Q: We’re planning on having a kid but can’t afford to have one of us stay home. How do we determine whether we should go day care or nanny?

If you can’t afford to have one person stay home, you probably can’t afford a full-time nanny. You might want to have a nanny come in part-time, or “double up” with a friend to share the full-time cost. We have a part-time nanny for our two kids and we love it. We took the time to find an experienced, conscientious caregiver whom the kids sometimes like better than us. Plus, no drop-offs, no pickups—which is great because we are serious morning-time ass draggers. Day cares, on the other hand, offer kids strong socialization and an introduction to the classroom setting.

Q: My guy hasn’t shown much interest in my pregnancy. Will he be a distant dad?

Listen: Pregnancy and kids are totally different things. You can hear newborns gurgle, see them squirm and yawn, smell their farts...you get the picture. Pregnancy, to anyone other than the mother, is just a slowly expanding midsection. It’s like the hole in the ozone—we care, but we only have second-hand knowledge of it. So cut your dude some slack. He might prove to be a distant father yet, but I wouldn’t predict it based solely on his disinterest in your stretch marks and ever-worsening heartburn.

Q: We think we’re done having kids, so my husband is considering having a vasectomy. Good idea? Any risks?

“The risks are minimal,” says Halifax physician Dr. Glenn Andrea, who performs more than 200 vasectomies each year. While there is a one in 500 chance that the procedure will fail and won’t prevent pregnancy, vasectomies are the most effective form of birth control besides complete abstinence, and the procedure takes 10 minutes in a doctor’s office. Postvasectomy concerns include tenderness, swelling and possible infection. One thing, though: You think that’s it for kids? You better know. “You don’t get a vasectomy,” Andrea says, “until you’re 100 percent sure.”

Q: What’s the etiquette for breastfeeding in public?

Breastfeeding etiquette is to whip out your breast and feed your hungry child, ideally before they start howling like a banshee. Anything beyond that is personal preference. If you feel uncomfortable, you might place your child in a sling, drape a blanket over your shoulder or choose a quiet place (which is also distraction-free for the child and helps them concentrate). Breastfeeding isn’t a shameful act, and the more women do it in public, the less everyone will feel “weird.”