Posts Tagged ‘natural parenting’

27 Nov

Baby-Led Weaning: Self-Feeding

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Baby, Books, Food, Gluten-Free, Natural Parenting, Organic, Paleo. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

Picture it with me…baby girl (or boy) sits down to a meal, feeds herself a bowl of scrumptious salmon chowder (you lovingly prepared) with a spoon, enjoys every bit of it, then asks for more, all the while none of it ends up on the floor. You think you’re dreaming, right? Then you open you your eyes to realize this is your reality, all day every day for EVERY meal. Think what I’m talking about is nuts? Guess again. Does this sound more like it: you pop open a delicious jar of some puréed meat and veggie/oat/fruit/bean blend, dip the spoon into said jar, aero plane the food towards baby’s smiling mouth, only to have it brutally rebuffed and spat on you in disgust. Sound familiar? I thought so.

What if the first scenario really existed and you didn’t have to fight to get your little one to eat? What if you didn’t have steam, steam, steam those veggies only to puree them and store them in those cute little freezer trays? Or, what if you didn’t have to peruse the baby food aisle thinking ‘peas, broccoli, turkey, bananas, and lima beans’ sound yummy right? Cuz you would totally eat that…NOT!

Okay, so you think I’m kidding, but the first scenario does exist and it can happen in your home or at a restaurant every.single.day! Want to know what in the world I’m talking about? Let me tell you about a little thing called Baby-Led Weaning (BLW).

Baby-Led Weaning was coined by Gill Rapley from England and it’s a means of “adding complementary foods, not giving up breastfeeding.” It’s not necessarily about weaning baby from mama’s milk, so much as getting them to feed themselves. She states that if it were up to her, “it would be called Baby Self-Feeding, but that ship has sailed, my friends, and Baby-Led Weaning it is.”

I have to say this was one of the funnest experiences we had with Emma when it was time to start ‘solids.’ I had first heard about BLW from my crunchy/celiac friend while I was pregnant with baby girl. She only knew of the website but I happen to stumble upon the actual book while perusing Amazon. I needed to get a better handle on this concept, and when I started doing BLW the website wasn’t user-friendly, so I got the book. If you are like me and you need more ‘proof’ or encouragement get the book pronto! I don’t care if you’ve already been doing the jarred mush with your little one GET THIS BOOK!

Maybe you were like me in thinking, “hmph I don’t need those jarred foods-I’ll make my own and they’ll be 10x healthier.”  Right?  Yeah, I had the same mindset until I discovered this little gem.  Instead of making additional food, in those cute little baby bullets, you could just feed baby boy or girl the same thing you were eating.  There’s that crazy talk again!  Let me explain…

We decided to start Emma on solids right around 6 months since she seemed to be showing interest in what we were doing.  I did do a bit of the rice cereal, which seems to be all the rage, but after trying it myself and finding it disgusting, I tossed that in the trash.  My mom said the same thing when we were little…apparently I should still be listening to my mom after 30 years.  Ha!

Some of the first foods we started her on were avocados, bananas, sweet potato ‘fries’, and steamed veggies.  And when I say steamed veggies, I mean a boatload of steamed veggies.  I was fortunate to have my mom get me one of those double decker steamers by Hamilton Beach, and little did I know how handy that contraption would be with feeding Miss Emma.  Since going Paleo though, I would probably be sautéing veggies a lot more in some good ole grass-fed butter or bacon fat.

I kinda sorta cleared it with our Pediatrician when the 6 month check-up rolled around.  I think.  They told me what I could start doing with her and I smiled and nodded, like a good mama, and may or may not have mentioned that I was doing BLW.  One thing you’ll learn about me, if I put my mind to it, I’m doing it come hell-o or high water.  And when we went back for other check-ups and they asked if she was eating this or this and staying away from that, I said yes.

