MommyCon Newport Beach 2014

As someone who is active in no less than half a dozen mommy groups, most of which are focused around the more mainstream crunchy aspects of parenting, like babywearing, breastfeeding, cloth diapering and natural products, MommyCon Newport Beach was like walking into a room where my Mommy Facebook groups came to life. Actually, the moment I got out of my car, Baby Buckshot and I ran into two mamas from Socal Babywearers that I instantly recognized. Instead of Caw-Cawing (the official call of one SoCal Babywearer to another), however, I went ahead and introduced myself. And much of the rest of MommyCon was like that. Running into mamas I knew from my groups or talking to mamas who were in my groups but I had never talked to before. I had found my tribe!

Here are some highlights, as I didn't make it to MommyCon in time for anything before 11am, I missed Babywearing Yoga AND Babywearing 101!

Sleep Consultations with Rebecca Michi
Rebecca Michi is a published author and authority on children's sleep from 0-6 years old. Specializing in gentle sleep methods, her book combines a number of different sleep methods, giving the reader options best suited for each child instead of a one size fits all sleep recommendation. The sleep consultation sessions at MommyCon were by appointment only as she booked 6 moms for each 30 minute session, addressing each of our issues in 5 minutes. Obviously, 5 minutes is nothing in terms of an in depth sleep evaluation but here are some of her tips:

If baby is having a hard time transitioning or staying asleep in a crib or pack-n-play, it is possibly the mattress or a comfort issue. Many times, crib mattresses are not as soft or cushioned as the parent's bed so changing to a softer mattress might help. She also explained that pack-n-plays are not really made for sleeping so they are not very comfortable for babies. She recommended MamaDoo Mattress Topper for parents who want to continue using the pack-n-play in lieu of a crib or co-sleeping. 

As babies transition through sleep phases, reducing from multiple naps down to 1 or 2 a day, she explained that to keep babies sleep schedules on track, it is both helpful and not detrimental, to wake a sleeping baby. Shortening, specifically, the second nap of the day, to a 15-30 minute nap can help baby get on track for a sleep schedule.

My problem, of BB not staying asleep for longer than 2-3 hours at a time at night, and needing to nurse back to sleep was addressed in depth, lucky for me! Against everything I have read about babies BB's age, Rebecca noted that many babies still do wake from hunger and that this frequency of awaking is completely normal. However, BB is using nursing as a sleep crutch so it would be important to teach him to put himself back to sleep.

She recommended that, while I can continue to nurse him at the beginning of the night and for a middle of the night feed, the lights should be dimly on to communicate that nursing is awake time. Then for the other night wakings, to sooth him to sleep without nursing. In her experience, it only takes 3 nights for a new sleep habit to be learned making a long weekend the perfect time to teach a new sleep lesson.

Swag  Bags

There were so many vendors giving away such great stuff at this event. The best two items were Kinde Twist Starter Kits and with my Project: Breastfeeding add-on, Beco Soliel baby carriers!

WeanGreen gave away Glass baby food containers, a Mam bottle, a Zen Rock teething necklace and a Diono Screenshade were included in the swag bags from Cottonbabies as well as lots of coupons. The swag included for the attendees more than covered the cost of a ticket. Score!

In the breastfeeding lounge, there were also complimentary Milkin' Cookies and water for all the mamas. And those cookies were SO good. 


Tackling Toddler Trickiness with Dr. Alan Greene
Dr. Alan Greene, author of Feeding Baby Green: The Earth Friendly Program for Healthy, Safe Nutrition During Pregnancy, Childhood, and Beyond and Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care, spoke on the topic of why toddlers becoming picky about food and how to address is. Here are some of the more interesting points:

• Toddlers are wired to reject foods that are in the slightest bit bitter or sour as a survival mechanism. In nature, typically when something is bitter or sour, it is a warning that it is not safe to eat. 
• Familiarity will cause a child to enjoy a food. Repeated offerings of one bite in 7-12 different instances from a trusted source, like mommy, daddy or other regular caregiver, gives baby the exposure and understanding that a food is both safe and eventually enjoyable. 
• Pregnant women who eat something, like carrots, at least 12 times during pregnancy, are likely to have children that immediately like that food item when first trying it. In utero, baby has more tastebuds than any other time in life, so baby can remember the flavor from the womb and in turn already registers it as familiar when having first solids. 
• Heroes endorsing foods make children more likely to eat them. For instance, a container of cherry tomatoes, with a sticker of Elmo on it, may result in a child being more willing to try and like the tomatoes. 
• Early exposure to real food textures in various forms is important. It was found that because children were more exposed to tomato purees, they liked the flavor of tomatoes but often rejected fresh tomatoes because they were only used to the tomatoes in pureed form and didn't like the fresh texture.
• Growing vegetables from a seed makes a child much more likely to love that vegetable. Getting a child involved in the harvesting, picking or preparation of a vegetable, exponentially increases the likelihood that they will enjoy the food. 
• If a toddler is having a hard time even trying one bite of a new food, mix the item with flavors they already find familiar and enjoy. For instance, if the child enjoys marinara sauce but is rejecting broccoli, cover the broccoli with marinara sauce.
• Toddlers like to refuse things they are given but offering limited options, like asking them if they would like an apple or a banana, gives them the illusion of control making them less likely to protest what they are being given to eat.

Dr. Jay Gordon and Jaime Lynne Grumet
When I first saw Jaime Lynne Grumet, at MommyCon, she was wearing this gorgeous  puffy skirted dress and a very high heels with her hair and make-up done to a tee. I couldn't believe that she was a mom, and if she was, she must have been a model/celebrity. Little did I know, she's actually one of the most famous moms from the cover of Time Magazine.

She, the accidental face of Attachment Parenting mothers everywhere, along with Dr. Jay Gordon, spoke on a number of AP topics from how much protein do kids need (answer: don't worry about protein, feed them more vegetables), extended breastfeeding and answered much of the audience's questions.

Project: Breastfeeding
A lot of moms hire a professional photographer to commemorate their breastfeeding days. I considered that but when the Project: Breastfeeding add-on ticket went live, I immediately jumped at the chance. Get my breastfeeding picture taken by a famous photographer while also helping to destigmatize breastfeeding? That's a win-win.

