Milking the Issue

Boobie Beanie

2012-02-13T13:43:00.000-08:00

If you are not in a rush, these hats are very fun, funny and made by hand: Boobie Beanie.

Breastfeeding Campaign

2012-02-13T10:22:00.000-08:00

I just love these ads found here. They are not in your face, but get the point across: Breastfeeding really helps.

Economic Stimulus Packages - June/July 2009 Fit Pregnancy

The ad relates to the economic stresses.

The ad copy reads: “Breastfeeding boosts your bank account and your baby’s immune system, saving you on hospital visits, doctor’s bills, medicine and missed days of work. It could also save billions on health care costs. Is your hospital, physician, employer and insurer doing their part to help you succeed? Let us help you find out at bestforbabes.org.”

Life Saving Devices - August 2009 Mom & Baby Magazine

The value of breastfeeding and donor milk. In the hospitals they refer to breastmilk as liquid gold. It is preferred for infant emergencies.

The ad copy reads: "Every day and in emergencies, breastfeeding saves lives. Planning on nursing? The night crew can make for smoother sailing. Get a support group. Get expert lactation help. Make sure your hospital, physician, employer and insurer are doing their part to help you succeed. We'll show you how at bestforbabies.org"

The Miracle Isn't the Bra - June 2010 USA Today's Pregnancy and Wellness Report

The ad copy reads: "The miracle is you and the milk only moms can make. Whether you breastfeed, use donor milk, or neither, finding the right support can make all the difference. Best for Babes will cheer you on and help you navigate the "Booby Traps" – the barriers that keep moms from achieving their personal breastfeeding goals. We'll also point you towards trusted WHO-Code compliant resources that protect your feeding decisions. Let us help you get started at brestforbabes.org"

Click here to order any of the posters above.

Guest Post - Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog

2012-02-06T09:11:00.000-08:00

Hi! I’m Heather. I am a mesothelioma cancer survivor (one of the 2%). I guest blog on the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog.

When my daughter Lily was just 3 ½ months old, I was diagnosed with mesothelioma. As any mother would, I knew I needed to fight to be part of the 2% of people who survive this disease. I did everything it took, including having the most extensive treatments, and even having to miss the 6^th month of Lily’s life while I was in Boston for surgery.

The reason I blog about my experience is to help other moms who may be going through a similar situation to my own. I want my blog to serve as a means of inspiration and hope to those who need it. In this way, I hope to help as many people as possible!

I hope that if you ever need some inspiration, you will check out my blog!

My Babyclothes

2012-01-23T11:25:00.000-08:00

My Baby Clothes has really cute things for babies and toddlers. They have a really cute selection. My youngest got a hat their and I want to go back to get this one:

Here are a few other cute picks I love:

If you are wanting to win a Gift Certificate to My Baby Clothes visit New Age Mama.

I See Me

2012-01-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

I think it's so important to read to your kids. It doesn't matter what age they are. They love the attention and they are learning while you read.

Start out with fabric or bathtub books with they are tiny. You need the book to be durable.Your baby is going to grab, rip and drool on the pages.
Move on to board books as they get to be early toddlers. They still need a book that is durable. Toddlers are not very careful and drop things a lot.
Later you can get to paper books.

Personalized books help children to connect to what you are reading. I See Me! is great site that is full of personal book options. Right now if you order a book, you get 16 free Valentines to go with the book purchased.

My Organized Chaos is giving away Who Loves Me? This is a great book for siblings. You can add more than one name!

Personalized Bears

2012-01-22T18:13:00.000-08:00

I have to say that I never was too into stuffed animals. I loved my dolls. My sons, especially my youngest has always been into stuffed animals. He has a parade of them on his bed. Personalized Teddy Bear has great gifts for a baby shower.

Fun Fritz Family is giving away a custom bear.

DIY - Baby Wipes

2012-01-19T14:21:00.000-08:00

My sister mixes up her own solution for baby wipes. It's super easy, less expensive and better for their bottom. If you use cloth diaper, you can wash the wipes right with the diapers.

My sister mixes her solution up in an animal cracker bear. The kind you'd get at Sam's Club or Costco. You can mix it up and put it in a squirt bottle. The spray would go right on the babies bum or on the cloth its self. Place cloth wipes in a commercial baby wipes container and pour wipes solution over wipes.

I found some recipes here:

Basic Wipe Solution

You can change the type of oil or soap.

1/2 cup baby oil

1/2 cup baby wash

2 cups water

Just One

I like this because it's easy to remember. It's just one of everything.
1 chamomile tea bag
1 teaspoon Olive Oil
1 teaspoon baby bath or shampoo
1 drop lavender oil
1 cup hot water

Essential Oil Solution

4 cups of warm water
2 to 4 drops Tea Tree Oil
2 to 4 drops Lavender Essential Oil1 tablespoon Grapeseed Oil
1 tablespoon Calendula Oil
2 tablespoons baby wash

Anti-Fungal

Omit vinegar if baby has a raw rash.
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon calendula oil
A few drops lavender oil
A few drops tea tree oil
1/4 cup 100% aloe vera gel
1 cup water

Anti-Fungal Two

This has less vinegar and water compared to the recipe above.
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon calendula oil
A few drops lavender oil
A few drops tea tree oil
1/4 cup 100% aloe vera gel
1/2 cup water

Almond 'n' Chamomile

Steep the tea bags in hot water, then add the oil.
2 chamomile tea bags
2 teaspoons almond oil
2 cups hot water

Chamomile 'n' Honey

Brew the tea, add the honey and drink any leftovers.
1 chamomile tea bag
1 teaspoon honey
1 cup boiling water

Lavender 'n' Tea Tree

1/8 cup Olive Oil
1 tablespoon baby shampoo
4 drops tea tree oil
8 drops lavender oil
3 cups water

Zany Lavender Solution

1 tablespoon baby oil
1 tablespoon lavender scented baby wash
2 to 3 drops lavender oil
3 cups water

Olive 'n' Tea Tree

1/4 cup Olive Oil (extra virgin not necessary)
1/8 cup gentle baby bath
A few drops tea tree oil
4 cups water

Castile Solution

Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap comes in several yummy scents.
1 tablespoon almond, apricot, or other oil
1 tablespoon Dr Bronner's Liquid Castile Soap
2 drops tea tree oil
1 drop lavender oil
1 cup water

Fruit 'n' Veggie

Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap comes in several yummy scents.
1 tablespoon fruit or vegetable-based oil
1 tablespoon Dr Bronner's Liquid Castile Soap
1 teaspoon 100% aloe vera gel
1 cup water

Zany Apricot Solution

1 tablespoon apricot oil
1 tablespoon unscented baby wash
3 cups water

Lotion Potion

1 tablespoon baby oil
1 tablespoon baby soap
1 tablespoon baby lotion
1 cup water

Magic Baby

1/2 cup Baby Magic Oil
1/2 cup Baby Magic Wash
2 cups water

Shampoo Style

1 tablespoon baby oil
2 teaspoons baby shampoo
2 1/2 cups water

Witch Hazel Solution

1 cup witch hazel
1/2 cup aloe vera juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon white vinegar

Nursing in Public

2012-01-09T11:48:00.000-08:00

First off I love this link! It's a very sarcastic post about how Breastfeeding is Offensive - NOT! Basically it illustrates how many women who breastfeed show a lot less than women in magazines. It socially acceptable for women to show their breasts in a sexy way, but not in a natural way? So crazy how a lot of society is!

Here are four tips for nursing in public-

Practice in front of a mirror. Reason being is that it's awkward at first. That shows on your face. If you are in front of a mirror, you will get used to it. The less awkward it is for you, it is the same for others.
Prepare things ahead of time. I usually made sure I went to places that had areas to breastfeed. Some places have mothers rooms. Babies R Us and Von-Mour are a few places that do. Other good stops are places that have more than one dressing rooms. I used to take clothes in with me to act like I was trying on something; instead I was really breastfeeding. You want to make it comfortable for you and your baby. A restroom wasn't that place for me! I would have rather gone to my car than a restroom.
Dress so it's easy to breastfeed. It doesn't have to be a nursing top. Just try and dress with loose clothing. Many people like a breastfeeding cover. This allows for privacy, yet has easy access. My sister used to breastfeed in public. People would come up to her to see the sleeping baby. That is all they thought, was that her little baby was sleeping. When in fact he was breastfeeding.
Have extra nursing pads. I leaked a lot more with baby number 1 than baby number 2. Sometimes a baby starts crying, and a mom starts leaking. It doesn't even have to be your own baby crying to have this happen. This is when extra pads come in handy. Layers help to. If you leak, you may want a thin shirt or jacket to put over your shirt.

Target Said Nothing, but Meant A Lot

2012-01-09T11:25:00.000-08:00

Target just used this ad:

It's typical. Kids playing, wearing clothing they sell. Did you notice that one of the kids has Down Syndrome?

Sometimes companies don't have to say anything to show support towards someone or something.

Here are a few things Target said by not saying anything:

I love that they went with the natural approach. They didn't seek out the classiest kids on the block. They went for kids that are real.
They said that all kids shouldn't be separated because of their differences.
They showed support for kids that have disabilities.
They showed that all kids can have fun with another.

Looking For a Onesie That's a Bit on the Different Side?

2011-12-30T07:35:00.000-08:00

Check out Beyond Adorable! They have tees and tennis shoes as well. It's a super hip store!

Yep I'm in love with their cuteness! New Age Mama is giving away one tee or onesie!

A Healthy Diet For Moms That are Breastfeeding

2011-12-28T11:59:00.000-08:00

I think it's important to just eat healthy and drink enough water to quench your thirst. I found a wonderful article put out by Medela on healthy eating.

Stay Hydrated and Stay Away From Caffeine

Drink a lot of water. Remember that whenever a baby drinks from you, you loose fluids. I made it a practice just to drink a glass water when my babies were eating. There's no need to drown yourself. Just drink enough that you are not thirsty still. Water is the best thing to drink.
Try and stay clear of caffeine. That is easier for some then others. For some odd reason with my youngest I had this new craving for coffee. My doctor said it was fine if I had one cup of coffee a day. That's all I would have anyhow. Check with your doctor. Drinking caffeine can make your baby edgy! While it keeps mom up, it does your baby to. The article said to limit yourself to 300 mg per day (about a 12 oz cup of coffee).

Don't Count Your Calories

If you were trying to loose weight, many moms do so when a baby breastfeeds. Just try and eat healthy. There is little limit to eating veggies. Fruits have sugar in them, but they are natural sugars. You will need protein to produce milk. If you are a vegetarian you can still breastfeed! Tofu and beans are great sources of protein. Enjoy all the food groups! You need a mix.
Typically, a breastfeeding mom needs an additional 300 to 500 calories per day. Go ahead and increase your food amount. I ate more while breastfeeding, and lost weight. Then when I weaned I gained weight. It's more when you are ending breastfeeding that you need to watch what and how much you eat.
Eat Cold-Water Fish. They are higher in DHA and Omega-3 Fatty acids. These vitamins help with eye and brain development. They also help reduce postpartum depression. Some milks have added these ingredients to them. Read labels.

Pay Attention to Food Allergies

I never had any problems, but my sister did. Her son broke out in hives and was very fussy; when she ate certain foods.
Other things to watch out for: Wheezing and green stools with mucus.
Talk to your child's doctor on this one. They will help with your diet to make your child a happier baby.

Supplements?

Ask your doctor. Mine told me to take my prenatal vitamin for the first few months. Then I switched to a Woman's One a Day vitamin. Really they say if you are eating a well balanced meal, you don't need supplements. I would just consult your doctor though.

Lipase

2011-12-27T13:56:00.000-08:00

This is a word I had never heard of. It was really frustrating to go through the work of pumping, freezing, washing all the parts and find out my milk was sour! When I had the problem of having a sour smell to my already frozen breastmilk, one lactation consultant knew what was going on, while another didn't.

Spoiled breastmilk is called "Lipase." It is when thawed milk tastes and smells sour.

There is something you can do to prevent lipase. You just need to scald your milk before freezing it.

When do you scald milk?

When it is fresh; before you freeze it.

How do you scald milk?

To scald milk: Place milk in a heavy-bottomed pan over low heat. Stir occasionally until the milk is just hot with steam and small bubbles appearing around the edges. Do not boil.

I used a double boiler. I put water in the outside pan, and my milk in the inner, smaller pan. I just warmed it up ever so slowly until small bubbles appeared around the edges. You are then done.

Does scalding break down the nutrients in milk?

Yes, but not anymore than freezing does.

For Crying Out Loud!

2011-12-21T11:58:00.000-08:00

It seems many parenting techniques change all the time.

It used to be that your baby was to be positioned on their tummy; now it's their back. The time frame in which solids are introduced changes as well.

I think the key thing is to research. You have to know and understand the professionals. Will you agree with everything you read? NOPE!

Of course you get A LOT of opinions. Some wanted, some not wanted.

I have a family with a Grandma that was a nurse, a Mom that was a nurse, 3 Aunts that are nurses, a sister that is a nurse and 2 cousin's that are nurses. Needless to say there are a lot of opinions in my family. Even when I breastfed, my Mom and one Sister were very supportive, while the others weren't as much. Hard to believe that any nurse wouldn't be supportive of that. It is true that some are not. Usually because they never breastfed themselves, or tried it and were unsuccessful.