This isn’t to say you should go against your doc.  This is to show you you don’t have to do the norm when it comes to eating.  My friend, Amy from Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, finally called me up and got on board after her son refused to have a spoon come at his face and was determined to do it himself.  It’s hard at first to TRUST your child and let them do it, but YOU MUST!  There were several times when Josh and I put the food in her mouth to get her to try it-but that’s a NO NO.  It takes all your will power not to stare at them, like the book says, but it’s so darn cute and fun to see them explore this eating thing like mama and daddy do.

I will add for those who are worried about choking-don’t be.  Or rather, try not to be and TRUST your child.  Their gag reflex is so far forward that they will spit the food out themselves if it travels too far back.  Should they choke (I don’t recall it with Emma), ‘ just smack them on the back and move along,’ as the book states.  It’s tough, especially being a control freak, to trust your baby and let them handle it themselves, but I think it’s a good lesson early on for parents and kids alike.

To give you an idea of how to feed them: cut foods into French fry-like sizes for just about everything!  Broccoli and cauliflower can be left as is, that way it gives them a handle and is easier to keep an eye on.

If you need ideas:

  • steamed, sautéed, or raw veggies cut into 2-inch sticks
  • all fruits (I didn’t wait on any of them)
  • pasta with homemade sauce
  • mashed potatoes/parsnips/turnips/etc.
  • grass-fed ground meats
  • shredded pork, chicken, or turkey
  • wild-caught steamed or canned fish
  • toasted bread cut into ‘sticks’ with hummus or smashed avocado
  • soups

I personally didn’t do any sugars, juices, or cow’s milk, but that’s up to you.  I wanted to give Emma the best foods I could, especially since she was so little and it was a very formidable time for her.

Hopefully that gets you started.  Don’t be afraid of good fats like butter and seasonings-they are used to flavors from the womb and in your milk if you are nursing.  I will suggest that you offer utensils from the get-go, too.  They like to mimic mama and daddy, so if you get them started early, they will be pros in no time.  Try not to stress about it and have fun exploring the world of eating with your baby, you won’t regret it!

I’m pretty sure I could go on forever talking about this subject, but I’ll just let you explore it for yourself.  Don’t get hung up on the choking or not trusting your child to do for themselves, just give it a shot.

Like I said, it was truly the most enjoyable time with Emma (though not always the cleanest), plus being Italian and cooking 3 squares a day, I feel like my world revolves around food.  And for those that missed it in the beginning-Emma has NEVER HAD A SINGLE PUREE since she started eating at 6 months old.  Okay, I may have made her some homemade applesauce in the Vitamix and added some cinnamon, chia, and flax seeds, but I swear that was it.

I will leave you with this…offer everything under the sun to your child, they are literally blank slates just waiting to try new things.  Even now Emma loves sardines, marrow bones, capers, lemons, olives, etc.  She doesn’t know those are supposed to be ‘nasty’ just because a lot of people don’t like them.  Who knows, maybe it will get you to try new things for the first time since kids like ‘to monkey see, monkey do.’

Give me your feedback.  Did you do BLW or are you doing so now?  Is this a beyond crazy concept or have I grabbed your attention?

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked for this.

31 May

Love and Logic

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Baby, Books, Child Rearing, Natural Parenting. Tagged: , , , , , .

I know I’ve been on the gardening/green kick lately, so let’s switch gears and get back to bébé…

Last month my sis flew in from Houston to attend a Love and Logic seminar with me here in Grapevine, TX.  It was yet another one of those, I had heard people using it and kind of got the gist of it from my friend Sheri, and I have to say it is the best.decision.we.ever.made for raising Emma!  Basically parenting with Love and Logic is ’an approach to raising kids that provides loving support from parents while at the same time expecting kids to be respectful and responsible.’  They don’t believe in spanking and don’t do time-out, though you are able to put the kid in another room for a period of time or just remove them from the situation.

Love and Logic is a philosophy founded in 1977 by Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline, M.D. It is the approach of choice among leading educators, parents, and other professionals worldwide.

If you don’t believe me, ask my friend who told me her teacher friends were shocked that I picked the Love and Logic seminar over going to the zoo (whaa?).  She claimed a teacher would thank me later for going and getting started early.  It seemed like a no brainer at the time…gotta get baby girl on the right track PRONTO!

