A family reading a book together at home.

National Parenting Foundation

For the questions that come with raising a child.

National Parenting Foundation is a U.S. nonprofit focused on parenting education from pregnancy through preschool. Find guidance on feeding, sleep, feelings and everyday care, with tools to use and share.

Find guidance for your family · Find family support

Start with what matters today

A new baby, a difficult goodbye or a change in child care can bring different questions. Choose the place that fits your situation.

For parents and caregivers

Understand the question in front of you, see examples and find a next step you can use. Browse by your child's age or by a topic such as sleep, feelings or choosing care.

Visit the family hub

For people who work with families

Use conversation guides, referral sheets and complete discussion materials when sharing information with parents and caregivers.

Find professional materials

For community organizations

Bring parenting resources to a library, early learning program or family gathering. Explore reading collections and the permissions for sharing them.

Choose a resource collection

Find your age and stage

Preparing for parenthood Prenatal questions, care arrangements and getting ready for the first days at home.
After a baby arrives Recovery, feeding help, emotions and sharing the work of care.
Babies Feeding, sleep, crying and noticing your baby's development.
Toddlers Big feelings, meals, toilet learning and everyday routines.
Preschoolers Friendship, play, school preparation and family media habits.

Tools you can put to use

Turn an offer of help into a person, a task and a time. Start with one need or use a weekly plan for shared responsibilities.

Use the Family Support Plan · Plan a week of care

Compare child care

Take specific questions to a visit and record the differences between providers, including hours, staff arrangements and total costs.

Use the child care comparison sheet

Talk, read and play

Try a shared book, a pretend game or a small everyday task. Activity cards include materials, steps and ways to adapt the invitation.

Choose a play activity · Find reading and conversation ideas

Parents with young children talking together.

Our work

Parenting education, close to everyday life

We publish guides and tools about caring for young children and supporting the adults who care for them. Our work brings explanations, examples and usable materials together, so a question can lead to a conversation, a choice or a change at home.

Explore our work

A family spending time together in a park.

Resources you can use

Know where the information comes from

Health, safety and development guidance links to its original sources. Our source pages explain which materials inform our guides, and our correction form gives readers a way to flag an error or unclear explanation.

See the sources behind our guides · Suggest a correction

Start with a question