But there’s a catch: When it comes to green crib mattresses, there’s no government or industry oversight, so manufacturers can call a crib mattress natural or organic even when it isn’t, or when it only contains a very small percentage of natural materials (like organic cotton in the cover). Here’s how to tell a truly green crib mattress from an imposter and get the best baby sleep gear.

How to find a green crib mattress

If you’re looking for a green crib mattress, you might need to do some digging to learn more about a manufacturer’s claims. Manufacturers are required to list their mattresses are made of, so one way to distinguish a green crib mattress is by looking at the label: Look for materials like cotton, soy, coconut husks, bamboo, and natural latex.

Also see whether it’s GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified, which means that the mattress complies with stringent chemical emission standards developed by nonprofit, The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute.  You can also look for a cover made from cotton, wool, or bamboo instead of vinyl; if it’s certified by green textile certifier, Oeko-Tex, you’ll know it’s free from harmful substances.

One option we love? The green crib mattresses from Sealy’s Nature Couture Collection, made with a soybean foam core and organic cotton cover. And since it converts into a toddler bed, it’ll keep your baby safe as she grows into a big kid, too.

Sponsored by Sealy

By Alexa Joy Sherman

How do you help baby sleep? Helping your baby drift off into dreamland doesn’t have to be a nightmare. In fact, it could be as simple as 1, 2, 3! Here’s the three-step plan experts recommend when your baby can’t sleep.

How to Help Baby Sleep

Step 1: Establish a sleep routine
You’ll help baby sleep when she knows what’s going to happen—so have set naptimes and bedtimes, ideally based on when your little one already tends to show signs of drowsiness. “Routines are essential at any age as they help prepare our bodies and minds for what comes next,” says Lisa J. Meltzer, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics and director of the Pediatric Behavioral Sleep Clinic at National Jewish Health in Denver. “A predictable bedtime routine will signal to a baby that sleep time is coming.” Elements of the routine will vary, but a bath, massage, rocking, reading a story or singing a song will all help baby sleep more easily. 

Step 2: To help baby sleep, put her down awake
The key to successful baby sleep training is helping your little one learn to fall asleep without any parental involvement (known as “self-soothing”). “A baby who needs parental assistance at bedtime will need that same situation to return to sleep following normal nighttime awakenings,” Meltzer explains. “In other words, if you rock your baby to sleep at bedtime, you may have to rock him or her back to sleep following four to six normal nighttime awakenings.” That’s why it’s so important to make sure baby is drowsy, but still awake, when you put him down.

Step 3: Resist the assist
Oftentimes baby will cry out for you after you leave the room—and how you respond is where the sleep training options and opinions vary the most. Two common methods are known as “controlled comforting” and “camping out.” The first approach allows you to check on and talk to or pat your baby for about a minute at a time (or until your little one settles down), but to gradually increase the amount of time you allow her to cry before doing so (say, two minutes to start, then three, four and so on).

The latter approach is similar in that the child is left to settle alone and is not picked up when he or she cries. However, this technique to help baby sleep is believed to be slightly gentler because the parent or caregiver remains in a nearby bed or chair in the room with the child, gradually decreasing interaction and moving farther away from the baby’s bed until—after one to three weeks—the parent is no longer in the same room.

Eventually, your baby sleep problems should fade away, and she should fall asleep without any assistance (research published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology found that about 80 percent of babies will naturally start sleeping through the night in about two weeks). She may still wake during the night, and at those times you can still offer some assistance with returning to sleep. “If you usually rock your baby back to sleep during the night, then go ahead and rock her,” says Jodi A. Mindell, PhD, a clinical psychologist, associate director of the Sleep Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and author of Sleeping Through the Night. “If you usually nurse or take her to your bed, then do that.”

By Nicole Pelletiere

What’s more exciting than reading your positive pregnancy test? Deciding how and when you’re going to share the news with your family and friends. Read on to get inspired by our favorite pregnancy announcement ideas.

