Page 42 - Blog
September 01, 2011
“Attachment parenting,” as we know it, comes from the work of Dr. William Sears and his wife Martha Sears, R.N. They were among the leading proponents of attachment parenting in America. But the original idea comes from John Bowlby, a British psychiatrist, physician and writer. Born in 1907, he was raised by a nanny in his home, where he saw his mother only at exact times of the day, teatime for one hour. This was not uncommon at that time with the upper class. He was very attached to his nanny, but after 5 years, she had to leave. He was devastated, and, at age 7, he was sent away to boarding school. This was very difficult for him and he suffered tremendously. He was quoted in his book, Separation: Anxiety and Anger, as saying; "I wouldn't send a dog away to boarding school at age seven."[1] Because of his own experiences, he continued to have sensitivity towards children for his whole life. He did not consider boarding school a bad thing for children over the age of eight, or
September 01, 2011
Translated from German by Rita Newman, Pediatric neurologist & ERGOparent Expert –
Attachment ”Attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space.“ ~ John Bowlby John Bowlby (1907-1991) a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst living in London, and Mary Ainsworth (1913-1999) are considered to be the pioneers of the attachment theory. According to their extensive research, attachment to a human being or caregiver is the natural need of an infant in which the attachment becomes a safe emotional haven for them. Carrying babies in a wraparound baby carrier or an ergonomic comfort carrier will, for example, assist in the development of secure attachment as it brings the baby in physical contact with its caregiver. The secure attachment Particularly important, for the development of secure attachment, is the appropriate response towards the respective needs of infants. Ainsworth calls these reactions "maternal sensitivity." The following
August 01, 2011
Touch has been called "the mother of the senses": perhaps because it was the first to develop in evolution. Touch is defined as "the most general of the bodily senses, diffused through all parts of the skin, but in humans, especially developed in the tips of the fingers and the lips." The fingers and lips have a disproportionately large number of neurons that travel to and from the brain. Thus they are the means by which the infant does most of its early learning; hence the need for “baby-proofing.” Touch is the earliest sensory system to develop. When a human embryo is less than an inch long and less than two months gestation, the skin is already highly developed. For example, when the palm is touched at two months gestation, the fingers grasp the palm. The fingers and thumb will close at three months when the palm is touched. Touch can have strong effects on our physiology. When the skin is touched, that stimulation is quickly transmitted to the brain, which in turn regulates our physiology.
August 01, 2011
For most parents, infant massage is a rewarding activity in its own right. Just consider the sheer enjoyment of touching and gently rubbing and stroking this little marvel of nature, with its lush, soft and delicately fragrant skin and all its subtle, yet clear signs of appreciation of being massaged. Over and above being a mutually pleasurable activity, research into infant massage over the past decades has established a range of beneficial effects on the infant, and equally important, on the relationship between the mother and her baby. In this article, we will look at some of the effects of infant massage on premature and full-term babies, respectively. These effects include weight gain, sleep organization and mother-baby relationship.
Infant massage for premature infants
Extensive research has been conducted on the effects of infant massage on stable pre-term infants. Certainly, premature birth is no trivial matter. At present approximately 14% of infants in the United States are
August 01, 2011
Vimala McClure was a young woman in her early 20’s when she went to India and cared for babies in a large children’s home. Despite the very rustic living situation, and the limited amount of food for the babies, they seemed to thrive. She wondered why, until the evening she saw the older girls massaging the babies before putting them to bed. “The babies loved it,” Vimala said, “and they went right to sleep afterwards.” So when Vimala returned to the US, and had babies of her own, she chose to massage them, and in the process brought infant massage to the West. The massage Vimala designed, in those deep moments listening to her own babies, combined together the Indian infant massage techniques she had learned at the children’s home, with Swedish massage, reflexology and yoga. She collected information about babies’ amazing response to touch, and wrote her classic book, Infant Massage: A Handbook for Loving Parents. That book started a movement. The massage she developed, responding to her
August 01, 2011
When should you start feeding your baby solid foods and what should you feed her?
