By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tommy_O_Coffler]Tommy O Coffler
For my first daughter, I gave her solid food very late - just after 9 months - because of my family's advice on weaning. Breastfeeding, on the other hand, was stopped early due to medical problems (I developed mastitis - inflammation of the breasts via calcification of milk in the milk ducts - after my baby's fourth month).
I realized that the problem of weaning baby late to solids was that the baby takes more time to adjust, has slower chewing capabilities and becomes more picky when she grows up (as my daughter is now). And while I love her to bits, the problem of feeding her now that she's "grown-up" (she's turning 9 years old this month) is a bit of a problem for me. So for my second child (another daughter), I made sure that once she developed teeth and as soon as she reached 6 months, I gradually introduced her to solid foods.
If you have the same problem, you need not worry. Start your child on pureed foods. For my second child, I gave her iron-fortified baby rice cereal on the 6th month. To test if she's receptive to solids, I mixed 1 tablespoon of baby cereal with milk and water until I made it thin - something that resembled milk in a bowl. Made her sit on a high chair and fed her with a spoon. If she accepts it, then you continue feeding her. If she pushes the spoon and the food out of her mouth, it means she's just not ready yet, so stop and try giving it to her again after a couple of days.
Once successful, you can gradually make the food mix thicker. You can also give her pureed fruits and vegetables. Once you reach a paste-like consistency, then you can now give her mashed vegetables or fruits.
In trying out new foods, give it to her using the 4-day rule. Once you introduce a new food, allow 4 days for the food to take effect and observe if she develops a rash or an allergy to the food. If she has a tummy ache, immediately stop giving her whatever food you have and get her back to milk for a day, then give her the food that she's used to. You can try re-introducing the "trigger" food when she gets a bit older, say around 9 months.
When deciding what food to give to your baby, always make sure that it is safe and full of the necessary vitamins and minerals that your child needs.
Giving your child the right baby food in their first few months of solid feeding will help them develop a healthy appetite. Just remember that when you're [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/Weaning-to-Solids-Food-Allergies.html]weaning to solids you may encounter some food allergies. Learn more about how to deal with these allergies by visiting [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/]Weaning Breastfeeding today!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Weaning-Off-Breastfeeding---Baby-Food-From-the-6th-to-9th-Month&id=6532732] Weaning Off Breastfeeding - Baby Food From the 6th to 9th Month
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
When to Stop Breastfeeding: Baby Is Ready But What Do You Feed Him?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tommy_O_Coffler]Tommy O Coffler
Your baby is growing up so fast, that you have the feeling that the answer to your "when to stop breastfeeding" question is "now." Unfortunately, the weaning/breastfeeding process doesn't set a specific time for application - you usually have to rely on gut feel and on what your baby is trying to tell you.
Yes, your baby. Although he doesn't talk yet, he does want you to know that he's ready to wean when he shows some signs that it's time to wean. If you baby is older and is happily tucking in to solids, then the question of what do you feed him isn't that big of a deal.
However, if you are weaning him from breastfeeding early, then what you substitute will definitely be a concern. In this respect, it is best to get your pediatrician's advice on what formula to use.
If you are thinking of introducing your baby to solid food as well, here are some of the tell-tale signs that your baby is ready for it. Remember, your baby must be able to have at least all or most of the signs mentioned below to be able to say that he is truly ready to have his first meal:
- Head control. You brought him out into the world, head first. Out of all the body parts, the head and neck area is the most delicate of all. Constant care and attention have always been given to it, especially if you need to breastfeed him. But as time goes on, they eventually strengthen. Once he is able to fully master and hold his head up rigidly with no support (or with at least a little of it), then he may be ready to feed.
- Teeth. The teeth, mouth, tongue and the rest of the digestive system all develop at the same time in preparation for weaning to proper solid food. Your baby will also be less likely to drool since he now has total control over the ability to swallow (although there may be times when he just does so, but of a lesser frequency than when he didn't have teeth).
- Weight gain. Your baby should be at least 6 months old and should've doubled their birth weight by now. (Some may wean as early as 4 months, but this is not recommended due to possible serious food allergies that may arise at such a young age.)
- A growing appetite. An increasing appetite means that baby is not contented with just milk; he needs solid food to give way to his body's need for it. Also, at this age, milk alone just isn't enough to meet his nutritional needs.
- Curiosity. If he is already eyeing the family's food during mealtimes, then it is a big indicator that he is ready to chew on some food. If he imitates your chewing or tries to grab your food, then he may be ready for the real thing.
That said, here are three suggested first-foods that you should let baby try:
- Iron-fortified rice cereal. This is the most common food first given to babies as it is store-bought, safe, tried-and-tested by a lot of mothers. It is also the first solid food that is usually recommended by the child's pediatrician. At this stage, the amount that your baby will eat will be very little, so serving rice cereal makes it convenient to prepare and serve small amounts.
- Pureed vegetables. You may need a blender for this to fully puree the vegetables. Before pureeing however, t is better to wash and cook (or at least, blanch) the veggies to kill possible bacteria. DO NOT GIVE BABY UNCOOKED VEGETABLES to prevent possible tummy problems. Start on yellow or orange vegetables (carrots, squash, or sweet potato for examples). You can do a combination of green (peas and green beans) and yellow veggies to add more flavors to the mix.
- Pureed fruits. Fruits are a good source of vitamins and minerals to help your baby's digestive track absorb and flush out toxic waste materials. Applesauce, pears or bananas are the most common fruits given. You can also give 1 part fruit juice to 2 parts of water.
Follow the four-day rule in giving new foods - if after 4 days, he doesn't develop an allergic reaction, then you can continue feeding it to him. If he gets a rash or a tummy-ache, then discontinue and reintroduce said food at a later time.
Coming up with a healthy diet for your baby is important when you are [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/Weaning-from-Breastfeeding-Homemade-Baby-Food.html]weaning from breastfeeding. Breastmilk is very nutritious and you have to make sure your baby gets the same amount of nutrition from their solid foods. Find out how to create this balance at [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/]Weaning Breastfeeding!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?When-to-Stop-Breastfeeding:-Baby-Is-Ready-But-What-Do-You-Feed-Him?&id=6532740] When to Stop Breastfeeding: Baby Is Ready But What Do You Feed Him?
Your baby is growing up so fast, that you have the feeling that the answer to your "when to stop breastfeeding" question is "now." Unfortunately, the weaning/breastfeeding process doesn't set a specific time for application - you usually have to rely on gut feel and on what your baby is trying to tell you.
Yes, your baby. Although he doesn't talk yet, he does want you to know that he's ready to wean when he shows some signs that it's time to wean. If you baby is older and is happily tucking in to solids, then the question of what do you feed him isn't that big of a deal.
However, if you are weaning him from breastfeeding early, then what you substitute will definitely be a concern. In this respect, it is best to get your pediatrician's advice on what formula to use.
If you are thinking of introducing your baby to solid food as well, here are some of the tell-tale signs that your baby is ready for it. Remember, your baby must be able to have at least all or most of the signs mentioned below to be able to say that he is truly ready to have his first meal:
- Head control. You brought him out into the world, head first. Out of all the body parts, the head and neck area is the most delicate of all. Constant care and attention have always been given to it, especially if you need to breastfeed him. But as time goes on, they eventually strengthen. Once he is able to fully master and hold his head up rigidly with no support (or with at least a little of it), then he may be ready to feed.
- Teeth. The teeth, mouth, tongue and the rest of the digestive system all develop at the same time in preparation for weaning to proper solid food. Your baby will also be less likely to drool since he now has total control over the ability to swallow (although there may be times when he just does so, but of a lesser frequency than when he didn't have teeth).
- Weight gain. Your baby should be at least 6 months old and should've doubled their birth weight by now. (Some may wean as early as 4 months, but this is not recommended due to possible serious food allergies that may arise at such a young age.)
- A growing appetite. An increasing appetite means that baby is not contented with just milk; he needs solid food to give way to his body's need for it. Also, at this age, milk alone just isn't enough to meet his nutritional needs.
- Curiosity. If he is already eyeing the family's food during mealtimes, then it is a big indicator that he is ready to chew on some food. If he imitates your chewing or tries to grab your food, then he may be ready for the real thing.
That said, here are three suggested first-foods that you should let baby try:
- Iron-fortified rice cereal. This is the most common food first given to babies as it is store-bought, safe, tried-and-tested by a lot of mothers. It is also the first solid food that is usually recommended by the child's pediatrician. At this stage, the amount that your baby will eat will be very little, so serving rice cereal makes it convenient to prepare and serve small amounts.
- Pureed vegetables. You may need a blender for this to fully puree the vegetables. Before pureeing however, t is better to wash and cook (or at least, blanch) the veggies to kill possible bacteria. DO NOT GIVE BABY UNCOOKED VEGETABLES to prevent possible tummy problems. Start on yellow or orange vegetables (carrots, squash, or sweet potato for examples). You can do a combination of green (peas and green beans) and yellow veggies to add more flavors to the mix.
- Pureed fruits. Fruits are a good source of vitamins and minerals to help your baby's digestive track absorb and flush out toxic waste materials. Applesauce, pears or bananas are the most common fruits given. You can also give 1 part fruit juice to 2 parts of water.
Follow the four-day rule in giving new foods - if after 4 days, he doesn't develop an allergic reaction, then you can continue feeding it to him. If he gets a rash or a tummy-ache, then discontinue and reintroduce said food at a later time.
Coming up with a healthy diet for your baby is important when you are [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/Weaning-from-Breastfeeding-Homemade-Baby-Food.html]weaning from breastfeeding. Breastmilk is very nutritious and you have to make sure your baby gets the same amount of nutrition from their solid foods. Find out how to create this balance at [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/]Weaning Breastfeeding!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?When-to-Stop-Breastfeeding:-Baby-Is-Ready-But-What-Do-You-Feed-Him?&id=6532740] When to Stop Breastfeeding: Baby Is Ready But What Do You Feed Him?
Friday, January 27, 2012
Stopping Breastfeeding
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tommy_O_Coffler]Tommy O Coffler
Although breastfeeding is recommended for as long as you and your baby are happy to do it, there comes a time when both mother and child will have to bid breastfeeding goodbye and hello to weaning.
The nutrients in breast milk would be very hard to replace, especially the benefit of keeping your baby immune from simple cold viruses to massive flu strains - which is why some mothers still try to incorporate breast milk in their baby's diet by expressing milk and storing it in a bottle.
Stopping breastfeeding is a mutual decision between mommy and baby. Usually, the baby exhibits physical signs that he is ready for weaning, especially for solid foods - being able to hold his head upright, the ability to sit by himself (or sometimes with the help of whoever will be feeding him), the emergence of a tooth (or teeth in some cases), eyeing food with curiosity, etc.
Sometimes though, the mother has to stop due to personal reasons.
Medical conditions (either pre-existing or diagnosed right after giving birth) are the most common reasons a mother has to stop breastfeeding. Cancers, respiratory problems and tumors or abscesses of the breast are just some problems a mother has that will not allow her to breastfeed her child.
Sometimes, a mother needs to wean her child, especially if she has work waiting for her. Most working moms wean their children off of breastfeeding to the bottle early in preparation for the day she will have to go back to work. Since they have a timeline to follow, most of these women do the weaning gradually, as soon as the baby learns how to drink from a bottle. (There are different sucking patterns for babies - sucking on a mother's teat is different from doing so from a silicone nipple.)
Sore nipples? Definitely a factor too, especially if your child is a biter and you not only have soreness, but also the baby already draws blood. This early, you can try to say "no" to your child - should he try to bite you again, put a finger in his mouth and take off the nipple, while saying no.
