1. To the 9 people searching for “Halloween snacks”: My little 15-month-old loved her Halloween snack of breastmilk, thank you for asking. Chocolate is not for my toddler, but it’s okay for nursing moms in moderation. (By the way, I’m not sure about the irony here, but when I gave my toddler her choice of Halloween hand-me-down costumes — a fairy princess, a cow, or a tiger — she chose a cow. ‘Nuff said.)

The Google Chrome logo looks suspiciously like a nipple and areola.... Image by Randy Zhang

2. To the 9 people searching for “leukemia in toddlers“, I’m sorry. You put my week in perspective.

3. To the 8 searchers for “breastfeeding123 blog angela”: thank you.

4. To the people looking for “woman 3 breasts video”: Extra nipples are not all that uncommon. I’ve read that up to three percent of the population will have a third nipple away from the normal location on the chest.

5. To the person who asked “what should I name my baby girl”: I think Angela is a lovely name.

6. To the person searching for “newscaster nipples”: now that’s a really specific fetish. Sorry you didn’t find what you were looking for.

7. To the 5 people looking for “123″: I say “456.” Let’s see how popular that sequence is!

8. To the people looking for “freezer paper”: I’m in favor of it.

9. For those looking for a “minimalist baby registry“: I applaud you. All you really need are you, your breasts, and your baby!

10. To the righteous looking for “nestle unethical action“: I think you just gave me an idea for a new post tag.

11. To those looking for a “breastfeeding contest”: it’s totally not a contest. But I win.

12. Regarding “Stanford hand expression”: I’ve never found them to be an overly demonstrative people. Oh wait, you mean this.

Thanks for playing and have a good weekend!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Amber Strocel wearing her son Jacob (Strocel.com)

1. Wear your baby. Babywearing keeps your baby safe and happy while giving you two hands free to get some work done. If you can master carrying your baby on your back, you can even accomplish some more rigorous cooking and cleaning jobs. Just the other day my refrigerator stopped working and I had to empty both the fridge and freezer and allow them to defrost. The fridge was fairly clean already (I swear!) but I knew I needed to wipe it down. My toddler was fussing but was having trouble settling for a nap. The solution? I put her in a backpack carrier and started wiping down the shelves. Within minutes she was asleep. She stayed asleep even as I took her out of the carrier and laid her down for her nap.

2. Take advantage of freezer meals. I don’t mean buy frozen dinners, I mean make meals ahead to freeze for later. Have a baby shower at one of the various shops that allow you to assemble several meals to freeze. After the birth when your friends or relatives ask how they can help, ask for a lasagna for the freezer! And when you have time to cook, double the recipe and put one batch in the freezer for later. Once-a-month cooking is a lifesaver!

3. Lower your standards to raise your standards. I’ll let you in on a little secret. The sheets and towels don’t have to be folded before you put them in the linen closet. It’s better to get those bulky items tucked away unfolded than to have them sitting on your couch, waiting to be folded. Same goes for baby blankets, underwear, even your toddler or preschooler’s clothing that doesn’t need to be completely wrinkle-free. By lowering your standards a bit, you will actually keep on top of the laundry better than if you are a perfectionist.

4. Use natural cleaners. I don’t like to use harsh or toxic cleaners in general, much less around my baby. I feel comfortable scrubbing my sink with baking soda and wiping my counter tops with vinegar rather than brand-name cleaners.

5. Accept help and decide how best to use it. You might be surprised who just might be willing to help out here and there. Last year after I had my third baby, my second child’s preschool teacher was looking to volunteer some time with a family who could use the help. She came over for a couple of hours one or two afternoons a week. While I spent some time with my baby, she folded laundry and played with my preschooler. If I had preferred, she would have held the baby while I got a few things done around the house. It was lovely to have that support and it made a big difference.

If you do not have a relative, neighbor or friend willing to help, can you afford to hire a cleaner once or twice a month? What about a mother’s helper — a preteen or younger teen who will play with the baby while you clean, generally for significantly less than the cost of a babysitter. Then as your baby gets older, see if you have a friend who is willing to trade babysitting time with you. Sometimes you have to get creative and make your own support network!

Do you have some tips on how to get things done around the house while caring for a baby?

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Photo by Easternblot

When my child is an infant, my child comes first — first before the dirty dishes in the sink, and first before the unfolded laundry. Those dirty dishes don’t pose a hazard to my baby, nor does the unfolded laundry. So when my baby needs to be nursed, changed, carried or otherwise tended, the baby comes first. And when the baby naps, my needs come next. My needs do not include a sparkling clean home, but rather are often a hot bath, a rest, or eating food when I actually have the opportunity to savor the flavor and not just inhale it.

