Deet, Paraben, Triclosan, oh my! What are we putting on and in our kids? And just how clean are our cleaners? It seems like everyday, a new warning about a toxic ingredient is swept under the rug leaving many moms in the dark. Here we are, supposed to be our child’s sanctuary. We’re disinfecting, babyproofing, sunblocking, hydrating, nourishing, padding, and protecting our kids in every way we can, only to find out that a lot of our trusted household products we’ve been using for years have questionable ingredients. The good news is, Mom still knows best and there is one mother we can refer back to for all the right answers—Mother Nature. Here are ten tried and true natural or safe solutions for a healthier lifestyle.
Olive Oil—Buy organic and use this as a natural moisturizer, massage oil, and hair treatment.
Aloe—Can the aerosol spray for cuts, scrapes, and burns and go straight for a home grown aloe plant.
Lemon—Use this natural disinfectant to clean your cutting boards.
Vinegar—Add ½ cup of vinegar to a pot of hot soapy water to clean your children’s toys.
Tea Tree Oil—Treat cold sores, insect bites, and blemishes.
Baking soda—Make a paste using baking soda and water to apply to bee stings. Clean your vegetables with a sprinkle.
Eucalyptus, Lavender, Tea Tree Oil—Pour equal parts (about 10-15 drops each) in a spray bottle of water for cleaning your kitchen and bathroom leaving it clean and smelling fresh.
Baby Powder—Ants won’t cross this line of defense. Find their entry way into your home and create a baby powder border to keep them out.
Get a House Plant—Remove formaldehyde hovering in the air originating from your carpet and synthetic fabrics.
Buy Green—Green companies like Burt’s Bees, California Baby, and Nature’s Baby Organics are brands that make great sun blocks, bug repellants, toothpaste, and body wash made from natural ingredients. They can be found at Wild by Nature, local health food stores like “It’s Only Natural” in Bellport, LI or online. At diapers.com, there is a “Green Baby” tab with hundreds of products for diapering, feeding, and bathing your child. New customers can use promo code EXAMINER5, which is valid for $5 off diapers or formula with a $49 minimum total order. Also, get special savings on Earth’s Best, Babyganics, and Seventh Generation products now until July 2nd.
For more information on maintaining a healthier home, visit:It's Only NaturalNatural Solutions MagazineGreen HomeDiapers.com
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Baby sign language gets a thumbs up
Congratulations! We're moms--great moms. We're months into mommyhood and have now mastered diaper changing under 30 seconds, breastfeeding while making pancakes, and picking laundry up off the floor using just our toes. This is all very impressive and we should be very proud of ourselves. But of course, there are times, however, when baby starts crying and we 
just can't seem to figure it out. We know he cries because he's hungry, tired, wet, scared, or simply not in the mood for Uncle Harry and his not-so-funny faces. But which one is it this time? And so, we try feeding him, changing him and pleasantly excusing ourselves from Uncle Harry but still "WAHHHHH."
Why didn't this precious little bundle of joy come with a secret decoder ring? Perhaps it's because he came with ten adorable pudgey little fingers and the ability to sign way before speaking.
Why BSL? Baby sign language is an excellent way to communicate with your child months before he is ready for verbal expression. Better communication means better bonding, greater trust, and a stronger sense of security. Many babies cry simply out of frustration of not being able to communicate their needs. BSL is empowering and eliminates this frustration. Furthermore, it will actually improve your child's literacy skills. In fact, baby signers become early talkers as sign language actually enhances their language development.
When do I start? It's recommended to start when you're baby has developed some motor skills that will allow him to work with his hands. This is around six to eight months.
How do I start? First, have a fun with it! Pick up a BSL book at your local book store and choose signs that you know will be of interest to your child. If your daughter has an obsession with baby dolls, "baby" would be a great sign to start with. When she picks up her doll, say the word as you sign. Choose two signs a week to repeat until your baby has picked them up before introducing more signs. Older babies and toddlers can learn more at a faster pace. Be patient and flexible. If your child has adapted the sign into something different than in the text books, go with it. It's about building better communication between the two of you and not about having the perfect sign.