Breastfeeding takes a lot of time and commitment from moms who have to juggle work and home responsibilities. Hang in there as much as you can, do your best, so that when it's time to wean, you can look back without regret at the precious weeks, months, and years that you were able to breastfeed your baby.
If breastfeeding really isn't doable, consider using a pump so you can still give your baby the benefits of breast milk. You can also easily [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/How-to-Combine-Breastfeeding-with-Bottlefeeding.html]combine breastfeeding and bottlefeeding if all your breasts really need is a break. Learn more about breastfeeding techniques by visiting [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/]Weaning Breastfeeding now!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Stopping-Breastfeeding&id=6532746] Stopping Breastfeeding
Although breastfeeding is recommended for as long as you and your baby are happy to do it, there comes a time when both mother and child will have to bid breastfeeding goodbye and hello to weaning.
The nutrients in breast milk would be very hard to replace, especially the benefit of keeping your baby immune from simple cold viruses to massive flu strains - which is why some mothers still try to incorporate breast milk in their baby's diet by expressing milk and storing it in a bottle.
Stopping breastfeeding is a mutual decision between mommy and baby. Usually, the baby exhibits physical signs that he is ready for weaning, especially for solid foods - being able to hold his head upright, the ability to sit by himself (or sometimes with the help of whoever will be feeding him), the emergence of a tooth (or teeth in some cases), eyeing food with curiosity, etc.
Sometimes though, the mother has to stop due to personal reasons.
Medical conditions (either pre-existing or diagnosed right after giving birth) are the most common reasons a mother has to stop breastfeeding. Cancers, respiratory problems and tumors or abscesses of the breast are just some problems a mother has that will not allow her to breastfeed her child.
Sometimes, a mother needs to wean her child, especially if she has work waiting for her. Most working moms wean their children off of breastfeeding to the bottle early in preparation for the day she will have to go back to work. Since they have a timeline to follow, most of these women do the weaning gradually, as soon as the baby learns how to drink from a bottle. (There are different sucking patterns for babies - sucking on a mother's teat is different from doing so from a silicone nipple.)
Sore nipples? Definitely a factor too, especially if your child is a biter and you not only have soreness, but also the baby already draws blood. This early, you can try to say "no" to your child - should he try to bite you again, put a finger in his mouth and take off the nipple, while saying no.
Breastfeeding takes a lot of time and commitment from moms who have to juggle work and home responsibilities. Hang in there as much as you can, do your best, so that when it's time to wean, you can look back without regret at the precious weeks, months, and years that you were able to breastfeed your baby.
If breastfeeding really isn't doable, consider using a pump so you can still give your baby the benefits of breast milk. You can also easily [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/How-to-Combine-Breastfeeding-with-Bottlefeeding.html]combine breastfeeding and bottlefeeding if all your breasts really need is a break. Learn more about breastfeeding techniques by visiting [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/]Weaning Breastfeeding now!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Stopping-Breastfeeding&id=6532746] Stopping Breastfeeding
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Weaning - From Breastfeeding To Solids At 6 Months
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tommy_O_Coffler]Tommy O Coffler
When your baby was smaller and a few pounds lighter, you couldn't wait to give your baby real, big kids food. Now that the time has come to introduce him to solids, you are hesitating, with concerns like: I might do it wrong, my baby might not like the food, what do I do if he pushes the food away with his tongue, what do I give him when he doesn't like it, etc. To wean from breastfeeding, one must know some basics in preparing your baby for weaning to solids.
Breastfeeding is still best for babies, even up to age 2. But when baby reaches the 6th month mark milk alone - whether breastmilk or formula - is no longer enough to satisfy all of your growing baby's nutritional needs. Hence, the need to introduce him to solid food.
Weaning before 6 months is discouraged. Studies have shown that babies who were given solids between 4 to 6 months were more likely to develop allergic reactions to certain foods - especially if there is a family history of asthma, allergies to substances (such as food and dust) or other respiratory ailments.
By the 6th month, your baby will have doubled his birth weight already. This is one of the main indicators that he is ready to try some solid food. (If your baby is a bit small for his age, you may want to wait it out a little more until he doubles his birth weight.)
Your baby's curiosity also peaks at around this time. Therefore, in all likelihood, he will take to solid foods more now than when he was around 4 or 5 months. The fact that your baby may be eyeing your food already and trying to paw his way through it is testament to his readiness for solid food. Plus, his daily milk intake will not be enough to sustain him all throughout the day, especially through the night.
Aside from that, his body also changes in time for soft solid food weaning. His mouth will have lost most of its automatic gagging, and he may respond to food by swallowing a little at a time that it may seem like he is just swallowing his milk. Also, the emergence of teeth is also a factor in deciding to feed the baby his solids.
Your baby should be able to sit and hold his head upright to facilitate better swallowing reflexes. And let him try soft solids first, once a day and increasing the volume and thickening the consistency in the following weeks.
Though [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/Teaching-Your-Baby-How-to-Eat.html]teaching your baby how to eat can be a challenge, it's really best for your baby to start eating solids. Learn more about solid feeding, weaning, and the challenges that come with it by visiting [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/]Weaning Breastfeeding today!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Weaning---From-Breastfeeding-To-Solids-At-6-Months&id=6532720] Weaning - From Breastfeeding To Solids At 6 Months
When your baby was smaller and a few pounds lighter, you couldn't wait to give your baby real, big kids food. Now that the time has come to introduce him to solids, you are hesitating, with concerns like: I might do it wrong, my baby might not like the food, what do I do if he pushes the food away with his tongue, what do I give him when he doesn't like it, etc. To wean from breastfeeding, one must know some basics in preparing your baby for weaning to solids.
Breastfeeding is still best for babies, even up to age 2. But when baby reaches the 6th month mark milk alone - whether breastmilk or formula - is no longer enough to satisfy all of your growing baby's nutritional needs. Hence, the need to introduce him to solid food.
Weaning before 6 months is discouraged. Studies have shown that babies who were given solids between 4 to 6 months were more likely to develop allergic reactions to certain foods - especially if there is a family history of asthma, allergies to substances (such as food and dust) or other respiratory ailments.
By the 6th month, your baby will have doubled his birth weight already. This is one of the main indicators that he is ready to try some solid food. (If your baby is a bit small for his age, you may want to wait it out a little more until he doubles his birth weight.)
Your baby's curiosity also peaks at around this time. Therefore, in all likelihood, he will take to solid foods more now than when he was around 4 or 5 months. The fact that your baby may be eyeing your food already and trying to paw his way through it is testament to his readiness for solid food. Plus, his daily milk intake will not be enough to sustain him all throughout the day, especially through the night.
Aside from that, his body also changes in time for soft solid food weaning. His mouth will have lost most of its automatic gagging, and he may respond to food by swallowing a little at a time that it may seem like he is just swallowing his milk. Also, the emergence of teeth is also a factor in deciding to feed the baby his solids.
Your baby should be able to sit and hold his head upright to facilitate better swallowing reflexes. And let him try soft solids first, once a day and increasing the volume and thickening the consistency in the following weeks.
Though [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/Teaching-Your-Baby-How-to-Eat.html]teaching your baby how to eat can be a challenge, it's really best for your baby to start eating solids. Learn more about solid feeding, weaning, and the challenges that come with it by visiting [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/]Weaning Breastfeeding today!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Weaning---From-Breastfeeding-To-Solids-At-6-Months&id=6532720] Weaning - From Breastfeeding To Solids At 6 Months
Monday, January 23, 2012
Weaning: From Breastfeeding To Baby's First Solid Food
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tommy_O_Coffler]Tommy O Coffler
The common concern for mothers with babies nearing the 6-month-old mark is not really on how to stop breastfeeding, but on what food should be fed to baby. This mostly wouldn't be a problem for 2nd or 3rd time moms. But first timers are usually protective of their children so they research and ask around as to what the best food to feed would be.
Now, don't retort, I had been a first time mom too. Actually, I feel I am worse than most mothers because I have two kids, and I am overly protective of both of them when they were babies. So I'm guilty of all the research and the information gathering too.
When you wean off of breastfeeding, you are taking him off of his source for most of his daily nutritional needs. While it is recommended that the baby be breastfed for as long as 2 years (and beyond), sometimes specific circumstances doesn't allow the breastfeeding relationship to last that long. When this happens, you can check with your pediatrician to find out what formula you can use as a substitute.
When introducing baby to solids, one tip would be to introduce each new food four days apart from each other. This is to give your baby time to react to the new food - either in a good way (that he really, really likes it) or in a bad way (he develops a rash or an allergy to it).
To help you out, here are some foods which are recommended for baby's first food:
- Iron-enriched infant rice cereal or dry baby rice. Dry cereal should be mixed with breast milk or formula to make a runny solution. About one to two teaspoons would do for the very first feeding; you can lessen the milk after a couple of days for the mixture to become thicker and for the baby to feel some texture in his mouth. This would allow baby to practice getting food off a spoon, which involves a different reflex from drinking milk from the breast or the bottle.
- Pureed vegetables. Carrots, parsnips, sweet potato, courgettes and squash are great for pureeing. Plus, it introduces baby to the wonderful world of new tastes. When baby is used to the baby rice mix, you can give him a new way of enjoyment by adding this puree to the mix for added flavor.
- Pureed fruits. These can be served on a bowl with accompanying rubber tipped spoon, or you can give this as a juice. Apples, pears, mangoes, papayas or mashed bananas are some safe fruits to give.
Feeding your baby will be another fun activity you can do with your growing baby.
Happy weaning!
Think weaning is a challenge? No problem! Find all the [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/weaning_from_breastfeeding_tips_on_feeding_solids.html]tips on feeding solids you will need, as well as [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/tips_on_weaning_breastfeeding_toddler.html]tips on weaning in general by clicking on the blue links today!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Weaning:-From-Breastfeeding-To-Babys-First-Solid-Food&id=6532726] Weaning: From Breastfeeding To Baby's First Solid Food
The common concern for mothers with babies nearing the 6-month-old mark is not really on how to stop breastfeeding, but on what food should be fed to baby. This mostly wouldn't be a problem for 2nd or 3rd time moms. But first timers are usually protective of their children so they research and ask around as to what the best food to feed would be.
Now, don't retort, I had been a first time mom too. Actually, I feel I am worse than most mothers because I have two kids, and I am overly protective of both of them when they were babies. So I'm guilty of all the research and the information gathering too.
When you wean off of breastfeeding, you are taking him off of his source for most of his daily nutritional needs. While it is recommended that the baby be breastfed for as long as 2 years (and beyond), sometimes specific circumstances doesn't allow the breastfeeding relationship to last that long. When this happens, you can check with your pediatrician to find out what formula you can use as a substitute.
When introducing baby to solids, one tip would be to introduce each new food four days apart from each other. This is to give your baby time to react to the new food - either in a good way (that he really, really likes it) or in a bad way (he develops a rash or an allergy to it).
To help you out, here are some foods which are recommended for baby's first food:
- Iron-enriched infant rice cereal or dry baby rice. Dry cereal should be mixed with breast milk or formula to make a runny solution. About one to two teaspoons would do for the very first feeding; you can lessen the milk after a couple of days for the mixture to become thicker and for the baby to feel some texture in his mouth. This would allow baby to practice getting food off a spoon, which involves a different reflex from drinking milk from the breast or the bottle.
- Pureed vegetables. Carrots, parsnips, sweet potato, courgettes and squash are great for pureeing. Plus, it introduces baby to the wonderful world of new tastes. When baby is used to the baby rice mix, you can give him a new way of enjoyment by adding this puree to the mix for added flavor.
