Page 16 - Blog
December 01, 2016
With the holidays right around the corner, it’s hard not to get swept up in the hullaballoo. But this year you have the perfect excuse for getting out of it—your beautiful, hungry newborn who also needs her sleep. But it’s not just your new babe that’s beautiful and needs sleep—your recovering body and new family need a break, too.
If you are nursing an infant, I would advise against hosting large events in your home. Too many people can equal too much stress. You want to protect yourself from becoming run down. If you’re not doing well, you can’t provide as much to your little one. So, give yourself a pass. You just had a baby. When new moms try to take on too much they run the risk of developing low milk supply to mastitis.
Mastitis (when your breast tissue becomes painfully inflamed and you have tendency to have ‘flu’ like symptoms) can occur at any stage of lactation, the most common time is within the first 3 to 4 weeks after giving birth. The stress and fatigue of being a first-time
November 22, 2016
I’ve never been much of a coffee drinker, but after having a baby I welcomed the occasional pick-me-up after a sleepless night. A morning cup of coffee soon became a daily ritual and I knew deep down that it wasn't serving me. Instead of making me an energized supermom, coffee was leaving me anxious, jittery, and much less patient. Caffeine causes your adrenal glands to produce stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. This can leave you less capable of managing stress, and we all know that motherhood can be a little stressful at times. Excessive caffeine has also been shown to leach calcium and reduce iron absorption, two nutrients that are essential during the postpartum period.
Your coffee consumption may affect you baby as well. Some breastfed babies may be sensitive to caffeine present in mother’s breast milk. Signs of caffeine stimulation in a baby can include being unusually fussy, wide-eyed, overly alert or active, and not staying asleep for long.
How much is too much?
Aiming for
October 27, 2016
The two most common reasons that healthy eating habits start to slip is because either it becomes less of a priority or a reliable strategy hasn’t been put into place. That’s why it can be especially difficult to stay committed to healthy eating after you’ve had a baby. Your priorities shift, your focus is now on your new little bundle, and if strategies are not already in place you don’t have much spare time for making new ones. As a new mother, making your health and wellness a priority isn’t self indulgent, it’s necessary so that you have energy and clarity to care for your baby. If you’re breastfeeding, what you eat also directly affects the quality and sometimes quantity of your breast milk.
a few things that have helped me continue to make healthy choices in the kitchen after having a baby….
Most babies don’t like to be put down, especially in the early days. So it becomes much more difficult to luxuriate in the kitchen with a baby in tow. Babywearing has become my most indispensable
October 12, 2016
[youtube]https://youtu.be/_c2uWbuc4eM[/youtube]
I’ll never forget that January day in 2013 when I was in the shower and noticed something very wrong with my left breast. If I turned in just the right light, there was a dime-sized dimple. However easily ignored it could have been, I gasped and I just knew. My heart sank. I had a 3-month-old baby and my father-in-law was losing his 17-year, brave battle with prostate cancer. This couldn’t be happening now. Not with my wife, Jill, out of town, struggling with what would be the end of her father’s life.
I called my doctors at Pink Lotus Breast Center right away. After all, it was just about time for my yearly check-up. I made the appointment for the beginning of the following week, upon my wife’s return.
As soon as Jill came home, I told her about my appointment and showed her my concern, to which she replied, “I don’t even really see what you’re talking about.” But I saw it. And it was never there before.
Since I do not have a history of breast
October 11, 2016
On September 21st in Madurai, India Ergobaby celebrated our 100th order with Penguin Apparels, our India vendor, which has been like a family to us. The day was spend celebrating with traditional dances, personal accounts from Penguin Apparels team members and community outreach events which included dedicating a new water treatment system to a orphanage as well as donating medical supplies and equipment to those in assisted living homes within the community.
In great India tradition, this "small" gathering included over 500 people, an elephant, cake cutting and lots of delicious food.
We were honored to celebrate this milestone with them as a representation of our partnership over the last 8 years. With a partner so dedicated to community outreach, we look forward to many more years of collaboration. We recently sat down with Yassin Deo, from our supply chain team, and he told us about this amazing trip. Watch the video of our entire conversation with Yassin here.
