Every good grandparent loves to spoil their children.  All too often I find myself reminding my own mother that Tessa has enough toys, or even that she already has a similar toy to that one she is insisting on buying her.  I understand her desire.  Everyone wants their children and grandchildren to be happy and healthy and have everything their heart could desire.  But what if their heart does not desire SO. MANY. TOYS?

If we take a look at the “typical American” family home, we usually will find a space or even a specific room cluttered (despite Mom’s best efforts) with toys and stuffed animals.

How much of the toy craze in children is brought on by their own family?  This was a question I asked myself after discovering minimalism and Montessori. The definition according to google for Montessori is “a system of education for young children that seeks to develop natural interests and activities rather than use formal teaching methods.” This means following the child’s interests, their true interests.

How often do you find a baby playing with a set of keys, a silicone spoon, or even a wrapper?

Often after my mom spends decent money on fancy toys, she is displeased with Tessa choosing something as simple as the buckle on my backpack to play with over her cool new battery-operated toy (which, might I add, I don’t permit anymore).  If you watch children’s interests, their natural interests, you will find that it’s the simple and often open-ended toys, objects, and as Maria Montessori calls it “work” to play with.  This is not only true for babies and toddlers, but older children too!  Adults have had years on the earth to figure out what things are and how to manipulate them.  Children tend to gravitate towards the most basic things because they have an innate desire to learn how they work.

Here are my top 5 benefits to limiting toys:

• Creativity and Resourcefulness

Limiting toys can help a child build their sense of creativity and teach children to become resourceful!  It helps them learn how to breakthrough “boredom” and create their own fun.   Having a limited number of toys from the beginning of life (or even now! It is never too late to minimize.) teaches that child how be resourceful and to find different ways to use, apply, and play with minimal toys.  This leads to my next point.

• Better Focus

How often do you find a child who appears to have PLENTY of toys to play with say they are bored?  It is the same concept as adults who have an entire closet of clothes and yet they “can’t find anything to wear”. When provided with too many options, children tend to lose interest in a toy faster and overlook all the potential options they truly have.  However, from personal experience, children who are provided with less toys play for longer periods of time and have a variety of different ways of playing with those sets of toys and activities.  This is where their creativity, as mentioned above, meets their natural need to focus and master certain skills and tasks.

• Cleanliness

Everyone loves a clean house, especially parents!  Although I encourage allowing “creative messes”, overall, providing your child with minimal toys keeps things more manageable! With less toys, children (and parents!) feel less overwhelmed and can better keep things tidy.  I encourage having shelves specifically for work/toys rather than toy boxes or baskets.  This means each toy/work has its own spot and children, even at a very young age, can be shown and taught how and where to put things away.  With the child being less likely to lose interest in their toys quickly, they can play with purpose and decide when to move on. With a parent or guardians guidance, they can also learn how to place items they are done with away on their shelf.

TIP: Take a photo of the work/toy/activity, laminate it, then tape it to the corresponding spot on the shelf you would like the child to return the work to.

• Not having to buy new toys all the time

By providing a limited number of toys to your child at a time, you can keep additional activities and toys stored away and rotate what is available to your kids.  This is an awesome trick for when kids do struggle with staying entertained with the same small number of toys.  Keep the ones that the child maintains interest in available, put away the ones that they have lost interest in, and add ones that have been stored away for a “new” activity.  The awesome side of this is you can keep the activity that the child has grown bored with stored for several weeks or months and then add it back to the shelves. All the sudden its brand new to the kids and you’ll be amazed at how interested they are in it again and often even find new ways to play with the same exact toy/work.

• Appreciation

I think a huge part of why I love having minimal toys for my own daughter is the ability to teach her that it is okay and normal to desire new things. How often do you as an adult pass a store and desire something new (aka any time I walk into Target)?  For me, it happens almost every time I’m in public. I see cars I would love to have, animals I would love to own, and shoes I would love to wear.  The same is for children!  When they go past new toys, naturally they will desire some of those toys!  You know you are not depriving your child of things to play with by not buying them a new toy every week just as you are not depriving yourself for not buying a new pair of shoes every week.  However, when you do get your child a new toy, they often will love and appreciate that toy way more than they would if it were an often occurrence just as you would likely adore a pair of shoes you bought after wanting them for weeks and possibly saving up to buy them.

Quick Tips

• By buying less toys, you can focus your budget on quality toys and especially ones that are open ended and can last over different developmental stages and ages.
• Focus on your child’s interests! Find what they are into at the moment or stage in their life and focus on providing them work allowing them to explore that interest. (example: Tessa at 17 months and was obsessed with buckles and lids so I made sure to provide her a variety of lids and “open/close” work to play with.  I usually give her 1 or 2 at a time to allow her to focus on mastering that specific one before I switch it out with a new one.  You would be amazed how long she sat there and did the same thing repetitively, but that is EXACTLY what she needed in that stage.)
• Don’t limit your own creativity! Just because you may have a decent budget for toys now doesn’t mean you must spend a ton! I often find the best toys for Tessa in the kitchen aisle at the store or even ones we already have. (example: her favorite right now is an empty tomato juice bottle with large round cap that was easy for her to master twisting on and off).

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts and be up to date with the progress of our project!

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Lauren P Lewis

Lauren P Lewis is a passionate, young, single, college mom. Having her daughter at the age of 19, she quickly fell in love with researching the topics of child development, breastfeeding, natural birth, baby wearing, cloth diapering, and gentle parenting styles to become the best mom she could be. She is currently in college studying Child Development. She hopes to combine her passion for growing sustainable food, raising farm animals, and in general being outdoors with her passion for children.

The post Toys: How Many is too Many? appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Let me tell you something about babies these days. They always want their mothers. It’s unheard of and unnecessary. Now, if you want to keep any bit of your sanity, make self soothing a priority. Get that baby used to a stroller, teach him to sleep in his own bed, and show him that he can play alone.

A baby who cannot be alone is a baby who will suck the life right out of you.

Sincerely,

Your well-meaning friend/mother-in-law/stranger you meet on the street while wearing your baby

I should really have made her walk or sit in a stroller. (eye roll)

Most new mothers have heard this schpeel. Independence is the golden standard. Independence will save you. And it’s very important that your baby learn it. Now. It’s now or never, people. And it’s all on YOU!

Geez, no pressure, right?

But can I please just illustrate the obsurdity of “teaching” self soothing, which is essentially just letting your child figure things out on his own without any sort of preparation or tools in his toolbelt.

Let’s imagine..

Imagine that your partner comes home from work upset. His colleagues completely misinterpreted a proposal that he spent hours working on. They laughed at him and made light of his work. He feels misunderstood, angry, sad, and confused.

So you say, “I hear you. I will stay close by. But you really need to sit with this and figure out your feelings on your own. I’m not going to hug or coddle you because you are completely capable calming down without me. I am doing this for your own good. You need to realize that this stuff happens to millions of people all over the world every day. There will be lots of times that people don’t understand you. More than you can count. You need to get used to it. Actually, maybe we shouldn’t sleep in the same bed tonight either. That will really teach you. Don’t be upset with me. I’m doing this because I love you.”

