Even the most devoted moms and dads often overlook some of these — or feel that they're the opposite of what a loving parent should do. But each is important in its own way. Here's why you should give your baby...

...more sleep
Quick: How much shut-eye does the average baby need? Many parents guess it's 8 to 12 hours per day, but it's actually more like 14 to 16, including naps, for infants up to age 1, says Juan Martinez, M.D., director of the sleep lab at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, in Hollywood, Florida. This misunderstanding can lead to babies who are as sleep-deprived as the rest of us.

Sure, it's tempting to try to keep that dozing cutie awake for his aunt's visit. But helping your child to snooze without interruption as often as possible is worth it. Jennifer Winn of Spring Lake, New Jersey, sometimes has to cancel her 2-year-old's playdate if her 10-month-old is overtired. "It's not easy, but I think it's really important that he have his rest," she says.

She's right. A child must be well rested to be receptive to new experiences. So know the signs that your baby needs more shut-eye. "Instead of acting drowsy, he may be irritable and hyper," Dr. Martinez says.

Setting a sleep schedule, especially once your child is at least 6 months old, is a good way to make sure he's getting enough rest. Make naptimes and bedtimes as consistent as possible, and build in a cushion of time beforehand to help him unwind you can try showing him a book, rocking him, or giving him a warm bath before bed.

Q

My husband's brother has hunting rifles in his attic, and it worries me to have my child around firearms. Do I talk to him about it?

A

There's no need for you to be delicate or squeamish. Folks who are uncomfortable with guns tend to be uncomfortable talking about them as well. But gun owners are usually perfectly happy to chat about their gear. Your brother-in-law bought his guns, hunts with them, and is likely proud to own them. He also doesn't want your child (or his own!) to be at risk, and therefore he should be perfectly willing to talk about what he's done to make his equipment inaccessible to children, something the National Rifle Association, which supports gun ownership, encourages on its website and in its brochures.

It started when my daughter, Samantha, was born 16 months ago. After two sleepless nights, the nurses and my husband urged me to send her to the hospital nursery so I could get some shut-eye. Deep down I knew it was best, but I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt — how could I abandon my newborn daughter?

That was just the beginning. During the months that followed, I was ashamed letting my husband, who had work the next day, help with night feedings. I panicked that I wasn't giving Samantha enough tummy time. Even now, I feel bad if I feed her grilled cheese two days in a row.

Apparently, I'm not alone. "So many devoted moms think that no matter what they do for their children, it's not enough — and our culture plays into that insecurity," says Susan Douglas, Ph.D., coauthor of The Mommy Myth: The Idealization of Motherhood and How It Has Undermined All Women. But you can end the self-flagellation. Here, the top reasons that new moms feel guilty, and what you can do to get beyond it.

You're more than a mom
"Moms today believe that they should be focused on their babies like a laser beam, so when they take a moment for themselves, they feel like they're being neglectful," notes Douglas. For many women, coffee with a friend or even a shower can be enough to ignite feelings of guilt. Lindsey Coffman of Springfield, Missouri, says she often puts off eating lunch until her daughter, Darby, takes her afternoon nap — which can be as late as 3 p.m. "If Darby needs help coloring or wants me to read a book to her, I feel like it's more important to do that than to eat."

We've got the surprising new facts on the device that could change how women handle contraception in the next decade

By Cara Birnbaum

If you're like most of us, when you hear the letters "IUD" you think of either (1) something Saddam has been hiding; or (2) a birth control device that's equally scary. Well, it's time you rethought both of those. The IUD, short for intrauterine device, is a small, T-shaped piece of soft, flexible plastic that a doctor places in the uterus (womb) to prevent pregnancy. Maybe the most useful fact worth learning about the IUD is that 18 percent of female gynecologists of childbearing age use it, whereas only 2 percent of American women do. Which made us wonder: What do they know that we don't?

First of all, you can blame the IUD's sketchy reputation on an old version called the Dalkon Shield. It caused major health problems about 30 years ago, when 2.2 million American women were already using it. A.H. Robins Company, the Shield's maker, pulled it from the market in 1974 because it played a role in thousands of infections, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and sepsis. The conditions caused infertility for some women and have been linked to at least 17 deaths. Yeah, it's enough to scare Paris Hilton celibate. But in 1974, the pocket calculator was considered high-tech — so comparing the old IUD with today's versions is like pitting Pong against Halo.

