Do you really need all that stuff?

You're expecting a baby. There is so much excitement at this time of your life. You are preparing for your labor and birth as well as for life with a baby. Maybe you are planning a baby shower or registering for baby items. But do you really need all that stuff at the baby store? They will most likely provide you with a list of things you "need" for your new baby.

Now that I have 3 children, I've learned a lot about taking care of babies and all that stuff from the registries and stores.

Needs:

• sling, wrap or other carrier-great ways to carry your baby so that you don't need to spend money on swings, bouncy seats etc. Also baby can easily nurse in a sling or wrap while Mom is on the go!
  
• nursing tank tops-I love these because you can wear them under any shirt and easily nurse without having to buy new "nursing shirts"
  
• cloth diapers-try cloth, you will save $$
  
• bed side rail or co-sleeper-it's easier to nurse frequently at night if you baby is close by either in your bed or in a co-sleeper of bassinet.
  
• breast pump (if working outside the home)
• diaper bag-or large purse that you can put some diapers and a change of clothes in
  

Waste of Money:

• changing table-I have my cloth diapers in a basket that sits on the floor and now that I have older children I spend a lot of time sitting on the floor with them anyway, so why not get down on their level to change diapers too. It's good exercise!
  
• crib-we've hardly used ours, all 3 of our babies have slept in bed with my husband and I, and have only used the crib for a few months before we tranistioned them to a big bed
  
• wipe wamer-not a necessity
  
• high chair-I personally think the seat that can sit on a regular dining room chair takes up less space than a high chair
• pacifiers-let you baby nurse on demand and for as long as he or she needs for comfort. You will have a great milk supply and this will also delay the return of your menstrual cycles.
• special hooded towels and wash cloths-they're pretty cute, but really a regular towel and wash cloth will do the trick just as well.
• expensive baby monitor with video and room temperature ect.-as above, if your baby is sleeping in the same room with you, as recommended by the AAP, this is unnecessary.

*These are my personal opinions based on an attachment style of parenting. Every family is different and will have differnent syles of parenting. Use common sense when shopping at the baby superstores and remember that you don't reallly NEED everything on the list they will give you!

Home birth is safe!

http://mothering.com/canadian-homebirth-study#

Breastfeeding beyond 1 year

My youngest son is turning one on Friday. This year has gone by so fast! It's hard to believe that he is already walking and can say, "mama" and "dada". And, he's still breastfeeding. In America most babies are done nursing by 6 months of age, so I know that we are in the minority. It is definitely a personal decision to decide when and how to wean your baby, or toddler, but I think there are some good reasons to continue breastfeeding for more than 6 months.


Babies have immature immune systems and breastfeeding helps prevent them from getting sick since they get antibodies from their mother through her milk. Our pediatrician made a comment one time that my kids had such thin charts because they hadn't been sick very much. Now, don't get me wrong, we've had our fair share of colds and stomach bugs, but we have not once had an ear infection or strep throat! I truly believe that my kids have been so healthy because they have all breastfed past one year.


The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at LEAST the first 2 years of life. Any woman in the USA who has breastfed her baby until he or she was 2 probably got some negative reactions from others. The average age of weaning worldwide is 4 years old. That's right 4!! Again, it is a very private and personal decision when to wean your baby, but I think that Americans can learn from the WHO and other countries that support long term breastfeeding.


I breastfed my first two children for 15 and 16 months respectively. I only stopped breastfeeding them because I was pregnant again. (There are a number of women though, who tandem nurse, or continue to nurse their toddler and a new baby). I intend to keep breastfeeding my youngest at least through this winter and hopefully until he turns two when his immune system is more fully developed.


For more information please see:

www.llli.org
http://www.parentingweb.com/lounge/ext_nursepage.htm