Wouldn’t that be confusing and maddening for your partner?

Or, imagine that your BFF needs to talk. She comes over and sits on your couch and cries. It’s been a difficult couple of months and she feels completely alone.

You realize that this is a perfect time to let her try out self soothing techniques. You tell her that you can’t touch her but she is free to stay on your couch for as long as she needs to. Sooner or later she will calm down and thank you for teaching her that she is a strong, competent woman.

We know it sounds crazy, so why do we do it?

I wanted to be with her as much as she wanted to be with me. Was I doing something wrong?

I think that we ALL know deep down in our heart of hearts that times of distress are not a good time to teach anything. We instinctively go to crying or hurt people and help them or reassure them. But something has happened in the last century or so. There is something that is clouding our instinct.

Somehow, somewhere in parenting history, we have decided that there is one demographic that should be the exception to the rule when it comes to offering reassurance. The exception is the babies. The babies need to learn how to be alone. The little ones. The ones with immature brains and bodies. They need to learn how to brave it alone. Sleep alone, travel alone, play alone. At least some of the time.

Why are the babies the unlucky ones?

I’ll tell you why.

Mothers are tired.

Sleep deprived.

Crisis moments with partners and BFFs happen a few times a year. Crisis moments with babies happen every hour, day and night.

We are struggling.

let’s see… put him down to do laundry while he screams or hold him and take a selfie in the bathroom mirror?

We are drowning.

Some of us suffer from anxiety and depression and we’re figuring out how to deal with it alone.

Mothers need space. Parents need sleep. We need help.

And this is a modern problem.

Back in the day, tribal mommas didn’t say, “I cannot deal with this crying anymore! You need to learn to self soothe!”

No, she would say, “I cannot deal with this crying anymore! You need to go hang out with one of your 53 cousins!”

Actually, she probably wouldn’t even arrive at her breaking point because three of the cousins were probably with her all the time.

Modern society has changed..

Fast forward a hundred years or so, or simply step into the western world, and parents are alone. We do what we have to do in order to survive, and letting our babies cry sometimes is a necessity. Sometimes we are at the end of our rope. Babies learn self soothing because we just can’t physically do it all.

So basically, as modern society has shifted away from tribal life and into nuclear family life, parents have gotten a very bad deal. And somehow we have convinced ourselves that the babies are the ones who have to adapt. They need to get over themselves and self soothe, because momma is tired.

Please let me know if you disagree when I say that being left alone in distress is not good for anyone. It’s not good for grown men and women and it’s certainly not good for babies. Here’s an idea. Instead of changing babies, can we try and change society? We ARE society by the way. We can be the change we want to see.

I just watched The Lorax with my kids and I have to say that Dr. Seuss said it all when he wrote, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.”

So the next time your neighbor asks you, “are you ALWAYS holding that baby?” Ask him if he ALWAYS has Saturday mornings free and if he could empty your dishwasher for you or take out the trash. We need help! Not advice. Babies haven’t changed. Our society has. Let’s try to stick together a little bit more. For our babies and for ourselves!

What do you think about babies learning to self soothe? What have you found works for your family?

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Anne Kathryn Rice

Anne Kathryn Rice is an American mother of two strong willed children living on the Italian Riviera. She writes about motherhood and listening to your inner voice, even when cultural expectations, baby books, and impromptu advice seem to challenge your instincts. You can read more about her personal experiences on her blog.

www.lovegrowdiscover.com

The post Self Soothing Babies: Why It Matters.. Or Does It? appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Our first child was almost a year old when I got pregnant with baby number 2. We were nursing frequently, and it was our happy place. I nursed through pregnancy, and then went on to tandem nurse a baby and a toddler. There were definitely a  few things that really took me by surprise.

People thought it was weird

Some people even thought it was impossible. I found this very strange, especially in this day in age when information is literally at our fingertips. I admit, I had no experience with tandem nursing before I started this journey. But, I never for one second thought that it was “wrong” or “unhealthy.” I felt that the opposite was true. Nursing was healthy, nurturing, the hug above all hugs, and just generally wonderful.

But when my husband and I announced my pregnancy, many well meaning family and friends and even the pediatrician expressed concern.

Nursing while pregnant? Doesn’t that increase the risk of miscarriage?

What are you going to do about your milk? It’s not good anymore.

You are going to be so tired if you keep nursing your toddler.

And what about when the baby is born? Your toddler is going to take the baby’s milk!

It has taken me years to begin to understand the origin of these thoughts and why in the world someone would actually say them to me out loud.

Here’s what I have learned: In short, if you have absolutely NO experience with something, it can seem scary. People were just afraid for me, and wanted to keep me safe. I’m glad that I had enough sense to do a bit of my own research (and thank goodness for the internet!). Which brings me to my next surprise..

I realized how little I knew

When all the concerns started rolling in, I was literally dumbfounded by the fact that most people (including myself) knew nothing about something that has kept our species alive for a gazillion years.

If you are about to embark on this journey, Adventures in Tandem Nursing by Hilary Flower (2006) was my favorite book on the subject. The author is currently working on a second edition and you can follow her Facebook page to make sure you catch it when it is published.

I also enjoyed reading Mothering your Nursing Toddler by Norma Jane Bumgarner (2000). I know, it’s 17 years old, but I found it to be relevant. Norma Jane was more up to date in 2000 than my pediatrician was in 2013. (He told me that nursing past a year would compromise my daughter’s growth. You can read more about why I didn’t listen to him here.)

Nursing helped me relax during pregnancy

Toddlers like to run around and get into stuff. Pregnant people like to sleep. How did I manage to rest during pregnancy? Literally all I had to do was lie down, and ask my daughter if she wanted to nurse. We would usually both fall asleep. During the first trimester, it did make me feel a little nauseous. But, for me, it was worth it to be able to have a nap.

No milk? No problem

My daughter did not care AT ALL that a few weeks into pregnancy, there was not really any milk there. She started eating more table food and her big Italian extended family was thrilled.

A baby changes everything

I thought that our nursing relationship was “established.” My daughter and I had previously nursed at certain times, she had favorite foods, and she was blossoming into an independent toddler. And then everything changed..

She was really not sure about this new baby.

She decided that being a baby has way more perks than being a toddler.

After baby boy was born, our toddler wanted to nurse EVERY time he did.

Table food? She didn’t care. When she nursed, she pointed to my breast as if to say, “there’s milk here!” She even fattened up a bit.

Playing independently? Not any more. She had her eyes on us like a hawk for a good 4 months.

I have since learned that development is not a straight line. It’s more of a curvy, loopy line, and it can sometimes seem like we are moving backwards (parents and children alike).

I have since learned that development is not a straight line. It’s more of a curvy, loopy line, and it can sometimes seem like we are moving backwards (parents and children alike).
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My body knew exactly how much milk to produce

We nursed all the time. Sometimes the baby nursed first, sometimes the toddler first. Sometimes they nursed at the same time and then switched sides. I think that sometimes there was more or less milk depending on the time of day and their nursing patterns, but they knew what to do to get their milk. They just stayed on the breast until it came, and it always did. I was in awe of their patience (and mine!)

