Taking your tots to the local swimming hole may not be as exciting as the one that set the seen for the love affair between Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson in Little Children, but afternoons of Marco Polo and creative diving board tricks will keep you interested. Though lifeguards and management companies are responsible for public pools’ cleanliness and safety, there are several precautions families should take to ensure a great experience.

Before entering a public pool, parents should:

• Look to see that the pool water is clean and clear. If you can’t see the bottom drain, the pool is not clean enough to enter.
• Make sure the drain covers comply to the new VGB Act. The new covers should have either a domed shape or large grates to prevent swimmers from being entrapped under water.
• Ensure that the pool staff have updated certifications in CPR and First Aid.
• Keep sick children out of the pool. Even with a swim diaper, tykes with diarrhea can spread waterborne, disease- causing germs such as Cryptosporidium (Crypto).

For tips once your tot has entered the pool, read more

Some moms recognize Ben Stiller's voice in an instant as their children are fans of the Madagascar series and have the DVDs playing in constant rotation. The actor's more grown-up flicks tend to air after the youngsters have been tucked into bed so their parents can enjoy some comic relief.

The Hollywood funny man has spent most of his life entertaining audiences. His first television appearance was with his famous parents – comedic legends Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara – at the age of six. After several years on stage and then behind the camera – he directed and had roles in Reality Bites and The Cable Guy – Stiller became a box office star with There's Something About Mary and Meet the Parents. He now spends most of his time starring in feature films and cartoons like Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian, which opens this weekend.

Stiller, and his wife of nine years, actress Christine Taylor, have two children — Ella, 7, and Quinlin, 3, — and are big supporters of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation. Even in life's most serious situations, this sugardaddy keeps people laughing.

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Strap some wheels on your offspring and let them roll wild! In-line skating, skateboarding and the like will encourage kids to get more physical activity while building muscle and coordination skills. While wheeled sports can provide hours of fun, when not done cautiously, they can easily lead to injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that each year 100,000 consumers receive hospital treatment due to injuries related to in-line skates. They offer the following tips for safe skating:

• Wear a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, wrist guards and gloves.
• Learn to stop safely.
• Skate on smooth, paved surfaces without any traffic. Avoid skating on streets, driveways, or surfaces with water, sand, gravel, or dirt.
• Do not skate at night -- others can’t see you and you can’t see obstacles or other skaters.
• Get instruction. Learn to stop safely by using the brake pads at the heel of most in-line skates. With one foot somewhat in front of the other, raise the toes of the front foot and push down on the heel brake.

Get some hot gear and get wheeling!

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The image of a father standing behind his child and teaching him to cast a line is as iconic as a Norman Rockwell painting. But any parent that has tried to introduce their kiddo to the sport of fishing knows reality isn't as picturesque. From hooks caught on clothing to tangled lines, it's all worth the memories so get out there and catch dinner with your darlings! Here are some tips:

• Length of trip: The length and location of the fishing trip should be determined by the age of the participants. Wee ones aren't likely to last more than an hour, but engaged kindergartners may sit for quite a while. Local creeks, docks and lakes may be a better fit for these age groups than an afternoon boat trip.
• Choice of rod: When selecting a fishing rod, consider the actual goal of the outing. While there are many fun, character-enhanced rods, a good, ultra-light rod and reel will actually allow kids to bring in a fish, rather than breaking.
• Bait: If worms and squid make your small fry squeamish, consider using cut-up hot dogs, chunks of cheese, dough or cooked corn kernels.
• Casting the line: Position yourselves far away from other anglers, as youngsters tend to be a bit wild when casting their lines. Don't worry if the line doesn't go far, the kids will be just as excited.
• Reel it in: Allow tots to attempt to reel in the fish themselves. It's all about the action, not the result.
• Catch and release: Practice catch and release techniques with your kiddo unless you plan to eat the finned creature. To make the catch more exciting, consider holding the fish in a spacious bucket or container filled with water where children can watch it swim. Then, set it free.

