Cons: Too many ads touting the latest baby products, not comprehensive enough, few pages
The Bottom Line: Sign up for your complementary American Baby subscription from their Website or magazine. The information and advice are sound. The articles are interesting, well-written and entertaining. Adorable baby photos!
Are you an expectant or new parent? I've got a good monthly magazine for you and it's free. Visit any large baby/toy store and pick up the current issue of American Baby magazine. Or, better still, sign up today on the Website, www.americanbaby.com for a free subscription delivered right to your door. You can also use the handy post card bound inside issues. The magazine really makes it easy for families to receive complementary issues. Return another enclosed post card and also receive discount coupons and special product offers. The magazine can afford to hand out complementary subscriptions because baby merchandise is a lucrative market.
This magazine isn't just of interest to expectant and new parents. Grandparents and childcare/daycare workers will also enjoy reading American Baby. I pick up my complementary monthly copies at Toys R Us. The November issue has a wonderful article on "Why We Love 2-Year-Olds" that I especially enjoyed reading since my grandson has now turned two.
Even experienced parents will find some articles of interest. For example, the current issue, January 2002, has an informative cover article called "Three's Company? The Pros and Cons of Having a Third Child" written by the managing editor of American Baby. The article discusses both sides of three issues parents should consider when making their decision. The article also gives useful tips for how to make life easier with three kids. Although the article is interesting, it ignores some big issues - for example the financial expenses.
American Baby covers information on all aspects of pregnancy and childcare from fertility/infertility, ovulation, conception, pregnancy, labor, childbirth and child rearing. There are lots of well baby articles, expert advice, personal stories and product information. The articles are geared to expectant and new parents and so are the ads.
Every issue has the Reader Letters department. The letters help new parents realize that they are not alone going through different crisis with their babies. Sometimes readers get angry with other parents over opinions expressed in their letters. Bottle-feeding vs. Breastfeeding seems to arouse a lot of controversy. The editor reminds readers that differences in opinions about childcare don't mean that one side is right and the other is wrong. A short piece this month informs readers about a great Website, About.com that is now part of American Baby. Get party ideas, information on playgroups and advice about how to entertain your baby.
Every issue also has a Dear Reader letter from the editor. Usually it centers on the cover stories. This month the editor, a mom of three, introduces the tough debate about having three children. She also introduces another cover story, "9.11.01" about being a parent in these uncertain times. This moving two-page story is well written, and thought provoking. It includes a cute photo of a baby sucking on a pacifier with an American flag on it. Unfortunately, 8 pages of ads interrupt the article.
Crib Notes has shorts on hot, new products/services/events for baby and parents. Cute colorful photos accompany the descriptions. This month the products are scented toys, warm, fashionable winter hats, videos and a safe walker for little munchkins. There is also a new book on child behavior for parents. The toys are inexpensive but the hats are mostly pricey.
The magazine mentions the opening of Times Square's new mega store Toys "R" Us. The chain store advertises in the magazine, by the way. I visited the new store during its opening. If you are visiting Manhattan, stop in for a visit. It is like no other Toys R Us store. There is a 60-foot high Ferris wheel, (which I rode) a life-size Barbie house and a 34-foot long animatronic dinosaur. Adopt a Cabbage Patch Kid in the store's adoption center. View a giant Candyland board game and a huge Lego sculpture.
I think that the informative alerts on baby product recalls are especially useful. January's issue mentions three products and gives 800 numbers and Websites for further information. The magazine describes the problem with each product.
The one-page Final Words department ends every issue. This month there is a touching and beautiful photograph of a young mother and her infant waking up from sleep. The sweet words say,
"Upsadaisy, little baby,
Draw the curtains wide.
Let the sun's fat smiley face
Come shining right inside."
The rest of American Baby is divided up into the sections, Health & Medical, How To, Fashion & Baby Gear, Development and Relationship. There are usually around five cover articles spread out among the sections. Adorable babies always appear on covers. The one page Table of Contents appears just inside the cover, right after the editor's letter. The magazine is neatly laid out and attractive. The illustrations are mostly of babies and baby products as are the ads. About half the magazine is ads but they are colorful. The slim magazine has around 70 pages.
