Why Babywearing can make your life easier!
The stresses of being a parent, coupled with common daily tasks such as working, errands, and housekeeping can be extremely overwhelming. Tending to your responsibilities while struggling with swings, high chairs, strollers and other bulky devices used to keep your baby safe and happy can be more of a hindrance than help. These items are often pricey and short lived, cluttering up space and emptying your wallet. There is an easier way to accomplish these tasks while saving space, money and LOTS of tears from you and your loved little one. The answer is a timeless technique used for ages called Babywearing.

For centuries, women and men alike have kept their babies safe and happy by utilizing babywearing techniques while tending to their duties. Cultures that keep their babies close to them have babies who cry much less than in other more modernized cultures that use cumbersome devices to transport and entertain their babies.

Keeping the baby close to your body provides the wearer with awareness of what your baby needs and allows you to respond quickly before the baby has to cry for attention, eliminating much time spent comforting an already upset child and loosing track of what you were doing. Studies (Hunziker, U. A. and Barr, R, G. (1986).) have shown that babies who are carried and/or worn cry 43% less through out the day, compared to babies who were left in devices such as baby seats and cribs.

Babies that are carried or worn see a wider range of their caregiver’s activities, absorbing and learning more from their environment and the alertness of the caregiver. On average, most people will talk more to the baby when it is close and therefore, language and communication skills can develop faster. If a baby is in a stroller or car seat, they are often times left at ground level looking towards the sky, with little or no stimulation from surrounding people.

For parents with multiple children, wearing your infant while tending to the older children allows for more play time and learning time for all the members of the family. For some parents, having a double stroller is not an option due to financial and spatial restraints. These devices can also become an overwhelming piece of equipment that is often unwieldy and difficult to maneuver around stores, use in conjunction with public transportation and personal vehicles, and take up large amounts of room in people’s living quarters.

Many new moms feel uncomfortable nursing in public and find themselves not going out much in the early stages of the baby’s life because of such frequent feedings. Wearing your baby in a carrier keeps them close to the breast and allows for very discreet nursing and easy napping. This also helps to promote healthy production of breast milk for mom, making it easier to continue to breastfeed with confidence that your baby is getting enough and as frequent enough as they need.

So, if there are all these great benefits, why don’t we see more of it? I ask myself this question all the time. Let me introduce myself. My Name is Kaire Downin, and I am the mother of 3 children. I found babywearing to be the most efficient way to run errands and get my responsibilities taken care of, starting with my first child. I wore my son in a sling and a framed back pack, all of which I purchased in department stores or thrift stores; he very rarely ever sat in a stroller or stayed in a car seat happily. After I was done using these carriers I passed them on to friends with babies to try out and they loved them! My only problem with these carriers was they weren’t as comfortable or pretty as I would have liked them to be. I lived with bursitis in my shoulder from wearing a popular low priced sling. I was as determined to wear my baby as he was to be worn, so I didn’t stop when I was uncomfortable.

With my second child, I used the same sling and back carrier as I did with my son and had the same problems and nearly gave up. She was not as high needs as my son was and didn’t mind being left in a bouncy seat, was pretty content on the floor or with another person, but she was only 6 months old when I became pregnant with my third.

When my third child was born, she was more high needs than the rest of them. The need for her to be carried in a way that would allow me the freedom of running after my 16 month old toddler and 5 year old preschooler was also higher and I was sure sick of that ugly old carrier I had. I decided it was time for something new so I did some searching online and found www.thebabywearer.com, where I looked through lists of types of carriers, who made them, how much people loved them and then I bought a mei tai. I loved this design yet, this model was not as comfy as I wanted it to be, and I really would have liked longer straps and different fabrics. So I went to designing a better one for myself. I offered this “new” carrier to my friends and family members and then started offering them for sale. Within 2 months I had a 6 week waitlist and have now sold 100’s of these carriers in beautiful fabrics and have helped many mothers and fathers find a way to tackle their daily challenges and do it with a happy baby, therefore creating a happier family.