- Pureed fruits. These can be served on a bowl with accompanying rubber tipped spoon, or you can give this as a juice. Apples, pears, mangoes, papayas or mashed bananas are some safe fruits to give.
Feeding your baby will be another fun activity you can do with your growing baby.
Happy weaning!
Think weaning is a challenge? No problem! Find all the [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/weaning_from_breastfeeding_tips_on_feeding_solids.html]tips on feeding solids you will need, as well as [http://www.weaningbreastfeeding.com/tips_on_weaning_breastfeeding_toddler.html]tips on weaning in general by clicking on the blue links today!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Weaning:-From-Breastfeeding-To-Babys-First-Solid-Food&id=6532726] Weaning: From Breastfeeding To Baby's First Solid Food
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Tips for the New Mom
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Crystal_Newman]Crystal Newman
Being a new mom is hard and difficult, especially with no sleep! Although most people are well intentioned, many moms get less than helpful advice from others. Below are some tips that I came up with that are hopefully helpful! Some tips are common sense and some you have probably heard before.
Take a nap when baby naps. Common sense, we've all heard it before. But how many new moms really do this? It is so important to try and sleep when baby sleeps.
Make homemade baby food if you can. Making your own baby food is easy, less expensive than jars, and healthier! I have done both- purchased baby food and made baby food. You can save a lot of money by doing it yourself.
When in doubt, call the pediatrician. Usually a pediatrician has an on call service that will direct you to a nurse line. You can ask the nurse questions and explain the situation, all for free. The nurse will be able to tell you if you need to make an emergency trip.
Although babies are unpredictable and you NEED to be flexible, try to create a schedule for yourself and baby even if you don't follow it. This will help you stay a little more organized.
Don't forget to take pictures or video of your baby.
Don't be ashamed to ask for help. If you feel like you need a break or just need to take a nap, call someone or arrange time for somebody to come over.
Don't worry about your house staying spotless. Your house WILL NEVER be spotless again until your children are older to clean up for themselves. Sorry, those days are over.
Make crock pot meals or eat simple. If you didn't freeze meals before you had the baby, make meals with your crock pot. It is so easy to throw food in the crock pot and let it sit all day. Eat a sandwich or salad for dinner. Nobody expects you to cook a gourmet dinner.
Babies will cry. Sometimes we don't know why they are crying. Sometimes they cry over everything because they like attention. Sometimes they are hungry. Sometimes they are overly tired and cry. Don't feel bad to put your baby in an area that is safe for a baby (like the crib) and walk away for a few minutes and catch a breath if you are getting upset.
Don't ever shake your baby. I hate to write this but unfortunately some people lose their temper and shake their baby because they have had enough. Don't ever do this! Babies are innocent little beings.
Crystal is a [http://www.counselormom.com]stay at home mom and has a [http://www.counselormom.com]mom blog at CounselorMom.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-for-the-New-Mom&id=6532247] Tips for the New Mom
Being a new mom is hard and difficult, especially with no sleep! Although most people are well intentioned, many moms get less than helpful advice from others. Below are some tips that I came up with that are hopefully helpful! Some tips are common sense and some you have probably heard before.
Take a nap when baby naps. Common sense, we've all heard it before. But how many new moms really do this? It is so important to try and sleep when baby sleeps.
Make homemade baby food if you can. Making your own baby food is easy, less expensive than jars, and healthier! I have done both- purchased baby food and made baby food. You can save a lot of money by doing it yourself.
When in doubt, call the pediatrician. Usually a pediatrician has an on call service that will direct you to a nurse line. You can ask the nurse questions and explain the situation, all for free. The nurse will be able to tell you if you need to make an emergency trip.
Although babies are unpredictable and you NEED to be flexible, try to create a schedule for yourself and baby even if you don't follow it. This will help you stay a little more organized.
Don't forget to take pictures or video of your baby.
Don't be ashamed to ask for help. If you feel like you need a break or just need to take a nap, call someone or arrange time for somebody to come over.
Don't worry about your house staying spotless. Your house WILL NEVER be spotless again until your children are older to clean up for themselves. Sorry, those days are over.
Make crock pot meals or eat simple. If you didn't freeze meals before you had the baby, make meals with your crock pot. It is so easy to throw food in the crock pot and let it sit all day. Eat a sandwich or salad for dinner. Nobody expects you to cook a gourmet dinner.
Babies will cry. Sometimes we don't know why they are crying. Sometimes they cry over everything because they like attention. Sometimes they are hungry. Sometimes they are overly tired and cry. Don't feel bad to put your baby in an area that is safe for a baby (like the crib) and walk away for a few minutes and catch a breath if you are getting upset.
Don't ever shake your baby. I hate to write this but unfortunately some people lose their temper and shake their baby because they have had enough. Don't ever do this! Babies are innocent little beings.
Crystal is a [http://www.counselormom.com]stay at home mom and has a [http://www.counselormom.com]mom blog at CounselorMom.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-for-the-New-Mom&id=6532247] Tips for the New Mom
Thursday, January 19, 2012
5 Steps to Avoid Stress in Our Relationships - Mother Dearest
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Karen_Pasqualucci]Karen Pasqualucci
How to Avoid Stress in our Relationships - Part One
Mother Dearest
Mothers and daughters.
Cue sentimental music and images of quality moments over steaming cups of coffee. Everyone is smiling. Tenderness and respect abounds.
Now back to reality.
Not everyone has a Hallmark card relationship with their mothers. Many grown women, with thriving relationships and balanced lives, are at a loss when it comes to the one woman who gave them life.
Some exist in a war zone with verbal grenades flying back and forth, while others are engaged in a silent battle of control and manipulation.
Even the lucky ones, whose mothers do not undermine, criticize or berate cannot escape the occasional relationship trauma.
Stress in our relationships is unavoidable, and women are more prone to it than men. We are born with greater capacity to relate and communicate. We are masters in the intimate art of socializing with one another thus deeming us more susceptible to its pitfalls.
When it comes to our Mothers we are at our most vulnerable. There is something about them that can drive us to the edge of insanity and back again until we are immobilized in our own rut.
How can we avoid the inevitable stress that accompanies us along the way?
*Acceptance
There are certain things about your mother you will never change. The sooner you can accept that her character is set, forged from years of living through her own stresses and anxieties, the sooner you can be free of expectations holding you back from genuine relationship.
Avoidance
Learn to recognize the warning signs of destructive behaviour. There may be a temptation to antagonize, but do not give into such a childish instinct. Poking at a wounded beast is never a good idea. Give space when space is needed.
*Analyze
Take a hard look at your life and see if there is not something you might change about yourself. Often times the people who irritate us the most do so because they are the most like us.
Try a little exercise to determine if this is the case. Write down all the things that bother you the most about your mother. Ask a trusted, close friend if any of the qualities you listed are true about yourself.
Warning! This is painful.
*Adhere
Resolve to change the qualities in yourself you find less than desirable. We may not have the power to force change upon another, but we are the author of our own stories.
*Admire
Find things to appreciate and admire about your mother. The life she has lived up to this moment has formed her into the person she is today. There is good and there is bad, but that is true for all us. Find the good. Think about the good. Focus on the good.
Stress in our relationships may be unavoidable and uncomfortable, but giving in to its destructive power, and letting it control our lives is not the answer.
"If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear."
--Winnie the Pooh
Karen Pasqualucci is a passionate, lifelong learner. She is an author, artist, entrepreneur, internationally accomplished speaker/trainer, a third degree black belt in Taijitsu and a homeschool mom of three. She shares her newest insights on her blog at http://DoodleMeanings.com and gives away free Mandalas simply to make you as addicted as she is to the pleasures of mandalas:)
Come and get 'em!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Steps-to-Avoid-Stress-in-Our-Relationships---Mother-Dearest&id=6540065] 5 Steps to Avoid Stress in Our Relationships - Mother Dearest
How to Avoid Stress in our Relationships - Part One
Mother Dearest
Mothers and daughters.
Cue sentimental music and images of quality moments over steaming cups of coffee. Everyone is smiling. Tenderness and respect abounds.
Now back to reality.
Not everyone has a Hallmark card relationship with their mothers. Many grown women, with thriving relationships and balanced lives, are at a loss when it comes to the one woman who gave them life.
Some exist in a war zone with verbal grenades flying back and forth, while others are engaged in a silent battle of control and manipulation.
Even the lucky ones, whose mothers do not undermine, criticize or berate cannot escape the occasional relationship trauma.
Stress in our relationships is unavoidable, and women are more prone to it than men. We are born with greater capacity to relate and communicate. We are masters in the intimate art of socializing with one another thus deeming us more susceptible to its pitfalls.
When it comes to our Mothers we are at our most vulnerable. There is something about them that can drive us to the edge of insanity and back again until we are immobilized in our own rut.
How can we avoid the inevitable stress that accompanies us along the way?
*Acceptance
There are certain things about your mother you will never change. The sooner you can accept that her character is set, forged from years of living through her own stresses and anxieties, the sooner you can be free of expectations holding you back from genuine relationship.
Avoidance
Learn to recognize the warning signs of destructive behaviour. There may be a temptation to antagonize, but do not give into such a childish instinct. Poking at a wounded beast is never a good idea. Give space when space is needed.
*Analyze
Take a hard look at your life and see if there is not something you might change about yourself. Often times the people who irritate us the most do so because they are the most like us.
Try a little exercise to determine if this is the case. Write down all the things that bother you the most about your mother. Ask a trusted, close friend if any of the qualities you listed are true about yourself.
Warning! This is painful.
*Adhere
Resolve to change the qualities in yourself you find less than desirable. We may not have the power to force change upon another, but we are the author of our own stories.
*Admire
Find things to appreciate and admire about your mother. The life she has lived up to this moment has formed her into the person she is today. There is good and there is bad, but that is true for all us. Find the good. Think about the good. Focus on the good.
Stress in our relationships may be unavoidable and uncomfortable, but giving in to its destructive power, and letting it control our lives is not the answer.
"If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear."
--Winnie the Pooh
Karen Pasqualucci is a passionate, lifelong learner. She is an author, artist, entrepreneur, internationally accomplished speaker/trainer, a third degree black belt in Taijitsu and a homeschool mom of three. She shares her newest insights on her blog at http://DoodleMeanings.com and gives away free Mandalas simply to make you as addicted as she is to the pleasures of mandalas:)
Come and get 'em!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Steps-to-Avoid-Stress-in-Our-Relationships---Mother-Dearest&id=6540065] 5 Steps to Avoid Stress in Our Relationships - Mother Dearest
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Need for Mother's Love All Along
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gautam_Belle]Gautam Belle
Who fed me from her gentle breast
And hushed me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.
~Anne Taylor
This quote hardly means anything to most women in this fast moving 21st century. Even though mothers will always love their children, they may not get enough opportunities to express it. Children need mother's love in every way from the very beginning of their life; from their conception by the mother. When in the womb, a foetus is said to respond to every thought of the mother; which is why anxiety or any kind of bad mental influence is said to affect the foetus. After the birth of the baby the mother bonds with her child through breastfeeding. Breastfeeding the baby is, indeed, the first step a mother takes to protect her child from the world. This is what it used to be like, in the old days. But today, our technical advancement may have led us to forsake our natural ways.
The importance of breastfeeding is not known to all. Most people see it as a genuine practice; a sort of thing that is done to feed a baby. This ill-knowledge has led people to believe that breastfeeding can be replaced with other milk or baby food without much adverse effects. On the contrary, it adversely affects both mother and child. According to physicians, mothers should start breastfeeding their babies within the first hour after the baby is born. This is very important for the long-term survival of the baby because at the end of pregnancy colostrum (yellowish, sticky breast milk) is produced in the mother. This colostrum is very nutritious and is the perfect food for the newborn baby. WHO (World Health Organization) recommends that mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively for 6 months and then with complementary foods up to 2 years of age or beyond.