"Those of us who are familiar with the newer IUDs realize this is a safe and effective form of contraception," says Susan Loeb-Zeitlin, M.D., assistant attending obstetrician-gynecologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. She believes the IUD's recent surge in popularity came about because younger doctors, who didn't deal with the Dalkon debacle, are more willing to give the new models a chance.

Visit our Birth Control Forum

Many excited expectant parents waste thousands of dollars on baby items they don't need. Here's how to wise up early and find just the essentials for less.

By Liz Pulliam Weston

Before I tell you how to save bundles of money while preparing for a baby, I must make a confession.

We've spent more than we planned in the months leading up to the birth of our first child. Way more.

and baby.

The position of parent and baby during a diaper change is perfect for creating a bonding experience between you. You are leaning over your baby, and your face is at the perfect arms-length distance for engaging eye contact and communication. What's more, this golden opportunity presents itself many times during each day; no matter how busy you both get, you have a few moments of quiet connection. It's too valuable a ritual to treat it as simply maintenance.

Learning about your baby

Diapering offers a perfect opportunity for you to truly absorb your baby's cues and signals. You'll learn how his little body works, what tickles him, what causes those tiny goose bumps. As you lift, move, and touch your baby, your hands will learn the map of his body and what's normal for him. This is important because it will enable you to easily decipher any physical changes that need attention.

Forget till death do us part -- forsaking all others is the tough bit. Good thing scientists who study the chemistry of monogamy are on the case.

By James Vlahos -womenshealthmag.com

  Anne and I have our wedding planned.

Casual outdoor ceremony, reception with live music — maybe zydeco, maybe swing — and no fussy floral arrangements. We see totally eye to eye on this stuff. We've even agreed on our one disagreement. I want bridesmaids and groomsmen; she thinks they distract from what should be the true focus of the ceremony: us. "That's fine," I say. "You can have no bridesmaids, but I'm going to have a dozen people standing behind me during the ceremony — my best friends and yours." The compromise seems ingenious to me. "You're a dork," Anne says.

"I love you" is what I think she means. And I love Anne too. There's really just one hitch to our getting hitched. We haven't set a date yet. We haven't, um, gotten engaged yet, and we've been dating for the better part of the 21st century. I feel completely solid about us, and Anne does too, but occasionally I get scared. I mean, you and me together, forever...for life?

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2006 08:10AM EST

By Louise Talbot - people.com

Photo by: Dave Hunt / AP

"Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin was remembered at his public memorial Wednesday for the love he demonstrated "for the two things that ought to matter more to all of us than anything else – his love of his family and his love of his country," said Australia's Prime Minister John Howard.

Howard was among those in attendance in the 5,500-seat capacity "Crocoseum" at Queensland's Australia Zoo for the one-hour ceremony. Irwin, 44, died Sept. 4 from the barb of a stingray while he was filming on the Great Barrier Reef.

Also paying tribute were Russell Crowe, Justin Timberlake, Cameron Diaz, Hugh Jackman, Kevin Costner, Kelly Ripa and Larry King and Australian country singer John Williamson, who sang one of Irwin's favorite songs, "True Blue."

But it was the composed 8-year-old Bindi Irwin who best represented the spirit of the event. With her mother Terri holding Bindi's toddler brother Bob, Bindi read her words to the crowd, running her tiny finger across the paper as she went along.

Aaron Carter's Vegas Engagement

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2006 06:55PM EST

By Mark Gray  - people.com

Singer Aaron Carter is engaged to Playboy Playmate Kari Ann Peniche, the bride-to-be confirms to PEOPLE.

"I'm very excited about it," Peniche tells PEOPLE. "Aaron is the most genuine person I know. He's kind, loving, and I love him so much."

Carter, 18, popped the question to Peniche (who previously dated Aaron's brother Nick) on Saturday in Las Vegas while they were onstage in front of 200 people during the Playboy Comedy Tour at the Palms Casino Resort.

"I don't remember it happening. It was such a blur," says Peniche about the surprise proposal. "I had no idea he was going to do this, but I'm glad he did."

The couple, who plan to wed in the next six months, hugged and kissed after Peniche accepted the proposal, Playboy tour producer and comedian Cort McCown tells PEOPLE.

"He said he was going to do it, but we thought he was kidding," said McCown. "He was really nervous."

Peniche, 22, was named Miss Teen USA in 2003, but was stripped of her title after posing for Playboy. Carter is set to appear on an E! reality show about his family, House of Carters, premiering next month.