For more information check out www.babies-and-sign-language.com/ and www.signingbaby.com/main/.
just can't seem to figure it out. We know he cries because he's hungry, tired, wet, scared, or simply not in the mood for Uncle Harry and his not-so-funny faces. But which one is it this time? And so, we try feeding him, changing him and pleasantly excusing ourselves from Uncle Harry but still "WAHHHHH."Why didn't this precious little bundle of joy come with a secret decoder ring? Perhaps it's because he came with ten adorable pudgey little fingers and the ability to sign way before speaking.
Why BSL? Baby sign language is an excellent way to communicate with your child months before he is ready for verbal expression. Better communication means better bonding, greater trust, and a stronger sense of security. Many babies cry simply out of frustration of not being able to communicate their needs. BSL is empowering and eliminates this frustration. Furthermore, it will actually improve your child's literacy skills. In fact, baby signers become early talkers as sign language actually enhances their language development.
When do I start? It's recommended to start when you're baby has developed some motor skills that will allow him to work with his hands. This is around six to eight months.
How do I start? First, have a fun with it! Pick up a BSL book at your local book store and choose signs that you know will be of interest to your child. If your daughter has an obsession with baby dolls, "baby" would be a great sign to start with. When she picks up her doll, say the word as you sign. Choose two signs a week to repeat until your baby has picked them up before introducing more signs. Older babies and toddlers can learn more at a faster pace. Be patient and flexible. If your child has adapted the sign into something different than in the text books, go with it. It's about building better communication between the two of you and not about having the perfect sign.
For more information check out www.babies-and-sign-language.com/ and www.signingbaby.com/main/.
5 questions to ask your OB/GYN before you go into labor
I recently received my prenatal yoga teacher's certification from the Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC. It's a fantastic yoga studio and support center for both pre-natal and post-natal moms with sites in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The studio and teacher certification program are both run by Deb Flashenberg a certified doula (DONA). As part of our training, she provided us with these 5 questions for our students to share with their doctor.
1. What is your c-section and episiotomy rate? How far past my "due date" can I go? If you watched "The Business of Being Born" then you know that two unnamed hospitals on Long Island have an astounding 40% cesarean rate. Sadly, the majority of cesareans happen around 4 pm and 10 pm. Is it just concidence that this happens to be right before dinner and bedtime? Episiomoties, originally performed for the purpose of preventing tears have actually been proven to not improve the situation and take much longer to heal than tears. The average gestational period for a healthy, fully-developed, human fetus is between 37 and 42 weeks. Be sure that your doctor respects your baby's and your body's timeline.
2. If all is well with mom and baby, do you allow intermittent monitoring? Technology is a wonderful thing...most of the time. But when it comes to constant EFM or electronic fetal monitoring some argue that this advance has actually set us back. Firstly, it requires the mom-to-be to stay bed-ridden or close to it (not ideal for natural labor). Secondly, it places a lot of the medical staff and labor partner's attention on a beeping monitor as opposed to the mom. And most importantly, it's misread too often, leading to unnecessary c-sections. If there are no known concerns for mom and baby, intermiitent (every 20 min) monitoring is ideal.
3. May I labor in any position I find comfortable and effective? If you think about animals in the wild giving birth, you won't find a single one laboring on her back. Movement and position changing will help with pain management.
4. May I push my baby out in any position I find comfortable and effective? If you're going for a natural labor experience, then lying on your back is the worst position for both pain management and moving the baby through the birth canal, especially since you are now working against gravity. Doctors are typically trained to catch babies in one position. Out of their comfort zone, many will only allow their patients to push and deliver on their back. Other positions more conducive to birthing include side lying, squatting, on all fours, or on a birthing stool.
5. What is your philosophy on birth? If I choose not to take pain medication, are you fully supportive of natural birth? Or do you prefer your patients to have a medicated birth? If I have had a previous cesarean, do you support VBACs? While some doctors perceive pregnancy, labor, and birthing as a natural part of life and something every female body is innately equipped to do, other doctors consider pregnancy a medical condition requiring a multitude of medical interventions. Additionally, if you had a previous cesarean, and wish to have a vaginal birth the next time around, some doctors will whole heartedly support this wish while others won't.
