Move over, baby books: These days, moms are recording their babies' special moments for friends and family in blog form. A contraction of the term web logs, blogs are online journals that you can share with others (by providing the URL) or keep private, and can illustrate with your own digital photos and artwork. For some parents, they're a way of keeping distant relatives apprised of the little nipper's every poop and angelic smile. But blogging can also be a true sanity-saver, allowing isolated and confused caregivers to let off steam, share their worries, and get a dose of solidarity and support -- all without changing out of their bathrobe or revealing their name. "Blogging can make us feel less lonely in what can be the very difficult details of raising kids day-to-day," says Heather Armstrong, creator of the blog Dooce.com.

Some moms observe that virtual friendships are actually less competitive and lower maintenance than local ones. "You can talk to online friends any time of day or night. And you don't have to find a place to meet or clean your house," explains Denise Koster, a mom of three in Hugo, Colorado. "My online friends are closer than those in my community because I don't have to watch what I say about my husband or our private life. My friends in Mississippi or Alberta or Ohio aren't going to blab to my neighbors." Even if you have a strong network of friends nearby, blogs are a wonderful way to learn tricks and tips from other parents with children the same age as yours.

If your online experience is limited to sending e-mail, don't be intimidated. We'll get you started by rounding up the savviest mom-focused blogs out there. And if you think you've got what it takes to host your own online journal, we'll show you how to create a basic blog in a snap.

Wise women of the web
The "blogosphere," as it's been dubbed, holds a great diversity of voices: At last count there were 17,000 English-language blogs devoted to parenting and children. So it's only logical that you're going to find a few nuts in the trail mix. Imagine a virtual version of that crazed parent from the grocery checkout line last week: obsessive, narcissistic, a bit scary. But there are also plenty of tremendously smart, witty mama-blogs that you'll connect with immediately.

Once you've found some sites you relate to, they'll point you toward other bloggers with the same concerns or sense of humor. Ultimately, you'll probably find yourself adopting one or two bloggers as your BFF and return to them as often as your demanding infant will allow. To start, check out some of these Babytalk favorites:

* daringyoungmom.blogspot.com * mothersontheverge.blogspot.com * thebigyellowhouse.blogspot.com * morphingintomama.typepad.com

After getting to know these moms, you may just feel inspired to start your own online diary. Here's how:

Meagan Francis is a mom of four. She blogs at www.momwithmore.blogspot.com.

Setting your sites

Before you can get your thoughts out there, you'll need a place to publish them. Several popular web log sites are free to use and include software and web hosting (furnishing a place on the Internet to store your site). Two sites you might try are LiveJournal

Next, you'll have to decide if you want to share a blog with, say, your husband or girlfriends, or stake your own claim in cyberspace. DotMoms

Whether your blog is yours alone or shared with friends, you'll have to log in with a username and password in order to post messages. But keep in mind that unless you take steps to make it secure, what you post is accessible to the public -- which means anybody can stumble across it and read your innermost thoughts, even if you don't advertise the site or link it to any directories. That spells serious trouble if, say, your cousin learns you took back that duckie-adorned diaper bag she carefully selected for you, or your mother-in-law discovers what you really think of the way she raised her kids. It's that kind of awkward stuff that motivated the brains behind LiveJournal to allow bloggers to determine whether to grant access to anyone, only other LiveJournal users, or a list of members that you name as "friends."

If your blog doesn't offer privacy features, you'll probably want to restrain your ranting, unless you set it up under a pseudonym and avoid referring to "real people" by name. Be sure also to keep security in mind when you post pictures of your kids -- many moms use first names only or nicknames when referring to their children, and are vague about their location. It goes without saying: Never post your home address!

Add a commenting feature and you'll become part of a blogging community, as visitors leave a friendly "hello" or weigh in on discussions. Both Blogger and LiveJournal have commenting features; you can also restrict commenting to other members or people on your friends list.

One more caveat: Check to see if your program offers any protection against unwanted messages (SPAM); otherwise, instead of helpful suggestions, you could wind up with 101 messages in your comment box trying to sell you bust-enhancing supplement!

Blogging in style

Most blog programs give you some design flexibility, beginning with a template that lets you specify color and theme. LiveJournal also allows users to express their emotions by selecting from a list of "mood icons" -- including everything from angry aliens to happy kittens.

To add photos to your blog, you can use a digital camera, or a scanner to create a digital image from a photograph (save as a .jpg or .jpeg image for best quality). Another option: Take photos to a copy shop, like Kinko's -- they'll scan them and put them on a disk. Check the FAQ (frequently asked questions) or Help menu of your blog program to find out how to post your pics, then prepare to be published!

