You may be new to the term “baby-led weaning”, and on seeing it may be wondering, “What is she talking about?  What is this ‘baby-led weaning’? ”  Well, contrary to what some may think, it really isn’t a new concept at all.  Like with many other parenting and child-rearing concepts, it’s something old and basic- innate really- that we’ve complicated and come away from.  However, I think many parents listening to their instinct- especially in our busy society where we need as much ease as we can get out of our day- are quickly gravitating back to this natural concept.  In a nutshell baby-led weaning is this: Babies will feed themselves when they are ready.  The authors explain, “Weaning is the gradual change that a baby makes from having breast milk or formula as her only food to having no breast milk or formula at all.”  The first solid food that baby has is the beginning of this weaning process.

Now, why should baby lead this process?  Well, several reasons really…  First, it plays an extremely important role in baby’s development.  Babies develop at their own pace, when they are ready, and we don’t want to rush this.  It’s just like other milestones- take crawling- because each one stimulates the brain, shouldn’t ever be skipped, and will lead to the next important stage.  Baby-Led Weaning, shortened ‘BLW’- will help with these vitally important skills:  Facial muscle development, chewing, swallowing, speech development, manual dexterity, and hand-eye coordination.  Just to name a few!  I feel like so much focused has been placed on the when and what of solids…  But, there’s an important reminder of the why!  In addition, BLW helps baby develop his/her self-confidence and independence.  It also helps make eating more enjoyable- whether that be snacks or family mealtime.  It allows baby to control what they eat, how much they eat and how quickly it’s done.  And, there’s a lot of money saved when families choose to do it this way too!

Also, like so many other aspects of parenting, starting solids and choosing BLW can be very convicting for the parents.  ”Convicting? Why and how so?”, you may ask.  Well, with BLW, most parents choose to let their babies eat what they eat.  If that image gives you a lump in your throat, maybe some change is in order.  Again, to quote the authors, “As long as your own diet is healthy and nutritious there’s no need for separate recipes.”  On this note, let me say, you may choose not to change your habits now and still do some aspects of BLW by allowing your baby to feed him/herself but still making seperate food items for him/her to choose from.  Let me encourage you to make the change now.  Move the family diet to something that you’d be happy for your baby to eat.  The change will need to happen at some point; otherwise, you’ll be looking at a toddler who is begging for pretty unhealthy choices!  Make this a positive move closer to health and wellness for the entire family.  The latest research is showing that our babies health has been affected by what our grandparents ate!  Isn’t that amazing?  So this food thing has so much more to do with a large picture we are just painting a tiny part of…  It’s so sad to me where we are at as a society when it comes to food, but it gives me so much hope to look at where we could be!

Stay tuned, we’ll soon look at the rest of the story…  What should babies be fed, when should it start, and what do the specific how’s look like?

There is a running joke in our family that anytime Harper is going to be around his great-grandmother, we must put shoes on his little feet.  The first thing she will comment on, if she sees his bare toes is, “Where are his shoes?!”  I even went as far as purchasing these socks, to please her when he was too tiny to wear shoes.  Again, society ingrains so many ideas into our heads…  For instance, speaking of Harper being too tiny to wear shoes, at what age will we make shoes a staple of his attire?  I must admit, every time I buckle him in his seat to go on an outing and I look at his bare feet, I hear a little voice in my head say, “They’re going to think you are a bad mom!  Who lets their children run around town without shoes?  They’ll feel sorry for you that you are too poor to put him in nice shoes.” 

Why do we make yet another crazy, “hippie” choice and allow- rather choose- for our child to go barefoot as often as possible, even when we are in public?  Well, just like with every other decision we make, this one has research and studies to back it.  Now, with all of the recent popularity in adults being barefoot, it may not surprise you that barefoot for children is healthiest.  However, even though this adult trend is growing, and some people know it to be true for their children, how many kids do you see in public settings without shoes?  If you are like me, a mom who feels self-conscious because her dirty soled, barefoot child is in the minority, you’ll agree that you don’t see many.  I urge you to join me though, go against the grain, it’s best for your child and his/her development!

