Many families save, plan and try to do everything right, but when it comes time to send their children to college and to dig into their save-for-college fund, many families also quickly realize that they haven’t saved enough. In addition to setting aside money for your child’s college education, there are ways to stretch the college purse strings to make the most of every nickel and dime. Here are some:

Baby talk – the soft gurgles, squeals and sounds that babies make before they utter their first words – plays an important role in babies’ language development. Scientists say that parents can help their babies to develop language skills by talking to them.

In a recent study conducted at the University of Washington, scientists played a recorded series of syllables, similar to that of “baby talk” for babies between 7 and 11 months old, and found that the babies’ brain activity surged as a result.

Most moms with a newborn experience and are anxious to progress beyond the agony of sleep deprivation. Early on, often newborns eat frequently, sometimes as often as every two hours. Unless you have a helper who can handle several feedings in a row, you’re unlikely to come close to a “full night” of sleep until baby is closer to 2 to 3 months old.

In the meantime, here are some tips that may help you catch at least some of the elusive zzz’s you once knew so well:

A recent article in The New York Times caused a stir online and, possibly, in many households, too. The article, “The Trauma of Parenthood,” cited recent studies linking new parenthood to depression. Although this is commonly referred to as “postpartum depression,” The Times article said that the depression the studies identified were not hormonal in nature. Rather, the studies linked depression to the activity of parenting and noted that both men and women have similar experiences.

Parenting can be an all-consuming labor of love. With time, you can get back to feeling like “you” again.

Here are six tips to help ease the transition into new parenthood:

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If you’re among the people looking for an excuse not to work out, it won’t take very long to find one. Two of the favorites: “I don’t have time to work out” and “Gym memberships are so expensive.” The fact is that a good workout doesn’t have to be time consuming or costly. Just 30 minutes a day of physical activity can help to improve cardiovascular health as well as help to prevent heart disease and stroke, the No. 1 and No. 4 killers in the United States, according to the American Heart Association.

Should you or someone you know have a reason for not working out, it’s good to remember the one much greater reason to start exercising: the prospect of a longer, healthier life.

Here are 10 exercises to help you get moving, in addition to walking, walking, walking: