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Lisa Marie Presley, 40, is expecting twins with her husband, Michael Lockwood, according to People magazine. The twins are due this fall and will be the third and fourth child for Presley. She has daughter Riley, 19, and Benjamin, 15, from a previous marriage.

(8-19-08)

Paul Stanley, 56, member of the rock band KISS, and his wife, Erin, 36, are expecting their second child together, according to People magazine. The baby, due this winter, will join brother Colin, who will turn 2 this September. Stanley also has a son, Evan, 14, from a previous marriage.

(8-19-08)

Clay Aiken, 29, and music producer Jaymes Foster, 50, welcomed a baby boy on August 8, according to People magazine. Parker Foster Aiken weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces and was 19 inches long. Jaymes conceived through in vitro fertilization.

(8-19-08)

When parents decide to enroll their child in child care, the decision can be quite challenging. However, the choice is easier if parents are confident that the providers are well trained, experienced and professional, and that the provider has created a safe environment for children, according to William Endres, chief operating officer for Kiddie Academy International (www.kiddieacademy.com). Therefore, it is important to take time to research, visit and ask the right questions.

"There are dozens of questions one can ask a childcare provider, but there are key areas that should be on the top of that list," Endres says. "It's not only about choosing the right childcare facility; it's about choosing the best care to fit your child's needs, to help him or her reach his or her potential and to develop a life-long love of learning."

Endres offers the following advice:

Tour the Facility: A walk-through of the facility will help parents make a more educated and confident decision when choosing a daycare provider for their child. While touring a facility, parents should consider the following questions:

Is the atmosphere warm and welcoming?

Are the facilities and toys cleaned regularly?

Does the facility appear well-maintained and safe?

What are the planned procedures in the event of an emergency?

Is there emergency information posted?

Are staff members trained in CPR and first-aid?

Are the entrances to the building secured?

Do teachers always know how many children are in their care?

Meet the Staff: The staff will be spending a lot of time with your child, so it is important that you meet them and understand their qualifications as well as training requirements. Find out how long your child's teacher has worked in the child care field, and ask about background checks. Are teachers required to participate in ongoing professional development programs to ensure that their child will receive the best care possible both educationally and developmentally?

Check the Teacher-Child Ratios: Each staff member should be responsible for a certain number of children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the recommended ratio is one staff member for three to five small children and one staff member for seven to 10 older children. To find out the guidelines in your state, visit the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care's Web site (http://nrc.uchsc.edu/STATES/states.htm).

Review the Daily Schedule: To get the most out of child care, children should be offered a wide variety of educational materials and toys. It's important that child care programs include not only social activities but also educational lessons. Parents should ask if the facility offers daily activity reports as a way for them to stay updated on their child's progress, and if staff members are readily available to speak with them on an as needed basis.

Ask About the Curriculum: Ask how the staff support each child's learning. Is there a curriculum that is age-appropriate? Does the staff modify and adapt the curriculum to each child so he or she can learn and grow socially, physically, emotionally and intellectually at his or her own pace? Does learning take place at specific times during the day?

Inquire About the Food Service: A vital part of a child's mental and physical health is a well-balanced diet. Ask about the food that is served and how meal and snack times are integrated into the daily routine. Are meals served family-style to encourage sharing and social interaction among children and staff? What is the policy regarding food brought from home?

Ask About Outdoor Activities: In addition to mental stimulation, it is important for children to engage in physical activities. Parents should make sure their child care facility encourages outdoor playtime. Outdoor activity is an essential part of fine and gross motor development and a great way to keep children fit and healthy.

(8-19-08)

Cross Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, Sonic, Jack in the Box and Chick-fil-A off your list if you're looking for a low-calorie meal for your child, according to a new report by the nonprofit public health group, Center for Science in the Public Interest. Almost every childrens' meal at these establishments has too many calories.

The group analyzed the kids' meals at 13 restaurant chains and found that 93 percent of the 1,474 choices exceeded 430 calories, which is one-third of what is recommended daily for children 4 to 8 years of age.

But not all got such bad reviews. The chain with the best choices for kids' meals was Subway, which offers a small sandwich, juice box and either apple slices, raisins or yogurt.

The report is recommending that restaurants offer vegetables or fruit and low-fat milk and water with their meals instead of fries and soda; reduce the calories, salt, trans fat and saturated fat; add more whole grains; and provide nutritional information on the menu.

(8-19-08)

Proper "positioning" of mother and baby during breastfeeding is important because it is the key to successful breastfeeding and can prevent sore nipples and insufficient milk supply. "How you sit, how you hold your baby and how you offer your breast all affect how your baby latches on," says Rubina Mason, international board-certified lactation consultant and member of the Lansinoh Laboratories breastfeeding advisory board (www.lansinoh.com). "Ultimately, these facts determine how comfortable you will be during breastfeeding."

Here are Mason's tips to overcoming some early breastfeeding challenges:

Getting into Position

Mom: It is very important that Mom gets comfortable before starting to breastfeed because once baby is latched on, she could be in this position for 20 to 30 minutes. Sitting upright in an armchair or rocking chair is a common position for breastfeeding, though it's OK to sit up in bed as long as you make sure that your back, shoulders and knees are well-supported. Many moms also find that using pillows to support the baby's body while breastfeeding is helpful as well.

