So, I'm trying to get some opinions here: My fiance and I have been engaged for 4 months and are in our mid-20s. We are both in school (undergrad for him, grad for me), but due to my income, we wanted to wait one more year, so that it would be financially better for us (e.g., paying tuition, etc). We are both interested in having children, however, something has come up for me health-wise (ulcerative colitis) that would make it less safe (because of medications) to have a baby later on, compared with now. Here are my questions for you: 1) Would you have a baby before marriage? What would be the reasons? 2) Has anyone actively planned this before? How did it work out? I know some would say suck it up and push up the wedding, but it would save us a good 20K or so.
posted by queenba on Mar 16, 2013 - 49 answers

Tell me about your daily schedules, parenting logistics, etc., with a newborn plus a toddler or older child. [more inside]
posted by Bardolph on Mar 7, 2013 - 15 answers

Family drama: what should we be doing? This was me. Last night, my pregnant-with-twins sister went to the ER with bleeding and what felt like early contractions. [more inside]
posted by kat518 on Dec 2, 2012 - 38 answers

How do I bank my sperm for potential future parenting desires? [more inside]
posted by Borborygmus on Oct 19, 2012 - 4 answers

Adopting a baby. We want to. Who should we work with? [more inside]
posted by fugitivefromchaingang on Sep 24, 2012 - 4 answers

Please suggest bike routes in New England that meet some specific criteria. We took our son on a section of the East Bay Bike Path near Providence for his first bike ride last week and he loved it. He sits in an iBert on Mom's bike. We are looking for similar routes. In looking for similar I articulate what specifically I think is good about this path for us in the extended explanation. We can ride weekdays in addition to weekends. Thanks. [more inside]
posted by safetyfork on Jun 25, 2012 - 11 answers

My nephew is 5 weeks old, and I still didn't go and see him. How bad, abnormal am I? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 28, 2012 - 52 answers

Please help me look at parenthood in a more positive way. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 7, 2011 - 33 answers

How inappropriate would it be to prevent my boundaries-challenged mother from visiting the hospital upon the birth of my child? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 29, 2011 - 55 answers

I am going to be away from my baby for five days. Help me know that he will be OK without me. [more inside]
posted by bq on Feb 9, 2011 - 18 answers

We'd like to go on a family cruise in the second half of May: myself, my husband, Baby J and my parents. What will this be like? And also, got any specific recommendations? [more inside]
posted by sillymama on Dec 21, 2010 - 6 answers

superly sockpuppet birds and the bees filter: i was date-raped and now i am negotiating some intense babydaddy issues in court. he has a new girlfriend and a new baby. my child is 6 and understandably pondering how this is all possible. babydaddy was not significantly present for about 5 years. i am a very much single mother and i and my parents are all that my child has known in a truly significant way...how to approach the question of origin truthfully but sensitively? [more inside]
posted by bright and shiny on Aug 31, 2010 - 36 answers

The second small bedroom was an editing suite/video room, but soon the baby will arrive. Are there good examples of dual use rooms that're half baby/half studio in small spaces? [more inside]
posted by history is a weapon on Aug 15, 2010 - 17 answers

Please help me choose a first car (and ideally a Boston-area dealer). Baby coming late August, we live in Cambridge (off-street parking), wife's new to driving. We want: baby-safe, reliable, envirofriendlyesque, comfortable, good trunk space, city-savvy. Used is fine. [more inside]
posted by waxbanks on Jun 10, 2010 - 31 answers

When we have our baby later this spring, and after I go back to my p/t job, my mom is going to take care of our son a few days a week. I'm looking for tips on what sorts of "supplies" my parents should keep at their house and what we should shuttle back and forth. They'll have their own Pack & Play and their own carseat, but what else? Any other tips to make this as easy as possible for everyone would be much appreciated, too.
posted by trillian on Apr 8, 2010 - 18 answers

My baby is terrified of her grandfather. What can we do to get her to like him a bit better? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph on Mar 2, 2010 - 19 answers

The good news is that my wife is 3 months pregnant! The bad news is that we live at the top of a 6th floor walk up in NYC and have to move. Please tell us what is the highest manageable floor we can live on in our new apartment and still be able to reasonably deal with our small dog, the pregnancy, and then the baby and stroller. [more inside]
posted by avex on Jan 9, 2010 - 21 answers

How much has where you grew up determined your personality? How important is location? Those who grew up in New Zealand, how much has its culture and limitations shaped you? Children of expats, how did having expat parents influence you? Any Americans in NZ want to tell me why they are raising their children there? [more inside]
posted by scazza on Jun 19, 2009 - 9 answers

Infant son's getting baptized, and our sister-in-law feels she should be allowed to invite several friends of hers who're not of our faith and not acquainted with either us or the baby. I think she's out of line. O wise Hivemind, which of us is right? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 17, 2009 - 65 answers

New baby + uninvited family visitors = drama. More hormone-charged details inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 9, 2008 - 64 answers

What's a good plan for post-partum family visits? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 - 25 answers

I'm going to be an aunt, but I can't stand my nephew-to-be's parents. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 29, 2007 - 16 answers

What are some fun things to do in Los Angeles with a 11-month-old? [more inside]
posted by chinston on Aug 15, 2007 - 9 answers

My two stepsisters each recently gave birth. Should I get either of them a gift? It gets a little complicated. [more inside]
posted by drycleanonly on Apr 22, 2007 - 18 answers

Help my friend get a cheap, good hotel in Stockholm! Travelling with baby daughter! [more inside]
posted by ClanvidHorse on Jan 25, 2007 - 3 answers

Daddy-daughter advice, or what can you tell me that you've learned? [more inside]
posted by fijiwriter on Oct 19, 2006 - 74 answers

MixCDFilter: Any minute now, I'll be an aunt. I'd like to make a lullaby mix CD for my hipster niece/nephew-to-be. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by donnagirl on Jul 30, 2005 - 42 answers

I have two cats (brother and sister from the same litter 8 years ago) and one baby. The cats have never messed with each other beyond play fighting every so often and chasing each other for kicks. But recently, we noticed a horrible new behavior: when the baby cries at full tilt (only once every 3-4 days), the male cat gets up and goes after the female and tries to mount her, in an almost automatic, robot-like response. I have some ideas of why, but I can't find any tips on what to do to stop it. [more inside]
posted by mathowie on Jul 8, 2005 - 26 answers

Since birth, 10 weeks ago, our baby has slept in our bed between us in a cute little box called a SnuggleNest. It's worked out very well, but she's getting to be so big; she's going to outgrow her little nest soon. We love having her near us at night. We want to continue to co-sleep. We would love to learn from your family-bed experiences. [more inside]
posted by RockyChrysler on Jun 17, 2005 - 22 answers