Mamatography 2014 - Week 3

This post is part of the Mamatography 2014 Project with Diary of a First Child and Momma Jorje.

We are taking (at least) a photo a day, a collage or a picture each week to keep a record of our year. Join us at any point during the year and start sharing your own daily photos!

Click Get the code here below to add the blog hop to your blog and join the fun. (Also sign up to be added to a comment group!)

Day 12 - Sunday - January 12

I hung this cheap mirror at the suggestion of Spencer's Speech Therapist.
It was an instant hit!

Same S#!*, Different Day

Welcome to the January 2014 Carnival of Natural Parenting:
The More Things Stay the Same

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have talked about the continuity and constancy in their lives. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

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I've been seeking out some change... some change in my son. He has some serious sleep problems. He usually sleeps in 45 minute increments. He had sleep problems before, they turned out to be thyroid-related. Within a month of this new sleep problem, I went to our Pediatrician for help. Much like he had advised when Sasha was waking every hour to nurse, he told me to night wean Spencer. Well Spencer still wasn't eating great and as long as he was still nursing plenty, I had room to not worry over it. Spencer has always nursed best in a sleepy state, during the night. Night weaning? No, that was not our answer.

He rolls and flips around in his sleep. A lot.

Long Version

^{Skip to short version.}
We went to our Ear, Nose & Throat doctor. He diagnosed that Spencer was recovering from an upper respiratory infection. We had no idea! We scheduled a follow up in 2 months. He said if the sleep problem got better, then worse or if it just didn't improve to call sooner. After 2 weeks, I knew nothing was changing. It took 2 more weeks to get back in to see the ENT.

Saw the ENT and found one of Spencer's ear tubes (placed in November 2012) had come loose. Time for replacements. Spencer had his second Myringotomy (new tubes) in October 2013. When asked, the ENT did say that this might help him sleep better. "Might?" Great. More hoping...

Alas, no change. Still. Last time Spencer had sleep issues they were much worse. (He would sleep 10-30 minutes maximum at any given time, 24 hours a day.) I called and left a message with our Endocrinologist's (thyroid doctor) nurse, asking if I could try doubling the medicine they prescribed to treat Spencer's hyperthyroid symptoms. When they called me back, they wanted to see Spencer the next day! (This is surprising because it takes a while to get an appointment there.) We saw the Endocrinologist who checked him over and sent Spencer for some blood work.

Doubling the dose didn't change anything and after a couple of months, I dropped Spencer back down to a half dose. Spencer's blood work came back... presumed iron deficiency. He conferred with his best friend, a Pediatric Hematologist. They offered instructions to give Spencer a double daily dose of iron (split into morning and evening) for a week, then drop to a single dose. Test again in 2 weeks. I had actually mentioned the possibility of iron deficiency to the Endocrinologist in relation to Spencer's obsession with eating hair. He was fascinated when I reminded him of this. He also suggested (hello? my idea!) doubling of Spencer's medication dose (he was only taking a half dose in the first place).

After the second blood tests, we got confirmation of actual Anemia, but his numbers were improving. This time the lab sent a copy to our Pediatrician (I'd requested this for both tests). He called me and said he was sending over an iron scrip to our pharmacy. Um... duh? Thanks, we'll get it and try it anyway. Hope its better than what we're using. (It wasn't and we've since switched to a 3rd iron supplement product.)

Meanwhile I had my first ever anxiety attack and we tried other things without doctors' help.

We returned for our scheduled follow up with the ENT. I mentioned Spencer actually gasping in his sleep on a couple of occasions, in addition to snoring. He finally sent us to see the Audiologist (the next step toward a sleep study). We couldn't get in to see the Pulmonologist until the last day of the year.

The Pulmonologist basically suggested night weaning, but in nicer terms. He talked about sleep patterns and Spencer learning to self soothe (and eventually not waking up every cycle). He also prescribed a steroid nasal spray to use each evening, but said if it didn't work within 2 weeks to give it up. I was beginning to worry that we would still not get or sleep study. He did, however, put in the request. They are quite backlogged in that department, though. We're still waiting for the sleep study. I have also ordered some other nasal spray that comes highly recommended. We'll have a follow up with the Pulmonologist after 6 weeks.

Pretty playful, considering he'd been up since 5am.
He soon fell asleep... just in time to leave for an appointment.