For more information about the issues discussed in this article check out Penny Simkin's Birth Partner, Ina May Gaskin's Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Henci Goer's The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth.
1. What is your c-section and episiotomy rate? How far past my "due date" can I go? If you watched "The Business of Being Born" then you know that two unnamed hospitals on Long Island have an astounding 40% cesarean rate. Sadly, the majority of cesareans happen around 4 pm and 10 pm. Is it just concidence that this happens to be right before dinner and bedtime? Episiomoties, originally performed for the purpose of preventing tears have actually been proven to not improve the situation and take much longer to heal than tears. The average gestational period for a healthy, fully-developed, human fetus is between 37 and 42 weeks. Be sure that your doctor respects your baby's and your body's timeline.
2. If all is well with mom and baby, do you allow intermittent monitoring? Technology is a wonderful thing...most of the time. But when it comes to constant EFM or electronic fetal monitoring some argue that this advance has actually set us back. Firstly, it requires the mom-to-be to stay bed-ridden or close to it (not ideal for natural labor). Secondly, it places a lot of the medical staff and labor partner's attention on a beeping monitor as opposed to the mom. And most importantly, it's misread too often, leading to unnecessary c-sections. If there are no known concerns for mom and baby, intermiitent (every 20 min) monitoring is ideal.
3. May I labor in any position I find comfortable and effective? If you think about animals in the wild giving birth, you won't find a single one laboring on her back. Movement and position changing will help with pain management.
4. May I push my baby out in any position I find comfortable and effective? If you're going for a natural labor experience, then lying on your back is the worst position for both pain management and moving the baby through the birth canal, especially since you are now working against gravity. Doctors are typically trained to catch babies in one position. Out of their comfort zone, many will only allow their patients to push and deliver on their back. Other positions more conducive to birthing include side lying, squatting, on all fours, or on a birthing stool.
5. What is your philosophy on birth? If I choose not to take pain medication, are you fully supportive of natural birth? Or do you prefer your patients to have a medicated birth? If I have had a previous cesarean, do you support VBACs? While some doctors perceive pregnancy, labor, and birthing as a natural part of life and something every female body is innately equipped to do, other doctors consider pregnancy a medical condition requiring a multitude of medical interventions. Additionally, if you had a previous cesarean, and wish to have a vaginal birth the next time around, some doctors will whole heartedly support this wish while others won't.
For more information about the issues discussed in this article check out Penny Simkin's Birth Partner, Ina May Gaskin's Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Henci Goer's The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
This is a call out to documentary filmmakers. I want to know how the introduction of MySpace and Facebook has an affect on marital relationships. Are people cheating more. Are people ending their marriages to reunite with old flames? Are these reunions successful? Were these marriages doomed anyway?
Infant Potty Training
I never even thought the possibility of infant potty training existed until I recently read this article online at http://www.parents.com/toddlers/development/potty-training/infant-potty-training-one-moms-diary/. It really got me wondering 1)If babies are ready to be potty trained before five months of age, 2) If, compared to other countries we are overindulging our children by waiting 3)If it might prevent embarrassment and shame by starting early 4) How you ever leave the house.
I also started to wonder if I should give it a try with Riley. Having taken a few psych classes in college I remember a little about Freud's theory on potty training. He believes that how we are potty trained has a major affect on our personalities and how we view life. If you are unfamiliar with this theory check this site out http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/ss/psychosexualdev_3.htm .
To anal retentive me, Potty Training, in general, is simply just another opportunity for parents to screw up their kids. I'm trying my best to screw Riley up as little as possible. We'll see how that goes.
Hollywood's Hottest Accessory
The hottest thing to hit Hollywood’s red carpet is not the new strappy Jimmy Choos or the totally to die for Givency purse. Contrary to popular belief, the must have accessory for today’s fashion is no longer the Jessica Simpson poofy white puppy hanging out of the equally cute Versace carry all. No. If you want to be rockin’ runway style you need the “baby.” Babies come in all shapes and sizes, colors, and designs and will guarantee you Page Six if not front cover media attention from baby’s birth to her first visit to Betty Ford.