If you are curious about milk production and tandem nursing during the first days of baby’s life, you can read my article about colostrum here.

Nursing them both at the same time was totally overwhelming

Breastfeeding releases oxytocin, which is the hormone of love. It makes you feel all warm and cuddly, and relaxes you sometimes so much that you drift off to sleep. I thought that nursing two would be like a double dose of oxytocin, and that I would be over the moon with lovey feelings, but I wasn’t. It was too much of a good thing. I guess everyone has a “pleasure limit” when it comes to their bodies.

Tandem nursing saved me at nap time

I usually nursed the kids one at a time, the one exception being when I REALLY wanted them to sleep at the same time. Nursing was a great way to get them to drift off to sleep, so when I was in dire need of a break (or if they really needed a nap), I just breathed through the nursing times two and then somehow wriggled myself away when they both fell asleep. I found it almost impossible to put one to sleep if the other was awake. The afternoon turned into a “who can resist sleep the best” marathon. Tandem nursing really saved me when it came to naps.

I still feel the remnants of our tandem relationship 5 years later

When either of my kids catches sight of my breasts, they smile or laugh or want to cuddle. Sometimes we take a bath together and they both pretend to nurse for 2 seconds and then look at each other and giggle. I think it’s sweet that they have this thing in common, and I believe that they feel very tied together because of it. They both nursed when they were little. And there is nothing “weird” about it.

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Anne Kathryn Rice

Anne Kathryn Rice is an American mother of two strong willed children living on the Italian Riviera. She writes about motherhood and listening to your inner voice, even when cultural expectations, baby books, and impromptu advice seem to challenge your instincts. You can read more about her personal experiences on her blog.

www.lovegrowdiscover.com

The post Tandem Nursing: 8 Things That Took Me By Surprise appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Encouraging your children to read is very important for their development and education, especially these days when many people are more likely to watch a movie. Reading has numerous benefits for the brain. Envisioning plots and characters allows children to be creative and imaginative. It’s also a great way to expand vocabulary.

You don’t have to wait until your children learn to read before you start instilling the love of reading.

Some research studies have shown that reading to young children is highly beneficial for their language development and reading readiness. Creating a cozy reading nook is a step towards achieving this goal.

The importance of reading to your newborn

There’s nothing more pleasant than cuddling up with your baby and reading to them. Apart from boosting brain activity, reading is also a great way of bonding with your baby. Babies love the sound of a mother’s voice. It’s also a great way to establish a feeling of intimacy and strengthen the emotional connection. Babies can learn some basic emotional reactions from their parents, which helps with empathy development. Through reading, you’ll be able to use various tones and prosodic features for different characters and convey all kinds of emotions.

A research study using MRIs has found that kids that are being read to on a regular basis have more developed brain areas responsible for semantic processing. In other words, they can grasp the meaning of a word more easily and their oral skills are on a significantly higher level. There are also special books for newborns that will introduce them to colors and shapes. Show your child that reading is entertaining, not just a task for school.

How to choose the right place for a nook?

First of all, no matter how small your apartment is, you can always find a tiny spot to put a comfortable armchair and a bookshelf. The unused space under the stairs can be transformed in a wonderful reading nook, that both your kids and you will love.

A nook could also be a perfect, quiet place for breastfeeding, so try to create a snug little corner that you’ll enjoy, too. A bean bag or big, soft cushions can be a great idea for children’s room, while a colorful carpet would be a nice addition as well.

Make sure that this spot is in a way isolated from all distractions, including the TV or a computer. Lighting is important, too. It would be best to choose a room with a window that will provide natural light. If that’s not possible, you can always resort to some creative reading lamps. While your kids are still toddlers, it’s important to organize a nook in a manner that will allow you to curl up next to them with a good book.

How to decorate it?

Naturally, when decorating this space, you could also include your kids in the whole process. Color schemes should be bright and warm. Since this will be their reading corner as well, you could decorate it with their own artwork. Bookshelves should be kid-friendly. All the books should be accessible and within their reach. While your children still can’t read, it’s important to display the books so that their covers are visible. That way they will be able to recognize the book they want and easily find it.

Tents make excellent reading nooks because they’re cozy and quiet, allowing kids to read without any disturbances from the outside world. They also inspire imagination. Kids love to pretend that they’re in a castle, fortress or some magical place. Tents will easily turn into their favorite secret spots. As kids also love to play in their nooks, a creative kids’ toy basket could help you keep their toys organized, and it can be used for laundry, as well.

As you can see, a reading nook doesn’t necessarily have to be big or fancy. The point is in creating a nice place where you and your kids can read and spend some quality time together.

Where do you enjoy reading with your children?

Emma Lawson

Emma is a former teacher, constantly improving her skills both as a teacher and as a parent. She is passionate about writing and learning new things that can help you to lead a quality life. You can follow her on Twitter @EmmahLawson

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts and be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our hashtag

#BreastfeedingWorld

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A photography project founded in late 2014 by Alexia Garcia, photographer a Alegares Photography. Breastfeeding World aims to promote breastfeeding and encourage new moms to nurse their babies through the art of photography and story telling.

The post How to Create a Lovely Reading Nook for Your Child -by Emma Lawson appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

“If you don’t finish your peas, no ice cream!”

I’ve been sneaky:

“No, I promise I did not just grate an apple into the cookie batter!”

I’ve bribed:

“If you just taste it I will play Candyland with you.”

I’ve sounded really convincing:

“mmm these brussel sprouts are amazing!”

But I decided to change my game plan the other night.

I was determined to get our children to eat new foods without manipulating them.

Vegetables were the only food I cooked.  I didn’t mash them or hide them in anything.  I grabbed all the produce in my fridge and pantry.

carrots, sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, fennel, onion, and garlic

I chopped it all in big chunks, threw all the pieces on an oven tray lined with waxed paper, and drizzled it with olive oil (the good kind), oregano, and salt.

chopped, seasoned, and ready to go in the oven

I also had two eggplants so I figured that they could go in the oven, too.

eggplant, garlic, pink salt, oregano, and honey on a spoon.

I sliced the eggplants in half, ran a knife through them a few times, and topped them with oregano, lemon juice, chopped garlic, and honey (toddlers love honey).

ready to join the vegetables in the oven

While the veggies baked, I threw anything that seemed like salad into a bowl.

Lettuce, avocado, corn from a can, lemon juice, and olive oil (the good kind)

When the vegetables were soft (after about 30 minutes on a medium high temperature), the end result was very colorful.

dinner is served

My toddlers did not eat everything on their plates (I’m not superwoman or magic, after all), but that’s not the point.

The point is that SEEING new food is the first step to EATING new food. All the pieces on this plate are recognizable, so even if they didn’t eat everything, they saw what each vegetable looked like and will remember them next time.  So much of picky toddler eating is about them not wanting to take risks.  They’ve got to make friends with the food first, then they’ll go out on a limb and maybe pick it up.

