Parenting the way it was meant to be!
The human race survived for millenia before the invention of strollers, bottles, disposable diapers, vaccines, and Baby Einstein. In fact, we thrived.
In recent generations, we have somehow gotten it into our minds that good parenting can only be achieved by purchasing the latest state-of-the art gadgets and gizmos. If you don't buy those Baby Einstein toys and DVD's, your child is doomed to a lifetime of stupidity. If you don't buy that expensive stroller, you won't be able to take your baby anywhere. If you don't buy disposable diapers -- well, you're just weird. But why? Good parenting does not require all of those products, and in fact, those products only serve to deepend the chasm between parent and child, creating a detached family rather than a closely-bonded one.
Here I have gathered information and articles related to the natural parenting movement. Everything from breastfeeding to babywearing, from cloth diapers to foregoing vaccinations -- it's all here. So take your time, check it out, and learn something new. You might be surprised at how much fun natural parenting can be!
Natural parenting: Less expensive, and much better for your family!
Having a baby can be expensive, but it doesn't have to completely break the bank. Take some cues from the natural parenting movement to save money while giving your child a terrific start in life.
Breastfeed
Formula will cost you upwards of $1200 to $1500 in the first year. That's a minimum. If your baby has gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD) or a dairy allergy, you'll need to buy more expensive formula. That cost also doesn't include the cost of bottles, nipples, liners, and so on. If you breastfeed, you may need to buy a pump, which could run you around $250. But unless you're returning to work full-time, you could get away with a less expensive pump, or no pump at all.
Bedshare
If you decide to have your baby sleep in your bed, you won't need to buy a separate bed for him until he's older, by which time you may be able to get away with buying him a regular twin bed. This will save you big bucks.
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Read the rest of this article at Associated Content.
Breastfeed
Formula will cost you upwards of $1200 to $1500 in the first year. That's a minimum. If your baby has gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD) or a dairy allergy, you'll need to buy more expensive formula. That cost also doesn't include the cost of bottles, nipples, liners, and so on. If you breastfeed, you may need to buy a pump, which could run you around $250. But unless you're returning to work full-time, you could get away with a less expensive pump, or no pump at all.
Bedshare
If you decide to have your baby sleep in your bed, you won't need to buy a separate bed for him until he's older, by which time you may be able to get away with buying him a regular twin bed. This will save you big bucks.
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Read the rest of this article at Associated Content.
Vaccination Information on Associated Content
Articles by Alisa Elizabeth King Terry
These articles provide crucial information on the specific risks and benefits of various common childhood vaccinations, drawing information from the package inserts as well as other sources. This information is vital for all parents. You can also read more of Ms. Terry's work here.
- The HiB Vaccine: What the Manufacturer's Insert Tells Us
- A critical look at the HiB vaccine's package insert.
- The DTaP Vaccine: What the Manufacturer's Insert Tells Us - Associated Content
- A critical look at the package insert for the Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine.
- The MMR Vaccine: What the Manufacturer's Insert Tells Us
- A critical look at Merck's package insert for the MMR vaccine.
- The Polio Vaccine, Part 1: The Injected Vaccine Verses the Oral Vaccine
- The history of Jonas Salk's and Albert Sabin's Polio vaccines
- The Polio Vaccine: What the Manufacturer's Package Insert Tells Us
- A critical look at the Polio vaccine with emphasis on the manufacturer's own package insert
- The Polio Vaccine, Part 3: Documented Contamination with Monkey Viruses
- A look at SV-40 and its connection to cancer
- The Hepatitis B Vaccine: What the Manufacturer's Insert Tells Us
- A critical look at GlaxoSmithKline's package insert for the Hepatitis B vaccine
- The Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine: What the Manufacturer's Insert Tells Us
- A critical look at Merck's package insert for the varicella vaccine
- Prevnar, the Pneumococcal Vaccine: What the Manufacturer's Insert Tells Us
- A critical look at the pneumococcal vaccine and the manufacturer's package insert.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a natural process, but it doesn't always come naturally. Many new moms lack the information and support they need to establish and maintain a healthy breastfeeding relationship. Check out these articles for some wonderful information about breastfeeding.
- Are We Conditioned to Formula Feed Our Infants?
- An interesting look at why many mothers may choose not to breastfeed or choose to stop breastfeeding short of the AAP recommended six months.
- Breastfeeding: Educating Grandmothers
- Expectant mothers learn all they can about the best way to feed their baby. But, they often overlook educating their support system. Grandmothers who are in a position to give advice need to be taught that breast is best.
