My kids are much too old for breastfeeding but I thought that this is a perfect topic to push because it is both healthy for the kids and the mother and free. Where else will you get that good a deal? Now, I know that there is some controversy surrounding breastfeeding. Some women do not believe in it, some do not think it is important or different, etc. This is not a venue to hold matches between those two points and to judge which one is better. This is simply an informative post as to the positives and negatives of breastfeeding, keeping in mind that breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed an infant and that it cots nothing monetarily.
So, pro’s are:
For the mom-
- A reason to eat and not to gain. In fact, you lose weight! A breastfeeding mom needs more that 500 extra calories a day because the body just burns more while breastfeeding.
- It is easy and requires no expense or fuss. You so not need much more than a comfortable place to prop yourself and your child.
- For those who are comfortable and used to the routines, it is possible to sleep during feedings, especially those night time ones.
- They say that it is a way to foster a bond between mother and child.
- There’s less spitting up, no stains and the poop doesn’t smell!
- There are anti cancer benefits. Research shows that the longer you breastfeed, the lower your risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
- May give you a longer break from getting your period again but ovulation may still occur so this is NOT a birth control method.
- A lot of breastfeeding moms say it feels awesome and is a real confidence booster!
For the Baby-
- Breast milk provides natural antibodies. This is usually found in the colostrum or the opaque part of the breast milk. Breastfed babies get more protection against ear infections, colds, and viruses: If the child does have any of the above, the severity will most likely be lessened.
- Breast milk is said to help the brain grow and develop
- They say as well that there is less learning and behavior difficulties
- Less diaper rash and other skin problems due to the natural milk. When rashes occur it is usually a reaction to what the mom is eating and then transmitting through the milk than a reaction to the milk itself.
- It is proven that there is less colic and less crying because of the natural suction from breastfeeding
- Breast milk is easy to digest.
- Research has shown that breast milk protects against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, leukemia, some childhood cancers, and juvenile-onset diabetes
- And breastfeeding moms swear that their babies LOVE the taste!
That said, what are the con’s?
- Breastfeeding takes time. Newborns feed every 2 to three hours and so breastfeeding moms follow this schedule even at night.
- If the dad or the grandparents want a turn at feeding the baby, mom still has to pump the breast milk out which may not be as comforting as having the baby feed directly off the breast.
- Breastfeeding is tiring! It takes a lot of energy for your body to make milk, so the mother can often feel quite fatigued.
- Contrary to popular belief, this is not second nature. Almost all moms have at least a moment where they learn how to properly feed their babies. This may cause some anxiety and frustration.
- There may be other problems as well that make breastfeeding difficult. Some common problems are mastitis, inverted nipples, babies not being able to latch properly, plugged milk ducts and engorgement if the baby is not feeding frequently or properly.
- Finally, for the career woman, breastfeeding can be a real challenge. The schedule alone is something that requires a lot of management and support from the workplace.
So, is breastfeeding for you? It is an entirely personal choice. I do not believe there is a right or wrong answer as every loving mother has their stand on why she chooses what she chooses in the care and development of her child. Certainly, these are points for anyone to mull over before making that decision.
I hope this was informative!
Cheers,
VICKI
Fisher-Price is looking for the next great dirty diaper disposal system. Could you be the person to invent it? They want you to put yourself in your own shoes and envision the best diaper disposal system that you can think of. The main catch, they have to be able to make the product and sell it in Wal-Mart for $30 – $60.
The chosen design will get a minimum of $2500 upfront + a percentage of sales for 20 years or a buyout. That’s a pretty sweet deal if you are good at coming up with ideas. But act first, the deadline is Monday, August 1st at Midnight. You can check out all the details at Edison Nation.
Study shows sharp reduction in child injuries in homes equipped with child safety devices.
In the wake of a new study that shows a clear link between babyproofing one’s home and a reduction in injuries to children, the International Association for Child Safety is reminding parents that a professional babyproofer can help them choose and install the appropriate products.
The study by researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center looked at two groups of families with newborns. One set had properly installed and maintained child safety devices in their homes. After two years of follow-up, babies and toddlers living in these homes had 70 percent fewer injuries requiring medical attention than did those in a control group with no child safety devices installed in the home.
“The home environment is the most common location of injury for younger children,” said the study’s lead investigator, Dr. Kieran J. Phelan, in a medical center news release. “However, parents may not have the time, training or resources to obtain and install the best safety products.”
