Rare Bird, Inc. | Articles : BabyCenter

	Web Reviews From 1997 to the present, President/Creative Director, Jim Cota has been writing informative reviews of Web sites and other internet related issues for the Indianapolis Business Journal. If you've missed the articles in print you can catch up on past stories here. Articles are reprinted with permission of the Indianapolis Business Journal, copyright 1997 - 2005, IBJ Corp.

Egads: Four Kids Under Four...

Sometime in July, we'll be adding kids number three and four to our family. (When we had two, I had been looking forward to playing golf with my own foursome. Now that the kids will be able to make up they're own foursome, I'm worried my wife and I will be relegated to full-time caddies. Ah, well…) With twins on the way — and the inherent risks of a multiple pregnancy — I find myself focusing on pregnancy issues more than I had with the first two. In response, I've been re-acquainted with an old friend.

BabyCenter is the best place on the internet for information specifically related to pre- and post-natal care, covering topics including preconception, pregnancy, babies, toddlers, and kids up to eight years old.

The site design is easy-to-use and understand — a definite bonus when you're dealing this much information. You can have topics presented to you based on stage (pregnancy, 21 weeks; toddler, 24 months, etc.) or issues (preeclampsia, amniocentesis, etc.) Or you can use the powerful search to find information in articles, definitions, or the popular bulletin boards. In fact, the bulletin boards are very active, and I've noticed a strong sense of community and support among the members. (Please note: information posted on any internet bulletin board should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism, especially when dealing with medical issues.)

If you just want the facts — and nothing but the facts — you'll be happy to know there are complete sections devoted to getting the goods directly from experts, doctors, and specialists.

I have been a member of BabyCenter (which is free) since we became pregnant the first time. One of the coolest features is the weekly newsletter that provides information on your particular stage. These newsletters tell you about the types of things you can be expecting at this time, the approximate size of the baby, how little body parts are forming, and more. Once the baby is born, the newsletters switch to a monthly cycle and continue to provide helpful insights about living with your new family members.

That would probably be enough to be both useful and helpful, but the folks at BabyCenter have more: There is a Baby Namer, a Shower Planner, an online Birth Announcement builder, Healthcare and Childcare Finder, Surveys and Polls, Advice from experts, and my favorite: a special section just for Dads.

In addition, the site also boasts a wide selection of products for sale. The prices are competitive with others on the internet, and it's nice to have one-stop-shopping for both pregnancy information and stuff you're likely to need, whether it's furniture, car seats, clothing, or toys. They also supplement the store with a number of handy buyers guides that can help you make informed decisions. These are especially helpful for first-time parents — or parents having twins.