Best of the Web

02.26.10 Hits of the week

• Talking mom-to-mom: What's the one newborn item you regret purchasing? If you're getting ready to register for baby items and just the thought of it makes you nervous, check out our Just Give Me a List feature for handy checklists to cut through the clutter.

• If you're wondering what a lactation consultant does exactly, take a look at this profile of the New York woman one writer calls "The Breast Whisperer." Make nursing your baby second-nature with our secrets to successful breastfeeding.

• Naps help babies learn and retain information, new research shows. If you're a sleep-deprived new mom, our experts share their advice on how to make naps a snap for your new baby.

• Even after reading much research, one writer remains skeptical but hopeful about cord blood banks. To bank or not to bank, that's the question most new parents face when dealing with this decision as their child's delivery looms.

• Researchers are emphasizing that training women in birth basics may save lives worldwide. For example, many celebrities are fighting the good fight to improve the lives of mothers and children around the world.

• A new study says autism signs appear in babies' first year, but parents don't notice. It's not the first time that researchers have sounded the alarm about parents and doctors neglecting to detect the disorder.

• It turns out that odd baby names are not just for celebrities, according to one study. Baby names can become a hot-button issue with some people—even our Ask the Labor Nurse has weighed in on the topic.

• When your friendship circle goes from baby-less to parenthood, just remember that some friends can adjust while others would rather not be part of your new world. It takes an attitude adjustment when baby makes his or her entrance and turns your life upside-down.

• A proud new mom and Olympic skater hit the ice in Vancouver—just four months after giving birth. As Crib Notes reported last week, a curling athlete who's expecting is also not giving up her Olympic dream, baby bump and all!

• Check out what these online readers said about where their children were conceived. If you're trying to get pregnant, browse through our How to Get Pregnant guide, where you'll find everything from prepping your body to calculating your most fertile days. Happy baby-making!

Maria Vega is Fit Pregnancy magazine's copy editor.