It is essential for mothers to follow the breastfeeding regime that WHO has recommended. Initially, the breast milk content is rich in the nutrients mentioned in the above table. But after the first week the composition starts predominating in fat and lactose. Even in a single feeding, the milk produced becomes more fatty as the full breast empties. The fat in the breast milk has high nutritional importance. It helps metabolize (use up) the vitamins. Also, a specific fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is essentially required for brain development. This fatty acid is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LPC) and is found in huge amounts in our brain and retina. Depriving a baby of breast milk is depriving it from these essential nutrients and, thus, risking its normal growth and mental development.
A recent study conducted on the population of Tamil Nadu, India showed that many mothers fail to breastfeed their babies leading to the death of the babies within 5 years of age. "Nearly 1.65lakh children below the age of five years die every year in Tamil Nadu. A major reason for this is the lack of exclusive breast feeding during the first six months of the infant," said Dr D Gunasingh, Child Specialist, Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Chennai. The reason for this malpractice was found to be the increasing number of C-section deliveries of pregnant women. Apart from this, some women complained of lack of milk. According to Dr D Gunasingh there are solutions to both the problems without having to compromise the breastfeeding of the baby at any time. He says the mother can feed her baby by placing it on her abdomen after the C-section delivery. If it hurts, then the baby can be placed over the mother's shoulder upside down, while the mother is lying, with the help of another person and the feeding can happen. As for the lack of milk he says, "Frequent suckling and complete emptying is the way to ensure enough secretion of milk."
Even after all these efforts for awareness about breastfeeding, many women do not emphasise on practicing it. Major cause could be the lack of knowledge of its importance to them and their babies. They seem to give in too easily when confronted with some problems, as seen in the study discussed above. Studies have also shown that pregnant women can breastfeed their toddlers without any harm to their foetus. Some physicians might express doubt but it is safe. According to the La Leche League International Breastfeeding Answer Book, 3rd Edition 2003, page 407, uterine contractions maybe felt during such breastfeeding.
As has already been mentioned before, there are numerous benefits of breastfeeding.
For the baby,
Breast milk provides them initial immunity and strength to fight diseases. This is essential because a baby's immune system (a system of cells and organs in living beings that helps fight disease-causing organisms) does not develop fully till 6 months of age.
Studies have also shown that breastfed children have higher intelligence than children who have never been breastfed.
Also, breastfed children have less chances of suffering from childhood obesity, diabetes, and have less chances of being overweight later in life, according to certain other studies.
Similarly, there are benefits to the mother too.
Breastfeeding soon after giving birth increases the mother's oxytocin (a hormone that regulates production of milk in females) level, making her uterus contract more quickly and reducing bleeding.
The fat accumulated during pregnancy is used to produce milk. Extended breastfeeding can help mothers lose weight.
Breastfeeding may delay the return to fertility for some women by suppressing ovulation (the process of release of the human egg into the fallopian tubes which directs it to the uterus).
Reduces risk of certain cancers in breastfeeding mothers. Apart from this, breastfeeding mothers have less chances of suffering from rheumatoid arthritis depending on how long they continued.
The world would not see so many infant deaths if only mothers would make efforts to breastfeed their babies.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Need-for-Mothers-Love-All-Along&id=6536651] Need for Mother's Love All Along
Who fed me from her gentle breast
And hushed me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.
~Anne Taylor
This quote hardly means anything to most women in this fast moving 21st century. Even though mothers will always love their children, they may not get enough opportunities to express it. Children need mother's love in every way from the very beginning of their life; from their conception by the mother. When in the womb, a foetus is said to respond to every thought of the mother; which is why anxiety or any kind of bad mental influence is said to affect the foetus. After the birth of the baby the mother bonds with her child through breastfeeding. Breastfeeding the baby is, indeed, the first step a mother takes to protect her child from the world. This is what it used to be like, in the old days. But today, our technical advancement may have led us to forsake our natural ways.
The importance of breastfeeding is not known to all. Most people see it as a genuine practice; a sort of thing that is done to feed a baby. This ill-knowledge has led people to believe that breastfeeding can be replaced with other milk or baby food without much adverse effects. On the contrary, it adversely affects both mother and child. According to physicians, mothers should start breastfeeding their babies within the first hour after the baby is born. This is very important for the long-term survival of the baby because at the end of pregnancy colostrum (yellowish, sticky breast milk) is produced in the mother. This colostrum is very nutritious and is the perfect food for the newborn baby. WHO (World Health Organization) recommends that mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively for 6 months and then with complementary foods up to 2 years of age or beyond.
It is essential for mothers to follow the breastfeeding regime that WHO has recommended. Initially, the breast milk content is rich in the nutrients mentioned in the above table. But after the first week the composition starts predominating in fat and lactose. Even in a single feeding, the milk produced becomes more fatty as the full breast empties. The fat in the breast milk has high nutritional importance. It helps metabolize (use up) the vitamins. Also, a specific fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is essentially required for brain development. This fatty acid is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LPC) and is found in huge amounts in our brain and retina. Depriving a baby of breast milk is depriving it from these essential nutrients and, thus, risking its normal growth and mental development.
A recent study conducted on the population of Tamil Nadu, India showed that many mothers fail to breastfeed their babies leading to the death of the babies within 5 years of age. "Nearly 1.65lakh children below the age of five years die every year in Tamil Nadu. A major reason for this is the lack of exclusive breast feeding during the first six months of the infant," said Dr D Gunasingh, Child Specialist, Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Chennai. The reason for this malpractice was found to be the increasing number of C-section deliveries of pregnant women. Apart from this, some women complained of lack of milk. According to Dr D Gunasingh there are solutions to both the problems without having to compromise the breastfeeding of the baby at any time. He says the mother can feed her baby by placing it on her abdomen after the C-section delivery. If it hurts, then the baby can be placed over the mother's shoulder upside down, while the mother is lying, with the help of another person and the feeding can happen. As for the lack of milk he says, "Frequent suckling and complete emptying is the way to ensure enough secretion of milk."
Even after all these efforts for awareness about breastfeeding, many women do not emphasise on practicing it. Major cause could be the lack of knowledge of its importance to them and their babies. They seem to give in too easily when confronted with some problems, as seen in the study discussed above. Studies have also shown that pregnant women can breastfeed their toddlers without any harm to their foetus. Some physicians might express doubt but it is safe. According to the La Leche League International Breastfeeding Answer Book, 3rd Edition 2003, page 407, uterine contractions maybe felt during such breastfeeding.
As has already been mentioned before, there are numerous benefits of breastfeeding.
For the baby,
Breast milk provides them initial immunity and strength to fight diseases. This is essential because a baby's immune system (a system of cells and organs in living beings that helps fight disease-causing organisms) does not develop fully till 6 months of age.
Studies have also shown that breastfed children have higher intelligence than children who have never been breastfed.
Also, breastfed children have less chances of suffering from childhood obesity, diabetes, and have less chances of being overweight later in life, according to certain other studies.
Similarly, there are benefits to the mother too.
Breastfeeding soon after giving birth increases the mother's oxytocin (a hormone that regulates production of milk in females) level, making her uterus contract more quickly and reducing bleeding.
The fat accumulated during pregnancy is used to produce milk. Extended breastfeeding can help mothers lose weight.
Breastfeeding may delay the return to fertility for some women by suppressing ovulation (the process of release of the human egg into the fallopian tubes which directs it to the uterus).
Reduces risk of certain cancers in breastfeeding mothers. Apart from this, breastfeeding mothers have less chances of suffering from rheumatoid arthritis depending on how long they continued.
The world would not see so many infant deaths if only mothers would make efforts to breastfeed their babies.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Need-for-Mothers-Love-All-Along&id=6536651] Need for Mother's Love All Along
Sunday, January 15, 2012
What Are the Differences Between Christening Outfit Materials?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mary_Ned]Mary Ned
Are there advantages and disadvantages between the materials the christening outfits are made of? How will I know which type of material I will like best for my child's baptism outfit? Can you explain to me the differences of the materials the outfits are made from? How will I know how to care for my baby's baptism gown?
Yes, there are advantages and disadvantages to the different materials used in the making of christening gowns and baptism outfits. You will be the only person that will be able to decide which baptism outfit is best for your child's special day. Below, I will explain a little about the materials.
Christening outfits that are 100% Cotton will wrinkle. Normally, they are thin but traditional. Cotton is a very strong and a breathable fabric that generally lasts for generations. Stains usually are removed easily from cotton christening outfits. They are also comfortable for your baby to wear.
Batiste fabric also works well for baptism outfits. This material is very similar to 100% cotton and sometimes is a little less expensive. It will be up to you as to what type of cotton or fabric is suitable for your baby's christening outfit.
Silk Dupioni is a heavier material than Batiste, however, it is very breathable. This is a very elegant material for a christening gown, but also a masculine baptism outfit for your boy.
Embroidery is used on christening outfits and it looks just gorgeous. It is a very detailed work of art. Most of this embroidery is done on silk dupioni fabric.
rel=nofollow [http://www.babieschristeningoutfits.com/preservation]Caring for you baby's christening outfit will be provided to you with your baptism outfit. Make sure you follow these directions closely. After examining the christening outfit closely, make sure there are no flaws, stains or size problems. You may want to consider having it washed and pressed before the christening day.
Now you have some of the tools to make an educated decision on purchasing the perfect baptism outfit for your child's special day. Off course, we didn't cover all the different materials here that are available for christening outfits but this is a good start for your journey. Caring for your baby's christening outfit should be easy with the help of whom ever you decided to purchase from, so don't worry about that. As a parent you will know what is best for you, your child and your budget.
Mary Ned invites you to check out the all the planning tips and christening gift ideas at [http://www.babieschristeningoutfits.com]http://www.babieschristeningoutfits.com. You can elect to activate a free subscription service to receive emails pertaing to christening and baptism outfit special offers, newsletters, articles, tips and insight on money saving ideas from christening to college planning.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Are-the-Differences-Between-Christening-Outfit-Materials?&id=6541735] What Are the Differences Between Christening Outfit Materials?
Are there advantages and disadvantages between the materials the christening outfits are made of? How will I know which type of material I will like best for my child's baptism outfit? Can you explain to me the differences of the materials the outfits are made from? How will I know how to care for my baby's baptism gown?
Yes, there are advantages and disadvantages to the different materials used in the making of christening gowns and baptism outfits. You will be the only person that will be able to decide which baptism outfit is best for your child's special day. Below, I will explain a little about the materials.
Christening outfits that are 100% Cotton will wrinkle. Normally, they are thin but traditional. Cotton is a very strong and a breathable fabric that generally lasts for generations. Stains usually are removed easily from cotton christening outfits. They are also comfortable for your baby to wear.
Batiste fabric also works well for baptism outfits. This material is very similar to 100% cotton and sometimes is a little less expensive. It will be up to you as to what type of cotton or fabric is suitable for your baby's christening outfit.
Silk Dupioni is a heavier material than Batiste, however, it is very breathable. This is a very elegant material for a christening gown, but also a masculine baptism outfit for your boy.
Embroidery is used on christening outfits and it looks just gorgeous. It is a very detailed work of art. Most of this embroidery is done on silk dupioni fabric.
rel=nofollow [http://www.babieschristeningoutfits.com/preservation]Caring for you baby's christening outfit will be provided to you with your baptism outfit. Make sure you follow these directions closely. After examining the christening outfit closely, make sure there are no flaws, stains or size problems. You may want to consider having it washed and pressed before the christening day.
