Why don't people hold their babies? (Copy)

I have to be honest. I am absolutely, 100% in love with holding my little girl. I have been since the first time I held her in my arms. I love holding her, kissing the top of her head, gazing into her eyes. We communicate so much with our eyes. I love babywearing and my homemade moby wrap saved my back when baby was only a couple of months old and not only never wanted to be put down, but wanted to be held only while standing! I love going about my day, getting the cleaning and cooking done with my little girl along for the ride. I love how quickly she falls asleep in her carriers - it let's me know how safe and comfortable she is.

The benefits to babywearing are many! Check out some of them here.

Babies who are worn tend to:

• cry less
• learn more
• more organized
• "humanized" earlier
• smarter!

Ten Reasons to Wear Your Baby

Daddy wearing baby and doing dishes! BEST HUSBAND EVER!!!!

There are many different types of carriers. Our new favorite is a soft-structured carrier, the Patapum. This easily buckles on and baby can be worn on the front or on your back. It has padded straps and distributes the weight on the shoulders and hips. It's so comfortable and Amalie loves it! This was one of the most affordable SSC's I have found. I purchased ours new for around $60.

For a breakdown and information on all the different types of carriers check out this link.

PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE!!!! It talks about plagiocephaly, the development of a baby's spine, the benefits of babywearing and so much more. It mentions how forward facing your baby is not a good idea while babywearing, and how the Bjorn (and other "crotch danglers") can cause harm to the baby's hips and spine development (you never want a carrier that positions baby's knees below the butt).

The Bjorn (also the Snugli) is a popular carrier but besides being not great for baby, it also isn't great for the wearer. It puts all the weight on the shoulders and can only be comfortably used while baby is quite small (less than 15 lbs).

After the first few months of baby's life, I was a little worried that all the carrying would slow down her physical progress. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. She was rolling over by 3 months, crawling at 5 months, standing at 7 months and now at 9 months she is standing unassisted and climbing up AND down the stairs!

She is quite the independent little busy bee.

So leave the bucket (carseat) in the car (where it belongs), leave that bulky stroller in the trunk and enjoy the benefits of wearing your baby!

For more about babywearing and attachment parenting see this site.

Breastfeeding in Public (Copy)

This is a hot topic, isn't it?? Many of you may disagree with me on this, and that's ok. We are all entitled to our opinions. And here's mine...

Before I was a mom, I felt a little uncomfortable seeing a woman breastfeeding in public. I wasn't offended, I didn't think it was wrong. It just felt a little weird.

Now, I'm a mom breastfeeding in public. And while I choose to cover up sometimes while in public, I don't think any mom should be made to feel like they have to cover up, or "hide" while feeding their child. Honestly, the older my baby is getting, the more she is HATING to be covered up. She grabs and pulls the cover. It's actually way more of an ordeal trying to stay covered and we bring way more attention to ourselves.

There are laws protecting breastfeeding women, and no one can ask a mom to leave or cover up (lawfully anyway).

Some people actually have asked women to go to the bathroom to feed their children. EW! Would you eat in there??? Why would you want someone's baby to!

And my opinion as someone formerly made uncomfortable seeing a woman breastfeeding - Look away! You don't have to watch. Just look away and let her and her baby eat in peace.

Bottles and Breastfeeding (Copy)

I am beautiful as I am. I am the shape that was gifted. My breasts are no longer perky and upright like when I was a teenager. My hips are wider than that of a fashion model's. For this I am glad, for these are the signs of a life lived.

~Cindy Olsen, co-owner of The Body Objective

A newborn baby has only three demands. They are warmth in the arms of its mother, food from her breasts, and security in the knowledge of her presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three.

~Grantly Dick-Read

While breastfeeding may not seem the right choice for every parent, it is the best choice for every baby.

~Amy Spangler

No one could give her such soothing and sensible consolation as this little three-month-old creature when he lay at her breast and she felt the movement of his lips and the snuffling of his tiny nose.

~Leo Tolstoy

Breastfeeding is an unsentimental metaphor for how love works, in a way. You don't decide how much and how deeply to love - you respond to the beloved, and give with joy exactly as much as they want.

~Marni Jackson

"Human milk is the preferred feeding for all infants, including premature and sick newborns...It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least the first 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired"

- excerpt from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) breastfeeding guidelines

Before my baby girl was born I knew I wanted to breastfeed. There are so many benefits of breastfeeding (which I will list at the end). I knew I wanted to give my child the very best I could before she was ever conceived.

I feel really lucky because I had very few problems with breastfeeding. Baby girl was a natural and we settled into things very easily. I was extremely sore (to the point of tears and wanting to give up) the first two weeks. Knowing she was getting the very best I could give her gave me motivation to keep going.

I really wanted to be sure that we had nursing establised really well before we tried pumping and giving her a bottle. My biggest fear was that she would "forget" how to latch or that she would no longer want to nurse (which can be a problem, see article about "nipple confusion"). Nursing was just so important I didn't want to do anything to jeopardize that. So, we waited until I think 4 or 5 weeks to introduce her to a bottle. My supply was well established at that point and we were very comfortable with nursing.

Well, our little angel baby decided that the bottle was NOT for her. We tried every method, several bottles, pretty much anything we could short of starving her (which may have worked, but we were not willing to try, after all the bottle was for our convenience - not hers. I'm not going to starve my baby for my own convenience). We did get her to take about 1 ounce at a time, sometimes twice a day. Clearly not enough for a meal. (Edited to Add: Later we found out why she would not take a bottle. Google "excess lipase in breastmilk" and look for a future post on this subject).

I decided that it just wasn't that important for us to keep pushing the issue. Sure, it would be nice to delegate a feeding to dad at night. Or leave her with grandma and grandpa knowing that she would eat if she was hungry. But, I'm blessed in that I am able to stay home with her, so a bottle for daycare wasn't necessary. And I truly have grown to love our special quiet time at night, especially since I know it won't last forever (and it gives dad more sleep since he works so hard to let me stay home with her). She can also go longer between feedings now, so we are able to leave for a little while without worrying that she'll starve (I still don't have a great desire to be away from her for long yet..). And now I don't have to worry about weaning her from a bottle or a pacifier (she won't take one of those either!), and she'll have better teeth! (see link to benefits to adults below).

[Bottle feeding] also made a fetish out of cleanliness, and maybe all the washing and scrubbing has further reduced the pleasure we take in our body and in life.

~Author Unknown

Benefits of Breastfeeding For baby:
(I used mainly one resource as most of the information is not really under debate)

• Breastmilk provides antibodies which leads to healthier babies. Breastmilk also leads to healthier adults.
• Breastmilk has more nutrients that are more easily absorbed and easier to digest for baby than formula.
• Research has shown that breastfed babies have higher IQ's.
• Research has shown that breastfeeding may reduce the incidence of SID's.

For mom:

• Lower rate of certain cancers and osteoporosis.
• Promotes emotional health (ie less postpartum anxiety and depression)
• Promotes postpartum weight loss.
• Costs less to breastfeed.
• It's convenient - always clean, always ready to go. No bottles to make or clean.
• Stimulates "mothering hormones" - prolactin and oxytocin.

This is a quick, easy read that breaks down many more benefits for baby and mom.

Check out http://www.kellymom.com/ - great breastfeeding resource. This is where I go whenever I have had a problem or question.