The "Cry it Out" sleep technique is now under the fire!

You can read a whole article on this topic here. Please read it!

I always felt uncomfortable letting my kiddo's cry and cry some more. It's one thing to let them cry for 15 minutes. There are times where I tried everything and it seemed nothing would calm my little one down. Usually I'd find out later that it was a tooth coming through or a nasty ear infection. Twice, if I would have waited to attend my babies, they would have been closer to death. When my youngest, Isaak had meningitis we acted quickly. We were told that, if we would have waited to get him in the emergency room, that would have been very bad for our 2 month old! My Father was the one who acted quick in regards to our oldest having a staph infection. He noticed Mica's neck getting large. I'm so glad he noticed that! If he was in a daycare, it might of gone unnoticed.

Some parents let their kids cry for hours. They believe in self soothing. That is what many articles talked about just a few years ago. The articles mentioned that if you picked your child up, that was spoiling them.

Think of it this way: Your baby has no way of communicating except for crying when something is wrong. There is no such thing as spoiling a newborn. As they get older, sure you should let them cry in their crib, but not for long periods of time.

Listen to your instinct.

Remember that your baby's only way of communicating to you that something is wrong is to cry.

Some Adoptive Moms Learn to Breastfeed Their Babies

2011-12-08T13:33:00.001-08:00

I was looking over this article and am amazed as to how much times have changed with breastfeeding!

My oldest sister was adopted in the 1970's. It was a time were my parents were told that they could not get on a plane because they had an infant. They rode from Oregon all the way to Nebraska on a bus.

My Mother would have jumped at the chance to breastfeed my sister. The problems were that Moms at that time: A) Didn't know that they could. B) Didn't have very good double/affordable pumps.

It's still not the norm for Moms that adopt to breastfeed. It is happening more. Some Moms are making this happen because it adds health benefits for both child and mom. It also builds more of a bond between the two.

“It’s impossible for me to know what our bond would be like if I hadn’t done it, but I could not feel closer to my son,” said Schaeffer, whose son is now 11 months. “He’s got a really wonderful, very secure attachment to me. I don’t know how much (breastfeeding) played into it, but it sure didn’t hurt.” She also said, “It was such a relief, such a consolation that I would be able to have some sort of physical bonding.” -Schaeffer Article found here.

To produce milk, women take birth control pills for several months, fooling the body into thinking it’s pregnant. The guide also suggests domperidone, a gastrointestinal drug with a side effect of milk secretion.

Domperidone isn’t FDA-approved, and like Reglan, it can cause depression.

With the help of Domperidone and nipple stimulation; breastfeeding an adoptive child can be done. Many women pump a lot the moment they learn they are getting a new baby.

Some women are able to produce breastmilk without the use of drugs. There are also natural herbs like Fenugreek many women use to help produce more milk.

*Consult your doctor when you are taking any medicine to help with breastfeeding.

Many Mom's that attempt to breastfeed an adoptive child do have to supplement. Many that have a natural child have to do the same. Every liquid gold drop counts.

“This wasn’t my biological child, so I wanted to take every opportunity to bond with this baby that I could possibly get,” said Wilder.

Donor Milk

2011-11-21T11:39:00.001-08:00

Earth Mama Angel Baby sent me a great newsletter today about donor milk. I'm breaking the article down. If you want to read the whole article click here.

Milk Banking Questions

Why:

One in nine babies is born premature every day. These babies do better with breastmilk. It increases their survival, health and makes their hospital stay shorter. Sometimes Mother's are unable to produce enough. That is where the donors come into play.

Donors:

Donors are becoming more of a need. Unfortunately there are not a lot of sites out there for donors to acquire money for donating their pumped breastmilk. It's more about the deep personal satisfaction from knowing they have helped improve the health of other babies.

All donor milk is pasteurized in order to eliminate any bacteria or other infecting organisms that may have been present. Donors are screened before their milk is used.

Northwest Mother's Milk Bank:

The Northwest and Oregon have the highest breastfeeding rates in the nation. Their hospitals do not get donor human milk from their local area. Instead they get it from California and Colorado.

The Northwest Mother’s Milk Bank is working to open a local facility in their area. They need money for equipment and staff. For every box of Milkmaid Tea sold on Earth Mama Angel Baby from November 21 to December 30, 2011, Earth Mama will donate $1 to the Northwest Mother’s Milk Bank.

Guidelines:

There are special requirements that come from the donor themselves. They have to be clean, not taking any herbs or medicines.

How Much is Needed:

• A baby weighing 2 pounds takes up to 5.5 ounces of milk
• A baby weighing 4.5 pounds takes up to 12 ounces of milk
• A baby weighing 6.5 pounds takes up to 18 ounces of milk

Controversial Advertising of the 21st Century

2011-11-19T19:20:00.001-08:00

Source

Benetton is known for their controversial ads. Just lately they put out an ad with president Obama kissing the pope. Do you think they take advertising too far? Remember that their goal is to unit people of all colors.

Jump Start on the Holidays - Energizer Batteries Giveaway

2011-11-17T09:49:00.001-08:00

Babies and Kids + Toys and Products = A lot of Batteries!

Energizer® has just the solution to help you get a jump start on the holidays!

Batteries for the gifts and a free online movie on demand rental to help with the relaxation. Simply purchase a package of specially-marked Energizer® Ultimate Lithium, Energizer® Advanced Lithium or Energizer® Recharge AA batteries and you will receive a free online movie on demand rental reward that can be redeemed at Amazon.com, iTunes.com, Blockbuster.com or the YouTube store.

Once you get your batteries:

1. Visit www.energizer.com/movies
2. Follow the instructions to input your battery pack codes.
***Please note: this promotion is limited to one (1) REWARD CERTIFICATE PER PERSON/HOUSEHOLD/E-MAIL ADDRESS.
3. The last day to redeem codes is 4/30/12 at 11:59 p.m. ET   4. Your Reward Certificate does expire and must be redeemed for your online movie rental within 2 months from the date of issuance. Redemption of the Reward Certificate is subject to all terms and conditions and policies imposed by Hollywood Movie Money On-Demand Rewards.

Here's what Energizer® is giving away to one of my readers:

They are offering one lucky reader a giveaway package that includes two packs of either Energizer® Lithium or Energizer® Recharge batteries (or a combination of both if you prefer) marked with special codes.

Mandatory Entry:

What have you or are you thinking of buying for the holidays that requires batteries? Leave your email with this entry. {One Entry}

Optional Entries:

1. Google Friend this blog. {One Entry}

2. Like Apel Mom and Energizer on Facebook. Leave part of your Facebook name. {One Entry}

3. Like me on Twitter and Energizer on Twitter. Tweet about this giveaway daily. {One Entry}

4. Like me on Twitter and Energizer on Twitter. Tweet about this giveaway daily. {One Entry}

5. Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post. List the post. You are free to comment on any post, but only one can be used for this entry. {One Entry}

6. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post. {Five Entries}

7. Vote for me on We're on the Fence. Just click to vote. {One Entry}

This contest closes November 28 at 10 pm and is open to the US. Winners will be picked at Random.org and announced on my Giveaway Page.

Disclaimer:

The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.
I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out.
If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustration AT hotmail DOT com

Car Seats

2011-11-17T06:35:00.001-08:00

Manual

Make sure you look on your car seat manual. Many car seats last only five years. A lot of people use car seats much longer then specified in the manual.

Fitting It

Call your child's pediatrician to make sure you can find a local area to position your car seat in your car. Here local fire stations check them.

Out with the Old in with the New

There are also some places that will take old car seats in. Then they give you a discount in their stores. Toys R Us and Babies R Us do this certain times of the year. If you sign up for the mailing list; you will get this information from them.

Clek Car Seats

Clek Oobr and Olli Booster Car Seats are fashionable! I love that they are fun colors. Kids will enjoy sitting in their Paul Frank seats! My Organized Chaos is giving away two car seats! Woo Hoo! Hop on over to check out her giveaway!

Cloth Diapers

2011-11-14T07:54:00.001-08:00

If I could change one thing about my kid's babyhood, it would be that I should have used cloth diapers.

"Disposable diapers contain traces of dioxin, and extremely toxic by-product of the paper-bleaching process. It is a carcinogenic chemical, listed by the EPA as the MOST toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals. In small quantities, dioxin causes birth defects, immune system suppression, skin and liver diseases, and genetic damage in lab animals. It is banned in most countries, but not in the U.S." - Mother Herb Diaper Service

Want to start using cloth diapers? My Baby's Going Green has a great giveaway going on right now to get you started!

One grand prize winner will receive 2 pocket covers in sage plus 2 micro terry fleece toppers and 3 hemp-organic cotton inserts. Value-$85. Two winners will receive 1 pocket cover in sage plus 3 micro terry fleece topper inserts. Value-$46.50 each.

Nutrition Past Babyhood

2011-11-11T14:32:00.001-08:00

According to the USDA, children need to eat the following amounts and types of nutrients on a daily basis:

Protein

2-3 years old: 2 ounces

4-8 years old: 4 ounces

Grains

2-3 years old: 3 ounces

4-8 years old: 5 ounces

Vegetables

2-3 years old: 1 cup

4-8 years old: 1 ½ cups

Fruits

2-3 years old: 1 cup

4-8 years old: 1 to 1 ½ cups

Dairy

2-3 years old: 2 cups

4-8 years old: 2 ½ cups

DingaRings

2011-11-10T07:59:00.001-08:00

I really think these baby toys called DingaRings by Ob-Designs looks amazingly fun!

What I love about them:

There are many choices of characters.
They are all natural.
It's both for teething and play.
It has a rattle inside.

Win one at New Age Mama!

Healing Hearts - Baby Loss Comfort

2011-10-31T08:59:00.000-07:00

I think it's really hard to know what to say when you know that someones baby may not make it, or if the baby does pass away. Emotions are running high anyhow. A loss is devastating!

I felt this way over the summer when I knew my sister's baby was going to have problems. He stopped breathing many times. Somehow my nephew that has many odds against him, is now over 4 months old.

At the time, I didn't know what to say. She is my sister, and I didn't know how to comfort her. Nothing can prepare you for those days ahead.

If someone losses a baby, it is a major loss. I'm not sure all people can understand this. Some, especially people that have never carried a baby see it like this, "They can try again." Like it's no big deal. It's a huge deal! The parents worry that the same scenario could happen again.

A woman carries a baby in her for 9 months. There is a bond established. Daddy and Mommy had a chance to feel the baby move. Both parents got to see the ultrasound and get pictures.

Talking about the baby helps. Many wonder, "How do I talk about a life I never knew?"

Healing Hearts - Baby Loss Comfort is a great resource to go for baby loss.

What to say:

Many parents have a hard time knowing what to do, they are lacking on sleep and their minds are all over the place during a situation like this. You can offer to call people for them.
Let them know it's ok to cry.
Let them know that their child was unique, special and irreplaceable.
Talk to them about what their baby was like, even if they only knew the baby when they were inside the womb.
Offer to help them sort through the baby's clothes, toys and furniture when they are ready. Do not push them to do this.
If they have other kids, offer to take them out. This is one thing I did a lot of with my nephews.
Offer to run errands for them.
Tell them to be patient with themselves and give themselves time to heal. Let them know that there are no rules about grieving.
Offer to take care of the siblings during the funeral.
Talk about their pregnancy and baby.
Don't forget. They may not be ready to talk right away. Talk later on. Take them out to lunch.
Give them a list of support groups for when they are ready.

What not to say:

Don't make it sound like it was meant to be, or God's will.
Don't mention that their baby is in a better place. To the Mom, the best place is with her!
Don't rush the experience. Death is not something that can be rushed. Let them hold their baby if they pass, take photos. Time does not heal all wounds.
Don't talk about how you know how they feel. (Unless you have personally experienced the loss of a baby.)
Don't talk about their other children being all that they need. Each child is different.
Don't mention how it could have been worse. Each death experience is hard in it's own way.

Sources:
Grieving Resources
Healing Gifts
Remembering Baby

Free E-Cards
Follow Healing Hearts - Baby Loss Comfort on Facebook

Growth Spurts

2011-10-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

I remember when my oldest child had his first growth spurt. I was breastfeeding him. He ate so much! I thought for sure there was no way my breasts could produce enough milk for him!

Babies on average triple their birth weight in the first year. *Your Child's Growth

Usually when a baby gets sick they do one of two things: They don't want very much milk at all, or they breastfeed out of comfort. My boys did both. The times where they didn't want to breastfeed, my supply got really low. When they were on their upswings, they went through a growth spurt. Again I felt like I didn't have enough milk for them. Somehow a woman's body seems to compensate for their baby in need. It's so common to worry about not being able to produce enough milk.

After the first year I was expecting my children to still grow rapidly. They still grew, but their growth slowed way down. It seemed like small growth spurts with a big one thrown in every now and then.

Now my children are older. Isaak is now 3 and Mica is 6. My 3 year old is going through a growth spurt. He is eating everything we give him and then some! One thing my husband noticed is that Isaak wets the bed when he is in the midst of a growth spurt. Our other son did this to. They consume so much throughout the day and go to the bathroom like normal. The fluids in their food have to come out of their bodies somehow. We go from many dry nights to accidents like crazy, then back to being dry again. It's a cycle that a child can not help.