The Health & Medical section gives readers the latest updates on medical information for moms and baby. It provides information on medications, vitamins, conception, pregnancy, nutrition and childhood illnesses and prevention. A physician answers common childcare questions. This month there is a question on bottle feeding concerns. Most of the articles are very short and informative. I found the two page article on "Stocking Baby's Medicine Cabinet" very helpful.
New mothers will find the How To section very useful. It gives sound basic information on various child care tasks such as skin care, holding/swaddling, feeding, bottle feeding, breastfeeding, massage and diapering techniques. This month there are step-by-step instructions on how to bathe baby. Lots of cute photos accompany the informative 3-page article. The magazine follows up with a page of 7 cute bath toy suggestions. Prices are reasonable and suggested age levels are listed. There are also 800 #s listed for each product and a brief description and photo. The section also includes an illustrated listing of 8 bath essentials. Even the ads tie in with the topic. There are several short pieces in Fitness News concerning exercising during pregnancy, healing heartburn, and working out with a stroller.
Fashion and Babygear section is devoted to fashionable baby products and clothes. This month there are nifty furniture and toy ideas for the nursery that will last through throughout the toddler years. The Website has other unique ideas. The section always has clear close up illustrations of the products, name of manufacturer, descriptions and cost. I like the ideas but realize it is mostly disguised advertising, really. But, parents can get good inexpensive ideas here on how to decorate for less. The 5-page article, "Rooms to Grow "is colorful illustrated as is usual in this section.
Development covers the specific physical, intellectual and social milestones in an infant's development. Topics include talking, solid feeding and motor development such as crawling, standing walking. Sometimes specific child development issues such as tantrums, bedwetting and nightmares are covered. Other times a specific age is covered. Novenber discusses two year olds. This month it is a two-page article on crying - a subject that confuses most new parents. Issues are usually introduced in a personal way by discussing a specific child by name. Articles explain what is normal and what is not and give good advice and information. This month the causes of colic are also examined and the article reassures parents of children who suffer from the problem. Consult your pediatrician if your child suffers from colic or has any developmental problems.
The rest of the magazine is all about family Relationships. This is a much larger section than Development. This month an expert author on childcare books answers several questions dealing with a sister's insensitive remarks, mom Vs grandma conflict, work related boss problem and playing favorites. The topics are all commonplace ones and competent advice is given in the 3-page column, "The Mother Load." The other articles are personal stories of using a doula (non-medical birth assistant,) the simple joys of child rearing and having a third child.
The publisher of American Baby is Primedia Magazines, Inc. The company publishes over 220 magazines. Primedia reaches 95% of young families through its magazines, American Baby and Healthy Kids TV shows, Website and events. A Full price subscription rate to American Baby cost $23.94: single copies cost $5.95. See Epinions.com for discount prices of $13.97 I don't think the magazine is worth $13.97. A complementary subscription is available on the Website. Visit the Website www.americanbaby.com for parenting advice from experts, including physicians and psychologists. Read features on finances, travel, health, beauty and relationship issues. Find recipes and nutrition information. Answer surveys, polls, shop, participate in chat rooms and message boards. Get free offers, win prizes and enter sweepstakes. The site is easy to navigate.
Don't expect this magazine to replace a good childcare book and a family medical guide. Articles are too short to give comprehensive information. The magazine's content doesn't offer specific medical advice. Visit you health care professional for specific health concerns, diagnosis and treatment. Readers will, however, get practical, basic information about pregnancy, common childhood ailments, development and well baby care. It a good source for reading about new baby products. The short updates on medicine and health are very informative and fun to read. Everyone will love the adorable baby photos. The advice is good but it won't answer all your parenting concerns. I think it's a good help to new parents who have lots of unanswered question about childcare. The magazine is entertaining to read. Since you can obtain it for free, I highly recommend it.
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