Hector was simply amazing to work with, infinitely patient as Baby Buckshot all of sudden was more interested in playing than nursing (the children's play area was right next to the Project: Breastfeeding area.) We had to come back a few times before BB settled down and started to nurse while I was sitting on the chair. By that time, I was a tired mess and BB would only settle in one position. For a minute, I felt really self conscious and put a fake smile on and was disappointed that my picture probably wouldn't turn out very pretty. But, given my 13 months of breastfeeding, me being a tired mess catering to BB in whatever fashion I could take care his needs, is probably the most honest picture of our journey.

It was also a pleasure hearing about Hector's experience with the project. From taking a picture of a mom's last time breastfeeding her child, to capturing some moms breastfeeding babies multiple times, first nursing little squish babies and now as toddlers. I cannot express how much I love this project and look forward to seeing my less than perfect but actually quite accurate picture.

Babywearing Lounge
This was the mecca of babywearing. From various wraps to soft structured carriers of all ergonomic makers, the babywearing educators and representatives from Beco and Ergo provided a very comprehensive picture of what today's babywearing world has to offer. Yes, that is Jamie Grayson, aka theBabyGuyNYC, in the center. I did not realize it was him when I was trying to get a panoramic picture. Looking back, he probably thought I was being a creeper taking his picture and not asking first!  Ooops! Sorry Jamie!

I also have to note that this event is just babywearing heaven. The Tula Wrap Conversions and gorgeous woven wraps all the mamas were wearing their babies in was better than a fashion show. ETLA, Meeyoo, Pavos, Giras abound. It was a real life Stash Shot Saturday!

MommyCon was a great experience! Highly recommended for expectant mothers or those who have children toddler age or younger.

One Year of Parenthood

One year ago today, after 25 hours of labor, and 10 months of pregnancy, I had a little boy. This little boy went from being a helpless little swaddled bundle of joy to a mobile and demanding toddler of joy.

Here is a sample of what I've learned this past year.

Pregnancy is the easy part. No really, anything that happened from vomiting everyday for 4-5 months to waddling around like the worlds heaviest bowling ball was resting on my pelvis was easy in comparison to now. Why? Because the Baby Buckshot was safe in my belly and not out in the world where he is only attracted to the most dangerous thing in the room. Why yes, BB, thank you for reminding me that I forgot to cover one electrical outlet in the entire house.

Babies sleep less over time. First day in the hospital, BB slept a lot. So much so that the hubs and I wondered if we had won the baby lottery. Until the second day, when he cried all night. And then the first week, when he didn't know when to sleep and when to stay awake. Then, just when we got any kind of nap and bedtime rhythm down, sleep regressions and teething hit and it was back to square one. Over. And. Over. But it is try, try again.

I am softer than I thought. Not just in the pudgey postpartum belly way, but in the, "Now, I have all the feels so when I watch a sappy movie or read a touching quote, tears" way. Something my husband, who had never really seen me cry before, is having to adjust to. There was a line in Love Actually, "Joni Mitchell is the woman who taught your cold English wife how to feel." Baby Buckshot is my Joni Mitchell.

Nothing bonds women like motherhood. I was never a girl's girl. Most of my friends were men, I had a hard time keeping long lasting friendships with women until motherhood. Suddenly, all the female friends of my past have re-emerged and there's an instant support group. Old friends, new friends, all friends. If you have a kid, I'm likely going to be your friend.  I'm going to guess this has to do with the fact that nothing, and I mean nothing, has taught me not to judge other people's lives like a little human being who has obviously been put into my life to see everyone else's perspective. No judgement here, other mamas. Just another mom trying to do her best with what she has.
 
Moms fight. Over everything. Did I also mention that nothing riles up other women against each other like motherhood? I wrote about it briefly here but I have to say it again. Nothing seems to hit a woman to her core like commenting on how she's opting to feed her infant child. Breastfeeding, formula, nursing in public, adding cereal to a bottle. Oh. My. Drama. Llama.

Poop can travel far. This is one of the early, most poignant lessons. A lifetime of only seeing excrement go into a toilet bowl did not prepare me for the ability of a tiny human to blow poop straight across a changing table, past a lamp and directly onto a wall. More than once.

The greatest expression of our love is also the greatest challenge to our marriage. My idealistic prenatal self thought that parenthood would be this amazing bonding experience where my husband and I would feel magically connected. And most of time, this is true. We have learned the ability to collaboratively take care of BB, even when upset with each other. We just seem to get upset with each other much more often. The first year of parenthood rivals the time we spent planning our wedding in terms of conflict and only now am I hearing that this is very common for first time parents. For those just starting, it takes about a year and it all works out.

Breastfeeding. There is no skill I have ever learned that is as emotionally charged as breastfeeding. And succeeding to this point give me this deep sense of accomplishment, for doing something my body was made to do. It's weird how something that was so stressful and painful in the beginning gives me sad pause when I think about it ending.

Everything is fleeting. For someone like me, who is a constant planner, learning to let go and deal with one short term problem at a time was a learning process. Solutions for some baby problems were absolutely necessary one minute and totally obsolete the next. Turns out, life seems to move slow but the moments just fly by.

My mother really, really, really loves me. It took becoming a mother in my 30s to realize the depth of my mother's love for me. It has spanned my lifetime, it has included my husband and now her grandchild. Until I loved my own baby, I had no idea the depth of a mother's love. Afterall, who goes from changing a person's diaper 30 something years ago to changing that person's child's diaper three decades later? Only a woman in love.

Happy birthday, Baby Buckshot. I love you to infinity and back.

Baby Mum Mum Review

When I was a kid, my grandmother used to give me Chinese rice crackers. They were wrapped two in a bag, always perfectly crispy and airy and my brother and I would eat 5 bags at a time. They were also sodium laden with the equivalent of a whole package of MSG (mmm... so good.)

When I heard about Baby Mum-Mums, they sounded so familiar. When I looked them up online, they looked so familiar. Naturally, I went searching for this remnant of my childhood, food memories of my grandmother that I could share with my son as long as they were no longer sodium filled. 

I went to the local store and they had store brand rice rusk snacks, which weren't very good, but had the crispy to the bite but melt in the mouth texture. I immediately reached out to Hot Kid about their Baby Mum Mums so I could let Baby Buckshot try some since he was moving into eating solids.

Baby Mum-Mums are basically the perfect baby snacks. They come in a variety of flavors, organic options and, like the rice crackers of my childhood, come two in a bag with the rice rusk texture, without the MSG of my youth. 

