Cloth Diapers for Overnight

This is a link to a shop called Lollidoo which sells cloth diapers and other cloth products. They have a cloth diaper that claims to work overnight. I haven't personally tried it, but I've heard good things and I know a lot of people, whether they use cloth diapers or not, have a hard time with leaks at night. Might be worth a shot.

http://www.lolliplace.com/products/Overnight-eco%252dpocket-%C2%AE-Cloth-Diapers.html

Hope you have a nice dry night. :)

What's in it....?

Ever wondered what's in breastmilk? Or how it compares with formula?

Check this out: It will amaze you.

http://www.bcbabyfriendly.ca/whatsinbreastmilkposter.pdf

Best & Worst

This is a link to healthychild.org that has a break down of the best & worst carseats for children, based on chemical exposure. This does not rank the carseats based on crash safety testing - only chemical & toxin exposure. It might be helpful, when narrowing your choices based on crash safety, to then narrow even further by toxic/chemical safety. It helped me so I thought I'd just pass along the info.

http://www.healthystuff.org/pressimages/rawimages/Best-Worst-Car-seat-list.jpg

A Letter From Baby...

A friend of mine shared this with me and she said it made her cry. Well... it made me cry, too!

Its a short narrative from the perspective of a newborn baby, explaining how they cherish their mother and the gift of breastfeeding. I thought it was so beautiful and so sweet, I had to share.

A Letter From Baby

Book Review

The Baby Whisperer, by Tracy Hogg, is a book that claims to help parents who are unsure how to care for their babies and read their cues. I was reading the book, looking for insights on normal infant sleep patterns. What I found was information on how to get your baby to sleep, eat and play on an adult's schedule. I was kinda disappointed, because I thought this would be a book that was more geared towards Attachment Parenting and would explain the needs of infants... I guess I was mistaken. While she does offer advice on all imaginable topics, and claims her solutions will work for every baby (I'm not a huge fan of the "one-size-fits-all" method) I just didn't feel she was qualified to be so aggressive in her opinions.

For instance, she down plays the benefits of breastfeeding, while suggesting that breastfeeding on demand is not only unnecessary, but creates a demanding, fussy child. I have found the opposite to be true, but regardless, she isn't an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), so I'd question her knowledge and understanding of successful breastfeeding and wouldn't follow her advice. Her suggestions had breastfeeding failure, written all over them. She also thought it was a good idea to wean babies at around 8 months, which isn't supported by WHO or the AAP... just not good advice.

I also didn't like how she demonized co-sleeping and co-bedding. She blamed these for SIDS and said cribs are where babies should be. What bothers me about that statement is that babies have been in bed with their parents for centuries before this book was written. Even today, nearly all other cultures practice bed-sharing with babies and don't have SIDS rates as high as we do here in the "modern world", in some "less civilized" cultures that practice bed-sharing, SIDS is almost unheard of... And nevermind the fact that SIDS was only recently changed from "Crib Death"....

Another inconsistency was that she recommends parents follow the AAP on their recommendation for when to start solids (6 months) but suggests that "bigger babies" and babies that suffer from GERD should be introduced at 4 months. Again, she really has no authority to be giving such recommendations and this goes against the AAP and other research I have read, so it bothers me that she gives such erroneous advice so willy-nilly.

I try to find the "good" in each thing I read, because I believe one can usually glean something beneficial. Something that I did find that I could agree with her on was her philosophy of not using the Cry-It-Out method (CIO).

I thought she made some good points:

"I don't believe in allowing infants to cry alone, not even for five minutes. Your baby doesn't know where you have gone or why he's suddenly abandoned. To use another analogy, its' as if you have a boyfriend, you set a date, and he doesn't show up for two nights in a row. You wouldn't trust his word. trust is the foundation on which any relationship is built. My hair stands on end when parents tell me they've allowed a baby to cry for an hour, two hours. Some infants get so upset and cry long and hard enough that they vomit. Others simply expend energy, become even more overstimulated, and eventually get hungry as well, leaving both of you confused and exhausted. Many babies who've been left to cry it out become chronically bad sleepers from that point on, putting up a battle whenever it's time for sleep, even becoming fearful of their own beds."