Now that my baby is a toddler, my standards are rising in keeping with my abilities. My 15-month-old can play independently while I wash her lunch tray and do the dishes. That often was not the case when my daughter was first starting solid foods. The second she started fussing in her high chair or in my lap, we stopped lunch and moved on to her next need — to be cleaned, changed, or entertained. Feeding time needed to be a happy time, and I wasn’t about to let her fuss in her high chair while I tried to clean up. The tray and dishes often went forgotten for hours. Yes it would have been easier to clean them right away, but I prioritized my baby’s immediate needs over the need to keep things sparkling clean at all times. This was true when my baby was an only child, but was even more so when I had two children (and now three).

How does breastfeeding play into all of this? I think breastfeeding makes everything easier. I didn’t have any bottles to sterilize, and breast milk stains are a lot easier to get out of clothes than f*ormula stains! I rested while my baby nursed, and I benefited from the feel-good breastfeeding hormones.

What about you? Have your standards of clean changed since you’ve become a parent?

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

“Attached at the Heart Through the Years” is the theme for AP Month 2009 and a statement that healthy, secure attachments between parents and children is a dynamic process that extends throughout childhood and does not end with baby bonding. During AP Month, parents are challenged to re-examine their daily activities and traditions and learn new ways to grow with each other and remain close and supportive.

I found breastfeeding to be a natural and easy way to bond with my children and to stay close to them through toddlerhood. Remaining close and attached was practically effortless during that time. The real challenge came after each child had weaned. Of course we could still hug and kiss and snuggle, but staying attached to active and independent children requires some additional attention.

Five Ways to Promote Attachment with the Older Child

1. Read to your child. Of course we read to our children when they have not yet learned to read, but it’s important to continue reading to your children even after they can read to themselves. Reading with your children not only promotes vocabulary building and comprehension, but it also offers the opportunity for snuggling together on the couch or in bed, and gives the children the gift of your undivided attention. Sitting quietly and talking with a child about a book often leads to the child talking about other things like her friends and school. Favorite reads in our family have been Little House on the Prairie, Caddie Woodlawn, Pippi Longstocking, and The Swiss Family Robinson.

2. Establish traditions. Holiday and everyday traditions bring family members together and lend a sense of stability and security to the family. In my house our traditions center around food! Wednesday nights we have a “feast” made from the contents of the Community-Supported Agriculture basket we pick up Wednesday afternoons. Friday night is pizza night (I love this pizza dough recipe from Allrecipes.com — it makes three crusts so I can use one and freeze the other two portions of dough for future pizza nights! If you want you can substitute an additional cup of whole wheat flour for one cup of the all-purpose.) Saturday morning we have a special breakfast, often these oatmeal pancakes which can be made fresh or frozen ahead of time and popped in the toaster. The kids look forward to these special meals. Best of all we are guaranteed to all sit down at the table together, a practice that many studies show is important for staying connected as a family and keeping children out of trouble at school.

3. Embrace the outdoors. Many of our happiest family memories are of the times we have gone on a bike ride, taken a hike, or spent the weekend camping. This is one of the best ways for the whole family to be entertained and enjoy spending time together. The fresh air and exercise are bonuses!

4. Spend time in the kitchen. Even young children love working in the kitchen with Mom or Dad. My kids often help with the preparation of the family tradition meals mentioned above. At the suggestion of Family Fun magazine I have taken these shared cooking activities one step further by taking pictures of us cooking particular favorite recipes. I plan to compile the recipes and photos in a special family “cookbook” for the children to have when they are older.

5. Snuggle for bedtime and consider co-sleeping. My seven- and four-year-old girls enjoy the sense of security they get when they are peacefully snuggled to sleep each night. After story time, either I or their dad snuggles them to sleep. Half the time the adult will fall asleep too, but often after five to ten minutes of snuggling, both girls will be asleep and the adult gets up to have a nice, quiet evening. It’s such a small investment of time on the parent’s part and yet it’s so meaningful to the child. I don’t understand why some parents would rather listen to their child cry than spend those precious moments snuggling in bed. It’s a privilege to have your children want to be with you, and it’s a privilege I intend to work hard to continue to earn as my children grow older.