Now you have some of the tools to make an educated decision on purchasing the perfect baptism outfit for your child's special day. Off course, we didn't cover all the different materials here that are available for christening outfits but this is a good start for your journey. Caring for your baby's christening outfit should be easy with the help of whom ever you decided to purchase from, so don't worry about that. As a parent you will know what is best for you, your child and your budget.
Mary Ned invites you to check out the all the planning tips and christening gift ideas at [http://www.babieschristeningoutfits.com]http://www.babieschristeningoutfits.com. You can elect to activate a free subscription service to receive emails pertaing to christening and baptism outfit special offers, newsletters, articles, tips and insight on money saving ideas from christening to college planning.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Are-the-Differences-Between-Christening-Outfit-Materials?&id=6541735] What Are the Differences Between Christening Outfit Materials?
Friday, January 13, 2012
Electric Breast Pump Buyer's Guide
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Marchison]Stephanie Marchison
Are you looking for the best electric breast pump that you can trust to extract the milk that your baby needs when you can't breastfeed? There are numerous makes and models available for sale on the market today, but which one is the right one for you?
There are several considerations you need to keep in mind when you go shopping for breast pumps that run on batteries or power from an outlet. First of all, if you will only be using it infrequently, consider renting one. A heavy-duty pump that's designed for use in hospitals can be rented from lactation specialists, medical centers, and medical supply stores.
Many new mothers may find themselves in circumstances where they will be unable to breastfeed during certain times of the day -- perhaps they will be re-entering the workforce, or maybe they gave birth prematurely and can't breastfeed their babies yet. For these and other women in similar circumstances, a mid-weight electric breastfeeding pump is a convenient solution. Most models are light enough to carry around yet powerful enough to extract milk in a short amount of time.
Some electronic breast pump devices come with two pumps that enable the mother to pump both breasts simultaneously. This is an enormous time-saver, making pumping milk twice as fast compared to using a model with just one pump.
Here are some electric pump qualities that the best products share:
- They have mechanisms that prevent the milk from backing up into the pumps.
- They are easily cleaned.
- They don't contain bisphenol A (BPA), a polycarbonate plastic component that many believe to be harmful to health.
- The speed of pumping and suction intensity functions are adjustable.
- They are quick and easy to set up and put away.
- They have powerful and durable motors.
- They don't make a racket while being used.
Several brands offer a number of extras in their electric pump packages. Some are equipped with a built-in battery pack, which is great if you find yourself in a place without a power outlet. Some models include feeding bottles, nipple ointment, and labels -- all of which fit nicely in an accompanying storage or carrying case.
Non-manual pumps are available at various price points. Take a look at the features of the products you are considering and see whether they have what you want and need.
Another great way to acquire more information is to read buyer-written reviews. They are very useful resources since you'll learn about a product's pros and cons from the perspective of those who have bought and used it.
Do you want to know which [http://best3reviews.com/552/top-3-best-electric-breast-pumps-2011-consumer-reviews-and-ratings]electric breast pumps have the best reviews and highest ratings among consumers like you and me? Visit us at http://www.best3reviews.com to find out!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Electric-Breast-Pump-Buyers-Guide&id=6548620] Electric Breast Pump Buyer's Guide
Are you looking for the best electric breast pump that you can trust to extract the milk that your baby needs when you can't breastfeed? There are numerous makes and models available for sale on the market today, but which one is the right one for you?
There are several considerations you need to keep in mind when you go shopping for breast pumps that run on batteries or power from an outlet. First of all, if you will only be using it infrequently, consider renting one. A heavy-duty pump that's designed for use in hospitals can be rented from lactation specialists, medical centers, and medical supply stores.
Many new mothers may find themselves in circumstances where they will be unable to breastfeed during certain times of the day -- perhaps they will be re-entering the workforce, or maybe they gave birth prematurely and can't breastfeed their babies yet. For these and other women in similar circumstances, a mid-weight electric breastfeeding pump is a convenient solution. Most models are light enough to carry around yet powerful enough to extract milk in a short amount of time.
Some electronic breast pump devices come with two pumps that enable the mother to pump both breasts simultaneously. This is an enormous time-saver, making pumping milk twice as fast compared to using a model with just one pump.
Here are some electric pump qualities that the best products share:
- They have mechanisms that prevent the milk from backing up into the pumps.
- They are easily cleaned.
- They don't contain bisphenol A (BPA), a polycarbonate plastic component that many believe to be harmful to health.
- The speed of pumping and suction intensity functions are adjustable.
- They are quick and easy to set up and put away.
- They have powerful and durable motors.
- They don't make a racket while being used.
Several brands offer a number of extras in their electric pump packages. Some are equipped with a built-in battery pack, which is great if you find yourself in a place without a power outlet. Some models include feeding bottles, nipple ointment, and labels -- all of which fit nicely in an accompanying storage or carrying case.
Non-manual pumps are available at various price points. Take a look at the features of the products you are considering and see whether they have what you want and need.
Another great way to acquire more information is to read buyer-written reviews. They are very useful resources since you'll learn about a product's pros and cons from the perspective of those who have bought and used it.
Do you want to know which [http://best3reviews.com/552/top-3-best-electric-breast-pumps-2011-consumer-reviews-and-ratings]electric breast pumps have the best reviews and highest ratings among consumers like you and me? Visit us at http://www.best3reviews.com to find out!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Electric-Breast-Pump-Buyers-Guide&id=6548620] Electric Breast Pump Buyer's Guide
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Engorged Breasts
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dr_Ang_C._D.]Dr Ang C. D.
Between the third to sixth day, you will find that your breasts start to feel a lot fuller than they did when you first started breastfeeding on the first day. This is when your breast milk starts coming in. This is also a sign that your baby is breastfeeding well enough to establish a good supply of milk. It is quite normal for your breasts to feel full before a feed and you will also be able to feel your baby drain the milk from your breasts as she feeds. Your breasts should feel significantly softer at the end of the feed.
When your milk first comes in, it is not uncommon for your breasts to be slightly engorged as your body adjusts to the demands of your little one. However, you would want to be vigilant at this time and be careful to empty your breasts well in order to prevent your breasts from becoming painfully engorged. If your baby is not drinking enough to empty your breasts, it is advisable to pump out the excess to prevent blocked ducts and severe engorgement. You will know that you are engorged if your breasts are hard, tight and extremely sensitive to touch. Emptying your breasts can also be a challenge if your breasts are very engorged. It is advisable to take a warm shower or to use a warm pack and massage your breasts prior to nursing or pumping to encourage the flow of milk.
If you detect the early signs of engorgement, it can quite easily be arrested with gently massaging and regular emptying of the breast whether by nursing your baby or using a breast pump. If your baby is an efficient suckler, she would be able to do the job better than any breast pump available in the market. So I would advise that you always start by nursing your baby and pump out the excess when she has had enough. In pumping, one should also not get carried away by pumping too much, always remembering that your supply of milk is triggered by the demand, therefore the more you pump, the more you are likely to produce. In cases where the mother is producing a lot more milk than the baby requires, it could be a sign that she is pumping too much and this might actually potentially make the engorgement worse. In such cases, one would do well to pump just enough to prevent the ducts from getting blocked and let the supply adjust to your baby's needs. At this stage, you would also want to look out for redness in the skin (a possible sign of early mastitis) and to seek medical advice if the infection progresses.
It is important to wear a well fitted bra, making sure that your breasts are well supported and that the bra does not compress any part of your breast. If you breasts feel sore and sensitive, you might want to place a cold pack (wrapped in a towel) on or around your breasts to ease the swelling and the pain. Some women prefer placing cabbage leaves (kept cool in the refrigerator) on their breasts. This is an easy and economical remedy which works for some women. Whether it be a cold pack or cold cabbage leaves, this should be done after a feed and not before a feed as you do not want the coolness to inhibit the let-down reflex.
If you do not have a breast pump on hand, you can always express milk by hand. This can also be particularly useful if you are targeting specific blocked ducts which sometimes cannot be drained by using the regular breast pump. It also helps to apply a warm compress over the hard (and blocked) area for a few minutes before gently massage the area and expressing by hand. Sometimes a gentle massage with a warm compress is all that is needed to get the milk flowing and the duct cleared. Be patient and you will find the area soften as you massage and always be gentle when expressing if you do not want to end up feeling sore and painful. You can also ask your spouse to help massage the tender areas. This can be very relaxing and therapeutic for you and can also give your spouse the opportunity to support you in breastfeeding. Such are important moments for you to bond with your spouse during a time of change, apprehension and anxiety.
Dr Ang C.D. has been in medical practice for over 12 years. He graduated with an M.B.B.S. degree from the National University of Singapore in 1997 and subsequently completed his post-graduate diploma in Family Medicine. He has had training in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Neurosurgery, General Surgery, Colorectal Surgery and Urology. Dr Ang currently practices in a family clinic in Singapore, seeing a good mix of paediatric, adult and geriatric patients. With the goal of providing local and international patients with a resource for specialist care in Singapore, Dr Ang has founded SingaporeDoc.com, the most comprehensive Online Directory to date, of Specialists in Private Practice in Singapore. SingaporeDoc also includes a Health Forum and Health Guide. http://www.singaporedoc.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Engorged-Breasts&id=6549994] Engorged Breasts
Between the third to sixth day, you will find that your breasts start to feel a lot fuller than they did when you first started breastfeeding on the first day. This is when your breast milk starts coming in. This is also a sign that your baby is breastfeeding well enough to establish a good supply of milk. It is quite normal for your breasts to feel full before a feed and you will also be able to feel your baby drain the milk from your breasts as she feeds. Your breasts should feel significantly softer at the end of the feed.
When your milk first comes in, it is not uncommon for your breasts to be slightly engorged as your body adjusts to the demands of your little one. However, you would want to be vigilant at this time and be careful to empty your breasts well in order to prevent your breasts from becoming painfully engorged. If your baby is not drinking enough to empty your breasts, it is advisable to pump out the excess to prevent blocked ducts and severe engorgement. You will know that you are engorged if your breasts are hard, tight and extremely sensitive to touch. Emptying your breasts can also be a challenge if your breasts are very engorged. It is advisable to take a warm shower or to use a warm pack and massage your breasts prior to nursing or pumping to encourage the flow of milk.
If you detect the early signs of engorgement, it can quite easily be arrested with gently massaging and regular emptying of the breast whether by nursing your baby or using a breast pump. If your baby is an efficient suckler, she would be able to do the job better than any breast pump available in the market. So I would advise that you always start by nursing your baby and pump out the excess when she has had enough. In pumping, one should also not get carried away by pumping too much, always remembering that your supply of milk is triggered by the demand, therefore the more you pump, the more you are likely to produce. In cases where the mother is producing a lot more milk than the baby requires, it could be a sign that she is pumping too much and this might actually potentially make the engorgement worse. In such cases, one would do well to pump just enough to prevent the ducts from getting blocked and let the supply adjust to your baby's needs. At this stage, you would also want to look out for redness in the skin (a possible sign of early mastitis) and to seek medical advice if the infection progresses.
It is important to wear a well fitted bra, making sure that your breasts are well supported and that the bra does not compress any part of your breast. If you breasts feel sore and sensitive, you might want to place a cold pack (wrapped in a towel) on or around your breasts to ease the swelling and the pain. Some women prefer placing cabbage leaves (kept cool in the refrigerator) on their breasts. This is an easy and economical remedy which works for some women. Whether it be a cold pack or cold cabbage leaves, this should be done after a feed and not before a feed as you do not want the coolness to inhibit the let-down reflex.
