BabyCenter Bulletin Boards

About BabyCenter

BabyCenter LLC is one of the most popular social networks for new parents, and encompasses everything in regards to conception, pregnancy, birth and infancy. Its companion site, ParentCenter LLC has the similar type of information available for parents of children older than two. Both websites are intertwined with one another, which makes searching for information simple. BabyCenter, which sees about 4 million unique visitors each month, came online in 1998 and is owned by Johnson & Johnson, the site's main sponsor. Over the years, it has received numerous awards and honors including a Webby Award for "Best Family and Parenting Site." Besides the United States, BabyCenter sites are also available in:

• United Kingdom
• Canada
• Sweden
• Australia
• Germany
• Austria
• Switzerland
• India
• China
• Latin America
• Spain

What BabyCenter Offers

While forums, or bulletin boards, are a large portion of BabyCenter, the website consists of other valuable information as well:

• Expertise on parenting: BabyCenter has experts from parenting professionals to everyday moms and dads. There is also a group of medical advisers available to ensure reliable medical information.
• Shopping: BabyCenter has its own store where parents can purchase everything needed for their pregnancies and new babies. You can shop for car seats, as well as diaper bags, baby clothing and maternity clothing, plus much more.
• E-mail newsletters: Once you register as a member, you will receive free e-mail newsletters geared specifically toward your child's age or your stage of pregnancy.
• Blogs: One of the site's newer features, these parenting blogs range in topics from first-time motherhood to celebrity babies.
• Chat rooms: Click on "chat" in the site's menu and you will be taken to a listing of chat rooms for each day of the week. Topics include baby's health, breastfeeding and adoption, among many others.

A Sampling of Babycenter's Bulletin Boards

There are more than 800 message boards within the BabyCenter community, a portion of which are dedicated to ParentCenter issues. Depending on which bulletin board you are researching, you will either be directed to BabyCenter or ParentCenter.

Birth Boards

One of the popular draws to BabyCenter are the specific birth boards available -- forums dedicated to the month and year your baby is due or was born. Topics, while not always relevant to pregnancy or parenting, on some of the birth boards include:

• Baby's naptime
• Birth announcements
• Toddler beds
• Breastfeeding vs. formula feeding
• Circumcision
• Weightloss (for moms)
• Staying at home vs. working out of the home
• First birthday parties
• Labor and delivery
• Postpartum depression
• Pregnancy tests
• Prenatal testing

Baby's Medical Conditions

While BabyCenter does not offer professional medical advice through its forums, there are many boards available where parents and caregivers can share stories, ideas and advice about their babies' specific medical conditions. Some of those dozens of boards include:

• Babies with skin conditions
• Food allergies
• Babies with reflux
• Failure to thrive
• Diabetes
• Vision problems
• Asthma
• Babies with birth defects
• Babies with cerebral palsy

Bargains and Budgets

One of the things that comes along with becoming a new parent is managing a budget and learning to save money on all of those extra items a baby needs. At BabyCenter, you will find many bulletin boards on just those topics:

• Bargain hunters
• Family finances
• Holiday gift buying
• Trading post
• Moms and money
• Products for baby

Geographic Regions

While BabyCenter has websites in various locations throughout the world, the U.S. site also has bulletin boards for those who live in specific geographic regions both in the United States and abroad:

• Africa
• Asia
• North and South America
• Middle East
• Central America
• Various areas of the United States including the Atlantic Seaboard, Midwest, West Coast and Northeast, etc.

Like a Growing Child

Just as a baby is nurtured and grows, so are parenting websites. BabyCenter has a new beta site in the works that incorporates many of the Web 2.0 tools and technologies with self-formed networks and forums, private profiles and the ability to upload and share photos with those in your group. What will that mean for the BabyCenter bulletin boards? Imagine having MySpace personalization mixed with Facebook privacy, and you will have it. As of Summer 2008, the new site is by invitation only from currently registered members.