Here are the highlights:

Perfect for Traveling. Seriously, if you have ever accidentally had a canister of Gerber puffs open up in your Rebecca Minkoff diaper bag, you understand how brilliant this individually wrapped packaging is. Getting to avoid that horrendous puff dust over everything in the car is also a huge plus.

Great size for Baby Led Weaning. A lot of baby snack foods are small which means baby has to be old enough to use the pincher grasp or they're just shoving a whole handful of puffs in their mouth which ends up in gagging.  Sure, there's gagging in Baby Led Weaning but Baby Mum Mums are large enough for young eaters to grab a hold of and gnaw on.

Teething. Speaking of gnawing on, these are great teething biscuits. Seriously, they start out hard like a cracker and as drool from the teething gets absorbed by the cracker, it gets soft enough for baby to gum.

Gluten Free. Not only do they come in organic varieties, they are gluten free, which allows some of the hip parents in metropolitan areas to stick with their no-wheat diets. Because let's be honest, we all steal a couple of bites here and there of our babies snacks. To make sure they're safe, of course.

Doesn't get stale.  Stale baby snacks are the worst. I'm not sure that Baby Buckshot can tell when something is stale but I can. For the life of me, I can't figure out why packages of baby snacks are never able to seal tight enough to keep the food from losing its crunch. Individual packaging is a no brainer in preventing the stale issue. Which, again, is probably not that important to BB, but is very important to me.

Subtle taste. There are flavors like Carrot, Apple, Banana and they all taste like those things but without the sugar or salt. If you've ever tried one of those gastromy based restaurants where there's an aroma that is released when opening a plate, it's kind of like that. Just the essence of those flavors. This is particularly good for early eaters because it doesn't ruin their tastebuds for healthy vegetables or fruit with artificially sweet or salty seasonings.

But hey, you don't have to take my word for it. I'm going to send a few lucky winners some samples. Enter below to receive a few individual wrapped packages of a few different Baby Mum Mum flavors for you and your little ones to try yourselves! Multiple winners on this one. ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Love You Forever Book Review

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch is a classic children's book. Though most might not know it by name, we know it by the quote, "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be."

Though in Mommy circles, where we all want to dissect every baby to prove that we have something valuable to add to the conversation, this book is criticized as being the Helicopter Parent's Worst Case Scenario. That is until it is put into perspective of why the book was written.

Mr. Munsch tells the story of how this book was written on his website:

“I made that up after my wife and I had two babies born dead. The song was my song to my dead babies. For a long time I had it in my head and I couldn’t even sing it because every time I tried to sing it I cried. It was very strange having a song in my head that I couldn’t sing.

For a long time it was just a song but one day, while telling stories at a big theatre at the University of Guelph, it occurred to me that I might be able to make a story around the song.

Out popped Love You Forever, pretty much the way it is in the book.”

Now, I can't even read about the book without crying. Here's a video so you can cry with me.

 

Straws and Sipping Success

I can drink from a straw.

There are moments when I wonder if all of the effort I put in to teaching Baby Buckshot things has any real effect on his advancement. After all, he's going to learn how to walk, talk and break things all on his own anyway.

But recently I read that learning how to drink from a straw is actually critical to linguistic development. Where drinking from a soft spouted sippy cup is much like drinking from a bottle and drinking from a hard spout or lidless cup uses reflexes that baby has from birth, drinking from a straw forces babies to develop muscles in their mouths not previously used. The same muscles that are necessary to pronounce some words.

Naturally, I was determined it teach BB how to drink from a straw. I've tried before and he just sits there waiting for me to drop water in with mouth with the straw because I've done that before.

Yesterday, I tried giving him a cup with a straw. Same lack of sucking motion on his part. Then I dropped water into his mouth from the straw and he did like a hamster with a water bottle does. Then, I held the end of the straw closed, forcing him to suck to get the water out. He successfully learned how to suck on a straw but when offered the cup with a straw again, he went back to his "waiting for a dropper" attitude.

I tried the whole process again but then started lowering the end of the straw I was holding lower and lower until it would sit in a cup. Then, voila, he got it. From start to finish, it took him about 5-10 minutes to figure it out.

Now he's drinking from a straw like a pro and I'm feeling pretty good about my teaching skills. Next up, identifying colors.

Infant No Refridgerator Travel Snack Options: 6 months to 1 year.

We've been doing a lot of traveling this summer which means long car rides and hotel stays. Sometimes in hotel rooms without mini refrigerators and other conveniences. Here is a list of my favorite and not so favorite travel friendly snacks.

Wheat bread. If bought the same day as hitting the road, all natural wheat bread will last for at least a few days out of the refrigerator without growing mold. It's low mess, easy to eat and not a bad snack for mommy and daddy either.

Fruit. Pick fruit that stands up well to travel, like bananas and apples. Berries and thin skinned fruits usually need refrigeration within a couple of days before they get mushy. I also didn't recommend oranges because they can cause diaper rash in some babies due to the citrus.

Gerber Instant Oatmeal. This brand oatmeal comes in organic and doesn't require hot water. Just mix with water, breastmilk or ready to drink formula and it's ready for baby to eat. Baby Buckshot enjoys this very much with some fruit mixed in also.

Gerber Veggie Pick-ups. I thought this would be a brilliant way to get BB some veggies on to the go. Unfortunately, sometimes he'll eat this. Other times, he won't touch it with a ten foot pole. If I could find a flavor he liked, I would definitely bring this on any trip because they are prepackaged in easily portable containers. The pieces are also soft enough to mush but in some cases, they are too small. I would prefer these in a glass container instead of the plastic and will try to find an alternative.

Baby Mum-Mums. I am a huge fan of these snacks because they are prepackaged for the perfect serving size of two biscuits in a bag. When traveling, allows me to take just a couple and not have to worry about putting them in a ziplock to stay fresh and dry or having to drag around a large container of the same item. They also come in a variety of flavors, including organic options, that BB really loves. I actually eat the plain organic ones as a snack myself. When Baby Mum-Mums sent me their flavors to sample, I was really thrilled as their best flavor is actually the organic carrot, which I could not find in stores.

