Filed under: Reviews
“When you have released your fear and found your Self, you can be in harmony with your child because you are attuned to the same energy.”
Parenting begins the moment you get that positive pregnancy test. There are ups and downs and so much to learn. When I had my first child, I was always amazed at how “good” he was. Everyone commented on this. We got along wonderfully and grew together. Then something happened. He got older and we started butting heads. I didn’t know how to handle it. Why was this happening? Suddenly, we were fighting and he wouldn’t listen to me. I practice Attachment Parenting and believe in gentle discipline. But, nothing worked.
“Prisons are filled with “well-disciplined” people. A good parent helps a child to learn how his behavior affects his own life through natural consequences. This is how true inner discipline is cultivated.”
Then I heard about the Tao of Motherhood. I’m not really a read-a-book-to-help-guide-you kinda gal, however I didn’t know what else to do. The first awesome thing about the Tao of Motherhood is that it is written in lessons (or poems), which are a few small paragraphs. It’s not a long read. You can quickly go through it and easily mark pages that speak to you loudest. The second awesome thing about it is that it isn’t a “self-help” or your typically parenting book. It’s more like kind words that help you see things more clearly. Once you can see, you will know the Way.
“Return to the real… Touch them with your hands, your eyes, and your heart. Let them bond with the living, breathing world. Let them feel their feelings and teach them their names.”
Maybe the most important lesson I learned from reading the Tao of Motherhood is that we all have a child within us. Sometimes we must heal that child and love her before we can fully function as Mothers. Wounds from our own childhood need to be healed to make us stronger, more gentle Mothers. We can learn from our children. Instead of trying to mold them and figure them out, we must start with ourselves.
“Clear yourself. Find the child within you, heal her, and set her free. As long as the child in you weeps and cringes, your power as a mother will remain confused.”
I think we can all learn something from the Tao of Motherhood. Slow down. Breathe easy. Connect with Self and One. Come back to the Wisdom that our foremothers knew. Mother and child are One. One is in all. When you reconnect with One, all will be clear. Everything we need is within us. It’s just a matter of regaining that wisdom and learning how to use it for the greater good. These lessons will naturally extend into other areas of our lives and peace will reign.
“A wise parent refrains from too much talk. Her inner calm brings peace to troubled hearts and resolutions to conflicts. She doesn’t need anyone’s approval but her own.”
May 27, 2011
I’ll be the first to admit – I find nursing clothing to be over-priced and unnecessary. Wearing a regular top or t-shirt (with a little stretch) works just fine for me. I have one of those maternity belly bands I wear under my shirt to keep my tummy covered if I’ll be going somewhere I want a little extra coverage. So, I never saw the need to buy extra clothing just to breastfeed. One reason to breastfeed is to save money, seems counter-productive to buy a new wardrobe to make it work, doesn’t it?
Then I got to thinking – When would it be nice to have a piece or two of nursing clothing? I love wearing dresses, but have given them up since breastfeeding. A nursing dress would come in handy. Also, a top that would allow nursing while babywearing (an opening from the top, instead of pulling the bottom of the shirt up). OK, seems like there are occasions it would be nice and convenient. And, let’s be honest, some of those tops and dresses are lovely! What woman doesn’t like to buy a new article of clothing that makes her feel beautiful? Especially after giving birth when many of us aren’t so confident about our body image? If you have to buy new clothing that fits, why not get a nursing piece that will flatter your new body and serve a purpose?
Expressiva has so many cute things! I had the opportunity to review an item and it was so hard to narrow it down to just one. Like I said before, I use my regular tops to nurse. I’m an at-home mom, so I don’t really need nursing tops to get the job done in my living room. And I do love dresses! So, I chose a dress – The Little Black Nursing Dress, to be exact. I figure I’ll get plenty of use out of it. It’s a little black dress – a staple in every woman’s wardrobe! It’s absolutely adorable! Made of 95% cotton/5% Spandex, it has just the right amount of stretch and has a very flattering cut, hanging in just the right way. It’s so easy to nurse in, too! You lift the front empire waist nursing access and nurse from either side. Because of the Spandex, the dress goes right back to where it should be without getting stretched out. I think the best part of this dress is you can dress it up or down. It looks great with a cardigan and some flats or sans cardi and flip flops instead of flats. So. Cute. I’m 5’8″ and it hits right below my knees. Perfection!
