Expert: Penny Warner, child development expert and author of Parent's and Kid's Complete Guide to Summer Camp Fun: Everything You Need to Prepare for an Incredible Camp Adventure!

1. Overlooking Separation Anxiety

"We may underestimate, or we may not even express, our fears that our child will have some separation anxiety and homesickness. I don't want to think about my child being scared or unhappy, so I am going to focus on the good stuff, the fun. But, I think we just need to admit that there is this fear and deal with it ahead of time. You don't want to talk the child into it — you don't want to say 'you're probably going to be homesick.' You want to open up the opportunity to chat about it: 'you know I'll be gone for the day, you'll be having so much fun at the camp, but I'm going to come back and get you at 4:00 and then we'll go have pizza.' Minimize that fear that you're never coming back. You might send along something from home to make that connection to home. For example, a picture of the family that you can tuck into a pocket or you can put one of his smaller toys in a pocket so that 'whenever you think of mommy, just think about this little thing in your pocket.'"

2. Making Your Kid Stick It Out

"I think you need to know whether your child is ready for this. Even if you want to send your child to camp, he or she may not be emotionally ready or socially ready, so really try to evaluate that first. Has she spent the night away at a friend's house or Grandma's house? And how did that go? And then when it comes to that point where she comes home at the end of the camp day and is crying or she says 'I don't want to come back,'  chat about it first. Then, call the camp and find out if something went wrong or if there's a reason why — maybe she's just shy, hasn't met a friend yet, maybe she didn't do well at her swimming activity or whatever it might be — talk that up a little bit. Just make a promise to your child, 'Let's give it one more shot, and if you really don't like it, I'm not going to force you to go.' If your child is miserable, it is time to stop and try again next year. Your children will know that you respect them, because you're willing to listen to them and do understand them."

3. Treating Camp Counselors Like Teachers

"Recalibrate your expectations with the understanding that counselors are there to help your child have a fun and rewarding experience. Teachers have to get certain information across, but at camp, the children are there to be kids — to play pretty much all day. Camp counselors have more of a sense of humor, they're more kid-like, and I think that makes them more approachable for children. So the difference between camp counselors and preschool or elementary school teachers provides a benefit, but you do have to talk to the kids about that. At the same time, don't forget to help facilitate the experience by letting the counselors know if your child has any special needs, such as dealing with separation anxiety or occasional potty 'accidents.' Of course, if there's something serious the counselors need to know, such as a peanut butter allergy or other medical condition, be sure to share this information, as you would with anyone who will come in contact with your child."

As told to Emily Frost.

Expert: Stacey Bradford, former editor at smartmoney.com and author of The Wall Street Journal Financial Guidebook for New Parents

1. Putting off writing a will

"Many parents think planning their will and estate is something they do in their sixties. It simply doesn't occur to them that they could pass away at such a young age. However, choosing a guardian for your child is the first thing new parents should do. Keep in mind: It doesn't count if you've mentioned to your sister that you'd like her to watch over your daughter should something happen to you or your spouse. Unless it's in writing, it won't hold up in court. In other words, if you don't have a will, the court decides who gets your child — and that may not be the person you had in mind. New parents should also stipulate where their money should go. Too often, parents assume that their savings would automatically go to their spouse if something happened, but that's not the case. Half the money would automatically be put into a trust for your child. In order to retrieve the money, you'd have to petition the court, which is a complicated process. But if you have a will, you'll easily avoid this mess. It's a financial must-do that holds up in any economy."

2. Carrying too much debt

"Too many young parents aren't budgeting properly. With the overwhelming extra expenses a new child brings, it's way too easy to pull out the credit card. New parents find it especially difficult to say no to purchases they see as benefiting their child, like swimming lessons or furniture for a new nursery. You must set a budget and actually live by it. And part of that budget should include actively paying off credit card debt and trying not to incur more. Pinching pennies is crucial in this recession; you may find yourself thrown into a financial situation you weren't planning (layoffs, fewer hours, not receiving bonuses you were expecting). New moms, especially, are finding the flexible hours they were once afforded are no longer an option. Should you approach one of these financial roadblocks, living within your means affords you some flexibility."

3. Forgetting to save for retirement

"So often young parents are so overwhelmed by their day-to-day expenses they forget to save for retirement. They're just trying to get through the next day, the next week, the next month. But it's super important to think long-term, especially when you have young children. These are your earning years! Once your kids are in high school, you'll be so focused on how to pay for college, it'll be difficult to stay financially disciplined. But now's a perfect time to save money. A general rule of thumb: 10 to 15 percent of your income should go into your 401K. And only after you've set aside that money should you even begin to save for college. If you're a stay-at-home mom, you can often qualify for a spousal IRA to save the money you'd be making if you were working."

As told to Andrea Zimmerman.

Expert: Jennifer Andrew, Humane Educator at the Best Friends Society, mother of one, and proud pet-owner of a dog and a cat.

1. ?Getting a Puppy - Or a Little Dog

"I recommend getting an older dog who has been around people and has a good history with kids. If you adopt at a shelter, they'll know if a dog has already lived with kids. Puppies are great, if you have a lot of time to devote to training a dog. You have to be honest with yourself and ask, 'Am I really going to have the time to devote to training this dog?' If the answer is no, it may be better to get an older dog who is already trained and who loves kids. Also: some people will want a little dog, like a Jack Russell or a Dodson, because they have small kids. That worries me, because small dog breeds tend to be more nervous in general and will often be more unpredictable around toddlers and young children. Whereas, if you have a black lab and the child grabs at it, he won't be as frightened as a little tiny dog would be."

2. Letting Kids Be Grabby

"When you're teaching young children to interact with their pet, you have to be really consistent. Whenever the cat or dog is around, show your child the right way to pet the animal. We teach the pre-schoolers we work with to use two fingers to pet an animal. This lessens the chance of them grabbing the fur and pulling or irritating the animal. My daughter is eleven-and-a-half months now and she's learning to pet the kitty-cat, so we'll sit with the cat and take her hand and say, "Gentle." Occasionally she grabs the cat's fur and we say, "No, gentle," but we're right there the whole time. That's important too. When you're getting a child and a pet used to each other, you should be in the room with them. It's also important, especially when you have toddlers and they're moving all over, to have a place where your pets can go that the kids can't get to, because an animal can get stressed out and be more likely to react to the child negatively when it can't escape unwanted attention."

3. Skipping Vet Visits

"I also recommend that you make sure your pet has regular vet check-ups, even when there is no medical emergency or need for a shot. I say this because if a dog has an earache, for example, and a little kid grabs its ear, the dog could be nippy even if normally it wouldn't be. Get your pet checked regularly to make sure they don't have any injuries or infections that would cause the animal to act differently, and keep a close eye out for any signs of illness or any behavioral changes in your pet."

As told to Lindsay Armstrong.