Sesame Melba Toast. My husband told me that he remembered that melba toast was for babies, especially during teething so when I saw it at Trader Joe's, I naturally picked up a box. BB really liked to just suck on them, though he did not end up eating a lot of them. More like a suck until soggy and then toss. They were also a good adult snack. I might not take these with me again on a trip because they cause an awfully crumbly mess.

Gerber Little Crunchies/Puffs. These are the equivalent of baby cheetos, which I would normally not want to give to my child, but I made the mistake of letting him try one once and he loved them. Between these and the Gerber puffs (not pictured), when BB is having a meltdown in the car, a couple of these actually calms him down. I don't like to give him a lot of them though, because it really is junk food.

In Defense of High End Babywearing

My babywearing world was recently bombarded with posts about a woman who scammed two other women in a 3 way trade of Highy Sought After (HSA) Tula baby carriers. She received her Tula and tried to mail fraud her way out of sending her Tula to the next woman, as agreed upon in the trade. Each Tula in the trade was worth $1300 and it was not Paypal backed.

I had the same reaction about wraps and Tulas when I first started looking at these things. Who is paying this much for FABRIC?!

Then you catch the BSC. Lol, just kidding.

It is a little bit like strollers. Many serious babywearers don't even have strollers so I think they justify how much they spend on carriers because they didn't spend money on a stroller. (Actually, I haven't used a stroller in a long time since I got my Tula and Neobulle.)

You can buy a cheap stroller that will do the job but the more the spend, up to a point, the easier the stroller is to use with more bells and whistles, either for the baby or the parent. I have tried a cheapie JJ Cole wrap hybrid carrier and if that's what babycarrying was like, I would have personally quit and never looked back. It carried Ben but it was uncomfortable over long periods. I used a moby and it was comfortable but really a hassle to wrap and can't be used past 15 lbs.  I have tried a full wrap conversion Tula and it's the comfort and convenience that is unparalleled.

Everything past the aforementioned point is really just style points. Like the Andy Worhol X Bugaboo collaboration. No one needs a pop art inspired banana print on their $1200+ Bugaboo, they just really WANT it. Because at some point, for many moms, like their clothes, their baby gear becomes an expression of themselves. And their babywearing is part of what defines them as mothers.

In luxury carriers (anything over $150), the fabric is more comfortable and as a result, easier to wear for longer periods of time (babywearers will often tell you a tale of how they wore their baby for the whole day with nary an ache as a testament to how good their carriers are), the carrier is better designed (easier to nurse while wearing or allow baby to sleep) and able to last baby longer (wider seats allow for longer use).

Arguably, most wrap/highly sought after carrier owners will tell you that they intend to sell their carrier when their child has outgrown it. This is why they'll spend more than the $150 mark for rare wraps and carriers. And because they are highly sought after (and as a result, outrageously priced), they should retain their value, if not appreciate in value. It's practically an investment, they reason. And in some cases, these women will resell their carriers for more than they bought them for. So they can spend $1300 today, and in a month or so, depending on how the demand as driven by the tastes of the mommies on the market, it might be worth closer to $2000.

That being said, no more un-backed trades for $1300 carriers.

A Letter to Breastfeeding Mothers Who Shame Other Mothers For Nursing In Public

Dear Backwards Members of the Breastfeeding Society,
 

Karlesha Thurman breastfed her 4 month old during her California State Long Beach University graduation only to be slammed with the most appalling onslaught of misogynist comments that I'm shocked to understand came from other breastfeeding mothers. 

I try to discretely breastfeed, not because it's superior or I am more decent than any other mom but because I am more self conscious and scared of how people around me will react specifically because of comments on articles like these and stories about women who are confronted and shamed in public for feeding their babies.

But some babies won't take bottles, some won't nurse with something over their head. Until I bought my Tula, I didn't have an effective way to nurse discretely in public and would have to go to a bathroom (gross) or go back to my car (extremely inconvenient). And not everyone can afford a Tula.

I support a woman's right to breastfeed however she would like in public. We are feeding our babies. And honestly, this shaming of women is misogynistic. And the worst offenders are mothers who tell other mothers that they should nurse in public with a cover because they think it's indecent because they nursed and managed to do it with the covers. This is the stuff mommy wars are made of. Judgmental, close mindedness with a complete lack of respect for other women and the needs of babies.

How can other mothers speak to breastfeeding moms with such contempt?

As you rage on with your comments against this young woman who managed to graduate from college wtih an infant, do you also comment on every sexually explicit picture on the internet?  I bet not. 

Why is it acceptable to show that amount of skin for something sexy in the name of commerce, which is what should be considered indecent? Large billboards, breasts exposed in windows, purposefully titillating (pun intended). But unacceptable to show the same amount of skin or less with the expressed purpose of feeding a baby, which should be considered the most decent thing to do?  

It's ridiculous that we live in a society where the intimate bond between a mother and her baby make people uncomfortable but a woman paraded around in a string bikini to peddle goods doesn't make anyone uncomfortable. It's even more ridiculous that women who have experienced this bond feel uncomfortable or ashamed about it enough to shame other women over it. 

And for those not familiar with the law, a mother as a legal right to breastfeed in California where ever a mother and child are allowed to be. 

Normally, I don't like to alienate my readers with tirades that might offend them but in this case, if you are a mother offended by my letter, you probably shouldn't be reading my blog anyway.

Thank you and good day.

Baby Camping Gear

Every year, for the Hosh's birthday, we go camping.  I should explain, that we actually go glamping which generally means a ton of gear.  I worried, this year, that we wouldn't have space for all of Baby Buckshot's camping gear along with ours.  Turns out, with a few key purchases and a suitcase filled with his everyday necessities, babies don't need that much camping gear.  These are the items that really came in handy during our camping trip:

1. Cozy Cub Baby Bunting Snowsuit in Fleece. Since baby sleeping bags are a no due to suffocation risk, a snowsuit was my next best option. I found it best that it was hooded and had enclosed feet and hands too instead of trying to struggle with keeping a hat, socks and mittens on BB at any given time. On sale for $34.95 - One Step Ahead.

2. Britax B-Nimble Stroller. A lot of people suggested getting a camping high chair for BB but if he's anything like me, he's likely a little clumsy and prone to falling out of camping chairs (yes, this has happened to me) and I opted for a stroller instead. I figured, as long as he can sit in it and it is able to recline for potential nap times, it would be even better than a camping high chair. The B-Nimble folds down to about the size of a camp chair, has the functionality of a full stroller with the ease of an umbrella stroller. $89 - Amazon.com.