If you do not have a breast pump on hand, you can always express milk by hand. This can also be particularly useful if you are targeting specific blocked ducts which sometimes cannot be drained by using the regular breast pump. It also helps to apply a warm compress over the hard (and blocked) area for a few minutes before gently massage the area and expressing by hand. Sometimes a gentle massage with a warm compress is all that is needed to get the milk flowing and the duct cleared. Be patient and you will find the area soften as you massage and always be gentle when expressing if you do not want to end up feeling sore and painful. You can also ask your spouse to help massage the tender areas. This can be very relaxing and therapeutic for you and can also give your spouse the opportunity to support you in breastfeeding. Such are important moments for you to bond with your spouse during a time of change, apprehension and anxiety.
Dr Ang C.D. has been in medical practice for over 12 years. He graduated with an M.B.B.S. degree from the National University of Singapore in 1997 and subsequently completed his post-graduate diploma in Family Medicine. He has had training in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Neurosurgery, General Surgery, Colorectal Surgery and Urology. Dr Ang currently practices in a family clinic in Singapore, seeing a good mix of paediatric, adult and geriatric patients. With the goal of providing local and international patients with a resource for specialist care in Singapore, Dr Ang has founded SingaporeDoc.com, the most comprehensive Online Directory to date, of Specialists in Private Practice in Singapore. SingaporeDoc also includes a Health Forum and Health Guide. http://www.singaporedoc.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Engorged-Breasts&id=6549994] Engorged Breasts
Monday, January 9, 2012
4 Strategies For The Mom Entrepreneur
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Katarzyna_Greco]Katarzyna Greco
If you're a mom entrepreneur you know what it is like to have a burning desire to be creative, accomplish goals, and make money doing it. Most of you had jobs and careers before starting a family and you're yearning to get back into the mix. Some of you want to start a career for the first time. Either way, you want to do something challenging, yet still have the time to keep your family as your main focus.
The best way to kick-start your work at home career is to find proven strategies for the mom entrepreneur. 4 strategies to get you going starting your business are: having the right mindset and support, finding what is suitable for you the mom, evaluating your past experiences, and taking a look at your current interests and daily habits. If you take action with these strategies you will start down the road of entrepreneurial success.
1) Mindset and Support. Having the right positive beliefs and the right support system can make or break the start of your business. You need to be properly motivated and ready to face challenges. Passion is the key and so is persistence. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your business. But days add up, and before you know it, you'll be successful. You can't do it alone, so having your spouse and a few trusty friends and family members to support you will really help keep you on track, and keep your priorities in order. A life or business coach, especially moms who have start their own businesses, is a great idea for those who need someone to show it can be done.
2) What Suits You. Finding what suits your strengths and skills is the first step on the road of business success. Whatever talents, experiences, and abilities you have, use them. It doesn't matter if you have previous experience in business with those things because everyone starts fresh at some point in their careers. Find some people like a friend or a business coach to help you realize strengths you may not know you have. After you discover where your talents lay, take action, and believe, and you will find success.
3) Your experience. Look back at the jobs you've had in the past, or if you had a career before a family, remember the goals you had then. Think about the things you have done, learned and experienced. You can start your own home based business in a field you've already been involved in. Experience matters, and while you can find success in niches unfamiliar to you, it's always best to 'write about you know' or do what you know. Think hard about your experiences, and you may just find your next career path, one you can do at home while raising a family.
4) Your daily tasks and interests could become gold. What you do day to day from child care to baking to crafts to photography can become a new career. Whatever you do a lot, and do well, consider for a potential home based business. Even if you're not sure where to go with your skill, hobby or talent, you can find others who are ready and willing to work with you. Research various freelance opportunities that exist online. You can find communities and business opportunities in just about every type of interest that's out there. If you're a writer, a blogger, a forum poster, etc, you can find plenty of work opportunity. You can be an affiliate, and market already made products and services, in any niche. In fact, most home based opportunities online are affiliate based. Simply Google freelance work and you'll find opportunities. You can also find sites that list Freelance jobs, and sites that list Affiliate Marketing as well. Search for the site ClickBank and you can find plenty of opportunities.
No matter your experience or what type of work you'd like to do, there are plenty of opportunities to start you career at home. You can be a mom entrepreneur too. Simply have the right mindset and support, find what suits you, remember what you're good at, and look at your daily life to find new inspiration. Get a mom coach too and get started today.
Since 2008 Dr. Kasia Greco has been helping corporate moms with a family work from home with their own successful businesses. Dr. Greco holds a BBA "cum laudem" in International Business Administration with a Major in Marketing and a Minor in Economics. Kasia has 2 kids and left the corporate world to spend more time with her family, and discovered that with the right mindset she could accomplish both her family dreams and her career dreams. Visit moms-u-can.com to get free training from Kasia on how to follow in her footsteps. Get more great training by visiting this link: [http://www.moms-u-can.com]Mom Entrepreneur.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?4-Strategies-For-The-Mom-Entrepreneur&id=6556464] 4 Strategies For The Mom Entrepreneur
If you're a mom entrepreneur you know what it is like to have a burning desire to be creative, accomplish goals, and make money doing it. Most of you had jobs and careers before starting a family and you're yearning to get back into the mix. Some of you want to start a career for the first time. Either way, you want to do something challenging, yet still have the time to keep your family as your main focus.
The best way to kick-start your work at home career is to find proven strategies for the mom entrepreneur. 4 strategies to get you going starting your business are: having the right mindset and support, finding what is suitable for you the mom, evaluating your past experiences, and taking a look at your current interests and daily habits. If you take action with these strategies you will start down the road of entrepreneurial success.
1) Mindset and Support. Having the right positive beliefs and the right support system can make or break the start of your business. You need to be properly motivated and ready to face challenges. Passion is the key and so is persistence. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your business. But days add up, and before you know it, you'll be successful. You can't do it alone, so having your spouse and a few trusty friends and family members to support you will really help keep you on track, and keep your priorities in order. A life or business coach, especially moms who have start their own businesses, is a great idea for those who need someone to show it can be done.
2) What Suits You. Finding what suits your strengths and skills is the first step on the road of business success. Whatever talents, experiences, and abilities you have, use them. It doesn't matter if you have previous experience in business with those things because everyone starts fresh at some point in their careers. Find some people like a friend or a business coach to help you realize strengths you may not know you have. After you discover where your talents lay, take action, and believe, and you will find success.
3) Your experience. Look back at the jobs you've had in the past, or if you had a career before a family, remember the goals you had then. Think about the things you have done, learned and experienced. You can start your own home based business in a field you've already been involved in. Experience matters, and while you can find success in niches unfamiliar to you, it's always best to 'write about you know' or do what you know. Think hard about your experiences, and you may just find your next career path, one you can do at home while raising a family.
4) Your daily tasks and interests could become gold. What you do day to day from child care to baking to crafts to photography can become a new career. Whatever you do a lot, and do well, consider for a potential home based business. Even if you're not sure where to go with your skill, hobby or talent, you can find others who are ready and willing to work with you. Research various freelance opportunities that exist online. You can find communities and business opportunities in just about every type of interest that's out there. If you're a writer, a blogger, a forum poster, etc, you can find plenty of work opportunity. You can be an affiliate, and market already made products and services, in any niche. In fact, most home based opportunities online are affiliate based. Simply Google freelance work and you'll find opportunities. You can also find sites that list Freelance jobs, and sites that list Affiliate Marketing as well. Search for the site ClickBank and you can find plenty of opportunities.
No matter your experience or what type of work you'd like to do, there are plenty of opportunities to start you career at home. You can be a mom entrepreneur too. Simply have the right mindset and support, find what suits you, remember what you're good at, and look at your daily life to find new inspiration. Get a mom coach too and get started today.
Since 2008 Dr. Kasia Greco has been helping corporate moms with a family work from home with their own successful businesses. Dr. Greco holds a BBA "cum laudem" in International Business Administration with a Major in Marketing and a Minor in Economics. Kasia has 2 kids and left the corporate world to spend more time with her family, and discovered that with the right mindset she could accomplish both her family dreams and her career dreams. Visit moms-u-can.com to get free training from Kasia on how to follow in her footsteps. Get more great training by visiting this link: [http://www.moms-u-can.com]Mom Entrepreneur.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?4-Strategies-For-The-Mom-Entrepreneur&id=6556464] 4 Strategies For The Mom Entrepreneur
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Why Do Mums Feel Guilty?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Emma_MacDonald]Emma MacDonald
As a Mum and as a wife I always feel I could do better. I reflect at the end of the day and think I should have been more patient with the children, I should have spent more time playing with the children, I should have cleaned more around the house. However I work 3 days a week, I do not spend a lot of time sitting around watching TV, I do clean, tidy, cook and wash and I do play and read with the children. I feel that most of the time I am doing so many things that nothing is actually done properly! It is because of this when I asked my husband to describe me using one word he said a frog (because I leap from one thing to another). I am sure that I am not the only parent to feel like this so what can we do:
1. Do Not Be So Hard on Yourself
Something at the end of the day has got to give, but what. I strive to be a good Mum, I do not want to live in a messy, dirty house and I need to work to pay the bills. The most logical answer would be to stop beating myself up and thinking about what I should have done but this is easier said.
2. Address One Thing At a Time
Is there a particular guilt that you feel you can do something about? One of my biggest guilt's was that I did not spend much quality time with my son. Whilst he is at nursery or at the football I get some one on one time with my daughter to play, read and sing songs. There was no time during the week that I got to spend time with my son on my own. I found that when I did things with my son he had to share this time with his sister. Now with help from my husband he takes our daughter for a couple of hours to spend time with her and I use this time to do something with my son. His choice this week was painting and sticking. We normally do arts and crafts, but this was different as I was able to give my son all of my attention, which is considerably less when his younger sister is around.
3. Ask For Help
I can find this hard. If Lived near my Mum my children would be whisked away so that I could catch up on housework and also spend some time with just my husband. I also believe that if we had the spare cash, money on a cleaner would also be money well spent. We ask for help through my husbands Aunt who is a fantastic help and my husband and I do get out without the children regularly. We also call on my father in law and his partner to help out. This help is just to help our relationship as after nearly splitting up we realised how important having time together was.
4. Be Thankful For What You Have Got
I sometimes lose focus and have to remind myself of all the things I am thankful for and all I have achieved. I do not think there is anything wrong in wanting more, in fact I think it is a good thing as it gives you drive to succeed. However there is no point in getting stressed about things that we can not change.
I am happy with the path my life is taking and being a married Mum was always my top goal in life. I now want to make a success of being a Mum, a wife and of being Me. However I still reflect and I still feel guilt. Perhaps this will always be the case and I have a sneaky suspicion that this may increase the older my children get.
What are your thoughts? Do you reflect? Do you feel guilt? How do you overcome the feeling that I could do better?
My website offers advice and tips on everyday parenting with product and children's book reviews. http://thegoodparentguide.com
You can follow me on twitter @GoodParentGuide
I also have a Facebook page called
The Good Parent Guide [http://www.facebook.com/#!/thegoodparentguide]http://www.facebook.com/#!/thegoodparentguide
Please like the page if you would like to keep updated on future articles and post that I do.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Do-Mums-Feel-Guilty?&id=6553790] Why Do Mums Feel Guilty?