The other great thing about this dinner is that my toddlers could practice cutting the potato, carrot, or avocado because they were nice and soft.  Sometimes, even after saying, “Yuck I don’t want that,” my kids will help me cut my food, then accidentally get a taste somehow. Sometimes they even change their minds completely and decide they want to try it, as long as I do a really good job of acting like I don’t care (which usually requires that I actually not care.)

In the end, four-year-old Gianina ate only sweet potato.  She picked out every piece of sweet potato and mashed it with her fork, saying that she is a baby so she has to eat mashed foods.

“Only sweet potato please”

Maybe next time she’ll pick out all of the pieces of corn from the salad.  It doesn’t really matter to me, as long as she is trying new foods because she wants to explore and be brave.  I know that she is smart enough not to go hungry.

It’s my job to present a wide variety healthy food in a tasty way.  It’s their job to decide what to eat.

What about you? How do you get your toddlers to try new foods?

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our hashtag

#BreastfeedingWorld

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Anne Kathryn Rice

Anne Kathryn Rice is an American mother of two strong willed children living on the Italian Riviera. She writes about motherhood and listening to your inner voice, even when cultural expectations, baby books, and impromptu advice seem to challenge your instincts. You can read more about her personal experiences on her blog.

www.lovegrowdiscover.com

The post How to get your toddler to eat new foods appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

I have always loved being a first grade teacher, but before having children of my own I would dream about how much easier it would be to have just a few kids under my charge. Every day I would wearily lead my line of jumpy little students to the dismissal area and watch them as they made their way towards their parents, smiling and happy to see them.

As I would watch those parents walk away with their one or two or sometimes even three children I would think, “That’s gotta be so nice, to just have two or three children, instead of 15. I’m sure it’s much less intense. Moms are so lucky because they can really sit back and enjoy their kids. They can let them be free and jump around because there are only a couple of them.

How hard can it be to hang out with two kids all day?

If you are a mother, feel free to have a good laugh at my expense. I am laughing now, too.

My daughter’s first day of school and my first day of school as a teacher and a mom.

Every once in a while I would see a child break down in tears soon after their initial hug. Sometimes because the mom didn’t bring the right snack or because the kid didn’t want to go to tennis or because a play date got cancelled. I really didn’t understand this behavior because exactly three minutes prior, with me, they were all smiling.

At school we have very clear rules and everyone has to follow them. That’s just how the world of school works. In my pedagogical studies I learned that just the right amount of rules actually makes kids feel very safe.  They know what to expect and that is comforting.

“Maybe this mom is not really clear on her boundaries,” I would think. “Maybe this kid usually gets everything he wants at home and when things don’t go his way, he throws a temper tantrum.”

I am so sorry that I ever thought this.

How could I have been so deeply clueless and insensitive?

To all those mothers dragging away their crying children who had been smiling with me three minutes ago, “I am so sorry that I thought there was something that you could change in your parenting in order to change that behavior.”

Now I am a mom and I totally get it.

I am also still a teacher.

At home I have two kids. At school I have 17.

School is relaxing.

I can go to the bathroom by myself.

Unlike mothers, I have scheduled breaks which usually involve a coffee and a little chat with a fellow teacher about how our days are going. We might even learn something from each other or give each other a pat on the back.

Now I know exactly why kids break down when they see their parents.

There is nothing wrong with these parents’ methods. In fact, the fact that their children feel comfortable enough to totally relax and let all of their frustrations flow is a sign of healthy attachment.

The school day is long and demanding. These kids spend eight hours sitting up, sitting still, standing in line, keeping their voices down, remembering to use nice manners, dealing with friendships that are going well or not well, learning a lot of interesting information and taking risks. Saying what they really feel (especially if it’s negative) is not usually part of the day.

Meltdowns are more frequent and intense when kids are tired. After school, kids are tired.

Students don’t have temper tantrums at school because they are holding it all in. They are showing me their best, even if they don’t feel like their best. Maybe someone gave them an unkind look or they were disappointed in a drawing that they made. They keep it all inside because it’s clean up time or it’s circle time or the teacher is talking to someone else.

Some moms might think, “I wish they would keep up that behavior for me. I want to see the best of them, too.”

But let me ask you this:

If they can’t be themselves with you, showing you the good, the bad, and the ugly, then who are they gonna be themselves with? God? The dog? Who is this someone who will not judge them?

As parents, we have the privilege/burden to be our children’s confidants. We are their everything. They see themselves through our eyes. When our eyes are loving and supportive, even when they’ve had a bad day, they will learn that it’s okay to be imperfect. It’s okay to make mistakes and be irritable sometimes. That’s life.

Why should we adults be allowed to be annoyed with the world some days but our kids are not?

Now when I see my students break down after a long day at school, I sometimes see a desperate look in a mother’s eye.

“She worked really hard day,” I say, “She’s probably very tired.”

But I wish I could say more.

I wish I could say that you are doing a great job, mama. You are raising a kind, compassionate and hard working girl (or boy). She trusts you so much that the moment she sees you she relaxes, because she knows that you care and that you will take care of her.  Don’t you dare think for a minute that her tears are because you are doing something wrong. These tears are because you are doing all of the important things RIGHT.

We are our children’s safe place, where they can laugh, cry, complain, and moan. Parenthood is not easy peasy, as we say in first grade. It’s the toughest job there is. Way harder than being a teacher and with more at stake.

Moms of my students, you are raising the future and you have my utmost respect.  Keep up the world changing work that you are doing by accepting and drying your children’s tears.  At school they learn about reading and writing, but from you they learn about life.

Love,

Ms. Anne Kathryn

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our hashtag

#BreastfeedingWorld

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Anne Kathryn Rice

Anne Kathryn Rice is an American mother of two strong willed children living on the Italian Riviera. She writes about motherhood and listening to your inner voice, even when cultural expectations, baby books, and impromptu advice seem to challenge your instincts. You can read more about her personal experiences on her blog.

www.lovegrowdiscover.com

The post Teacher Confessions: after school meltdowns explained appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

I’m feeling rough this morning. Forcing my mom smiles create a lot of extra effort. It’s Friday the 13th and a full moon. From my experience in childcare, I can say with some certainty that everything they say about the moon messing with kids and pets is true.

Last night, I woke at 12 to an insane rattling noise downstairs. My mild-mannered cat had found the cat nip and was voraciously attacking it. At 2 the baby woke and wanted to nurse. At 5:15 the girl woke up crying that she had peed the bed. She has never, ever wet the bed. She soaked everything, including myself. Then the baby woke again from the noise. It was that point that I’m certain most working moms have had, do I go to bed for that extra thirty minutes I so desperately need? I know it would just make me groggier- but dang the bed looks inviting. Or do I get up, shower, and zombie through my day?

Choosing the latter, I turned the water on as hot as I could stand and stayed in as long as I wanted. 

