Parenting

You’ve seen him once or twice at the playground — the totally involved and evolved stay-at-home dad. Who is this thoroughly modern man, and what makes him tick?

The Daddy Shift: How Stay-at-Home Dads, Breadwinning Moms, and Shared Parenting Are Transforming the American Family, offers a look into the changing world of fatherhood today. Inspired by author Jeremy Smith’s year spent at home with his young son, this book investigates the stories of a diverse group of dads who have embraced care giving and egalitarian marriages, from both a social and economic standpoint.

How 2009.

Available at beacon.org.

Technology plus baby equals an easier system for all those involved. Luckily, there are a slew of new parent-developed iPhone applications to simplify feedings, diaper changes and games. Give one a trial run and see if it’s a time saver.

Baby Brain: Time and log feedings (breast or bottle), diapers and sleep. Plus you can email reports to spouses, caregivers or a doctor, view daily, weekly and monthly stats and see the baby’s natural patterns.

Bobble Zoo: Designed for toddlers and preschool children, this interactive version of traditional bobbleheads combines educational tools with animal portraits, sounds and names of each animal spoken in a child’s voice they can relate to. Each animal sound is paired with a corresponding animal, teaching your toddler their favorite animal sounds and the pronunciation of the animal names.

iStoryTime: These stories, a series of illustrated and narrated children’s book applications, feature automatic navigation and narration that even a 2-year-old can use. Check out the roster of online children’s books, with more in the pipeline.

KinderStats: This application keeps your child’s vital information (DOB, height and weight, age, etc.) and photos handy in case of emergency. If you get separated from your child in a public place (mall, amusement park, etc.) you’ll have all the necessary information handy to help the authorities quickly locate and return your child.

No more ties this Father’s Day — you’re looking for something a little more intellectual.

Humor, insight and truth — any new dad wants to hear the real deal from those who have been there, done that. That’s why The Book of Dads gathered top writers like Neal Pollack, Nick Flynn and Darin Strauss to share their advice, insights, ruminations and anecdotes about the world of fatherhood. Edited by Ben George (of the literary journal Ecotone), this anthology includes poignant stories like “The Night Shift,” a lyrical recounting of the first few years author Ben Fountain spent in the dark with his young children.

No matter what the experience, he’s not alone.

Available at amazon.com.

This Father’s Day, you want to initiate your favorite dad-to-be into the club — too bad he’s a nervous wreck about holding a newborn.

Comic and filmmaker Chris Mancini explores impending fatherhood in his new book Pacify Me: A Handbook for the Freaked-Out New Dad. The Los Angeles-based pop presents a modern take on what to expect from a male perspective (Mr. Spock vs. Dr. Spock). This play-by-play for dads, from pregnancy and delivery to the adjustment period and the infant years, includes anecdotes from the author’s time in the trenches that will quell the nerves of many fathers-to-be.

Available at amazon.com.

The all-chicken nugget diet isn’t exactly ideal, but it’s the only thing he’ll eat. “Vegetable” is a dirty word, but you’ve got to get some beta-carotene into the little bugger.

Add a little nutrition without the kids noticing. Hip Hip Puree does ready-made, frozen, organic vegetable purees. While making your own from scratch sounds nice, becoming a junior Jessica Seinfeld just isn’t in the cards. Packaged in single serving (1/2 cup) pouches, these purees in four varieties (carrot, broccoli, sweet potato and cauliflower) can easily be added to sauces, side dishes or desserts. Try Hip Hip’s recipes for banana bread (with cauliflower) or muffins (with carrot), or start building your own yummy creation.

Mind your Ps and Qs (peas and quinoa).

Available at hiphippuree.com.

Lately it’s all about truth in parenting, but the only place you feel truly honest is on the UB message boards.

Read a relatable dose of reality. Afterbirth: Stories You Won’t Read in a Parenting Magazine is a collection of essays based on Dani Klein Modisett’s popular live show of the same name. Hollywood types, from Sex and the City writer Cindy Chupack to Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner, contribute personal takes on parenting. First family vacations, fertility, fear and father-daughter bonding are just a few of the topics tackled in this collection of personal stories.

