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Giving birth is only the beginning of the journey. From bathing to feeding it is important for parents to be prepared when bringing a newborn home from the hospital. As part of the MommyCast series “My Baby Me and My World,” sponsored by Pampers, Paige and Gretchen invited Dr. Laura Jana on to the show to discuss the different health and safety issues parents of newborns should be aware of.

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An important part of “being there for your new family” is planning for your children’s college education. So as part of our New Beginnings series, sponsored by State Farm, Gretchen and Paige checked in with State Farm Agent Felicia Everett for advice on how parents can get started saving for that big step out of the nest! Felicia talks about several different plans parents should consider, and emphasizes that most families will use a combination of savings, scholarships, and loans. Take a deep breath and click here and here for more information about planning for college.

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Gretchen and Paige talk with State Farm agent Eric Hamilton about how parents can protect their families by planning for the future. Eric recommends a multi step plan that includes flexible, liquid savings and insurance to protect that savings. Watch the show to learn more about how smart moms manage their money in these tough economic times.

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September is National Life Insurance month and as part of our State Farm sponsored series, New Beginnings: Being There for Your New Family, the Mommies spoke with State Farm agent, Eric Hamilton about making plans to protect our families, in case the worst happens.

Paige and Gretchen both have friends who have died young and unexpectedly, and they wanted to learn what steps parents can and should take to “plan for the worst.” Follow along as Eric walks them through the first steps to setting up a will and a trust, and explains the two types of life insurance and the benefits of each. No one likes to think about dying, but making plans for our children now is the right thing to do and brings a lot of peace of mind.

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In our busy society we often feel like we need to "push through" when we're sick. That’s not the case when you're dealing with H1N1, commonly known as Swine Flu. Gretchen and Paige spoke with Nicole Lurie, MD and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services to get the facts about H1N1 symptoms, treatment, and vaccinations. They learned that one of the most important things we can do to stop the spread of Swine Flu is to keep our children at home until they are fever free for 24 hours. That can mean at least 5 to 7 days at home before your child can return to school. Talk about stir crazy! For more information, visit www.flu.gov.

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Do you remember learning how to drive? Are you ready for your kids to start? Gretchen and Paige both have teenage sons who are taking the wheel and they are two nervous ladies. In this show they're commiserating over the gray hair they've been gifted by their sweet sons and sharing some of the laughs they've had too. If you’re ready to share your driving with a teenager stories we'd love to read them in the comment section at www.mommycast.com.

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Paige and Gretchen speak with State Farm Agent, Felicia Everett, about the importance of taking inventory of your family’s possessions in case of a house fire or other unfortunate event.

Check out StateFarm.com for more useful tips and tool for protecting your family possessions.

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Gina Lincicum is the creator of the website MoneywiseMoms.com and she is one saving savvy lady! As part of our series “New Beginnings: Being there for your new family,” sponsored by State Farm, she gave Paige and Gretchen some helpful tips and insights into how moms can manage their money better and end up saving money. And who doesn’t want to do that? Gina talks about where to shop and what to look for if you’re buying second hand, she also recommends several great websites to visit for deals on all your baby needs. Be sure to stop by her website for even more great ideas at www.moneywisemoms.com.

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There's a lot that goes into keeping your home safe for your family, some of it is obvious, but some of it... not so much. To help new families keep on top of everything, State Farm is sponsoring the series, "New Beginnings; Being There for Your New Family." Watch as Gretchen bravely opens her home for an evaluation by Rebecca Morley, the Executive Director of The National Center for Healthy Housing. Rebecca checks for the main elements of a healthy home: dry, clean, pest free, ventilated, contaminate free, and maintained and shares where to check for potential problems. For even more information, visit the NCHH healthy home checklist by clicking here.

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As part of our New Beginnings Series, sponsored by State Farm, Paige and Gretchen continue their tour of a baby safe home with Michele Spahr, President of Safe Start Baby. Michele focuses on the nursery and points out what parents can do to ensure that their baby not only has sweet dreams, but a safe place to sleep too! Check out Michele’s blog here.