To see more fishing tips, including several safety ones, read more

When Joaquin Phoenix became an unintentional astronaut in Space Camp what child didn't pack their bags and ask their parents to sign them up? For nature lovers there are log cabin camps with mess halls and communal showers. For the youngster destined to take the stage as a triple threat there are getaways that offer vocal, dance and acting lessons. Talk to your child about what type of overnight camp best fits their interest and then get planning. We've rounded up a couple of fun options to get the conversation going.

• Space Camp: Every child of the '80s watched Space Camp and dreamed of hopping aboard the next space shuttle. The real Space Camp isn't quite as adventuresome, but does offer future astronauts the opportunity to try out a simulator and see what life is like on the International Space Station. The weeklong camp also allows kids to pick a specialty area and build their own robots or learn to fly an F-15 fighter jet.
• Equestrian Camp: There are a number of horseback riding camps that teach everything from basic horsemanship to specialty riding classes. Many are set up like dude ranches with a western feel about them, while others are more general camps – offering arts and crafts, swimming and athletics – in addition to their focus on horses.
• Sailing Camp: Sailing camps tend to include a number of water sports like water skiing, canoeing and tubing in addition to the boating experience. Though the focus of these camps is on the sailing experience – from basic seamanship to manning a one-person boat – they usually include a variety of outdoor activities to round out the experience.
• Computer Camp: All those hours your youngster spends in front of the computer may actually prepare them for a future career. Computer camps put that interest to work and develop life-long skills as programming, languages and applications, as well as video games and web page design.
• Dance Camp: Tots that like to tap their toes can choose from ballroom to tap, and ballet to hip hop camps that focus on technique, self-confidence and promotion.

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Memorial Day weekend signals the beginning of Summer — a season filled with pool parties, beach outings and lakeside barbecues. For expectant mamas, it also means shopping for a bathing suit that will take them through the warm months as their tummies expand. Tankini style suits flatter almost every body shape and provide pregnant women with the added benefit of being able to easily use the restroom without completely undressing.

Simple: The hardware-detailed Motherhood tankini is sold as two separate pieces ($37 total), allowing mamas to select the perfect top and bottom for their body. It also gives you the option to purchase additional tops that match the bottoms to create more options at a fraction of the price of entire new ensembles.

Swank: The Prego Black Ring-Kini ($70) has a supportive cross-over style bra top and also includes decorative hardware on its straps.

Which do you prefer?

Any woman who has gone to the store in search of a home pregnancy test — even if it came from the dollar store — has encountered an aisle filled with different brands claiming to provide the earliest, most accurate results. If you've ever wondered which tests truly were the most sensitive and how the sticks differ, be sure to check out Pee on a Stick, a comprehensive look at the sensitivity and accuracy of virtually every home pregnancy test on the market.

Using anecdotal evidence from women around the world, the site offers advice on everything from when to take each test to what odd looking results could actually mean. While the site is in no way an alternative to a doctor-ordered blood test, it may help potential mamas-to-be understand why the plus or minus sign doesn't look like it does on the package.

The days of passing around a box of cigars in the waiting room may be long gone (due to bans and cancer risks), but that doesn't mean there's no room for celebration when babe makes his debut! Fathers, grandparents, and friends who have gathered to wait on the big news — not to mention the doctors, midwives, and nurses who helped the laboring mama along the way — will enjoy a trinket to signify the momentous occasion. From golf tees and bracelets to little bags of candy and lollipops, take a look at some of our modern-day cigar alternatives to tuck in your hospital bag!

Babe arrives with a whole new set of lingo. At a couple's shower I attended recently, a few men in the room laughed and pondered the difference between terms like layette, onesie, and sleeper. In case you, too, are curious or confused, we've taken the time to define the infant basics.