Available at stmartins.com.

Your entire household has memorized the contents of the bookshelf — time to restock.

One Potato was recently launched by a father of two whose love of children’s picture books turned into an online guide. The site advocates for the lesser-known quality kiddie literature that may not get shelf time at the bigger chain stores. With more than 500 titles currently listed, recommendations range from the foreign or fables and folklore to the familiar and familial. After filling your cart with formerly unknown titles, the site directs your order to Amazon — it couldn’t be easier.

It’s for those times when getting a great new book for bedtime reading feels like finding a needle in a haystack.

Visit onepotato.net.

Memorial Day kicks off the summer travel season — and those who find a good deal will be hitting road or taking to the friendly skies. But what to pack in baby’s suitcase? Below, the expert physicians at MommyDocs share their must-haves to avoid a vacation-induced flu:

Nasal aspirator: Babies haven’t quite figured out how to clear their own tiny nostrils and will need help from Mom. A nasal bulb syringe can help remove bothersome boogies from the nose.

Medicine: Talk to your doctor about what is best to have on hand for your child. These may include items such as nasal saline drops, fever reducing medications, and drinks to rehydrate and replace electrolytes. You’ll also want to make sure that any medicine you carry has not expired, and that you’re aware of the appropriate dosages based on your child’s weight. Never give medication to an infant, especially under the age of 3 months, without first consulting your physician. And always contact the doctor for a fever (100.4 F or greater) in an infant under 3 months of age or for any medical concerns in a child of any age.

Thermometer: Make sure you have a good thermometer and know how to use it. For infants, especially under 3 months of age, temperatures should always be taken rectally with a digital thermometer, like a Vicks digital thermometer. A great option once children have graduated from rectal temps is the Braun ThermoScan ear thermometer.

Your doctor’s phone number: Always have your doctor’s number on speed dial or somewhere very easy to find, such as in your wallet or glove compartment.

Hand sanitizer: Limit your child’s germ-spreading and germ-getting by enforcing a strict hand-washing policy. If available, use water and soap, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. Another great option is an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Just be sure it is completely rubbed in and kept out of reach of children.

Tissues: Teach children to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible since germs can spread this way. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and remember to throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Also, encourage everyone to direct coughs and sneezes into their elbows, not their hands.

Visit mommydocs.com.

Call it a Jane Austen moment: Emma has taken over the top spot at the most popular baby name for girls in 2008, pushing Emily into third place after 12 years at number one. On the boys’ side, Jacob is still the top dog. The top 10 plays out as follows:

Boys: Jacob, Michael, Ethan, Joshua, Daniel, Alexander, Anthony, William, Christopher, Matthew
Girls: Emma, Isabella, Emily, Madison, Ava, Olivia, Sophia, Abigail, Elizabeth, Chloe

The greatest increases in popularity since 2007 were Jacoby, Kane and Beckett for boys and Khloe, Marlee and Marely for girls. Other rising stars include celeb-influenced names like Kingston, Kobe, Jonas, Audrina, Kimora and Rihanna.

Still looking for the perfect name? Check out these guides to global monikers:
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to 40,000 Baby Names
Cool Irish Names for Babies
Nameberry.com

Visit socialsecurity.gov.

With so many great children’s books out there, how do you pick one that’s engaging, educational and age-appropriate?

What to Read When: The Books and Stories to Read with Your Child — and All the Best Times to Read Them guides parents through the process of finding that perfect book for any child at any moment. Award-winning educator and literacy advocate Pam Allyn offers an annotated list of more than 300 titles, broken down by childhood themes (from friendship to divorce), age and stage, and type of book (pop-ups, tactile, books for the bath). Family-oriented tips, like how to create a comfortable reading place in the home, will help foster a lifetime love of reading.

Available at whattoreadwhen.com.