A few things you can do to help:

Limit liquids in the evening or at night.
Take your child potty right before you go to bed. We take Isaak potty around 10 pm.
Don't go back to diapers. Keep your child in underwear or panties. If you are not wanting to change the sheets; put a diaper on the outside. Gerber sells plastic training pants that we put on the outside of underwear. You want them to feel that they are wet. We also have padded blankets that we put on his bed; this way we don't have to wash all the bedding if he does happen to leak.

Snacks for Kids

2011-10-27T12:48:00.000-07:00

One snack I think that would be great to try is Giddy Dip 'Ems! Life in the Lost World is giving 2 winners a chance to win this snack!

“What makes eating fun for kids? Playing with their food! Based in San Francisco, giddy is an all-natural snack company that proves wholesome snacking doesn’t have to be boring or bland through its all natural snacktivities – interactive snacks that are dipped, peeled, spread or created. Time constrained moms love that giddy is a convenient on the go snack option free of high fructose corn syrup, preservatives and artificial ingredients, and kids love the great taste and fun formats!"

Other Fast Snack Ideas:

Cut up carrot sticks
Snap peas
Grapes
Bunny Cracker
Pretzel Crisps

Lactation Cookies

2011-10-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

These are great because they are healthy, will help everyone in the house, not just baby and mom!

Want to make some on your own?

Here's a great recipe!

Milk Trays

2011-10-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

I feel like Milk Trays are the way to go with freezing breastmilk.

I happened to use Orka Ice Cube Trays when I froze my milk. They to have lids and were BPA free. I liked that they had silicone bottoms and were different colors. The variety of colors helped me to see which one I pumped first and last. The negatives were that they were not as thin as the Milk Trays. Thin = less time to thaw out when baby is hungry. If you pump a lot, you may have more milk then will fit into the trays. If I were a new mom today, I'd get both Orka Ice Cube Trays and Milk Trays. Orka Ice Cube Trays were really nice for baby food! The color really helped me to the differences between foods that I made. Sometimes foods look exactly alike when in cube form. I think Milk Trays would be better for milk!

Source

I've tried multiple ways of freezing milk. The bags take longer to thaw out. Then the seems leak milk.

With this system you can drop the frozen milk into drop in liners, or stainless steel bottles. They thaw quicker, with little to no mess.

Just Some Features:

BPA and Phthalate free.
Made from a medical-grade plastic.
Designed by working and breastfeeding moms.
16 (8 in each try) cavities that each equal one ounce. I like this because you know how much you are getting out before you thaw the milk.
You buy 1 unit that has 2 trays and 2 lids for $21.95 at Mom4Life. No tax or shipping costs.
The 2 trays stack easily.
Fits through all bottle openings.
Made in the USA

Right now Mom4Life is giving away a set of Milk Trays. Go there to enter!

EZ Sox Review

2011-10-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

One thing I have found difficult with both my children is teaching them how to dress themselves. I felt really good last year because my youngest Isaak knew how to put on his socks. Since summer came, he hardly wore socks. Isaak forgot how to put socks on. I found myself reteaching him this task. Ez Sox really helps out!

They sent Isaak a pair of their bear socks to try out.

You can see that Isaak hasn't totally mastered putting his socks on. He is super close to getting the hang of it!

I love that these socks have handles! It makes putting them on so much easier.

Ez Sox encourages imaginative play with their animal socks. Isaak saw that his socks had bears on them and wanted to pretend to be a bear.

Ez Sox has a lot of other animal socks to choose from. If you are not an animal lover, they have solid socks as well.

Right now if you buy a pair of their socks, they will donate socks to Clothes 4 Souls. Every purchase online will help a child out.

From now until November 30 Ez Sox is giving my readers a discount. That means you will get 50% off your order by liking them on Twitter and Facebook. You will see your coupon code on their Facebook page.

These socks could make excellent stocking stuffers for Christmas time!!!

Disclaimer:

The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. EZ Soxs provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustrationAThotmailDOTcom

Earth Mama Angel Baby Booby Tubes Review and Giveaway

2011-10-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy to bring this giveaway to my readers!!! Booby Tubes by Earth Mama Angel Baby is a new product to me. They are an amazing set of tubes that help ease the symptoms mastitis, engorgement and clogged milk ducts.

The product is natural, gel-fee, microwavable and freezable breast packs in organic cotton shells, filled with all-natural flax seed.

My sister tried Booby Tubes out. She's struggled a lot with nursing Emerson. He's a special needs baby. Much of the time he won't nurse, so she pumps a lot! Then he's fed Mommy Milk through a NG tube. That takes a lot of time. She said that Booby Tubes are super soft. When I looked at her, I didn't even know she had them in her bra. If you are a full time working Mom with a sit down job, no one will even see you wearing booby tubes.

How to use your Booby Tubes:

Cool: Store in the freezer and wear inside your bra between feedings. Use for engorgement tenderness and during weaning.

Warm: Microwave for 20 to 40 seconds and apply to breasts five minutes before feeding or pumping. Microwave settings vary, so keep testing the temperature. Or preheat the oven to the lowest setting and place in an oven-safe dish (away from the heating element) for 10-15 minutes. Use to encourage let-down and milk flow, help prevent clogged milk ducts and comfort mastitis.

How to Clean Your Booby Tubes:

Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Mama Says:

Engorgement is often confused with mastits (both are uncomfortable!). Symptoms of mastits include malaise, fever, chills, and/or hardness or redness of the breasts, and can become serious quickly. If symptoms of mastitis are present consult your health care provider immediately. Continue nursing as usual.

Now for the giveaway. One US or Canadian winner is going to win a set of Booby Tubes from Earth Mama Angel Baby!

1. For your first mandatory entry, check out Earth Mama Angel Baby and tell me what product you'd love to have or give as a gift! {Leave your email with this first entry}

All other entries are optional. You do not need to leave your email with additional entries.

2. Google Friend this blog. {Leave one comment}
3. Add my Milking the Issue button to your site. Leave me your site link. {Leave one comment}
4. Become an email subscriber. You do need to verify. {Leave three comments}

5. {Like} Earth Mama Angel Baby on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in your entry. {Leave one comment}
6. {Like} Apel Mom on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in your entry. {Leave one comment}
7. {Connect up} with Earth Mama on Twitter. Leave your Twitter name in your entry. {Leave one comment}

8. {Connect up} with Me on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway. Leave your Twitter name in your entry. {Leave one comment}
9. Leave a comment on a non giveaway post. Let me know the title of the post you comment on. You are free to leave many comments, but only one entry for this giveaway. {Leave one comment}
10. Blog about this giveaway. Link back to Milking the Issue and Earth Mama Angel Baby. {Leave a link. Leave five separate comments}

This contest closes in 2 weeks, October 30 at 10 pm. This is open to US and Canadian Readers. The winner has 48 hours to claim their prize. Winners are chosen using random.org.

Disclaimer: The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustrationAThotmailDOTcom

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cute or prevent any disease.

News

2011-10-14T13:46:00.000-07:00

Such a cool way to introduce a baby!

News from Don Rob on Vimeo.

I'm Sorry

2011-10-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

To me it's very important to apologize to my children when I'm in the wrong. I think a lot of parents out there are too stubborn to admit that they too make mistakes. It's also hard to calm yourself down in the heat of a moment. We are focused on our anger more then how to be better person.

Kids learn from their parents. Many behavior traits that you have, they mimic.

Here are a few things to consider:

Think about how you could have handled a situation in a different way.
Replay what happened in your mind.
Think about it from your child's perspective.
Imagine how your child feels. Ex: Are they scared of you? Did you hurt them?
This is when it's time to communicate steps 1-4 to your child. Follow through. You will in the long run have an understanding of your child and yourself.
Now that you both are on talking terms, this is the time to tell your child, "I'm sorry." If they did something wrong, explain that they need to apologize to you as well.

Now that you know how your child feels and they know how you feel, you both can grow into being better people. They will be better about apologizing. They will look up to you for apologizing to them.

In the end you need to forgive yourself. Mistakes happen. We're all human. Know that you are not a horrible mother; just a better one for admitting that you were in the wrong.

Personal Example: My Three year old was really testing me. He was not getting in the car. The boy dawdles a lot. It seems to be common place for him to move slow and insist that he gets himself in his car seat. Instead of understanding that time means very little to him, I was irritated with him. I picked him up and harshly put him in his car seat. When I did that, I bumped his head. Did I mean to bump his head? No! Did I feel bad? Yes and no. At the moment I was thinking, "That's what you get for moving so slow!" I didn't say that by the way! I felt that way until I started thinking about his perspective and replayed the situation in my head. Once he calmed down we had a talk. I apologized. Then he apologized.

It doesn't matter what age your child is. Apologizing is a lot like learning the words, "Thank you" and "Please." You have to start somewhere.

Dressing Up is Fun

2011-10-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

Even for babies:

Baby Loving Mama is giving away one of these sweet outfits from Corner Stork Baby Gifts and More. I love that these outfits are fun, yet not bulky or make it difficult to put them in a car seat!

Want to Win a $25 GC to My Baby Clothes Boutique?

2011-10-09T22:51:00.000-07:00

Enter here to win on my other site!

My Baby Clothes Boutique sent me FORE Braid Two Tone Fedora to review. It's so cute!

This is such a classic hat. It makes my little boy stylish! Fedoras are back! This hat is made to last. The material inside is so soft.

I have to admit that I had a hard time deciding what to buy at My Baby Clothes Boutique. I love all their baby hats! I had to go through 10 of them with Daddy before we decided what to get.

My Baby Clothes Boutique has such cute baby head bands, baby clothes and if I had a little girl I'd be first in line to get one of their adorable tutus!

Enter to win a $25 GC to My Baby Clothes Boutique at Planet of the Apels.

Green Earth Bamboo

2011-10-04T11:46:00.000-07:00

I love the feeling bamoo! My youngest son has a crib sheet made out of bamboo. It's so soft to the touch!

My Organized Chaos is giving away a $50 coupon to Green Earth Bamboo.

Check out some of these cute little finds:

KidzMed VeraTemp Non-Contact Thermometer Review and a Giveaway on My Other Blog!

2011-10-03T19:11:00.000-07:00

I am hosting a giveaway for one of my Planet of the Apels readers to win a KidzMed VeraTemp Non-Contact Thermometer! Just click here to enter.

American Scientific Resources sent me KidzMed VeraTemp™ Non-Contact Thermometer to review and giveaway.

Fever:

I took my babies temperatures a few times a day at different stages just to know what their normal temp was. When something seemed off I knew what their temp should be. They have no way of telling you that they are not feeling good other then to be fussy. If you are ever concerned, call your doctor right away! Many offices have an on-call nurse for in the middle of the night concerns.

If I knew something like KidzMed VeraTemp™ Non-Contact Thermometer existed when my kids were babies, I would have gotten one! I'm so glad to review and give one away!

Reading Body Temperature:

Choose Centigrade or Fahrenheit.
Press MODE until the word Body appears in the display.
This is the cool part! With the thermometer positioned about 2 to 3 inches, or about 3 fingers width away from the forehead, press the SCAN button. The temperature is displayed instantly.

What we like about KidzMed VeraTemp™ Non-Contact Thermometer:

My son likes that he doesn't have to put it in his mouth for it to read his temperature. You can take their temp without waking them up from a deep sleep.
This is super cool: It has multiple uses. Sure it takes your child's temp. It also takes the nursery, formula, breastmilk, bath and food temps as well!
It is pediatrician recommended.
It has automatic shut off.
The package comes with instructions, batteries and a small bag to put your thermometer in!

Go here to win one!

Disclaimer:

The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. American Scientific Resources provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustrationAThotmailDOTcom

A Mom and Her Baby - One Year of Breastfeeding

2011-09-30T14:30:00.000-07:00

One year is quite an accomplishment! Check out Carla's blog!

Congrats to Carla and happy birthday to Hannah! Read all about their journey on Carla, the Bubblelush’s blog and YouTube channel, and get inspired.

Club Foot

2011-09-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

My nephew Emerson was born with a club foot. This is harder to fix on it's own then bowed feet. Bowed feet can happen with any baby.

He just got his foot cast yesterday. No bones are broken. They just massage the foot to bend it; then cast it.

I got to sign Emerson's cast yesterday.

Bowed Feet

2011-09-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

I had problems with my youngest having bowed feet/leg. In particular the left foot/leg.

Kids can get this from being in the womb. Basically they position themselves with the curvature of Mommy's belly. Their feet form to that curve. I was told by our pediatrician, "Don't worry about it. His feet will fix themselves over time."

He ended up going through teething and was really off balanced. He literally tripped over his own foot and ran smack into my sister's coffee table. We had to take him in to get stitches in his forehead.

Later we saw a different pediatrician to get Isaak's stitches out. Our doctor was not in the office that day. He told us to see an orthopedic doctor. The orthopedic doctor wrote us out a prescription to get special shoes to wear. I was freaking out! I was thinking my son would have problems with walking, running and was worried about the cost of special shoes. They basically looked like they were on the wrong feet. They were supposed to mold his feet back to being straight. Cost: $100, that insurance company does not cover. Insurance believes that all special foot ware is cosmetic. Therefore they won't cover the cost.