The basic concept is about giving kids choices which enables them to feel heard; even when they are very little.  For example, when Emma was about 6 months old, I would hold up two onesies for her to choose from to wear for the day.  Don’t worry, I’m not going to say that she told me which one she wanted, because she didn’t (but that would be amazing!).  At my friend’s advice, I followed her eyes and where ever they looked, that was the winner.  I know it sounds silly but really it’s just clothes so I figure Emma deciding what to wear was the least of my worries.

Another few examples of how we use Love and Logic: when Emma started eating foods at around 6 months and she got the hang of throwing the food down or dropping the sippy cup on purpose, we either removed her from the situation (eating) or became a onetime drop mama/papa (the sippy cup).  Homey Mama don’t play that ‘how many times can I drop my sippy cup and watch mama pick it up’ game.  No dice.  And now that she is soon-to-be two, and plays the games of ‘no like it’ with dinner (and dresses) or gets down from her chair at a restaurant, so sad, someone is going to be very hungry.

Don’t fret, it’s not like you are going to starve your kid, it’s getting them to understand and respect that meal time is just that-time to eat and enjoy each other’s company.  If they don’t like it or play around with their food for forever, you set a timer and once that timer dings, the meal is over.  Guess they’ll just have to wait until the next meal which is sometimes the next day.  Trust me, they learn pretty quickly (or so I hope) that mama’s not monkeying around.

The reality is that if you give them choices now and have them deal with the consequences while they’re little, when they get older they will be wise enough to make responsible decisions.

The Love and Logic technique in action sounds like this:

Dad: “Oh, no. You left your bike unlocked and it was stolen. What a bummer. I bet you feel awful. Well, I understand how easy it is to make a mistake like that.” (Notice that the parent is not leading with anger, intimidation, or threats.)

Dad then adds, “And you’ll have another bike as soon as you can earn enough money to pay for it. I paid for the first one. You can pay for the additional ones.”

Love and Logic parents know that no child is going to accept this without an argument, but Love and Logic parents can handle arguments. Jim Fay advises “just go brain dead.” This means that parents don’t try to argue or match wits with the child. They simply repeat, as many times as necessary, “I love you too much to argue.” No matter what argument the child uses, the parent responds “I love you too much to argue.” Parents who learn how to use these techniques completely change, for the better, their relationships with kids and take control of the home in loving ways.

Does is sound a bit extreme for you?  It did for me at first but then it started to make sense.  I want Emma to feel heard yet at the same time let her know I’m the adult and ultimately make the final decisions.  My hubby recently asked how we are supposed to do the night-night time ritual after giving her so many choices throughout the day (thankfully he was on board from the get-go).  I told him, if baby girl tries to fight and say ‘but I want to go to bed in 10 minutes instead of now,’ I calmly remind her that ‘you made a lot of choices today didn’t you?’  ‘Well now it’s my turn and it’s night-night time.’  End of story.

I have to say the hardest part is following through.  I’m not going to pretend like I stick to my guns every time but I have been getting better at it lately.  I have to tell myself, I just told her no more blueberries-after she just ate about 20 of them-and stand firm by my statement.  I do notice that if I say they’re all gone or you ate them all, she’ll usually give up.  Thank goodness because I probably would have caved in another millisecond.  I guess it’s never too early to learn we can’t always get what we want.  Would be nice though, huh?

The other big factor I like about Love and Logic is that kids get to A) make mistakes and B) learn how to deal with them at an early age.  I love my parents and appreciate all they did for me but wish I was able to fail/fall on my butt when I was younger.  I think it would have helped me make better decisions once I became an adult…especially in regards to money.

The takeaway here is if you are looking for an alternative to spanking (I was somewhat onboard since I was spanked) and want a fun and different way to rear your child, check out Love and Logic.  They have a plethora of resources for any age and cater to different parenting styles.  My mom and sis got me the Early Childhood Package for Christmas 2 years ago and it was a great investment start.