Short Version

We have gone through scheduling, waiting and eventually seeing our Pediatrician, Ear Nose & Throat Doctor, Endocrinologist, ENT again and now a Pulmonologist. We've also had our Well Child Check again.

I keep digging in the medical system, researching, asking other parents of children with Down syndrome, children with other special needs and even typical children. I continue to fish for new answers, trying to find our answer. It has begun to feel like a never-ending quest. Its has turned into Same #!*, Different Day as I go day-to-day often just trying to survive the day. This is one area in which I am way beyond being ready for a change!

^{Go back for Long Version}

What constants do you have in your life? Hopefully something happier than mine!

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Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

• Always an Artist — Some kids take longer than others to come into themselves, so you have to stick with them, as a parent, long after everyone else has given up, writes Douglas at Friendly Encounters.
• Not Losing Yourself as a First Time Mom — Katie at All Natural Katie continues to stay true to herself after becoming a new mom.
• Using Continuity to Help Change {Carnival of Natural Parenting} — Meegs from A New Day talks about how she is using continuity in certain areas of her life to help promote change and growth in others.
• Staying the Same : Security — Life changes all the time with growing children but Mother Goutte realised that there are other ways to 'stay the same' and feel secure, maybe a bit too much so!
• Harmony is What I'm After — Tribal Mama gushes about how constant change is really staying the same and staying the same brings powerful change.
• A Primal Need For Order and Predictability – And How I Let That Go — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama shares how she overcame her primal need for order and predictability once her awareness shifted, opening her eyes to the impact this had on her young daughter. Take a short journey with Jennifer and she bares her soul, exposes her weaknesses and celebrates her new outlook and approach to living life, even in the face of total chaos.
• Breastfeeding Before and After — Breastfeeding has come and gone, but Issa Waters at LoveLiveGrow finds that her relationship with her son is still just the same and just as good.
• A Real Job — Back in high school That Mama Gretchen had a simple, but worthwhile career aspiration and today she is living her dream … is it what you think?
• Comforting — sustainablemum never thought she would want things always being the same, but she explains why it is exactly what her family wants and needs.
• 'The Other Mums' and The Great Illusion — Marija Smits reflects on the 'great big magic show of life' and wonders if it will continue to remain a constant in our lives.
• Unschooling: Learning doesn't change when a child turns four — Charlotte at Winegums & Watermelons talks about the pressure of home education when everyone else's children are starting school.
• Finding Priorities in Changing Environments — Moving from Maine to a rural Alaskan island for her husband's military service, Amy at Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work found that keeping consistent with her priorities in changing environments can take some work, but is vital to continuous health and happiness.
• The Evolution Of Our Homeschool Journey — Angela at Earth Mama's World reflects on her homeschooling journey. Homeschooling is a constant in the life of her family but the way in which they learn has been an evolution.

• Sneaking in Snuggles: Using Nurturing Touch with Older Children — When Dionna at Code Name: Mama's son was a toddler and preschooler, he was the most loving, affectionate kiddo ever. But during the course of his 5th year, he drastically reduced how often he showed affection. Dionna shares how she is mindfully nurturing moments of affection with her son.
• Steady State — Zoie at TouchstoneZ writes a letter to her partner about his constancy through the rough sailing of parenting.
• A Love You Can Depend On — Over at True Confessions of a Real Mommy, Jennifer has a sweet little poem reminding us where unconditional love really lies, so it can remain a constant for us and our children.
• Same S#!*, Different Day — Struggling against the medical current can certainly get exhausting, especially as the hunt for answers drags on like it has for Jorje of Momma Jorje.
• New Year, Still Me — Mommy Bee at Little Green Giraffe writes about how a year of change helped her rediscover something inside herself that had been the same all along.
• One Little Word for 2014 — Christy at Eco Journey In The Burbs has decided to focus on making things this year, which is what she is loves, as long as she doesn't kill herself in the process.
• The Beauty of Using Montessori Principles of Freedom and Consistency — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now shares the continuity of her teaching, parenting, and grandparenting philosophy using a combination of freedom and consistency.
• My Husband's Mini — Crunchy Con Mom shares which of her sons looks more like her husband's baby pictures — and the answer might surprise you!
• Growth Happens When You Aren't Looking — Lori at TEACH through Love is treasuring these fleeting moments of her daughter's early adolescence by embracing the NOW.
• A New Reality Now - Poem — As Luschka from Diary of a First Child struggles to come to terms with the loss of her mother, she shares a simple poem, at a loss for more words to say.
• Making a family bedroom — Lauren at Hobo Mama has decided to be intentional about her family's default cosleeping arrangements and find a way to keep everyone comfortable.
• New Year, Same Constants — Ana at Panda & Ananaso takes a look at some of the things that will stay the same this year as a myriad of other changes come.
• I Support You: Breastfeeding and Society — Despite how many strides we've taken to promote "breast is best," Amy at Natural Parents Network talks about how far we still have to go to normalize breastfeeding in our society.
• Keeping it "Normal" — Kellie at Our Mindful Life has moved several times in the last two years, while doing her best to keep things stable for her kids.

