Please note: I am not a doctor, nor is this medical advice. If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, make an appointment with a doctor to find out what foods you should be eating, and what you should avoid!

That being said, there are plenty of foods out there that offer tons of nutrition for you and your baby! If you are eating for two, check out this list amazing superfoods by Debolina Raja at Mom Junction:

-Bananas

-Dried Apricots

-Avocado

-Berries

-Whole grains

-Beans

-Broccoli

Photo Credit: Stacey Spensley

You can read all birthing / baby raising books you want; there are just some things that can’t be taught until you experience them for yourself. Not only are there things that books don’t tell you; what works in some kids will not work in others. Each child is different, and will respond to food, education, discipline, etc. differently. Plus, lots of books and blogs tend to gloss over the less-glamorous (ok, disgusting), parts of raising a baby. For some awesome tips for first time moms, check out this post by Joanna Venditti at the Baby Center Blog:

-Use receiving blankets to catch spit up and vomit, rather than thin burp cloths

-Spring for a comfy, reclining high chair, so your baby will be comfortable watching you cook, do laundry, etc.

-Invest in toy straps, and pacifier clips

-Know where you’re going to put your baby down. While we all would love to constantly hold our babies, it’s simply not realistic. You need to have somewhere other than their crib to put them down in during the day, like a bouncer chair or swing.

Photo Credit: Philip Dean

Raising kids that know how to fact-check, be aware of logical fallacies, and form their own opinions is extremely important. Especially since, in this age of misinformation, there are lots of adults who don’t know how to do that. There are parents who believe vaccines cause autism, and that rubbing coconut oil on your forehead will cure cancer.

School systems are notorious for NOT teaching reasoning and critical thinking skills, at least until college. Memorizing facts and then spitting them back out onto a multiple choice test (where the answers are provided FOR you) is apparently better. Therefore, it’s up to parents to teach their kids the basics of logic. Check out these awesome tips by Bethany at Math Geek Mama:

-Do their homework with them, ask WHY they chose to answer a question the way they did. How did they figure out the answer to a math problem? What steps did they use?

-Play board games together that encourage strategy and logical thinking.

-Use a structure approach- solve logic puzzles together!

Photo Credit: Philip Dean

Everyone these days seems to be talking about coconut oil: it’s a trendy product, and seems to be a universal cure for everything. While it’s probably not a magical, cure-all substance, it does have a ton of useful applications. This includes uses for babies and new moms! Check out this post by Denise Cortes at the Babycenter blog for tips:

-Use it as eczema-soothing lotion for you or your baby

-Take a tablespoon to ease migraines, increase milk flow, soothe acid reflux, or give an energy boost

-Gently rub some into baby’s scalp to get rid of cradle cap

-Use some as a hemorrhoid cream, or make your own vapor rub

-Rub onto your belly when pregnant to prevent stretchmarks

Photo Credit: Cara Faus