We went in for a check-up back at our pediatrician. Our doc said that those shoes do nothing to fix their feet. It's actually better to let them run around barefoot or in soft shoes like Robeez. We went back to wearing shoes like these:

Found here.

Today my son Isaak is now 3 years old. His feet look just fine.

You can find more information out about bowed feet here.

What is DHA? - Do We Need it?

2011-09-23T20:50:00.000-07:00

DHA is something that is added into some milks and formulas. I always knew it was a good thing.

According to this website, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is a long-chair polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acid. DHA accounts for about 97 percent of the omega-3 fats in the brain and 93 percent of the omega-3 fats in the retina. It also benefits the heart.

By taking it, it strengthens the brain, eyes and heart. Just like calcium is essential for building strong bones.

DHA is found in cold water fatty fish, such as salmon. It is also found in fish oil supplements, along with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Vegetarian sources of DHA come from seaweed.

A study was just done where med students added DHA into formula to see if babies would pay attention to pictures and computer screens longer. They did.

If your child is given cows milk, try and get one where it is rich in DHA. Talk to your pediatrician about adding DHA into your child's diet.

Give to Operation Smile

2011-09-11T21:00:00.000-07:00

Operation Smile is a nonprofit organization that focuses on healing children's smiles. They look into safe, effective reconstructive surgery for children born with facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate.

Some children are born unable to socialize, speak, eat or smile because they have a cleft palate.

Image found here.

My oldest child was born with a cyst under his tongue. This made his tongue deformed. They told me my son may never talk or eat. I'm thankful he does both just fine. Operation Smile is a nonprofit organization that I can relate to.

Donate to Operation Smile here.

A company called Campus Book Rentals proudly donates to Operation Smile. Rent a college book for 1/2 the price of buying a book. Campus Book Rentals will then donate some of that cost to Operation Smile.

Disclaimer: The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the a basket of chocolate covered fruit. If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustrationAThotmailDOTcom

What Do You Think of Cow's Genetics Being Altered to Produce Breastmilk?

2011-09-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

Is a crime against nature being committed solely for corporate greed? You can read about this in the article found here.

Image found here.

Myths and Facts About Breastfeeding

2011-09-08T20:33:00.000-07:00

There was an article in the Living Section of the Omaha World Herold Newspaper on August 29th called Myths and Facts About Breastfeeding. It was written by: Katy Healey.

Myth: There is no way to know if the baby is getting enough milk.

Fact: There are several ways to know if baby is getting enough milk at the breast: Swallowing is heard, the baby is relaxed after feeding, it has adequate wet and soiled diapers and adequate weight gain. After breastfeeding, a baby should act satisfied and not continue to exhibit feeding cues or mouthing motions that typically indicate hunger.

Myth: Moms don't make enough breast milk.

Fact: Moms who breastfeed regularly and frequently will supply enough milk, assuming the baby latches on properly. Milk supply may decrease if milk isn't being removed from the breast. If it's not removed, it's not going to be replenished. Sometimes medical conditions do affect milk production. Contact a lactation consultant for more information.

Myth: Modern formulas are the same as breastmilk.

Fact: Modern formulas are very different from breastmilk. Breastmilk is made specifically for human babies, and therefore is the most easily digested and the nutrients are readily absorbed. Formulas are made from cows milk and plant derivatives and do not contain the immunologic properties that protect babies from infection.

Myth: Breastfeeding is painful.

Fact: Breastfeeding can be painful if baby is not latching on properly. The baby's nose should be aligned with the nipple so when baby opens his or her mouth wide, the nipple goes to the roof of the baby's mouth. If it is painful to breastfeed, contact a lactation consultant.

Myth: Moms who have infections should stop breastfeeding.

Fact: Mothers do not need to stop breastfeeding with most infections. In fact, breastfeeding while mom is sick provides babies with extra protective immunities specific to that infection. Seek advice from a lactation consultant if there is any question.

Myth: Moms on medication cannot breastfeed.

Fact: Most medications are compatible with breastfeeding, especially if it is safe to take during pregnancy. There are some medications that should not be taken, but often there are others that can be substituted. Seek advice from a certified lactation consultant or physician to determine safety.

Myth: Mothers must wash their nipples before breastfeeding.

Fact: Mothers do not need to wash their nipples prior to breastfeeding because doing so can remove the beneficial oils that are secreted from Montgomery glands. The Montgomery glands are small pimple-like structures around the areola that produce oil that lubricates the areola and nipple and discourages bacterial growth. Daily rinsing with warm water while bathing is sufficient.

Sources: Carlie Lesley, lactation consultant, Nebraska Medical Center; Sue Hall, lactation consultant, Methodist Woman's Hospital

ecomom - Baby Samples Review and $15 Giveaway!

2011-09-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

ecomom sent me some baby samples to review. They have of 2,000 healthy, smart and safe products for babies, kids, moms and dads.

These are the products they sent me:

My sister and I have both tried their Earth Mama Angel Baby Organic Milkmaid Tea. It tastes good, smells wonderful, helps boost breastmilk production and is caffeine free. ecomom sells a variety of their teas: For different stages in pregnancy, heartburn and No More Milk for mamas that are weaning.

My sister has had huge issues with breastfeeding my newest nephew since he has Trisomy 18. Her nipples are sore a lot. She uses Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter. I love that it is ok for both mom and baby. I never knew that with some nipple creams, they are unsafe to digest. With this brand there are literally no worries. It is 100% natural plant-based nipple cream, made with out lanolin to safely soothes, moisturize and protect sore nipples.

I had the great opportunity of trying out Kiddo - Hellomellow Avocado-Mango Butter Body Massage Oil on my nephew Emerson and cousin's baby Alex. They both were calmed and soothed. I rubbed their feet, backs and tummies. If you give your baby a tummy rub, rub in a clockwise motion. The oil is made with bergamot, chamomile and sweet orange infused body oil. I thought they had a hint of citrus to them when I was done.

Kiddo - Hellomellow Diaper Rash Bumbutter is a great diaper rash cream. Mainly because all the ingredients are pure! They include: Avocado, mango butter, essential oils of bergamat, orange and chamomile.

I'm so excited to get and try out Episencial Soothing Cream for eczema, itched and bothered skin! My youngest son Isaak has eczema issues on his scalp right now. I've managed to get the symptoms to decrease. He had scratched it, so I put this cream on the places that are scabbed over. It really didn't make his hair greasy looking like most products do. It's free from additives, has probiotics in the cream and is BPA free.

ecomom wanted me to tell you about their great new program called ecopass. This allows readers to purchase a $99 annual membership, which provides for a 15% discount on every order, as well as free shipping with no $50 minimum requirement. ecopass pays for itself in as few as four orders and costs only $8.25 a month.

Now for the giveaway. It is for a $15 gift certificate to ecomom.
Include your email address if you do not have it public in your profile. You can enter if you are not a blogger. Leave a separate entry for each. Make sure the first mandatory entry is filled out before all others. This is open to US and Canadian readers. You can not enter if you have won something from Eco Mom in the past 45 days.

For your first mandatory entry, check out ecomom and tell me what you'd pick out with your gift certificate if you win! {Leave your email with this first entry}
Google Friend this blog. {Leave one comment}
Add my Milking the Issue button to your site. Leave me your site link. {Leave one comment}
{Like} ecomom on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in your entry. {Leave one comment}
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{Connect up} with Eco Mom on Twitter. {Leave one comment}
Leave a comment on a non giveaway post. Let me know the title of the post you comment on. You are free to leave many comments, but only one entry for this giveaway. {Leave one comment}
Blog about this giveaway. Link back to Milking the Issue and ecomom. {Leave a link. Leave five separate comments}
Vote for me on We're on the Fence! Just click on the button to the side to vote. {Leave one comment}
Enter any of my other giveaways located on my sidebar. {Leave one comment per giveaway you've entered}

This contest closes in 2 weeks, September 19 at 10 pm. This is open to US and Canada Readers.

The winner will be chosen using random.org.

Disclaimer: The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustrationAThotmailDOTcom

Does Your Baby or Child Have Eczema?

2011-08-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

We've struggled off and on with baby eczema on our boy's scalps. I've tried so many shampoos, oils and lotion products.

First off I should begin with the fact that many kids get eczema because they are allergic to certain foods. Cows milk is a hug culprit. If you think your child may be allergic to cows milk and is getting eczema, try another kind of milk. Rice and almond milk are great alternatives!

I've also read here that babies can have an overload on antibiotics. That may be a big reason why doctors have chosen to do away with antibiotics for most ear infections.

My boy's got lots of antibiotics when they were babies because one had meningitis and the other had a life threatening staph infection. My boy's don't seem to have problems with foods, but sometimes flair up in the heat with baby eczema. I blame the antibiotics that saved their lives for their eczema issues. I truly believe that my two son's have to be healed from the inside out. Creams and oils don't do that.

The best way I've dealt with this problem:
It doesn't go away over night!

Get a good probiotic!

This puts the good bacteria back into their systems. Antibiotics takes away both good and bad bacteria. Probiotics put the good back in. They are ok for anyone to take.

Look for the cultures to be listed on the container. Walgreens has some for kids, but I noticed that they didn't have the cultures listed. Also get it in a powder form, so it can be mixed in with food or drink. I wanted one that was refrigerated. If you have a live bacteria, it only makes since to me that if it's not refrigerated that it would not last.

Rub Olive Oil on their head!

That's right Olive Oil. It's hard because in my case it's on their scalp. I do this the evening of bath night. It sit on their head for a few hours before bath. Commercially they sell many creams and oils for babies. Some have steroids in them! I've read that keeping eczema moist helps it from peeling and cracking. Olive Oil works well. No steroids!

Give them an Oatmeal Bath!

This helps with itching! Works well with chickenpox to! Grind 2 cups of oatmeal in a mini food processor. Add it to your child's bath. My son's LOVED this! Then I used a screen to catch the remaining particles, so the drain wouldn't get clogged.

I've even read that applying breastmilk to a babies eczema outbreak helps! I have not tried this, but it may be worth a shot.

A few good articles:
Natural Remedies for Eczema
Baby Eczema Treatments - Natural Remedies
Baby Eczema

Snack Bags for First Foods

2011-08-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

If you are in need of first food snack bags, Cora Carolina is your place to go!

I love reusable snack bags! I use them daily and wish I would have known and bought some of these when my kids first started snacking.

They are a bit pricey, around $9. Think about how many boxes of sandwich bags you wouldn't have to buy!

These are safer, reusable, dishwasher/washer safe! They work great for school age kids lunches!

Finger Food Ideas for Older Babies:

Veggies:

Small dices of soft cooked veggies mixed as a "veggie salad"

Make sure you don't introduce too many foods at once

Small bits of soft baked {acorn or butternut} squash
Soft baked sweet potato dices or fries
Small bits of soft baked green beans

Fruits:

Soft baked bits of peaches
Small dices of ripe banana
Dices of ripe pears
Small bits of avocado

Other Ideas:

Cereals {Multi-Grain Cheerios}
Tofu cubes "dusted" with wheat germ or cereal dust
Diced toast

Bamboobies and a Book Giveaway

2011-08-26T00:02:00.000-07:00

What are Some Breastfeeding Must Haves?

Bamboobie breast pads for leaky breasts
Lanolin nipple cream for sore nipples
Medela Pump in Style double breast pump
Breastfeeding bras

What are Some Breastfeeding Wants?

Boppy for pillow support
Breastfeeding jewelery to remember which side you fed on last
Spit up rags
Medela wipes to quickly clean off parts

Awhile ago I reviewed Bamboobies through ecomom! I liked them so much that I decided to purchase some more to giveaway to one of my US readers! To me this product is a must have for new moms that choose to breastfeed.

What are Bamboobies?
They are super soft bamboo breast pads.

Why do I like Bamboobies?

They are thin. No one can see them through your shirt.
They are leak-proof.
They are packaged in their own laundry bag.
They are better on your skin because they are made out of bamboo.
They are heart shaped.
Each bag comes with daytime pad; as well as nighttime ones. The nighttime ones are thicker and bigger then average pads.

Day Time Pads

Nighttime Pads

I'm giving away one bag of Bamboobies along with my favorite breastfeeding book!

This giveaway is open to US only and ends Sept 16 at 11:59 pm. There is only one entry for this giveaway!

Tell me if you are a first time mother, a mother of more then one, or someone that's here looking for a baby gift? Leave your email address with this entry. one entry

The other entries are optional. Be sure to leave a new comment for each.

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You do not need to enter all of the entries to be qualified, just the first mandatory entry.

Remember to leave your email address if it is not public in your profile.

This contest closes September 16 at 10 pm.

The winner will be chosen using random.org.

Disclaimer:
The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.
I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. In this case I bought the product. If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustration AT hotmail DOT com

Earth Mama Organics Milkmaid Tea and Mug Reveiw and Giveaway!

2011-08-25T13:52:00.000-07:00

I've been looking for baby stuff to get my sister. I wanted things that she would find useful.

