Mother and Baby

Baby Formula Breast milk straight from the source is the preferred form of nourishment for babies, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Among other benefits, a mother's milk contains immune-building antibodies that help infants ward off illness. But breastfeeding isn't always an option for new moms. In such cases, baby formula is an appropriate alternative.

Baby Wipes Wipes are sold in a variety of different sizes and containers, so you can have them on hand in almost any situation. To save money, consider a one-time purchase of wipes in a plastic tub; when it's empty, restock the tub with wipe refills.

Birth Control Pills The birth control pill, the little white tablet that helped spawn the sexual revolution of the 1960s, is nearly 40 years old. And it's looking better than ever. In years past, women had many concerns about potential side effects of "the pill," but today, new formulations as well as long-term health studies have put most of those fears to rest. This is not your mother's birth control pill.

Condoms are vitally important for protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). According to public health experts, condoms, when used correctly, are almost 100 percent effective in preventing the transmission of STDs. If you're trying to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, condoms are about 88 percent effective. And when condoms do fail, it's usually because of improper use, rather than breakage.

Diaper Rash The most common cause of diaper rash is a wet, dirty diaper. Bacteria in urine and feces interact with one another and irritate a baby's delicate skin. The longer your baby remains in a soiled diaper, the more irritated his skin becomes. The best remedy is to keep your baby's bottom dry. Over-the-counter diaper rash treatments do just that by placing a protective barrier between your baby's skin and the moisture that can cause irritation.

Diapers When you were in diapers, your parents may have used the cotton variety, which required safety pins and lots of washing. But today, 95 percent of parents opt for disposables—primarily because they're easy to use.

Feminine Deodorants There are several types of feminine deodorants and perineal washes, with brands including Bidette, FDS, Massengill, and Summer's Eve. They range from wipes and washes, to suppositories and sprays. In choosing a product, consider convenience and how long you'd like the product to be effective.

Hair removal products fall into two basic categories: depilatories and epilatories. Depilatories remove hair at the skin's surface, while epilatories are waxes that pluck hair from below the skin line. To hide hair instead of removing it, bleaching is a popular option.

Pregnancy Tests All the test kits sold for home use are designed to detect small amounts of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)—a hormone produced by a fertilized egg within one to two weeks after conception. Home tests use specially treated strips that react to the presence of HCG in female urine.

Tampons In one form or another, tampons have been around for thousands of years. It wasn't until the 1920s and 1930s that the first commercial brands appeared with names like Fibs, Fax, and Holly-Pax. Today, the tampon has replaced bulky sanitary napkins as the standard for monthly feminine protection.

Yeast Treatments The source of the problem—fungal yeast cells called Candida or Monilia—are found naturally in the delicate ecosystem of the vagina. But hormonal changes, antibiotic use, illness, or other factors occasionally upset that ecosystem, causing yeast cells to grow more rapidly than normal. The result is a yeast infection, also called candidiasis or moniliasis.