There is still an extra half hour until the daycare kids arrive. Showers soothe me in a way I never knew was possible from a shower until I had kids. Taking a deep breath, I plan our day in my mind, and smile. I get out, relaxed. I grab a towel, drying off. But then I  looked down, only to discover my body covered in hundreds of tiny hairs. I grabbed the towel my husband used to shave with last night. Awesome.  Back in the shower I go.

A couple of hours later, I’m sitting on the floor next to the dishwasher which desperately needs emptied. My snotty, cranky, swollen gummed son can’t see me from my hiding spot. Blowing on my coffee, I am willing it to cool with my mind, so I can have a moment of peace before I start my morning. My morning which, in reality, has started without me. I stare at my chipped toes. I could really use a pedi. At least I got a shower in today.

Coffee, Do Your Magic

photocredit: sweatpants and coffee

The Littles are playing sweetly, the baby is down for his nap. The “Heavenly Lullaby” station on Pandora is streaming quietly through my downstairs. I was too tired to clean up last night, so I’m already starting the day behind. I managed to re-run the laundry that has been sitting in the washer for three days. Last night’s kid urine-soaked sheets are next. The cat box needs emptied and I need to rinse off poopy cloth diapers.

At least I got a shower in today.

With a smile, I take a sip of my gloriously still warm coffee.

“I can do this,” I tell myself. “I just need one more sip of coffee, then I’ll emerge from my hiding spot.”

And I will. I’ll get up, do my thousand little chores. I’ll fix the Kids breakfast, mediate a dozen four-year old disagreements, wipe away tears about the unfairness of toddler life. I will switch over laundry. I’ll warm the pumped bottles of milk.  Relishing the squishy baby snuggles from our newest little, I feed him his bottle. Then I will nurse my drool-box of a son, before strapping him to my back with the Lillebaby.

We will read a book. Kiss wild, curly heads. I’ll sing silly songs as I clean and the kids will shout and laugh and play and maybe sing along. Taking a deep breath, I’ll pull from my reserved strength and pour it into my Littles, over and over. Because as I pour into them, my heart fills. Childhood is a joyful, wondrous thing. Children deserve to be raised in a home where that joy is embraced.

God what is that smell?

Just one more sip of coffee.

At least I got a shower in today.

I take a breath and put on a bright smile, emerging from my hiding spot.

Finding Joy and Choosing to Smile

When Imp first started preschool, I inquired about her teachers. She said that the primary teacher was her favorite, because she was the one who smiles. As a caregiver that resonated so deeply with me. She didn’t care what books she read, what crafts she did. She loves her teacher because she’s The One Who Smiles. Some days I’m dirty, the house is dirty, my coffee is cold. Other days I’m well rested, I’m on top of my chores, and I even manage a little make up. The kids don’t care either way. They care that my patience is long, my smiles are easy, and their play is busy and enriched.

My children’s need for a mother who smiles, an environment that is joyful and fulfilling, is stronger than my personal need zombie this morning. Because these seven little people rely on me making the choice to smile every day. My Littles are not cogs and wheels to turn and rotate throughout the day. They are real, whole people. Therefore, Children should be treated as such. They don’t care that I’m running on no sleep, and honestly, today, neither do I. The image I have of my children, the environment I create, is all that matters today. Loris Malaguzzi, is the founder of the Reggio Emilia approach. In his Exchange article, “Your Image of the Child:  Where Teaching Begins,” which is included in the new digital Exchange Essential, “Inspiring Practices – Part 1,” he observed…

The environment you construct around you and the children also reflects this image you have about the child.  There’s a difference between the environment that you are able to build based on a preconceived image of the child and the environment that you can build that is based on the child you see in front of you — the relationship you build with the child, the games you play.  An environment that grows out of your relationship with the child is unique and fluid.”

So today, I will be the mom who smiles. My kids will need me, my house will need me. I will pour myself into them.

Embracing Joy

And I will smile.

What obstacles do you struggle with in your daily journey with your children? How do you choose joy when you find yourself stretched too thin? What characteristics are important for you to impress upon your children and your program?

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #BreastfeedingWorld 

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Lauren Lewis

Lauren Lewis is no stranger to childcare development, having spent over 10 years as a nanny or family childcare provider. She’s the wife of a travel geek, mother of two vivacious children, and has an amazing talent for trailing lost things behind her a la Hansel and Gretel. Her passion for lifting up women and advocating for children pours out in her work as a Central Indiana Event Coordinator, Writer, and Social Media Relations Director for Breastfeeding World. Her life is full of busy, crazy and LOUD. It is full of love and hope, ups and downs. And coffee, always lots of coffee- but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

www.raisinglaurenslittle.wordpress.com

The post This is Why I Choose to be the Mom Who Smiles appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Deciding on a daycare is one of the biggest decisions you make with new parenthood. The ability to stay home with your children, or have a family member stay with them, isn’t always financially feasible for many families. So they turn to finding alternate care. There are a lot of options available. Finding a nanny, a church daycare, a center, or a childcare home for your newborn is exciting and terrifying. Finding a place where your child will feel loved, safe, and enriched is stressful.

This is Hanging up in our playroom

So, I should start by explaining. First and always, I am a mom. Before having kids of my own, I spent 5 years as a nanny.  Now, I proudly provide family childcare service out of my home. So when I say that I’ve experienced first hand the stress parents carry when trying to find the perfect fit for their child, I mean it. It’s not easy for anyone involved, and that’s okay. But the benefits of raising children in a family childcare environment- they’re there, they’re real. And it’s worth it.

In the beginning, children sometimes arrive scared, nervous, or  under socialized.(Check out my tips for a rockin’ Daycare drop off, here.) But then, after a while, I watch them bloom. Joined in a social environment, kids language skills begin to explode. In awe, I marveled as small babies and toddlers performed tasks that most babies and toddlers wouldn’t dream of. They did this simply because they see their bigger friends doing it. I have seen rough and rowdy preschoolers learn sensitivity and gentleness when growing up with much smaller infants.

So frequently, when a parent leaves their child with a caregiver for the first time, there are tears on both ends.

I want to assuage your guilt. There are wonderful benefits to your child growing up daycare.

Some Silliness with My Daycare Babies and I

3 Benefits to Raising a Daycare Baby

1. Increased Immunity
2. Social Skills
3. Sense of Community

1. Increased Immunity

Kids who grow up in a large childcare environment tend to get sick. A lot. I’ve had so many bugs and illnesses come through my little home it would make your skin crawl. Don’t get me wrong, I keep my home clean. It may not look like I have much to show for it, but I spend half my days scrubbing to keep the germs at bay. Breastfeeding your child can help build immunity.  yet despite my best efforts (and lots of bleach), if one child comes in with a bug, chances are by weeks end half my kids have contracted it. As a provider and parent, it is frustrating. So why is this a benefit? Because infections now mean fewer later.  So while you may cringe at all the snotty noses when you drop your darling off at daycare, know that he is building his immunity, and is less likely to contract illnesses into their teenage years.

2. Socialization

There are plenty of studies linking academic and socialization success to daycare in children. everyday interaction with children both younger and older than themselves teach them how to relate to others, how to compromise, share, work together. I see my five-year olds learn patience and gentleness with their younger peers. I see my infants follow around my preschoolers, just one of the group. Putting aside the studies who show that daycare children excel in communication skills, I see the socialization benefits in my Littles every day.