They also have an Insider’s Club where you can get emails with their tips and how to handle specific situations.  You can even call their toll-free number (1-800-338-4065) if you are stuck and need help with a solution.  Seriously, you definitely can’t go wrong here!  Check it out if you’re curious and don’t dare think it’s too late to start; your child and their teachers will thank you.  PS: They even have a Marriage-Love and Logic book which I picked up at the seminar…I figure it couldn’t hurt.

Have you ever heard of this technique or do you practice it now?  What has worked for you in rearing your wee little ones or are you at your wits’ end and need a drink different solution?

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked for this.  The pictures are from here and here.

17 Mar

Natural Parenting: Babywearing

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Baby, Crunchy, Natural Parenting. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

Happy St. Patty’s Day!

Yikes!  It has been a while since I posted.  I blame it on our external hard drive crashing that contained ALL of baby girl’s pictures from birth, which is no bueno.  Luckily, I kept some of her photos on my memory stick so we at least have those.  Hubby doesn’t understand that we will buy new memory cards, once they get full, instead of copying them somewhere else so they can be erased again.  A good rule of thumb is to have a back up for your back up!  Any who…

This was another one of those where, I didn’t initially start off knowing I would be a baby-wearer until I did some research.  Like I said before, I didn’t turn crazy crunchy until Emma was growing in my belly and I started to read A LOT more.  Basically, babywearing is just like it sounds-wearing you baby anywhere and everywhere you go.  A little historical perspective for you:

“Babywearing has been practiced for centuries. In ancient civilizations, mom needed to have baby close while tending to everyday chores, such as tending crops. Babywearing was born out of necessity for baby’s survival and mom’s ability to work. Fabric weaving and rough terrain delayed the invention and use of baby carriers with wheels.”

I admit it, I bought 4 different carriers after Emma was born, since I didn’t know which was better or more convenient.  (Shh…don’t tell my hubby what they all cost.)

My first carrier was a gift from my sister made by Infantino.  It’s like the BabyBjörn carrier but about the third of the price.  I couldn’t justify spending that much ($80) for a carrier that I probably wouldn’t use very often, and didn’t know if Emma would even like it.  The pluses of this carrier is that baby can be worn facing out so they can see and explore the world unlike some of the others.  The downfall is that the original only lasts until they are 25 pounds, so it’s great for a newborn up until about a year or so depending on your baby’s size.

The next purchase that I couldn’t wait to get was the Moby Wrap.  It long piece of fabric that looks complicated, but is pretty easy once you get the hang of it, and actually comfortable.  According to their website, babywearing promotes strong attachment, reduces crying significantly, lowers incidence of illness, provides a sense of calmness, and so much more.  I guess I never thought of these benefits while choosing to become a babywearer, I just liked the idea of being close to my child and possibly having the option to nurse while we walked.  Um yeah, I don’t think we ever got that one figured out especially because we had so many issues early on.  But, I did get on board with the Moby because it showed you could do exercises like squats and pliés while carrying baby around.  That sounded like a win-win to me!

The next carrier I purchased was a Thing-A-Ma-Sling.  I was trying to find a good sling out there and read reviews on the Balboa slings which were mostly bad.   I liked the hand-made design of it and of course the color, since I’m OBSESSED with all things lime green, so it felt like a good purchase.  It seemed like a sling was foolproof when wanting to nurse but again I thought, too easy drill sergeant, right?  Wrong.  By the time I got the sling, Emma was a good hefty 18 pounds and not the easiest to carry out and about.

Emma in her thing-a-ma-sling carrier

I will say when it came to nursing in public, there was one time that I did it outright as we were walking through the mall.  We had good friends come up around Christmastime and were all headed to see the train display and didn’t have much time to spare.  I knew Emma was HUNGRY so I said I’ll nurse her as we walk through the mall.  It didn’t seem too bad since I had my coat on and my scarf to cover any possibility of exposure to the general public.  It did seem like everyone was looking at me knowing what I was doing; but that could have been because there was a mass of people out holiday shopping.  Either way I didn’t care because baby girl was satisfied and so was I.  There you have it, nursing in public can and should be done!

