This is a guest post from Carrie…a fabulous minimalist mama with a large family.

At the moment I’m 25 weeks pregnant. So far, my husband and I have purchased the following items for our new little one: a bassinet, a small box of gender neutral newborn clothing, and cloth diapers (all purchased secondhand). Why haven’t we gone all out with a baby registry and/or spending a good portion of the budget on new baby gear? It’s not because this is our 7th child and we already have tons of baby stuff left over from the other kids. We actually got rid of nearly everything after our last baby. And it’s not because we can’t afford to buy baby things.

So why are we acquiring so little? Mostly it’s because we prefer a simple, uncluttered home – and we’ve discovered that babies need so very little by way of material goods. A lot of gadgets sold for babies are in the “marginally helpful but not truly needed” category. What babies really need: warm soft clothing and cotton diapers, food from mom, a safe place to sleep, and the arms of a loving caretaker. (And, an infant car seat for safe travel.) Even diapers are somewhat negotiable if you’re practicing elimination communication.

We’ve found that many things we already have substitute quite nicely for a multitude of expenditures. Here are a few examples:

Babies and toddlers can sleep with mom and dad. You may need to make a few changes to ensure the sleep environment is safe for a baby, but this rarely involves making a purchase. Instead of a crib and play yard/play pen, a soft cloth carrier such as a baby sling can keep baby safe and close (and therefore happy!) during the day. If baby is fussy or colicky due to health problems such as reflux, a sling to keep baby near mom and upright is preferable to many gadgets sold for this purpose.

The only food baby needs for its first 6 months or so is breastmilk. If mom is going back to work full time she will likely need to invest in a high quality pump and BPA free bottles, but some moms are able to arrange their work and caregiver arrangements so as to feed baby straight from the breast.

Once baby is eating, it’s not necessary to buy special bowls and cutlery or food grinders and other “baby food” gear. Most babies will do just fine and may even prefer the texture of simple food mashed with a fork. Babies can start eating banana, avocado, soft cooked carrots, potatoes (and other well cooked mashed vegetables), egg yolks, homemade bone broths and even well cooked meats in their first year of life.

Tons of baby toys are sold each year but many parents have noticed that babies prefer to play with ordinary household objects. Good children’s picture books are a better investment, since they will be loved for years and not quickly “outgrown”. Once you do begin accumulating toys, keep things simple. Classic, open-ended toys like wooden blocks are great for a wide range of ages and are durable and safe.

Having a baby doesn’t have to mean cluttering up your home with tons of stuff. Most parents find that only a small percentage of that stuff is actually useful to them. If this is your first baby and you’re not sure what to buy, ask friends whose values are similar to your own about the things they really needed for their new little one. Resist the siren song of the big box baby stores and buy what you’ll need on Craigslist and eBay, and be vocal about the fact that you’ll accept hand me downs. This way you’ll save money and keep good stuff out of the landfill.

Carrie is a homeschooling mom of 6 (soon to be 7) who writes about frugality, minimalism, good books, feeding a family and productivity at: http://www.NaturalMomsTalkRadio.com. Be sure to check out her free podcast episodes for informative experts on natural family living. 

Let’s explain: Natural versus Conventional (or Epidural)

So everyone is on the same wave length, let’s explain what I mean by “natural” and also “epidural.” Natural childbirth is essentially a birth that could have been had by our ancestors before all the interventions came along. It can be attended by a doctor, midwife, or doula  at a birthing facility or it can be a home birth with minimal if any assistance. Natural childbirth means the mother does not receive any drugs to alleviate pain or interfere with the natural birthing process. Often a mother uses breathing techniques, like Lamaze, and visualization to get through the pain of labor. I personally used hypnobirthing for my last two pregnancies and swear by it. Alternate birthing methods like water birth are natural in that no medications or interventions are involved.

Epidural birth refers to a method of anesthesia that is given to reduce the pain of labor for the mother. A doctor will place a catheter in the epidural space of the spine for infusion of pain medication and anesthetics. Mother is able to rest during labor and not be in constant pain.

Choosing Natural Childbirth

Well, if you have ever been on a labor and delivery unit, you are probably thinking that the second choice doesn’t sound half bad to you. But, for moms who want to make an informed choice, here are some of the advantages and reasons why natural birth is chosen over an epidural delivery. Also if you have had a birth or two that did not end up very naturally, don’t beat yourself up about it. For my first birth I intended to go natural but it didn’t work out that way and I think much of it was my own fear and inexperience. My second and third go rounds, I knew I could do it! Here are some reasons why you may want to try it yourself as well…

1. Fewer traumas to baby – A natural birth commences on the baby’s schedule and without drugs baby and mom are more alert. Some medications can speed up labor pains and lead to fetal distress in babies by slowing down their heart rate. Often times the result is a C-section. Babies can also be born with a fever due to medication given to the mother.

2. Low APGAR scores – A baby can score lower from the womb if they are affected by medication. Remember that mom and baby are still connected and medication can cross the placental barrier. You aren’t the only getting dosed with powerful drugs and we need to think about whether or not we want our child to be born into the world that way.

3. Harder to push – When the mother can’t feel the downward pressure of baby’s movement, she will have to be told when a contraction is happening so she can push. Because she can’t gauge how hard she is pushing she may be less productive in moving baby through the birth canal and the birth can drag out. With my first I pushed for 30 pain free minutes and ripped badly. For my second and third kids I pushed them out in 2 to 3 pushes with no issues.

4. Healing – Mother can push too hard and may need an episiotomy or tear her muscles in the process. She may also end up with a c-section if the baby does not react well to medications. This can mean longer healing times after the baby is born. Few of us want to spend days or weeks after birth in pain. We want to enjoy our babies!

It is a choice that every mother must make but for both mom and baby, the advantages are greater with a natural birth. It is too bad that society often tries to undermine us and make us think pregnancy is a medical condition or sickness that requires so many interventions instead of  a natural process that our bodies are more than capable of handling.

If you have had a natural birth yourself, what do you credit with giving you the confidence that you could do so?

Recommended Reading: Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation & Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth

The Invitations – In this digital age it is easier than ever to avoid paper invites if you want to. You can send online invites through a variety of places. Paperless Post is a good free one. You can also set up a Facebook group and invite people that way. For paper invites go recycled. InvitationBox offers products made using recycled, FSC or SFI certified paper. Also a portion of revenues are donated to the Conservation Fund.

Baby Registry – It is common to register for gifts but instead of doing so at a big box store why not try a local place that specializes in green and natural baby gear. Most major cities now have some of these unique stores and they offer cloth diapers, green toys, and glass baby bottles. If you have time for online shopping try The Ultimate Green Store and their gift registry where you can register for gifts and also find the registries of your friends.