Upcycle Project

I do. not. have a Pinterest account. [gasp!] However, I did see someone share this on Facebook:

Simply cut out the mesh, being careful to not cut on supporting
seams. Add sheets/blankets and you have a toddler bed or reading
tent! The fitted sheet on top is simply held by the mobile that
came with it. Extend the life of your Pack n Play and save money.

Hey, I have one of those things! I shared and held onto the idea and bided my time... It turns out, Spencer never really cared for our Pack 'n Play at all. He was probably just never put in it regularly enough. Sasha spent more time in it as a baby. So I was finally ready to dig into this project!

I started with a box knife, but found scissors were actually much easier to control and I was still able to just slide them through the mesh. You do not want to cut the supporting fabric around the mesh!

Added a folded quilt and it quickly became a nice, protected napping spot.

Sasha also loves to play in it. To keep Spencer from rolling out in his sleep, I tuck a neck pillow under the edge of the quilt.

I mistakenly purchased a twin sheet first, but this is a crib sheet stretched atop the mobile arm that came with the Pack 'n Play. (I got each sheet for about $3 at a local thrift store.) The mobile itself is unnecessary. Notice that my topper looks nothing like the one from Pinterest. Surprised? I did find more on Pinterest that looked like mine, though!

Crib sheet atop the mobile.

The cool thing about using this as sleep space is that if you travel, this folds down small. You can have a familiar sleeping space for your little one no matter where you go! I'm wondering / considering whether I can insert the changing table piece and put some plushies in there. I haven't tried that.

Cosleeping arrangement (with me on the floor)

Sasha and Spencer roll around, wrestle and giggle their heads off in this thing! Sometimes they play through one mesh side. Sometimes Spencer spins in circles in it, giggling all by himself. I can make a pallet next to it and "cosleep." I may try it next to our bed at some point, which would definitely keep him from rolling out, I think I'll have to take the top off for that, though. Its awkward enough trying to put him down asleep through the side without it being blocked.

This was seriously the easiest project ever! If you're sure you won't need your Pack 'n Play again (or have a spare), I definitely recommend this upcycle. It can be a reading nook, fort, carriage, whatever. You and your children are only limited by your own imaginations!

What other baby products have you found ways to upcycle for longevity?

Sleep Troubles

Welcome to the February 2013 Natural Living Blog Carnival: Addressing Sleep Challenges.

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Natural Living Blog Carnival hosted by Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project through the Green Moms Network. This month our members have written posts about how they address sleep challenges in their homes.

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Now this is a doozy of a topic for us right now! For starters, Spencer just cut 3 teeth. His Baltic Amber necklace helps a lot, but we also use Hyland's Teething Tablets when he is having a rough time. The roughest times are when he can't sleep. So... teething tablets occasionally administered during the night when he woke.

However, Spencer was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. (We've met our Endocrinologist and are headed for further testing.) We caught it very early and the doctor stated that Spencer didn't have any symptoms. Only... I then researched the symptoms and we have one: restlessness. Over the past few weeks it has gotten worse. Its worse than the teething making it hard to get to sleep. He often wakes every hour, but sometimes wakes as often as every ten minutes.

I am sleep deprived much of the time and driving to appointments has literally become a grave risk. Something has got to give!

Spencer, sleeping through a chiropractic adjustment

With the help of some friends, I researched Melatonin and asked the Endocrinologist and Pediatrician for their approval. Both signed off without argument. My doula, however, suggested Valerian Essential Oil in a base of coconut oil, rubbed into the soles of his feet. I liked the idea. The local store only had Valerian Root, though, no essential oil. We're trying it anyway while we wait for some Valerian Essential Oil that she ordered to arrive.