3. Inglesina Fast Table Chair. The other option I bought instead of a camping high chair was this table chair.  It attaches to just about any table (including those with a lip), folds up small enough to put in a large diaper bag and allows baby to sit right at the picnic table with the rest of the diners. This chair is a dream at restaurants and came in very handy at the campsite.  It doesn't touch the ground either, which made post camping clean-up of this seat non-existent. $59 - Amazon.com.

4. Beco Gemini Baby Carrier. A baby carrier is a MUST during camping.  Between hiking, camp work and just needing to keep baby close, I don't think I could have done it without a carrier.  I like the Beco Gemini (I will do a review in the future) and feel that a canvas soft structured carrier that is easy to clean is the best option for camping, especially if someone else is going to try carrying baby also.  Like dad, who might not want to wear a girly pattern while out in the great outdoors.  Prettier woven wraps may get snagged while roughing it also and canvas is oh so durable. $130 - Amazon.com.

5. N'ice Caps Boys Sherpa Lined Micro Fleece Hat and Mitten Set with Ears. We were camping in the cold weather (it actually rained the first night) so having a fleece hat that velcroed in place under BB's chin was very helpful in keeping his hat in place. The mittens were also perfect for keeping his hands warm as the nights got colder before I would put him in his snowsuit.  In the summer, obviously this wouldn't be necessary, but a sunblocking hat would be. $11.99 - Amazon.com.

6. Babyganics Mineral-Based Sunscreen SPF 50 Spray 6 oz + Natural Insect Repellent. I like Babyganics for sunscreen regularly but didn't need DEET free insect spray until this camping trip.  Luckily, because the weather was wet and cold, there weren't many bugs but a summer camping trip would definitely warrant some insect repellent. Both sprays are very easy to apply and are fairly chemical free.  There are better options out there than this but they aren't readily available (Babyganics can be found at Babies R Us) and possibly not as effective. $16.99 - Amazon.com.

I nursed BB all weekend so I didn't need it, but I also bought sterilizing wipes for bottles and pumps.  I made pretty specific clothing choices for Baby Buckshot too, which I might write about later in a camping clothing guide.

What other gear is there that would help make camping with a baby easier?

One Size Pocket Cloth Diaper Options + Alva One Size Giveaway!

Ask any cloth diapering mommy and it's likely they use a different cloth diaper from the next. With the number of cloth diapers on the market, there's a type that will work for any baby but usually it's a trial and error game because there's not enough information on the details of the diapers to choose what fits each individual baby. I'm gathering up my criteria for rating diapers in hopes that it helps someone else who wants to use my chosen variety: One Size Pocket Button Snaps.

Here are the things I would consider in cloth diaper options:

1. White snaps or colored snaps. White snaps are easy to replace if you own a snap button tool but colored snaps make it easy to make sure the cloth diaper is centered. There are also velcro options to avoid the snap issue all together but the velcro doesn't last as long as the snaps and can cause pilling when washed with certain cloth diaper fabrics.

2. Size and elastic of leg opening. Some babies have chunky legs, others have skinny legs. Though the leg openings are adjustable, different leg openings are better suited to various types of legs.

3. Size at the smallest settings. For the most cost effective long term use of cloth diapers, being able to use them in the newborn months of 12+ diaper changes a day is important and some cloth diapers get down smaller than others.  The larger ones may be to bulky to be comfortable when put in the smallest setting also.

4. Size at the largest settings. The other cost effective long term aspect of a diaper is how long it will fit a baby.  Most of us hope it'll take baby into the potty training years.  Some diapers are too small for larger babies to fit in the later diapering years.

5. Single or double gusset. Cloth diaper makers try to make best design to prevent poopy blowouts. Many companies have developed double gussets, as in another elastic gusset inside the diaper to hold waste before it even gets to the elastic leg opening (much like the design of the typical disposable diaper.)

6. Back, front or two sided opening. With pocket diapers, the insert needs to be stuffed into the cloth diaper shell.  Some have the insert opening at the back, others at the front and others are open at both sides.  The ones with the back opening may be better at containing waste but almost guarantees have to touch poop when removing the insert to launder the diaper.  A front opening helps to avoid needing to touch poop but often results in an uncomfortably bulky front of the diaper.  The two sided opening is a great development but often requires a button snap to hold the insert in place which means having to use proprietary inserts or having to put snaps into inserts yourself.

7. Inner lining. Pocket diapers are usually lined in fleece or a stay dry material. Some materials are better at allowing liquid to pass through quickly to the insert to be absorbed.  Others are prone to build up that causes liquid repelling.

8. Front barrier or none. Some cloth diapers have an extension of the waterproof liner to create a front waistline barrier.  I'm not sure why not all cloth diapers don't have this because it makes a big difference in preventing clothing from touching any wet part of the diaper and wicking liquid into the clothing.

9. Price. Pricing varies wildly in this arena from $4 per diaper for bulk purchases from China to $30 for top of the line uber engineered diapers.  I'll take a look at which diapers are worth the money.

Luckily, my dear friend Megan is running a cloth diaper giveaway.  The best part?  It's of my favorite kind of cloth diaper: One Size Pocket Button Snap! Visit her blog or enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and let me know in the comments if you have any criteria you'd like me to add to my coming cloth diaper reviews.

Common Questions About Cloth Diapering

BB's First Day In Cloth Diapers

When I told my family that we were going to cloth diaper they looked at me a little bit like I was crazy. My mom, who was a poor refugee who had immigrated to the US with an infant (me), had no choice but to cloth diaper and hated it. She remembered the horrors of smelly diapers, the difficulty of washing and drying while living in a small apartment and having to hand wash and hang dry them indoors because there was no where she could hang them outside. When she was gifted a disposable for the first time, she thought it was the most amazing thing.

 Now that everyone is doing well financially, it boggles her mind as to why anyone would choose to go cloth over the infinitely wonderful experience of disposables.

Why Cloth Diapers?

First, there have been huge advancements in cloth diapering!  Sure, the old style cloth still exists but now there are adorable covers, no need to use safety pins and aside from having to wash and dry them, they are a lot like the disposables.  

Honestly, as a first time mom I was a little over the top in trying to shelter my baby from toxins and saw one too many pictures of chemical burns and allergic reactions to disposables. I also heard about diaper rash problems that cloth diaperers swore their kids never got. I definitely drank the Koolaid.

