For a lot of us, dogs are our children until an actual child arrives. Like any big brother or sister, they need to be introduced to their human sibling under the best possible circumstances.

If you intended to breastfeed your child, but end up wanting or needing to give formula, you may think you’ve switched teams: You’re now a formula feeder. But it isn’t an all-or-nothing choice, and part-time breastfeeding has important benefits.

If you have a baby, and if something is wrong with that baby (something always seems wrong), somebody will suggest that you take your baby to a chiropractor. Perhaps you will hear this recommendation even when nothing is wrong. Friends, do not take your baby to the chiropractor.

In this week's roundup of health news, we'll look at whether you need to do anything differently about your choice of bread, the place your baby sleeps, and your attitude toward mosquitoes on your holiday.

Earlier this month, we saw a bunch of clever new baby-related gadgets make their debut at the Consumer Electronics Show. While some might prove useful -- I would have killed for a breast pump like Willow -- others are more likely to drain parents' wallets without providing anything of real value.

Cute, squeezeable toys -- from Sophie la Girafe to the humble rubber ducky -- can fill up with a slimy black mould if moisture gets inside. Fortunately, it's possible to clean them, and even to prevent the slime from taking hold in the first place.

Video: You can't exactly blast your favourite tunes when you're supposed to be listening intently to the baby monitor. This custom build from popular DIYer Ben Heck will let you listen to your music until your little one starts to make noise.

If you're a parent, you've heard the rules a million times: Babies should sleep on their backs, with no blankets, and they should always sit in a rear facing car seat. The message we don't always get is when babies can stop following these rules.

It can often be pretty difficult to convince a determined two year old to quit nappies. To avoid this conflict, many families are adopting a different approach to toilet training, one that is more commonly used in other parts of the world, including China, parts of Africa, India, and South and Central America. This method, called Elimination Communication (EC or assisted infant toilet training), is becoming increasingly popular in the West. It involves starting toilet training from birth by following the child's cues.

If you're trying to start a family, fertility apps like Glow, Clue and Ovia predict the times of the month women are most likely to conceive. Using them should help you get pregnant -- if you know how to enter your information, and if your app is accurate.

I was in your shoes once, new parents. Shopping for the perfect nappy bag, pruning baby gear lists down to the true essentials. Three kids later, I'm here to tell you: You're overthinking it. Most of your shopping decisions don't really matter.

Sometimes you've just got to get a workout in, but your baby or toddler doesn't want to leave you alone. Fortunately, a lot of exercises still work with a baby in a carrier. Just think of your bundle of joy as a squirming weighted vest.