• Layette: A layette is simply a newborn’s first collection of clothing. While many stores will tell you how many layette items you need, the quantity should be determined by the frequency with which you will do the laundry.
• Bunting: A bunting is a one-piece snowsuit for infants designed to keep them warm throughout the Winter months. Buntings usually have a hood and hand and foot covers to ensure that the baby is bundled up tight.
• Burp Cloths: Usually placed over the shoulder or the thigh, burp cloths are used to protect an adult’s clothing from the spit-up that can accompany a postfeeding burp. Many people use traditional cloth diapers as burp cloths due to their highly absorbent nature.
• Footies: Also known as stretchies, footies are extended onesies with distinct places for the feet. Footies tend to have snaps all the way up one of the legs in order to facilitate diaper changes.
• Onesie: A onesie is a short-sleeved t-shirt that attaches at the crotch with either snaps or Velcro. The closure provides easy access for diaper changes.
• Receiving Blankets: Sometimes called a swaddling blanket, receiving blankets are the thin cotton blankets babies are wrapped in to help them sleep.
• Side-snap tees: Also known as kimono tops, these shirts are typically worn during a newborn’s first two weeks in order to prevent friction between the shirt and the umbilical cord. Once the umbilical cord falls off, most parents switch to onesies.
• Sleepers: Sleepers are often apron-like garments made from blanket or fleece material that are used to keep babies warm at night. Given that blankets are not supposed to be placed in cribs, sleepers ensure that a baby is warm enough.

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One grandmother I know got right to the point saying she loved her grandson more than her son and daughter . . . combined!

Many new mamas have that irreplaceable natural bond with their own mom, making the maternal grandma the go-to for advice and assistance. A recent article by author Barbara Graham questioned whether paternal grandparents play second fiddle to maternal ones. Mothers and fathers have no issue calling their daughters to ask about their grandbabies, but paternal grandparents have to go through their sons or daughters-in-law for information.

Do you find this to be true?

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Eric Bana has been on most mama's radars since they saw him in Black Hawk Down. But, many did a double as the actor strutted around ancient Greece in Troy. Any daddy that can steal a scene from a shirtless Brad Pitt makes a definite impression.

A man of a thousand accents – he's done American, Israeli, and German to name a few – Bana is set to be a fixture on the silver screen this Summer, having hit box office gold as Nero in Star Trek last weekend and costarring with Rachel McAdams in The Time Traveler's Wife in a few months. The Aussie actor and comedian also recently finished filming Judd Apatow's latest comedy, Funny People with Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen.

Married to his wife of 12 years Rebecca Gleeson, Bana has limited his Hollywood film work in order to spend time at home in Australia with his children – Klaus, 10, and Sophia, 8. While in the land down under, the father of two has been an outspoken advocate for several children's charities including the Australian Childhood Foundation and the Motorcycle Riders Association Toy Run. A devoted fan of football and motor racing, Bana enjoys living life to its fullest, which led his Munich director Steven Speilberg to call him "a very gentle soul with a tremendous sense of humor. He's a gentle giant."

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Fresh air, green leaves and singing birds can put anyone in the mood for a good hike. In addition to the aerobic exercise hiking provides, it's a great way to spend some quality time with family and friends. Given a tot's natural curiosity about their surroundings, kids make excellent hiking partners, if parents go into the activity realizing that they might not reach their end point, mileage or exercise goals during the outing.

Hiking with children involves frequent stops, sedate trails and some extra gear. Youngsters normally focus on the excitement of a new experience rather than the destination so finding a local trail or creek to walk along will suffice.

To capture their curiosity, be sure to bring along "tools" that will help your lil one gain the most from the experience. Butterfly nets, assorted plastic containers for storing pebbles and leaves, a canteen and a magnifying glass will add intrigue to the excursion. The outing should also provide many opportunities for capturing memories – either through the eye of a camera or a notebook where kids sketch their surroundings.

For more information on what parents should pack when hiking with their offspring, read more

When a friend's son came home from preschool enthusiastically telling her about the sunflower seeds he had planted and watered in a little plastic cup, I was inspired to teach my tots about the benefits of gardening. My lil ones know a thing or two about the fruits and vegetables we eat from our frequent trips to the farmers market, but I wasn't sure they knew what was involved in making the food grow. By allowing them to plant and care for the seeds themselves, I thought they would gain a greater appreciation for what ends up on our plates.

Given our limited space and overgrown backyard, I started out with a classic egg carton herb garden. Egg carton gardens require little dirt, no weeding and can fit right on your windowsill for easy watering access. After showing my kids pictures of the full-grown herbs, I allowed them to pick three herbs a piece to plant and nourish in our new garden.

