Anne G

What strollers fit behind the third row of the Mazda 5? This is a "microvan" - the width is about 8" and the whole space is the size of 2 grocery bags. The stroller needs to recline (for my 5 month old).

We are buying a Mazda 5, but don't have it yet (it's a "microvan" with no trunk and just a little room behind the third row). I need a new stroller before I get the car so I can't take the car to the stroller store to test the fit. We will use the car with all 3 rows up, meaning there is only 8 inches of depth and 32 inches of width for the stroller - height is not a problem, so it can go in diagonally. My daughter is 5 months but 97th percentile, so my ideal would be a stroller that can be used with an infant car seat. I don't care that much about the brand of the car seat because she is going to outgrow her Graco Snugride, which only goes to 22 pounds, 29 inches, soon. Any suggestions for a good stroller that will fit into such a narrow space, preferably that also takes a car seat?

The sound is fine if a DVD or video is playing, but not with regular cable TV (extremely loud static). Do we need a new cable box (Radio Shack's suggestion) or is there something else to try?

My husband wants to keep his Chicago area code because he uses his cell for his Chicago-based job, but we live in San Diego so I'd like to keep my San Diego area code. AT&T can't do a family plan with two different area codes. Anyone know of a carrier that will do it?

We have 5 days, 3 kids (2.5, 3.5 and 5). We're already planning to go to Kohl's. We will likely venture S. to the Shedd and maybe the zoo and the Botanical Gardens near Glenview. Navy Pier is too expensive.

How old was your child before he/she could tell you the names and sounds of the letters and the names of the numbers?

Could he/she say the alphabet and count before recognizing the characters, or did recognizing the characters come first?

How old was your child before he/she could tell you the names and sounds of the letters and the names of the numbers?

Could he/she say the alphabet and count before recognizing the characters, or did recognizing the characters come first?

What form do I use to report the money paid to a small home-based daycare in order to get the childcare tax credit? I see it's not a 1099-MISC, because it's paid personally rather than through a business.

I had thought that once my son started talking it would keep progressing, but it seems like he can't say some words that he used to. For example, my son was saying "hello" at 11.5 months, but he's never said it again, and he's 15 months. There are a few other words like that, where he said them well for awhile, and then never again. At one point he was saying "tuck" for "truck," and now he's back to saying "ck" for truck. That said, about 10 of his words have stuck. He has been using his first real word, which was "all done" (at 11 months) ever since. A related question: he has put 3 and 4 words together multiple times, starting at 12 months. "I don't like that." "No I don't." "All done with that." "cookie all done." "I don't want to." But I have only heard him say most of those phrases once (one twice). I know 12 or even 15 months is very early to say a 3 or 4 word sentence, but how weird is it to hear it once, and then not again for weeks or months?

Back about 6 months ago I saw a newspaper article about a scientific study. It was something to the effect that people used to believe that babies should stop using bottles and pacifiers at age one, but that a brand new study found there was a biological need to suck that lasted longer. Back then, my baby was so young I didn't think to keep it. Now I want to know what it says, but I can't find it online doing the logical searches (non-nutritive sucking, biological need suck, age nurse). Did anyone save it / know where it was published?

I want to get total blackout curtains for my infant son's room. The inside dimensions of the window are 45.5" (L) x 59" (W). Would I get the appropriate amount of coverage if I order two premade curtains measuring 50" (L) x63 (W)? Should I be looking for more length or less width? Or do I need to order something custom?

A trickle of water shows up on the floor under my dryer when I run a load--why? I just had the vent cleaned six months ago, and always clean the filter. The loads after which I have seen the water were not very big. It is definitely coming from the bottom of the dryer and not the washer.

My baby likes the original Baby Bel cheese (the one packaged in red wax). But it's awfully expensive--about $10/pound. Does anyone have suggestions for a similar cheese we could buy by the pound and cut up? I've tried Havarti and Jack, and he's o.k. with them but doesn't like them as much. Fresh mozzarella did not pass the taste test. I want something with whole milk at his age.

I just read in a parent magazine that a one-year old should be able to stack one to four blocks. I don't think mine is even close to having that level of coordination. Can yours?

My ten month old seems to react fearfully when we go to playgroup with 4-5 other babies his age and classes with 9-10 other babies, even when he is well-rested and well-fed. Is this an early sign of shyness, or will he outgrow it? My husband says he was shy as a child, and I have heard there is a genetic component.