Shower Decorations – One of my favorite ways to decorate for a shower is to hang a clothesline to hang baby goodies from. You could use wood clips to hang cloth diapers, a baby carrier, organic baby clothing and bibs, and natural rubber pacifiers. Once the party is over the mom can take the clothesline props home for her own greener laundry use. You could also decorate with live plants and potted herbs which can double as party favors. Beeswax or soy candles can be put inside mason jars to add a natural glow to the party. Couple those with vintage linens from the local antique store and you will have the perfect table setting.

Refreshments – For a baby shower the easiest route to go is simple and refreshing. Instead of a big store bought cake you could make nourishing, organic coconut cupcakes made with coconut flour and sprinkled with shredded coconut courtesy of Tropical Traditions. Some other ideas include raw fudge brownies, a salad bar, yogurt parfaits, and green smoothies. The color of the smoothies are perfect for the venue! Another idea might be to break out the soda stream and make some homemade sparkling juices with fresh fruit and raw honey.

Green Gifts – So what does a green mama need? Actually not that much in truth so you may want to see what you can gift from your own home or from a thrift store. This is why I love the idea of using a Facebook group to organize a shower because you can make it private and post a list of what the mom-to-be wants and needs there. Then guests can comment with what they have bought or discovered second hand and the list can be altered accordingly. Some gift ideas that you may want to buy “new” include newborn cloth diapers, glass bottles, (if the mom will bottle feed or pump), safe teethers and pacifiers, natural toys, and baby carriers or slings. Wrap gifts in recycled paper, newspaper, or even cloth. A bamboo baby blanket can make an excellent “wrapper”.

Green moms might also appreciate a weekly box from the local CSA or organic grocer, gift certificates to Whole Foods or a local green spa, and organic meals made and delivered by their mom friends. An offer to come watch the baby once every two weeks while the new moms naps might be just about the best gift ever, so get creative. If for instance, this is not a first child and the mom already has everything she needs, maybe the guests could bring a blessing to read instead of a gift.

It is important not to forget the purpose of a shower, which is to show the mom and baby all our love and support. That support doesn’t need to mean showering them with useless junk, even if it is cute.

Do you have any green baby shower ideas to share?

Many parents decide to seek the greenest products they can find for their baby and look for organic cotton baby clothing, foods, and bathing supplies, since their baby is in such close contact with those products. And while that is an excellent starting point, parents who want to provide their baby the safest nursery possible are also choosing eco friendly baby furnishings and gear.

New trends in eco friendly baby furnishings include organic cotton bedding sets and mattresses made of natural fibers and free of toxins. Considering how many hours new babies spend sleeping, furnishing baby’s nursery with an environmentally safe crib and bedding is a logical choice. If a family bed is where baby will be sleeping then everyone benefits from sleeping on safe green sheets and blankets. When choosing the color palate for baby’s nursery, more parents are also opting for paints with low (or no) volatile organic compounds (VOCs), to avoid harmful paint fumes.

The availability of an increasing number of eco friendly baby gear items also reflects that parents are becoming more aware of the benefits of providing baby with green baby products. Whether it is organic fiber baby carriers, organic cotton shopping cart covers, or smartly designed eco friendly strollers, parents can offer their babies the benefits of having all the environmentally safe comforts of home even while traveling. If you can’t afford the often times pricier premiums on greener products it is perfectly acceptable, and planet friendly, to buy used.

Even stylish baby accessories are going green–Moms love slinging hip organic fiber baby bags over their shoulders! Eco friendly toys, such as teethers, rattles, blocks, puzzles and bath toys are being made with organic and/or natural materials and are free of harmful chemicals.

Parents who choose organic baby bedding, strollers, clothing, and other eco friendly baby gear, enjoy greater peace of mind that their baby is nestled in comforting and safe surroundings right from the very beginning.

This week the question posed to Green Moms Weekly is “What do you say to people who can’t wrap their head around the cloth diapering phenomena? Give some simple and positive examples of how cloth diapering can benefit both mom and baby.”

I decided to cloth diaper my second baby in late 2003, before she was even born. I spent 4 months researching cloth like crazy and putting together my newborn stash. When I told friends and family of my intentions all I got were incredulous looks or an eye roll as if to say they didn’t believe I would stick with it for more than a day. You would have thought I told them I was planning on taking the dirty diapers to a nearby river and beating them against rocks. It was just an insane idea to them but I did not let them deter me from my decision. When I brought my daughter home from the hospital I immediately put her in a Kissaluvs fitted diaper and a wool diaper cover. I have since tried dozens upon dozens of different cloth diapers but I still think Kissaluvs and wool covers would be my go to diapering system for the newborn months. After a couple months we had fun playing with designer diapers, all-in-ones, pockets, and all manner of custom diapers sewn by wahm seamstresses. I also started making my own diapers right after she was born. Let’s just say that she had more than enough diapers in every color, design, and fabric known to man I think. Want to see some that I made? Check out my flickr set here.

And what did the naysayers think? I think they were green with jealousy at how much fun I seemed to be having and how adorable my two youngest babes looked in their diapers.

Here are a few of the benefits of cloth diapering for mom and baby:

Cloth is Healthy – Disposable diapers are loaded with chemicals that can irritate baby’s skin and cause rashes. It also doesn’t help that the baby’s bum is wrapped in plastic either. While I cannot say that we never experienced rashes in cloth diapers I can say that I think we experienced less of them. Cloth allows the skin to breathe and you aren’t exposing it to petro chemicals, perfumes, and all the other nasties in disposables.

Cloth is Fun – I had sooooo much fun making and buying diapers as well as putting them on my babies. My kiddos usually wore no pants because who wants to cover up that gorgeousness? Perhaps this is why my youngest still can stand to wear pants? LOL. Regardless, most moms find it fun to dress their little ones up in cute clothing and using cloth diapers ups the fun factor ten times. Can moms who use disposables claim to have as much changing diapers as us cloth diaper moms? I think not.

Cloth is Affordable – Disposable diaper purchases usually total 2 to 3 thousand dollars from birth to the potty learning. Cloth diapers done on the cheap can cost $300-$400 for the same period of time. Designer diapers may cost around $800 or more but still, much cheaper than disposables. Cheaper diapers include prefolds, fitteds, and covers made of recycled wool sweaters. Fitted diapers and prefold diapers can even be made using old t-shirts and blankets if you really want to keep it cheap. This would of course be a very green way to go as well.

Slightly more expensive would be all-in-one diapers, pockets, and various designer diapers. It is not unusual to pay $15-$20 or more per diaper but these can last years, for more than one child, and they usually can be sized to fit newborns and older babes alike. Some scoff at the price of cloth diapers but do you want to pay for a reusable diaper that can be passed on to subsequent babies or even resold used … or do you want to spend thousands of dollars on something that is used once and then thrown in the garbage? The answer seems like a no brainer to me.

