5 Unexpected Baby Milestones You'll Want to RememberMy daughter Elvie is now nine months old, and we just had her nine-month well baby visit. While we've got some things to monitor due to her birth defect, and she'll be on preventative antibiotics until she has her big reconstructive surgery, she is otherwise healthy and now in the twenty-fifth percentile on the growth charts. This is huge for a baby who was severely malnourished just four months ago. You would never know, looking at our plump, cheerful baby, that she weighed less than seven pounds when she was five months old and was practically swallowed up by newborn clothing. Now she's wearing a three-to-six month size and is sporting some serious chub. I joked that we wanted thighs worthy of gravy by Thanksgiving, and we definitely got them.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing my baby grow so well. Because of her birth defect, many of the developmental milestones aren't applicable to Elvie's situation, and seeing the number go up on the scale is a gratifying alternative. She has

The American Academy of Pediatrics advocates handing out Plan B in schools, and so do I.It was about a year ago that the feds put the kibosh on over-the-counter emergency contraception for women of all ages, despite solid science from the FDA that proved the morning-after pill was 100% safe and effective regardless of age. Instead, the Obama administration instituted a plan that would require girls under 17 to get a prescription for Plan B, while those 17 and older would have prescription-free access at their local pharmacy.

A few months ago, 13 NYC schools made Plan B available to teens without parental notification. Now, it looks like the American Academy of Pediatrics is looking to shake things up, too, and possibly tear down some of those barriers created last year. Yesterday the AAP released new guidelines that urge doctors to prescribe emergency contraception to teens in advance of need, and I, for one, think it's a good move.

More from YourTango: Give My Kid Plan Be Behind My Back? Yes, Please!

The idea is that pediatricians will counsel adolescents and teens

How to Provide Nutrition to Children By Shopping, DonatingWhen I was in Kenya last year I talked with an HIV-positive, expectant mother who told me that once her baby was born she would feed her a homemade mixture of millet, nuts, and water - essentially a rudimentary form of infant formula. I was mortified by the thought of homemade formula knowing that her baby would not receive adequate nutrition and that access to clean water in developing countries remains a perpetual problem. To this day, I hope her baby was able to survive on what she made for her to drink and that someone counseled her to breastfeed instead even though she was HIV positive.

Statistics for malnutrition in developing countries are quite startling. Did you know 1 in 3 children in developing countries die from malnutrition and that 11% of diseases like pneumonia are caused by malnutrition?

Related: 25 things every kid should experience

Future Fortified, a global campaign that helps millions of women and children around the world access essential nutrients,

Too many of us are familiar with this scenario: Aunt June is still peeved about your decision to marry that ne'er-do-well with whom you have two children ("You could do SO much better, dear"). You, a stalwart democrats, find yourself at a dinner table packed with seasoned Republicans. Mix in fatigue and alcohol and you have the makings of a conflagration. So, in hopes of making it through the holiday season without being singed, here are 7 things you might want to avoid discussing at the dinner table: - By Rene Syler

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By: Kate at Parenting.com
Although the threat of Santa knowing if you've been bad or good might come in handy to keep kids in line during the holiday season, it turns out to be an empty one. A new study finds that Santa (read: Mom and Dad) will give children presents whether they've been naughty or nice.

Walmart conducted a national survey of parents and kids, asking various questions about holiday gift giving and getting. Eighty percent of parents said their kids will get the same number of gifts, regardless of their behavior. But Santa's hold still works over kids: 62 percent surveyed said they believed they'd get more presents if they were nice over naughty.

Plus: The Best Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Mom Amber Plante told USA Today that she'd rather her two sons have fond memories of Christmas morning, rather than using it to teach a lesson: "I'd rather my boys have fuzzy memories of happy times ripping open

By Lexi Nisita, Refinery29
It was only seven months ago that Jessica Simpson gave birth to her and fiancé Eric Johnson's first child, the normally named Maxwell Drew - but it appears she's now got another on the way! According to Us Weekly, an inside source reports the couple just found out about the unexpected but very welcome news.

Jessica was the subject of a lot of media scrutiny regarding her post-baby weight, but we're thinking the new mom has plenty of more pressing things to worry about than haters, these days - plus, she's has been looking curvy and gorgeous these days, so really, who care? Being pregnant twice in one year is a lot to handle, so we wish her the very best.

Congratulations to the happy couple - and if you're curious to know more, pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly on newsstands this Friday!


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By Author Carolyn j Morris for GalTime.com

Helping a Grieving Child As adults, we know that eventually we must deal with the death of someone we know or love. Unfortunately, many children are forced to face it much earlier than adults would like. As a mother and as someone who lost my mother at a young age, I have compiled these tips for parents to help children cope with loss.

Acknowledge loss

Much like the rest of us, children need to feel secure and significant after a loss. They don't want you to forget the loved one that has died, and they often don't articulate their feelings easily. We must acknowledge the reality of the death to be able to cope with it. Gentle, real and honest conversation will eventually help the child as they think through and feel through the grieving process.

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Pay attention

When children are in pain, they want and need to be heard. They want to know that someone cares deeply for them. They need an