From pregnancy, teething, potty training, puberty to parenting a teenager, chances are there’s a parenting podcast that covers just about every parenting dilemma. Whether you are an iPod guru or a newbie, there are so many podcasts available that you might not know where to begin. Search “parenting” on iTunes, and you will find 270 choices. Here are my top-5 picks.

The Mighty Mommy’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Practical Parenting
This weekly podcast is a favorite because of its straightforward approach and variety of topics. Recent topics include taking small children to the movies, umbilical cord care, convincing your toddler to brush his teeth, and sibling rivalry. While I found some of the parenting advice to be common sense, such as not taking a grumpy/sleepy child to the movies, most of the podcasts are informative and helpful. Most podcasts are about five minutes. MightyMommy.QuickAndDirtyTips.com.

Manic Mommies
Hosted by moms Erin Kane and Kristin Brandt, this weekly podcast features practical parenting advice with a healthy dose of humor. The show is honest and includes candid conversations about motherhood, pop culture, and finding work-family balance. Regular features include questions from listeners and advice from parenting coach Kathy Surro, who has not only been a licensed family day-care provider for 18 years, but is also the mother of four. Questions are also answered by Dr. Robert Lindeman, who is board-certified in general pediatrics and pediatric pulmonary medicine.

I liked the witty dialogue between Erin and Kristin and often found myself giggling out loud, but I do wish the one-hour podcasts were shorter. ManicMommies.com.

MommyCast
Hosted by moms Gretchen Vogelzang and Paige Heninger, MommyCast is “for and by women immersed in the fullness of motherhood and life, holding the world together, one child at a time.” Recent topics include preventing premature births, birth control for students, parent-teacher conferences, adoption, tips for conceiving, potty training, and superwoman syndrome. Gretchen and Paige aren’t as lively as the Manic Mommies hosts, but the advice they give is just as informative. The weekly podcasts are usually 30 minutes to an hour. MommyCast.com.

PediaCast
Pedia Cast is hosted by Dr. Mike, a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He earned his medical degree at Ohio State University and has more than 10 years of parenting and clinical-practice experience. Dr. Mike answers questions from parents and shares medical news and tips. Podcast lengths range from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the topic (which vary widely—from pacifiers to MRSA), and several new podcasts are posted weekly. PediaScribe.com/Podcast.

PregTASTIC
As its name implies, this weekly podcast focuses on pregnancy. Guests include pregnancy experts—doctors, doulas, and authors—and hosts are pregnant women “with the same joys, concerns, and swollen feet as [its] listeners.” No pregnancy concern or topic is off-limits. Recent discussions have focused on VBAC (vaginal births after cesarean), inductions, breastfeeding, midwifery, helping siblings cope, folic acid, birth plans, and gestational diabetes. The information is extremely balanced, no matter your birth plan (home birth vs. hospital) or whether you choose to breastfeed or use formula. Podcasts are 45 minutes to an hour. PregTASTIC.com.

Myra Wright is a freelance writer and editor of Piedmont Parent in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is the mother of a 7-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter, and is expecting her third child in September.