Then I happened to be looking in my "medicine cabinet" one day and noticed a product I'd forgotten we had: Calms Forté 4 Kids. Its also from Hyland's, a brand I already trust. I thought it might help both of my littles to sleep better. The first night I tried it was actually the night this post was due. Sasha (3½yo) absolutely slept more solid than she has in a long time! She didn't wake once! I saw some results from Spencer, but it was pretty minor. That is why I went ahead and got the Valerian Root.

Sasha asleep in her new bed,
when we started transitioning while expecting Spencer.

Spencer is still waking quite often through the night. Adjusting my own attitude and sleeping in pajama pants (rather than angrily pulling them on in the middle of the night to come downstairs with him) has made a big difference for me. He is falling back asleep faster, too. One of the most baffling points, though: Spencer wakes about 20 minutes after my head hits the pillow every night.

I am sorry to not have more results to offer yet, but am very much looking forward to reading other posts in the carnival as well!

What home remedies and/or natural products have helped you right your little ones' sleep cycles?

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Visit Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project to learn more about participating in next month’s Natural Living Blog Carnival!

Please take some time to enjoy the posts our other carnival participants have contributed:

Natural Parent Married to a Smoker

Are you a "Natural Parent" married to a smoker? Embarrassing, isn't it? I've been there. Last year I took my husband to meet a bunch of my crunchy friends and had to confess that he was a smoker.

If you're in the same embarrassing situation, I have some pointers for you. First, a smoker can only quit for themselves. Nagging and begging don't help. They have to be convinced and want to do it themselves. My husband was a smoker when I met him, so I didn't feel I had too much room to talk, other than to simply make it known that I would love for him to quit.

Mamatography - Week 29

Day 197

(07/15/12)

After staying up way too late Saturday night and not getting enough sleep... Not only was a photograph the last thing on my mind, I wouldn't want a reminder of that friggin' day! It was awful!

Night Weaning - Week 3 of 3

Click here to read Week 1 of 3 and Week 2 of 3, if you haven't already.

Night 15

Despite sleeping in and having a decent nap, Sasha started crying for milk at 8:30. I was in the middle of getting Spencer to sleep, though. Then Sasha helped me make a batch of dough for Mama Jeeper's Oatmeal Lactation Breakfast Bars and we didn't finish until 10:30. She nursed, but not to sleep. We tried again an hour later, though she set her bear on Spencer, getting him started waking up.

She almost got to sleep on that second try. I find myself getting irritated when it doesn't work quickly, but I did let her nurse for only 5-10 minutes. I was hungry, too, and don't like to step out of our room for food when she is still awake.

The third try was a charm, but she didn't get to sleep until after midnight. I went to bed at about 1 and Sasha woke up shortly after 2. She settled really easily after going potty! Then she slept for... SEVEN hours!! Without help!

Night Weaning - Week 2 of 3

Click here to read Week 1 of 3 if you haven't already.

Night 8

Sasha was asleep by about 9:15. She woke shortly before midnight. It didn't take long to settle her back down to sleep. She woke up again at 2. Then she slept through to 7:30. She asked nicely for milk... and the sun was up... I caved. I hoped she might go back to sleep, so I felt like I shouldn't cave. I felt pretty awful because I said no the day before at the exact same time. But then she didn't go back to sleep... so it really was good morning milk, even though we didn't call it that.

Night 9

Sasha had a nap! At about 3:30 in the afternoon. She asked for night night milk by 11, but was wide-eyed through nursing for about 10 minutes. She wound up sitting at the head of her bed and falling asleep, holding her bear. She was asleep by 11:30.

Night Weaning - Week 1 of 3

I am absolutely stubborn-headed against weaning my toddler. I am all for children leading the way on weaning, weaning themselves. However, sleep has become a major issue! Since moving (we think that is the starting point), Sasha has been waking every hour or two (or three, if I'm lucky!). She wants to nurse back to sleep every time. I don't have a problem nursing her back to sleep, its the waking so often that is killing me. She wakes up more often than Spencer!

