We spoke with experts about the kinds of harmful trends perpetuated on social media, how they can affect teens and how parents can help fight diet culture. Does TikTok Promote Unhealthy Relationships With Food? A recent study conducted by the University of Vermont shows that TikTok content appears to be promoting an unhealthy diet and food-restrictive culture, especially in teens. Published in PLOS One, an open-access, free site to share scientific research, the study paints a negative picture of TikTok and body image....

Photos of their first smile, their first walk, their first day of school, and all the precious moments in between—we want our friends and family to see them. According to one national poll, 84% of mothers and 70% of fathers use social media, many times to share photos of their family. In fact, parents sharing photos of their children is so common there’s even a special term for it—“sharenting.” There are many reasons parents might like to share photos including everything from creating a record of memories to building an image online....

1 Cup Serving Size 1 cup of fruit can come in the form of: 1 cup chopped or sliced pieces of any fruit (fresh, frozen, cooked or canned) like apples, bananas, cantaloupe, grapes, grapefruit, fruit cocktail, oranges, peaches, pears, pineapple, plums, strawberries, or watermelon1 cup of 100 percent fruit juice1/2 large apple1 small apple1 cup applesauce1 large banana32 seedless grapes1 large orange1 large peach2 canned peach halves3 medium plums2 large plums8 large strawberries1 1-inch thick wedge of watermelon1/2 cup dried fruit like raisins, prunes or apricots...

However, there are ways of knowing that the baby is getting enough. In the long run, weight gain is the best indication whether the baby is getting enough, but rules about weight gain appropriate for bottle-fed babies may not be appropriate for breastfed babies. Ways of Knowing As a new mom, you may worry that your baby is not getting enough milk. After all, you cannot tell how many ounces you baby took at one time....

It’s not just that you’re eating more. The extra weight can be attributed to the babies’ combined weights as well as extra fluid, tissue, uterine growth, and the increased blood volume needed to supply the placenta(s) with nourishment for two or more babies. Guidelines for Twin Pregnancy Weight Gain In 2009, the Institute of Medicine introduced guidelines created by Dr. Barbara Luke for weight gain during twin pregnancies. Dr. Luke is a Michigan State University professor who led a research study of more than 2,000 twin pregnancies, and the results of her study served as the basis for the IOM guidelines....

Parents who have had children in school for many years may find the idea of homeschooling confusing and complicated. You may have practical questions like how to withdraw your children from their school districts legally. And you may wonder if you are qualified to homeschool your children. However you are approaching learning at home, the good news is that it’s probably simpler than you think—and although it may take a little while to get into a routine, homeschooling and learning at home can have many surprising benefits for your children....

“Immediately, in most women, you’re going to have some kind of bonding to that positive pregnancy test,” explains G. Thomas Ruiz, MD, OB/GYN lead at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center. “Once they learn that this is a nonviable pregnancy, they’re going to go into all of those emotions that are associated with the loss of a loved one. There’s going to be tearfulness, sadness, [and] there may be mild depression....

Even though “mommy brain” may sound like a fictional condition or a convenient excuse for forgetfulness, it is actually a true condition backed up by science. In fact, research shows that a mother’s brain is impacted by having children, sometimes in long-lasting ways. For instance, a study by the University of British Columbia demonstrated that motherhood has a permanent impact on your cognitive function. Meanwhile, a study in Nature Neuroscience found that even two years after pregnancy, women had gray matter brain changes....

Diseases Tdap Prevents Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis are all caused by bacterium which, if left untreated, can cause serious illness and death. These are preventable diseases, which have been made much less common due to the use of vaccines. Tetanus Tetanus, which is also commonly referred to as “lockjaw,” causes painful muscle tightening, especially of the head and neck. This muscle tightening makes it difficult to open the mouth, swallow, and breathe....