Sure, the kids squabble. They argue, fight over toys. Sometimes they even bite (see my 5 steps to stop toddler biting, here.). But in those many arguments, they learn to discuss their feelings. They problem solve. They know each others favorite song, show, color. At such a young age, my Littles are best friends. Toddlers join us who are largely nonverbal, and in a few months time, I watch their verbal skills explode. I see their compassion, hear parents tell me how all weekend long, they babble about their friends, and I know that they are receiving something more valuable in my home and childcare than they would ever receive at home by themselves all day.

working together at daycare play

3. Sense of Community

It could be, in part, that I run my family childcare business in a small, tight-knit, farming community. By our home, the kids run barefoot in the streets, roaming in packs throughout the neighborhood. When my Littles emerge outside to our play area, it is not uncommon that they’ll find themselves joined with several neighborhood children. Playing tag, racing on bikes in the cul-de-sac, jumping in muddy puddles, pushing each other on swings, my Littles and my neighbors children form their own, miniature sized community.

Part of the magic and what I love about this environment is that these same kids get to know one another from the time they could walk. They will go to school together, play soccer together, go to prom together. They are forming relationships that will last their lifetimes. Likewise, just as my Littles bond, so do their parents.

Some of my closest friendships grew from this daycare environment. Just as their children become friends, the parents bond as well. We look out for one another. We are our own community. And we are are a village. Together, through daycare, we are raising each others children. Our community grows and thrives together, from within and extending out from this simple daycare environment.

So yes, choosing to find someone else to raise your baby is nerve-wracking.

But the benefits to your childs health, social development, and the socioeconomic repercussions could alleviate some of your fears and concerns. As it turns out, growing up daycare grows some pretty awesome kids.

Talk to us! What were some factors that went into your childcare decision for your little one? What were your concerns in choosing the right place? How has placing your child in daycare affected their development?

Don’t miss a thing! Follow Breastfeeding World on social media via instagram, facebook, and twitter!

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Lauren Lewis

Lauren Lewis is no stranger to childcare development, having spent over 10 years as a nanny or family childcare provider. She’s the wife of a travel geek, mother of two vivacious children, and has an amazing talent for trailing lost things behind her a la Hansel and Gretel. Her passion for lifting up women and advocating for children pours out in her work as a Central Indiana Event Coordinator, Writer, and Social Media Relations Director for Breastfeeding World. Her life is full of busy, crazy and LOUD. It is full of love and hope, ups and downs. And coffee, always lots of coffee- but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

www.raisinglaurenslittle.wordpress.com

The post Why Growing up in Daycare is actually Great for Kids appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Nothing Better <3

Although bed–sharing is becoming more and more a topic of open conversation in parenting choices in the U.S. these days, before I became pregnant I thought it was kind of strange and not for me. I could not imagine having my baby in bed while still getting sleep and forget trying to have time with my husband. I just couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of ever choosing that for my family. I read in the most popular (at the time) parenting books when to have baby in his own crib and room; how to get a bedside bassinet at first then to move baby to his own room only after a few months. To be honest, that sounded fine. As a new mom-to-be, three months of having my baby in my room seemed long. Plus, I wanted my babies to all be independent and learn to soothe themselves and to sleep through the night.

Co–sleeping at it’s most precious moment. <3

Well, let me tell you, my pre-mama way of thinking disgusts me, now! I can’t believe I thought that was normal. I can’t believe society and our culture taught me to think this was normal in the beginning.
I’m beyond happy that after I gave birth I listened to my mommy instincts, did research for safe co-sleeping and I kept my baby right next to me. Co-sleeping is one of the best parenting choices I’ve ever made, especially for breastfeeding!
Not only has co-sleeping helped me get more sleep, it helps with my babies sleeping more, too, because breastfeeding is right there when it is needed. No extra yelling or crying for me to come and feed them, therefore no extra waking up and becoming upset. Co-sleeping helped increase and keep my supply up always having my babies right next to me all night; and for me, practicing safe co-sleeping always helped relieve my mommy (postpartum) anxiety because I knew my baby was okay.

One of the only co–sleeping pics my husband snapped of our first. Thank God he got a few with our baby boy. <3

Each baby is different so co-sleeping with each might look different. For my son, I started with him in a bedside bassinet, but he and I both hated it. We would both fully wake up at each feeding and we were so uncomfortable. About a month postpartum I finally breastfed him lying down, with him on the inside of our bed and we slept better that night than ever! We co–slept until 13-14 months, and we still snuggle in the mornings, now at 3.5 years old. With my daughter, she is a kicker and LOVES her own space, but does not like being alone. I always babywore her and nursed her to sleep but would put her in a bedside bassinet until about six months old. Then we co–slept in our bed until after her first birthday, and her crib was in our room for a few months after that. I always had monitors on both cribs and check on them a few times (at least) a night once in their own room.

“Each baby is different so co-sleeping with each might be different…”

My <3

TRIGGER: As I sat down to finish this post this week, I coincidently saw a post on Facebook of yet another young infant died from SIDS. It frustrates me and upsets me to tears that specialist, doctors and scientists still majority of the time in our country say they cannot know for sure exactly what causes SIDS and disapprove co-sleeping stating they are connected. I’m a journalist and I know better than to contradict the supposedly non-biased facts out there done by these so-called professionals, especially the specialist; however, as a mom, a well-educated, thoughtful, and passionate mom, who uses commonsense (every action has a reaction) I say BS. Because if you do research there are studies and enough data out there that does prove when co–sleeping is done correctly it is the safest form of sleeping for baby. The type of language used in the studies, giving different scenarios of how a baby 0 months–1 year died from SIDS easily confuses the interpretation of the data to put the findings in to a clear answer: Should my baby co–sleep or should he be in a crib?

So peaceful <3

Another factor that confuses the data’s findings is that co-sleeping WITH exclusively breastfeeding saves thousands of babies per year, and “cuts SIDS risk and may cut overall infant death risk in half” – not just co–sleeping on it’s own.
You will find many organizations with conclusive evidence stating while following safe guidelines for proper co–sleeping (and preferably exclusively breastfed), it is what is best and commonly practiced around the world. Organizations such as La Leche League, Breastfeeding USA, and birth professionals and authors such as Ina May Gaskin, McKenna, J. and McDade, T., all support and encourage safe co–sleeping, especially while exclusively breastfeeding.

My baby boy right next to me <3

According to Le Leche League, “The four biggest issues associated with SIDS are 1) smoking, 2) laying a baby facedown for sleep, 3) leaving a baby unattended, and 4) formula feeding.” For majority of babies, these are not always top factors for the chance of SIDS; however, for babies who majority die from SIDS, “it happens in a small group of vulnerable babies who have very specific but undiagnosed health issues.” Therefore, it is unknown if your baby is more vulnerable before, so there is a greater need for a vulnerable baby to be in arms reach of his/her mother to prevent dying from SIDS. Safe co-sleeping provides the biological and instinctual reaction to assist a vulnerable baby and can prevent SIDS. Maybe if our culture accepted and encouraged safe co–sleeping, like in other countries, new and experienced parents would know the benefits of co–sleeping and less babies would die from SIDS.