Start feeding solids to babies between 4 and 6 months.
Introduce new foods 3-4 days apart.
Try foods several times.
Try several textures and flavors.
Avoid foods that can cause choking.
“The first year is a great time to introduce a variety of foods with different textures and tastes before the “picky eating” ages of 2 and 3 begin.” Christanne Harrison Introducing Solids: Time for Tofu (and Other New Foods) When my son started kindergarten, I asked him what he wanted in his lunch on his first day of school. He quickly responded, “Tofu squares!” He came home and proudly told me his teacher said that she had never seen a kindergartner with tofu in his lunch before. I started feeding my son tofu before he was a year old, and he has loved it ever since. Obviously, not all children are going to like tofu when they are introduced to it, but the first year is a great time to introduce a variety of
August 01, 2011
When we say that something is “touching,” or we are “touched by” something, we mean that we are somehow moved by it emotionally; that it reaches a place deep within our hearts. This also happens with massage. When we are relaxed enough, and in “touch with” our bodies enough, we are able to access a place inside where all is well in our world. This state is most important in keeping babies and their caretakers happy, healthy, and bonded. Babies are like little stars that came to earth. Their light will shine brighter and brighter as they grow and laugh and feel enveloped in the love that you will bring to them. As parents in a busy world, relaxation is often an overlooked aspect of our health. We make the time to exercise, eat right and hopefully sleep enough, but when it comes time to relax we often are remiss in giving ourselves that “luxury.” How many times do we mean to meditate, stretch, do yoga, take a walk, pray, or take a long hot bath? Not often enough. It’s important to remember
July 01, 2011
La Leche League’s “Big Latch On” event, August 6th, 2011 “Women were ready to take charge of their own bodies. There was a need.” This was her answer when one founder was asked why they started La Leche League International (LLLI). In 1956, seven women founded La Leche League International united by a common bond: their mutual appreciation for natural birth and their healthy, happy breastfeeding babies. They nurtured, nursed and practiced what they preached, with a combined total of 63 children, 161 grandchildren, and 30 great grandchildren, as of 2008. They were encouraged by enthusiastic husbands, and inspired by their enjoyment to share what they knew with other mothers, in their Elmhurst, Illinois vicinity, who were often asking for guidance on how best to breastfeed their babies. In the words of each of the seven founders, here are some of their thoughts and history from their journey together. Their detailed chronological history as an organization, photos, and wonder-filled
July 01, 2011
One of the major sources of frustration and even guilt in early motherhood is breastfeeding. Yes, for some mothers breastfeeding runs utterly smoothly, but for others, breastfeeding challenges become a partially painful and uneven ordeal. The range of complaints includes cracks and fissures in the nipples, sore breasts, infections, fungi, concerns with having enough milk, and feelings of having to feed too frequently and thus becoming a milk-producing machine. These conditions make breastfeeding less of the pleasant bonding activity which most mothers envision for their unborn child. So, what can help these mothers? Perhaps a few breastfeeding tips and education.
First Recourse: Mastering the Basics
The first recourse or breastfeeding tip is naturally to make sure that the basics are in place. There is plenty of literature out there, which an expectant woman can read at her own leisure. The website of La Leche League is a very good on-line source of information. La Leche League has
July 01, 2011
There is a deeply caring quality reflected in Ina May Gaskin’s life as a certified professional midwife for over 35 years, as an author, educator, community member, and the mother of three home-birthed children. She brings her life’s work and experience to the 340 pages of this rich resource on breastfeeding. Like her book, Spiritual Midwifery, Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding is destined to be a classic. Word is bound to spread quickly to every mother interested in “everything you need to know to make breastfeeding a joyful, natural, and richly fulfilling experience for both you and your baby.” The contents of this book bring insights into the personal journey of becoming a family, from how your birth choices determine the quality of your breastfeeding experience, to the advantages of delaying cutting the umbilical cord. There are lists of Baby-Friendly hospitals, herbs to avoid, and how to handle sick and hospitalized babies, and colds, diarrhea, or reflux. The mystery and