As a Mum and as a wife I always feel I could do better. I reflect at the end of the day and think I should have been more patient with the children, I should have spent more time playing with the children, I should have cleaned more around the house. However I work 3 days a week, I do not spend a lot of time sitting around watching TV, I do clean, tidy, cook and wash and I do play and read with the children. I feel that most of the time I am doing so many things that nothing is actually done properly! It is because of this when I asked my husband to describe me using one word he said a frog (because I leap from one thing to another). I am sure that I am not the only parent to feel like this so what can we do:
1. Do Not Be So Hard on Yourself
Something at the end of the day has got to give, but what. I strive to be a good Mum, I do not want to live in a messy, dirty house and I need to work to pay the bills. The most logical answer would be to stop beating myself up and thinking about what I should have done but this is easier said.
2. Address One Thing At a Time
Is there a particular guilt that you feel you can do something about? One of my biggest guilt's was that I did not spend much quality time with my son. Whilst he is at nursery or at the football I get some one on one time with my daughter to play, read and sing songs. There was no time during the week that I got to spend time with my son on my own. I found that when I did things with my son he had to share this time with his sister. Now with help from my husband he takes our daughter for a couple of hours to spend time with her and I use this time to do something with my son. His choice this week was painting and sticking. We normally do arts and crafts, but this was different as I was able to give my son all of my attention, which is considerably less when his younger sister is around.
3. Ask For Help
I can find this hard. If Lived near my Mum my children would be whisked away so that I could catch up on housework and also spend some time with just my husband. I also believe that if we had the spare cash, money on a cleaner would also be money well spent. We ask for help through my husbands Aunt who is a fantastic help and my husband and I do get out without the children regularly. We also call on my father in law and his partner to help out. This help is just to help our relationship as after nearly splitting up we realised how important having time together was.
4. Be Thankful For What You Have Got
I sometimes lose focus and have to remind myself of all the things I am thankful for and all I have achieved. I do not think there is anything wrong in wanting more, in fact I think it is a good thing as it gives you drive to succeed. However there is no point in getting stressed about things that we can not change.
I am happy with the path my life is taking and being a married Mum was always my top goal in life. I now want to make a success of being a Mum, a wife and of being Me. However I still reflect and I still feel guilt. Perhaps this will always be the case and I have a sneaky suspicion that this may increase the older my children get.
What are your thoughts? Do you reflect? Do you feel guilt? How do you overcome the feeling that I could do better?
My website offers advice and tips on everyday parenting with product and children's book reviews. http://thegoodparentguide.com
You can follow me on twitter @GoodParentGuide
I also have a Facebook page called
The Good Parent Guide [http://www.facebook.com/#!/thegoodparentguide]http://www.facebook.com/#!/thegoodparentguide
Please like the page if you would like to keep updated on future articles and post that I do.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Do-Mums-Feel-Guilty?&id=6553790] Why Do Mums Feel Guilty?
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The Unaffectionate Mother
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bernadette_Greene]Bernadette Greene
Almost every mother I know had heard about the Tiger Mom book and hated it. Not that any of them had read it, or so they claimed, but it was a best seller so somebody must have bought it. What surprises me is how many mothers compare me to the Tiger Mom--and it's not exactly a compliment. Personally, I think most parents today are over-indulgent and under disciplined with their kids. While I haven't gone to some of the "extremes" Tiger Mom claims, most of the time I was agreeable or at least sympathetic to know she handled a situation.
My 6 year-old daughter gets Saturday morning cartoons. She had to spend thirty minutes to an hour everyday this summer reading and spelling. She was quite literally forced to learn how to ride her bike without training wheels and is still, after two months of lessons, trying to learn how to float, never mind actually swimming. I take her and the six year-old neighbor boy to the pool every day. His family just wants him to have fun. They are oldest kids still stuck in level two. My daughter gets chastised for not paying attention to the lifeguard; he is praised just for putting his face in the water. Not surprisingly "John" is much more enthusiastic about swim class than my daughter. She complains that it's too much work and too little fun, while I beat my head against the wall in frustration. It's not that I want her to be an Olympian, but for safety reasons alone I want her to at least be able to swim. My family and friends all insist that she'll learn eventually.
My husband (a true non-disciplinarian) pointed out (after yet another mommy-daughter disagreement about reading)that he never read books in the summer yet he learned how to read. I bite my tongue in anger. Yes, I'm sure she will eventually learn how to read, but my forcing her is actually my way of trying to impart a valuable life lesson: life isn't a party, its work. There are things we don't like and don't want to do, but we have to do. When she finishes a book she is giddy with excitement and tells everyone what she can do. I want her to appreciate that feeling of conquering a difficult task, of knowing she accomplished something. And of course there is the discipline factor. I'm the toughest boss she'll ever have. She's going to have to learn to work for and with people who annoy, anger and yell at her. I want her to be tough, independent and confident that if she can handle mom, she can handle anything.
I try to hug more and order less--it does not come natural to me. My husband, however, cannot resist spontaneous hugs throughout the day. They are always playing games of tickle, rock, paper, scissors and making silly faces at each other. He's the fun parent; she sits on his lap, they snuggle and watch cartoons together and color pictures. That's a good thing and I do recognize that she needs the fun stuff in her life. But it is always mom whose approval she seeks; it is mom's eyes she first meets when coming into a room. In her defiant moods she will try to stare me down, sometimes lasting two minutes before her head lowers in submission. Some people think I am trying to take away her fighting spirit--I'm not. But life is a jungle and right now she is in my jungle and I'm the biggest lion. Her willingness to test and to challenge me inspires pride and respect from me even as I repeatedly demonstrate my dominance.
Not everyone views my daughter's and my relationship in a positive way and there is no doubt that sometimes she probable wishes she'd been adopted by a different mommy. But she loves me fiercely, as I do her. My hugs, smiles and nods of approval may be few, but they are meaningful. Someday, she'll understand. I look forward to the moment when I can hold her adult hand in mine and she can stroke my gnarled fingers and say, "Mom, you were tough but fair. You made me into the hard-working, thoughtful, insightful and honest woman that I am proud to be. Thank you." And with tears in my eyes, I will smile and give her a hug. A really long one.
The Author is an only child and is now mom to her only child, adopted four years ago from China. Through a combination of old-school, Chinese and modern parenting, the mom demonstrates her deep but often unapparent love for her daughter and discusses why she parents in this style and the benefits she hopes her daughter will eventually gain from being raised to be hardworking, self-sufficient, mentally tough, adventurous, confident and most of all, happy and content.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Unaffectionate-Mother&id=6558474] The Unaffectionate Mother
Almost every mother I know had heard about the Tiger Mom book and hated it. Not that any of them had read it, or so they claimed, but it was a best seller so somebody must have bought it. What surprises me is how many mothers compare me to the Tiger Mom--and it's not exactly a compliment. Personally, I think most parents today are over-indulgent and under disciplined with their kids. While I haven't gone to some of the "extremes" Tiger Mom claims, most of the time I was agreeable or at least sympathetic to know she handled a situation.
My 6 year-old daughter gets Saturday morning cartoons. She had to spend thirty minutes to an hour everyday this summer reading and spelling. She was quite literally forced to learn how to ride her bike without training wheels and is still, after two months of lessons, trying to learn how to float, never mind actually swimming. I take her and the six year-old neighbor boy to the pool every day. His family just wants him to have fun. They are oldest kids still stuck in level two. My daughter gets chastised for not paying attention to the lifeguard; he is praised just for putting his face in the water. Not surprisingly "John" is much more enthusiastic about swim class than my daughter. She complains that it's too much work and too little fun, while I beat my head against the wall in frustration. It's not that I want her to be an Olympian, but for safety reasons alone I want her to at least be able to swim. My family and friends all insist that she'll learn eventually.
My husband (a true non-disciplinarian) pointed out (after yet another mommy-daughter disagreement about reading)that he never read books in the summer yet he learned how to read. I bite my tongue in anger. Yes, I'm sure she will eventually learn how to read, but my forcing her is actually my way of trying to impart a valuable life lesson: life isn't a party, its work. There are things we don't like and don't want to do, but we have to do. When she finishes a book she is giddy with excitement and tells everyone what she can do. I want her to appreciate that feeling of conquering a difficult task, of knowing she accomplished something. And of course there is the discipline factor. I'm the toughest boss she'll ever have. She's going to have to learn to work for and with people who annoy, anger and yell at her. I want her to be tough, independent and confident that if she can handle mom, she can handle anything.
I try to hug more and order less--it does not come natural to me. My husband, however, cannot resist spontaneous hugs throughout the day. They are always playing games of tickle, rock, paper, scissors and making silly faces at each other. He's the fun parent; she sits on his lap, they snuggle and watch cartoons together and color pictures. That's a good thing and I do recognize that she needs the fun stuff in her life. But it is always mom whose approval she seeks; it is mom's eyes she first meets when coming into a room. In her defiant moods she will try to stare me down, sometimes lasting two minutes before her head lowers in submission. Some people think I am trying to take away her fighting spirit--I'm not. But life is a jungle and right now she is in my jungle and I'm the biggest lion. Her willingness to test and to challenge me inspires pride and respect from me even as I repeatedly demonstrate my dominance.
Not everyone views my daughter's and my relationship in a positive way and there is no doubt that sometimes she probable wishes she'd been adopted by a different mommy. But she loves me fiercely, as I do her. My hugs, smiles and nods of approval may be few, but they are meaningful. Someday, she'll understand. I look forward to the moment when I can hold her adult hand in mine and she can stroke my gnarled fingers and say, "Mom, you were tough but fair. You made me into the hard-working, thoughtful, insightful and honest woman that I am proud to be. Thank you." And with tears in my eyes, I will smile and give her a hug. A really long one.
The Author is an only child and is now mom to her only child, adopted four years ago from China. Through a combination of old-school, Chinese and modern parenting, the mom demonstrates her deep but often unapparent love for her daughter and discusses why she parents in this style and the benefits she hopes her daughter will eventually gain from being raised to be hardworking, self-sufficient, mentally tough, adventurous, confident and most of all, happy and content.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Unaffectionate-Mother&id=6558474] The Unaffectionate Mother
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Escaping My Life
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Charlotte_Williams_Jackson]Charlotte Williams Jackson
As I sit here with my hands folded, I am refusing to be the kind and supportive mother and wife I have always been. That is how I feel today! Quite honestly? Lately, most days have felt that way.
So when my days feel overwhelming, over scheduled, and under appreciated, I shut down. Do I continue to function? Yes. I still cook, clean, wash, dry, fold, drop off and pick up.
But as I move in auto pilot, I am no longer connected to my children or my husband. Or not like I should.
I have conversations that revert to simple " yes "and " no " answers because I am not listening. I revert to deep sighs in moments of frustration instead of teaching my children and husband how to treat me in those moments.
There was a time when I have felt significant guilt about "auto pilot". I can't say I am proud of it, but I am aware of it.
Dr.Phil moment: "You can't fix what you don't acknowledge."
For a long time I did not realize I was so "glossed" over and "glassy eyed" in certain moments of life. So the realization is a huge accomplishment.
I am not perfect and my goal is to have less auto pilot moments and to really be " in the moment" of life. The task at hand is to find the proper coping skills, right?
That really is the purpose is to learn, to understand, and to grow. I will have a few bad days but that is okay. Right?
Having the bad days, as I stated earlier, is not the issue. But not knowing I am having a bad day and insisting that "I am fine" ( as I often do...clearing my throat) is the problem.
I now have to, with a deep breath, admit when I AM NOT FINE.
Ultimately, it is MY fault if I don't admit I am tired, scared, frustrated, or need a moment alone.
The blame falls on me for not being open, honest, and vulnerable enough to say what I need.
Once I say what I feel, I can then ask for what I need. I can't get on a plane and run away when I need time away. After talking to my friends, I realize I am not alone. We mothers can do a few practical things such as:
1. Breathe - Many times women, especially me, become so focused on finishing a task (or a lingering project ). We don't stop to take a few minutes to appreciate the projects we have completed. Taking 15 or 20 mins. to just gain a little perspective and " pat yourself on the back" for all you do.
