Page 19 - Blog
March 31, 2016
Spring is delivering new life, new buds and Ergobaby's newest collection. For our Spring 2016 Collection, we go to the vibrant city of Nashville to highlight real Ergobaby families enjoying their everyday experiences while keeping their babies close and part of the action. Nashville, home to musicians and creatives, serves as a beautiful backdrop to showcase these authentic families enjoying everyday life. We explore the beautiful outdoors and wander the cultural sites Nashville has to offer.
click on any photo to see gallery and learn more about the new carriers.
[gallery link="file" size="wcstandard" ids="8910,8919,8911,8917,8916,8913,8914,8915,8912"]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
March 31, 2016
The AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, and that babies continue to breastfeed for one year and for as long as is mutually desired by the mother and baby. Here are a few tips to help you get moving in the right direction with your little one:
Get help before baby arrives. Plan to take a pre-natal breastfeeding class. It’s important to understand the basic science of breastfeeding so you can take confidence in your body doing what it is designed to do and provide for your baby. What are the stages of milk production? How much milk does your baby really need in the first few days of life? What does it mean to properly position your infant and latch? Knowledge and at least thinking about the questions of how to nourish your baby will serve you well before your little one arrives. Don’t wait to get help and reach out if you have small questions or big concerns. Take the time to think about what’s coming so you can trust yourself and feel more in control.
Plan on
March 21, 2016
Babywearing is helpful for when you want to hold a baby and have your hands free, and can be more convenient than a stroller when out and about. But did you know that babywearing can also help with postpartum mental illness, such as anxiety and depression?
Babywearing passively comforts a child
Symptoms of clinical postpartum anxiety, depression, or other postpartum illness, can make it hard for a parent to feel “present” let alone focus on the baby. I often suggest babywearing to my clients, and coach them to start a habit of kissing the baby’s head, and letting the baby cuddle. Even a parent that feels low energy or less than 100% can passively be a loving safe-haven to their child by wearing him or her.
Wear your child to soothe your anxiety
For parents with anxiety, OCD, or fears of something being wrong with the baby, babywearing can also be an easy way to feel comfort. You can go ahead and pat the baby there on your chest as often as you like and get the comfort of feeling the
March 17, 2016
There’s so much advice out there on breastfeeding, it can be tough to recognize the myths from truth. You can overhear women giving advice in support circles, in waiting rooms, and in line at the grocery store. What advice is worth listening to? In order to get the answer, I went straight to my online breastfeeding support forum to ask what snippets other expectant and breastfeeding moms have found helpful.
Some myths
“Colostrum isn’t enough to meet babies needs”
For the first few days of your baby’s life, newborns will be accessing a form of breastmilk called colostrum. It’s nutrient-dense and contains so many disease-fighting properties that can’t be found anywhere else! No wonder it’s referred to as “liquid gold." Even though it’s not large in volume, colostrum can still meet the needs of a newborn (1).
“It’s normal for your nipples to hurt”
There’s a difference between postpartum nipple tenderness and “Ouch! Ouch!” pinching pain. Nipple pain is not normal and is a sign that something’s
March 16, 2016
One of the many benefits to babywearing is being able to multi-task and get things done while still keeping baby close. Laundry, grocery shopping, running after an older child, prepping a meal or a snack, all become so much easier when we have our hands-free with baby safely snug in a baby carrier. However, some special consideration is needed when in the kitchen. Keep these safety tips in mind anytime you are prepping a meal while babywearing to keep baby safe and happy.
tips for cooking and babywearing
If you are going to be doing any sort of cutting you will want the baby in the side/hip or back carry positions.
The front carry position works best when doing simple, everyday things in the kitchen like making sandwiches for lunch, mixing a batch of cookies, making smoothies, etc.
