Some Advice to Grow On

As a first-time mom, I was completely overwhelmed. Should I breast-feed or bottle feed? Is my child getting enough to eat? Is day care really OK for a 3-month-old? And, of course, there are the questions about ear infections, immunizations, doctor visits, skill development and so on.

Two sites that I wish had been around in 1994, when my first child was born, are BabyCenter (https://www.babycenter.com) and Zero to Three (https://www.zerotothree.org). Even if your baby is not your first, you will want to check out these two sites as you make that amazing journey of a child’s first year.

BabyCenter is a popular commercial site owned by Etoys.com. On this site, health information and sales pitches for the site’s products are side by side. That can be disconcerting to those who worry about the credibility of information that comes from, in this case, manufacturers of baby products who are informing you at the same time they are selling you. Can you, for example, trust the site’s product endorsements to be unbiased? While it is wise to be cautious when viewing such information, don’t forget that some of the best sites on the Internet are commercial sites. The trick is to explore both types, be aware of potential biases, and gauge how well each fits your needs.

That issue aside, BabyCenter is packed with useful information and features. For example, there is the site’s schedule of baby immunizations, which I found easier to understand than similar information found on the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site (https://www.aap.org/family/parents/immunize.htm). If you enter the date of your child’s birth, the site provides a customized schedule that specifies the month and year that your baby will need each immunization.

The BabyCenter’s section on solid foods is sponsored by baby-food maker Beech-Nut, but that’s not a reason to ignore it. There are great facts and tools here, including a nifty chart and nutritional guide that lets you track your baby’s first foods and her reaction to them.

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You could spend hours--if you have them--fiddling with the many interactive tools on this site. I especially liked the Doctor Visit Worksheets, which give a glimpse of what your pediatrician will look for during your’s child’s exam and questions you should be prepared to answer about diet, sleep and other issues. Then there’s room for you to jot down questions for the doctor so you don’t forget them.

If you didn’t receive one at your baby shower, the BabyBook is great to record the milestones of your baby’s first year. You can print out the pages and compile them into your own scrapbook.

And if you’ve forgotten all the words to “Rock-a-Bye Baby” or “Itsy-Bitsy Spider,” the Lullaby Library (complete with audio plug-ins) is a savior, with the complete lyrics to 18 lullaby favorites.

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The site also has news, shopping, coupons, chats, a weekly newsletter and lots of articles, not only on babies but also about toddlers.

Not everything on the site is great, however. I found the feature that lets you search for doctors, midwives and health care facilities not very useful because the list was skimpy and frustrating to use.

Looking for something different? Zero to Threeis sponsored by the Washington-based nonprofit organization of the same name that promotes healthy development of children from birth to age 3. While this site doesn’t have the glitzy magazine look of BabyCenter, its content is impressive: informative, sensitive and, often, exceptionally well-written.

Zero to Three provides intelligent, credible information on your baby’s social, emotional and intellectual development. (It’s not the place to go if you’re looking for an immunization schedule or to track well-child visits.)

In the “For Parents” section, for example, an area called “Development Milestones” describes how children of various ages learn about their feelings, the world around them, and how to communicate and relate to others. You’ll learn, for instance, that a baby learns about her body by staring at her hands and sucking her fingers.

The Developmental Milestones section begins with a reminder that every child is unique and has his own pace of development and communication style. And while I don’t have a baby anymore, I found myself returning to this site to reread the information. It made me wish they also focused on age 3 and older.

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The resource sheet on Choosing Quality Child Care is detailed and easy to use. It outlines the three main traits of a good caregiver and lists questions you should ask yourself when interviewing a child care provider. It also reminds us in an encouraging and gentle way that no matter how busy we are and how good the child’s day care, babies and toddlers need time and attention from their parents.

OK, so these two sites won’t tell you where to find an online pediatrician to answer your frantic questions when the baby is running a temperature and screaming at 3 a.m. But these sites will help parents to be better informed and better prepared for the sometimes-daunting task of parenting. Even more important, they will help you to savor those joyful and precious moments of your baby’s first year.

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Your Health Online runs the first and third Monday of the month in Health.