So, we took her to the new pediatrician. I talked to my Natural Parenting mom friends. I talked to my older mom friends. I talked to Sasha's first pediatrician (our OB/Family doc). They all had pretty much the same advice: stop letting her have milk in the middle of the night. When the first doctor suggested it, my knee-jerk reaction was an emphatic no. However, as more and more people supported this idea... I had to consider it. One dear friend suggested I commit to trying for two weeks and then reevaluate.

Finally, I jumped into it one night, which is how I tend to do things. It was a Monday night (leading into what is my husband's Monday). That may not have been my best choice. She soon rolled over and called out "No" in her sleep.

Fostering Healthy Attachment?

Welcome to February edition of the Authentic Parenting Blog Carnival, hosted by Authentic Parenting and Mudpiemama!. This month, participants have looked into the topic of “Fostering Healthy Attachment”. Please scroll down to the end of this post to find a list of links to the entries of the other participants. Enjoy!

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Are you an "Attachment Parent?" I hadn't heard the term until I had Sasha. I was very attached to my older daughter, too, though. We rarely left her anywhere. Hell, I rarely even left her with her father! I nursed her on demand, until she self-weaned at 3½ years old. She was, however, considered a "mama's girl" and it is all too easy to blame that on my parenting style. When I left that family (got a divorce), I had planned to take her with me. However, based on my weird work schedule at the time and living at an apartment, her father suggested leaving her with him - in the house in which she'd grown up so far. We agreed on it. We hoped that the separation would help her, too.

I still can't speak to that topic. I don't know yet if it was a benefit or detriment. Three years later, her father passed away suddenly and she came to live with me full time. We're not as close as we were back then and I think being her mother would probably be a lot easier if we hadn't had that time apart. Thinking about that makes me sad.

I started working from home while I was pregnant
with Ronni because I couldn't fathom leaving him.
(This photo was taken from my desk.)

Cosleeping ~ Is it for you?

Welcome to the Safe Cosleeping Blog Carnival

This post was written for inclusion in the Safe Cosleeping Blog Carnival hosted by Monkey Butt Junction . Our bloggers have written on so many different aspects of cosleeping. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival
participants.

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Cosleeping is right up my alley! Anyone that knows my hippie ways could probably guess that I cosleep, if only because it isn't the norm. The idea didn't come to me on my own, though. Thirteen plus years ago, when I was expecting Tyler, my then-husband came home from work one day to tell me about a story he'd heard on NPR. The people on the show were talking about how cosleeping reduces the risk of SIDS. The idea is that if a baby does stop breathing, having the mother close by (breathing) kind of kick starts them back into their own breathing rhythm.

That is pretty far from the scare tactic stories you're hearing these days. It saddens me to see the real statistics and how they're skewed. It seems that any unexplained infant death is put under the SIDS category. Not only that, but parents that bring their babies to bed when they (the parent) are inebriated or over tired or are not accustomed to cosleeping who then roll over their baby and cause a death are lumped in with all cosleeping practices. Not fair.

I have had my children room-in with me after their births. I have had them in my bed and it is by far the easiest, most convenient way to handle night care, at least for my family. Once I brought my babies home, cosleeping has just felt like the right thing to do. It is natural.

There's that word. When I think of Natural Parenting, I think back to tribes or even to cavemen! How do you think cavemen (and women) took care of their babies? I'd bet money they didn't designate a space away from their parents! They did not put their babies in cages to sleep! So surely sleeping close together (even if not in the same actual bed) must be the natural way.

Yes, cosleeping can be dangerous. Aside from the dangers I listed above, there are dangerous furniture arrangements. Pushing your bed against the wall and placing baby there is not considered a safe sleeping space. Sleeping on a very soft mattress or on soft comforters is a suffocation hazard. If your spouse is a heavy sleeper, placing your baby between you is not a safe option.

This is not an example of safe cosleeping! First of all, the cushions of the couch were soft enough to suffocate my 2mo daughter. However, my husband was watching over us while we napped.

You have to find what (safely) works for you and your family. For me (and mine), the first solution was a toddler bed rail. I swear by these things! When I've felt the need for more space in my bed, I've gotten a toddler bed. With one daughter it was an actual bed, which turned out to be the perfect matching height for our mattress and box springs on the floor! This time around, we've used a toddler mattress on the floor next to our bed (also on the floor). We'll be reinstalling the toddler rail soon for our newborn (due in a few weeks).