The International Association for Child Safety (IAFCS), a worldwide network of child safety professionals and babyproofers, has helped parents and caregivers do just that for more than 15 years. IAFCS has the first and onlycertification program for Certified Professional Childproofers®.
“This study just confirms what our members have known for some time – proper installation of appropriate safety devices can prevent injuries,” said Colleen Driscoll, Executive Director of the IAFCS. “Our members are trained and experienced in identifying hazards and installing top quality safety devices for even the most difficult-to-solve home hazards.”
Many parents need help choosing and installing child safety products, notes Driscoll. “IAFCS members are expert childproofers and are able to help make your home a safe place for your little one.”
Regardless of whether parents decide to use a professional childproofer, parents can reduce the risk of injuries in their home by following these safety tips provided by IAFCS. For more tips or to find a child safety professional in your area, visit iafcs.org.
There is always something new and exciting coming out on the market. Since having the boys – I’ve seen cribs, toys, clothes, etc. and thought, “I would have totally purchased that for me (or the boys), if it had been available at the time!” Recently, I have stumbled upon a few items that I know I would have loved to have when I was expecting, and the days that followed — so I thought I’d share them with you.
The Baby Bullet
I made all the boys’ baby food when they were little, and it sure would have been nice to have this little beauty. Of course, I did pretty well with my food processor, ice cube trays, and blender but the baby bullet would have made things much more simple. Especially when making smaller batches or to whip up something really quick without all the messy clean-up.
Since I was feeding two babies at the same time, this might not have been the best thing for me. I may have been working double time in the kitchen, but for parents of singletons it would be excellent.
The thing that impressed me most, were the containers. You can actually put the date the food expires on there. Way cool! I froze almost everything I made - since I made baby food in batches – but this would have been great for making oatmeal and rice cereal.
Designer Hospital Gowns
I was looking for something on line and I stumbled across designer hospital gowns. I had never heard of, or thought of such a thing but I thought they sounded like a neat idea. The first gowns I found were from Designer Mamas. These are the most stylish hospital gowns on the planet — no doubt. However – they are spendy for something that will probably only be worn a couple of times (about$130).
I’m sure they are made of very fine quality materials and worth every penny but at Kids Ain’t Cheap, we are all about saving money so I went in search of a less expensive version. I found some really cute styles at Labor Looks for about one-third of the price.
To many people, this may seem like a frivolous purchase – and perhaps it is – but I would have loved to have a cute hospital gown to wear after the babies had arrived.
Another option – if you have any craft friends that know their way around a sewing machine - is to see if they could make one for you (maybe in exchange for extra baby holding time, once your little sweetie arrives). Then you can even pick out the fabric.
Nursery Sanitizer — The Germ Guardian
Found on Amazon.com sale - $53.99 regular – $69.99
This is my favorite! I would have LOVED this and would have used it often. With one baby who used a pacifier – if for only that reason alone – this would have been fantastic. Plus, it works on bottles and toys and all kinds of things!
Is there a product you’ve seen that you think would have been great to have? Have you used one of the products I mentioned and if so what was your experience? Is there something you used as a new parent that you know you could not have lived without? I would love to hear about it!
Thanks for Reading!
~Christie
I love having twins! People always ask me if it’s a lot of work and I say, “Sure it is, but it’s worth it.” They truly are a double blessing. Here are some of the best things about having twins.
A Baby for Everyone
One of the first things I loved about having twins, was that they were easy to share. After the boys were born, my Mom and Mother-in-law were so happy that they each had a baby to hold. When people came to visit, there weren’t any awkward, “quit hogging the baby” moments — because there was usually one up for grabs.
Some new mothers feel like everyone is holding their baby but them; or that they only get the baby when they need to be fed or starts crying. Not so much with twins — I am happy to report that I got lots of baby holding time and so did all the other people that love them.
Two Bald Baby Heads with Toothless Grins
Some of my favorite moments of the day, were when the boys would wake up from their naps, or first thing in the morning (especially if they slept in). As soon as I would hear them making cute baby noises; I would go into their room. That’s when I would see the cutest little bald babies smiling at me, with their adorable toothless grins. I loved that!
Rinse and Repeat
Having two infants at the same time was a little intense. The best twin advice I received was “What you do for one, do for the other.” This saved me so much time and frustration. It took a little while for us to get in the groove of things but once I remembered that advice – and put it into practice – things flowed much more smoothly.