Baby: Babies as well as mothers should be comfortable during breastfeeding since Baby's breastfeeding reflexes work best when the baby is well supported with her body comfortably aligned. The most common breastfeeding positions are:

Cradle Hold: The baby's head will rest in the crook of your elbow or on your forearm, and will be supported with your arm beneath her back and your hand on the baby's thigh or bottom.

Football Hold or Clutch Position: The baby lies on his back between your side and flexed arm. The baby's head is supported by your hand, allowing your other hand to hold the breast if necessary.

Side-lying Position: Learning to nurse your baby lying down is invaluable. The side-lying position is relaxing and can help you get more, much-needed sleep. You can use it to nurse your baby at night or to nap-nurse during the day. This position is also beneficial for the mom who had a Cesarean delivery.

Ouch, My Breasts Hurt

Many breastfeeding mothers experience engorgement, or swollen breasts, a temporary condition that begins about the third day postpartum. Nursing frequently during this period is the best way to alleviate engorgement. "Breastfeeding while engorged can be difficult since the baby can have a hard time properly latching on due to flattened nipples, but don't let this discourage you," Mason says. If your breasts do become engorged, nursing frequently is a great way to alleviate this condition. If you find that your baby cannot latch on because of your swollen breasts, taking warm to hot showers can also help soften your breasts, allowing you to breastfeed more comfortably.

(8-19-08)

Mary Lynn Rajskub, 37, star of TV's 24, delivered a baby boy on July 24, according to People magazine. Valentine Anthony was born almost two weeks after her due date and weighed 9 pounds, 5 ounces. This is the first child for her and boyfriend Matthew Rolph, 28.

(8-05-08)

Desperate Housewives star Kyle MacLachlan, 49, and his wife, Desiree Gruber, 41, welcomed a baby boy on July 25, according to People magazine. Callum Lyon weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces and is the couple's first child. MacLachlan is currently starring in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2.

(8-05-08)

In a vote hailed as a major victory by parents and public health advocates, the U.S. Senate has approved the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act, which includes a groundbreaking provision that will ban toxic phthalates from toys and childcare articles. The bill is now on its way to the president, who is expected to sign it into law in the coming weeks.

The ban on phthalates will protect children from these harmful plastic-softening chemicals, which are powerful reproductive toxins and have also been linked to breast cancer, says the Breast Cancer Fund. Advocates see this legislation as a first step toward broader chemical policy reform.

"Congress got a glimpse into how chemicals are regulated in this country and saw how broken the system is," says Janet Nudelman, director of program and policy for the Breast Cancer Fund. "The phthalate ban is only the tip of the iceberg of what's needed to protect Americans from unsafe chemical exposures."

The Breast Cancer Fund led a national coalition effort to secure passage of the phthalate ban, which included the National Council of Churches, the American Nurses Association, MomsRising.org and scores of environmental health and public health organizations. "This is a David and Goliath victory," says Nudelman. "Public health advocates and parents were up against big oil and the chemical industry, and we won. This should serve as a wake-up call to industry: chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects have no place in children's products."

Indeed, the business of making toys is already changing. Months before Congress took action, retailers and manufacturers including Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us, Lego, Evenflo and Gerber announced plans to phase out phthalates in toys. In the past year, California, Washington and Vermont restricted phthalate use in children's products. Phthalates are also banned or restricted in the European Union and more than a dozen countries around the world. This legislative and marketplace movement has been a direct response to scientists' and parents' growing concerns about unsafe chemicals in consumer products.

"Public awareness is at an all-time high," says Nudelman. "Consumers are saying that the products we buy must be safe, period. The phthalate ban is a great start, and an indication that Congress is ready to consider the kind of sweeping chemical policy reform that is needed."

For more information, visit www.breastcancerfund.org.

(8-05-08)

Just a few short months after its launch, the new Molar Mate™ brand Toothbrushing Timer & Holder has become a distinguished iParenting Media Award winner. Achieving winning scores from three independent evaluation sites and surveys, Molar Mate was recognized by parents and daycare groups as an outstanding product of the year!

Molar Mate's entertaining and engaging toothbrushing countdown and light show are successfully motivating children to brush for the dentist-recommended length of time, actually making kids want to brush! More significantly, the product is winning points with parents everywhere who are happy to say goodbye to exasperated arguments, bribes and nightly battles of will.

"We are so proud to have received this honor for Molar Mate," says Rick Dunlap, president of Molar Mate Distributing. "We know that poor oral care affects our overall health – not just our teeth. We also know that kids typically brush for only a fraction of the dentist-recommended time. We are happy to give them a tool that helps them develop good toothbrushing skills and helps their parents reinforce the habit without engaging in a battle to brush!"

Molar's outstanding features include a toothbrushing timer, holder and clock; large rubberized, non-scratching feet that hold him firmly on the countertop; and two extra large, easy-to-clean toothbrush holders that hold manual or battery-powered brushes up to 1 1/4 inches wide. Molar Mate is dentist recommended, and he encourages longer brushing, which helps to remove unwanted plaque.

Learn more about Molar Mate here, or visit www.MolarMate.com. (8-05-08)