I went to some of my favorite baby stores to look around! The Baby Store Plus is one of them. They have a variety of products. Not just for baby, but for kids and mom to!

I ended up getting my sister a box of Earth Mama Organics Milkmaid Tea. I bought extra to giveaway!

I love this tea! I had some when my son Isaak was getting better from meningitis. While he was sick, he wanted little milk. When he got better he wanted a lot of milk. The trouble was, my supply got low. This tea really helped!

The Baby Store Plus is closing their doors. That means that they are having a HUGE sale right now! Everything is marked down. No codes needed. They have a flat $6.95 shipping rate for anything under $75.

I ordered something to giveaway just to one of my readers! Yep that is right, you! One of my US readers is going to get two boxes of Earth Mama Organics Milkmaid Tea and the 11 ounce mug featured below.

This giveaway is open to US only and ends September 16 at 10 pm. Leave a separate entry for each. Make sure the first mandatory entry is filled out before all others.

For your first mandatory entry, tell me what breastfeeding product you could use from The Baby Plus Store! Leave your email address with this entry. one entry

The other entries are optional. Be sure to leave a new comment for each.

Google Friend this blog. one entry
Add my Milking the Issue button to your site. Leave me your site link. one entry
{Like} Me on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in your entry. one entry
Leave a comment on a non giveaway post. Let me know the title of the post you comment on. You are free to leave many comments, but only one entry for this giveaway. one entry
Blog about this giveaway. Link back to this post. Leave a link. five entries
Enter any of my other blogs listed on the sidebar. Each one you enter counts as an extra entry. Just leave the name of the one you entered. one entry per giveaway
Vote for me on We're on the Fence! Just click on the button {on my right side bar} to vote. one entry

You do not need to enter all of the entries to be qualified, just the first mandatory entry.

Remember to leave your email address if it is not public in your profile.

This contest closes September 16 at 10 pm.

The winner will be chosen using random.org.

Disclaimer:
The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.
I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. In this case I bought the product. If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustration AT hotmail DOT com

ecomom

2011-08-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

ecomom is pretty darn cool if you ask me. Find out for yourself with FREE Shipping on EVERY order. They have Plum Organics, Revolution Foods, BOBA Organic G2, Melissa & Doug, Episencial Skin Care (5 star products). They also have a ton of great stuff for BREASTFEEDING too!

Pink BabyLegs Giveaway

2011-08-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

I bought a pair of pink BabyLegs awhile ago because I kept thinking that someone in my family was bound to have a girl. The next generation in my family seems to be mostly boys.

BabyLegs can be worn not only on the legs, but also the arms. Check out my two sons wearing the same pair of Bones BabyLegs:

I simply love how they can be worn on the legs, later under their shorts and further down the road on their arms!

They were perfect when Isaak had meningitis. It was a pain to dress him. BabyLegs kept his legs warm! The nurses loved them too!

About BabyLegs:

They started when a mom had problems with her daughter having diaper rash. She wanted to keep her legs warm, but the rash needed air to heal. The mom used a pair of adult socks to keep her child's legs warm.

Soon the socks feet were cut off. She realized that they helped protect her daughter's knees with crawling, made diaper changing and potty training easier.

BabyLegs Socks:

More recently the company has started selling socks. My only negative critique on them is that they only go up to age 2. I bought their football set for my youngest son! He only wanted to ware these socks! Then he was upset when he outgrew them!

Giveaway

I am giving away to one lucky reader a pair of pink BabyLegs {shown above}. This giveaway is open to US only and ends September 1 at 10 pm.

Leave a separate entry for each. Make sure the first mandatory entry is filled out before all others.

For your first mandatory entry, tell me what pair of BabyLegs leg warmers or socks you like! Leave your email address with this entry. one entry

The other entries are optional. Be sure to leave a new comment for each.

Google Friend this blog. one entry
Add my Milking the Issue button to your site. Leave me your site link. one entry
{Like} Me on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in your entry. one entry
Leave a comment on a non giveaway post. Let me know the title of the post you comment on. You are free to leave many comments, but only one entry for this giveaway. one entry
Blog about this giveaway. Link back to this post. Leave a link. five entries
Vote for me on We're on the Fence! Just click on the button {on my right side bar} to vote. one entry

You do not need to enter all of the entries to be qualified, just the first mandatory entry.

Remember to leave your email address if it is not public in your profile.

This contest closes in 2 weeks, September 1 at 10 pm.

The winner will be chosen using random.org.

Disclaimer:
The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.
I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. In this case I bought the product. If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustration AT hotmail DOT com

The story goes like this...

2011-08-18T11:24:00.000-07:00

My sister has had a lactation consultant at her home a lot. Having a child that has one extra chromosome takes a lot of work! Not just with breastfeeding, but with everything else to!

Emerson pulled his feeding tube out 2 nights ago. Lucky for my sister, she's a nurse. It took her one try to get it back in! Yay for her! She's not even a pediatric nurse.

She was telling her lactation consultant about my blog, Milking the Issue. Now the lactation consultant has my blog on her list for new mom's! :) I'm so happy!

By the way, Emerson now is 8 weeks old! Happy 8 week birthday! Aunt Lissy loves you!

All my nephews and niece call my "Aunt Lissy." My name is really Alissa. I think that got started with my niece because she couldn't say my name. It stuck because it's just so cute to hear a little voice say, "Aunt Lissy!"

Baby Clothes Rule!

2011-08-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

I have to say that I wish they made the same t-shirts that they do for babies for adults to. :) Some of them are so darn cool!

Now that my boys are a little older the selection of clothing has gone down hill.

I found a new shop I like today called Organic Baby Gift Boutique.

Here are just a few things I spotted that I like:

I'd love to get this for my nephew Emerson. It comes in brown to!

Then they have these t-shirts of every letter in the alphabet! These run bigger. How cool is that!?! My son's names are Mica and Isaak, so naturally I'd want to get the m and i shirt.

New Age Mama is giving away a $25 gift certificate to this store!

PS I will be having some giveaways on this site later this month. I'm so excited!

Posh Nursing Pads

2011-08-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

Posh Pads is a really great company! I had never heard of them until just now! I'm super excited to tell you about finding this company!

Life in the Lost World is hosting a giveaway for Posh Pads! One winner is going to receive a 4 pack of her adorable heart shaped, "My Heart Belongs to You" nursing pads!

Name Books

2011-08-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

I love books that can be customized! I really feel that kids have a better connection with a book when they see their name in it. The also learn how to spell their name early on when they see it repeated.

One lucky winner is going to receive the personalized book of their choice from I See Me at New Age Mama.

My Top Ten Perks of Breastfeeding

2011-07-31T08:13:00.000-07:00

Bonding. You can bond in other ways, but bonding with breastfeeding is amazing.
When you breastfeed, you have no bottles to clean up! I know there are when you pump. I worked full time, so I still had bottles to clean. In the middle of the night I am happy to say that I had no bottles to clean!
Most babies that are breastfed have less sickness.
This kind of goes with number 3: Less ear infections.
This kind of goes with number 3: They get better faster. Your antibodies help them to get better faster.
Helps with childhood obesity.
Comforts mom and baby.
The baby helps consume your calories.
Most mom's that breastfeed miss a period for awhile.
I've heard mom's that breastfeed say this, so I'm going to come right out and say it to: Your breasts feel firm, and like they have more life to them. When I stopped breastfeeding, my breasts were floppy and empty feeling.

My Nephew Turned 5 Weeks Yesterday

2011-07-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

My nephew Emerson turned 5 week this week. This is truly a milestone with babies that have Triomy 18. I'm not sure how much we'll be able to keep up the weekly parties once school starts.

Here I am with my nephew Emerson.

My son Isaak loves baby's! He calls Emerson "Baby Ermasen."

Emerson is a snorer! My sister thinks he caught his brother's cold. She's been getting a lot of mucus sucked out since his feeding tube was changed. Then they found out that there was something wrong with the O2 tank. They changed something and it wasn't working right. Now it's fixed. He wasn't getting any extra O2. He was snotty and struggling to breathe. They didn't realize. They thought it was just the changing of the feeding tube and maybe his big brother Elijah's cold. It's ok now.

Buy a Nasal Aspirator That Works!

2011-07-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

I did a little research on nasal aspirators today. It's hard to find a good one, one that does it's job!

My nephew Emerson has been having breathing problems because his feeding tube was changed the other day. Usually when this happens a lot of mucus comes up.

My sister bought the Nosefredia. It has 4.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon. The product is around $15. My sister loves it. She says it totally does a great job! The only sucky thing is that you have to buy filters every so often. Maybe having filters is a good thing. 24 filters off Amazon run about $18. Sounds like you get a lot that will last awhile!

Another one that I ran across is the BabyComfyNose Nasal Aspirator. This one has 5 stars on Amazon. It's around $17. You do not have to buy extra filters. Again I don't know if having the filters is or isn't a good thing. It is because it's more clean; it isn't because you have to fork over the extra money.

*This is strictly my opinion only: If I had a baby that was susceptible to getting cold easily, I'd opt to buy the Nosefredia because it has the filters. If I had a baby with no problems and I just wanted one for the common cold, I'd opt to buy the BabyComfyNose Nasal Aspirator. Then you don't have to keep buying filters. They both do a better job then the traditional nasal aspirator you get from the hospital.

Have you used a nasal aspirator that you loved. Please comment to tell me so!

MealBaby

2011-07-24T19:20:00.000-07:00

Since my sister's had my nephew, one of her friends set up an account for her family on MealBaby for free.

With my first baby, I really thought baby gifts were fun. With my second, meals were awesome!

You can put in your food likes and dislikes when you register. My sister had on her's, "No seafood please." and "We love fruits and veggies!" Then you can pick places you like in case people do not like to cook.

They have a built in calender to sign up for the date and time you are bringing food. Then you can post what you plan on bringing. I love the calender they have set up! I could see what and when people were bringing my sister something.

They send you a reminder email after you've signed up to bring something.

This is is a great thing to sign up for new moms!

Do You Ever Feel Like Yelling?

2011-07-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

I do. I have to say that I don't as much as my mom did. Maybe as generation go by, we'll work our way down to minimal yelling! I'm a minimal yeller. Meaning, I don't do it that often.

Yelling in a fit of rage is not good for anyone. Especially for a baby to hear! How do you, or I overcome the urge to yell?

Here are 10 tips that have helped with our family (not that we're perfect):

When you want your older kids to get something done, whisper. Whispering is sacred to kids, they love a secret, so they are more apt to do what you want them to do.
Play music when it's time to get household tasks accomplished. Kid's get really into listening to music. When it's playing, it lifts the spirit a little more. It makes the dreaded task much more fun. Try and see how much a kid can do before a song finishes up.
Set the timer. This works for kids older then age 5. They may not know how to tell time yet; they do know when something starts it has to finish. If you show them a timer, and explain how it works they will be more motivated to get the job done in a timely fashion.
Clean with your kids. Sometimes tasks are HUGE in a child's eyes. They need a little help.
Break up. Have one parent do one task, while the other does something else with the kids. Then you feel like you get something done.
Take a timeout yourself. Sometimes even parents need one!
Praise your kids for doing things right. Then they won't feed off of negative behavior.
I know some people are very anti counting, but if it works for you do it! We do.
Give one instruction at a time. My oldest really needs this break down! He is single task minded.
If you feel like yelling, you still can. It's not that you yell, it's that you are directing your anger out on your children. Have a yelling match just for fun. The kids will think this is fun. They won't think you are yelling at them. **Don't do this one around a baby. They won't enjoy it. Go outside and yell!

According to Adults and Children Together Against Violence:

Too much yelling can be counter productive. Over yelling can be just as harmful as physical abuse. “Children can become immune to being yelled at and start to tune it out,” according to psychologist Myrna B. Shure, Ph.D., of Drexel University.

My Sweet Nephew Emerson

2011-07-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

My sister sent this to me. It's a photo of Emerson. I got him this gown before he was born. INKtastic gave it to me to review . Thank you INKtastic for such a wonderful, meaningful gift! Please stop by to visit their store! They have so many cute things to pick from that you can customize.

"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I opened it up I started to cry. Isn't it crazy how emotions work? I'm at work around a bunch of guys; I start crying. I'm not a real cry baby girl, but this one made me cry.

Do you see Emerson's double chin? He's gaining weight and beating his odds. Tomorrow night we celebrate yet another birthday. This time he'll be 4 weeks old.

The 'Breast Milk Baby' Hits Good Morning America Once Again

2011-07-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

I think it's been on there 3 times now. So what do you think about this doll? Would you buy it for your kid?