Staying “attached at the heart through the years” is a joy for the whole family!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

I have put a hold on the book at one of my county libraries (25 cents gets it shipped to my local branch!) and I can hardly wait to get started reading next week. The timing is good because I just finished reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver (quite a dense and informative read — one worth plowing through. Oh, did I just go with the farming pun? )

The Wet Nurse’s Tale is a historical novel set in Victorian England and it features a heroine who unexpectedly finds herself in the occupation of a wet nurse. I won’t say more because I never like to have the plot to a book spoiled before I get a chance to read it. But I laughed when I read the review from Carolyn See at the Washington Post’s Book World:

From the title and the cover, this book seems a little dubious — lots of breasts and steamy sex and way too much romping. But “The Wet Nurse’s Tale” turns out to be informative, unusual and intelligent.

Sounds good to me! So, are you in? Let’s read The Wet Nurse’s Tale together! If you want to get your thinking cap on ahead of time, here is a link to some sample discussion questions from the Penguin.com reading guide to the book.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

~ Check out the 12 full-color pictures from the IBFAN Breastfeeding Calendar 2010. The calendar is available from Baby Milk Action for £7, £6 if ordering 10 or more. Add £2 per calendar for shipping and handling outside the United Kingdom (although you might be able to order a calendar from your national International Baby Food Action Netork group).

~ The 2010 Australian Breastfeeding Association Calendar features 14 breastfeeding pictures selected from thousands of submissions. It sells for AUD $15 plus postage.

La Leche League of Central Lake County, IL 2010 Breastfeeding Calendar

~ New this year is the La Leche League of Central Lake County, IL 2010 breastfeeding calendar! You can preview the pictures at the site and order through PayPal. Each calendar is sold for $15.00, including tax and shipping. Proceeds from the sale of the calendar will help fund breastfeeding education and support for the mothers and children of Central Lake County, Illinois.

~ Also new this year is the 2010 Calendar from the Rugby Breastfeeding Cafe in the UK. You can watch a slide show of the pictures, then order the calendar for £10 plus shipping. It’s available both in and outside the UK.

~ The New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force held a contest for pictures for its 2010 Breastfeeding Calendar. Watch the task force home page for announcement of the 2010 release. The 2009 version is still for sale.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Post-It Image by Agata Urbaniak

Today I share a guest submission from a woman who does not have a blog but who felt strongly about sharing her breastfeeding wisdom in hindsight. At the end of her comment you can find the links to all the other carnival participants. First, Crystal offers the following insight:

What I wish I had known…to trust myself and my body to do what nature intended…which I am currently doing with breastfeeding my 7 week old twin boys!!!

I am currently a 27 year old mother of 3 beautiful boys. My first born son was breastfed for 18 months and weaned himself at that time. He breastfed with no problems and is as healthy as can be at the age of 4.5. Now I just recently had twin boys at 38 weeks gestation born on August 26th 2009 who are also breastfeeding on-demand. I had mixed feelings about my body making enough milk and having enough support for me to continue breastfeeding….etc. Many people said I wouldn’t be able to do it and even my boys’ pediatrician said I needed to supplement with formula because they were not gaining enough weight.

My twin boys are very healthy and are gaining weight through breastfeeding only. I am not and will not supplement with formula. My midwives said I am making enough milk for both my boys and that they are breastfeeding beautifully. Also they said that my body knows what it needs to do as long as I am eating and drinking enough. I am an experienced mother and I am experienced at breastfeeding. I must trust myself and my body to do what nature intended it to do:

To breastfeed my babies!!!!

I am happy to say that despite having my up and down days with breastfeeding two babies as it is difficult; I am never going to regret or give up on my decision to breastfeed my boys as they are worth it and much more.

Thank you to all the wonderful breastfeeding mothers who gave me advice, support, and encouragement in breastfeeding my singleton and then again in breastfeeding multiples. I believe in myself and in my body to continue breastfeeding my twin boys!!!

Congratulations Crystal and thanks for your submission!