When we weren't in bed, we still kept Sasha nearby, even if that meant napping on a blanket in the floor. Yes, there are warnings against letting your child sleep on their belly. Our doctor respected our choice here, especially knowing that we were nearby. Sasha has always loved sleeping on her belly.

If your sleeping arrangements aren't working for you or your child, ask other parents what they do. You might find some new ideas! Ask on parenting forums online, too. Ultimately you have to do what (safely) works for you, though. You don't have to cosleep to be a "Natural Parent" or an "Attachment Parent." In fact, you don't even have to have your baby IN your bed to be considered "cosleeping."

You can try a side-car bed. You can even use a crib and just keep it close to where you sleep. This way, you'll still get the benefit of hearing each other breathing, with none of the roll-over or fall risks. For nursing at night, though, I gotta say that nothing beats the convenience of sleeping in the same bed!

Does cosleeping work for you? Why or why not?

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Thanks for reading a post in the Safe Cosleeping Blog Carnival. On Carnival day, please follow along on Twitter using the #CosleepCar hashtag.
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

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• Emotive Co-Sleeping Campaign - Miriam at Diary of an Unconscious Mother talks about her feelings on Milwaukee’s anti-cosleeping crusade and its latest advertising campaign.
• Why Cosleeping has Always been the Right Choice for My Family - Patti at Jazzy Mama shares how lucky she feels to have the privilege of sleeping with her four children.
• Cosleeping is a safe, natural and healthy solution parents need to feel good about. - See how Tilly at Silly Blatherings set up a side-car crib configuration to meet her and her families' needs.
• Black and White: Race and the Cosleeping Wars - Moorea at Mama Lady: Adventures in Queer Parenting points out the problem of race, class and health when addressing co-sleeping deaths and calls to action better sleep education and breastfeeding support in underprivileged communities.
• Reflections on Cosleeping - Jenny at I’m a Full Time Mummy shares her thoughts on cosleeping and pictures of her cosleeping beauties.
• Cosleeping and Transitioning to Own Bed - Isil at Smiling Like Sunshine shares her experiences in moving beyond the family bed.
• What Works for One Family - Momma Jorje shares why cosleeping is for her and why she feels it is the natural way to go. She also discusses the actual dangers and explores why it may not be for everyone.
• Really High Beds, Co-Sleeping Safely, and the Humanity Family Sleeper - Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama gives a quick view of Jennifer’s bed-sharing journey and highlights the Humanity Family Sleeper, something Jennifer could not imagine bed-sharing without.
• Crying in Our Family Bed - With such a sweet newborn, why has adding Ailia to the family bed made Dionna at Code Name: Mama cry?
• Dear Mama: - Zoie at TouchstoneZ shares a letter from the viewpoint of her youngest son about cosleeping.
• Cuddle up, Buttercup! - Nada of The MiniMOMist and her husband Michael have enjoyed cosleeping with their daughter Naomi almost since birth. Nada shares why the phrase "Cuddle up, Buttercup!" has such special significance to her.
• Co-Sleeping With A Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler - Kerry at City Kids Homeschooling shares how co-sleeping calls us to trust our inner maternal wisdom and embrace the safety and comfort of the family bed.
• Fear instead of Facts: An Opportunity Squandered in Milwaukee - Jenn at Monkey Butt Junction discusses Milwaukee’s missed opportunity to educate on safe cosleeping.
• Cosleeping: A Mini-rant and a Lovely Picture - Siobhan at Res Ipsa Loquitor discusses her conversion to cosleeping and rants a little bit about the Milwaukee Health Department anti-cosleeping campaign.
• Our Cosleeping Story - Adrienne at Mommying My Way shares her cosleeping story and the many bonus side effects of bedsharing.
• Cosleeping can be safe and rewarding Christy at Mommy Outnumbered shares how her cosleeping experiences have been good for her family.
• Adding one more to the family bed Lauren at Hobo Mama discusses the safety logistics of bed sharing with a new baby and a preschooler.
• The Truth About Bedsharing - Dr. Sarah at Parenting Myths and Facts discusses the research into bedsharing and risk - and explains why it is so often misrepresented.
• Cosleeping as a parenting survival tool - Melissa V. at Mothers of Change describes how she discovered cosleeping when her first baby was born. Melissa is the editor and a board member for the Canadian birth advocacy group, Mothers of Change.
• Dear Delilah - Joella at Fine and Fair writes about her family bed and the process of finding the cosleeping arrangements that work best for her family.
• CoSleeping ROCKS! - Melissa at White Noise talks about the evolution of cosleeping in her family.
• Safe Sleep is a Choice - Tamara at Pea Wee Baby talks about safe sleep guidelines.
• 3 Babies Later: The Evolution of our Family Bed - Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment talks about how her family’s cosleeping arrangements evolved as her family grew.
• Tender Moments - The Accidental Natural Mama discusses tender cosleeping moments.
• Cosleeping Experiences - Lindsey at An Unschooling Adventure describes how she ended up co-sleeping with her daughter through necessity, despite having no knowledge of the risks involved and how to minimise them, and wishes more information were made available to help parents co-sleep safely.
• The early days of bedsharing - Luschka at Diary of a First Child shares her early memories of bedsharing with her then new born and gets excited as she plans including their new arrival into their sleeping arrangements.
• The Joys of Cosleeping in Pictures - Charise of I Thought I Knew Mama shares pictures of some of her favorite cosleeping moments.
• Symbiotic Sleep - Mandy at Living Peacefully With Children discusses how the symbiotic cosleeping relationship benefits not only children but also parents.
• Co-sleeping Barriers: What’s Stopping You? - Kelly at Becoming Crunchy shares how she was almost prevented from gaining the benefits of co-sleeping her family currently enjoys.
• Co-Sleeping with the Family Humanity Sleeper - Erica at ChildOrganics shares a way to make co-sleeping safe, comfortable and more convenient. Check out her post featuring the Humanity Organic Family Sleeper.
• Why We Cosleep - That Mama Gretchen’s husband chimes in on why cosleeping is a benefit to their family.
• Adding to the Family Bed - Darah at A Girl Named Gus writes about her co-sleeping journey and what happens when a second child comes along.