Jen R. offered to share her story with Verywell Family readers. She talks about why she choose egg donation, what the process was like, and how she feels toward both her children and the egg donor. This is her story. What Is Your Infertility Story? I was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure (POF) when I was 29 years old, three months after giving birth to my son. It took me almost a year to get pregnant with my son, as I wasn’t having periods and couldn’t figure out why....

Of course, knowing that dealing with some crying is common doesn’t help much in the moment that you are dealing with it! So let’s talk about babies crying—why they do it, and what can be done to soothe them. Let’s also discuss how to identify times when your baby’s crying isn’t normal, and what actions you should take. Why Your Baby Might Be Crying There are so many reasons why babies cry!...

“Because your baby’s health and well-being are crucial, please take the time to do your research before ordering formula online. Failure to do so could severely impact your baby’s life,” advises Gwenneth Simmonds, PhD, CNM in Atlanta. Things to Know When Buying Online What’s in a name? Plenty, when you’re deciding what formula to buy for your baby. Experts recommend picking a trusted brand name when it comes to both the formula and the online store....

Most brands contain higher levels of vitamin B9 (folate/folic acid), iron, calcium, iodine, and DHA than traditional daily vitamins. This is because these ingredients, in particular, help both the parent and the fetus stay healthy and can help to prevent certain birth defects. It’s important to start taking prenatal vitamins as soon as you find out you are pregnant, but ideally well before you conceive, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)....

No! You just had a baby. And just because your favorite mom blogger is filling her postpartum Instagram feed with photos of clean hardwood floors, pristine baby blankets, and sun-soaked newborn snuggles, that doesn’t mean you’re falling short, lagging behind, or slacking off. The postpartum period is rough: you’re physically and emotionally drained, adjusting to a new way of life, constantly covered in baby spit up and breast milk, and—of course—physically recovering from giving birth....

Why Some Women Don’t Want an Epidural Here are a few of the explanations as to why women wish to avoid an epidural: Fear Be it the needle, the procedure or whatever, some mothers are afraid of the epidural enough that they would prefer to avoid it. While some try to overcome the fear by taking a childbirth class or reading information about it, they remain more fearful of labor with an epidural than without....

Let’s take a look at what Yom Kippur is, how and why it’s celebrated, and some new and refreshing ways to get children involved in observing the holiday and understanding its meanings. What Is Yom Kippur? In Judaism, Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day of the year. The phrase “Yom Kippur” means “Day of Atonement” in Hebrew, and in the Jewish religion, this is a day of abstaining from worldly activities in order to repent for sins and gain closeness to God....

“Babies this age are transitioning to the rhythms of their new environment while eating, sleeping, and being held,” explains Natasha Burgert, MD, pediatrician and Philips Avent Spokesperson. It’s common to have many questions during the first week of your baby’s life. You’ll have questions about everything from how many hours your baby should sleep, to whether your baby’s poop is the right color. (Yes, you will spend an embarrassing amount of time scrutinizing your baby’s diapers!...

Although an ancient name, it has a youthful and vibrant quality to it. Zoe has retained its popularity over the centuries and is still widely used. The name Zoe is well represented in pop culture, entertainment figures, and fictional characters today. How Popular is the Name Zoe? Zoe has spent most of the last century in the top 1,000 list of baby girl names. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it ranked as No....

“Snacks can provide an important opportunity for growing children and active adolescents to fill in essential nutrient gaps from a missed or uneaten meal,” says Melanie Maletta, RD, CSP, LDN, CNSC, CLC, a pediatric nutrition specialist at UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center. “Toddlers and preschoolers have erratic appetites which can make it a challenge to meet their nutrient needs with just their meals alone." A fluctuating appetite is normal for toddlers and preschoolers, but this can sometimes mean that snacks may become a larger percentage of their total food intake....

How Teen Dating Has Changed But what exactly does teen dating even look like these days? The general idea may be the same as it’s always been, but the way teens date has changed quite a bit from just a decade or so ago. Truths About Teen Dating This quickly morphing social landscape makes it more challenging for parents to keep up, figure out how to talk with their teens about dating, and establish rules that will keep them safe....