We sometimes pinch ourselves over the amazing amount of press we’ve received. After all, our two year anniversary is hardly out of our rear view mirror and The Baby Planners have transitioned from baby steps to a full on stride! So just in case our moms aren’t the only ones interested in seeing where we’ve been… lights, camera, action!

I have a two month old, beautiful baby girl and was just invited for a much needed girls night out. As a breastfeeding mom, I’m wondering if there’s an alternative to the pump and dump method… should I store milk ahead of time?

Great question and great timing! Studies show that infants consuming breast milk with alcohol exhibit negative changes in both their feeding and sleep behaviors. So we say, absolutely pump and dump or store milk ahead of time. Of course if you’re talking about a sip here and there (as opposed to margarita madness) an interesting new product has just come our way. It’s called milkscreen and it’s a home testing kit for detecting alcohol in your breast milk. The idea is that it takes the guess work out and lets you know within minutes if your milk contains alcohol. This “test” has sparked a lot of conversation here at The Baby Planners HQ, we’d love to hear your thoughts!

If you have a baby-related product question that you’d like to send us for possible inclusion in our Ask The Baby Planners column, please contact us and mention Q&A in the subject box.

Life before kids is frequently hard to remember – did we really wake up on Saturday morning and say “what should we do today?” or spend our extra cash on a fabulous pair of heels? Now, with kids, school, extracurriculars and more, it seems every moment and every dollar has a single purpose – our little darlings!

It’s not easy avoiding the mommy martyr trap but Joanne Kimes’ wonderful new book “The Stay-At-Home Martyr” is a fabulous guide on how to have a rewarding “life outside your kids.” It will give you the tools to get back on track, find time for yourself and even remind you of the joys of wearing matching undergarments!

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, a time to educate parents, caregivers, and family members about the risk factors associated with SIDS.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is described as an unexpected, unexplained death of an infant under the age of one year. This inexplicable phenomenon has devastated thousands of parents, and there is little scientific evidence that has emerged about its causes.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding this horrible syndrome, experts agree on several practices that can help reduce a baby’s risk of dying from SIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following guidelines for sleep positions for healthy babies. (Important note: always consult with your own pediatrician for their recommendations.)

• Back to sleep: Infants should be placed for sleep in a supine (wholly on back position) for every sleep.

• Use a firm sleep surface: A firm crib mattress, covered by a sheet, is the recommended sleeping surface.

• Keep soft objects and loose bedding out of the crib: Pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys and other soft objects should be kept out of an infant’s sleeping environment. ( including bumpers!)

To find out more information, please visit www.aap.org. Knowledge is power!

More of our ABC Show faves in our Inside Look column here!