But now, I'm not against disposables (Baby Buckshot wears them when we go out, overnight and for part of the day three times a week when he's at my mom's) but I prefer cloth diapers at home. Once we started, it was easy to keep going. Just a couple of extra loads of laundry a week. It feels like just putting him in underwear. Adorable, chemical free, fluffy butted underwear that holds pee and poop.

And I'm not a huge environmentalist but I do absolutely hate repetitive waste and love saving money. The thought of throwing out $1+ a day in diapers 6 diapers a day 2.5 years in diapers plus the cost of the diaper pail bags just seemed ridiculous.

I have yet to see this for myself, but another reason we keep cloth diapering is because experienced cloth diaperers claim that cloth diapered babies get potty trained sooner because they can feel the wetness after they pee, something they don't feel with disposables.  Some children have a problem learning to control their urination because they don't feel the wetness that results in urination while wearing a disposable.

I have only been using them for about 5 months (as we used disposables for the first month of BBs life so I didn't overcomplicate the first month of parenting) so take the following information with that background in mind.

How much money does cloth diapering save?

It depends on when cloth diapering starts in the home and how often baby gets changed, how long it takes to potty train and the cost of your cloth diaper stash.

For instance, if you start at 6 months, the average baby is potty trained by about 2.5 years of age, he gets changed 6 times a day and you pay about $0.20 a disposable diaper.

2.5 years - .5 (for starting at 6 months) X 365 days a year X 6 changes a day X $0.20 a diaper = $876 on disposable diapers.

If the cost of the diaper stash plus the cost of washing the diapers  is significantly less than $876, then here are significant savings.

For an easier method of calculating whether the math works out, visit The Diaper Pin Calculator. 

How many do I need?

The recommendation is 24 cloth diapers per child to cloth diaper full time.  Personally, I have closer to 30 and cloth diaper less than full time.

With cloth diapers, changing the baby more often is common.  A baby that gets changed 6 times a day might go to being changed 8 times a day.  With 24 diapers, that's a mandatory load every 2-3 days. With 36 diapers, that's a mandatory load every 4-5 days.

Cloth diaper experts also recommend not washing more than 24 at a time. And personally, I wouldn't let a cloth diaper sit more than a few days anyway.

How much are they?

This depends on what type you'd like to use. There are 4 major types: Prefolds, Prefolds with Covers,  All-In-Ones (AIOs) and All-In-Twos (AI2), Pockets and Fitted. The Stork Warehouse does a great rundown of types.

As for the cost of each over the course of baby's life,  Diaper Decisions has done a great job of calculating this down to the littlest details.

What do I use?

I picked One Size Pocket Diapers because:

1. They wouldn't require me to buy an infant stash and new sizes at each interval BB outgrew his old size.  If his clothes are any indication, I wouldn't have bought the right amount at the right size anyway. One Size diapers allow me to simply use the same diaper throughout his diapering years thus making it cost effective and simple for me.

2. Pockets allow me to separate the insert from the cover which makes washing and drying much easier and effective.  I've heard that the AIOs don't dry very well and in some cases, the interiors don't get as clean as they should, especially with the new high efficiency washers.

3. Pockets also allow me to upgrade to hemp or charcoal inserts if I feel the need to whereas with AIOs, that is not an option.

4. I didn't want to deal with prefolds.  I didn't believe they would be more absorbent than microfiber, I didn't want to fold anything and I needed a diaper that would be as much like a disposable as possible for the Hosh and BB's other caregivers.

What brand do I use?

I've tried a sampling of all the different pocket diapers.  Currently in our stash we have Bumgenius 4.0s, The Hero, GoGreen Champs, Bumkins Stuff Its, Rumparooz, Fuzzibunz, Kawaiis, Charlie Bananas, Shinebabies, Alvas, Sunbabies and a hand made diaper from Etsy.

I think the Go Green Champs are by far the best designed diaper (double gusset, colored snaps, top band barrier) and go for about $17.99.  The best bang for the buck though are the Kawaiis at about $11.99 on average.  They have the top band barrier which is so important and good snap placement.

The worst diapers I bought were the Shinebabies.  Stay away from those! They are cheaply made and poorly designed.

Unfortunately, what fits well for one baby doesn't not necessarily fit well for another.  Everything from thigh size to belly shape can influence which brand will fit a baby best.

Luckily, there are cloth diaper trial programs where for as little as a $10 investment, a new mom can try a number of different diapers for a few weeks.  Jillian's drawers is a popular program. There is also a list of all the cloth diaper trial programs on Diaper Swappers.

What about poops?

Prior to starting solids, I just threw them in our cloth diaper pail (a cheap Home Depot 5 gallon bucket with lid, kept in the bathroom) and did my usual cloth diaper laundry routine.  They never stained, were always thoroughly clean and I had no issues.

After starting solids, I realized that it would be easier just to put in a paper liner in the diaper until BB had his daily bowel movement.  (If you opt to go this way, add it into your calculation since liners run about $0.05 each.)  Other parents opt for things like sprayers (I've heard this can get messy) or they dunk and swish in the toilet (haven't tried this yet but probably will) which costs virtually nothing additionally.

There is no denying that dealing with cloth diapers is much dirtier than using disposables.  Those of us who do cloth diaper just get used to it the way we get used to dirty children's clothing.

How do you really wash them?

There is a lot of "Woo Woo" around washing cloth diapers, from build up of detergent causing absorption problems, needing to "strip" the diapers with an alternate wash routine when they start leaking, even the voiding of certain warranties if a non-approved wash method is used.

Personally, we have a high efficiency washer so I soak the diapers first.  Then I run the diapers once on cold water bulky using All Free & Clear.  Some say you shouldn't use this but I haven't had any problems yet. Then I wash them again with hot water to make sure all the residue is gone.

Here are a couple of lists of detergents and how well they're supposed to work with cloth diapers from Pinstripes and Polkadots and Jillian's Drawers.

I do occasionally "strip" the diapers just in case there is residue build up by washing them with blue Dawn. Padded Tush Stats has a comprehensive list of stripping methods.  

What are the drawbacks?