They ate at the same time, I changed their diapers at the same time (whether the other one needed it or not), I put them down for a nap at the same time, and as soon their sleep schedules began to sync, life got a tiny bit easier. Plus, I got really good at doing things, because I would do it once and then immediately do it again. Except feeding. I always fed them at the same time, otherwise I wouldn’t have had time for anything else.
Built in Best Friend (wrestling buddy)
My boys always have a playmate. Of course, that can also work against me when they are fighting – but if you have more than one kid it’s bound to happen. When they were newborns, they didn’t really look at each other much but they loved to be side-by-side. One would lay their head on the other’s shoulder or they might hold hands. It was so adorable!
Now that they are older, they have inside jokes, they giggle and chat before falling asleep and again when they wake up, they make up all kinds of fun adventures and work together to achieve a common goal. They are also more confident when experiencing new situations, because they have each other.
Twins Community
I am part of a wonderful community of twin parents. You know how motorcyclists wave at each other as they pass on the road; it’s kind of like that for parents of twins. We might stop to swap stories or just give each other a knowing smile. We share a common bond and it’s always nice to talk to other parents of twins. I especially enjoy meeting twins who are grown-up. They provide fantastic insights.
2-for-1 Deal
It took awhile for my husband and I to have children. We always said we were going to have two; we just didn’t know it would happen at the same time. Sometimes, I wish I could have experienced two pregnancies but I am very thankful for the one I did have. I got two babies and only had to go through labor once – that’s a pretty good deal. Plus, I have two very healthy little boys. I couldn’t ask for more than that.
People Tell Me I’m a Supermom
This is always nice to hear and I really appreciate when people take the time to tell me this. It’s very sweet. Truth is, I think there are a lot of Supermoms (and Dads) out there, who work very hard for their children every day. That’s what being a parent is all about - no matter what hand you are dealt – a good parent will just do what needs to be done to care for their child or children, no matter what.
I once had a lady say to me, “You have twins? Wow! I don’t know how you do it. I have one three year old and it’s insane. I would have killed myself if I had twins.” Yikes! Better me than her I guess.
The Same but Different
My boys share a birthday, they both love superheros and fire trucks, and the both love their dog but they are really so very different. For one thing A. will eat just about any fruit on the planet but N. really only likes apples and grapes (thankfully he’s not as picky about veggies). Before they were even born, A. was pretty chill and N. moved around like a wild man. After they arrived – A. was pretty chill and N. was a wild man.
They don’t look alike, they don’t dress alike and they certainly have different ideas about things — but at the end of the day they are best buddies. If they are apart for any length of time – as soon as they see each other – they are so happy to be together again.
There’s really so much to love about having twins! There’s double the hugs and double the kisses. There is no feeling in the world like holding a sleeping baby in each arm. Sometimes, I still try to carry them both for old times sake, but it’s getting much more difficult.
I am so thankful to be a mother of twins. It has been an amazing experience so far — and the adventure has just begun!
The blessings of raising twins, certainly outweigh the challenges. What do you love most about having twins?
Thanks for Reading!
~Christie
Funnily enough, 2010 seemed to be the year of the babies. I have so many friends who welcomed their bundles of joy last year and so many who got pregnant and are expecting this year. It really is beautiful to see the beginnings of a life, to see the joy in the parent’s faces, and to see all my new mommy-to-be girlfriends fret over all the baby things they think they need. This is especially true (and fun to watch) with my friends who are going to be first time mom’s.
I remember very well what I thought I needed when I was pregnant with my first child. I remember it was a few months in chaos listing all the things magazines and sites were telling me I needed. And, being the anal person that I am, I got MOST of these items. Only to find out later that I didn’t really need half of them. Good thing was I was able to use them for my second child. Wonderful how some baby things just don’t go out of style.
Anyway, I thought about doing a list of things you really need after you find out you are expecting and a basic time chart for when to get them. It might be helpful for all the first time mom’s out there.
6 months before D-Day:
By this time, I think it is OK to start getting the big stuff. This is because you will have had enough time to save up for them and because you will still have enough time to pay them off should you decide to get these on installment.
1. Crib- OK, you can choose whatever crib you want here but I personally think that if you have no baby cabinets yet, then get the ones with the drawers and the ones with the bed that can take the baby into the growing years. There are some cribs that are cute and may fit a little nook in your room, but for practicality and for budget’s sake, these are not the smartest choices.