Cloth is Green – Reusable products are greener than disposables. Period. Whenever you see an industry funded study
that proclaims there is no ecological difference between cloth and disposable remember what they are actually trying to sell. Well, yes they are trying to sell disposable diapers but they are also trying to sell a ludicrous idea. If someone told you that it would be greener if we all wear disposable panties and underwear instead of washing what we have and reusing them we would think they were nuts. Cloth diapers are underwear for babies. Washing and reusing diapers makes good sense and it is greener by far.

I could keep going but I think I have hit the major benefits. Do you have any to add?

Also be sure to check out what Carrie and Rachel had to say on the topic.

Related: The Green Diaper Smackdown

The following is an interview with small business owner and mom Megan Visser of Baby Swank on Etsy. I love supporting mom based businesses, especially Etsy and/or craft businesses (since I used to own one), and this is a shout out to one of those talented moms. Enjoy and enter the giveaway to!

Tiffany: Tell us a bit about your business & how you got started.

Megan: My name is Meagan Visser & I’m the owner of Baby Swank on Etsy. There I provide fashionable & eco-friendly products for babies & toddlers including OOAK, handmade bibs, cloth baby wipes, & natural skin care products. My shop is a little over 1 year old and it continues to grow daily.

I started my shop after making my OOAK Washcloth Bibs for my own kiddos & loving them…not to mention the fact that I received a lot of complements on them! So I decided to sell & create a small business around them which has worked out great for me since I’m a SAHM!

Tiffany: What all do you offer in your shop?

Megan: Basically I offer my Washcloth Bibs {designs vary by season}, flannel baby wipes, crocheted loofah’s & scrubbies, & an all natural line of skin care products for babies. Like I said, I started with my bibs only & from there I continued to add new product lines. My newest is the skin care line called Baby Swank Naturals & it’s doing really well. Since it’s the holiday’s I also offer gift baskets which combine most of my products as well as gift wrap & direct shipping on gifts.

Tiffany: Tell us a bit more about Baby Swank Naturals.

Megan: I’ve always been careful about what I put on my babies skin & I’ve always been into making things myself, so this just came naturally. The hard part was narrowing down my options & figuring out packaging, descriptions, & photos.

Anyway, most of Baby Swank Naturals revolves around bath-time & diapering. I offer Baby Wash & Shampoo & Herbal Baby Oil that comes in 4 different scents – Lavender Chamomile, Rosemary Mint, Orange Vanilla, & Lemon Peel. I also have Herbal Baby Powder, Herbal Bum Salve & Cream, Herbal Bath Bombs & Herbal Bath Tea…all for babies…all natural…all gentle…all tried & tested. All of my products are infused with actual herbs, not just scented with the essential oils so you’re really getting the benefits of the herbs in the product.

Tiffany: With the holidays right around the corner, do you have any specials going on?

Megan: I offer Facebook fans & my newsletter subscribers a one time discount in my shop that they can use whenever they’d like. Also, all customers get a coupon code good on future orders with every purchase so there are lots of ways to save money on my products!

Tiffany: What’s next for Baby Swank?

Megan: I’m in the process of wanting to branch out a bit more & offer my herbal products for more than babies only. Hopefully at the beginning of 2012, I’ll have things ready to go & there will be some big changes will follow. It’s exciting & I can’t wait to see where it leads.

Giveaway!! Megan is is offering a set of mini bath bombs to one lucky reader. Bath bombs are 100% all natural right down to the coloring used …herbs! No synthetic pigments or mica powders here! Just run your bath water, drop your bath bomb in & watch the fizzing begin. Little one will love seeing these fizzy bath bombs color their bath water.

To win just comment about something that has caught your eye at the Baby Swank Shop . For a second entry “Like” Baby Swank on Facebook and leave a second comment. Good luck!

It was about two years ago now that I wrote about the issue of toxic bubble bath. That post was spurred by a Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report that highlighted known carcinogens in baby bath products and Johnson & Johnson appeared on the report several times. This just happened to coincide with a blogger campaign the company was running, trying to get mom bloggers to endorse their products. I was pretty livid at the time and while I hoped that J&J would clean up their act, I highly doubted they would. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics called upon Johnson & Johnson to reformulate its baby shampoo and remove formaldehyde releasing chemicals. So did they?

Yes and no it turns out.

Between July and October of 2011, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reviewed labels of Johnson’s Baby Shampoo sold in 13 countries to see if the products contained quaternium-15, a chemical preservative that kills bacteria by releasing formaldehyde.

We found that Johnson’s Baby Shampoo sold in the United States, Australia, Canada, China and Indonesia contains quaternium-15, while Johnson’s Baby Shampoo sold in Denmark, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Sweden and the U.K. contain non-formaldehyde preservatives.

Obviously, it is possible for Johnson & Johnson to make baby shampoo without formaldehyde, and that’s what the company should be doing in all countries.

Wow. They prove that they can in fact do the right thing and make a safer product but apparently have decided to do so only in the countries with tougher product standards. American babies still get the cancer causing chemicals. Only after this latest report came out has J&J promised to phase these chemical nasties out of their products worldwide but I think a boycott is in order until they do. There are plenty of other companies who were ALREADY doing right by babies and they should be the ones rewarded with our patronage.

A better brand to try:

Earth Mama Angel Baby - USDA Certified Made With Organic Ingredients. No 1,4-Dioxane, formaldehyde, or phthalates. No sodium lauryl sulfate, cocomidopropyl betaine or other synthetic surfactantsNo artificial preservatives (parabens, phenoxyethanol, etc).

In particular you might like the Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash. They also have some great soaps and washes for the whole family, mom approved.

• Calm & Clean Hand to Toe Wash – Soothing Lavender & Vanilla
• Happy Mama Hand to Toe Wash – Invigorating Ginger & Grapefruit
• Natural Non Scents Hand to Toe Wash – Unscented

They smell great, they work, and they aren’t filled with questionable and potentially unsafe ingredients. A+

For a budget alternative you can do what I personally do and use Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap. They have an unscented variety for babies. We use the peppermint. I dilute a few squirts in some water and usually add some essential oils as well, inside a Ball jar. The jar sits next to our shower and we shake it up and pour a tablespoon or so into our hand and then use on our hair and bodies. Works like a charm and my kids get snarly when some other shampoo product makes an appearance. They prefer the Dr. Bronners.

Do you have any alternative suggestions?

Being an attachment parent can begin even before your baby is born. Mostly this is done by educating yourself and preparing for the birth of your little bundle. I have lots of ideas on how you can accomplish this:

Natural Childbirth – The more alert you and baby are the easier it will be to start bonding and learning the art of breastfeeding.

