Here's my collection of online resources for expecting parents. Each link opens into a new browser window.
So - let's get straight into things by checking out...
Online baby name resources
Social Security Administration
All the stats for the United States are here. You can check the top 1000 popular baby names since 1880, and check name trends over the years. They also gather state-by-state information, and provide a list of popular twins' names. A fantastic searchable database.
Behind the Name
Browse and search for thousands of names. This site is all about "the etymology and history of first names" - providing you with the origins, pronunciation, gender and background of names from all over the world. An excellent quick search resource if you have a specific query, or a great place to look for related names, if you are not quite sure of your current choice.
The Baby Name Wizard Blog
Laura Wattenberg's Baby Name Wizard is practically legendary, and I like to keep up to date with her take on the state of the nation in the world of baby names, How she manages to keep up with every single name out there is a mystery to me! You'll love her Name Voyager, too, one of the most interesting baby name online resources out there - give it time to load, it's worth the wait.
What's on My Baby Names Bookshelf?
Find out about my current collection of baby names books - and what I think about each one - on Amazon dot com's Listmania.
Baby and Beyond
There are a ton of pregnancy and parenting sites out there - but you knew that, didn't you? Here's a selection of my favorites.
Dr Spock
Good old Dr Spock! Some great articles on this site, covering pregnancy, newborns to school-agers, and that all important health and medical info. Well written, packed with info.
Visembryo
The Visible Embryo is a fascinating visual site charting the progress of your baby bean's growth through the 40 weeks of pregnancy.
Mothers over 40
This is a UK site, but here you can read experiences of moms from the US, too. This stuff is written by a real person, and Jan's personality shines through every page. Celebrity older mums, fertility info and more - it's a great read.
Kids' Fun and Games
This site, written by Australian mum Nicole, features fun stuff for kids from 0 to 8! She includes educational baby and toddler games, party games, crafts, indoor and outdoor games, festivals and an informative buyers guide for child toys and
equipment. Check out the baby signing section, too.