The cream of the crop (at least to me) is the Ergobaby carrier.  You can use this puppy from birth, with an infant insert, until they are 45 pounds.  I hadn’t heard about them until my crunchy friend mentioned it while I was pregnant, and I never thought about it ’til much later.  This friend used her Ergo to carry her 4-year-old, 40 pound daughter WHILE pregnant with her son.  This is serious business with babywearing!  You can wear it on the front, back, or side.  The downfall to this carrier is that baby can only face you while being carried on your front.  I remember going through security while wearing Emma, and one of the TSA guys came up to me and said, ‘I think she wants to face out.’  I said yes I know that, but it’s not possible.  It probably didn’t help that she was doing backbends to try to see out while we were trying to get through the crowds.

Another drawback with this carrier is the price-around $140, though I got my for half price from BabySteals as my Mother’s Day gift.  I guess you can look at it like an investment especially since it lasts for quite some time.  If I totaled all mine together it would come out to $155 (not counting the Ergo) and that’s cheaper than the Ergo and can be used longer.  You can still nurse with this carrier along with exercise in it, so not to fret.  I absolutely love taking walks with Emma in it, because I feel closer to her and am able to point out the world as we pass.  I have lately started grocery shopping with her and she seems content as long as she has Teddy to soothe her.  All in all I LOVE this carrier and seem to notice a lot of mamas walking around town with them.  I guess there is some underground babywearing club that I was not privy to until late in the game.  Better late than never.

And just so you know, dads can (& should) babywear, too!

Well there you have it, a review on 4 different type of carriers and some facts on babywearing.  I say look into it if you’re curious as it’s a great way for both moms AND dads to be close to their babies.  I am also a big proponent of Kangaroo Care, which is where you strip baby down to a diaper and mama down to a nursing bra, to prevent leakage, and lay together either for a nap or just for warmth.  I loved doing this when Emma was first-born and continued for her first few months (it can even increase your milk supply).  I even made Josh do this and to me it seemed so special for the two of them to bond and feel each other’s warmth.  For proof that Kangaroo Care can work wonders, check out this article.  Amazing indeed!

Don’t forget about your baby babywearing:

Alright…sling it on me, how do you wear your baby (if you do): inside, outside, upside-down?

29 Feb

Natural Parenting: 18 Months of Breastfeeding

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Baby, Books, Natural Parenting. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

Yes, I get it.  Some of you will think I’m nuts for nursing that long and others will totally understand.  For me, I have to say I’m proud and truly blessed.  Growing up for the past thirty years, I had constantly heard how my mom nursed both my sister and me for 18 months each and thought nothing of it.  Honestly, it never dawned on me what I would do when I had kids though I was pretty sure I would breastfeed.

When I became pregnant with our first child, not long after getting married, I think it flipped a ‘crunchy’ switch on inside of me that I didn’t know existed.  I learned how perfumes and smelly items like candles were bad for her as well as me due to all the chemicals in them so I quit using them.  I learned that babies are born with 200 chemicals in their body and all they have done is exist, so out went the bleach and in came the gallon jug o’ white vinegar.  I started to eat better though I thought I ate pretty good on a gluten-free diet-having things like quinoa, flax, and chia seeds.  I even had my smoothie recipe down to a science.  I wanted to walk, walk, walk, since my mom said it would help keep me in shape and hopefully aid with a smooth delivery.  So I guess breastfeeding was just another part of that…plus it was free (well the milk was anyway)!

Not every mama has to be on board with breastfeeding but I have to say I’m thoroughly impressed that so many women are these days!  A lot of them even say they will nurse until the baby is done with them which I think is really beautiful.  I read a tweet last night about these celeb moms who nursed, even performing onstage while engorged, and it connected me to them.  At the end of the day, we are all humans and surprisingly alike especially when it comes to being a woman.