Consider Water Birth or Home Birth – Proponents of water births believe this is one of the most peaceful entrances to the world that can be had by a baby. It is easier on mom if she can soak and relax and the environment is less of a shock to baby since they are immersed in water during pregnancy. Home births mean that doctors and nurses are not trying to whisk your baby away for shots and other interventions. Want to have the best of both worlds? Check out some of the ideas in the book Homebirth in the Hospital: Integrating Natural Childbirth with Modern Medicine.

Breastfeed – The bond between a mom and her suckling baby is tremendous and special. You do not want to miss even a moment of it or shortchange it either. Make preparations to breastfeed for an extended period of time.

Eat Healthy and Stay Active – Make a conscious effort to eat the best foods for you and baby. Also make sure to get plenty of exercise. Eating nourishing foods puts less stress on your pregnant body and staying active will help you have a healthy birth.

Interventions After Birth – Don’t let bonding be interrupted by needless interventions… circumcision, vaccines, trips to the nursery, etc. In fact, make it clear that baby is to be kept at your side at all times and “handled” by medical staff very little.

Invest in a Sling – Plan to wear your baby in a sling or wrap. Before baby arrives is the perfect time to read reviews and find out which sling sounds like the best fit for you. If you have any friends who practice babywearing ask if you can try on some of theirs so you can get a real life feel for them.

Forget the Crib – Cosleeping is much easier on mom and baby and it makes it a million times easier to bond. Figure out the sleeping situation before baby arrives by adding a twin bed next to your own if need be, making sure baby cannot fall out or get wedged against a wall, or getting a co-sleeper bed.

Get Help - Ask friends and family to help out with household duties like cleaning and cooking so that you can enjoy your time with your new baby.

Educate Yourself About Developmental Stages – Be prepared with this info and you won’t have to needlessly stress.. you can just enjoy that little bundle and savor every moment. This is a process you will continue for your entire journey as a parent.

Find Your Tribe - Attachment Parenting is easier if you surround yourself with people who share your values. Start looking for them early so you will have that support system in place before baby arrives.

Stop and Smell the Roses – Enjoy all the little moments of your pregnancy.. the kicks, hearing the heartbeat, purchasing new baby stuff, etc. Also reflect on the moments you will savor as a new parent… that unique baby smell, the way they grasp your finger or pull your hair while they breastfeed. Its all good and we need to enjoy every moment of it while it lasts because it is over to soon!!

Enjoy those babies!

Read: Attachment Parenting starting at conception at Happy Green Babies and

Attachment Parenting During Pregnancy by Natural Moms Talk radio.

Comfy Joey is a company that offers absolutely gorgeous ring slings and pouches. They are functional of course but also beautiful. I LOVE the colors. Their linen slings come in lots of great colors. If I were still in my sling years I am sure I would own several! The ones that really stood out to me were the mesh water slings. These can be worn wading in the pool or in the shower. Love them! I always stuck my babes on the bathroom floor with some toys and hoped they wouldn’t get into stuff while I showered. How much easier … and fun… life could have been if we could have showered together with one of these slings. ;)

The company is also mom owned which I always preferred in my sling buying days. It is owned and operated by Ayesha Ghatala Shoaib. Ayesha discovered babywearing after the birth of her second child and founded Comfy Joey when he was only a few months old. Now Ayesha is the proud mother of four. She still considers babywearing a valuable tool as she runs her business while raising her children.

The company has graciously offered to give one of my readers a $100 voucher to Comfy Joey. Woot! The giveaway will run from today through Sept 30th. To enter please like Comfy Joey and Gather for Good on facebook and then leave a comment on this blog post. For a second entry please share this blog post with friends and leave a second comment letting us know that you did, and how. A winner will be chosen at random.

Not only do you have an opportunity to win the prize you are also helping out with a great cause just by entering. 10 cents will be donated by Gather for Good to Bruce Roseneberg’s FIGHT against Stage 4 Melanoma Cancer for every valid entry made in this giveaway. You can read more about Bruce’s fight against cancer here. You can also help support Bruce’s fight by shopping at Comfy Joey and using coupon code BRUCE. 15% will be deducted from your total purchase price when you use this code, and that same 15% amount will be donated to Bruce’s cause. You can also donate to Bruce directly through paypal at rosenberg [at] comporium.net.

Good luck!

This giveaway made possible through Gather for Good.

UPDATE: We have a random winner!! Material Girl Green! Congrats!!!

“Women should be permitted to make decisions regarding their care, but should also be informed of all risks, benefits, and alternatives to their selected treatment.” TRUTH

These are a set of quotes from an e-mail I received from a doctor-friend of mine concerned about my choices for childbirth. I had chosen, for my second childbirth, the same as my first, to have a water birth at a local birthing center in the care of a group of midwives.

This friend of mine was concerned for me, as his wife was due on the same day and she had previously had a cesarean section. His concerns were of potential life-threatening situations that may arise and having no “medical” staff nearby.

While his concerns may be valid, as birth is inherently risky, he has been mis-informed about the culture of birth in hospital settings. Hospitals are in place for a good reason and they can respond to serious situations quickly, but what is not a serious situation is often being treated as one. In my case, I had two very low-risk pregnancies (a requirement to be a patient at the birthing center) and felt that the birth center would be the least risky place to deliver my baby. In fact, with my first pregnancy, I did what most newly pregnant moms do and found a local respected OB to see for my routine visits. Once I began learning about the birthing process through my Bradley Method Childbirth classes and speaking to the OB about my wishes, she was not respectful AT ALL of my concerns. I was told in a matter of words that if I wanted a natural childbirth I should seek other care.

Does this sound like someone who is responsive to a mother’s plan? That’s just it though, most mother’s don’t have a plan and trust their doctor to do what’s best for her. I came in with a plan and the doctor did not like what I had to say, so I left and found a caring, loving, embracing birthing center to deliver my babies. I have had many friends and family who have had experiences in a hospital that have led them to look back and try to make a choice that more suited their situation for subsequent births. These mothers, although planning to deliver naturally in a hospital setting were confined to their beds without being allowed to move around to deal with their pain. Who wouldn’t want some medicinal relief if this were the case? Birthing in hospitals has become medicalized and what applies to one woman applies to all. All women will be confined to their beds, all women will receive pitocin at the same time, all women will get an epidural when ready. Frankly, this is sad and women should be appalled.

The good news is we DO have a choice, and we can choose better options for our births. A hospital option may be okay if your provider is understanding and willing to stick to your birthing plan. A birth center is a wonderful middle ground for those concerned with choosing a homebirth. I feel that the birthing center was as close to a homebirth as I could have ever asked for.

