was backing out of my garage one day, and I scraped my front bumper on the wall. Three weeks later, I backed out of my garage and into my best friend's truck. I'd never had a wreck in my life before -- but I had two

Read More »from True Tales of the Pregnancy Brain

Don't believe everything you hear about baby's sleep. We put some popular advice to the test and found out it's actually totally wrong.

By Joanne Van Zuidam for TheBump.com

Myth #1: Baby should sleep through the night at 12 weeks.
The truth: Okay, here's the deal with this one: Yes, it would be nice, but it's an unrealistic expectation that will only stress you out. "If you have a good daytime eater, with a consistent routine and a bit of luck, your baby will sleep through the night at 12 weeks," says Tanya Remer Altmann, MD, author of Mommy Calls (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2008), who stresses the luck part. For everyone else, she says, it may not happen for another month or two or -- ouch -- three, and that doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. But you can do some things to encourage your baby to start sleeping for longer stretches: Establish a short, calming bedtime routine, allow your baby to fall asleep on his own (no nursing or rocking him to sleep), and once he's

Read More »from 7 Baby Sleep Myths -- Debunked

Could our favorite kitchen sponge character have negative effects on baby's development?

By Elena Donovan Mauer for TheBump.com





The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no TV for kids under age two and limiting it after that. But some moms (especially ones who have older kids in the house) find it hard to cut it out completely for their toddlers and find themselves sneaking in a show here and there.

How much tv should a toddler watch?

If that's you, you're probably wondering: Are some TV shows better than others? Yes, says a new study from the journal Pediatrics. In the study, researchers tested three groups of four-year-olds -- for nine minutes, one group watched a "fast-paced cartoon featuring an animated kitchen sponge" (which we assume means SpongeBob SquarePants); another watched "a slower-paced, realistic PBS cartoon about a typical preschool boy" (which we think is Caillou); and a third drew with crayons and markers. Then, the kids were given attention, problem-solving

Read More »from Watching SpongeBob Could Be Bad for Baby!