To read how we created the garden, read more

Fireside marshmallow roasts, color war competitions and late night shaving cream fights — it's no wonder that a whopping 75 percent of lilsugar readers told us that they would send their lil ones to sleep away camp. Being away from home, whether it is for one or a number of weeks helps tots build self-esteem, learn social, artistic, and athletic skills and establish their independence. While some friends started going away to camp at the ripe old age of five and continued going until they graduated to counselor status, I know a couple that met at camp when they were 10 and married a dozen years later.

What do you think is the appropriate age to begin overnight camp?

Photo courtesy of Camp Saginaw

Baby might be in the tub, but inevitably mama gets wet! Bath time with a splish splashing tot can turn the bathroom into a site for full blown waterworks.

The Coocoose apron towel ($60) soaks up some of the wetness as it is worn as an apron by the bath-giver during tub time and then serves as a warm wrap once the child gets out of the tub. Made from 100 percent turkish cotton, the super-soft towel features a hood on one corner to ensure that the wet one is covered head-to-toe en route to his changing table.

Known for her spunky attitude as both Tracy Turnblad in the original Hairspray and her 11-year stint as a daytime talk show host, Ricki Lake has reinvented herself as a women's birthing advocate. Following the release of her documentary about the shifting of the American mindset from home and drug-free deliveries to medicated hospitalized births where Lake chronicled her own son's home birth, she and director, Abby Epstein, penned Your Best Birth ($18). The text is a guide to natural delivery and birthing options.

We had the opportunity to chat with Lake, mama of two — Milo, 12, and Owen, 7 — about labor and delivery, c-sections and motherhood.

lilsugar: Is it hard for women to convince their families that a natural birth, or midwife, is the way to go?
Ricki Lake: I think it is really hard. There's still the stigma attached and very much less than one percent of people have home births. It's not something that’s talked about. If you go to the Netherlands, this is the norm. I think in Holland 30 percent of births are planned home births and they have a better infant mortality rate and maternal death rate. Midwives handle most of the births. So it's just not in our culture to really be open to it. I’m not on a mission to get everybody to deliver at home. I’m on a mission to talk about informed choice in this area.

lilsugar: Did you believe this would be your calling?
Ricki Lake: No! I was looking for something to speak on and be passionate about and this is the natural fit because of my experiences and because there was a lack of a voice. I thought — this is where I can serve, I can do something that I feel is positive. I’m not telling women what to do, I’m just trying to educate them and understand that having the ideal be a birth where you’re an active participant, whatever that is – if it's “don’t take my baby away from me,” or “don’t give me that epidural yet,” or “give me that epidural now.” I mean whatever it is, to not be a number in this conveyor belt.

To read what Ricki had to say about VBACs and mothering her sons, read more

Oscar winner, fashion muse, hunger advocate and mother, Rachel Weisz, juggles quite a few roles in addition to those that land her on the big screen. The British-born actress is about to embark on a whirlwind media blitz to promote her three new films this Summer, including The Brothers Bloom, which opens this week, and The Lovely Bones. While the tour of television studios will give us a better opportunity to see the beauty on our small screens, it doesn't mean the actress will be converting to the Hollywood lifestyle.

Known for intensely keeping her family-life private, Weisz and her fiancé Darren Aronofsky, director of the Oscar-winning film The Wrestler, welcomed son Henry Chance almost three years ago and quietly live in Manhattan's East Village, far from the glitz and glamour of other Tinseltown stars. Following the filming of her Academy Award-winning role as murdered Kenyan aid worker Tessa Quayle in The Constant Gardener, Weisz joined the UN's World Food Programme to bring global awareness to the hunger and poverty issues facing children around the world, saying:

"Every new mother wonders what will I pass on. Hunger is one inheritance no mother wants to give her child, yet millions of poor mothers have for generations. Help WFP break this cycle. No child inherit hunger."

Weisz recently signed on to play a similarly gritty role in The Whistleblower, the true story of post-war Bosnian peacekeeper who exposes a United Nations cover-up of a sex-trafficking scandal. We look forward to seeing the passion she brings to that project as well.

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