I felt that the midwives at the birthing center gave me the best care I could have ever asked to receive. The midwife, nurse and my husband were by my side throughout my entire labor and birth. It was quiet, dimly lit and peaceful for me and ultimately my baby. I was trusting that since the midwife was constantly by my side, she would have a better understanding of what was going on with my body and my baby than any hospital OB would, who rushes in just for the delivery. If something were to have gone wrong in my birth the midwife would recognize it immediately and we would head to the hospital.

Once I collected my thoughts and responded to my doctor-friend with why I made the decision that I did, he was still unwilling to accept the fact that hospitals may not always be the best place to give birth. I told him that my local hospital has a c-section rate of 45% and he suggested that it might be due to advanced maternal age, expectations for pain relief and obesity/diabetes. He never gave in to the fact that many hospitals just aren’t respecting women’s wishes and the time it takes to generally labor and have a baby naturally.

In the end, it makes me realize that we have a long way to go to change the minds of the general public about the birthing options out there and that women’s safety in childbirth isn’t generally better in hospitals. Women do have a choice and a hospital is just one of them.

Rachel McFadden, the Author of Happy Green Babies shares her experience with natural childbirth and the obstacles one can encounter from those who are unfamiliar with the safety of various birthing options.

The answer may lie in a little known and rarely discussed phenomenon called Limbic Imprinting – the imprinting of the emotional area of the brain during our formative period (in the womb, during our birth and early childhood). Over the last 25 years, pioneers in the field of pre- and perinatal psychology have repeatedly demonstrated that accepted and standard practices during pregnancy, childbirth, in the home and in the schools are having catastrophic consequences on our children and on society as a whole.

The good news is that the solution lies with you and that you are able to facilitate a different outcome for your children. It starts with putting consciousness back into pregnancy and parenting and recognizing the experiences that we have during our earliest experiences of life directly shape our emotional health and our ability to see and know our true selves.

Elena Tonetti-Vladimirova, who travels the globe conducting Limbic Imprint Re- coding ‘birthshops’, and the director of the powerful film “Birth As We Know It”, tells us “the quality of life is defined by the quality of birth”. These are some powerful words! Considering that 95% of the births in the United States are considered to be traumatic, 45% of which are severely traumatic, this does not bode well for future generations if left unchecked. She also
states:

“…if our early impressions are anything less than loving, then that ‘anything’ imprints in our nervous system as a valid experience of love, regardless of how those experiences might have been. And throughout our life, we will subconsciously recreate the conditions and feelings that were imprinted at birth and early childhood, because in spite of all logic, those experiences are our comfort zone.”

It’s time for us to realize that pregnancy and childbirth are sacred events in our lives and they are to be treated as such with preparation, nourishment and conscious connection with that new life.

While pregnant, a woman is eating, thinking, feeling and emoting for two. Just before and after birth, a human is more open and sensitive than they will ever be as an adult. Unnecessary interventions such as early clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord, separation from the mother, unconscious cutting of the foreskin and avoidable poking and prodding are all recorded into the limbic system, permanently (unless subsequently re-imprinted), as what is to be expected
of this world – harsh treatment, violence and pain. Later in life, feelings of fear, hostility, anger and of “wrong-ness” may not be logical as analyzed through the thinking brain, or cortex, but that won’t make them any less real or limiting.

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why you are afraid to speak in public? Why you feel you aren’t “good enough”? Why you keep sabotaging your relationships or your success? Why you lack the confidence to move forward in your life? Why do we spend so much time dealing with our “stuff” by going to countless self-development seminars, reading countless self-help books and listening to countless motivational speakers? Why is there so much to “fix”?

Your limbic imprint may be unconsciously destroying any chance of you achieving your dreams. We constantly attract circumstances and events in our lives that resonate with our limbic imprint, and if our beginnings were less than blissful, this will be reflected in the state of our lives. The good news is, as Dr. Bruce Lipton tells us, consciousness can rewrite these limiting beliefs, although it takes the awareness and tools to do so. Hmmm…sounds like a whole lot of work…

Now wouldn’t life be a whole lot rosier and easier if there was nothing to “fix” in the first place? What if the limbic imprint was based on nothing but love? What would this world look like if our children grew up in a world where they knew that they were supported, heard and loved, no matter what? What would life be like if each fetus lived in the womb of a mother who was fully supported, well nourished, stress-free and consciously connecting with her baby throughout her pregnancy? What would children be like if they came through the birth canal under peaceful, loving conditions, where there was complete trust in the wisdom of the female body to bring forth new life? How confident would our children be if they were given the breast immediately upon arrival into this new world, were held close to their mothers or fathers for the first year of their lives, and slept securely with their parents every night with no need to cry out for nourishment or comfort? My guess is that we would see the world transformed into one where superheroes
walked the earth!! I see peace and love being the norm, intelligence levels sky-rocketing and abundant health. It really is within reach and it need not take long. But it does depend on us. Our babies do depend on us, and as such, we must respond to them on their terms, not ours. We must keep them close and we must trust our children as they grow.

In one simple generation, if we choose peace over drama, love over fear, allowing versus resisting, confidence in our innate abilities over mindlessly giving our power to surgeons, doctors and other so-called ‘experts’, we will see humanity transform. We must start by looking within and be willing to heal. By healing ourselves, we heal our children and we heal the earth.

The result could be no other and our continued evolution on this planet depends on it.

Resources for further information:

www.birthpsychology.com

www.birthintobeing.com

www.brucelipton.com

Sascha Kalivoda is a holistic nutritionist and the creator of “Your Conscious Pregnancy and Parenting Guide”, an online program devoted to the education around raising healthy, confident, well-adjusted children. Her program brings together information from world-renowned experts in the fields of biology, nutrition, herbology, conception, childbirth, parenting, learning and more. For more information pleasevisit http://bit.ly/kidsneedu.

What Exactly is EC?

The term “elimination communication” was coined by Ingrid Bauer after she had traveled throughout both India and Africa where diaperless babies (who did not seem to be having potty accidents) were the norm and not the exception. As a result she raised her own children with a limited use of diapers and started to share her methods with others.
In a nutshell, elimination communication is a method of toilet training in which the person caring for the child uses a mix of signals (timing, body language etc.) as well as their intuition to potty train the child. In short, by anticipating when the baby has to eliminate their waste, they can take them to an appropriate place to take care of this and cut down on or eliminate altogether the need for diapers. Supposedly, the more attuned to the child the caregiver becomes, the easier it is for them to be able to anticipate the child’s toilet needs, which all sounds good, but may cause some raised eyebrows regarding its viability as an alternative to diapers.

Does EC Work?

One of the primary reasons that diaperless babies are the rule and not the exception in countries such as India and Africa is that the baby is with the mother almost continually from birth on. The mother becomes very much attuned to her child, and it is pointless to put them in diapers if you can tell when they need to use the toilet.