Going without shoes as much and as often is possible helps so many aspects of a child’s development, and in the instance when shoes are a necessity, choosing the right footwear is crucial.  Studies show that when a child walks barefoot, he/she will hold his/her head straight.  Shoes take away vital information that the ground transmits to the foot and the foot transmits in turn to the brain.  Hence, when shoes are worn, a child must look down more to receive visual input of where he/she is going and what the ground is doing, rather than allowing his barefoot to tell him all of that info.  Therefore, in this instance, not only does the child benefit from brain development, but their spinal curves are also developed properly from bare feet too.  Furthermore, when the child’s foot comes into direct contact with the floor (only possible when it is completely bare), the child’s ligaments and muscles are sensitized by what they feel and allowed to develop.  This helps the child’s stability tremendously, and will help ensure less injury in the present and future.  And, let us not forget crawling…  It is becoming so common now- especially with all the option and cute styles- to put shoes on newborns and young infants.  We need to allow those little bare feet to feel the world around them, even if they aren’t in the walking stage yet, they develop immensely from bare skin too.  This is very important when it comes time to crawl too; you want their hands and feet getting as much information from the environment as possible.  Crawling is one of the few activities which help integrate both sides of the brain and teaches them to work together.  Vision is also developed through proper crawling, so if this stage is hampered by things like shoes, the child may have reading and writing issues develop later.

All of that being said, there are times when it is simply not an option to be barefoot.  For instance, shoes can serve to keep feet warm in cold weather (being pregnant in the middle of a Texas heat wave, makes me long for this moment right now , shoes can serve as protection for kids playing games, running in a park where dogs have left “gifts” behind :P, or being in an area where the foot may be dangerously exposed to objects that could puncture the child.  In these situations, what do you look for in a shoe?  First, make sure the shoe is flat.  Have you ever seen a young child in high-heel pumps?  I hope not!  However, although most of us laugh at that notion, some wouldn’t think twice about the actual sole of the shoe they purchase for their children.  Unfortunately, style often dictates these decisions.  Go with flat, the shoe needs to stimulate the environment as much as possible, and you don’t want a rise in the shoe affecting the child’s pelvic development and leg musculature.  Secondly, have the child measured for a proper fit.  Babies are not adults!  They are born with cartillage, not bony feet like adults.  Therefore, their feet are still developing and they are soft.  You do not want to cause improper bone ossification and development by placing the child in a shoe that fits improperly.  Next, make sure the shoe is as soft soled as possible and has plenty of bend to it.  You want the shoe to be protective (that is the only reason the child should be wearing it), but you want it to allow the child’s foot to feel the environment and respond to it as much as possible. 

Here are some good companies:  Preschoolians, Pediped, Terra Plana, Foosies, Trumpette, Soft Star, Pedoodles, and RoBeez. 

What about you?  Do you have a favorite soft-sole shoe company for children?  Does it make you feel embarrassment of safety concerns when your child is barefoot?

A growing practice, quickly gaining popularity for many reasons, is that of using cloth diapers instead of disposables.  But, a less often talked about practice is that of using natural- even cloth reusable- feminine care products (pads and tampons) too.  And, many health/environment conscious moms who are not using cloth, opt to use natural/organic diapers, pads and/or tampons.  Many people have seen my cute pictures of Harper wearing his fashionable diapers.  Although they know he isn’t wearing Huggies, they may not be aware of what he’s in and why I’ve chosen to dress him that way.  Why would I make such a choice?

Over the years, I have watched countless moms come into my office.  The ones who dress their babies in precious cloth diapers always catch my eye.  And, fortunately, I had a chance to talk with many and ask their opinions before having Harper.  Once pregnant, after talking to all of these moms, it was a no brain-er that we would cloth diaper our children.  When cloth was not an option, we would not use conventional paper diapers, but would turn to the natural organic brands.  Why in the world would we choose to put this much thought into what goes on our child’s bottom? 

