11 SITES FOR PARENTING TIPS AND ADVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT

Sandy Stachowiak (MakeUseOf) compiled this list of 11 different sites. These websites have all the parenting tips and advice you need. About the author: Sandy is a full-time freelance writer and former IT project and department manager. She loves to write, especially about technology. In her spare time, you can catch her enjoying iPad games, playing with her dog, and hanging out with family. Image courtesy of PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek via Bigstockphoto.

You do not receive parenting instructions at the hospital after bringing a baby into the world. Most of us learn as we go and use what our own parents taught us. But, we all need a little help now and then, especially new parents.
Thanks to the internet, assistance is just a few clicks away. Here are 11 websites with parenting tips and advice to give you that help when you need it.

1. Parents.com

Parents magazine has been around for years and whether you subscribe to it or not, the Parents.com website has a wealth of information. From babies to big kids, you will find great advice, help with health issues, and a variety of useful videos. The navigation is super simple and right across the top, so finding the spot you want is easy.

Whether you need help with diapering, details on feeding and nutrition, or have questions on your child’s development, Parents.com delivers. You can also sign up for a free membership to receive exclusive content via email. They offer several newsletters to choose from that include daily tips, recipes, and special offers.

2. Today’s Parent

Another handy parenting magazine that took its expert advice online is Today’s Parent. Again, you do not have to subscribe to enjoy the helpful benefits of the website. This one takes tips a bit further with advice for parents of newborns, kids, tweens, and teens.

Select your desired section from the drop-down menu at the top and pick a subcategory. The articles are full of useful information, the videos provide helpful how-tos, and there is a nice selection of blogs for health, special needs parenting, and more. From a colicky baby to a finicky toddler, advice to help parents is readily available.

3. Huggies

You do not have to buy Huggies products for your little one to appreciate the Mommy Answers section on their site. With categories covering baby’s life from those first weeks home to potty training, this is a helpful website to explore. But that’s not all because you can enjoy articles on sleep and naps, activities and play, and feeding and nutrition.

You can narrow down your category options by content type such as article, checklist, or video along with your child’s age. Plus, articles can be posted to social media or printed easily which is convenient for sharing with other new parents. Just select Mommy Answers from the top navigation of the Huggies website.

4. Pampers

Like Huggies, the Pampers website offers helpful parenting tips and advice too. Rather than a section dedicated to articles, you can simply select an area from the top for newborn, baby, or toddler. You can check out great articles on care, development, feeding, activities, and sleep.

With the FAQ sections, you can get answers from experts in the medical field. So, if you are wondering whether or not paint smell is harmful to your baby or if spoon-fed cereal at three months old is too soon, you’ll quickly get the answers you need.

5. The Family Conservancy

With a solid mission of helping children and families, The Family Conservancy offers wonderful resources for parents. You can check out tips and advice for your newborn and children through age 12. The website is arranged clearly so that browsing, searching, and reading is organized and clean.

Along with detailed information and videos, you can view suggested books and toys per age group and links to outside resources. You can also sign up for a newsletter providing parenting tips each month. For advice on behavior, child care, education, health, safety, and so much more, The Family Conservancy is a site worth bookmarking.

6. BabyCenter

BabyCenter is a terrific site for parents of newborns, but also offers assistance for those with children up to age eight. The website has a nice array of easily accessible categories, tools, and resources per age group. With help for baby’s sleep time, your toddler’s potty training, or health topics from allergies to vaccines, BabyCenter has it all.

You can enjoy the well-written articles, check out videos and slideshows, and even test your knowledge with a quiz. Head over to the Just for Moms, Just for Dads, or House and Home sections for even more tips. BabyCenter also offers a fun community where you can network with other parents. For a baby-only option, you can check out BabyCenter’s Baby.com.

7. New Parent

You may have seen or read the New Parent magazine while at the doctor’s office or health clinic. If you enjoyed checking it out while in the waiting room, then take a look at the New Parent website. With advice for parents of babies, toddlers, and big kids, the site is just as helpful as the printed piece.

New Parent has detailed articles centered around health and safety, nutrition, and development. You can also take advantage of the useful checklists and meal recipes while you are visiting the site. And dads: don’t worry when you see the Mom tab because when you pop it open, there is a section just for you too.

8. Child Development Institute

From newborns to teens, you can get helpful advice from the Child Development Institute website. This resource is committed to providing parents information on child development including health, learning, and psychology.

While you may need to maneuver a bit to the area you want, once you get there you will be pleased with the selection and quality of the articles. The easiest way to begin is to select Expert Articles from the top navigation and then click The Ages and Stages of Child Development. This section is divided by child age and contains links to expert articles specifically for that age.

9. Healthy Mom & Baby

With tips and advice for parents of newborns and toddlers, Healthy Mom & Baby is another good option. You can check out topics such as milestones, health, safety, and teaching by selecting Healthy Babies from the top. Then within each section, you can pick from trending articles or top videos.

A truly useful feature of the site is that you can get details on recalls for products. You can find these articles in the trending areas of each section or enter the word Recalls into the search box. Healthy Mom & Baby also provides an Ask Our Nurses area if you have specific concerns.

10. KidsHealth From Nemours

Nemours is a health system dedicated to the care of children, so it is only fitting that they offer the KidsHealth website. You can find some wonderful information with this source. Of course, you will see health topics such as infections, diseases, and first aid. But the site also offers helpful tips for sleep, communication, feeding, learning, and more.

KidsHealth provides a handy search box for when you are seeking a specific topic or issue. Or you can choose from the categories and then pick a subcategory. You will see a large list of useful articles with tips and advice no matter what your child’s age.

11. WebMD — Family & Pregnancy

One more health-centric website that you will find helpful is the Family & Pregnancy section of WebMD. Just click the section from the top navigation and you will see categories for newborns, kids, teens, parenting, and children’s health, so making your selection is easy.

The site includes a ton of health information as you would expect, but also has articles, tips, and guides for parents. From taking care of your baby’s skin to child-proofing your home, you will be pleasantly surprised at the variety on WebMD for parents. Plus, the site offers slideshows, videos, quizzes, and message boards.