I will admit that breastfeeding did not come easily for us at first.  Emma had trouble latching due to her short tongue and high palate and I had flat nipples (whatever that meant).  There I said it.  About 5 times a day a lactation nurse would come in to try to help us and let me know about my ‘problem.’  There was even the threat of having to cut Emma’s frenulum but her doctor decided it wasn’t necessary.  But I was determined, so they brought me the hospital grade pump to get the ball rolling while we were still in the hospital.  Since I had an emergency c-section, I wanted to stay as many days as I could, 6 to be exact, to get as much help as I could.  They got me set up with a nipple shield, SNS (supplemental nursing system-basically tube feeding), and a syringe.  Talk about frustrating!  I knew my body was designed to feed my child on my milk alone yet her and I couldn’t get it right.  It drove me nuts when the nurses said that I wasn’t producing enough so I would have to supplement, which I did one time and then said no mas!

Once we got home the fun began!  I swear I cried for a month straight from being frustrated and sleep deprived and was ready to quit.  I told my hubby I couldn’t do it anymore and see why women gave up, but Josh being my rock, kept encouraging me and cheering us on.  It helped setting small goals like nursing for 6 months then shooting for 9 then one year.  I swear I could still hear my mom in the back of my head saying she nursed us both with inverted nipples so it gave me some hope.  After about two months with the shield (they are slippery lil suckers), my hubby suggested I try without it and wham-o she latched right on to me!  That meant no more dragging around extra shields and trying to get her situated right while the dang thing slipped off and no more SNS running through the shield so she would keep sucking.  It was a glorious day in my world.  After that, along with the help of a dear lactation nurse, I will say it got easier but I still felt like a milking machine 24/7.  And I’m pretty sure I over-pumped myself not knowing when and how often to pump-I would get up at 4am to pump even though baby girl was asleep.  Can ya tell I’m a newbie?  That was okay though since I was able to give my extra milk to another baby whose mama didn’t always pump enough.

Emma and I finally had it figured out and while I had a nursing cover, I wasn’t the most comfortable in public so we often sat in the car or in a bathroom.  She became quite efficient and was done in about 5 minutes so I didn’t mind.  At thirteen months, I remember on my birthday (when she fiinally said Mama!) that it seemed like she was done because nothing was coming out of me…or so I thought.  I called my mom and cried like a baby thinking it was all over but it turns out I was dehydrated from being sick that day.  We went strong for another few months and she would comfort nurse, in the morning or at night, through the molars coming in, then eventually wanted no more nook (milk) from me and I was okay with it.  I hadn’t gotten sad about our journey being over until I wanted to write this post.  I definitely don’t have any regrets, except maybe doing those pesky 3 hour scheduled feedings rather than on-demand, and thank God for the gift I was given.  My plan was to go as long as she would go but guess it was time to move on.  I am eternally grateful for the bond that formed between us and all the time we spent feeding together…we went through quite a few books during that time.  Love you baby girl!

I would now like to share some tips, books, and ‘props’ I used for getting me through this craziness of breastfeeding, in hopes that it can aid those struggling mamas out there.

Allow me to inundate you:

I have to say that breast milk in and of itself is a natural cure-all.  I watched the documentary called Babies and one mama used it in her son’s eyes to help clear them up.  I’ve heard you can put a drop or two in their nose to aid with stuffy noses before suctioning with a snotsucker.  You can rub milk on your nipples after nursing if they are cracked.  I read where one mama rubbed it all over her baby’s body while he was in NICU to help revive him.  Basically it’s amazing stuff and not just for drinking.  If you do have complications, find yourself a good lactation consultant or breastfeeding support group, like I did, and get what you need.  You can also find a local La Leche League (LLLI) where a wonderful group of women can help with any questions or concerns you may have.

Whew!  There you have it-a big ole post on breastfeeding.  I say if you are interested in trying it-go for it.  Sign up for those classes at the hospital or get you a midwife if you do the birthing center/home birth route and don’t feel scared or worried that it will hurt.  After watching my sister give birth to her son, who’s 8 months younger than Emma, I had no idea nursing could be that easy.  He just latched right on and they went from there!  Seek out friends and family members if you have questions or need help.

