Conference moira::parenting_v3

    American Baby - keyword here is "baby", and I'm not even including
                    toddlerhood.  Good within its limited age range (to 12
                    months, IMO).  See if they're still giving free 6-month
                    subscriptions; pedi waiting rooms, specialty baby
   		    stores always had 6-month coupons (back in '85).
    
    Parents - my choice; though I've let mine lapse, I'll buy the odd issue
                    off the rack for stuff like Halloween party ideas. 
                    Practical advice and ideas; a column for each age range 
                    in each issue.
    
    Parenting - IMO, a yuppified* "Parents"
    
    Child - Yuppissimo*
    
    
    * Their articles can be interesting, well-researched, etc.  But it
      depresses hell out of me to see a fashion layout where *one* outfit
      for a small child would cost $250 or so.... 

    Please also see:
    
      1013   AIMHI::MAZIALNIK     2-JUL-1991     6  Parents Magazine
      1166  USAT02::HERNDONK      9-OCT-1991    12  AMERICAN BABY MAGAZINE
    
    Laura
    co-mod

    For the most part, I agree with .1
    
    	'American Baby' was nice, especially since it was free. We wound
    	up receiving it free for 12+ months, as opposed to the 6 months as
    	offered.
    
    	'Child' was yuppee to the max. Too many ads for kids 'fashions' (as
    	opposed to kids clothes...there *is* a difference, at least in my
    	mind.) We let the subscription lapse.
    
    	'Parents' was OK, except I got very annoyed at having to remove 6
    	or more of those little 3x5 ad inserts that try to sell me 'Parents'
    	latest book or toy offer. I let my subscription lapse, in favor of...
    
    	'Parenting'. we received one of those free magazine offers, and we
    	likes the issue we received, so we signed on for a year. I didn't 
    	feel the magazine was as devoted to fashion and other yuppee ads as
    	was 'Child', and I found their articles to be more succinct and of
    	greater interest than 'Parents'. But then again, this observation
    	was based on the one issue we've received to date. I'll pass along
    	my thoughts after a couple of more issues.
    
    	Now the trick is finding the time to read the magazines in the
    	first place...:^)
    
    	Hope this helps.
    
    	Freddie

I vote for PARENTS, too ... Started the subscription when Juli was born and
have found it very informational and useful to date (Juli's now 2-1/2).

I recycle magazines here at work and pretty much agree with .1's analysis
of American Child and Parenting.  I think PARENTS is keyed for children
from birth to 6-7 yrs. of age (although some articles address 10 year olds)
and they seem to offer more variety and more articles than the other
magazines.

PARENTS seems to address "current, hot" topics (behavior, sleep(lessness),
development, letters, stories, LOTS of advertisements!) ... and is quite
enjoyable.  No matter how many times I pick up PARENTS, I always find
"something" interesting (that I missed the many times I picked it up before
now!).

Yes, hands down, I vote for PARENTS.

Dottie

PS:  You might want to check out the mag's in your town/city library.  Check
     out the contents page and see if the articles appeal to you.

PSS: Your library is also a wonderful resource for getting lots of neat
     kids music (cassettes and CD's).  (And I'm sure you guys DON'T dup
     this stuff!)

Shellie just found a new one, called "Mothering".  She picked it up at
a health food store, and now we are going to subscribe.  The articles in
this one were about SIDS, Infants in Japan ("A Better Start?"), and 
Gay Children.  I don't remember the titles exactly and only read two of the
articles so far, but I liked it a lot. 

       Carol

    I also get Working Mother, which I find very informative.  My husband
    even like to read it, as opposed to "Parents", which he maintains
    should change their name to "Mothers" :-)

    There is also a Christian Parenting magazine.  I'd be happy to post the
    information if anyone is interested.
    
    -sandy
    

    I love my PARENTS and WORKING MOTHER, and have to agree on Parenting
    and Child (too yuppie).  But my absolute favorite is "Growing Child." 
    It is a publication that comes each month, specifically for the age (in
    months) of your child, already punched to be put into a binder.  It
    concentrates only on the age you are concerned about.  It also comes
    with "Growing Parent" which has useful articles about parenting and
    relationships.
    
    Kristen

    
    In England we have a monthly called Practical Parenting (not sure if
    you can get it in the US).  Each month it covers a pregnancy topic, a
    childbirth topic, a newborn baby topic, a toddler topic, as well as a
    medical section, a readers write in section, an idea for games or
    parties section, a food section (recepie ideas) as well as your normal
    adverts which includes free samples of nappies and baby food.  Also
    there is a special offer page, where you just send your name and
    address off to the relevant company and the first 250 people get free
    gifts.  They normally have things like first aid boxes, toys, feeding
    sets, books etc.  Oh and each month they review the safety of certain
    items, eg. car seats, high chairs etc.
    