I love cloth diapering.  I don't guru cloth diapering and it's not for everyone.  Here my downsides to cloth diapering:

1. I don't know that I'm really saving that much money.  I bought some pricier pocket diapers, I don't cloth diaper full time. I use paper liners.  I'm fairly certain that I at least breakeven.  People say the real savings is with the second child.  *shrug* I don't have a second child nor do I know if I will have one.

2. Some people get really addicted to buying cloth diapers to the point that it would have been cheaper just to buy disposables.  There is always the belief, however, that when you're done with the cloth diapers, they can be resold to recoup a bulk of the cost. I'm not entirely sure that I would really recoup a bulk of my cloth diaper expenditures.

3. You are going to have to touch poop. There's just no denying it. You will touch much more poop cloth diapering than you will with disposables. #FACT

4. You will change your baby much more often.  Cloth diapers aren't meant to be left on babies for hours on end nor designed so that the baby always feels dry. They are cloth.  If the baby sits in a diaper after he's peed, he's going to feel it and probably tell you. Further, if a wet cloth diaper is compressed, it will release liquid which may result in leaks.  Expect to increase diaper changes from 6-8 times a day to 8-10 times a day.

5. There will be leaks.  There will be leaks until you figure out the right diaper, right fit on the baby, the right inserts to use and the little nuances that go into cloth diapering.  Leaks don't bother me so much, I just change baby and change his clothes if he's leaked. This might bother other people.  It would bother me if it happened while we were out of the house.  That's why we use disposables when we're out and about.  He doesn't usually leak, however, if he's being changed regularly.  Surprise, surprise.

But since I'm already cloth diapering, stay tuned for reviews on cloth diapering when I finally get a chance to write them.

7 Stages of Postpartum Weight Loss

Did I mention that I'm preparing to TTC again?  Well, preparing I mean getting my body back into a shape just so I can wreck it again.

If there is a next pregnancy. 

*knock on wood*

*meditate to Buddha*

*do a rain dance*

Now that we're 6 months postpartum, like many new moms, I'm shifting gears towards health and weight loss.  Though I might not be mentally ready for another wee one, if my previous experience with a biological clock has taught me anything, that ticking starts quickly and gets unbearably loud faster than I can get my body ready for it.

I'm going to do this in stages.

Stage 1
Implement the least difficult changes. Like dieting but not really dieting it at all.
Get physically active at least once every other day.
Lament over how slowly the weight is coming off.

Stage 2
Backslide and reason that I'm not going to try to have another baby for at least a year and a half.

Stage 3
Panic that it's about to be swimsuit season and TTC weight loss be damned, it's now about the fear of looking like a hippo in the pool.
Implement dramatic unsustainable changes like raw foodism and juice fasting.

Stage 4
Realize that I'm not really going to drop all the weight in time for summer. 
Repeat Stage 1.

Stage 5
Incorporate more difficult diet changes like cutting out junk food.
Incorporate more physical activity in the form of more frequency or difficulty.
Pick up an athletic goal like a 5k.
Be happy that weight is coming off regardless of how slowly.

Stage 6
Achieve ideal weight through healthy eating habits and regular exercise.
Bask in the warmth of success.

Stage 7
Get pregnant again and eat all the things.

That's about right.

Citrus Lane Box Review

You know what feels like Christmas once a month?  Subscription boxes.  In all fairness, it's not really like Christmas because the boxes aren't a gift so I guess it's a little bit more like a personal shopper.

I have tried out beauty subscription boxes and know from experience not all boxes are worth their subscription value.  The first company I chose to try for baby boxes was Citrus Lane.  I got my first box in February for 5 month old Baby Buckshot and this is what came inside:

Tea Collection Bodysuit 6-12 Month: $19 retail value with a $25 off coupon for a purchase on the Tea Collection Website.

Boon Silicone Feeder: $7.49 retail value.

Juice Beauty Age Defying Apple Hand Cream: $12 retail value.

Clare Beaton's Bedtime Rhymes: $6.49 retail value.

I really like the contents of this box except for the Juice Beauty item.  Nothing against Juice Beauty, I like their products, and many of baby related boxes include an item for mom. I would just prefer all the items to be for baby because I already have a beauty box subscription.  Moms who only subscribe to one box each month might like that there is something included for them.

Citrus Lane boxes cost $29 per month, lower if you commit to buying for multiple months.  February 2014's box was a $45 retail value (plus a $25 coupon) for $29 a box.  First time subscribers are able to buy their first box for $15 if using a referral link. Mine is here if you're interested.

I get a little something if you sign up using my link too so thanks in advance if you use it!

How To Pick a High Chair

I have been searching for a high chair since Baby Buckshot was just a few months old.  I've gone between wanting something that just attaches to an existing dining chair or to the side of the table to wanting a full blown all features high chair.

What am I going to do with a high chair?
-Put food in the snack tray so BB can eat snacks wherever I need him to be, like next to me while I'm working or in the kitchen while I'm cooking. (Means it needs wheels for mobility.)
-Pull up to the dining table so he can eat meals with us. (Means it needs to be adjustable height for different tables and removable tray.)
-Travel to different places with it, like on camping trips and vacations. (Means it needs to fold down portable enough to take on the go.)

What else is important to me in a high chair?
-Easy clean up in the form of removable and washable cushions and a dishwasher safe tray.
-Comfort for long periods of sitting.

But there are so many high chairs on the market, how do you wade through them?  Amazon doesn't give me the option to sort by functionality.  Enter Lela.com.

Plug in the features that are important and voila!  Top 3 picks that meet the criteria of Easy Cleaning, Foldable, Adjustable Seating, Removable Tray and Wheels.

Then, over to Amazon for product reviews and feature verification.

Graco Contempo Highchair: 4.5 stars by 79 customers. The worst review is about how hard it is to clean, how bad it smells, how ugly it is, and the footrest is not adjustable, and how cheap it seems.

Peg Perego Siesta Highchair: 4.5 stars by 51 customers. The worst reviews are about how the cushion is handwash only, the chair is not easy to move around,

Baby Trend Accent Lite High Chair: No reviews. Bizarre.

But what terrible results. With the except of the Peg Perego Siesta, all the options looked so cheap and unattractive. Turns out, a wood high chair was what I really wanted.  And then I consulted DH and he said that the only things that mattered to him was ease of use.  He also negated my idea of needing to travel with it (we have a Summer SuperSeat that converts to a booster for travel), and the need to roll it around because it would stay put at the dinner table. We have other things that BB can sit in if I need him to be next to be in another room. A high chair on wheels, DH reasoned, was less safe that one without. I went back to Lela.com and changed my criteria.