So yes, the theory behind the method is sound. Unfortunately, when it comes to western societies the idea of a parent or dedicated caregiver being with the infant 24/7 is not as common as it in these other societies. In western societies it is far more common for the mother to go back to work within six weeks of the baby’s birth, so unless a mother (or father) stays home to raise her child or there is a dedicated caregiver who is willing to use the EC method, that EC training may only be practical in the evenings and/or weekends which can seriously slow down or even impede the progress of the method. But if you can manage it, successful elimination communication can be significantly beneficial to both the parent and the baby.

The Benefits of Elimination Communication

EC offers a broad range of benefits. First and foremost is the reduction in the number of diapers that you will need to purchase; a significant savings to you. But fewer diapers also means and this means savings to the planet in the reduction of diapers being sent to the landfills.

Then of course there is the elimination of the whole “rash” of problems that can be caused by traditional diapering including (but not limited to) diaper rash, urinary tract infections, yeast infections as well as difficult or resistant potty training.

And finally, EC enables an even deeper connection to be made between the infant and their caregiver. By practicing EC you are, in effect, practicing awareness of your child and their needs, an action that can bring you even closer together.

Should You Practice EC?

The choice of practicing elimination communication will depend to a great extent on the choices you make as well as the practicality. For many, full time elimination communication will not be an option as they are not able (for whatever reason) to stay at home full time with their child and most day care providers are not willing to go to this great of lengths when it comes to toilet training.

One of the easiest ways to get started to is to read a few books about the subject, like Diaper Free Baby. They are filled with real life stories so you can see what others had success with and what didn’t work as well. Attachment parenting forums are usually a  good place to find EC moms online as well.

Even if you cannot practice full time EC, you can still take advantage of it whenever you are home with your child, and even though it may not be as effective as a potty training method when done part time, it can still provide an incredible bonding experience and reduce your reliance on diapers.

So what do you think? Worth a try?

Guest post: Jeremy Dyen

When I asked my wife, when she was pregnant, what she thought about natural childbirth, she told me she was uninterested.  She planned on using an epidural to deal with the inevitable, and horrible, pain.  She worked as a physician in a hospital at that time, so I know she welcomed whatever other procedures would alleviate pain, make the birth go faster and, most importantly, ensure a healthy baby and mommy.  I didn’t press the issue, figuring it’s her body, and her choice.  That was that…  Or not.

As it turned out, my wife birthed with no medical intervention and no drugs, in the comfort of our own home.  We switched from a hospital birth to homebirth in her last trimester.   Both she and our daughter were completely healthy.  My wife birthed without pain.  She says the birth was intense–the most intense experience, perhaps, of her life.  But it was not painful.

She opted for a natural birth because we learned about lots of the benefits:

• Avoid the cascade of interventions resulting from using an epidural, such as pitocin, vacuum, forceps and C-section.
• Not being hooked up to monitors meant my wife could move around and be in more comfortable and optimal birth positions.
• Avoids tearing that often results from timed/forced pushing.  That kind of pushing is used when an epidural makes it hard for a woman to feel her contractions.  In natural birth, your body definitely knows when to push.
• Optimal levels of oxytocin.  Oxytocin is a powerful hormone that stimulates the uterus to start the birth process. Oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone,” is integral to breastfeeding and bonding between mother and baby.
• Natural birth is highly empowering, and seems to tap into an instinctual and primordial rite of passage for mother and baby.

With a pregnancy often times comes the realization that babies are expensive. But is that really true? Does having a baby automatically mean you have to kiss your money goodbye? In my opinion the answer is NO. Green moms are way ahead of the curve when it comes to raising baby on the cheap. The old saying applies equally to “stuff” we accumulate when raising children… “Use it Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, or Do Without”. There is no reason we need to fall victim to the marketing hype that declares we NEED all the latest baby gadgets, equipment, and toys. Here are some ways to raise baby green… and cheap.

Extended Breastfeeding – Why buy expensive formula when you have milk on tap. Its the healthiest food you could ever give your child and it is FREE! And while you are at it, don’t rush solids. There is no reason to start your 4 month old baby on solid baby food, in fact most conventional doctors recommend to wait until at least six months. Many natural parenting advocates recommend starting even later than that, perhaps around the 9 month mark. Waiting to introduce solids can help prevent food allergies.

Co-sleep – You most likely already have a bed so why buy another? Co-sleeping is very safe and it is very convenient for breastfeeding moms as well. In our family, we didn’t have to worry about buying beds until our kids were about 4-5 years old. An added bonus for co-sleeping parents is the deep bond you form with your kiddos.

Wear Your Baby - Investing in a good baby sling or wrap can save money in the long run. When you choose to wear your baby you can often forgo a stroller, bouncy seat, rocking swing, or other device meant to entertain your baby so you can be hands free. You would be surprised how much you can get done while wearing a baby in a sling and once again it helps you to bond with your child. Modern interventions do nothing to help you and your child form a deep attachment.

Buy Used – Check out yards sales, thrift stores, and online classifieds sites to buy baby items like clothing. Organic clothing is certainly worth it but used clothing has been sufficiently washed so that pesticide residue is no longer an issue and buying used saves energy resources used to make new clothing. Babies don’t need expensive little outfits either; they can’t read the tag to know whether the outfit came from Gymboree or whether it was purchased at Baby GAP.

Used maternity clothing is another smart purchase. If you only need those clothes for 5-6 months why buy new?

Cloth Diaper – Using cloth can mean a hefty initial investment in diapers but it also means a large cost savings in the long run. To keep costs low use prefold diapers and diaper covers. You can even dye the prefolds groovy colors if feel the need to jazz them up. If you knit you can also make homemade wool diaper covers and longies for baby. Another option is to buy used. There is a huge market for used diapers on eBay and cloth diaper forums. Doing it this way enables you to try dozens of different diaper types to see what ones you like best. And of course you can always make your own for only a couple dollars per diaper. They really are one of the easiest things you can sew.

Make Your Own – Thrifty moms can save a lot by avoiding commercial versions of the products they need. If you need baby food why buy the little jars for $1 a piece when you can puree your own in a food processor or blender. Just set aside some of the food that the big people are eating and blend it for baby. There are also numerous baby food cookbooks on the market. Get some from the library and and write them down your baby’s favorites on recipe cards for easy reference.

You can also make your own natural baby products like natural lotions, bath oils, creams, diaper creams, talc-free powders, and shampoos. You will save money AND prevent exposure to dubious chemicals and synthetic products.

Forgo The Gadgets – Do you really need that exersaucer or the wipes warmer? Probably not. Get creative and come up with alternatives. Instead of a wipes warmer why not use cloth wipes sprayed with a bit of warm water? Then you won’t need to buy store brand wipes either.