We don't see eye-to-eye on how to teach your baby to go to sleep... She suggests that allowing your baby to co-bed with you will result in a needy, clingy child and I just don't agree. The research doesn't show this to be true, in fact, many studies show the opposite, so we just don't see eye-to-eye on that point.

Another criticism I have with this book is that the Author's tone of voice is very antagonistic and arrogant. She speaks as though she is the best and only expert on babies and it just rubs me the wrong way. My philosophy on the topic of "who knows best?" is that parents usually know best, when they are sincerely seeking to do the best thing for their child. When their heart is in the right place, and they acknowledge and follow their baby's cues, I think the parents are the "experts" for all intents and purposes. And I believe each baby is unique and will march to the beat of a different drum, so I find it silly to be so rigid as to think that each baby should conform to one pattern of behavior.... I think consistency is important but flexibility is, too. She says she believes that but, I'm not convinced.

Well, that's my 2 cents. Hope it helps.

Pumping Moms

For those of you who are pumping for your babies, I found a really informative video from the Stanford School of Medicine, that shows some pumping techniques that really help increase the amount of milk that is expressed.

http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html

I have used a combination of hand expression and pumping and I can attest that it definitely does make a significant difference. I was able to get another ounce or more, when I combined hand expression. I hope this is helpful for those of you that are pumping. I know pumping can be very frustrating and time consuming so every little thing that helps to make it more efficient really lightens the frustration.

Book Review

These are a few books that might be worth reading. They have been helpful to some, and they might be helpful for you. I'll be reading and reviewing some books from time to time, and I'll post what I think about them and a brief synopsis.

The 90 Minute Baby Sleep Program - NAPS:


-Basically, the entire idea is that babies are on a 90 minute awake cycle and then need to nap. If you follow this cycle, your baby should go down for naps easily. I can say that I read the book and I think the author might have some interesting points as far as sleep science. When she starts giving advice on breastfeeding and other parenting topics, I kinda lost interest because A) she isn't a certified lactation consultant, so she shouldn't be giving breastfeeding advice B) she states that co-sleeping (which I assume she is meaning c0-bedding) is unsafe without any authority or research to back that up and basically finger wags which I really don't appreciate coming from an ignorant point-of-view and C) she isn't a "parenting expert" so I think she should just stick to her main subject of expertise, which is sleep. I don't think I'd recommend this book to anyone. The synopsis is pretty much all you need. ;)

Here it is:
Baby's need sleep. They need to sleep often. They need help falling asleep. You can do things to help them go to sleep by creating a restful environment. Don't underestimate the benefits of a well-rested child. They are happier and learn better when rested. This makes Mommies happier, too. The end. If you want more factoids (and I am that kinda person, so I understand) then by all means, by the book. Just don't pay full price. It really is worth it to just get a used copy. Borders.com sells used copies, and you can also look at half price books, too.

The next books I plan on reading are: "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp and "The Baby Whisperer" by Tracy Hogg

Sleeping Through the Night....

Did you know that the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) defines "sleeping through the night" as a stretch of 5 hours? Not 10 to 12 hours, like some people suggest as "normal" and "expected" for babies. It is normal for babies to wake during the night.

Here is an informative article by an Anthropologist - Katherine Dettwyler Ph.D., who discusses the topic of infants and when they should sleep through the night. I thought it was interesting.

http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detsleepthrough.html

Excellent Blog on Healthy Sleep Solutions

I found this blog while searching for info on infant sleep and I am just so happy. This blog contains so much great information! I had to share... Enjoy. :)

http://www.drmomma.org/2009/12/sleep-training-review-of-research.html

"Crying-it-out does not lead to 'sleeping through the night' - it results in learned helplessness."

~ Danelle Frisbie

The Big Latch-On Experience

There was a pretty good turn-out. I'm guessing about 50 people came to support the Big Latch-On event in support of breastfeeding awareness. It was hosted by the North DFW Baby Wearers group, so there were lots of babies in carriers.