Alright then, let’s hear it…did you nurse your child(ren) and if so for how long?  I bet a lot of you have had some struggles so let’s all share the good, the bad, the ugly, in hopes of reaching out to one another because after all we are all mamas.

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to promote these items.

9 Feb

Teething: Amber Teething Necklace

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Baby, Crunchy, Natural Parenting. Tagged: , , , , , .

It seems like there is an underground group of (crunchy) people who have heard of them and I for one was not part of that.  Basically Baltic Amber is believed to aid in pain relief, strengthen the immune system, restore energy, maintain wellness, and help with inflammation.  When it is worn on the skin, it is said that the beads react to the warmth of the skin and emit calming factors for the wearer.  If that’s the case, maybe every single one of us should be wearing one!

Emma’s pediatrician was the first to tell me about an online store that had them since I was desperate to help with the teething.  I’m sure I had seen them on BabySteals and thought yeah right, just another gimmick.  But I went ahead and checked out the website for HipGreenBaby and placed an order for a necklace when Emma was about 7 months.  If you were like me and thought oh ok it’s a necklace for a baby to teethe on, right?  Wrong!  They are not meant to chew on them, they are just meant to be worn, 24/7 if you like.  I would occasionally put the necklace on her here and there but usually take it off at night or for bathtime but when the molars started coming in, that baby was on all the time!  Sure, I got comments like ‘oh, what a cute necklace she has on’ and immediately felt like I had to defend her and why she was wearing it.  But then I learned people honestly didn’t know what they were so I wanted to educate them.

Now that Emma has all her teeth it feels like I don’t need it anymore but it has kind of become a staple.  I’m so used to seeing her wear it all the time that I still leave it on.  Who knows, maybe it does help keep her calm.  I have to say I swear by them especially when it was molar time since no one warned me how terrible those were going to be!  If you do decide to get one make sure it’s from a reputable source-I did see reviews on Amazon for fake beads which are a no go and make sure it’s short so your little one isn’t tempted to chew on it.  Be prepared to spend about $20 for one, but if you were like me, you would do anything to help your baby get through teething!  You can also get them from The Nappy Shoppe if you don’t have a place locally.

Another option I just learned about are Hazel wood necklaces.  It can be worn to help relieve skin problems, relieve acid-related ailments (acid reflux, ulcers, and even Morning Sickness), as a teething remedy, etc.  This puppy sounds like a cure-all!  You can get more info on them from Inspired by Finn on the benefits of these necklaces.  I did buy a couple of them but have yet to try them out.  A lady I know wore one during pregnancy to keep morning sickness at bay and has them on several of her children.  The options are out there you just need to do a little research.

So there you have it-the infamous Amber teething necklaces plus a new addition.  Have you heard about them or gotten on board with either one?  Do you feel they work or is it all in their heads?  I figure it couldn’t hurt to try it out, maybe it just helps me feel better knowing it’s supposed to be helping her out.  Got that?

3 Feb

Daily Maintenance: Immune Boosters

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Baby, Crunchy, Natural Parenting. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

Since it’s technically winter, though I think it has skipped over Big D and I’m not complaining one bit, I thought it would be a good idea to let you in on a few of my medicinal alternatives.

While I was still prego with ‘Baby J’, a friend of mine told me about her daughter’s pediatrician, who had holistic approaches and happened to live close to our home.  She thought I’d be interested since she is crunchy like me and knew I would appreciate someone who used alternate methods in her practice.  I admit that being a first time mama, I never thought to interview any potential doctors to see if I liked their practice or not so I jumped right in and was instantly blessed.  I have to say that not only do I like the doc’s philosophy but I like the fact that she has opened my eyes to a new world of health and wellness for our daughter.  In fact, while I was in the hospital after having Emma one our friends asked if she could be her doctor!  Sorry, just children.