My Top Ten Tips for New Mom's and Dad's

2011-07-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

Sleep when your baby is napping. You may feel like you get enough sleep/or not. The truth is, is that you get a lot of interrupted sleep at night. The deep sleep that you used to getting is not there. You need extra sleep at your baby's nap time.
Don't push solid foods too fast. Wait until your baby shows signs like smacking their lips and following your food with their eyes. Food allergies are on a high more then ever, so it's important to hold off. I know it's tempting to see their reaction to new foods, but you will get to see that soon enough. Follow food timelines for when to feed what to your baby. There are websites and books that strictly abide by food timelines.
Try to use organic, or make your own lotions, shampoos, wipes, cloth diapers, laundry detergent and so on for your baby. Just like food allergies are high, so are skin ones. Why? Because of the chemicals in them. Your baby's skin is sensitive, treat it as such.
Use a binki to soothe them to sleep. When babies are young, binki's are known to help reduce SIDS. Wash it often.
Throw the binki away! I know it's the opposite of number 4. When your older baby is throwing their binki out of the crib on purpose because it's fun; it's time to dispose of it. If you wait to break the binki habit, it will harder to deal with.
Put your baby Back to Sleep! Back to Sleep again reduces the risk of SIDS. I know experts have changed their mind about this time and time again. Think of it this way, if your baby spits up in their sleep while on their tummy they can drown in their own spit up. They can also suffocate with bumper pads and thick blankets. When they are old enough to roll over, let them.
Give your baby tummy time. Again the opposite of number 6. If you are around your child, tummy time is important. They develop muscles that they wouldn't develop otherwise to hold their head up, roll over and crawl. You don't want them to hate being on their tummy. A great way to give your child tummy time is to prop them up on a Boppy.
Hold your baby. Babies need love. You can't spoil a baby. They long for that affection. A baby would never be able to survive on their own in nature. They need their mom and dad.
If you want to breastfeed invest is a good pump and stick with it. Buying a cheep pump will discourage extended breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is one thing that gets easier with time. Babies later on nurse for longer periods of time and are more skilled at it. With that in mind, breastfeeding is not for everyone. I do not have this blog to bash anyone who chooses to formula feed. There are many benefits to breastfeeding that outweigh formula feeding. That doesn't mean that if you formula feed, your child is going to get tons of ear infections, be overweight and stupid when they grow up! That's just silly thinking! Everyone has a right to do what's best for them. Breast was best for me. It may or may not be for you.
Read and sing to your baby. They just love the sound of your voice. They appreciate books more if you start out early. Begin with cloth books, books that they can chew on.

Breastfeeding a Sick Baby

2011-07-12T13:27:00.000-07:00

My nephew Emerson is being fed in two ways:

1. Through an NG Tube. My sister pumps and the breastmilk is given to Emerson through the NG Tube. His feeding tube did fall out once. That wasn't good. Before it fell out Emerson was able to breastfeed a little. After it fell out, it caused Emerson some stress and he didn't latch well at all.

2, Emerson is back to breastfeeding. He still gets breastmilk via NG Tube as well. My sister uses shields, which uses less muscles then a full latch. Little Emerson is beating his odds. He's doing pretty good. He gained back his birth weight and actually gained an aditional pound. All off of Mamma's Milk! YAY Emerson!

Will Drinking Beer Increase Your Milk Supply?

2011-07-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

Doctors actually used to encourage mom's to drink a beer soon after she had a baby. This is not the case today.

You may feel like you have more milk at first after drinking a beer. In the long run alcohol dries you out.

Alcohol disrupts the hormones that are involved in milk production.

Julie Mennella, a researcher at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia who studies alcohol's affect on lactation, explains that while prolactin (a hormone that aids milk production) increases with alcohol consumption, oxytocin (a hormone that's responsible for milk letdown) decreases. Researchers think this may explain why babies have a harder time breastfeeding when their mothers drink alcohol.

Is Breastmilk Alcohol-Free?

2011-07-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

In light of the last season, 4th of July, I started thinking about this topic of alcohol and breastmilk. Up until recently there was never a test for mother's to figure out if their milk was alcohol-free after drinking themselves.

I found a product here that allows a breastfeeding mom to test her breastmilk in just two minutes.

I can't not stress enough that when you are a parent you need to be responsible. Just because your child doesn't know or understand what a drink is, you shouldn't be watching them while intoxicated. In my opinion I need to be safe to drive at any time just in case something were to happen with my children. Even when a babysitter is present in my house.

A couple drinks can effect someone that has been pregnant for 9 months and not touched alcohol period.

This newish product on the market is geared towards testing if your breastmilk is safe for intake:

In just two minutes, Milkscreen quickly and accurately analyzes breast milk for alcohol. Every mother is unique so, naturally, the way our bodies metabolize alcohol is unique, too. Metabolizing alcohol depends on several factors including body weight, type of alcohol consumed, and food intake so milkscreen was created to eliminate those variables. Milkscreen also helps ensure that the alcohol concentrated in Mom's breastmilk is not at a level that may have negative impacts on Baby. Studies have shown infants consuming breastmilk with alcohol concentrations at approximately 30mg/dl, or 0.03%, and higher have exhibited distinctive changes in feeding behavior and sleep. Babies consume less if the milk contains alcohol and they also sleep less and wake more frequently. We've set the milkscreen test to show a color change at 0.02% to help Mom stay within recommended feeding guidelines.

Alcohol could effect your breastmilk if you don't take precautions. The same amount of alcohol that makes it into your bloodstream makes it into your breastmilk. While the amount that's transferred if you drink a glass of wine is relatively small, your baby is tiny and has an immature liver, which means he or she can't process the alcohol as well as you can.

If you do not have a testing kit, I suggest you pump and dump. You should not be nursing if you've drank alcohol.

To read more about this topic go here.

Baby Update

2011-07-06T12:35:00.000-07:00

My sweet little nephew Emerson turned a week old last Thursday. That was a huge milestone considering that he has Trisomy 18. We had a 1 week birthday party with cupcakes, juice and noiseless party favors.

"It is not length of life, but depth of life." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Everything seemed to be a challenge, but he was hanging in there.

Then on Friday or Saturday night (my days are so mixed up) his feeding tube fell out. It took a nurse 6 tires to get it back in. He had two apnea spells. Now his color comes and goes. He's been cluster feeding and growing more, but his strength is depleting.

We knew this could happen, but nothing can prepare someone for it. We just take things day by day.

I'm trying to take my sister's older boy's out when I can. Emerson does best skin to skin on my sister.

Good Baby Reads

2011-07-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

Here are some great reads for pregnancy, breastfeeding and child development:

When you are pregnant:

What to Expect When You're Expecting

A Child is Born

Breastfeeding:

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding 101

Baby Devlopment:

Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five

Your Baby's First Year - Third Edition

Solids:

Super Baby Food

Baby-Led Weaning

What Do You Use For Diaper Rash?

2011-06-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

I used to make my own wipes when my boy's were babies. When they would break out in a rash I'd use Bag Balm or Pounds Cold Cream mixed with Milk of Magnesia 50/50. The mixture was great for sudden outbreaks! Bag Balm worked great the rest of the time.

Lately my 3 year old has been complaining of his butt itching. I actually listened to him cry and complain about this for 15 min. in the car one day. It started happening when we entered the change of season with all the different fruits. I give him variety, so it's not like he's getting nothing but grapefruit and strawberries. This has become a huge issue. Does anyone use something they really like?

Otherwise I swear my kid is going to grow up and use the pick up line: "My butt itches" to any girl he meets. YUCK! I know! I've just been hearing it a lot!

New Age Mama is giving away a package of Boudreaux Butt Paste products. Have you used them? Do you like them? I've seen them in the stores. I need to try something different. This is why I ask.

My New Nephew

2011-06-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

I wanted to take a moment to mention that my cute little nephew Emerson Charles was born on Thursday last week. He was 5 pounds 15 ounces.

He's a fighter! Emerson has Trisomy 18. We didn't know if he would make it at all. He is so far doing pretty good! Emerson is taking breastmilk through a feeding tube and nursing as well. He just gets a little tired while nursing because of his low O2. So he gets extra O2 as well. We were so glad he went potty! No catheter needed!

He has given us a few scares with turning grey and forgetting to breath. My sister noticed that this happens when he isn't swaddled or skin to skin.

He's a cuddly baby! Super cute too!

On a side note: My sister's labor was horrible! Emerson was posterior: Head first, face down. She did not take any drugs. In the past she had a problem with an epidural. She was dilated to 8 for a very long time. The nurse called for the doctor to come in 15 min. My sister changed positions and yelled, "He's here!" Emerson arrived before the doctor got in the room! She did not tear at all, which was great for her.

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Breastfeeding with Flat or Inverted Nipples

2011-06-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

Breastfeeding can be challenging; there is no doubt about that. Added challenges can make any new mother feel inadequate. I felt that way with my breastfeeding challenges.

I found a wonderful article here about breastfeeding with flat or inverted nipples.

One thing that is super important to understand is that a baby should nurse with a mouthful of breast, not just the nipple. Having flat or inverted nipples shouldn't be a problem. It does make the latching part more difficult.

Are they flat or inverted?

Flat- Pinch the nipple to see if your nipple does not protrude or become erect. If it simply stays petty level, then it's considered to be flat.

Inverted- Pinch the nipple to see if your nipple inverts into the breast. They will not become erect when stimulated or cold.

Treatments to draw out the nipple:
Many times no matter what kind of nipple the mother has, babies who latch-on well can draw out the nipple.

Breast Shields- These really should only be used if you absolutely need to. Talk to a lactation consultant to get help using these. Other names for them are Breast Shells, milk cups and breast cups. They can be worn inside the bra. Usually your bra will need to go up a size to accommodate the shield. I used these and just placed them against my breast when I was ready to feed. As soon as your baby latches right, take the shields away. Babies are known to get more milk from an actual breast over a shield. The transition going from shield to the breast can be hard for both the mom and baby. I have to be honest; I was told to stop using them because my oldest wasn't gaining enough weight. I was emotional and we both cried for one whole day. I used them because my son was born with a cyst under his tongue, making his tongue misshaped; not because I had flat or inverted nipples.

Hoffman Technique- This technique can be repeated five times a day before and after the baby is born. Place a thumb on each side of the base of the nipple. Push in firmly against your breast tissue, while at the same time pulling your thumbs away from each other. In this process you will be stretching out the nipple. Repeat moving the thumbs in a clockwise fashion.

Breastpump- Using a effective breastpump can help draw out a nipple. I bought this one and it lasted though two babies and working full-time. I breast fed each for 2 years. I only pumped for 1 1/2 years. I think buying a good pump is so important to keep breastfeeding a positive experience. It's more money, but you save so much more then if you were to buy formula.

Nipple Stimulation- After birth, if the nipple can be grasped, a mother can roll her nipple between her thumb and index finger for a minute or two and then quickly touch the nipple with a moist, cold cloth or ice wrapped in cloth (avoid prolonged use of ice as it can inhibit the letdown reflex and numb the nipple too much).

Pulling Back on the Breast Tissue During Latch-On- Support your breast for latch-on with thumb on top and four fingers underneath and way back against the chest wall, pull slightly back on the breast tissue toward the chest wall to help the nipple protrude.

Gowns

2011-06-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

For babies I love dressing them in gowns. Here are the reasons I like them so much:

It's so easy to change diapers.
It's so easy to tear off their gown to make skin to skin contact; that they love so much.
It's so easy to spot those cute little toes.
It's so easy to tickle their toes to wake a sleepy baby up to eat.
Most of them come with fabric that covers their hands; that way they don't scratch their face.

My Organized Chaos is giving away a pair of Halo ComfortLuxe 2-piece pajamas from Halo!

Energizer Win Two Ultimate Lithium AA or AAA Batteries Plus One $10 Gas Card!

2011-06-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

The first day of summer is tomorrow. Along with summer comes travel and high gas prices. Energizer has a deal to help make a positive impact on your gas budget. They are rewarding Energizer Lithium customers by helping their dollars last longer.

Customers can purchase two packs of specially-marked Energizer Advanced Lithium batteries or Energizer Ultimate Lithium, visit Energizer on Facebook, register your battery codes and will get a $10 Prepaid Discover Gas Rewards card mailed to you. The last day to redeem codes is 1/31/12 at 11:59 pm.

About Energizer Lithium Batteries:

Lightweight and perform well in extreme temperatures, from -40° F to 140° F (-40° C to 60° C).
Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries last up to 8x longer in digital cameras for up to 8x less waste.
Energizer Advanced Lithium batteries last up to 4x longer in digital cameras, 20 hours longer in wireless gaming accessories and up to 30% longer in personal audio devices.

I wanted to think back to when I was a new mom. So many of the products I used that required batteries.

Breast pump
Baby monitor
Exersaucer
Swing
Vibrating Chair
Glow worm
Countless push toys

Imagine if all those batteries were Energizer Lithium batteries?

Energizer is giving away to one lucky reader a specially-marked package of Energizer Ultimate Lithium and a package of Energizer Advanced Lithium batteries. It will be your choice if you get AA or AAA batteries. This giveaway is open to US only and ends
July 5 at 10 pm.

You can register your battery packs to redeem a $10 Prepaid Discover Gas Rewards card, which is mailed to you. Should you be interested in something other than purchasing gas with your reward card, the Reward Card may be redeemed for any merchandise offered by a retailer that accepts Discover.

You can enter if you are not a blogger. Leave a separate entry for each. Make sure the first mandatory entry is filled out before all others.

For your first mandatory entry, tell me one thing you use batteries on consistently! Leave your email address with this entry. one entry

The other entries are optional. Be sure to leave a new comment for each.

