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Baby care and health.!

Baby's Soft Spots

There are two on your baby's head, and they are technically called fontanels. They serve two important purposes: First, they helped your infant’s skull to shift and mold so it could fit through the birth canal (thank goodness); and second, they allow room for your baby’s brain to grow (very!) rapidly during her first year.

The larger and more-prominent soft spot (the anterior fontanel) is on top of your newborn’s head; it’s shaped like a diamond and can be up to 2 inches across. It’ll start to close when your baby is about 6 months old and be completely closed by the time she reaches 18 months.

The second, or posterior, fontanel is much smaller and harder to find. It’s on the back of the head, triangular in shape, and only about a half-inch in diameter.

While protecting your baby’s head (no bouncing or shaking) is wise, the good news is that it’s much less fragile than it seems. Those soft spots are covered by strong membranes that do an excellent job of safeguarding the brain. Two (rare) signs of trouble: A depressed fontanel could be a sign of dehydration, and a constantly bulging one could indicate pressure on the brain. In either case, contact your baby’s doctor.

Bottle-Feeding Tips

If you're formula-feeding or pumping, keep in mind that when introducing the bottle, some babies take to it like a fish to water, while others need a little more practice (and coaxing) to get sucking down to a science.

These how-to-bottle-feed tips will help you get started:

1) Have several bottles at the ready in your fridge so your hungry honey doesn’t get her crank on waiting for supper. (Bottles’ contents should get the boot after spending more than 24 hours in the fridge or more than an hour outside it.)

2) Sterilize nipples and bottles the first time out. New bottle-feeding gear should be boiled for five minutes in a pot of water (or use a store-bought sterilizer). After that, just wash bottles and nipples in hot, soapy water or in the dishwasher (no need to sterilize again).

3) Enjoy the bonding experience. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise — you can bond while bottle-feeding, with plenty of cooing and skin-to-skin contact.

Eat Nuts for Energy

Chances are you're always exhausted these days, so noshing on nuts will give you a quick burst of energy. The protein, fiber and healthy fats packed into these little shells make them fantastic fatigue-fighters.

They're a bit on the high-calorie side, though, so stick to a third of a cup or an ounce-and-a-half per serving. And reach for walnuts, almonds, cashews or pistachios because they have a healthier fat profile than, say, macadamias or pecans.

Eat them out of hand...or spread two tablespoons of peanut, cashew or almond butter on a piece of whole wheat toast for an extra energy boost.

Conquering Postpartum Constipation

Blocked up? Try these tips for postpartum constipation:

1) Eat high-fiber grains. Opt for whole grain cereals, breads, brown rice, anything made with bran, oat bran or flaxseed.

2) Make a date with raisins, figs, dried apricots and that senior favorite, prunes. Toss your dried fruit with nuts for a good boost of omega-3s — and some extra constipation-fighting muscle.

3) Nibble on crunchy fresh fruits and vegetables, and rough things up even more by leaving the skins on.

4) Cook up a pot of legumes, such as lentils or black beans, and add them to soups, salsas or salads.

5) Avoid refined foods such as white rice and white bread, and go for the (whole) grain instead.

6) Nothing unclogs like fluids, so be sure to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Some women find a cup of hot water flavored with lemon especially moving (try it first thing in the morning). Vegetable and fruit juices can help, too — especially prune juice.

7) If none of the above is working (or working well enough or fast enough), consider some serious fiber supplementation. Adding some straight-up wheat bran and/or psyllium can give your diet the bulk it needs. (Just don't overdo it, and don't take your calcium foods with them since they can block absorption of that vital bone-building mineral.)