Well, cloth is the best option- in our opinion- and, we not only advocate that moms steer away from the regular conventional brands when it comes to diapers but also when they choose to purchase products to use on themselves once a month.  We have seen drastic results and awesome changes in women’s and children’s health because of the switch; this is why we feel so strongly about it!  We started out using Seventh Generation newborn disposables on Harper, until all of his meconium was gone.  Once the meconium had passed, we started out with a diaper service, so that we could try cloth without having to buy them yet.  This was a wonderful option, and it was really just as cheap (if not more) than disposables.  I loved the option to try without having to buy.  We, obviously, loved cloth, and quickly decided to purchase our own.  We went through Hip Green Baby.  I can not say enough about how much I love Kristi, and how wonderful she and her company are.  Harper wore her prefolds (we just did plain, no dye) with a Snappi and Wonder Wrap or Thirsties cover.  This is the simple way to go, and we love it!  Thirsties covers are my absolute favorite!!   

Harper’s health is quite the obsession around here!  And, you guessed it, we choose cloth- in large part- for health reasons.  The skin is the largest organ, and comes into contact with most everything we are exposed to.  This is particularly true when it comes to diapers, which a baby wears against his/her skin 24/7.  We did not want Harper’s skin exposed to something as potentially harmful as paper diapers filled with chemicals, when there is such a great option as cloth.  We do not believe that it is any coincidence that our children end up with so many skin problems, allergies, and hormonal disruptions when we look at how long they are usually left in these paper diapers filled with horrible chemicals.  Did you know most paper diapers contain dioxin, bleach, chlorine, tributyl tin, perfumes and plastic?

Dioxin has been found to cause damage to the immune system, birth defects, and it is a carcinogen.  Bleach is harsh on skin and a known carcinogen.  Chlorine can also harm skin and is carcinogenic too.  Perfumes are known to disrupt the hormonal system and have been linked to asthma.  Tributyl tin has harmful effects on the hormonal and immune systems. 

You won’t find these chemicals in cloth diapers, and who wouldn’t prefer cloth underwear over paper?!  In addition to health savings, we have saved a lot of money by using cloth diapers.  And, because we will be able to use Harper’s diapers when we have other children, this is a savings that I look forward to continuing.  I often hear families complain about their expenses, and watch them work so hard to pinch pennies.  I find myself wondering, “Why don’t they simply switch to cloth?”  It is so easy, and makes so much sense!

Furthermore, it is a lot easier to potty train a baby who has grown up in cloth versus paper diapers.  Harper senses when he is wet a lot sooner when he wears cloth.  We have been doing Elimination Communication with him since he was four weeks old, but I credit the fact that he is sixteen months and almost potty trained to our choice of cloth diapers.

I am not a huge environmentalist, but it is nice to know that we aren’t adding to the disgusting problem that has been created by all the disposable diapers that are thrown out.  Did you know when you throw out a paper diaper, it takes hundreds of years for it to decompose?  Yuck!  And, it is estimated that your paper diapers from your one baby will generate at least one ton of garbage.  Care about the environment or not, those nasty facts can not be ignored!

I urge you not to stop your research for the health of your family when it comes to what they wear on their bottoms!  And, maybe going straight to cloth isn’t an option.  Well, fortunately, there are safer, healthier disposable options out there.  Please, do your research! 

Some sites to look at:

Seventh Generation 

Earth’s Best

Hip Green Baby

G Diapers

Natracare

Luna Pads

Glad Rags

What about you?  Do you use paper or cloth?  If you’ve made the switch, I would love to hear why and how you did it.

