Articles written by Danielle Friedl in Parenting & Pregnancy

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What is Helium

About me - Danielle Friedl

I am a full time mom to three wonderful little girls and am celebrating ten years of marriage to my husband, Jim. We tend to move around a lot and writing is my way of staying grounded.

This year I took on the role of Girl Scout Leader to my oldest daughter's

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Parenting & Pregnancy > Baby Accessories Play yards and playpens: Too confining or safe play?: 2 of 20
We have to be real here. In a perfect world Mom would have nothing else to do but be a constant and ever-vigilant companion to her children. Dinner would be made by the wave of a magic wand. Clothes would be sorted, washed, dried and put away as though elves lived with you. Mom would never need a break. And all the absolute ... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Summer Camps & Fun Long car trip activities for kids: 3 of 26
With three children ranging in ages from 2 to 6, and numerous road adventures to visit family or enjoy the 'happiest place on earth' I have learned a few things about keeping kids happy, safe and comfortable in the car. From hand held electronics for the older kids to mess free arts and crafts for the younger ones, there are... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Pregnancy Should you find out the sex of your baby before birth?: 5 of 20
Here's the thing: it doesn't matter if you find out at 20 weeks or 40 weeks - it's still going to be a surprise! I'm not much for waiting, and surprises make me nervous. I was the kid that unwrapped presents under the Christmas tree and replaced the tape exactly where my mom had placed it originally. I figured out when and w... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Diapering Should you use disposable diapers instead of cloth during the holidays?: 1 of 4
The temptation to use disposable diapers during the holidays or when going on vacation is quite strong. Having diapered three of my own children and only having to resort to cloth diapers with my third due to an allergy, I could now be the poster child for cloth diapering! I was turned off to cloth diapering at first, deemin... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Feeding & Breastfeeding Myth or fact: Breast-feeding prevents pregnancy: 2 of 6
As a mother of three girls, all of whom were breastfed for a little over a year each, I can attest that breastfeeding is NOT a reliable method of birth control. If it were my third daughter would not have arrived when she did. There is a glimmer of truth in the way hormones react to breastfeeding and how it suppresses ovulat... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Fertility Issues When do you ovulate after childbirth?: 1 of 3
Ovulating after childbirth depends on a few key factors and is unique for every woman and each of her subsequent births. While one woman may be fertile again as soon as 10 weeks after birth, another can conceive in as little as 6 weeks which accounts for many of the big shocks some women receive when they return to their OB ... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Pregnancy How accurate are pregnancy due date calculators?: 1 of 3
Pregnancy due date calculators are only as accurate as the person using them and should be taken with a grain of salt. The are certainly not childbirth prediction devices. Provided you have an accurate record of when your last period was and your cycles are fairly regular any online calculator will be able to supply you with... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Feeding & Breastfeeding Finding the right feeding schedule for a baby: 1 of 3
First let's take the word 'schedule' and throw it out the window. The second thing you need to consider is if your baby is bottle-fed formula or is nursing, or even both. Breastfed babies need to eat more often, as breast milk is processed much quicker in baby's tummy. Formula-fed babies can go longer between feedings becaus... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Pregnancy Surviving bed rest during pregnancy: 11 of 28
When my first daughter attempted to make an early entrance into the world, months before her scheduled arrival, I found myself banished to my bed with lots of time and very little to do. Laying around all day was novel at first. I'm not ashamed to admit that I do love daytime television - however even the most die hard fan c... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Common Baby Ailments Treating fevers in children: 2 of 5
After spending what has probably culminated in many hours of time spent in pediatrician and urgent care waiting rooms with one, or sometimes all of my three children I feel like I have a black belt in disease control. I don't leave the house without my lipstick, a packet of tissues and a gallon of antibacterial hand sanitize... More..