It was fun to get together and support something I feel so strongly about. Channel 5 news showed up ( a little late, but hey, at least they were reporting on the event!) and the mall "authorities" refused to let us organize in a public area, so the event was held downstairs in a sort of bunker-type room... Oh well. We tried, right? Maybe next time it'll actually take place in a public area to bring more awareness. :)

Jars for Homemade Baby Food

These were recommended to me by a Mom who makes her own baby food and I thought I'd share. There is a more "economical" version and a more "pricey" version.

If you click on the picture, it'll take you to Amazon where you can read more, see reviews and order (if you are so inclined ;) - enjoy!


Vital Baby Press'n'Pop, freezer pots: $5.94 for an 8 pack of 1 oz containers. They are BPA, Latex and PVC free.
Wean Green Glass Cubes Baby Food Containers: $24.50 for a 4 pack of 4 oz jars. These are also BPA, PVC, Phthalate, and Platicizer free. They are made from recyclable glass and have a silicone lid to seal food in & prevent spills.

The Big Pink Bus - Latch On America Event

Mark your calendars, to support breastfeeding awareness this month!

The Big Pink Bus - Latch On America Event will be visiting the THR Euless/Bedford area Hospital (Texas Health HEB) to recognize the work THR has done in supporting breastfeeding in the North Texas area. Come out and support breastfeeding with us!

It will be August 19th, 2011 at the above mentioned hospital. Go to Milkforthought.com for more info on the event. This link has the cities that will be on the tour - http://www.milkforthought.com/tour/cities

This is posted on the Milk For Thought website:

Uniting the breastfeeding community.

Connecting advocates, experts and parents. Providing the very best and most trustworthy breastfeeding information. Offering the support new moms need.

Milk for Thought is bringing together the energy from different parts of the breastfeeding community to share, support, educate and create. Whether you’re passionate, dedicated or simply curious about breastfeeding, you can join forces, find answers and meet likeminded people here at Milk for Thought.

I believe this is a GREAT cause and I am so excited to see people coming together to support eachother - so join with us, why don't you?! :)

Teething Product Review

Since Colin is in the midst of teething, I've tried quite a few teething toys to ease his pain. These are a few that I like, and a few that have been recommended to me.

Sassy Cuddle Dolls:
What we like about this toy:
- The hands are made from wood and are very smoothe & Colin enjoys chewing/sucking on them
- Colorful design keeps him interested
- Soft cuddly body is safe for when Colin starts shaking it around
- BPA, Phthalate & PVC free

Sassy Butterfly Teether:

Why we love this toy:
- Medium soft/hard plastic for teething
- Bumpy texture for interest
- Can be chilled for soothing sore gums
- Easy for babies 5 months+ to hold onto (slightly on the heavy side for its size)
- BPA, Phthalate & PVC free
- Pretty inexpensive: $4.99 on Amazon, Walmart also carries it

Infantino Ring-A-Links:
Why Colin likes these:
- Simple design, easy for little babies to hold
- Textured for interest
- Hard, but some have a soft rubbery texture, too
- Easy to take anywhere and attach to almost anything to keep them from falling on the ground
- BPA, Phthalate & PVC free
- Very cheap: $2.99-$3.99 at Target/Walmart/BRU/Etc.

Infantino Water-filled Teether:What I like about it:
- Simple and sometimes simple just works so well ;)
- You can put in the fridge to make it cold and its got a very slight texture
- Easy enough for little babies to handle it
- Colin uses this almost daily

Bright Starts Snuggle & Teethe:

Colin likes it sometimes...
- It is soft and makes a crinkle noise when touched
- The feet are a somewhat hard somewhat soft plastic, for teething (Colin doesn't really teethe on them... occasionally he will put them in his mouth but not all that often.)
- Walmart has them for $6 and I think Target is about the same price - maybe a little cheaper.