My intent is to share with you some of the methods I learned from Healthy Kids Pediatrics in hopes we can keep our little ones healthy without pumping them full of meds unnecessarily.

This is my stash that I keep in my arsenal for when Emma gets sick or just for daily maintenance: (Note: I am not a doctor nor pretend to play one-this just happens to work for my family.)

Allow me to elaborate from left to right.

Vitamin D3: Kids ≤ 7 years old Spring/Summer 400 I.U., Fall/Winter (well) 800 I.U., Fall/Winter (sick) 1,200-1,600 I.U. *Maximum safe dose for kids is 10,000 I.U.

Elderberry or Echinacea/Astragalus: to cure colds/use as an immune booster 5-8 drops

Briar Rose: Immune booster 5-8 drops, 2-3 times daily during acute illness, 2 times weekly for immune support *I live for this stuff & use it on Emma daily!*

Lithy Tree (think L for lungs): 5-8 drops, 2-3 times daily during acute illness (for cough)

Influenza Multi-Strain Flu Medicine (alternative to the flu shot): this spray can be used on infants, children, and adults.

These different products have helped us get through some crazy weather even while picking up sickness at daycare.  I found the majority of these items at Sprouts or Market Street but I’m sure they can be found online with a little searching.  I like having multiple alternatives since I myself don’t get the flu shot and never intended to get one for Emma.  Lucky for me I don’t have to fight the pediatrician on my beliefs/practices and she just lets me do my thang.

I started typing this post the other night only to find Emma waking up night with the ole reliable croupy cough, so I have yet more ‘goodies’ to share with you!  She first got croup when she was in daycare from the sitter’s kid and seems to get it at least twice a year.  I have her daddy to thank for that one because he had it multiple times for the first three years of his life.  Hooray for me-that means I still have a year and a half to go!

For new mamas, the clear sign is a barking-type cough that usually creeps up at nighttime and is kept at bay during the day.  When I first took Emma into see the doctor she sent me home with this laundry list to help her get through it.  Saline & suction/blow nose often, Briar rose, humidifier (cool mist recommended), Vitamin D3, steam showers, and Vicks VapoRub®.  If you haven’t discovered the beauty of Vicks, or hate it like my hubby, you don’t know what you are missing.  I know it’s not for everyone but I remember growing up and my parents would put Vicks on our feet and chest whenever we got sick.  Man I love that smell.  Apparently they learned that trick when my dad was stationed in Germany for a good number of years and my got my sister hooked-she would sit there and huff those little Vicks sticks when she had a cold. Ha!

So besides the aforementioned remedies, I put Vicks on Emma’s chest with 2 shirts to keep it warm in there as well as some on her feet covered with socks.  I recently discovered these spongia tosta pellets that are for croupy cough (also found at Sprouts) and think she has since become addicted.  I will say that I have both the warm and cool mist humidifier and I personally like the warm mist and not just because you can put the Vicks liquid in there.  Riiight.

I recently discovered yet another medicine to stock in my cabinet for Emma called chestal honey.  It’s a cough syrup good for dry and productive cough and is more homeopathic than those sweet flavored brands.  It says for 2 years and up but my doctor told me to give her half the recommended dose and she is doing fine.  Man I love natural stuff!

I would also like to add that as a good rule of thumb, every single person including little ones should be taking a probiotic.  If you haven’t heard of them they are definitely vital especially if you are on antibiotics.  Since antibiotics kill the good flora in our bodies taking a probiotic will put that good stuff back in.  I recently picked up a bottle where I sprinkle ¼ teaspoon on Emma’s food or put in her smoothie.  You can buy all sorts of different ones, but the more strains the better for adults and no more than 10 billion 3x a week for little ones.  Check with your doc on exact amounts.

Phew! I think that wraps up the alternate meds for now.  I will leave you with the photo of Emma, um, wanting more of her Briar rose…I think I’ve created a monster.

What about you?  Does your family have any crunchy methods that you do in this crazy pill-popping, Rx-writing world?

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 348 other followers

%d bloggers like this: