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Best Web Sites for New Moms

If you're a new mom or just expecting to be one, there's no question that you're going to need some help. Since it's probably been a long time since your own mother had a baby, sometimes you just need someone to turn to and thankfully, there are plenty of websites on the subject. From where to purchase the coolest clothes to what to do about diaper rash, we've listed the best resources available at the click of a mouse.



Babycenter.com:

With its wealth of information, this site can help you with pretty much anything pre- or post-baby. The timeline feature allows you to track your little one's development from conception to 9 years old, and the store carries all the toys, baby-proofing and clothing you'll need. If the articles aren't enough, head to the Community section where you'll find message boards, blogs, and chat rooms designed to answer all your questions. With its variety of features and information, Babycenter is truly a one stop shop for your baby needs.

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Diaperbagboutique.com
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For the next few years, the diaper bag might be the most important accessory you'll own, and this site ensures you'll find one you like. You can view the hundreds of options by type, pattern, and color, or just browse through a variety of brand names. The novelty bag section adds another layer of cool, including leather bags, cargo jackets and vests with internal diaper and wipes pockets, and, yes, even fanny packs. A personalization section is also included, allowing you to add names or initials to make it your very own. No matter what, you'll be the envy of all the other moms you know.

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AskDrSears.com:

Don't get this medical website confused with DrSears.com, which tells you how to lose weight on the Zone diet. Co-authors of best-selling The Baby Book, William Sears, MD and Martha Sears, RN are the folks behind AskDrSears.com, but you can just call them Dr. Bill and Martha. After practicing pediatric medicine for 30 years and raising eight children, two of which are also doctors and contribute to the site, the Sears' Web site gives you insight into anything medical that's on your mind. In addition to a number of parenting resources, there's pediatric news, Dr. Sears' diary, and topics of the week, such as "Avoiding Mommy Burnout." So remember to keep AskDrSears on call, because trust us, you're going to need it.

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Finslippy:

Being a new mother isn't easy and sometimes you just need a little escape, and finslippy is a great blog for that. Started by author Alice Bradley, the Web site is an insightful and honest look at motherhood through the good times and bad. Readers are invited into the writer's heart and soul as she discusses the loss of her child's favorite toy (RIP Minty Bear), talks about the sights and sounds of giving birth, and her recent miscarriage in what she called The worst post I've ever written. If you need any more proof, Bradley won a bloggie award for "Best Writing of a Weblog." Go. Now.

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MomsRising.org
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For mothers who want to get involved, MomsRising.org offers plenty. An advocacy group that follows in the footsteps of the liberal organizing site MoveOn.org, the site was founded to raise awareness of issues related to family and motherhood. You can find facts relating to maternity and paternity leave, open flexible work, healthcare, childcare, and many other issues. There's information on a variety of national and state campaigns, blogs to read on current issues, and a number of ways you can help spread the message. So don't just sit there -- do something!

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Angelicgenius.com:

There's no denying that your child is an extension of yourself. So if you want them to dress as hip as you do, Angelic Genius is your first stop. This boutique sells clothes for the wee ones in categories like Jetset Baby, Wild Things, and J'Adore, as well as gift sets, holiday gear, and shirts for moms. So, whether it's a pair of sweats with a green dragon tattoo or a pair of gold butterfly wings on the back of a t-shirt, there's nothing else like it.

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Celebrity-babies.com:

Sometimes it's nice to know that someone a lot more glamorous than you is going through the same unglamorous stuff. The Celebrity Baby Blog keeps you up-to-date on who's expecting, who's given birth, exclusive interviews, and pictures of stars in all their parenting glory. If you need to take your mind off your own problems for just a little while, the supermarket tabloid-style reporting on this site will definitely do the trick.

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Babygenius.com:

One thing you'll learn quickly with a new baby: music does indeed soothe the savage beast, and from lullabies to sing-a-longs, having the right tunes can make a big difference for both you and your tot. To that end, BabyGenius uses music and video in its catalog of CDs and DVDs to teach your child as well as keep them calm. From a musical safari filmed at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park to the Kid's Dance Party CD, which includes the Bunny Hop and the Chicken Dance, you probably won't be heading into a plane, train or automobile without one. The Web site also includes lyrics to a number of the songs so you can learn them before you're sick of them.

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Iseeme.com
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If you want the perfect keepsake for your own baby -- or someone else's -- look no further than Iseeme.com. Started by a new mom on maternity leave, this Web site sells three beautifully drawn books, 'My Very Own Name,' 'ABC's,' and 'Fairy Tale,' which help teach children how to read, recognize letters, and spell their own name. The Web site gives virtual tours of each book and offers gift sets with various toys, shirts, and personalized plates. A list of stores where the books are sold is also included if you want to feel and touch them before you buy.

How to Keep Your Kids Entertained on Long Trips

If you're thinking about getting on a plane, train or automobile with your little one, you had better not go empty handed. Combine a toddler's short attention span with being confined to a small space for hours on end, and disaster isn't far behind. So how do you make sure things don't go horribly wrong on your next trip? Stock up on some of these travel toys now and keep them close. You never know when you might need them.


Travel DVD with long battery life

While we don't regularly sedate our kids with video, the rules change on long trips, and DVD players can be a much-needed lifesaver. Fully charged, the $210 LG DP81 portable DVD player promises five hours of playback time thanks to a small, streamlined battery. The eight-inch LCD screen swivels and displays movies, still images and CD track information. The LG includes twin earphone jacks for two people to watch and listen at the same time, so it's a perfect way to keep two kids busy at once or let dad get his 'Finding Nemo' fix.


Five Gadgets to Keep Your Kid Busy On a Trip

If you're thinking about getting on a plane, train or automobile with your little one, you had better not go empty handed. Combine a toddler's short attention span with being confined to a small space for hours on end, and disaster isn't far behind. So how do you make sure things don't go horribly wrong on your next trip? Stock up on some of these travel toys now and keep them close. You never ... Read more »

Top Five Gadgets to Keep Your Kid Busy On a Trip 5

Gear up -- Sort of shaped like an Etch-a-Sketch, Tomy's Gearation is a magnetic surface with a bunch of different gears that kids can place and then play with. This $30 toy comes with 11 brightly-colored cogs that turn, rotate and flip at two speeds in two directions. The only constant is the center gear, so the cogs can be placed anywhere on the surface, delivering a new experience every time ... Read more »

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Tiny Love Wonder Wheel If you can withstand repetitive noises to keep your kid preoccupied, then the Tiny Love Wonder Wheel, is, well, wonderful. This $30 toy comes in two pieces -- the remote control wheel and a cloth panel with pictures that light up and make music. The wire-free toy simply attaches to the back of a headrest, making setup and storage easy. When your toddler touches the ... Read more »

Top Five Gadgets to Keep Your Kid Busy On a Trip 3

Small World Toys Prescool Laptop Anyone with kids knows you could have hundreds of toys scattered around, but somehow your child always wants to play with your computer. Luckily for you, there's a solution for both home and for travel: the Small World Toys Preschool Laptop. The toy is basically a match game with pictures that light up on the screen and correspond to the colorful buttons, ... Read more »

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Hooked-On Phonics Touch Screen Learner Looking for a portable educational toy about the size of a Nintendo Game Boy? Try the $35 Hooked on Phonics Touch Screen Learner, a game system with an interactive LCD screen that's controlled using the attached stylus. Designed for ages 4 to 7, the set includes 14 games that will educate your child in three areas: letter names and sounds, spelling, ... Read more »