Fisher Price Monkey Teether:

This one just gets an "Eh..." from Colin:
- Its hard and there is nothing soft on it - not very hospitable for those sore gums
- More of a rattle toy, which he likes for a few seconds at a time
- To be honest, we hardle use it and I'm not even sure where it is at the moment....
- Cheap: $2.99 at Walmart
- BPA, Phthalate & PVC free

One of my absolute FAVORITES:

Nuby Soft Silicone Soother Stage OneAll I could find online was a lame picture of the case... HERE is a link to Walmart's site with a picture of the actual teething toy.

Why Colin (and I) love it:
- It 100% silicone so it is super soft and easy to clean
- It has little massaging nubs/teeth that Colin loves to chew on
- BPA, Phthalate & PVC free
- Comes with a handy plastic case to keep the teether clean while in your bag (since its made of silicone it is a magnet for lint/hair so I appreciate the "sanitary case", as they call it ;)
- Cheap! $3.99 at Walmart

FYI: This teether comes in stages. This one is the stage one, but there are two more stages for the progression of teething depending on which teeth are emerging. Very cool. I think we will eventually get the other two, as well.



Nuby Jiggle & Giggle Vibrating Teether:

Why I like it:
- easy for little hands to hold
- can be chilled in the fridge for comfort teething
- soft silicone side that vibrates when pressed
- very easy for little ones to figure out - within seconds of handing it to Colin, he figured out how to make it vibrate on his gums and held it there for a long time.
- replaceable batteries! It takes one AAA battery, and it includes a battery when you buy it so baby can use it immediately (which is what we needed that morning! lol)
- The product claims to decrease swelling and discomfort associate with teething and from the way Colin loves it & plays with it all the time, I'd have to agree. :)
- BPA, Phthalate & PVC free!

Where you can find it:
Walmart has it the cheapest that I have seen - online it advertises $6.88 but I think I paid $4.99.
Amazon offers it through Kohls but it's $10.

Similar products:
Walmart also sells a Nuby Alligator, Cow and Elephant in the same series with the butterfly. They are each a little different. The Alligator vibrates but doesn't have the cool gel (that I can see).


A friend of mine recommended this option & her baby loves it:

Infantino Vibrating Teether (Strawberry or Grapes)Why I like the Nuby brand a little more:
- Nuby is Cheaper. What can I say? This teether is not that much more, though. I think I've seen it as low as $7-8 at Walmart/Target. BRU & BuyBuy Baby also carry it. Amazon has it for *gulp* $14, but I'd look elsewhere. ;)
- Heavier than the Nuby vibrating teether.
- Can't replace the batteries so if your baby likes it enough to run the batteries out, you would have to buy a whole new one.

RazBaby Razberry Teether:
My friend recommended this one so I'm just going off what she told me:

- Made of 100% medical grade silicone, so its soft and you can put it in the fridge to make it cold
- Similar to a pacifier so its easy for young babies to use and figure out
- Interesting texture for baby to gum
- Walmart has a 2-pack for $6. Amazon sells the 2-pack for $8.80.
- BPA, Phthalate & PVC free!

Something to consider:
When I was reading reviews on Amazon, one caught my attention (you can read it HERE). A mom claimed that her 5.5 month old was able to get the Razberry teether in his mouth sideways and began choking. She claims this is because the teether is made of soft silicone and therefore pliable. I am not an alarmist, and my gut tells me she might be over reacting on the choking part, but I thought I should share just to be on the safe side. I think its always prudent to keep a close eye on little ones, no matter what they are playing with.

Another teething toy Colin really enjoys is the Nuby Bug-A-Loop:
Why I like it:

- Like nearly every product I've seen that Nuby makes, it is BPA, PVC and Phthalate free.
- Soft rubbery beads for soothing sore gums
- Easy for little babies (4-5 months) to hold and bring to their mouth
- Relatively inexpensive: $6.42 on Amazon

Another recommendation from a friend - Sassy Beginning Bites Teether:


What she likes about them:

- Easy for little ones to hold and play with
- Soft rubbery toy to chew
- Can be placed in the fridge for a cool teething soother
- Pretty inexpensive: Walmart sells it in a 4-pack with some other rattle toys for $14.98. BRU has the 2-pack for $4.99.

Something to consider:

- Sassy infant toys are all BPA free and Phthalate free if made after 2008.