Babies are all the rage this season as shown in the numerous baby bumps surfacing under cutesy “Mother I’d like to F*#@” and other couture tees celebrating hot momhood. Not ready to make the commitment? Don’t worry. Let others know you plan to get your accessory sometime soon with the shirt “future MILF” as seen sported by high school cheerleaders everywhere.
Want to go for the always in fashion “bad girl” look? Get pregnant BEFORE you get married as once seen in moms like Jessica Alba, Katie Holmes, Jennifer Garner, and now Brigitte Moynahan. Don’t worry about your big day. High fashion wedding designers are altering their creations with baby bump space for the non-blushing bride.
The newest vacation spot for expectant mothers is the luxurious, pampering, maternity suite. Indulge in a three day stay in four star accommodations where you can enjoy an ultra private celebrity entrance as you are greeted with delicious virgin cocktails and concierge service. Enjoy classical music, soothing massages, herbal therapy, deluxe manicures and pedicures. Extend your stay and meet with the finest plastic surgeons to nip, tuck, suck, enlarge, reduce, smooth, re-shape, or lift any problem areas caused by the hard work of delivering your accessory. The ultimate goal, of course, is to be thinner than when you started. If you’re into saving the world and your figure you can adopt, like Madonna and Angelina, to sport your own Benetton ad. Three words for you. Diversity. Diversity. Diversity.
Hollywood moms, get to give their accessory a hip name like “Rumor,” “Apple,” or “Ryder” and maintain their normal high maintenance lifestyle with the help of four or more nannies. Like Britney, take your accessory out for the paparazzi and put it away for nights of pantyless clubbing. When you do go out, travel with your new accessory in style with the Mercedes Benz of strollers the $900 Bugaboo Frog.
In Hollywood, when your baby is born, you have great clothing options for your little ankle biter. Gwen Stefani has her own line of designer baby clothes. To heck with yesterday’s Dora diapers and onesies. Choose from to die for leather coordinates and super designer baby bling. Why shouldn’t your accessory be a well dressed one? For baby’s first haircut, be sure to hire only the best and ask for a Maddox inspired Mohawk or Suri’s luscious locks. Follow these simple guidelines and maybe your baby too can become a wax figure at Madame Tussaud’s gallery in LA.
Babies are all the rage this season as shown in the numerous baby bumps surfacing under cutesy “Mother I’d like to F*#@” and other couture tees celebrating hot momhood. Not ready to make the commitment? Don’t worry. Let others know you plan to get your accessory sometime soon with the shirt “future MILF” as seen sported by high school cheerleaders everywhere.
Want to go for the always in fashion “bad girl” look? Get pregnant BEFORE you get married as once seen in moms like Jessica Alba, Katie Holmes, Jennifer Garner, and now Brigitte Moynahan. Don’t worry about your big day. High fashion wedding designers are altering their creations with baby bump space for the non-blushing bride.
The newest vacation spot for expectant mothers is the luxurious, pampering, maternity suite. Indulge in a three day stay in four star accommodations where you can enjoy an ultra private celebrity entrance as you are greeted with delicious virgin cocktails and concierge service. Enjoy classical music, soothing massages, herbal therapy, deluxe manicures and pedicures. Extend your stay and meet with the finest plastic surgeons to nip, tuck, suck, enlarge, reduce, smooth, re-shape, or lift any problem areas caused by the hard work of delivering your accessory. The ultimate goal, of course, is to be thinner than when you started. If you’re into saving the world and your figure you can adopt, like Madonna and Angelina, to sport your own Benetton ad. Three words for you. Diversity. Diversity. Diversity.
Hollywood moms, get to give their accessory a hip name like “Rumor,” “Apple,” or “Ryder” and maintain their normal high maintenance lifestyle with the help of four or more nannies. Like Britney, take your accessory out for the paparazzi and put it away for nights of pantyless clubbing. When you do go out, travel with your new accessory in style with the Mercedes Benz of strollers the $900 Bugaboo Frog.