So now my issue is helping people understand that babywearing won’t spoil your child, it won’t hurt your back if you get the right carrier for you, it is more convenient than lugging around car seats and strollers, and that most babies DO like being tied to your their caregiver! The problem seems to be a lack of immediate information, readily available varieties of carriers to try on, the ability to experience them first hand, and the misconception that you can only buy baby carriers in stores; which, incidentally, are the ones that turn people off to babywearing in the first place, being uncomfortable, often overpriced and only usable for 3-6 months.

Solution & Research
Find the carrier that is right for you, your family, and your budget. There are several kinds of carriers and several online vendors who make and distribute them with all their own individual tweaks and concepts that make them unique.

There are Ring Slings: a long piece of fabric with rings on one end that you thread the other end through and make a pouch for the baby to sit or lay in. They come in different fabrics from solid colors, to fancy brocades and colorful batiks; they come in different sizes, different shoulder styles and accessories like pockets, cell phone clips and diaper bags.

There are Pouches: very similar to a sling except it is not adjustable and has much less fabric. These are one shouldered carriers that you can do front, hip and back carries, newborn to toddlers, discreet nursing, and give the wearer extreme compact convenience.

There are Wraps: a long piece of fabric used to wrap around you and tie your baby on. These kind of cloth carriers are the most versatile of carriers. The wearer can utilize a cradle hold, a vertical hold, front, back, and hip carries at different levels and heights. These qualities make this carrier a must have from newborn to toddler!

There are Mei Tais, a type of Asian carrier: these carriers are usually a rectangle piece of fabric with 2 or 4 straps coming from it. These can be easily adjusted to the individual wearer making it easy for several caregivers to use without adjusting buckles and clips, and are very versatile for newborns through toddlers, almost all the same types of carries as a wrap can be utilizied.

You can access a whole world of information on www.thebabywearer.com and www.mamatoto.org.

About the Article
You can access my webpage at www.freehandbaby.com for purchasing my mei tais and other Asian style carriers and for a list of links and distributors who carry many kinds for carriers, you are SURE to find one (or 2 or 3!) that suits your needs!

Having a baby can be very expensive, and so if you can find ways to cut corners, it’s worth doing. That’s where homemade baby wipes can be of great benefit. Not only do you save money, you can also be more confident what it is that you’re using on your baby’s precious skin. You can be reassured there’s nothing that might cause irritation.

Like baby wipes you purchase in a store, homemade baby wipes are portable and convenient. To make them, start with a roll of paper towels, such as Viva or Bounty. You will also need baby bath liquid, water, and a sturdy plastic container with a lid. I’m sure you can already see how you’re saving money – buying baby wipes costs from $3 to $5 a package. You’re paying for chemicals, fragrance, alcohol or other ingredients that dry the skin, and water. The ingredients listed for homemade baby wipes make two batches of wipes, so you’re only paying around 60 cent per package. Even better, you choose the baby bath liquid, and can therefore use organic or all natural if you wish to.

Firstly, choose a cylindrical plastic container, slightly bigger than a quart container. It needs to be tall enough to hold a roll of paper towels cut in half (so a bit bigger than a roll of toilet paper). Make sure the container’s lid fits tightly. Use a sharp blade to cut an “x” slit in middle of the lid.

Now, cut your roll of paper towel in half using a sharp knife. You will end up with two smaller rolls that look quite similar to rolls of toilet paper. Put one half of the paper towel roll into the container.

Grab a bowl, and mix together 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of the baby bath liquid. Pour this mixture into your homemade baby wipes container. Now you can go and make yourself a coffee, as you’ll need to wait about five minutes while the paper towels soak up the bath liquid mixture. Once the five minutes has passed, gently pull the cardboard core out of the middle of the paper towel roll. As you pull the core out, the innermost piece of paper towel should follow it up. Pull the piece of paper towel through the slit you cut in the container’s lid, and put the lid back on.