    Excellent magainze - cost 1.40
    
    

    Kristen-
    
    Can you please post some info about "Growing Child" and "Growing
    Parent"?  These sound like the type of magazine I could use!
    
    Thanks,
    Jennifer

    
    I second Growing Child.  Definitely the first one I read each month and
    since it is only 6 pages or so long, you can get through it in one
    sitting, even with a toddler!
    
    I also enjoy Working Mother - that is my second choice.  Third is
    Parents.
    
    I'll see if I can dig up info on how to get Growing Child.
    
    Sue

    Growing Child's phone number is 800-388-2624. 
    
    I think it's a quality subscription.  It's more like a newsletter than
    a magazine.  No advertising!
    
    I am currently getting Child and I'm not happy with it at all.  Near
    articles about a fever there are a zillion ads for fever-reducers. 
    Near the article on developmental toys there are a zillion toy ads. 
    There is little of substance, and a lot of fluff.
    
    However, my daughter likes the ads and the magazine because she can see
    all the babies.  It isn't worth the subscription price, though.
    
    judy

    My vote is for American Baby magazine.... I have had a subscription 
    since 1988. 
    
    I also enjoy Parents Magazine over Parenting Magazine.
    
    Lynne 

   RE: .0 - Maybe your best bet would be to actually buy one of each
   and see which ones you like.  You could probably narrow down the
   initial cut based on recommendations here, but perhaps a first hand
   review would be the best way to see which one _you_ really want.
   
   - Tom
   

    Well, I think Parenting has the best writers!
    
    -Tracy (who had an article in the September issue of Parenting)
    

    I vote for Parents.  I have subscribed to this magazine since my first
    daughter was born (She's 4). I've kept all my back issues and found them 
    very helpful during my second pregnancy and birth.
    
    Angie
         

    
    I received a call last night from "Child" magazine. They wanted to
    inform me that my subscription would be running out soon.  They
    also wanted to tell me that they now had a new editor who demanded
    less advertising and more articles by pediatricians and the like.
    I told the gal that I hardly had time for the three articles that
    Child *did* feature and the fact that they are adding additional 
    articles was not a selling point for me. :^)
    
    Jodi-
    

We've been subscribing to _Mothering_ for many years, and I can speak
highly of it.  It is aimed at the entire spectrum, from pre-natal through
teens.  I would say that the orientation is more on "philosophy" of child-
raising and family dynamics than on "mechanics".  There is wide range of
views presented, including a generous portion of what you might regard
as "new age" or "alternative" views.

Some articles have made me livid, but the overall mixture is excellent.

	-Neil

Another for consideration would be "Working Mother" - I've been getting it for 
quite a while now and, when I have the time to read it, really enjoy some if 
not all of it.  What I especially like is that it's geared toward those 
"standard" problems that working moms/dads/parents have - how to get things
done in the morning, childcare, food that's easy/quick/packable, etc..  It
also covers a pretty wide age-range.

Debbi J

    re: .19
    
    Is "Working Mother" actually geared towards mothers, or can a working
    father find it of interest? 
    
    Just curious...I'm not trying to start trouble ;^)
    
    Freddie
    
    

    Well, my husband likes to read it.  (As I said earlier, by contrast, he
    finds Parents _very_ much geared toward women only).  

    Yes, wouldn't it be refreshing to see a parenting magazine that really
    is a _parenting_ (not women's) magazine?  Between the make-up ads, the 
    women and baby pictures, and the articles about "how to get dad to help
    out," no wonder fathers get discouraged!
    
    -Tracy
     

    
    Amen.
    
    CdH
    

    
    RE: "Working Mothers", sounds redundant !

    re: .20
    
>>    Is "Working Mother" actually geared towards mothers, or can a working
>>    father find it of interest? 
    
>>    Just curious...I'm not trying to start trouble ;^)
    
>>    Freddie
    
	I'd say any father actively involved in raising his child(ren)
	can find it of interest.   It's actually geared more toward
	KIDS of working moms/dads that towards moms themselves.  Has
	some really handy ideas for single-parents as well !    

    I've been subscribing to Parenting for about 8 years now.  Recently
    though there hasn't been enough spare time to actually sit and read.  I
    do scan the table of contents each month and see if I can pick out two
    that really peak my interest, and make it a point to find the time to
    read those.
    
    Recently I "inherited" a copy of working mother, and found it very well
    written, and geard towards BOTH moms and dads.  Although a little
    "yuppie" in many places (buy 6 pieces in two or three different colors,
    total price is $250-300. and have a wardrobe for your first week back
    after having the baby.) I found many extremely family oriented
    articles, and would buy the book again.
    
    Another easily available magazine I've read for years with many
    excellent family articles is Woman's Day.  Great recipies too!
    
    Lyn