“Ring, ring.  Hello, is Harper there?”  This is a phrase that is heard often around our house these days as Harper plays telephone with an old remote control held to his ear.  In fact, Harper will hold most things to his ear and pretend they are telephones.  However, one thing you won’t see him holding next to his head, or playing with at all for that matter, is a cell phone.  I cringe when I see children, especially babies, playing with cell phones.  Funny how some of the most dangerous things can be the most enticing to babies.  I know Harper loves wall outlets and plugs too, but he is obviously not allowed to play with those either.  Sadly, although most parents know not to let their children play with electricity- and take precautions to prevent them from doing so- most will let their children play with cell phones, without second thought.

“What’s the big problem?”, you ask.  Did you know that France is banning cell phones in primary schools to limit health risks?  If a country is taking such a drastic action, shouldn’t we pay attention to the fact that there may be a true issue?  And, we know that there have been warnings on the safety and health risks of cell phone use in general, with more warnings emerging daily.  Shouldn’t we take these warnings even more seriously when it comes to our children? 

The problem is that cell phones emit electromagnetic radiation.  And, studies have shown that exposure to cell phones, especially over long periods of time, increases the risk of cancer.  Tumors grow on the brain more frequently in cell phone users.  Research is also being done on radiation from cell phones raising blood pressure and emitting heat that changes the body’s proteins. 

Children are at an even higher increased risk than adults for several reasons:  First, children’s brains are still developing.  Therefore, if these phones pose a risk to the full sized, developed brain, how much more risky are they to a small brain that is growing and undergoing constant change?  Secondly, children are starting out playing with phones and using them at such a young age.  Most adults today didn’t have cell phone technology available to them when they were growing up.  The research is telling us the longer the phones are used, the more the danger posed.  We have yet to see the side effects of all these years of cell phone use starting as a young child and going into adulthood.  Thirdly, a child’s skull bones are thinner, leaving their brain with less protection from the radiation.  And, the child’s brain is also smaller which puts it at a greater risk of damage.

Please, reconsider what you allow your children to amuse themselves with.  It is worth telling them, “No, you can not play with mommy’s phone.” to protect their health.  Also, take this research into consideration when using the phone around them.  Consider the exposure caused by you- the parent- talking on the phone when you are holding or nursing your child.  I know this doesn’t allow for a lot of convenience, but it is worth it to go the extra mile so that your child’s brain and health are protected!  Use a wired headset to reduce exposure and keep conversations on the cell phone to a minimum.  Also, using something like a Green 8 to reduce radiation can be helpful too. 

I can’t post this blog without laughing about something that happened when Harper was only a few weeks old.  See, Harper is a little loved and extra protected by his grandparents because he is the first grandchild on both sides.  I wonder how we ever did anything growing up if our parents treated us as carefully as they treat and worry about Harper.  Ha!  This is especially true of how my dad treats him.  So Harper was nursing, as my family hung out together in the living room one day.  All of a sudden, as I usually do, I got a phone call.  I quickly picked up my cell to answer it, so that the ring would not disturb my hungry little baby.  My dad looked over at me in horror and cautioned sternly, “Be careful talking on that while you are holding him, Cindy!”  Just as I thought to myself, “Wow, I didn’t know dad knew the research on cell phone radiation, or that he cared about it.”, dad concluded his cautionary statement with, “because it would be really dangerous if you dropped that phone on him!”  I still laugh about that to this day!  Yes, dad, the weight of a crashing cell phone is very dangerous, forget his brain cells.

When discussing bacteria, two points are key:  1) Make sure your body is taking in plenty of good bacteria and then 2) Make sure you are encouraging the good bacteria to thrive and not doing things to kill it off.  How do we do this in our house?  We take a probiotic supplement on a daily basis, eat organic, fresh produce as much as possible, minimally (if at all) wash the organic, fresh produce, and avoid using anti-bacterial hand sanitizers or soaps.

Lately, with all the hype and fear mongering over the flu- especially the piggy flu- you can find hand sanitizers prominently displayed in most public areas.  Do you realize these could actually be helping spread illness, and not preventing it?  See, even though the hand sanitizer companies claim that their products kill bacteria and help keep you well, what they don’t explain is that we need some bacteria in order to stay healthy.  Good bacteria help keep your body in balance and ward off the bad guys from taking over.  Problem is, these hand sanitizers aren’t selective of which bacteria to kill.  They kill it all, up to 99%, as they claim.  This is a huge problem because it depletes an already deficient (as I will explain later) body of its good bacteria, that was there to help ban the bad bacteria and keep you well.  Squirt, squirt…  You just rubbed it all away and now that alcohol smell is there to remind you: “You have an even bigger mess on your hands!”

What then is a better solution than hand sanitizers and antibacterial soap?  If you are out and don’t have access to running water, try keeping a small bottle of colloidal silver with you.  Colloidal silver is wonderful because it will kill the bad guys and leave the good guys.  Or, make a natural solution with essential oils that help keep germs at bay, like tea tree oil.  When you do have access to a bathroom, hot water and regular, old fashioned soap (like Dr. Bronner’s) is the best.  

Probiotics are something I have always talked a lot about.  Why?  Well, in our current world, we have made probiotic supplementation a necessity for health and wellness.  What are probiotics?  ”Pro” means ”for” and “biotic” means “life” or “living organism”.  Why do we have to supplement with probiotics and why can’t we simply get them from the food we eat?  Current research tells us that our diet only provides us with one millionth of the healthy bacteria our ancestors used to consume.  Farming practices have made our diets severely deficient- insecticides, herbicides, food transportation and storage, and poor soil all play a part in decreasing the amount of good bacteria available to us through our food.  Our deficiency and the practices which make us deficient are only getting worse; therefore, I am so thankful probiotic supplementation is an option!

I have an incredible testimonial about probiotics.  And, because of the cases I see in practice on a daily basis, I am even more thankful for my personal experience.  Digestive problems are one of the major things I see in my office, and I believe the problem is getting worse and the cases are increasing daily.  It is so sad!  Our health and wellness is dependent on our digestive system because the stomach allows the good stuff in from our food and keeps the bad stuff out.  If this system isn’t working at its best, we are in big trouble!  I supplemented with probioticson a daily basis when I was pregnant, beginning a little before conception.  Never once did I experience digestive problems while pregnant.  I felt so blessed!  I can only count a few moms on one hand who I know and/or see as patients that don’t experience some constipation and/or heartburn while pregnant.  I was not one of them, and I strongly believe my probiotic intake had a lot to do with this.  Then, once Harper was born, 14 months ago today, we never experienced digestive problems with him either.  We were fortunate not to have colic problems with him (something I see a lot in the office too), he only spit up normal amounts as a newborn, and he has had at least two bowel movements a day (usually 4-6 a day is normal for him) ever since his birth.  We have never gone a day without bowel movements!  Talk to any mom, and you will know what a miracle that is.  So many babies have constipation issues, and we are so fortunate not to have experienced this.  Therefore, after religiously taking probiotics, and having both mine and Harper’s personal experience, I highly recommend them for overall health- especially for great digestion.    

From now on, appreciate bacteria.  They have gotten such a bad connotation, but they are absolutely vital (especially the good ones).

Moby Wrap

This is my favorite baby carrier out there!  JB loves wearing Harper in his Moby wrap too (he has a cool orange one).  You just need this same wrap- one size- for preemies and babies up to 35lbs.  I love all the different colors/designs offered by Moby, and it’s a very well designed product (evenly distributes baby’s weight across both shoulders and your core).  Babies love it too!  Get is here or from our office.

Amber Teething Necklace

We have had Harper in this necklace since he was only a few weeks old.  A lot of our patients wear them too, and say they notice it helps a lot with relieving symptoms of teething.  It can’t hurt, so why not give it a try?  Read all about it and order it here.