In Hollywood, when your baby is born, you have great clothing options for your little ankle biter. Gwen Stefani has her own line of designer baby clothes. To heck with yesterday’s Dora diapers and onesies. Choose from to die for leather coordinates and super designer baby bling. Why shouldn’t your accessory be a well dressed one? For baby’s first haircut, be sure to hire only the best and ask for a Maddox inspired Mohawk or Suri’s luscious locks. Follow these simple guidelines and maybe your baby too can become a wax figure at Madame Tussaud’s gallery in LA.
Presence During Pregnancy
I am a student of yoga and found myself unable to practice after being on bed rest after 8 weeks of pregnancy. Not being able to stretch and move my stress away, I began to focus my energy on meditation. This has been my year of mediation—so much so that I when I was able to return to work (as a teacher) I had decided to incorporate it into my high school English Curriculum. At the beginning of my classes I play soft music and give guided meditation to my crazy off the wall high schoolers who have just returned from lunch or are awaiting the end of the day and are bouncing off the walls. They have come to enjoy it so much that many tell me they use what they’ve learned at home. On the few occasions I don’t do meditation, many of them ask for it.
I first started guided mediation when a co-worker asked me to incorporate it into our summer school program. Never having been the guider of guided meditation, I wasn’t comfortable with it at all but I decided to take on the challenge knowing it would deepen my own experience with meditation. I, after all was new to mediation myself. What could I possibly teach them? I taught them to focus on breathing, in and out of their noses. I taught them that when our minds hold tension our bodies hold tension as well. I told them that we need to release our distractions, frustrations, and things that simply no longer serve us. I taught them the importance of being present.
These were things I was learning myself at the time—they were even things I was struggling with. Like for instance, my greatest challenge has always been to be present. I have this horrible tendency of dwelling on my past and worrying so much about my future that I was almost never present. The only way I knew how to be present was to focus on my breathing because if I was focusing on my breathing I couldn’t think about anything else.
I am now five months pregnant, and I think one of the greatest gifts my baby has given me is the gift of presence. I remember sitting on my couch feeling my mind wander towards worry when I felt my first real kick. It was small but swift and completely took me by surprise. I giggled and thought immediately my baby was telling me to stop day dreaming. With each of her kicks, she brings me back to the moment—the richest moment of my life—this very moment where she is growing and developing into a little person me and my husband created together in love. She reminds that there is nothing more important than us and there is no greater time than now. Now is all we have. I can not remember a time I’ve ever felt more present, more alive, or more at peace. It’s amazing how much we can learn from children—both in the classroom and in the womb.
I first started guided mediation when a co-worker asked me to incorporate it into our summer school program. Never having been the guider of guided meditation, I wasn’t comfortable with it at all but I decided to take on the challenge knowing it would deepen my own experience with meditation. I, after all was new to mediation myself. What could I possibly teach them? I taught them to focus on breathing, in and out of their noses. I taught them that when our minds hold tension our bodies hold tension as well. I told them that we need to release our distractions, frustrations, and things that simply no longer serve us. I taught them the importance of being present.
These were things I was learning myself at the time—they were even things I was struggling with. Like for instance, my greatest challenge has always been to be present. I have this horrible tendency of dwelling on my past and worrying so much about my future that I was almost never present. The only way I knew how to be present was to focus on my breathing because if I was focusing on my breathing I couldn’t think about anything else.
I am now five months pregnant, and I think one of the greatest gifts my baby has given me is the gift of presence. I remember sitting on my couch feeling my mind wander towards worry when I felt my first real kick. It was small but swift and completely took me by surprise. I giggled and thought immediately my baby was telling me to stop day dreaming. With each of her kicks, she brings me back to the moment—the richest moment of my life—this very moment where she is growing and developing into a little person me and my husband created together in love. She reminds that there is nothing more important than us and there is no greater time than now. Now is all we have. I can not remember a time I’ve ever felt more present, more alive, or more at peace. It’s amazing how much we can learn from children—both in the classroom and in the womb.
Princesses in Distress?