Now, when you’re ready to use a wipe, just pull the paper towel up through the lid of the container. The paper towel is perforated, so it will tear off easily at the perforation, leaving the next wipe poking through the lid, ready to use when you need it.

The container works well when you’re at home, but homemade baby wipes can also be used when you’re out and about. Pull out the number of baby wipes you’ll need and put them in a zip lock plastic bag. You can then just unzip the bag and take out a wipe when you need one, or you can cut a small hole in the bag to pull through one end of the first wipe, ready for use. In that case you may want to put the whole zip lock bag inside a plastic portable wipes box, both to stop them leaking and protect them from drying out in the air. Now you have portable homemade baby wipes!

Homemade baby wipes are very simple to make, cheap, convenient and much better for your baby’s skin – so make your own today!

About the Author:
Find heaps more great money saving baby ideas at Info About Baby You can sign up for a FREE Baby Tips newsletter at Baby Tips Newsletter. The author’s book about babies is available at Baby’s First Year.

by: Meredith Edwards-Cornwall

Baby in a highchair, mom in front with a small spoon and a jar of baby food. It looks like something right out of a parenting magazine, and it’s a scene that is played out several times a day in the majority of homes with small babies. Unfortunately, it’s also a powerful marketing image that can cost a family a great deal of money in the long run.

The Convenience Factor
Most parents would say the main reason for using commercial jarred baby food is the convenience aspect. After all, with the busy lifestyle many of us have today, no one has time to specially prepare a meal for each member of the family. It doesn’t have to be a special event to create your own baby food, however. Baby can usually eat what the rest of the family is eating with very little special preparation.

Good Nutrition
Everyone worries about proper nutrition for growing babies. Iron, calcium, and vitamin D – all of these things are legitimate concerns in children’s nutrition. However, fortified and processed foods aren’t necessarily better than whole foods. Homemade baby food, created from fresh ingredients, offers your child superior nutrition as well as encourages a taste for simple, unprocessed foods – a taste that will possibly prevent obesity-related problems later in life. It’s not necessary to offer commercial baby foods in order to have a healthy child.

Economics
Why pay more for an inferior product? Beginning baby food often runs between forty and seventy cents for two ounces. It’s entirely possible to purchase half a pound of produce for the same amount, and baby will reap the benefits of eating fresh, nutritious food. Buying produce in bulk can result in even more savings, and even frozen produce is preferable to what you find in the jars.

Getting Started
It’s important to know when baby is actually ready for solids. Introducing solids too early can lead to an increased likelihood of food intolerances and food allergies. Most medical associations agree that starting solids around six months of age is ideal, and many people find delaying solids for allergy-prone babies is even better. Signs of readiness for solids include:

• Increased nursing for more than a few days, which is unrelated to illness or teething, or, if baby is fed artificial baby milk, consuming more than 32 ounces daily.
• Ability to sit up unsupported.
• Absence of the tongue-thrust reflex. This life-saving reflex causes babies to push foreign objects (in this case, solid foods) out of their mouths to avoid choking.
• Ability to pick foods up and place in mouth independently (or development of the pincer grasp).

What About Allergies?
Experts recommend introducing new foods between three days and a week apart. This helps parents and caregivers identify signs of a food allergy or intolerance. Common signs of food allergy/intolerance are:

• Increased bloating and gassiness, painful discomfort.
• Sandpaper-like raised rash on face, often where the offending food made contact with skin.
• Runny nose and watery eyes.
• Diarrhea or mucous in the stools. Blood in the stool can also be an indicator of a food allergy, usually dairy or soy.
• Red rash around anus, or an unusual diaper rash.
• Vomiting or increased spit up with discomfort.