What is your favorite way to go green and save green while raising baby?

One of the struggles of trying to parent as naturally as possible is handling obvious pain and discomfort in our children without going the mainstream route and medicating them with potentially dangerous substances. Whether or not they like berry or bubblegum flavored medicated syrup is a non issue when you won’t give them that stuff regardless. Teething may be one of the first times we go looking for a way to relieve their pain naturally and there are no shortage of safer, more natural teething relief options that we can look to before we open that bottle of baby Motrin. Here are some of your options:

Natural Teething Toys

Babies know instinctively how to chew to relieve their pain, that is why they will happily munch on your finger, your cars keys, sling padding… whatever they can get their little mouths on. Obviously though we want to make sure that whatever they are gnawing on is safe though. Your finger is most likely a-okay, your car keys… not so much. There are quite a few toys on the market designed to be safe and effective for chewing and teething.

The Spelt Cushion Cotti - This adorable soft lamb is filled with a removable, spelt grain pillow. It accompanies its little owner right from the first day and it is ready for snuggles. The spelt pillow is heatable and can make falling asleep easier. Outer material: high quality organically farmed cotton. Inner material: natural spelt grain seed.

Sophie the Giraffe Teether – This one is very popular among parents. Sophie the Giraffe is perfect for baby’s small hands. She is very light and her long legs and neck are easy for baby to grip. She is very soft to touch, stimulating soothing physiological and emotional responses. Smell: The singular scent of natural rubber makes Sophie the Giraffe very special and easy for your child to identify. Sophie is Phthalates and BPA free.

Teething Necklaces For Mom

Smart Mom Teething Bling – LOVE this necklace set that moms can wear to give their babes something safe to chew on. Not only would I wear these anyway, just because they are pretty, I would be super happy to know my kidlets were chewing on something safe. Made from a food-safe, phthalate-free, federally-approved silicone, Teething Bling looks great on Moms, Grandmas, Aunts and Caregivers but is safe for curious babies to handle and chew. LOVE the colors!!

Wooden Teething Rings

Teething rings don’t have to be plastic. There are plenty of wood options.

Waldorf Maple Teething Ring - The Camden Rose teether was designed to stimulate sight and touch with beautiful organic shapes and the comfort of hardwood. Easy to grasp for little fingers and soothing to rub on tender gums, the Maple Teether is best for the baby who, at about 3 months, starts to explore the object-mouth relationship. Each teether is fashioned from maple wood and finished with non-toxic beeswax.

Kringelring by Haba - Kringelring is a wonderful teething ring made of beech wood with maple elements threaded over a sturdy, cloth-covered red band. Two blue rings clatter merrily when this rattle is handled. Finished with completely non-toxic, child-friendly substances. This quality toy was designed and manufactured in Germany

Homeopathic Teething Aids

Boiron Homeopathic Camilia Teething Relief - Homeopathic single use medicine with no preservatives. Relieves gum soreness and pain brought on by teething.

Hylands Children’s Teething Gel – calms pain and irritability due to teething with 100% Natural ingredients like Chamomile. Free of artificial flavors and parabens.

Clove Oil – Mix a couple drops of clove bud oil with some edible vegetable oil and apply to the gums. This stuff is potent though so make sure not to give them too much or too often.

Teething Necklaces for Baby

Amber Teething Necklaces - Amber is a natural substance from trees. It is actually fossilised sap and it has been used for a long time in European countries for its natural pain relief and natural anti-inflammatory properties due to the slow release of its natural oils when warmed by your skin.

Teething Towels/Blankets

A washcloth from your linen closet makes a great teether! But if you prefer something a little nicer there are many of these on the market…

Dandelion Classic Organic Toy Bear Blanket - The Bear Teething Blanket from Dandelion Toys features knots, tags and ears for teething and touching. Velour with Dandelion’s Swirly Stitches pattern. Made from organic fabric and machine washable

What is your favorite trick or gadget to handle teething pain?

Recommended: Natural Remedies for Diaper Rash and Natural Remedies for Baby Eczema.

The level of toxic chemicals in baby furniture is shocking. Sadly, most cribs on the market today are made of engineered woods like MDF and particleboard that contain formaldehyde and VOC-laden finishes. With newborns typically spending up to 16 hours a day sleeping, shopping for a safe crib is essential.

What Should You Look For?

Eco-friendly cribs can be found online and in major stores. When shopping for a crib, look for one that’s:

• Made of solid hardwood like maple
• Finished with non-toxic finishes
• Held together with non-toxic glues

Styles to Meet Every Taste

Green doesn’t have to mean ugly unfinished wood swimming in beige. Today’s eco-friendly cribs come in a wide variety of styles to suit every taste and budget. Here are some of my favorites:

I love the sleek lines and ultra-bold color choices of the Caravan Crib from Kalon Studios. It’s available in 100% raw maple with black, red, yellow, blue or green rails.

OK, I have to say that it looks a little like a fish tank to me, but it’s still cool. The durable half-inch, BPA-free, phthalate free, 100% recyclable clear acrylic front on the Roh crib from Spot On Square gives your baby a true “room with a view.”

Love the Muu panel system! Customize the crib to suit your taste and easily change the panel out if you decide to update your décor. A magnet system securely holds each MuuPanel in place but allows it to be easily replaced in seconds; no tools necessary. First child a boy and second one a girl? Switch the panel instead of buying a new piece of furniture—another eco-friendly feature!

The podcot is a cozy cocoon-shaped crib that’s thoroughly modern and easily converts into a toddler bed. I love the unique rounded appearance.

The Duc Duc Cabana Crib. I remember dreaming of having my very own canopy bed when I was a little girl. Why not start your little one off right with this dreamy canopy crib?

The Dakota collection is the first Graco baby furniture to be eco friendly. Selling at stores such as Wal-Mart and Target, it’s also one of the first green cribs that’s truly affordable.

Celery’s Lullaboo line of furniture includes this crib made from bamboo and low-VOC paint and finishes. It has adjustable supports that extend the sleeping platform as your baby grow. You can even swap out one of the end panels for a chalkboard. How clever is that?

The Solare crib from Q Collection is made of 100% locally-sourced solid ash and bentwood construction. Handmade in the USA, it was selected by treehugger.com as their “dark green” selection for new parents. My favorite part—the built in mobiles at each end.

See related article: Eco Friendly Highchairs

You will have heard of a honeymoon, but what about a babymoon? A honeymoon is understood to be a time of intimacy and closeness between a bride and groom, and a babymoon is also a time of intimacy and closeness. It’s a time for a mother and baby to get to know each other. Breastfeeding, attachment, and many necessary things occur when a mother takes time out for a babymoon.