A big thank you to all of the Safe Cosleeping Blog Carnival participants!

Sunday Surf: Heavy Week

When does nesting start? I've been sorting and washing baby items this week. I had no idea I had received SO many baby clothes and I feel very good about being prepared. In the meantime, I saved plenty of links for you this week. Here they are, with my thoughts on the links...

• While looking for hospital birth videos this week I stumbled upon this video about the breast crawl. I can not believe I had never heard of this! The poor woman delivers on her back, but otherwise... amazing! That lead me to seek out BreastCrawl.org. There is another video on their site that includes some instruction on how to initiate the crawl with a newborn. If you're expecting (or love birth stuff), you definitely want to check this out!
  
  
• Have you seen the recent ads coming out against cosleeping? Many are downright offended, especially by the misrepresentation of facts. Read the Kitchen Witch's post on Common Sense and Cosleeping for the gist as well as the real numbers.
  
  
• Did that cosleeping stuff get you fired up? Well if so, I'm sure you'll be interested to know that Monkey Butt Junction is hosting a Safe Cosleeping Carnival. Blog Carnivals are a lot of fun and a great way to "meet" other bloggers with similar ideals (and bring you new traffic).
  
  
• I'm sure you won't be surprised to "hear" that Pediatricians write more than 10 million unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. Parents should not expect a scrip for an antibiotic every time their child has some sort of infection. I know a lot of doctors prescribe them just to shut moms up.
  
  
• You've surely seen videos of dancing Flash Mobs, right? Very cool! Well you should check out The Levity Project from The Levity Institute and their recent Grocery Store Dancing Micro-Movement. Find out how you can participate!

I hope you've enjoyed my whopping 5 or so links this week! Which of these links inspired you to click?

Wordless Wednesday: Playful Parenting

Playful Parenting in our Family Bed

Parenting Philosophies & Planning for the Future

Welcome to the July Carnival of Natural Parenting: Parenting Philosophy

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have shared their parenting practices and how they fit in with their parenting purpose. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

***

Some of my parenting philosophies came to me out of my desires for my children as they get older. Others, however, are just the way I do things. Everything we do ultimately affects who they will be though, right?

I am an attachment parent first and foremost because I simply can not help it! The benefit is that my children feel safe and can take steps into their independence at their own pace. I believe this will eventually lead to them being independent adults that still trust me to be there for them whenever they need me.

