Liberate Your Baby

Milk! Milk! Milk!

Real Human Milk

For those mother's who for some reason are physically unable to provide milk to their babies, I am truely sorry. My intention is only to discourage choosing not to breastfeed for non-medical reasons.

Why would anyone choose to spend all that time and money on a sub-par diet for their baby, unless they had a true medical need to do so?

There is no good reason. God gave us boobs on purpose--we should use them! All modern research says that "Breast is Best". Don't you want the best for your baby? Isn't it wonderful that you have the power to provide the best?! So do it! Don't let social or situational "problems" stop you from providing the best

food your baby could ever have! Adapt your situation and re-socialize your peers to not only accept what you are doing, but embrace it!

Being part of a micro-community where everyone nurses--even tandem nurses--their babies, I forget that so many people don't. I forget, that is, until I see a bottle mentioned on children's television or someone bottle-feeding their baby in public.

I encourage all mothers to breastfeed in public--anytime, anywhere! It is the only way to make human milk seem normal and right.

CAR seats are for CARs, let's keep them there!

Do you like sitting in the same position all day long? How do you think a small baby with developing bone structure feels about sitting in the same position all day? I don't think they like it, some are just more vocal than others. Babies, like people in nursing homes, need to be in a bunch of different positions. Move 'em around. Snuggle 'em more. They'll love you for it!

There are so many types of carriers out there to choose from: sling, pouch, mei tai, ergo, wrap. Find one that works for you and your baby--don't give up if it takes a couple of weeks to get the hang of it.

****Wraps are really nice if you don't plan to take your baby in and out of it all the time. For an extended grocery trip, where you will be leaning over and swiveling around, a wrap is a secure choice. They are also easy and cheap to make, but take some training to get the hang of. Check out MamaToto for video instructions on how to use a wrap and other baby carriers. My personal experience is that knit wraps, like the Moby, are the best newborn-15lb carrier. It does everything a BabyBjorn does without putting undue weight on the baby's crotch AND everything a sling does without having to constantly re-adjust.

****Pouches, sometimes also called slings, are extremely user friendly, but work best if they are made to fit. They are super easy to make, so you or a friend or relative could make one at low cost. Here are some instructions: BabyWearer Links

****A Mei Tai is especially useful if you have a long torso or a large baby. A 6 month old that weighs 18 or 20 pounds carries differently than a 2 year old that is 18 or 20lbs! The Mei Tai distributes weight onto the hips. It is easier to use than a Wrap, but less versitile. A Mei Tai is great if you want to carry your baby on your back, but need to get him in and out often to potty.

****Slings, aka Ring Slings, are the most easily accessable, one-size fits most, baby-carrier around. They are so common, you can even get one for your dog. They do the job, but sometimes don't completely fill all your baby-carrying needs. The padded style can be nice on your shoulders, but can interfere with getting a small child in a correct, snug position. For the price and availability, I recommended it over a crotch-carrier like the baby bjorn.

****The Ergo or Beco are user-friendly, urban-stylish, but super expensive! They can cost $80-$200! Yikes! However, if saving money is not your reason for wearing your baby--Ergo;Beco.

****Finally, there are hybrids of all of these carriers. The Baby K'tan is a knit wrap hybrid that works the same, but is not adjustable like the wrap. It utilizes two knit slings and a belly band. My all-time favorite carrier is my modified Mei Tai. It has padded waist and shoulder bands as well as belt rings on the waist band. The shoulder straps are still long like a Mei Tai. This makes it easy to put on like and Ergo or Beco, but gives more adjustability options like a Mei Tai. I use the straps to pin baby's legs down so baby is not as jumpy.

Happy Baby-Wearing!

Walking around with your toilet strapped to you? Gross!

Have you ever noticed how a new born baby always seems to wait until you open the diaper to pee? Who, in their right mind, really wants to mess their pants? Human babies are extremely smart and adaptable. If their potty needs are not being met, they learn to go in the diaper--then years later you have to teach that going in a diaper is wrong.

All those studies you have read that say children can't learn to control their bladders and bowels before a certain age were all done on babies who were already trained to go in a diaper. Of course, it is too confusing for a small child to be told that the same thing is both right and wrong. How disallusioned did you feel when you learned that Columbus did not actually "discover" America. If you never teach them to do the wrong thing, you don't have to break that habit.

For thousands of years families have begun potty training as soon as the baby comes out! Like Pavlov and his dogs, you make a sound when the baby excretes--so that the baby knows the sound and the feeling are connected. Then, when you know your baby needs to go, you hold a recepticle under him or her and make the sound. And they go! The first time this happened for us, I wanted to call everyone I knew. It is so exciting. Timing the pees and poos can be a good way to start. Make mental notes of when your baby goes--during nursing? right after nursing? 10 or 20 minutes after nursing? etc. Then try to put baby on the potty around that time--before the diaper gets soiled.

The more you nurse and wear your baby, the easier it is to get into a potty-groove. Perhaps there is a certain wiggle or eye-flutter that indicates baby is about to go. Listen to your intuition--and get others to help! Especially baby's Daddy!