Other Carnival Participants

Sarah Fancy Pancakes: Wish I’d Heard More Good Things
The Milk Mama: When breastfeeding begins badly, and what I should have done about it
Hobo Mama: What I wish I’d known when I started breastfeeding
My World Edenwild: What I Wish I’d Known Then: A Poem
Happy Bambino: I wish I had known then that it wasn’t up to me alone
Three Girl Pile-Up: 4 things I wish I’d known about breastfeeding
Birth Activist: What I Wish I Would Have Known About Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding Moms Unite!: You Don’t Have to Grin and Bear It
Momma’s Angel: What I Wish I’d Known Then: My List For Next Time
The Starr Family Blogg: I Wish I Would Have Known
Whozat: If I’d Known Then
Massachusetts Friends of Midwives: What I wish I’d known back then about breastfeeding
Fighting Frumpy: When Breastfeeding Feels Wrong
Breastfeeding Mums: 15 Breastfeeding Facts I Wish I’d Known as a First Time Breastfeeding Mum
Cave Mother: Nursing Wisdom
Blacktating: Breastfeeding Is Life-Changing
MumUnplugged: Six Things I Wish I’d Known

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

The week before I had been shopping for popsicles and could not find a single kind that did not have corn syrup or was not made by Nestlé (which in the ice cream/popsicle aisle masquerades as Edy’s and Dreyer’s and Häagen-Dazs among others.) It’s time for me to start making my own popsicles again! In the past I’ve used an ice cube tray and cut straws or popsicle sticks. Anyone have a suggestion for a good popsicle mold — a metal or BPA-free plastic one?

Why Boycott Nestlé?

For some history and reasoning behind the Nestlé boycott, see “Should You Boycott Nestlé?”

The #NestleFamily Controversy

Recently Nestlé invited a group of bloggers out to California to learn more about the company. In a whirlwind of #NestleFamily debate on Twitter, many breastfeeding advocates expressed disappointment that people were accepting a free trip and gifts from Nestlé in spite of the company’s history of unethical marketing practices. Some bloggers defended their decision as being open to a dialogue with the company. I would not have been interested in hearing what the company had to say at such a one-sided publicity event, but I have found Nestlé’s answers to some questions posed by Annie at PhD in Parenting to be fascinating and informative (well, Annie’s discussion is informative; Nestlé’s answers are a bunch of double-speak.)

Which Products are Nestlé Products?

Nestlé owns many brand names and it can be tricky to keep up with all of them. Check out this Nestlé product boycott list compiled by Amy at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

My sleeping 15-month-old

So what bits of sleep advice can be gleaned from my experience? I have come to these five conclusions:

1. Do what works for you. If co-sleeping and nursing your baby back to sleep help you both get a better night’s rest, then do it!

2. If something stops working for you, then take the initiative and change it! Sounds a little obvious but in a sleep-deprived haze it can be all too easy to continue on with the way things are.

3. It’s okay to try new ways to settle your child to sleep. Whether it’s rocking to sleep instead of nursing, wearing your baby in a sling, or having your partner sing the baby to sleep, it’s okay to experiment. If your nursling is unhappy with that, she will make it quite clear and you can shelve the experiment for another few months and then try again. Or try a different method.

4. There will be back-sliding. You can count on teething, illness, or growth spurts to set back the process. It’s normal and inevitable and it helps simply to recognize that and to put any sleep changes on hold.

5. Eventually, your child will sleep better at night. At some point, you will find yourself waking up for no reason. Your nursling didn’t wake you, you just woke up as part of your own sleep rhythm. Soon, your nursling will sleep so well you will wonder if everything is alright!

For those of you with toddlers, what has your sleep experience been like? Have you come to any conclusions of your own?

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Image by Sanja Gjenero

My husband is a great father and very good with the kids, so it should not be quite so newsworthy, except my other daughters refused to be settled back to sleep by anyone other than me (and my mum-mums) until they were over two-and-a-half years old! So the fact that my husband was able to settle our third daughter at the tender age of 15 months is amazing and gratefully received. Not just once, not even twice, but THREE times, which means it is not a Fluke and might actually be Repeatable. Clearly I am giddy with the additional sleep I received.

Last night was especially wonderful. I felt pretty cruddy from the cold to which I finally succumbed after several irresistible toddler pointing games of “Baby’s (runny) nose” and “Mama’s nose.” I needed the sleep and was none too pleased when I woke to nurse the baby at 4 a.m. and she had trouble settling back to sleep for a full 45 minutes. When it was clear she didn’t need to nurse again but she couldn’t stay asleep, I finally gave in and called to my husband at 4:45, and he was able to snuggle her to sleep. For some reason she accepts sleeping on his chest, as if she knows that’s the best he has to offer and she might as well enjoy it. And enjoy it she did — we all slept until it was time to get up at 7:15! Heaven.

When my toddler woke for good that morning, I went in to find her snuggled next to her daddy AND her four-year-old sister who had wandered down the hall to find someone to snuggle her back to sleep. So cute!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3