Wood Frame, Easy Cleaning, Adjustable Seating and Removable Tray.

Hauck Alpha Chair: 4.5 stars of 19 reviews. The worst reviews state tray is hard to find (I was unable to find it from a reputable retailer online), the seat step is easily broken and the seat is poorly designed.

OXO Tot Sprout Chair: 4 stars of 222 reviews.  The worst reviews state water gets stuck in the tray, the tray is not machine washable,and differing opinions on how easy the chair and its cushions are to clean.

Svan Signet Complete High Chair: 3.5 stars of 36 reviews.  The worst review state that the wood is of poor quality and the tray is unsafe.  

After watching the OXO video on the Sprout Chair and seeing it in the Taupe/Walnut combination, I knew that was the perfect chair for us! 

What high chair did you choose?

Why I Won't Be Reading The Giving Tree to My Child

I registered for the Giving Tree, having never read it as a child myself.  I know, I know, was a raised under a rock?  How could I have never read the Giving Tree?  It's a classic!  So many people's favorite children's book!

I feel kind of bad writing this now because someone bought it for Baby Buckshot off the registry and left a note saying that it was her personal favorite from when she was a child.  Gifter, if you're reading this, please know that I appreciate the gift regardless and that I will be making good use of it by ranting about it in this blog.

The Giving Tree follows a story of a boy and the tree that loved him from childhood through the elderly years.  At every phase of life, the tree gives and gives and gives while the boy takes and takes and takes with nary a thank you.  Actually, he often comes to the tree at life milestones with his hands out expecting the tree to help him achieve his goals. 

Like when he wants money, instead of getting a job mowing lawns or working a paper route, he is given apples to sell from the tree's branches. When he needs a house, instead of getting and education and/or getting a job so he can earn it, he cuts off the tree's branches (which is really short sighted considering now there will be no more apples) to build a house. Then, he wants a boat but instead of saving money from whatever job he might have had as an adult, he cuts of the tree's trunk so not only are there no more apples, there's no more shade or branches for future houses!  Spoiler alert:  At the end of the book, the boy sits on the trunk, the only thing he has left of the tree.

What I gleaned from this book upon first reading is that this kid needs to learn a little bit more about how trees work because a trunk is basically a dead tree.  Second, where are this kid's parents?!  Why didn't they teach him how to get a job?! 

And hey, Helicopter Tree, have you ever heard to teaching a man to fish instead of giving the fish away for free?  Or you know, however that idiom goes.

I kid, I get symbolism and that we're not supposed to worry about reality in this book's world.  Or you know, the kid is an orphan and was raised by an inanimate object.

Seriously though, this book has been interpreted in many ways from the tree being a parent, God or mother earth.  A symbol of unconditional love, those who count this book amongst their favorites, often say.  But can we as parents not love unconditionally without teaching our children how to be entitled little people who grow up to take advantage of those who love them? 

But I understand, that like many other Light In The Attic fans, we don't want to slight Shel Silverstein.  So I'm going to give Uncle Shel the benefit of the doubt and go with the fan base who believes this was written as a satire.  And, if you want to read the book to your child, or if it's read to your child in the course of their education, a wise friend sent me this story as a counterpoint to make it a learning moment:

The Other Giving Tree by Jacqueline Jackson and Carol Dell

There was once a tree that loved a boy. Beside her stood another tree. She loved the boy, too, and the boy loved both trees, to swing in their branches, eat their apples, smell their blossoms, rest in their shade, and play peek-a-boo with them behind their trunks. And the trees were happy.

Then the boy grew into a youth, and no longer wanted to play in the trees, but to buy things and have fun. "'Can you give me some money?" he asked. “Not money," they replied, “but why don't you gather our apples and sell them?” So the boy did, and the trees were happy to have been able to help him.

The boy stayed away a long time, and when he returned, a man, he was now too busy to respond to their invitation to swing and play. He wanted a house to keep him warm, and to hold a wife and family. "Can you give me a house?" he asked.

“I have no house," said the first tree, “but you may cut off all my branches to build one." And the boy did. But the pile was not large.

"This will not make as big a house as I want," he said to the other tree. "How about you? I need your branches, too.”

“Huh-uh” said the other tree. "Apples, yes, branches, no."

"You are a selfish tree," said the boy, and taking the branches of the first tree, he carried them off.

“I'm happy," said the first tree. "I'm happy, too," said the other tree,

A long while later the boy came back, now a pot-bellied middle-aged man. The trees were glad to see him. “Come boy, come and play," whispered the first tree.

“I'm too old and sad to play," said the boy. "I want a boat that will take me far away from here. Can you give me a boat?”

"You can cut down my trunk and make a boat," said the first tree.

"That will not make a very big boat,” said the boy. He looked at the other tree. "How about your trunk, too?"

"Slam off, kid," said the other tree. "If I give you my trunk, I will no longer be a tree."

"You're still as selfish as you ever were," said the boy, and he cut down the trunk of the first tree and carried it off. And the first tree (now a stump) said she was happy, and the other tree said, "So am I.''

After a long time the boy came back again.

The stump said, “I'm sorry, boy, I have no apples to give you, no branches, no shade, no trunk to climb, I have nothing left to give, I am only an old stump. But you can sit on me.''

"That's okay," said the old man, "I'm too old to climb and swing, and 'I haven't any teeth to eat apples. All I need is an old stump to sit on.”

And he sat down, and the stump was happy

But as he was sitting he looked over at the other apple tree.
"There's that selfish tree,” he said, "that wouldn't give me anything after her apples. She's not as happy as you are, is she?”

The stump didn’t answer.

After awhile the sun got very hot. The wood under the boy was hard. The boy looked over at the other tree. Children were swinging on her limbs, the birds were nesting and carolling in her branches, adults were picnicking on the grass, the old folks were resting in her shade. Everyone was laughing and happy.

"Stump,” said the old man, "the sun is too hot, and this seat is too hard for my old bones.”

He got up and crept over to the other tree. “Would you mind,” he said, “if I took just a small corner of your shade, to cool me from the hot sun?”

“Of course not,” said the other tree. “Take all the shade you need.”

So the old man sat down in the shade.

And the stump wept.