Angeline Gonzalez-Abreu of Hollywood, Fla., is a bright, beautiful, chatty 2-year-old. She’s also strong-willed and determined, qualities that will stand her in good stead as she faces the challenges of growing up with spina bifida. “I think Angie is very special, but I don’t want her to think she’s ‘special needs’ because I don’t want … Read more

Don’t Get Caught Unprepared You never know when disaster will strike and what form it will take. Of course, there’s earthquakes, hurricanes and tornados, but who would have envisioned a massive power outage across the country or the horrible events of September 11, 2001? As many of the people who suffered through such events can … Read more

Your child’s first birthday party should be fun and memorable. But planning it doesn’t have to be difficult. Want to create a picture-worthy party no matter what the season? Check out these ideas! Winter Often cold and rainy, winter might seem like a hard season to plan a successful party. But there are lots of … Read more

The arrival of spring always seems to bring with it positive feelings of hope and renewal. But as the sunlight shines through the window, it’s also likely to spotlight the grimy smudges on the windowpanes and the specks of dust dancing in the sunbeams, reminding you of that fun annual task: spring cleaning. Spring cleaning, … Read more

When complications throw a wrench in your pregnancy and the prospect of a premature delivery seems imminent, can breastfeeding your newborn still fit into your mothering plans? According to Carri Buerger and Lori Kolder, both nurses and lactation consultants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill., the … Read more

Does your pantry need a makeover? Stocking the right ingredients can help put your family on the road to healthier meals and snacks, and even help reshape the way you think about food. “It is important to establish healthy eating habits early on in a child’s life, and having healthy, nutritious foods around will set … Read more

Identical twins are celebrated in society for their similarities, as evidenced by the number of television commercials using twins to sell their products and the success of twin-based shows and movies. But there is another side to twins that should be embraced: their individuality. Parents expecting twins have a difficult, but wonderful, task ahead of … Read more

A Parent’s Guide To Winning the Toothbrush Wars The early years are full of parent-child battles: getting your little one to put on (or take off) clothes, encouraging them to please eat those vegetables and telling them they really do have to stay in the shopping cart despite their overwhelming desire to run the aisles. … Read more

With the holidays at an end and a long stretch of cold days ahead, it may seem like an eternity before March 21 arrives signaling the official end of winter. Hard as you may try to revel in wintry activities and keep your spirits up, it’s hard to muster enthusiasm for yet another snow day … Read more

Poison on the Playground “It is an uncanny thought that this lurking poison (arsenic) is everywhere about us, ready to gain unsuspected entrance to our bodies from the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe.” – Karl Vogel, 1928 Arsenic has been used since 3,000 B.C. for various medicinal and … Read more