Google Friend this blog. one entry
Add my Milking the Issue button to your site. Leave me your site link. one entry
{Like} Energizer on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in your entry. one entry
{Like} Me on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in your entry. one entry
Leave a comment on a non giveaway post. Let me know the title of the post you comment on. You are free to leave many comments, but only one entry for this giveaway. one entry
Blog about this giveaway. Link back to this post and Energizer on Facebook. Leave a link. five entries
Vote for me on We're on the Fence! Just click on the button {on my right side bar} to vote. one entry
Enter my Gummylump Melissa and Doug Shopping cart and Baked Cookies Giveaway by June 28. one entry
Enter my Tropical Traditions Powered Dishwasher Detergent Giveaway by June 26. one entry

You do not need to enter all of the entries to be qualified, just the first mandatory entry.

Remember to leave your email address if it is not public in your profile.

This contest closes in 2 weeks, July 5 at 10 pm.

The winner will be chosen using random.org.

Disclaimer:
The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.
I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out.
If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustration AT hotmail DOT com

Are You Having Problems With Your Baby Taking a Bottle?

2011-06-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

I never had a problem with my babies taking a bottle. They would suck on anything that gave them Mama's Milk. Getting them to take a sippy cup and start on cow's milk was another story.

My sister on the other hand had HUGE problems with her youngest taking a bottle! She attempted before she went back to work, with no luck. Finally the day came where my husband was her babysitter. We decided that if her baby got hungry enough, he'd give up and just eat. My husband watches our two boy's and her two boy's twice a week. Then it was two babies and two 3 year olds.

Our nephew would not take a bottle. She felt like it was pointless to pump because he wouldn't drink from a bottle. He was super fussy during her 12 hour nurse shift! My husband wanted to pull his hair out. I think my sister wanted my husband to force feed him. She actually taught her baby how to drink out of sippy cup at a super young age.

I just spotted a bottle to try out if this is a problem you are going through!

It's called Mimijumi Very Hungry Baby Bottle. One of my favorite pro breastfeeding sites, The Baby Store Plus sells this bottle. This item ships for free Via USPS 1st Class Mail!

New Age Mama is hosting a $25 giveaway for The Baby Store Plus! They have a lot of stuff on their site from maternity, breastfeeding, baby and kids.

Untangled Review

2011-06-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

More then ever I'm trying to be conscious about what I feed my kids; and what the food and drink is contained in.

I was extremely excited to receive a Gecko place setting to try out by Untangled. It came with a square plate, small bowl, a cup, a fork and a spoon. My youngest loves this set so much! He asks for his "lizard" cup all the time! It is used daily!

About Untangled:

Untangled thrives on staying balanced. They believe we have to stay connected to ourselves, to our families, community and to our world. We are free to make choices in our daily lives; hopefully we are conscious about our decisions. Untangled thinks about ways to inspire, energize and excite!

The benefits of using stainless steel over plastic:

It is important for us as parents to raise our children with conscious choices. This is a gift that brings both health and happiness. You do not need to worry about BPA while eating on stainless steel.

About this set:

I love that this set is dishwasher safe. I've ran the pieces through multiple times, and we've never had any residue.
It's durable. The silverware is not flimsy at all.
It's stackable.
Plate: 16 cm x16 cm/6.3 inches.
Bowl: 9.5 cm x 4 cm 200 ml. 3.65 inches x1.55 inches deep.
Cup: 6.5 cm x 8 cm. 2.55 inches x 3.15 inches (200 ml / 6.7 oz).
Fork: 14.5 cm / 5.2 inches.
Spoon: 13.5 cm / 15.7 inches.

Where to get this set:

You can get the gecko set or a butterfly set for $40 at Untangled. It's totally worth it!

"All we have is our words, our thoughts and our actions. So let’s say what we want, believe in our thoughts and run with it”, Sue Volpe.

Disclaimer:

The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. Untangled provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so choose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustration@hotmail.com

Barefoot Books Review

2011-06-12T23:18:00.000-07:00

I can't stress enough how important reading is. Even when your child is a baby, they still love the sound of your voice as you read. They may squirm and act as though they are not paying attention at all. Eventually the squirming stops. Before too long they start handing you books.

About Barefoot Books:

Barefoot Books is all about exploration, imagination, creation, connecting and giving back. They emphasize nourishing the imagination. Their books have a creative spark that they believe everyone has within.

About the Book:

I won my choice of a book from Barefoot Books. I decided to let my five year old pick which book he would like. He decided on Jack and the Beanstalk. Mica had heard the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk before; but not like it was told in this book.

Retold By: Richard Walker
Illustrated By: Niamh Sharkey
Narrated By: Richard Hope

The tale is clever! I love the illustrations. Illustration was my major all throughout college and grad school. Naturally it's the first thing I look at in a children's book. The story comes on a CD. It's not a dry read. I love the CD for when we travel and when I'm busy cooking in the kitchen.

Mica decided to take this book over to Grandma and Grandpa's house. They read it more times then they could count. Isaak my three year old sits through it as well. Although Mica has claimed the book as his.

I asked Mica to come outside to take pictures of the book. He decided to act like the giant. I think it's great how his mind works! Although if I knew he was going to act like the giant, I would have changed his shirt. ;)

Plant some magic beans. They will grow into something that will take you on an adventure!

Disclaimer:

The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. Barefoot Books provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so choose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustration@hotmail.com

Breastfeeding a Baby with Down Syndrome

2011-06-07T08:55:00.000-07:00

Breastfeeding a baby that has Down Syndrome is more challenging.

Here are some benefits that I found here:

Bonding is huge! Bottle feeding can give a bond as well. It's just a different type of bond.
Tongue and mouth coordination are known to improve. Many babies that have Down Syndrome that end up breastfeeding have fewer speech problems. Breastfeeding benefits facial muscle tone.
Improved protection from respiratory infection, which they are more prone to.
Less bowel problems.

If a baby is given a bottle, it may seem as though they are rejecting the breast. A bottle takes a lot less work on the tongue and facial muscles. With a bottle all they have to do is swallow. Many babies with Down Syndrome have low muscle tone. Breastfeeding will be more difficult. It is also the reason why breastfeeding is so beneficial! Cupping their tongue is difficult for a baby with Down Syndrome. Feedings will take longer. Mom and baby have to be patient if you are wanting this to work.

Babies with Down Syndrome are usually more sleepy in the early weeks. If they are in the middle of a feeding and simply are lazy eaters, tickle or rub their feet to keep them going. Frequent, short 10 minutes are more feedings, work better. Try to nurse every 2 to 3 hours. They love attention, so skin-to-skin contact is great! Undress the baby down to their diaper. Put a blanket over the two of you. Invest in a carrier of some sort; to keep them close.

Work with a Lactation Consultant, join a baby group that is in support of nursing mom's. La Leche League is a great support!

Keep pumping to get your milk supply up. Once your baby figures out how to nurse, feeding times will extend. The process will be much more enjoyable for mom and baby!

What to Get a New Dad?

2011-06-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty funny gift for a new Dad with a sense of humor:

The Daddy Diaper Changing Tool Box has the works. The information below is directly copied from their website:

Mask toxic fume filter for when it doesn't smell like roses.
Googles for protection against your own mini version of Old Faithful.
Protective Poop Poncho need we say more?
Tongs Several inches of steel separation between you and the little warm wrapped gift.
Turkey Baster for precision hiney washing.
Pacifier scream plug.
Baby Wipes for cleaning baby bottom and various parts.
Diaper for Newborn cute as a kitten until it gets wet then it looks and smells like a sewer rat.
Bio Hazard Bag and Rubber Gloves for quarantine containment of the nuclear meltdown.
Emergency Formula Container doubles as a PeePee cover for WeWe.
Hand Wipes to clean up afterward. (For Dad's use only).
Picture Frame this is your badge of honor.

Who's giving it away these cute tool boxes?

My Organized Chaos
My Wee Veiw

Personal Night Light

2011-06-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

I think the custom night lights at Light Affection are so cool! They are a perfect gift for just about anyone. My thought was for a new baby's room!

They show the steps on how they make them on their website:

First they need a photo from you! The better of a photo they get, the easier it is for them to do their job.

Then they carve the photo. I love this step because I'm a college graphic design instructor. I used to carve and cut things into paper all the time. Now my student's have a project where they build a relief with paper.

Next it's put together. First comes the frame and then the light box. How cool is that?

Want one? New Age Mama is hosting a giveaway for one winner to receive a gift certificate for a free custom night light!

Rockabye Baby!

2011-06-03T11:20:00.000-07:00

Even though my sons are older then baby {ages 3 and almost 6}, I still love to put in lullaby cd's. I find the music soothes them. Whenever my kids are a little too active, make one too many sound effects or just plain loud we stick music in.

Rockabye Baby is a company that takes adult classic favorites and turns them into soothing lullaby cd's.

A Crafty Nest is hosting a giveaway where two winners will get a CD and a Men's T-shirt from
Rockabye Baby!

An Amazing Adventure Awaits You. - From Small Beginnings Come Great Things.

2011-06-03T10:59:00.000-07:00

One site that I've loved since I discovered it is called Uncommon Goods! I've gotten a few products from them throughout the years.

Today I was surfing their site and saw these adorable fortune cookie slippers for baby's. I had to share!

One says, "An Amazing Adventure Awaits You." The other says, "From Small Beginnings Come Great Things."

They have the best packaging wrap and boxes!

A Crafty Nest is hosting a giveaway for Uncommon Goods! One winner will win a $75 gift certificate!

Will Breastfeeding Cause Cavities?

2011-06-01T11:38:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting article on this topic. You can find it here.

Babies that breastfeed have less dental cavities than those who were bottle fed.

Both mother's and cow's milk have lactose sugar, which can feed cavity causing bacteria if it's allowed to sit in the mouth for an extended period of time. If you are breastfeeding, and your child isn't getting a bottle all of the time you have nothing to worry about.

If possible try and breastfeed with you child sitting up. This helps prevent both cavities and ear infections. I wasn't able to do this until my babies were around 7 months.

There is more sugar in most of the formula's on the market; then what is found can be found in breast milk.

If you are giving your baby other things such as juice, then that dramatically ups their chance of getting cavities!

Night time feeding are discouraged because their natural rinsing saliva isn't as mobile during sleeping time. My babies took a long time to be night weaned. I worked full-time; so I took their nightly feedings as a sign that they were trying to keep my supply up. One thing that can be done to help avoid cavities, is to get a wet washcloth prior to their feeding. After your baby is done nursing, gently massage their gums or new teeth with the washcloth. It disturbs them less then a toothbrush, but does the job.

Mother's That Breastfeed Tend to Get More Cavities Then Ones That Don't

I hate to say it, but this is the case. Why? Because nursing mom's are hungry. When we get up in the middle of the night many mom's go for a snack. When you get the washcloth for the baby's gums, get yourself a tall glass of water! This helps suffice your hunger and builds back up your milk supply. If you're finding you need more, have an apple peeled and cut that evening before nightfall. Apple's clean your teeth. It doesn't do as good of a job as toothpaste, but apples are not going to cause cavities. Other veggie/fruits that are anti-cavity: Avocado, carrots, raspberry, strawberry and yellow plum.

Pushing Kids to Dream With Spirit Hoods

2011-06-01T07:18:00.000-07:00

I've blogged before about how important it is to push kid's imagination! I think that can start even when you have a baby. Read to your baby; read to them often!

Most recently I won a hat/glove set from Spirit Hoods.

It's one of my favorite wins along with the post below of Melissa and Doug products from Gummylump.

My Wordless Wednesday has pictures of everyone in my family, minus Daddy wearing the bare hat we won! You've got to check it out! So cute!

Dream Big!

Gummylump Melissa and Doug Shopping Cart and Slice and Bake Cookies Review

2011-05-31T21:41:00.000-07:00

I won a Melissa and Doug Shopping Cart and Slice and Bake Cookies from Gummylump! I asked if it was ok to review the products we received. She agreed.

My little boy that just turned 3 years old tested these products out. Gummylump has the Melissa and Doug Shopping Cart on sale for $55.99 right now. It's original price is $69.99.

It literally took my husband only 7 minutes to set up! He said that the instructions were really easy to follow.

Isaak wanted to get a doll and play food to put in it right away. I think it's really important for boy's to have dolls to. I loved roll playing with my oldest when I was pregnant with my youngest. Anytime you can roll play with anything it's great!

We took our kids to Whole Foods. I told my husband to grab the Melissa and Doug Shopping Cart. He said, "Are you serious?" I said, "Yes." It made a world of difference shopping with a toddler/preschooler. Isaak did much of our shopping! He was so entertained with having his own cart. Usually I'm saying, "Isaak stay with me!" or "Isaak if you can't stop running, I'll have to put you in the cart {my cart}." He also offers to help me push my cart, which takes forever. I loved that he had his own cart. He kept up with us. Most importantly he was happy the whole time. This cart made our shopping experience much more enjoyable!

Can you tell that the boy with the cart is well behaved and the one without the cart is not?

Features of the cart:

Award winning toy
Encourages pretend play
Stores play food, or real groceries while you shop
For special needs
Helps with children that have autism
Helps with children that has a learning disability

Isaak also reviewed the Slice and Bake Cookies Play Food Set. Gummylump has the Melissa and Doug Slice and Bake Cookies Play Food Set on sale for $15.99 right now. It's original price is $19.99.

