I am almost embarrassed to post this review, but it’s for one of those products that I wonder why I had never heard of it before I stumbled across it on some crunchy blog somewhere. It’s the Naturally Fresh Crystal Deodorant.
Once I became pregnant and then became a nursing mother, I became increasingly concerned about the products I use and the chemicals they contain. This deodorant contains natural mineral salts and ammonium alum and checks out well on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. It’s important to note that this product is a deodorant and not an …read more

When doing your holiday gift shopping, consider one of these beautiful calendars featuring breastfeeding pictures from various non-profit organizations. You can have your 2010 calendar shopping make a difference for mothers and babies around the world by purchasing one of the following calendars:
~ 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 …read more

We’re in the thick of Nestlé-Free Week — are you participating? At my house it’s Nestlé-Free Week for 52 weeks out of the year, but those who do not already boycott Nestlé might try to do so for just this one week and for their Halloween candy purchases in particular. This year for Halloween I chose to buy Smarties, those little pieces of pure processed sugar and food coloring. The poor Smarties company has to put on the homepage of its website: “Do not confuse our Smarties with Nestlé chocolate Smarties”! I wanted something without corn syrup and something not …read more

And the winner of the “Laugh and Learn” DVDs is Kathlynn with comment #17: “What an amazing set! I would love to add them to my small but growing collection!” Kathlynn, please email me your home mailing address by the end of Tuesday, October 20, 2009 to claim your prize.

This contest has ended.
Last week I reviewed the set of “Laugh and Learn” DVDs on childbirth, newborn baby care, and breastfeeding. Now is your chance to win these four helpful DVDs!
The Products
You can win this 4-DVD set of three classes: Laugh and Learn About Childbirth, Laugh and Learn About Newborn Baby Care, and Laugh and Learn About Breastfeeding. The whole DVD set currently sells for $79.95 on the Laugh and Learn site. I see that if you want to watch the classes online they are offered that way at a discount too!
How to Enter
The contest is open to entrants …read more

“Laugh and Learn” sent me a set of DVDs to review. Each DVD gives a class in childbirth, newborn care, or breastfeeding. The classes are presented by Sheri Bayles, BSN, RN, IBCLC. Overall I enjoyed the DVDs very much (and my children did too!) and I found Sheri to be an excellent public speaker with a confident and easy manner. Please read on for my individual reviews of each class — I have a few comments about the “Laugh and Learn about Breastfeeding” in particular that are important if you are considering buying this set of DVDs. Then stay tuned …read more

The new book Great Expectations: The Essential Guide to Breastfeeding by Marianne Neifert, M.D., is a wonderful resource for pregnant women and women who are currently breastfeeding. It contains comprehensive, up-to-date information in an easy to read format.

It’s refreshing to see evidence- and practice-based breastfeeding recommendations from a doctor. While most physicians receive very little education in breastfeeding, Dr. Neifert has many years of experience practicing breastfeeding medicine as a pediatrician, co-founder of one of the very first breastfeeding centers in the United States, and co-founder of the Denver Mothers’ Milk Bank (among a long list of credentials, not …read more

Even a beginning sewer can sew nursing clothes for herself or as a baby shower gift. While special nursing clothes are certainly not necessary (and can be very pricey!), these patterns provide a frugal option for nursing mothers. In addition to the free instructions for breastfeeding projects available here on Breastfeeding 1-2-3, I have compiled a list of sources for sewing patterns for breastfeeding clothes.
Nursing Clothes Pattern Retailers
Blessed Designs – click on “Nursing Patterns” in the sidebar and you can find patterns for nursing lingerie (nursing sleep bra, nightgown, camisole and tummy cover), a hoodie sweatshirt and jacket, and …read more

After I posted about the Advertising of Infant Milk, two commenters mentioned how much they liked the Medela commercial that has been running on the Discovery Health Channel. Curious to see the “breast milk commercial” myself, I found the 31-second ad on Medela’s website. (Go on, watch it. I’ll wait. Then come back and let me know what you think please!)

What do you think of the ad? My first thought was, “Way to go Medela! You actually showed actual breastfeeding, on television!” (Yes, actually, that is how I actually thought it LOL). Apparently though this version of the ad is …read more

Thanks again to Easy Expression Products for the Easy Expression Hands-Free Pumping Bra giveaway! Many people expressed (pun intended!) positive things about the hands-free pumping bra and it’s fun to be giving away a product that breastfeeding and pumping mothers find so helpful!
It’s especially fun when Random.org happens to pick a winner who can really benefit from the prize — and that winner is commenter #20 Jennifer B, who said:
I am pregnant with my second child, and I would sooo love having one of these. I thought about getting one when I was nursing my 2 year old, but …read more