By Nicole Pelletiere

Fact: Marriage before baby and marriage after baby are two totally different animals. Even if you’re exhausted from feedings, diaper changes, and a total lack of sleep, you’re probably also basking in some serious baby bliss. The result? The lack of attention leaves your partner feeling left out—and maybe even resentful.

What’s important in your marriage after baby

No, it’s not all about sex. When it comes to maintaining a strong marriage after baby, in the early days, it’s just as important to focus on acknowledging and communicating with each other, says Jane Greer, Ph.D., a marriage and family therapist in New York City. Sometimes, that’s as simple as taking five minutes to share your morning coffee or sending him a quick text at work after you put your little one down for a nap. Here’s more on how to navigate your marriage after baby.

Advice for marriage after baby

Address the lack of intimacy
Sex during pregnancy might have been great, but now that you’re up five times a night and are still getting used to your post-baby body, sleep is probably more appealing. And that’s okay, as long as for the time being, you find other ways to stay connected, says Greer. Plan a date night (even if it’s hanging out on the couch with pizza and a movie) or ask your partner for more help. If he watches the baby while you can get some sleep, you’ll have more energy to get busy tomorrow night—making marriage after baby more satisfying for both of you.

Don’t push him aside
If your partner’s been at work all day, he’s likely craving some attention from you when he gets home—even if it’s just a quick kiss or a few minutes to talk about his day. An important piece of advice for marriage after baby: Even if you’re busy with the baby or just aren’t in the mood to talk, avoid brushing him off, which will just reinforce his feeling that he’s been pushed to the bottom of your list, says Greer. Instead, offer to talk over dinner, or asking for a few minutes of quiet while you put the baby down. It’s a subtle shift, but one that makes a big difference.

Make little gestures
When you’ve got a newborn in the house, the little ways you used to show affection can sometimes temporarily get lost, says Greer. If he loves a certain coffee, try picking up his favorite brew, or DVR the show he never has time to watch at night anymore. By showing that you’re still thinking of him, he’ll feel loved and appreciated, and that’ll make a big difference in your marriage after baby.

What’s the best breast pump for you?

There are double-electric, single-electric, and manual breast pumps, and the one that’s right for you depends on your lifestyle and budget. To find the best breast pump, you’ll need to consider how much time you’ll be able to devote to pumping (if you work, you may need a pump that works faster), the pump’s weight and versatility, as well as the cost, says Sandra Gerdon, author of Save a Bundle: 50+ Ways to Save Big on Baby Gear. Here’s how the different models stack up.

How to pick the best breast pump

Double-electric breast pumps
Double-electric models pump both breasts at the same time. They work about three times faster than single-electric models, making them the best breast pump if you’ll be going back to work while still breastfeeding your baby, Gerdon says. The downsides? They’re heavier than less powerful pumps (though the workout you’ll get lugging it through town just might help you get your post-baby body back faster), and tend to be more expensive.

Still, “without the right pumping equipment, you’re almost doomed to fail,” says Gerdon. So if the best breast pump for you is a double-electric model, just add one to your list of baby registry essentials and let well-wishers buy it for you. We love Medela’s Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump, which holds up to several pumping sessions a day and can run on batteries. Starting at $299, medelabreastfeedingus.com 

Single-electric breast pumps
If you’re staying at home or working outside the home part-time, a single-electric model might be the best breast pump for you. “You’ll only get to pump one breast at a time, but you’ll still get adequate suction and speed,” Gerdon says. Single-electric breast pumps are still workhorses, but they’re not quite as heavy and or expensive. We’re fans of the Medela Swing Breast Pump because you can adjust the speed and vacuum settings to your comfort. $170, medelabreastfeedingus.com

Manual breast pumps
Unsure whether you’ll actually need a pump? Having a lightweight, inexpensive manual model on hand might still be a good idea. “If you find you don’t use it after a month, you can always return it,” Gerdon says. Medela’s easy-to-use Harmony Pump is a good choice ($36, medelabreastfeedingus.com) or consider renting a unit from your local hospital.

Will insurance cover my breast pump?

Yes and no. Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance plans are now required to provide new mothers with breastfeeding services and equipment, including a breast pump. “But the law doesn’t specify what kind of pump must be provided,” says Gerdon. In other words, your insurance company might only offer a manual model, even though that might not be the best breast pump for you. “If your insurer only offers manual pumps and you’re going back to work full-time, save your sanity and buy an electric pump. And get the hang of using it by practicing at home for at least two weeks beforehand,” she says.

This article is sponsored by Medela.

By Stacy Whitman

Introducing solid food to your baby is a milestone that can be fun, unpredictable and undeniably messy. Like walking and using the potty, eating is a skill that takes time and practice to master. As a parent, your job is to provide your baby with a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods in a pleasant and relaxed setting. It’s your baby’s job to learn what and how much to eat—with no pressure from anyone.

Introducing solid food is different for every baby

While introducing solid food is easy for some babies, for others, it can be a challenge. Staying calm and removing any expectations will help make it more enjoyable for both of you. “Some infants take their sweet time accepting new foods, and forcing the issue will only make the transition more stressful,” explains Loraine H. Stern, MD, co-author of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) book Nutrition: What Every Parent Needs to Know (second edition).

Advice for introducing solid food

To help you make your baby’s transition to introducing solid food a smooth one, we’ve gathered advice from Stern and other experts on the best time to start solid foods, how to introduce a new food, which foods to begin with and which ones to avoid. You’ll also find a handy guide to preparing 11 healthful baby foods to help start your child off on a well-balanced diet for life.

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By Nicole Pelletiere

You are what you eat—and during your pregnancy, so is your baby. But that doesn’t mean you have to double your calories—instead, it’s about filling your diet with balanced nutrition to keep you and your baby healthy and strong. Here’s the scoop on what to eat when pregnant to help your baby grow and develop, plus the smart way to gain weight.

What to eat when pregnant

During pregnancy, your body works to suck every last calorie and nutrient out of your food to provide nourishment for your baby, says Melinda Johnson, director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at Arizona State University and a spokesperson of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. And since each food group offers different types of nutrients, variety is key. You’ll get calcium, vitamin D and protein from low-fat fairy;  vitamin C, minerals, and fiber from fruits and vegetables; fiber and B vitamins from whole grains; plus protein and zinc from lean proteins. In general, it’s a good idea to get at least three different food groups at each meal and two food groups at each snack.

How much weight should I gain while pregnant?

That depends on your pre-pregnancy weight. Women who were underweight before they became pregnant should gain 28 to 40 pounds; average-weight women should gain 25 to 30 pounds; overweight women should gain 15 to 25 pounds; and obese weight should gain 11 to 20 pounds.

And perhaps surprisingly, you aren’t supposed to gain the weight steadily throughout your pregnancy. Since your baby is so tiny during your first trimester, you need only put on about three pounds. But even then, nutrients like folic acid are essential for development, so be sure to eat plenty of foods rich in the vitamin, like lentils and leafy greens (or talk to your doctor about a supplement). And don’t worry too much if you’re feeling queasy: As long as you’re not vomiting for more than a week straight and continue to take your prenatal vitamin, you’re in the clear. (Call your doctor if the vomiting continues, and find morning sickness remedies here.)

During your second and third trimesters, most women need to gain about a pound a week, which you can do by working in an extra 300-calorie snack. But that doesn’t mean those calories should come from just anywhere: When planning what to eat when pregnant, you want the extra energy to come from nutrient-rich foods, like whole grain cereal with low-fat milk, low-fat cottage cheese with pineapple chunks, or a slice of whole wheat toast with peanut butter and banana, says Johnson.