The packaging is too cute for words!

It comes with everything to roll play. My youngest and oldest have been caring these cookies around offering me one often!

What the boy's and I like is that the cookies are attached with Velcro. It makes them easy to pull up with the spatula. Also the top of the cookies are attached with Velcro as well. This is where the knife comes in handy!

I'm super excited about Isaak's new toy's from Gummylump! Please visit their site. Like Gummylump on Facebook!

Disclaimer:

The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. Gummylump provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so choose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustration@hotmail.com

Book Review: Lonely Girl, Gracious God

2011-05-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

I was sent a book, Lonely Girl, Gracious God A Mother's Story of Autism's Devastation and God's Promise of Enduring Love on behalf of Bring it On! Communications. You can buy this book on Amazon. I reviewed this book on my other blog, Planet of the Apels, but I thought it was important to bring up a few key things about autism on Milking the Issue.

About Lonely Girl, Gracious God:

This is a very inspiring biography and autobiography. It's about a mother that raises a girl that has autism. For a long time Lauri, the mom and author knew something was wrong with her daughter, Farema. Lauri spent much of her time hiding her daughter's odd behavior from others. She just didn't know what Farema had. Doctor's even had a problem diagnosing little Fee. Autism was just starting to be researched at the time of Farema's childhood. Something in Lauri longed for Farema to be normal like her three older sister's.

Days became long. Lauri felt the need to keep Farema stimulated socially. One day she took her for a ride. She was looking for anything to do. They spotted an ice skating rink. Farema skated with ease. Many other individual sports such as biking, horseback riding and swimming came naturally for Farema. Ice skating seemed to be Farema's calling.

Ice skating was the solution to Farema coming out of her shell. She moved into her own home, skated for the olympic ice skater, Scott Hamilton and got a job at the local skate rink. Everything seemed to be looking up for Farema.

Lauri never expected that Farema was doing too much. The 20 something Farema had a giant set back. Farema got lost in her own world.

Facts About Autism:

These are not listed out like this in the book. Farema has autism, so I'd like for you as my readers to understand the disorder more. The book is the mother's story.

Roughly 1 in 150 children born in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have autism.
There are key signs that show up before the age of three.
Most commonly these things are effected: Speech, communication, social skills and behavior problems.
Autism spectrum may range anywhere from mild, "odd" behaviors to low functioning individuals who need protection to keep from harming themselves.

Characteristics of Autism:

Repetitive Movements. In Farema's case she liked anything that went in circles such as tops, fans and just spinning in circles. She also flapped her hands in front of her face a lot. It was a habit her mother tried to break while in public.
Repetitive Speech. It's also called, "echolalic speech," which is when they repeat what is said to them instead of building off of it.
Lack of Self-Preservation Skills. This is when someone is unaware of real dangers. Farema just decided to jump into the river in the book. It was really traumatic to everyone in the situation.
Poor Social Skills. They have trouble communicating.
Splinter Skills. Being really good at select things! Farema was a very good ice skater. Other things that came easy for her were swimming, horseback riding, running and bike riding. Each person with autism can be different in what they are good at.

About the Author:

Lauri Khodabandehloo is a major supporter in the autism community. She is a contributor for Chicken Soup for the Soul; sharing her heart felt story about raising Farema, her daughter that has autism.

Disclaimer:

The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. Bring it On! Communications provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so choose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustration@hotmail.com

May is for Mother's

2011-05-27T09:13:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let all my readers in on this giveaway! Click here to enter to win $100 from Mom4Life and a Belly Armor Blanket! I simply love Mom4Life's website and blog!

Tots That Got Served

2011-05-27T07:42:00.000-07:00

Trying to remember when to start new foods is hard! I have to admit that I signed up through many baby websites to get month to month updates. The foods they could eat for the month just came to me in an email.

I loved this cookbook:

This book was recommended to me by the Mom's at the Baby and Me group I attended once a week. It can be found in any bookstore. It includes when to start each food, recipes and other food tips. It even has an awesome recipe for Play-doh in it. The only downfall is the photo's. It really doesn't have too many. I'm an artist, so I like to see things.

I wanted to bring up a few things that I didn't really think of with starting new foods:

I got in a hurry to start baby cereal because I thought it would make my first born sleep better. I also wanted to see him eat. He was born with a funky tongue because of a cyst that formed in utero. It wasn't really necessary to start him on the early end of 4 months. Wait until your baby is truly ready. If they watch you while you are eating and smack their lips then they are ready. Starting too early is A) A mess. B) They are more apt to have food allergies later on. C) They really don't have the ability to control their month when they aren't ready yet.
If your baby/tot is on antibiotics don't start anything new! My oldest was on penicillin for a serious staph infection. It was time to start him on meats. I waited. It was a good thing I waited because he had an allergic reaction to his medicine. If I would have started him on meat, I wouldn't have known if his reaction was from the meat or the meds.
Try and make your own if you can. It really doesn't take that long to make baby food! It's better for them. Many store bought baby foods actually add sugar and salt into the food. I made more food with my youngest. My oldest had a major problem with the texture. Again it was from his funky tongue.
With the last tip in mind, don't make foods that are high in nitrates, such as carrots. Foods are tested before they are made. You have to watch out for these food until your child is a year old.
Other foods to wait and put off as long as you can: Peanut Butter, anything with nuts really. Nuts cause a lot of food allergies. Cow's milk shouldn't be given until over a year. Start slow and build up.
Why do babies have to wait until 7 month to start on meats? Because breast is best! Formula is good too. In both breast and formula is protein, so don't over due meats. If they don't like their meat, mix it with a veggie. I don't like my meat plain either!
YoBaby Yogurt can be served way earlier then cow's milk. They have one variety that can be given as early as 6 months! It's super good for them. I fed my kiddo's only 1/2 of one a day. Before feeding it to them, take some out to put in a separate container to feed them from it. Babies have major saliva that comes out of their mouth while eating, so it's not a good idea to keep feeding them out of the same container as earlier. My babies loved yogurt. It has probiotics, which is great for babies that have baby eczema {skin issues}. It also is great for babies that have been on antibiotics. Antibiotics takes out the good and bad bacteria out of your system, while yogurt puts it back in. When your baby gets older, serve them plain yogurt with mixed in fruit. Much less sugar!
Wait on whole grapes. I knew a mom that gave her early 2 year old whole grapes. She had to call 911 because her tot was choking! Cut them in 1/2, or 1/4 for the big holiday grapes. You can use a food mesh that can be found at any baby food store. The original creator of these handy things developed it because their son almost choked. You can pack these meshes with any soft food and not worry about your baby/tot choking!

Get stainless steel or glass snack containers. May plastic ones are not BPA free yet! This is totally something I regret! I didn't start hearing about BPA free this and that until my second child was born. Bottom line: there are chemicals in many plastics that are bad for you! There are many brands out there.

Plain Cheerios are actually healthier and cheaper then many snack first foods.

Lately I've Had a Hard Time Focusing

2011-05-26T13:11:00.000-07:00

I remember right before and after I had my son's, they were all I could think about. My mind wasn't on anything else. It's a mystery how my work got accomplished. Experts call it pregnancy brain.

I had my babies at the best time of year for my work, and the worst time of year for me. I'm a college teacher. My oldest was born on the 2nd day of class, August 10. My youngest was born the week after school got out, May 19. I didn't plan when they were born. At the time, we were just trying to get pregnant.

It was stressful because I had to have everything in line for someone to take my place much of fall semester. I had to have everything wrapped up early for my youngest to be born in May. Of course many students hold things off to turn things in the last moment in time. I didn't know if I'd go early; final exams had to be ready to go ahead of time. I had someone taking my place for summer school; that had to be prepared for as well.

Today I can't blame my lack of focus on pregnancy.

I've kind of gotten off track mentally with my sister due the 21st of June. My mind is all over the place. I can't blame it on pregnancy brain. I can only blame it on the unknown. When someone is pregnant I worry that the baby and mom will be ok. With my sister's baby, I know the baby will not be ok. We knew shortly after Christmas That her baby Emerson has Trisomy 18. I was emotionally exhausted when I found out. Things calmed down. Now that time is moving closer to June; I'm freaking out again. It's all too real, and I just don't want to see everyone go through the birth, sickness and possible death of a baby born with Trisomy 18. Emerson will have 2 older brothers that will say hello and goodbye. One of which can't even say his name right. His brother Elijah calls him, "Ermasen." How cute is that?

My Nephew Emerson, taken last week.

I told my work early on that I didn't know what this summer will be like. The person I told forgot. They have me scheduled to teach summer school, they scheduled me to be a speaker for a high school teacher seminar on the 24th of June and I have to get ready for fall classes. I want to thank a couple of my co-worker's for agreeing to help me out! My sister watches my boy's twice a week, so I have to take off time for her to have maternity time.

I was asked to take photo's of Emerson and I have 2 kids of my own. My children are super close to their cousin's because we share babysitting duties to skip out on daycare. They are the same ages {2 six year old's and 2 three year old's}. I desperately want to be there for Emerson's older siblings and of course for my sister and brother-in-law as well.

A few people have told my husband and I that this is not our problem. If you consider this innocent life a problem, well it is ours. We own him. Emerson is our's because we are a family. We are supposed to be supportive to one another. In my mind there is no doubt that, that is what families are for!

A long time ago I wrote a poem. I look at this poem for my own grounding support. It made/makes me realize that we shouldn't take life for granted!

I wrote this while in college:

His first breath I wanted to hear.

Minutes passed by; I shed a tear.

A Mother's arms held him tight.

He awoke and started his brand new life.

Life is precious when it begins.

There are no thoughts of an end.

Every step leads to flight,

Eyes start to open with a glimpse of light.

The world is plastic, nothing real.

Even your thoughts seem surreal--

A visual left untold,

Nerves that feel stay within each mold.

The touch of hand forms a bond

Just like a voice captures a song.

So much in life is fate,

Nothing's the same, yet everything relates.

What is under a human's skin?

Is it a puzzle that lies within?

Pieces that twist and turn

Could one day break down and never return.

A baby's last breath sheds a tear;

He didn't even live a year.

People stand in a room,

Staring at a child that left the womb.

Good Night

2011-05-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

Parents:

There is a book you can get on Amazon called Good Night. It has gotten 5 stars out of 5. Reviews are super important to me.

This can be found here.

What Parents Learn From the Book:

An easy method to assist children to sleep in their own beds without hesitation!
How to end temper-tantrums at bedtime.
How to stop to fears, bargaining, and last minute wants that seem to drag out the process.
A way to have more time for yourself at night!

Kids:

There is a book you can get on Amazon called Matilda and Maxwell Good Night. It has gotten 5 stars out of 5.

This can be found here.

What Kids Learn From the Book:

How one child is afraid to sleep at night.
A way to introduce method’s learned in Good Night.
Your child will get motivated to follow the system!
A funny book!
Written & illustrated for ages 2-8.

Win These Two Books:

Mommy Moment is hosting a giveaway to give away both of these fantastic books!

There are Monster's in My Bed!

2011-05-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

My little boy just turned 3 last week. He is so different from my oldest son with going to bed.

With my oldest we just did what we called, "Tour de Clocks," which we'd walk around the house to show him the clocks, so he could see it was bedtime. He enjoyed Tour de Clocks. He respected time. Our oldest fell asleep easily. In fact when we had company or babysitters, they couldn't believe how easily our oldest went down!

I kept thinking, Gee wiz why do some people have so many problems getting their kids to sleep? Maybe they baby them too much!

Now is the time I need to swallow my words! Our youngest isn't hard to put to sleep, but he is nothing like his brother! He's an excuse kid. I've heard many excuses:

I scared of the dark! We put a night light in his room.
Mommy my foot itches. Itch it!!!!!!
Mommy I need a drink of water. Nope! I won't give in on this one! I'm trying to night train him.
Mommy I have to go potty. This happens after I've tried getting him to go. Right after I put his diaper on! But I don't want to deny him and then he might have an accident!
Mommy my butt itches. Yes I have heard this one! He ate too many strawberries and had a rash.
Mommy my chest has a headache! Yes I have heard this one too!
Mommy I have a booger on my finger! Don't pick your nose! I run in with a tissue to wipe it away.
Mommy there are monsters in my room! There are no such things as monsters!

Then I started to think, maybe there are very real monster's in some kid's minds! Imaginations are very powerful! Some people claim to of seen real Angels. Is it possible that monsters are a version of a bad spirit or even a good one? My husband would say I'm nuts. He is the type of person that is very scientific. Seeing is believing would come from him. I probably am nuts. It's just a thought of.

One thing I do know is real, Monsters are a real fear. The best thing you can do according to experts is to just do calm things before bed. Like read, give them a warm bath or sing them a few soft songs.

I thought about making or buying Monster Spray:

Experts say that calming things are better. Monster Spray tends to support that the monsters they see are very real. A parent is after all trying to get rid of them. I suppose they could be real, but I don't want my child's anxiety about monster's to explode. Then my youngest will really be hard to put down!

I think you as a parent have to make the decisions as to what is right for you and your child. What worked for my oldest doesn't always work for my youngest.