Dear Readres,

I remember being unsure about going to the hospital at the first sign of labor pains. What if it was false labor? After all, these were the first pains I’d had. What if they sent me home, laughing at my inexperience? An hour of indecision later--and pains so intense I couldn’t walk, in fact, could barely breathe--convinced me to go. But the hesitation, the indecision, the questions didn’t stop with the birth of my son.

Lukas will be 2 next month, and every stage has brought its own set of queries and worries. And that’s why we’re bringing you Baby’s First Year, because every new parent needs advice and reassurance.

In this section, and in the weeks to come, we’ll guide you through baby’s nutritional needs, immunization needs and, yes, losing those extra pounds.

You have a roller-coaster ride of joys and worries ahead, so read up on your little one, and then, in the end, trust your instincts.

Elena Nelson Howe

Editor, Baby’s First Year