The concept of a babymoon is not new, even if the term is. The term “babymoon” has been used to refer to close time between couples before the birth of their child, but generally speaking the term is reserved for those few weeks after birth.

All over the world, various cultures recognize the weeks immediately following birth to be an almost sacred time of rest and solitude for mother and baby. In some parts of the world, new mothers are pampered – fed special foods, given massages, and otherwise treated with care during the postpartum period. There is a reason why this global tradition is being upheld – there are many benefits. Here are some.

Healing

Your body has undergone a tremendous series of events. Pregnancy and childbirth, depending on the circumstances and health of the mother, can be draining at best and traumatic at worst. Your body needs time to heal physically, especially in the case of perineal tearing or a C-section. It also needs time to heal emotionally, as your body undergoes enormous hormonal shifts after birth and you adjust to the new routine of baby care.

Bonding

Western cultures tend to discourage mother-infant bonding. Mothers talk about how little their child needs them and how well he or she goes with a caregiver. But the importance of close bonding should not be diminished. During the babymoon, mother and baby should have lots of skin-to-skin contact and interaction. The close bond that is formed will build a foundation of security that will last for the rest of the baby’s life.

Health

An old midwife recommendation was for a new mother not to leave the house for six weeks. More and more we are discovering the wisdom of that caution. During the first six weeks of life, a baby’s immune system is still developing. It’s a germy world out there, and while exposure does help build immunity, the immune system must be ready before exposure can have any beneficial effect.

Breastfeeding

The health benefits of breastfeeding are too numerous to list here, but suffice to say that a babymoon encourages the breastfeeding relationship. Mother and baby have time to bond and learn the sometimes challenging art of breastfeeding without the rush of trying to get back to the old routine right away.

Wahoo! It is so darn easy to be a green parent these days. Seriously ya’ll having babies nowadays are really lucky. I missed all the adorable glass baby bottles with silicone sleeves, the BPA free baby gear, and now these glass baby food storage containers from Wean Green. They are stylish, safe, and green. How good will that homemade baby food look in these babies?

They come in a four pack and they have plastic locking lids so there is a bit of plastic but it is BPA, PVC, Phthalates, and Plasticizer free. Also made of 100% durable recyclable and sustainable glass with a silicone-sealed lid. Measuring lines at 30 mL, 60 mL and 90 mL to help you monitor food intake. Love the company name to… Wean Green… how cute is that?

Anyone tried these yet?

I really wish I had a book like The Art of Pregnancy when I was was pregnant with each of my three kids. As it was I had a more mainstream pregnancy journal/planner book and it did more to make me anxious or fearful than to relax me and inspire me. As the natural parenting and childbirth movements gain ground we see more great books like these, books that empower women to gestate and give birth on their own terms.

It is a planner so it helps you stay organized during this momentous time and it follows the weeks of pregnancy giving information and inspiration for celebrating what is going on in your body at the moment. It is also an art book, which I LOVE. It is full of gorgeous artwork depicting pregnant women and the type of art represented is vast and varied. It made me swell with pride 4 years AFTER my last birth so I can only imagine how uplifting these photos of strong beautiful women would be while you are with child. Pregnancy is a time when so many women feel down on their looks but this book celebrates that gorgeous baby bump and those curves that are developing to sustain your baby.

I remember a lot of advice to shop for different things in the pregnancy planner I had. This books is quite a bit different. It offers advice on how to celebrate and appreciate where you are in the moment and to how stay physically and emotionally healthy for what lies ahead. Aka have an organic potluck, have your belly painted with non toxic paints, asks friends for a single bead with a blessing and make a birth necklace, prayer flags, massage your baby, do yoga, ect. There are several beautiful poems sprinkled throughout too. It really makes me long to have another baby, LOL.

This book would be a great gift for any pregnant mamas you know or for yourself too of course. It is a planner, a  journal, a guide, a source of inspiration and inner strength, and an art book. Enjoy!

Ever tried the little jars of baby food from the store? Yuck! Even before I knew much about whole foods I knew that those little jars were nasty. Not only do they taste quite bad IMO and not at all like the like real foods they are imitating, they are not fresh foods and they are packed with preservatives usually. From the beginning of my career as a mom I bypassed those jars as much as possible and opted to feed my babes what the rest of us were eating… pureed of course. I have a video of my youngest eating his first real meal at about 8 months old (breastfed before that). He devoured a puree of 13 bean stew… and I mean devoured. On the video he is trying to dive into the crock pot and he screams when the food is out of his reach. This is significant because this was just after my cancer diagnosis and my release from the hospital. My family was taking care of the little guy while I couldn’t and the breast milk bank was now permanently closed. They tried to feed him some store bought baby food and he did NOT like it. But the 13 bean stew? The boy was screaming (literally) for whole foods.

Recently I was sent a copy of the book Organically Raised – Conscious Cooking for Babies and Toddlers and I can’t say enough good things about it. Not only is it a beautiful book with tons of gorgeous pictures that had me drooling for baby and toddler food… the concept is so important for parents of young ones to grasp. Chemical laden baby food from jars is not really easier and more convenient than making wholesome organic, baby food yourself from whole foods. In my experience the opposite is true. I also believe that the BEST way to get your kids eating healthy whole foods, and tons of fruits and veggies as kids is to start by feeding them these foods as a baby in the freshest forms available. Is it any coincidence that my kids all ate REAL food as babes and that I now have zero problems in the getting kids to eat veggies department? I don’t think so. We went to a buffet recently and attracted much attention when my kids filled their own plates with broccoli, green beans, peas, mushrooms, and various fruits. Around me I saw several kids eating Jello and drumsticks for dinner… nuff said.

Also because they are so little and vulnerable, they benefit greatly from organic foods. They don’t need any more chemical exposure than they already get from their environment. This book gives lots of advice for feeding kids consciously with many delicious recipes. The toddler food is also great for encouraging adventurous eating. Greek falafel bites with cucumber-dill dipping sauce and quinoa primavera are healthy foods sure enough but they are also FAR from what kids who eat the SAD (Standard American Diet) are used to and that is a very good thing. Kids who are exposed to many different and unique foods as children will try more foods overall and have a more diverse diet as adults. That is code for saying they won’t be picky eaters. We all know those picky adult eaters don’t we? The ones who think anything but meat and potatoes is exotic and foreign.

I can’t wait to make some of these tasty toddler dishes for my youngest and thankfully there were lots of non meat recipes in the book because the boy isn’t big on eating things with faces. I know we will all love the food and I especially loved reading the book. The pictures alone made me sad that my young kiddo days are almost gone. If you are prone to baby fever you may not want to read it… the pictures of the babies and toddlers are just as delicious as the food ones.

This is THE cookbook for parents who want to feed their babies and toddlers organic, real, nourishing, whole foods. Thank you Anni Daulter for an amazing book!