CLOSE PRINT

Bloggin' Mamas By Meagan Francis, Babytalk Move over, baby books: These days, moms are recording their babies' special moments for friends and family in blog form. A contraction of the term web logs, blogs are online journals that you can share with others (by providing the URL) or keep private, and can illustrate with your own digital photos and artwork. For some parents, they're a way of keeping distant relatives apprised of the little nipper's every poop and angelic smile. But blogging can also be a true sanity-saver, allowing isolated and confused caregivers to let off steam, share their worries, and get a dose of solidarity and support -- all without changing out of their bathrobe or revealing their name. "Blogging can make us feel less lonely in what can be the very difficult details of raising kids day-to-day," says Heather Armstrong, creator of the blog Dooce.com. Some moms observe that virtual friendships are actually less competitive and lower maintenance than local ones. "You can talk to online friends any time of day or night. And you don't have to find a place to meet or clean your house," explains Denise Koster, a mom of three in Hugo, Colorado. "My online friends are closer than those in my community because I don't have to watch what I say about my husband or our private life. My friends in Mississippi or Alberta or Ohio aren't going to blab to my neighbors." Even if you have a strong network of friends nearby, blogs are a wonderful way to learn tricks and tips from other parents with children the same age as yours. If your online experience is limited to sending e-mail, don't be intimidated. We'll get you started by rounding up the savviest mom-focused blogs out there. And if you think you've got what it takes to host your own online journal, we'll show you how to create a basic blog in a snap. Wise women of the web The "blogosphere," as it's been dubbed, holds a great diversity of voices: At last count there were 17,000 English-language blogs devoted to parenting and children. So it's only logical that you're going to find a few nuts in the trail mix. Imagine a virtual version of that crazed parent from the grocery checkout line last week: obsessive, narcissistic, a bit scary. But there are also plenty of tremendously smart, witty mama-blogs that you'll connect with immediately. Once you've found some sites you relate to, they'll point you toward other bloggers with the same concerns or sense of humor. Ultimately, you'll probably find yourself adopting one or two bloggers as your BFF and return to them as often as your demanding infant will allow. To start, check out some of these Babytalk favorites: * daringyoungmom.blogspot.com * mothersontheverge.blogspot.com * thebigyellowhouse.blogspot.com * morphingintomama.typepad.com After getting to know these moms, you may just feel inspired to start your own online diary. Here's how: Meagan Francis is a mom of four. She blogs at www.momwithmore.blogspot.com. Setting your sites Before you can get your thoughts out there, you'll need a place to publish them. Several popular web log sites are free to use and include software and web hosting (furnishing a place on the Internet to store your site). Two sites you might try are LiveJournal Next, you'll have to decide if you want to share a blog with, say, your husband or girlfriends, or stake your own claim in cyberspace. DotMoms Whether your blog is yours alone or shared with friends, you'll have to log in with a username and password in order to post messages. But keep in mind that unless you take steps to make it secure, what you post is accessible to the public -- which means anybody can stumble across it and read your innermost thoughts, even if you don't advertise the site or link it to any directories. That spells serious trouble if, say, your cousin learns you took back that duckie-adorned diaper bag she carefully selected for you, or your mother-in-law discovers what you really think of the way she raised her kids. It's that kind of awkward stuff that motivated the brains behind LiveJournal to allow bloggers to determine whether to grant access to anyone, only other LiveJournal users, or a list of members that you name as "friends." If your blog doesn't offer privacy features, you'll probably want to restrain your ranting, unless you set it up under a pseudonym and avoid referring to "real people" by name. Be sure also to keep security in mind when you post pictures of your kids -- many moms use first names only or nicknames when referring to their children, and are vague about their location. It goes without saying: Never post your home address! Add a commenting feature and you'll become part of a blogging community, as visitors leave a friendly "hello" or weigh in on discussions. Both Blogger and LiveJournal have commenting features; you can also restrict commenting to other members or people on your friends list. One more caveat: Check to see if your program offers any protection against unwanted messages (SPAM); otherwise, instead of helpful suggestions, you could wind up with 101 messages in your comment box trying to sell you bust-enhancing supplement! Blogging in style Most blog programs give you some design flexibility, beginning with a template that lets you specify color and theme. LiveJournal also allows users to express their emotions by selecting from a list of "mood icons" -- including everything from angry aliens to happy kittens. To add photos to your blog, you can use a digital camera, or a scanner to create a digital image from a photograph (save as a .jpg or .jpeg image for best quality). Another option: Take photos to a copy shop, like Kinko's -- they'll scan them and put them on a disk. Check the FAQ (frequently asked questions) or Help menu of your blog program to find out how to post your pics, then prepare to be published!