One of the first big transitions for a baby is the move from bottle to cup. Most pediatricians recommend that the bottle be phased out around baby’s first birthday. Eliminating bottle feeding cuts down on the risk of cavities, particularly when the bottle is used in the crib. It also helps ensure that baby’s new teeth are properly aligned.

Most parents have found that moving to a sippy cup is the easiest way to phase out the bottle. Start out slowly, introducing the cup a few times a week. With luck and persistence, after about a month you can put the baby bottles away. Read more about transitioning from the bottle on Kaboose.

To see how easy the transition can be, view this YouTube video of a baby’s first drink from a sippy cup.

Thumbsucking and finger sucking are natural reflexes in infants.  It makes them feel secure and can help them relax and fall asleep.  Most children give up the habit by the age of four.  If thumbsucking continues after the permanent teeth begin to appear, a child can develop crooked teeth and can also experience harmful changes to the roof of the mouth.  If you’re concerned about an older child’s thumbsucking or finger sucking, be sure to consult your dentist.

Read more about thumbsucking and your child’s teeth at the American Dental Association website.

Teething in babies has been the subject of misconception and myth for hundreds of years.  In France in 1700s, half of all infant deaths were attribute to teething.  We know that is not the case today, but there are still several common myths that many modern moms hold on to. 

Myth: Teething causes a fever.
Truth: The gum swelling that comes with teething may slightly elevate a baby’s temperature, but not enough to be called a fever.  Look for another cause when baby’s temperature is above 100 degrees.

Myth: Teething gels are a safe remedy.
Truth: These gels contain a local anesthetic that can cause seizures when not administered carefully.  Avoid teething gels and consult your pediatrician if you think pain medication for teething is necessary.

Myth: You don’t need to brush until your baby’s first tooth appears.
Truth: Even before your baby’s first tooth appears, it’s important to brush his or her gums.  Wrap a soft, clean cloth around your finger and gently wipe your baby’s gums.

Read more about teething on the Baby & Child Magazine website.

Where Children Sleep is a book of photographs that provide a fascinating look at the disparity in childrens’ bedrooms around the world. James Mollison’s photos depict children from the U.S., Italy, Kenya, Israel, Mexico, China, England, Brazil and other countries next to a picture of their bedroom or bed. A detailed caption provides information about the child, such as the fact that the mother of Kaya from Tokyo (pictured above) spends $1,000 per month on her dresses (most of the children in the book aren’t so lucky!).

You can find out more about Where Children Sleep on Amazon.

The picture of Kaya reminded us of one of our favorite YouTube videos. We’re big fans of dancing baby videos, and here’s one of a cute 5-year-old Japanese girl named Jasmin in a dance recital. Enjoy!

Jogger strollers are the perfect answer to the question about how to stay in shape when most of your waking hours are spent taking care of a baby. Parents of twins or with both a toddler and baby don’t have to miss out on the fun. The InStep Double Jogger has room for two children and rubberized handles with a bicycle-style hand brake for mom or dad.

A trigger-activated folding mechanism allows the Double Jogger to be folded flat for easy transport. Pneumatic tires provide a comfortable low-bump ride for stroller passengers.

In you need a 2-child jogger stroller, find out more about the InStep Double Jogger on Amazon.

Word has spread quickly among parents and on the Internet about a new satirical book called Go the F*** to Sleep. This book has gotten so big that Samuel L. Jackson is doing the audiobook. This book, which resembles a children’s bedtime book right down to its colorful illustrations, is actually not meant for children at all. Written by a dad named Adam Mansbach for an intended audience of parents, the book has been called “the secret anthem of tired parents.”

See Samuel Jackson reading the book and see some of the illustrations in this YouTube video, then read more about the book on Amazon.

Father’s Day is just around the corner and this year it will be celebrated by a growing group of single fathers. Some interesting data about single fathers has just been released by a Fordham University sociology researcher. According to Matthew Weinshenker, the number of households run by a single father in the U.S. has increase by almost 30 percent in the past 10 years. About 2.8 million fathers are currently raising children as a single parent. This is still only 15 percent of all single parents, but still seems to represent a growing trend.

Additional data from another study suggests that unlike many single moms, not single dads are on their own.  At least half are living with relative or a girlfriend.

American society has become more accepting of single dads, so their numbers could continue to grow. Read more about single fathers in The New York Times Motherlode blog.

Busy moms who want to stay close to their baby have discovered the baby carrier, a fabric sling that let’s mom keep her hands free while keeping baby near.  The Moby Wrap is one of the most comfortable and stylish baby carriers that we’ve seen in a long time. 

The Moby Wrap is made from a long piece of stretchy cotton fabric that wraps around and conforms to a mother’s (or dad’s) shape.   A wide piece of fabric that wraps over both shoulders avoids a strain on the back and there are no breakable buckles or fasteners.  There is no extra padding or fabric between parent and baby, providing that important skin-to-skin contact.

See the variety of designs and colors as well as other baby accessories on the Moby Wrap website.  To understand how the Moby Wrap works, see this YouTube video.

A visit to the museum is a great way to introduce your child to culture and science. Most babies in strollers are happy to spend an entire afternoon visiting a museum, including art museums. But when they become toddlers, they may not enjoy looking at paintings and sculpture as much as you do. Stick to art museums in small doses at this age. Instead, try a natural history museum that has dinosaur bones and animal exhibits. As they get older, they’ll enjoy hands-on discovery museums and science museums. 

Read more about visiting museums with babies and children on the babycenter website.

Daycare is a necessity for many working parents.  Part-time daycare is also a good way to help your toddler to gain social skills.  Leaving your child in the care of another can be difficult, but knowing that you’ve found the best possible daycare provider. 

Here are some tips to help you find the best daycare for you and your child.

Read more Daycare Do’s and Don’ts on Disney’s babyzone website.