Creating a Society Full of Princesses in Distress
By Christine Brody
Since the moment of finding out I was pregnant, I was certain I was having a boy—I even called him Jack for the first five months of life in the womb. I pictured blue Osh Kosh overalls, dump trucks, and pinstripe Yankee uniforms with Johnny Damon’s number on the back. His first Halloween costume would be a firefighter’s just like his Daddy and I even thought of stocking up on the “pee pee tee pees” for the impending showers during diaper changes. So when I found out this month that I was having a little girl who I now apologetically call Riley, I was shocked and delighted by how off my maternal instinct actually was. I also wondered if I’d be any good at raising a girl. Why would God give me a girl if I spent most of my childhood digging for worms, playing catch with my brothers, and avoiding anything that remotely resembled dolls, stockings, and pattened leather shoes?
Regardless, being the Aunt of four nieces you will find me painting finger nails, having tea parties, fixing pony tails and all that good stuff but I can’t help but wonder about the “princess” phenomena. Princesses are royalty. They are rich and beautiful and can be found in fairytales, Monaco, and the UK. They are in every store and every closet, on sippy cups, socks, bathing suits, and toothbrushes. But what kind of message are they sending to the world? When we play dress up with our little girls and put them in princess dresses, tiaras, and other shiny bling are we telling them that happiness comes from money and beauty? I want Riley to look up to people who are generous, intelligent, independent, and creative—not simply externally beautiful.
Are we creating a society full of disillusioned, disappointed, young women? As a high school teacher I am horrified by how many senior girls wearing “Princess” baby tees plan on majoring in marrying rich. I want Riley to feel the sense of accomplishment from earning a degree, landing a job, and the rush from obtaining her first paycheck and business card.
Are we sending girls out into the world in search of fantasy, in search of the unattainable non-existent Prince? I can’t tell you how many weddings I see where the bride-to-be twirls around in her wedding dress claiming that she is a princess. Well, she’s not! She lives in realty where there is stress, bills, the IRS, and bird flu. Mirror mirror on the wall, why won’t the divorce rate ever fall? Now, at three years old my nieces don’t need to know all this but can’t we prepare them for a reality that depends on partnership as opposed to a Prince? I don’t want Riley thinking that she needs a Prince to make her happy.
By Christine Brody
Since the moment of finding out I was pregnant, I was certain I was having a boy—I even called him Jack for the first five months of life in the womb. I pictured blue Osh Kosh overalls, dump trucks, and pinstripe Yankee uniforms with Johnny Damon’s number on the back. His first Halloween costume would be a firefighter’s just like his Daddy and I even thought of stocking up on the “pee pee tee pees” for the impending showers during diaper changes. So when I found out this month that I was having a little girl who I now apologetically call Riley, I was shocked and delighted by how off my maternal instinct actually was. I also wondered if I’d be any good at raising a girl. Why would God give me a girl if I spent most of my childhood digging for worms, playing catch with my brothers, and avoiding anything that remotely resembled dolls, stockings, and pattened leather shoes?
Regardless, being the Aunt of four nieces you will find me painting finger nails, having tea parties, fixing pony tails and all that good stuff but I can’t help but wonder about the “princess” phenomena. Princesses are royalty. They are rich and beautiful and can be found in fairytales, Monaco, and the UK. They are in every store and every closet, on sippy cups, socks, bathing suits, and toothbrushes. But what kind of message are they sending to the world? When we play dress up with our little girls and put them in princess dresses, tiaras, and other shiny bling are we telling them that happiness comes from money and beauty? I want Riley to look up to people who are generous, intelligent, independent, and creative—not simply externally beautiful.
Are we creating a society full of disillusioned, disappointed, young women? As a high school teacher I am horrified by how many senior girls wearing “Princess” baby tees plan on majoring in marrying rich. I want Riley to feel the sense of accomplishment from earning a degree, landing a job, and the rush from obtaining her first paycheck and business card.
Are we sending girls out into the world in search of fantasy, in search of the unattainable non-existent Prince? I can’t tell you how many weddings I see where the bride-to-be twirls around in her wedding dress claiming that she is a princess. Well, she’s not! She lives in realty where there is stress, bills, the IRS, and bird flu. Mirror mirror on the wall, why won’t the divorce rate ever fall? Now, at three years old my nieces don’t need to know all this but can’t we prepare them for a reality that depends on partnership as opposed to a Prince? I don’t want Riley thinking that she needs a Prince to make her happy.
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