- Child-led Weaning: Don't Worry, You Won't Have to Go with Him to College
- Child-led weaning is one of the key points of the natural parenting movement. While the basics of child-led weaning are pretty self-explanatory, there are some common questions and misconceptions that parents may have.
- Breastfeeding on Squidoo
- This lens contains a collection of articles on breastfeeding, including information on common breastfeeding problems such as thrush, mastitis, nipple confusion, and more.
Bedsharing and Cosleeping
- Bedsharing: The Facts About the Family Bed
- Recently, the term "attachment parenting" has come into the spotlight as a wonderful way to raise your children. One of the key points of attachment parenting is bedsharing, but it's a concept that is often misunderstood.
- Dispelling Myths About Bedsharing
- Despite studies showing the benefits of bedsharing, doctors and parenting experts continue to advise against it. More and more parents are beginning to practice this. As it becomes more common, the myths are being dispelled; however, we still have a long way to go.
- The Joys of Co-sleeping with My Child
- There is a world of information out there about the benefits of co-sleeping, as well as many myths about its supposed hazards. I'm not going to rattle on about the benefits or dispel every myth today, except to say that I love the family bed and that our son hasn't been injured or suffocated because of it.
- Attachment Parenting Older Children: The Family Bed
- They may not talk about it often but most American families actually have family beds to some degree. It's a much more fluid and connected concept than mainstream America promotes.
Babywearing
- What Every Parent Should Know About Babywearing
- You may have heard the term "babywearing," but you may not understand what it means. You might think it's silly, awkward, or inconvenient. But babywearing has been around for millenia as a practical way to carry baby while still being able to go about your day.
- The Benefits of Babywearing
- Babywearing is a term coined by famed pediatrician, Dr. William Sears. However, it is an ancient tradition. "Wearing" your baby means to carry him as much as possible in a sling or carrier. This is intended to provide as much physical contact between baby and caregiver as possible.
- An Introduction to Babywearing
- Babywearing is a term coined by Attachment Parenting guru Dr. Sears but the act of wearing ones baby has been around for centuries. People in all cultures have worn their babies for many reasons, beneficial to both mom and child.
Cloth Diapering
Did you know that disposable diapers may take up to 500 years to decompose in a landfill, and the average baby uses 7,000 to 10,000 diapers before he is potty trained? That's a lot of diapers! Many parents are choosing cloth diapers as a way to help protect the environment and keep those chemicals away from baby's sensitive areas. Check out these articles for more information.
- Cloth Diapering: Common Questions and Misconceptions
- In today's world of disposable plates, disposable cameras, disposable batteries, and disposable incomes, it's quite common to see babies wearing disposable diapers. But many parents are reaching back to the old ways and switching to reusable cloth diapers for their families.
- How to Choose the Right Cloth Diapering System for Your Family
- Making the switch to cloth diapers can be a daunting task. There are seemingly millions of cloth diaper retailers on the web, and it's hard to know where to begin. So before you begin your search for the perfect cloth diapering system, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Elimination Communication
Diaper-free infants and toddlers
- Elimination Communication: Is the Diaper on the Endangered List?
- Elimination communication (EC) is a practice by which a caretaker trains a baby to reduce or eliminate his need for diapers. As radical as it sounds, it has been proven to work in many cultures, such as third world countries where disposable diapers are not available. There is now a growing western trend to use EC on infants long before the usual age of "potty training".
- Elimination Communication: Is it Really Possible to Potty Train an Infant?
- What is elimination communication? It's also referred to as infant potty training or Natural Infant Hygiene. Basically it's allowing your small baby to be diaper-free for the majority of the time and following their cues as to when they need to go to the bathroom. Just as you learn their cues for hunger, sleepiness, pain and discomfort you can look for signs that they need to urinate or have a bowel movement. Then you pick them up and hold them over the toilet, hoping it happens.
Gentle Discipline
Alternatives to spanking and yelling -- a more respectful approach to discipline
- Attachment Parenting Older Children: Intuitive Discipline
- AP parents are always described by what they don't do, and seem to have a hard time explaining exactly what it is they *do*. They don't think of their children as subordinates, but as other people.
Check out these books on natural parenting from Amazon.com
Share your thoughts!
If you have a question about something that is not answered here, let me know! I'll get that information to you as soon as possible. Feel free to share any stories, inspiration, or support as well, or just tell me how fabulous this lens is. I'd love to hear from you!
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CHEYanne
I don't have any questions but I have to say I am really enjoying your lenses. Keep up the great work!! Posted June 08, 2007 |
