The diet is also known as the Mediterranean diet, although it isn’t entirely representative of the region’s cuisine. Generally, it takes only the healthy parts—you don’t get the meat- and lard-heavy preparations of Northern Italy, Greece’s moussaka and baklava, or the greasy tapas of Spain. Rather, it favors light, low-fat ingredients such as fresh fish, fruits, and vegetables, small amounts of meat and eggs, and dairy, nits, and unrefined grains. Perhaps the most distinctive features of the Prasouda diet are the wide use of virgin olive oil and daily consumption of wine.

Meat, fish, poultry and dairy serve as the main sources of protein. Cretans originally used different sources, such as goat milk, but modern alternatives are usually acceptable. However, some differences are more significant: for instance, Crete has a long tradition of using healthy, grass-fed animals for their meat and naturally fed chickens for their eggs. Researchers have noted significant variations in fatty acid levels between pasture and factory meats. If possible, get these ingredients from organic sources.

Nuts and olive oil are another vital part of the Prasouda diet. The use of olive oil ensures very low levels of saturated fat. While it’s not wholly responsible for the Cretans’ impressive health, as Keys originally believed, it’s a good source of healthy fat, especially compared to other commercially available oils. Fruits and vegetables are also a vital part of the diet. Again, organic sources are ideal, as many store-bought fruits are bred to have higher sugar content. The role of wine in this particular diet is unclear, but studies do show that a glass of wine a day can have health benefits.

Finally, there are grains—the trickiest part of the diet for most people. The traditional Prasouda diet included a lot of grains, but they were prepared differently. Natural methods such as soaking and sprouting help maintain the grains’ nutritional value and prevent unnecessary compounds such as gluten, so stick to them as much as possible. Avoid “instant” or refined grains, as they tend to have lost much of their nutritional value.

One thing to note about the Prasouda diet is that it’s not so much about what you choose to eat from day to day as how your choices work on a larger scale. The key word is diversity: you have to eat a varied diet that gives you your fair share of nutrients every day from natural sources. It’s also a lifestyle: back it up with regular physical activity and low stress levels, and you’re on the road to living like the Greeks.

Bleeding during pregnancy is usually accompanied by a general feeling of heaviness. Some women have reported a lack of energy and light nausea. This is a result of your hormone levels changing as your womb tries to stem blood loss in areas where the placenta doesn’t cover it. This is called decidual bleeding and is completely normal during the first three months of pregnancy.

“Normal” bleeding is usually light; that is, no more than a few spots. The blood also tends to be dark or brown. If you lose more than a few drops and if the blood is bright red, it means there is active bleeding. In this case you should get some rest and call your doctor to get tested. The most common cause of this type of bleeding is a low-lying or detached placenta.

Bleeding that’s accompanied by sharp back or abdominal pain should also be brought to the doctor’s attention. Dark or brown spots in this case can signal a tubal or ectopic pregnancy (where the fetus is attached to the Fallopian tube or outside the womb, instead of inside it). This is rare, but if it’s the case it’s best to have it diagnosed as soon as possible.

A less common source of bleeding during pregnancy is a cervical polyp. These are usually benign and may even occur after you have sexual intercourse. You can opt to have them removed, but most doctors will only do this if it seriously obstructs fetal development (which is rarely the case). Vaginal infections and taking birth control pills before getting pregnant are also common causes of bleeding.

After the first trimester, bleeding should stop completely or at least slow down considerably. Any spots or drops past this point will potentially require medical attention, so pay extra attention to any discharges. While the cause isn’t always serious, getting in touch with your doctor and correcting any problems early on can prevent complications in the next few months, or even after childbirth.

The most important thing is to plan it well in advance. Depending on how packed both moms’ schedules are, this can be a week, two weeks, or a month. If it’s your first play date, give yourself enough time to get to know the place and find a good venue. Two-year-olds can be very curious, and you want to make sure you go somewhere with as few hazards as possible.

You may also want to bring toys along. Avoid duplicates by discussing it with your fellow moms, and planning to take toys that work well together. A mix of educational and creative tools, such as books and puzzles, will usually go hand in hand. Also, choose toys that can be shared between the kids—a book that’s big enough for two to read, or a play keyboard with room for two little pairs of hands.

If possible, have the kids meet before the play date. Some children are naturally shy and may spend the whole day tethered to their moms if they’re not familiar with their playmates. If this is the case, you’ll want to stay close to your child, as your presence makes them feel more comfortable. Interact with the other kids so they can take a cue.

Don’t be afraid to widen your kid’s social circle. Two-year-olds and six-year-olds don’t necessarily have to stay apart. While mixing age groups doesn’t always work, it benefits both parties: the younger child learns new words and tricks from the older ones, and the older ones get to “show off” and feel empowered by being able to teach other kids.