Yassin:
October 10, 2016
There’s something about the cooler weather, leaves starting to fall and the smell of pumpkin spice. October has gradually become my absolute favorite month ever since my husband and I met at a Halloween party. Since then it has taken on even more meaning, because it’s the celebration of International Babywearing Week, this year from October 5th-10th. Hosted by our friends at Babywearing International, babywearing groups in communities all over the World celebrate by doing a variety of fun and educational opportunities, working with other local groups and organizations, posting photos all over social media, giveaways and overall spreading awareness of something that is so near and dear to them.
Every year, more and more caregivers are registering for carriers, and with that growth there are more and more resources in communities to help with baby carrier advice. From what carrier to choose and what may fit best with you particular lifestyle, to fit troubleshooting, learning new positions
October 06, 2016
Somehow, my tiny newborn daughter has turned into a beaming and chunky six-month old (seemingly overnight). Although I mostly hate how time seems to fly right through me lately, there are so many things that I love about having a baby as opposed to a newborn. The older León gets, the more connected with her I feel. As I watch her sit and eat and growl and laugh and squeal I feel like I am finally getting to know her. It has been so much harder to bond with her because of my high energy three-year old who takes so much of my energy.Emotional Benefits of Getting Outside
Spending time in nature with your baby can strengthen the bond between you. The simple act of holding your baby close, feeling their warmth, and sharing new experiences together can create strong emotional connections. It’s also a wonderful way to reduce stress and improve your mood. When my littles were extra fussy, I’d take a walk around the neighborhood. Even though I don't live in an area with trails and surrounded
October 02, 2016
Scooby Doo and Velma (source)
Halloween is almost here and with it comes one of the most fun parts - planning your costume! Every year we see so many fantastic #ErgobabyHalloween pictures pop up online, and we thought we would round up some favorites to share with all of you!
A few things to remember when incorporating babywearing into your Halloween costume -
Follow all safety rules (see some tips here) and guidelines for the carrier. Always make sure baby has two fingers width between chin and chest to keep airway open and clear and baby is close enough to kiss.
Only face baby out if you are using a Four-Position 360 carrier, which allows for a front-outward facing position.
Pay special attention to baby's temperature since you both may be wearing things you may not normally have on.
Most of all, have FUN...and have a happy, babywearing Halloween!
A Starbucks breakfast (source)
ET and the gang (source)
A bag of movie theater popcorn (source)
The President and the Vice President...and
September 27, 2016
Pregnancy is such an exciting time, but it can also be a time full of uncertainty. Proper prenatal nutrition is essential for both you and your baby, but figuring out what to eat can be very confusing. There are so many decisions to make when you’re pregnant, but while you’re picking out baby names and decorating the nursery, it's important to make nutrition a priority as well. Fueling your body with nutrient dense foods will help provide your baby with the best start possible.
First Trimester Nutrients
A well balanced diet is key throughout your entire pregnancy, but certain nutrients play an essential role in each trimester. Basic water-soluble vitamins B & C become a focal point in the first trimester. The most well know first trimester vitamin is B9, folate, which helps protect your baby from the risk of neural tube defects. Vitamin C is important during all stages of pregnancy, but it works to support your immune system in the first trimester, which is often taxed in early pregnancy.
September 14, 2016
We're thrilled an honored to announce we have been nominated as a finalist in Red Tricycle's Totally Awesome Awards! Our Four Position 360 Baby Carrier has been nominated in the Gear: Sleekest Slings and Baby Carriers Category! We'd love your help and your vote to help us solidify our "totally awesome" status! What makes the Four Position 360 baby carrier a totally awesome choice for your babywearing adventures? Check out some of the reviews here! And as a thank you, we're offering a totally awesome giveaway...win a Four Position 360 Baby Carrier in Midnight Blue for you and one for an awesome expecting friend or your partner and spread the awesomeness!
Vote Ergobaby 360 for Red Tricycle "Totally Awesome Awards", Sleekest Baby Carrier