Ideally, it is best to introduce foods that are less likely to produce an allergic reaction in baby. Avoiding foods such as egg whites, certain nuts such as peanuts, cow’s milk, corn, wheat, and some berries such as strawberries is recommended, as they are more likely to cause reactions. Instead, start with foods that are easier on baby’s system. Some good ideas include:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Peaches
• Pears
• Carrots
• Squash
• Sweet potatoes
• Asparagus
• Oats
• Barley
• Brown rice

Tools of the Trade
Fancy equipment isn’t necessary to make healthy food for your baby. Things that might be helpful include a blender, a food mill, a steamer basket and ice cube trays if you want to freeze small portions. Most people have blenders already in their kitchens, and a food mill (or baby grinder) isn’t necessary if you have a good blender or food processor. Steamer baskets can be found in most grocery stores for only a few dollars, and fit easily into saucepans. Many beginner foods require nothing more than a small pan and a fork.

Sequencing
Many doctors recommend starting your baby on rice cereal first. Many parents find, however, that fruits go over better for beginning eaters. It is a myth that babies will prefer sweet things if they are given fruits first – nature’s first food, breast milk, is naturally sweet, and that is what baby is accustomed to. Banana is a wonderful first food, as its creamy consistency is similar to mother’s milk. After introducing banana, try another fruit or vegetable. Continue adding fruits and vegetables until baby has a wide variety of tastes. Then consider adding whole grains in the form of cereal. Many whole grains have naturally occurring iron, so there is no need to supplement baby’s iron unless there is a medical indication for doing so. Brown rice, oats, and barley are all good choices. Next, introduce a meat or poultry such as beef or chicken. If you are a vegetarian, introduce another protein source such as tofu or lentils. As time goes on, introduce a combination of tastes, such as cereal mixed with applesauce or peas and carrots. This is also a great time to introduce finger foods, especially if baby has teeth. As baby learns to self-feed, you can move away from making purees and offer small baby-sized portions of the family meal.

Getting Started
Bananas make an ideal food for a baby starting solids. To serve, let bananas ripen well (the more ripe, the better – brown spots are desirable), cut into small chunks and mash with a fork. Pears are an excellent source of fiber and can be cooked like apples: peel and cut into chunks. Place in small saucepan and just cover with water. Cook until tender. These can then be mashed with a fork, run through a food mill, processed in a blender or food processor. They can also be offered as finger food if they are cut into small enough chunks. Carrots, another popular first food, should be scraped with a vegetable peeler, sliced and steamed or boiled until soft. Process in blender or food mill. Carrots can be a choking hazard for children, so do use caution if offering as a finger food.

Sweet potatoes are extremely easy to make, and one potato can last a long time if frozen after cooking. Place sweet potato in a microwave for about eight minutes, remove and let cool. Open up and serve right out of the peel – the potato is very soft and needs no further processing. Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of B6.

Winter squash such as acorn or butternut makes an excellent first food. Cut squash in half and clean. Place in one half inch of water in a baking pan and bake at three hundred and fifty degrees for half an hour. Use a spoon to scoop out squash and feed directly to baby.

Avocadoes are an extremely nutrient dense food and offers important vitamins and minerals such as iron and potassium. Cut avocado in half around the pit, grab each half and give it a twist. Scoop out meat and mash or dice.

Making cereal for baby is very easy. Take a cup of the whole grain if your choice such as brown rice, oats, or barley and process in the blender until the desired consistency is reached, usually about two minutes for very young babies. Store in an airtight container. To cook, mix with liquid of your choice and heat over medium heat on stove until thick.

Enjoyment
Enjoy this fun stage in baby’s development, and rest assured that baby is getting superior nutrition and developing good eating habits which will last a lifetime!

About The Author
Meredith Edwards-Cornwall owns and operates Attached Mamas at www.attachedmamas.com, which caters to families looking to achieve health naturally. Remedies for colic, morning sickness, infertility and more. She is also a designer for the web and print and owns Beach Designs Studio at www.beachdesigns.net.
meredith@attachedmamas.com