Breastfeeding and co–sleeping <3

Let us know your experience with breastfeeding and co–sleeping and please practice safe bed–sharing. Much love to you!

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #BreastfeedingWorld 

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Page Rose

I am a 27-year-old WAHM to two intelligent and amazing toddlers (3 and 1.5 years), and two stepdaughters (12.5 and 8.5 years). I am a very active and passionate birth advocate working to change regulations, laws and cultural norms in the U.S. to provide parents to be educated and empowered to know all birth rights and options. I am a proud emergency, unplanned c-section, turned all natural, non-medicated VBAC experienced mama! I am a modern-hippie mama practicing attachment parenting, who loves babywearing and toddlerwearing, and of course breastfeeding! I love to laugh with my amazing husband/best friend and to travel to new places with our beautiful family.
For more of my lifestyle and mommy blogging updates, check out my Instagram page @PRbabywearingMama.

The post Co-Sleeping and Breastfeeding appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

In the beginning. <3

A friend of mine posted a question on Facebook the other week asking if (us) breastfeeding mamas had to change our diet while nursing, what we had to cut, for how long, and what changes we saw in our babies after. This is her second baby and it was déjà vu for me because I had such a different time nursing my second time around, as well.

Right when my Little Miss was born. My perfect little girl. <3

Right away, my daughter nursed so differently than my son did, which is okay because every baby is different, but it wasn’t until a few weeks old that we started to notice it was more than that. She would nurse so quickly, unlatching sometimes right after my letdown (spilling milk and I would try to catch it), but would want to nurse again very quickly because she would spit up almost after every feeding. She would only nurse from one breast and it would take forever for her to burp. Then if we could get her to finally burp, she would have hiccups and spit up. With my son, he was calm and would stay latched forever, falling asleep at almost every feeding the first few months (milk drunk), never spit up, never had trouble burping after a feeding and always nursed from both breasts each feeding.

So tiny and loving her milk.

When she started to spit up after every feeding, she also became very upset and fussy most of the day, especially from noon until midnight. It was so awful and frustrating, I felt like we could never leave the house. At first I thought it was just something I kept eating, so I started to pay attention to my diet and I figure it had to be all the spicy food I loved eating. I already ate a dairy–free and egg–free diet, and I babywore her almost always. But after all that, cutting out the spicy foods included, it still seemed to not make a big enough difference for her. I became desperate and went to our pediatrician, who gave us a prescription for baby reflux. But, after 5 days of her being on the medication I just started having a bad feeling about this harsh medicine in her tiny body. After researching and reading all the potential side effects, my husband and I decided that our daughter would immediately stop using it that day.

Boob pillow! Milk drunk and out. <3

We researched everything on natural, homeopathic and naturopathic ways to help manage or even cure baby reflux that night. My husband came across this blog or parent conversation board where this husband and his wife had figured out the right treatment plan that cured their baby from reflux. The next day we went and got what we needed and made the right appointments to get our baby girl the relief we were praying for. After a little over a week of following this plan our Little Miss was cured. No joke, you didn’t read that wrong – cured! Below are the homeopathic remedies she took, the specialists she saw, and the treatment plan we stuck to.
– I cut out onions, garlic, broccoli, peppers (all but a few bell here and there), caffeine, dairy, eggs, and all spicy foods. It was hard at first but I stuck to this diet until she was 7-8 months, then only slowly brought back these foods until after her first birthday.

Image from Google

– Hylands #10 Nat Phos 6, one after each feeding. We called these her ‘little baby tums.’ They easily dissolve, which can be crushed up and given to baby directly, or use a baby medicine or breastmilk syringe with a drop of water or breastmilk.
– Boiron Nux Vomica 30c, twice a day, morning and night. These are harder and take a little bit to dissolve, so I used a syringe with either some breastmilk or a few drops of water and swirled it around until completely dissolved to give to baby.
– One trip to a specialized pediatric chiropractor for a post birth therapy session. We’re spoiled and have a few great practices here in Portland with great homeopathic, pediatric chiropractors, but you should be able to find one in your area.

Image from Google

– One dose of pediatric probiotics applied to a pacifier or your nipple right before breastfeeding once a day. I was given a great one by my daughter’s pediatric chiropractor.
– Warm bath before bedtime every night. This is a great way to calm and relax colicky or reflux babies. Even if they don’t seem to like it at first, be consistent and continue giving them a warm bath as part of their night routine.
– Castor Oil tummy massage after bath, then cover with a washcloth, and clothe in a onesie. Maybe use onesies you don’t care about because the castor oil can stain.
– Dress baby in loose clothes, no tight waist bands, and be mindful of how tight the baby’s diaper is.
– When changing baby’s diaper, instead of pulling up her/his legs, like we’re taught, gently roll baby slightly to her/his side and carefully lift her/his leg up to wipe and replace a diaper.
All of this treatment was approved and encouraged by our pediatric chiropractor and my daughter’s pediatrician.

My baby girl, now. Not such a baby at 22 months old, but always one to me.

This may seem like a lot but it’s far better than the alternative, and we did this for only four days and saw a huge improvement! Every baby is different and my daughter was not diagnosed with sever GERDs, so it might take longer than a week or more pediatric chiropractic appointments than it did for my daughter, but it’s worth it.
I will say the first two days are a little tough because there isn’t an overnight change when you first start the treatment. But being consistent and just sticking with it will payoff, trust me.
I kept the homeopathic remedies on hand in her diaper bag in case she became irritated here and there, but we really didn’t have to use them much after a couple of weeks of treatment.

I’m not a medical professional nor do I have a medical license, but I do believe this treatment plan has to be better for babies bodies in the long run. This is what worked for my baby and our family, and it’s important that I share our experience with more parents because it could also cure your baby’s reflux.

We would love to hear from you! What has been your experience with Exclusively Breastfeeding and using a Binky? Share it with us in the comments below!

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #BreastfeedingWorld 

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Page Rose

I am a 27-year-old WAHM to two intelligent and amazing toddlers (3 and 1.5 years), and two stepdaughters (12.5 and 8.5 years). I am a very active and passionate birth advocate working to change regulations, laws and cultural norms in the U.S. to provide parents to be educated and empowered to know all birth rights and options. I am a proud emergency, unplanned c-section, turned all natural, non-medicated VBAC experienced mama! I am a modern-hippie mama practicing attachment parenting, who loves babywearing and toddlerwearing, and of course breastfeeding! I love to laugh with my amazing husband/best friend and to travel to new places with our beautiful family.
For more of my lifestyle and mommy blogging updates, check out my Instagram page @PRbabywearingMama.