Use caution when cooking on the stove top, as grabby hands and heat don’t mix. Consider putting baby down or switching with another caregiver (if available) if you are working over a hot stove frying
March 03, 2016
Bananas are a great food for little ones. They have a soft texture and natural sweetness that babies love. Ripe bananas are easy to digest and provide needed energy for growing bodies. We also eat a lot of eggs in our house. When my son was introduced to solids we started with egg yolks and waited to introduce the whole egg with whites. The yolks are where the most beneficial nutrients are found. They are stocked with B vitamins, healthy fats, choline, and the harder to obtain fat-soluble vitamins A & D. Once we introduced egg whites, these healthy flourless banana pancakes were a hit! They include only 3-ingredients and are super simple to make. Eggs contain an easily absorbable form of iron, a nutrient that babies start to require more of around the time solids are introduced. If the eggs are pasture raised they also contain the powerful fat needed for babies brains, DHA.
Ingredients
1.5 bananas *should be quite ripe with brown spots 2 large eggs 1/8 teaspoon baking powder (optional for
March 02, 2016
Happy IBCLC Day! The International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants Day falls on the first Wednesday of March. And it’s a great day to recognize those that helped you to reach your breastfeeding goals. With that in mind today, I wanted to share many of the ways that IBCLCs love to help empower you to meet your personal breastfeeding goals.
We are there to help you even before your little one arrives.
Taking a prenatal breastfeeding class with an IBCLC is a great way to get off on the right breastfeeding foot. Not only will it help you feel more confident right from the start but also can provide you the tools to recognize any issues you might have so you can get the support you need right away.
We aren’t just here for you when the baby is brand new.
Getting ready to go back to work? Thinking of starting solids? We love to help mamas and babies throughout the entire feeding journey.
We love to support moms and babies not only in times of joy but also through the tough times.
Let
March 01, 2016
What exactly is “unwearing”? It’s the act of removing both the carrier and (hopefully) a sleeping baby. Here are some tips to make your “unwearing” successful.
Be prepared! If your baby takes a bottle, requires a favorite blankie, white noise, or darkness, set those up before you attempt to unwear. If you’re a breastfeeder, be prepared to side lie and escape after a quick feed.
Have a flat surface to transfer baby to. Make sure it’s safe, where baby cannot roll.
The closer you can get to your surface, the higher chance of success. Don’t be afraid to lean completely over the surface before unbuckling, the lack of support or instability can startle the baby. Sit on the edge of the bed if unwearing from a back carry, and lean back toward the surface.
Take your time. If you hurry, you’re more likely to wake baby. That being said, once baby is completely off, RUN ;)
Bring on the shushing. I shush and sway a bit as I unwear, until I’m completely out of the room.
If baby starts to wake or cry,
February 29, 2016
How many times as a parent have you written a to-do list that seemed totally reasonable, only to be crushed at the end of the day when only one single item got crossed off? How many times have you beaten yourself up for not being able to return a phone call or text, let alone get dressed and prep dinner? How many times have you had to choose between pumping milk at work and eating lunch without flanges attached to your boobs? I’ve lost count on any sort of running total on this Mama Math, and I can no longer consider myself a “new mom,” as my kids are 5 and 7. But I still fall into the trap of adding too many things to my To-Do lists, whether work-, home-, or kid-related, and when I do, I become disappointed in myself. As a Licensed Acupuncturist who specializes in the childbearing cycle, I work with parents every day, and I have come to realize that most of us have expectations of ourselves that are higher than anything we would expect of a friend or family member. Before becoming parents,
February 18, 2016
When my little one was ready for solid foods I decided to use the baby-led weaning approach. In this method finger foods are introduced right from the start and purees are skipped altogether. It was a fantastic fit for my family and I believe it really helped our son establish healthy eating habits. He’s almost 2 years old now and has a fantastic appetite with an impressively adventurous palate. Here are some reasons that we love about baby-led weaning.
Experiencing & exploring foods
Babies love the opportunity to interact with food! If spoon-feeding, there are still some approaches from baby-led weaning that help engage baby in mealtime. Babies often spit out puree and try to grab it with their hands. That's because they're curious and want to be involved, but parents are usually quick to wipe it up or scoop it back into baby's mouth. Try putting a small spoonful of puree on your baby’s tray for them to touch & taste on their own before you begin feeding - and again if changing flavors.