2. Stroller/Car Seat/Bassinet- OK, there are sooo many choices in the market today and some ranging from the reasonably expensive to the outrageously expensive. The things I would say to look out for are the material of the stroller and car seat, the quality of the belt and the fasteners, the padding around the bars, the size and quality of the wheels and the shocks of the stroller. Any brand that presents above average standards for all these is a thumb’s up for me.
4. Bottles and sterilizer- Now, if there were many crib and stroller choices, there are even more bottle choices. And the manufacturers have made these bottles so complicated that it almost feels like you need a degree to choose the right one! The rules I followed were two things: that they were designed to produce a non-colicky baby, and that they were made from material that does not leach BPA or bisephenol, which is a harmful byproduct of plastic that can go onto the liquid in the bottle if it is heated above 175F. The thing is a lot of the really cute and popular bottles use Polycarbonate plastic despite this fact because it is lightweight to bring around and for the baby to hold and offers flexibility in design of nipples and bottle. But there are a lot of bottles made from safer and greener plastic that are just as pretty. It really is personal choice here.
3 months to go:
1. Bedsheets, clothes, blankets- I cannot stress how many of these you will think you need in the first two months after the baby is born. You will wnat sheet replacements in case you need to change the sheets, and change you will need to do often. You will want clothes that can come off and go on the baby as easily as possible and these usually are the ones that you tie up front. For tropical countries, it is important to have cotton clothes to keep the baby cool and it is essential to have changes of clothing to keep the baby clean and fresh. I has a set of 6 tops that you tie in front, 6 that you button on the shoulder, and 6 wide neck ones. I used them all. Blankets and towels are equally important as they cover the baby, keep the baby warm, and is what the baby will be wrapped in for chnks of hours over the day. I had 6 of these although I know of others who had a dozen to be safe.
2. Washing/changing station- If you are old fashioned like me, you will do with a regular tub with a dipper in the bathroom. If you are more mod, you may want to use a changing table that can convert into a washbasin. This is entirely a personal choice.
3. Breast pump- now, if you do not intend to breastfeed, this is a moot point. But, if you do, finding a good pump will be a lifesaver. Like most things, a pump has a price range. I didn’t try all but I have tried a few to be able to make some kind of recommendation. I’ve also thrown in comments from friends for good measure.
- Medela- This range of breast pumps is, as far as I’ve heard, the Ferrari of breast pumps. It is strong but not painful and really gets the milk out. Plus it has some sort of suction imitation thing that keeps breast milk in production even if the baby is not breastfeeding from the breast all the time. This is pricey though.
- Avent- very very well known for quality bottles and pumps, I had the opportunity to use the manual breast pump. It was very good. No need for an electric pump at all. It was virtually painless to use, had good suction, and was easy enough to use for a few hours straight. The only thing I found a bit off putting was that it was rather large to use and hold (for me at least) but this really depends on the woman’s grip and hand size. I would recommend this breast pump if your budget allows as this is also a bit on the pricey side.
- Pigeon- this is the more budget friendly brand and I was able to use the manual and electric varieties. The manual one was great. It was small enough so it was not cumbersome, the pump was soft enough to use for a few hours straight, it was virtually painless as well. I would definitely recommend this pump. I used the electric one as well because i thought i could get a lot of milk minus the manual pumping. It was very painful. I stopped using it after two tries. I do not recommend this at all.
4. Diapers- you will need to change the baby around eight times a day in the beginning and will only taper off when the baby is well withing the first year so stocking up early is not a bad idea. Diapers do not have an expiration date but they do have sizes so stock up on some newborn diapers and small ones first. Research on how often you need to change the baby and how fat they grow on average to get a rough computation of how many pieces you might need. If you want to use cloth diapers, you will need about 2-3 dozen of the small to medium ones first. You will need some baby friendly soap and a good washing machine and dryer as well. Have a basin with some water mixed with detergent handy so you can soak soiled diapers immediately. This makes them easier to wash and prevents staining.
5. Diaper bag- you can have two to three of these ion different sizes. You will need a variety as the amount of things you will bring around will change depending on where you are headed. make sure to have bottle holders, a changing mat, other dividers and an insulated area. It would be great to have an outside or other pocket for your personal things so you don’t have to carry a handbag but this is optional.
THese are the most basic tghings you will need to have nbefpre you welcome your new baby. Of course, there is a whole novel full of other things you will want to have but those you can stress les about. Having these basics will at least get you through the first couple of weeks.
I hope this was helpful!
Cheers,