2. Talk to our children about "mommy" time. I call it a time out. When I had small children, my time-out were during nap time. Now, I take a few minutes out of the day to have a healthy, well-rounded lunch and read a small passage from a book/magazine. This is my time... mommy time.... and my children know it.
3. Say No! Say no to projects, committees and people. If I don't have the time or energy, I don't force it.Recently, I pushed back from over commitment and over scheduling. You should try it.You won't regret it.
4. Plan a Girl's Nite out/Couple's Nite Out. We need to make us a priority. That means go out and laugh and dance.The best advice I have ever gotten was from an older mother. She said" If you don't take care of you then who will?"
I am Charlotte Williams-Jackson! I am a stay-at-home wife/mother with four great children ranging from ages 19 to 9 years old and an awesome hubby.
I write a blog called Life with Charlotte! I talk about the mistakes and failures I have endured and incorporate that into practical everyday parenting.
Website: http://www.lifewithchar.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Escaping-My-Life&id=6561219] Escaping My Life
As I sit here with my hands folded, I am refusing to be the kind and supportive mother and wife I have always been. That is how I feel today! Quite honestly? Lately, most days have felt that way.
So when my days feel overwhelming, over scheduled, and under appreciated, I shut down. Do I continue to function? Yes. I still cook, clean, wash, dry, fold, drop off and pick up.
But as I move in auto pilot, I am no longer connected to my children or my husband. Or not like I should.
I have conversations that revert to simple " yes "and " no " answers because I am not listening. I revert to deep sighs in moments of frustration instead of teaching my children and husband how to treat me in those moments.
There was a time when I have felt significant guilt about "auto pilot". I can't say I am proud of it, but I am aware of it.
Dr.Phil moment: "You can't fix what you don't acknowledge."
For a long time I did not realize I was so "glossed" over and "glassy eyed" in certain moments of life. So the realization is a huge accomplishment.
I am not perfect and my goal is to have less auto pilot moments and to really be " in the moment" of life. The task at hand is to find the proper coping skills, right?
That really is the purpose is to learn, to understand, and to grow. I will have a few bad days but that is okay. Right?
Having the bad days, as I stated earlier, is not the issue. But not knowing I am having a bad day and insisting that "I am fine" ( as I often do...clearing my throat) is the problem.
I now have to, with a deep breath, admit when I AM NOT FINE.
Ultimately, it is MY fault if I don't admit I am tired, scared, frustrated, or need a moment alone.
The blame falls on me for not being open, honest, and vulnerable enough to say what I need.
Once I say what I feel, I can then ask for what I need. I can't get on a plane and run away when I need time away. After talking to my friends, I realize I am not alone. We mothers can do a few practical things such as:
1. Breathe - Many times women, especially me, become so focused on finishing a task (or a lingering project ). We don't stop to take a few minutes to appreciate the projects we have completed. Taking 15 or 20 mins. to just gain a little perspective and " pat yourself on the back" for all you do.
2. Talk to our children about "mommy" time. I call it a time out. When I had small children, my time-out were during nap time. Now, I take a few minutes out of the day to have a healthy, well-rounded lunch and read a small passage from a book/magazine. This is my time... mommy time.... and my children know it.
3. Say No! Say no to projects, committees and people. If I don't have the time or energy, I don't force it.Recently, I pushed back from over commitment and over scheduling. You should try it.You won't regret it.
4. Plan a Girl's Nite out/Couple's Nite Out. We need to make us a priority. That means go out and laugh and dance.The best advice I have ever gotten was from an older mother. She said" If you don't take care of you then who will?"
I am Charlotte Williams-Jackson! I am a stay-at-home wife/mother with four great children ranging from ages 19 to 9 years old and an awesome hubby.
I write a blog called Life with Charlotte! I talk about the mistakes and failures I have endured and incorporate that into practical everyday parenting.
Website: http://www.lifewithchar.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Escaping-My-Life&id=6561219] Escaping My Life
Sunday, January 1, 2012
College and Motherhood - A Contribution
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dee_Waltz]Dee Waltz
In January of 2000, at the age of 36 and with 5 children still in my home, I started college. I did not go back to college, I started. I was probably old enough to be the mother of most of the students by that age. Still, I only felt that old when I discovered that one of my professors was younger than I was.
In December of 1999, I suddenly realized that I still had not done anything in my life worthy of notice. It was not that what I was doing wasn't fulfilling. Just making important phone calls, amid the peals of a traumatized three-year-old and her six-year-old tormenting brother, is nothing insignificant. Neither is producing dinner while collaborating with a 4th grader about the value of analyzing fruit mold for a science project. There were times when I could even be proud of the look of defeat in my teen's eyes when I remind him that dinner together is still my favorite form of torture. Still there was nothing about designing barrettes or signing homework that I could truly believe would make a difference in society.
I have great kids. I have spent my life postponing my beloved dreams in contented pursuit of my children's better grades, wobbly milestones and class pictures. I'm proud to be a mother. If I worked full-time maybe we could have taken them to Disneyland sooner but making sure someone was there when they got home was important to me. So why worry about what I was contributing to society? At some point during that year I had discovered that as my children got older I would need to modify the methods of how I was helping them. I became keenly aware that my example would influence them, far more, than my declarations.
Graduating at 17, getting married, and then finding myself expecting two months later was a definite deterrent to going to college at first. After that, it was a matter of either being with child or carrying one on my hip that seemed to keep me out. I always believed, like any good mother, that if I sacrificed enough for my family someday there would be time for me. But that isn't the way it happens.
When a mother sacrifices everything she is, for her family's needs, she isn't doing them a favor. In essence, she is saying what all mother's hate the most, that she is "just a mom" and is a less valued member of family and society. On the other hand, when a mother seeks to attain a greater knowledge of herself, her world and her contribution in it, she sets the standard for her children's interpretation of the women in their own lives. If they are boys they will gain a healthier respect for what a woman can accomplish, be it mother or sister or wife. If they are girls they can find, in her, the self-esteem to better prepare for their own future goals. A mother's struggle to balance an education with her family life and budget is a small price to pay for such a legacy.
Things changed that year for me. My oldest teenage daughter redressed me to fit into college, filling my closet with bell bottom jeans (Gads, have they really come back?!). My son asked me not to hang around him in stores with my new look because he said that girls thought I was his girlfriend (Bless you my son!). My daughter said it was just too weird that all of my friends were her age. Two of my youngest thought I was, "way cool" because I had a pool at my school and we all rolled our eyes when we said the word homework. My three-year-old even assumed the role of taskmaster and, putting her hands on her hips, would demand if I had finished my homework. (What's worse was when I had to admit when I hadn't!).
The biggest change was in the impact it made on my children. I was the first generation to attend college in my family. Eleven years later, my oldest boy is attending college for his business degree, my middle daughter just started college, my youngest son is making plans to attend college (he's a senior this year) and my youngest is talking about her college plans as she starts her freshman year of high school.
The year I started college, in my third semester, my oldest daughter ran away two months before her high school graduation. Fortunately, she came home on her own. She told me that she came back because she thought that if I could make the Dean's list that semester she could at least graduate. She did graduate, with a 3.6., and now 11 years later, she is working on her Bachelor degree while going to work full-time and taking care of her 2 boys. And that's what I was contributing to society...I could never have lectured her into doing that.
About The Author
Dee is the mother of 5 (ages 14-30), grandmother of 4, foster parent, Adoption Advisor, and Parenting Instructor with a little advice and humor to share. She invites you to share thoughts and stories of her family by visiting her blog, [http://laughingatthestorms.blogspot.com/]Laughing At The Storms.
(c) Copyright - R. Dee Waltz Shihady. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?College-and-Motherhood---A-Contribution&id=6563477] College and Motherhood - A Contribution
In January of 2000, at the age of 36 and with 5 children still in my home, I started college. I did not go back to college, I started. I was probably old enough to be the mother of most of the students by that age. Still, I only felt that old when I discovered that one of my professors was younger than I was.
In December of 1999, I suddenly realized that I still had not done anything in my life worthy of notice. It was not that what I was doing wasn't fulfilling. Just making important phone calls, amid the peals of a traumatized three-year-old and her six-year-old tormenting brother, is nothing insignificant. Neither is producing dinner while collaborating with a 4th grader about the value of analyzing fruit mold for a science project. There were times when I could even be proud of the look of defeat in my teen's eyes when I remind him that dinner together is still my favorite form of torture. Still there was nothing about designing barrettes or signing homework that I could truly believe would make a difference in society.
I have great kids. I have spent my life postponing my beloved dreams in contented pursuit of my children's better grades, wobbly milestones and class pictures. I'm proud to be a mother. If I worked full-time maybe we could have taken them to Disneyland sooner but making sure someone was there when they got home was important to me. So why worry about what I was contributing to society? At some point during that year I had discovered that as my children got older I would need to modify the methods of how I was helping them. I became keenly aware that my example would influence them, far more, than my declarations.
Graduating at 17, getting married, and then finding myself expecting two months later was a definite deterrent to going to college at first. After that, it was a matter of either being with child or carrying one on my hip that seemed to keep me out. I always believed, like any good mother, that if I sacrificed enough for my family someday there would be time for me. But that isn't the way it happens.
When a mother sacrifices everything she is, for her family's needs, she isn't doing them a favor. In essence, she is saying what all mother's hate the most, that she is "just a mom" and is a less valued member of family and society. On the other hand, when a mother seeks to attain a greater knowledge of herself, her world and her contribution in it, she sets the standard for her children's interpretation of the women in their own lives. If they are boys they will gain a healthier respect for what a woman can accomplish, be it mother or sister or wife. If they are girls they can find, in her, the self-esteem to better prepare for their own future goals. A mother's struggle to balance an education with her family life and budget is a small price to pay for such a legacy.
Things changed that year for me. My oldest teenage daughter redressed me to fit into college, filling my closet with bell bottom jeans (Gads, have they really come back?!). My son asked me not to hang around him in stores with my new look because he said that girls thought I was his girlfriend (Bless you my son!). My daughter said it was just too weird that all of my friends were her age. Two of my youngest thought I was, "way cool" because I had a pool at my school and we all rolled our eyes when we said the word homework. My three-year-old even assumed the role of taskmaster and, putting her hands on her hips, would demand if I had finished my homework. (What's worse was when I had to admit when I hadn't!).
The biggest change was in the impact it made on my children. I was the first generation to attend college in my family. Eleven years later, my oldest boy is attending college for his business degree, my middle daughter just started college, my youngest son is making plans to attend college (he's a senior this year) and my youngest is talking about her college plans as she starts her freshman year of high school.
The year I started college, in my third semester, my oldest daughter ran away two months before her high school graduation. Fortunately, she came home on her own. She told me that she came back because she thought that if I could make the Dean's list that semester she could at least graduate. She did graduate, with a 3.6., and now 11 years later, she is working on her Bachelor degree while going to work full-time and taking care of her 2 boys. And that's what I was contributing to society...I could never have lectured her into doing that.
About The Author
Dee is the mother of 5 (ages 14-30), grandmother of 4, foster parent, Adoption Advisor, and Parenting Instructor with a little advice and humor to share. She invites you to share thoughts and stories of her family by visiting her blog, [http://laughingatthestorms.blogspot.com/]Laughing At The Storms.
(c) Copyright - R. Dee Waltz Shihady. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?College-and-Motherhood---A-Contribution&id=6563477] College and Motherhood - A Contribution
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