The post Breastfeeding a Colicky or Reflux Baby appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

If you are breastfeeding, you have probably heard of fenugreek and brewer’s yeast; one of which makes you smell like maple syrup and the other makes everything it’s in taste like beer (ick!).  But, you have also probably heard that breastfeeding mothers should try to eat oatmeal each and every day.  This I could definitely do.  There are so many ways you can eat oatmeal, besides just a bowl of it with fruit in the morning. For the first year of breastfeeding, and beyond, I ate oatmeal at least once day.  And now, two years in, I continue to eat it regularly still.  I know that not everyone loves oatmeal (that used to be me), so I thought I would share two of favorite oatmeal recipes.

I was told early on that I needed to be eating oatmeal that was not instant oatmeal, but that was the regular old fashioned rolled oats.  As you know, these can take awhile to cook on the stovetop.  This oatmeal recipe below became one of my favorites because it takes 2 minutes to throw together and it is ready when you wake up in the morning!  It is also very easy to make diary free, which is how I make it!

You have probably heard that Breastfeeding mothers should try to eat oatmeal every day…

1/4 cup rolled oats
1/3 milk of choice (I use coconut milk)
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 large dollop yogurt of choice (I use coconut milk greek yogurt)

Place all ingredients in a mason jar. Seal lid and shake until well mixed. Place in the refrigerator for 8 hours, or overnight.  Take out, stir in some of your favorite mix-ins and enjoy!

Source: Sprouts

My favorite mix-ins are a little strawberry jelly or peanut butter with a dollop of pure maple syrup.  What’s great about this recipe (besides being super easy), is that when you’re little one is ready to start eating, they will love it too!  And the sky is really the limit with the mix-ins!  You can try almonds with raw honey, apples and a sprinkle of cinnamon, bananas and walnuts, and anything else you can think of!

One of the things I have struggled with most while breastfeeding is keeping up with my own nutrition.  I never seem to be able to eat enough.  This recipe is a quick and easy one (no cooking or baking required) that provides some yummy and much-needed protein to your diet…plus quite a few other nutritional powerhouses.  Plus, they really help satisfy my sweet tooth in a healthier way!

1 cup dry, old fashioned oats
2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (any nut/seed butter would work)
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
2/3 cup chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life brand mini chocolate chips which are diary free)
1/3 raw honey
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients and mix until well incorporated. (I threw all of them into a stand mixer.)  Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Remove and roll into balls.  Wet your hands to help with the stickiness.  Can be kept at room temperature in an airtight container or in the fridge. (I personally love them straight out of the fridge!)

Source: Chew Out Loud, adapted from givemesomeoven

**Just a side note, I am also gluten free, so to make these two recipes gluten free, just make sure you get gluten free rolled oats…it’s that easy!**

I hope you like these recipes and they make their way into your oatmeal regimen! :).  Have you ever tried crock-pot oats?  If not, that’s another one of our favorites to look up and try!  

What are some of your favorite oatmeal recipes? Have you found creative ways to get more oatmeal into your diet while breastfeeding?  Comment below!

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our HT #BreastfeedingWorld 

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Allyson Lux

I am a single mom to the most amazing little boy in the entire world. He is the light of my life! We also have the two sweetest doggies who complete our little family. I am a high school teacher and a photographer, and am very passionate about breastfeeding, babywearing, attachment parenting, and raising my son in the most natural way possible!

www.myluxphotography.wix.com/home

The post Oatmeal and breastfeeding appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

One of the most exciting parts for me as his mother is introducing him to starting solids.

Baby Boy is 6 months old

Not to step on any toes or start any mommy wars, but one of my pet peeves as a childcare professional is hearing about infants being given cereals or baby food too soon. Not all doctors are up to date with the latest research. For example, my doctor told my husband and I that there are really no extra benefits to full term breastfeeding with my daughter (nursing her past 1 year). So much research supports delaying solids with infants,and it’s backed up by many leading health organizations, worldwide. If your doctor does recommend beginning your infant before six months,  I encourage you to discuss the research with him  or her before making a final decision about starting solids.

When you know better, you do better.

3 Reasons to Delay Introducing Solids

• Open Gut

From Birth to about 6 months of age, infants have what is referred to as an open gut. This allows whole proteins and pathogens to be able to enter your infants bloodstream easily. That is wonderful news for breastfed babies! Unfortunately, it is also the same reason why you should not start solids before 6 months. Open gut, when introduced to solid foods, allows allergy inducing proteins and disease causing pathogens to move into the bloodstream. That is why it is so important to only breast (or bottle) feed the first 6 months. Breast milk helps to coat the babies digestive system, which aids in preventing illnesses and allergies as your baby grows.

It is important to wait until your baby’s gut is closed before starting solids

• Developmentally More Prepared

According to Kelly Mom, baby must meet these certain developmental milestones to begin starting solids.

1. Sit up well without support.
2. Lose the tongue-thrust reflex which pushes food back out of their mouth.
3. Be ready and willing to chew.
4. Begin developing a “pincer” grasp. (Essential for baby led weaning.)
5. Be eager to participate in mealtime, shown grabbing food and trying to put it in his mouth.
6. Show an increased desire to nurse unrelated to any illnesses, teething pains, or growth spurts.

O exhibiting the developmental milestone of reaching for food

Some of these milestones, particularly number 6, can be hard to identify. That is why it is important to look at all the milestones as a whole. This includes your baby reaching 6 months of age.

• Nutritional Needs are Met through Breastmilk

There are several adages that help exhausted nursing mothers remember tips and tricks. “Breast is best”, “nipple to nose” (for latch), and “food before one is just for fun.” Breast milk truly is a perfect food for babies, particularly those under six months. For the first six months, babies dietary and nutritional needs are met through breast milk (or formula), there is no need for supplementing it with solids.   The World Health Organization says

Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants… A recent review of evidence has shown that, on a population basis, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way of feeding infants

I’ve heard a lot of moms say “well my baby was just so hungry,” but the fact is, ounce for ounce, breast milk is more calorie rich than solid foods.

Chunky Man is pretty Happy being exclusively breastfed for his first 6 months!

We are so excited to start solids this month! Knowing that my breast milk has supplied Little Man with his building blocks of nutrition before starting solids is empowering! When have you decided to start solids with your little one? What fueled that decision?

Other Information and reputable sources on delaying starting solids:

Starting Solids: Why I chose to make my baby’s food (and how you can too!)

Baby Led Weaning: Where to Begin?

kellymom.com

world health organization

American Academy of Pediatrics

Lauren Lewis

Lauren Lewis is no stranger to childcare development, having spent over 10 years as a nanny or family childcare provider. She’s the wife of a travel geek, mother of two vivacious children, and has an amazing talent for trailing lost things behind her a la Hansel and Gretel. Her passion for lifting up women and advocating for children pours out in her work as a Central Indiana Event Coordinator, Writer, and Social Media Relations Director for Breastfeeding World. Her life is full of busy, crazy and LOUD. It is full of love and hope, ups and downs. And coffee, always lots of coffee- but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

www.raisinglaurenslittle.wordpress.com

The post When Your Baby Begins Starting Solids: 3 Reasons to Delay appeared first on Breastfeeding World.