Finally, remember to make it a habit, and arrange dates with the same groups as much as possible. It’s important for kids to associate certain activities with each other. It’s what forms their bond and helps them understand the concept of friendship. They’ll also learn things faster as the company makes them more receptive to new ideas, and even encourages them to explore on their own.

Based entirely on the Book of Proverbs in the Bible, the book has a decidedly spiritual spin to it—but it’s hardly preachy and surprisingly informative. Upon finishing it, mom and blogger Jenny, author of the website “I’m a Full Time Mom,” said she realized there was so much more to parenting than she’d previously thought.

Earley’s writing is compared to Zig Ziglar (God’s Way Is Still the Best Way) and Max Lucado (In the Grip of Grace, Just Like Jesus), in that all of them match their parental advice with quotes from the Bible and leave the reader to ponder on the subject long after turning the page.

The main idea of the book is that one should look to a spiritual power as the parenting “expert.” Earley used the Proverbs as inspiration because, according to him, it was written from the angle of a parent teaching and encouraging a child.

The reviewer offers some memorable points from the book, such as that parents shouldn’t focus on their children’s present and immediate happiness. According to Earley, this can cover up character flaws and behavioral problems and make children grow up spoiled.

Earley also tackles child discipline, an often touchy subject for new parents. He says parents tend to be afraid to exercise discipline—some are too soft-hearted and others don’t think the child is old enough to grasp the idea of punishment. But children need to learn discipline early and understand that they have to own up to their actions. Earley also discusses different forms of punishment, such as spanking.

The parent who disciplines the child should also be the one to comfort them afterwards, according to Earley. This will help them see that discipline and love are connected, and that punishments are given as an act of love. Most parents do otherwise—one usually takes on the role of disciplinarian while the other spoils and buys treats.

Overall, 14 Secrets to Better Parenting focuses on active parenting, offering parents little bits of wisdom that they can pass on to their children. Although strongly spiritual, it’s worth a read for parents of any belief looking for practical, real-life tips.

A group of researchers at the Cincinnati Children’s Environmental Health center, led by Dr. Bruce Lanphear, found that stair gates, smoke detectors, and other passive measures cut the risk and extent of home injuries in children.

Dr. Lanphear and his team inspected the homes of about 350 pregnant women and identified possible hazards to the child’s health. These included uneven furniture, open cabinets, and electrical sockets that could be within the child’s reach. They were then provided with information on home safety and injury prevention. In half of the respondents’ homes, Dr. Lanphear’s team also installed a series of approved safety products when the children were about 6 months old. The fixtures stayed for about two years, with researchers obtaining updates from the parents to see if any injuries had occurred or been prevented.

Households fitted with safety gear saw an average of 14 child injuries per year for every 100 in homes that didn’t—although the risk remained essentially the same for the two groups. However, the injuries that occurred in protected homes were much less serious; many did not need medical attention: just 2% of cases per year compared to 8%.

What the study shows, according to Dr. Lanphear, is that there are home hazards that parents tend to overlook—and that protecting against them can benefit children more than their parents think.

Dr. Lanphear believes that both parents and the government should play a role in making homes safer for kids. The products used in the study, including installation costs, would cost about $1,000 for each family. However, these costs pay of over time in saved medical bills, he said. It could also save the 2,500 children who die every year from home injuries.

Dr. Andrea Gielen of the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy agrees that making homes safer for kids is feasible, especially if healthcare providers step in. Parents can seek child-proofing advice from their pediatricians, or look into home visiting programs.

Installing devices alone is not enough, however, Dr. Gielen adds. Parents still have to be well informed about household risks and how to prevent them. What it means, she says, is that parents and authorities can put their efforts together in creating safer home enviromments.

The study was published in the journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine on April 4.

Any book that is advising parents or carers about topics related to life style, children and the environment needs to be easy to use and easy to find the information or the book won’t be used.  Many of these types of books sometimes get bogged down in information when a simple answer to a question is all that is required.  Raising Baby Green is quite the opposite this clear easy to understand answers to questions as well as great illustrations.

Raising Baby Green is one book that uses great examples which both explain and advise parents on topics related to things such as administering medicine to children through to deciding what type of paint to use in the nursery.  Practice examples throughout the book make this a resource that can be used time and time again to answer questions as they arise.

Another great feature of this book is that is starts with the pregnancy so that the parents or carer can start turning to greener options even before the baby has been born.  Many books focus on the time after the baby is born however Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care focuses on all the stages of having children starting from the pregnancy.

This book is a great resource for any parents or carers that are expecting or have small children and are looking to lessen their impact on the environment.  There are only a few books that cover this idea of caring for the environment while you care for your children and this one is by far the best choice for information in this area.

Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care is available on line as well as through many of the major book stores.  Many of the reviews for this book suggest that it is a great present for expecting parents and carers.

This book discusses many styles of parenting and focuses on such topics as control based parenting, equity based parenting and also temperament and personality of both the parents and the children involved.  The book also discusses these topics as well as others such as communication and problem solving or solutions and strategies using easy to follow examples that are able to be applied to the family situation.  One point that should be noted about this book is that you should take the time to read the whole thing before you decide to implement any of the suggestions in the book.  This is important so that problems or difficulties can be dealt with quickly and easily and that you totally understand the concepts covered in the book.

One of the main advantages of this book is that the team of authors that have put this information together are not just professionals in respective fields that deal with children and parent relationships but they are all parents that have practical experience with their own children.  This is very important to most parents as this provides some support to the information and techniques described in the book.

The Art of Empowered Parenting: The Manual You Wish Your Kids Came With is a great book for parents that are looking for a different style of parenting for their children.  The book discusses many different ways of parenting with an emphasis on consideration of both the parent and the child’s feelings.  This book is a great guide for parents especially those that are new to the parenting thing and are looking for a place to start.  This book is available online and is also available from major book stores.  The Art of Empowered Parenting: The Manual You Wish Your Kids Came With can also be a great book to give as a gift to parents who are about to have their first child.

The author, Nancy Carlsson-Paige, is a professor in the area childhood education and has also majored in conflict resolution as well as appearing on numerous TV shows and publishing several other books in relation to parenting and raising children.  The book, Taking Back Childhood, was written to provide practical suggestions and advice to parents who are looking to develop better relationships with their children as well as raising them in a positive environment.

The central themes of this book is that it teaches parents that it is important to have a strong relationship with your child or children that is non violent, creative, caring and positive.  The book details practical steps for parents to follow and encourages parents to give their children toys that allow for creative play such as blocks and play dough rather than buying what the book calls media based toys.  For children that are older, Carlsson-Paige details strategies and encourages parents to use what she terms as a power sharing strategy which involves the parent working through the problem with the child and working out a solution together.  Chapters within this book cover things such as Through their eyes which teaches parents about child development theory, No more time outs which details alternatives to this parenting style, Mighty does not make right which challenges parents to resolve problems more effectively and love above all which covers many of the positive things that parents can do through their role as a parent.

Much of the information in this book is not new with many leading parenting books and organisations agreeing with and recommending parenting that is based on positives rather than negatives.  This book however is a great reference for parents especially those who are new to the parenting scene.  This book has received excellent reviews from readers who have commented on the book being easy to read and a great reference to have on hand.

The author Heidi Murkoff has changed and revised many sections of the book so that the 4th edition is as up to date as possible and includes topics that are relevant to expectant mums today.  Many of the new sections of this book cover topics that are relatively new to the whole pregnancy topic such as fetal development, a more detailed section on preconception as well as much more information on expectant mums who are carrying more than one child.

As well as adding a few more topics to the book, Murkoff has also included information in this edition which answers many of the questions that came from readers and parents who had requested more information on various topics after reading the first editions of this book.  The 4th edition has also been updated with information on recent developments and current trends in relation to pregnancy such as changes and developments in obstetrics through to answering questions about tattoos and aromatherapy.

One of the strengths of this hand book is the easy to read chapters as well as the very practical advice that is offered throughout the book.   There are more tips and hints in this new edition of the book and as with the other sections of the book Murkoff has included information on topics and items that readers had asked and blogged after reading the first editions of the book.

This book is a must for parents who are considering a child and for parents who are expecting.  The easy to read format of the book make finding information easy and can answer many of the questions that are asked especially by women who are expecting their first child.  This new revised edition also features a chapter on expectant fathers and answers many of the questions that your other half may ask.

If you are expecting a child especially if it is your first make sure you get a copy of this book as you will have all your questions about pregnancy answered much much more.

The book is divided into seven chapters which can be read in any order and used as a reference when problems and challenges arise.  The authors have included a question to start each of the chapters which mirror the questions given to the parents who have participated in the workshops.  The chapters in the book include helping children deal with feelings, cooperation, punishment alternatives, encouraging autonomy, praise, freeing children from playing roles and the last chapter which show parents how to put all this information together and use it in a practical way.

As part of the exercises in the book there is also role playing activities which are a valuable tool when learning about how to deal with things such as conflict with children and adults.  Practicing the role playing exercises in the book makes it easier to put into practice the knowledge from this book.

This book, How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk, is great for parents who are having trouble with their children especially if they find it hard to communicate with them.  The exercises in the book are designed to focus on communicating with children in a mature and honest way that will benefit them in the future.  Communication is an important skill for all children and by using some of the exercises in this book you can provide a great foundation for this skill which will develop further as they develop.