I practice thanking those around me, including my children, because I don't want to take those around me for granted as well as to set an example. I am still amazed that my nearly two year old daughter thanks everyone for everything! Admittedly, she sometimes just goes around the room thanking people, but she thanks everyone that hands her anything or gives her a bite or helps her with anything.

I totally realize that co-sleeping isn't for everyone. It doesn't work for all children any more than it works for all parents. That said, I'm lucky (and grateful!) that it has worked for me. It is something I originally planned to do because it cuts down on SIDS risk. Once I brought that adorable baby home, though... it just felt like the right thing to do. I also believe this practice will have an effect on my daughters' independence as they grow older.

Co-sleeping Nap Time
Amusingly, I'm topless and she's bottomless!

Let go of my nipple!

When I'm not home, Sasha just plays until she lies down and falls asleep. You never know where that might be!

Sasha sleeping in the doorway to the other room.
April 2011

If I'm home, though, Sasha most often nurses to sleep. In fact, she always nurses to sleep if the option is here.

Nursing in our Family Bed
April 2011

The position shown above is NOT common for going to sleep, though. That is more of a slowly-waking-in-the-morning or still sleeping in kind of position for us. Most often, you'll see Sasha nurse to sleep on the Boppy. Even at night, I just lower the Boppy (with her on it) onto the floor... once I get her detached! And there in-lies the occasional issue. Sometimes Sasha just does NOT want to let my nipple loose! There have been times that I swear she suckled all night long! It is mostly nap time, though, that I can't seem to get away from her.

Then I read about the Pantley-Pull-Off. It is really meant as a way to teach your baby NOT to nurse to sleep, but only to relax. You pull away before she is asleep and let her doze off on her own. I really, really don't mind her nursing to sleep! However, I don't want to be attached for an entire sleep session! So I started trying this PPO thing... and it works (most of the time)! Here is what you do: The trick is to remove your nipple, but also to hold pressure just under baby's chin. It's like if she can't open her mouth, she figures she doesn't need nipple or something! It is like some odd sort of magic trick! It doesn't work every time, but I am loving the successes!

Sasha nursing to sleep at 16 months
January 2011

To read more about the Pantley-Pull-Off and other No-Cry Sleep Solutions, check out the article on peaceful parenting. It is worth bookmarking!

Sunday Surf: Funny, Free & Shocking

Oh my goodness, I found so much funny stuff to share with you this week! To jump right in, I'd like to share this YouTube video of Talking Twin Babies. There are several in the series, but this is the first I found and it is so friggin' funny! It will brighten your day, I promise!



And now on to some straight up links. First, more funny stuff!

Wordless Wednesday: Daddy & Samantha

Elmo with Samantha @ 1mo
(my stepdaughter)

Elmo with Samantha @ 1mo
June 2008

Elmo with Samantha @ 1mo
a rare visit to our apartment

See also WW @ NPN!

Wordless Wednesday: Sleeping Baby Obsession

Sasha went to sleep in front of the closet door where cool air blows from under the door.

02-11-11
During the day, Sasha sleeps wherever she chooses.

Wordless Wednesday: The Family Bed

Momma Jorje and Toddler Sasha taking up more room after Daddy Elmo has gotten up for the day.

I love Daddy for taking these pics!

Bad Mommy Confessions

First, a little bit of background. While I was pregnant with Ronni, I got so tired of eating, but I was so hungry all the damned time. I got to where I most often grabbed peanut butter because... well, it is stomach Spackle. Supposed to eat protein - check. Filling - check. You get the idea. Then comes baby. I eat peanut butter. I nurse baby. Then his face breaks out in a rash. He was so allergic to peanut butter that if I ate it, he broke out in a rash. I stopped eating peanut butter, the rash stopped. Wow.

We avoided peanut butter for him until he was two years old. Then he didn't seem to like it. He got to where he liked saying he was allergic to anything he didn't like. He eventually did like peanut butter, but has never been a very big fan of it. He did, at least, outgrow his allergy!

Fast forward ten years. While pregnant with Sasha, I avoided eating excessive amounts of peanut butter with a little bit of paranoia. At one of her check-ups I asked the doctor what he thought of peanut butter and as he started to give us approval to introduce it, I told him of my history. He decided we should wait until Sasha turns two. I suspected as much. I know peanuts are a high allergy food. I get it.