Here at Perfect Baby Handbook HQ, we have a short list of banned words. The first is “Danny.” The second is “Gokey.” Consequently, we’ve been forced to exult in the downfall of a certain “American Idol” contestant through the use of coded hand gestures. Our hands are aching…so much to discuss. After all, the key […]

» Continue reading "A stern warning for parents about a certain American Idol"

I read somewhere recently that over 18 million mommies blog, collectively contributing 97 million exclamation marks to the web each day. Daddy-blogs aren’t in short supply, either, but 1001 rules for my unborn son stands out. Whoever is amassing this agreeably terse checklist has a terrific knack for pairing words with pictures: Sometimes the words […]

» Continue reading "Superior dad-blog alert: “1001 rules for my unborn son”"

A perfect baby name predestines success without giving off the stench of banality. At least, that was my theory when I began researching The Perfect Baby Handbook. But I needed proof. Luckily, I stumbled upon “Baby Name Report Card: Beneficial and Harmful Baby Names,” a qualitative analysis based on large-scale surveys conducted over 10 years […]

» Continue reading "Which baby names ensure success? Ask Dr. Mehrabian!"

Even if her preschool peers are content to fool about with lower forms of comedy (knock-knock jokes, zombie impersonations), sooner or later, a perfect baby will want to master deadpan humor. “My First Dictionary,” a new website created by a “timid” British librarian named Ross Horsley, introduces a new word each day. Two inspiring examples: […]

» Continue reading "Today’s word is irreverence"

All over the planet today, offspring took the opportunity to spend a little extra quality time with their mothers, whether at the Olive Garden, a cafe in Marseilles, or a godforsaken desert. Let’s listen in on three of these emotional tete-a-tetes: 1. Mrs. Heather Camel and daughter Emma Augustine Camel Mrs. Camel: I think you’re […]

» Continue reading "A look at some very private Mother’s Day moments"