April 4, 2011
The time will eventually come when menstruation returns postpartum. This time around it came sooner than the last time, but that’s okay because I enjoy my period and love my menstrual cup! So, when Flo came back to visit, I wasn’t that upset. Being able to track my periods, and thus fertility, makes me feel a little more at ease, too. I like knowing my cycles and when I can get pregnant so we can take measures to not add another child to the family before we’re ready! Last month I got my cup out, sterilized it, and put it in. Hm. Something wasn’t quite right. I figured it was just not having used it for about a year and a half and my needing to get my cup-insertion skills back up to par. However, I went through my period and felt something was just off with my cup. I could feel it no matter what I did. I was bummed to say the least.
Lucky for me, The Keeper sent me a Moon Cup cup to review! Periods can be a little irregular when your uterus is waking up postpartum, so I anxiously awaited menstruation number two. 45 days later, she came! YAY! I got out my Moon Cup, sanitized it and put it in. Immediately it felt better than my other cup! I was pretty pleased. Very comfortable and I couldn’t feel it at all. The Moon Cup has a longer stem and it stuck out of my vagina a good bit. I left it alone and even slept in it with the regular stem. I got very itchy and a little irritated. I had no leaks overnight, though! So, I got in the shower, emptied and cleaned the cup and cut the stem to half length. Then, it was inside my vagina and I could still feel it and was bothered by it. Against my better judgement, I cut it completely off. Yep. I did it. NO STEM. I’ve got news for you – it’s A-MA-ZING! The Moon Cup is absolutely comfortable and does not leak one bit! 
You may be wondering why you should use a cup instead of tampons. Well, there are a few reasons. Tampons absorb regular vaginal secretions, not just blood from menstruation; This encourages the growth of bacteria and that can cause Toxic Shock Syndrome. They can cause tiny little tears on the vaginal wall, they leave cotton “debris” and can change the pH of the vagina. Most tampons are also bleached and contain gross chemicals. Bleached tampons release dioxins and dioxins can cause all sorts of side-affects (like cramping!). Menstrual cups collect menstrual fluid instead of absorbing it. Therefore, your vagina doesn’t get dry like it does with tampons. No vaginal tears and pH isn’t affected. Good enough, right? Add in the environmental factors (over 6.5lbs of trash a year from using tampons!) and the economical factors (one Moon Cup will cost you less than one years worth of tampons – AND you can use the Moon Cup for 10 years!) and there really is no contest!
Well, actually, there is a contest! One lucky reader will win her choice of a Moon Cup or a Keeper! The Moon Cup is made from medical grade silicone, for those with latex allergies or a preference of silicone. The Keeper is made from natural gum rubber, or latex. Both cups come in size A for After childbirth or B for Before childbirth.
PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO ENTER! If you do not follow the instructions your entries WILL NOT be counted!
MANDATORY ENTRY: Tell me which cup and size you would want if you win.
EXTRA ENTRIES for one extra entry each:
“Like” TLC Pregnancy and Birth Services on Facebook and comment here you did.
“Like” The Keeper on Facebook, tell them I sent you and and thank for the giveaway, come back here leaving a comment you did.
**Leave a separate comment for each action for a total of three comments/entries!**
Contest ends Monday, March 14th at 10:00am EST. I will select a winner at random using random.org. Good luck!
March 7, 2011
I’m sure most of you are aware of the chemicals in products these days. They are in everything, including bath products. You get in the shower or put your kids in the tub to get them clean after a day of play, only to put chemicals on their skin. Skin is the largest organ of the body and it is ready to absorb whatever you put onto it. It doesn’t sit well with me to put a product on my child that is also putting chemicals into their body. You shouldn’t have to get them “dirty” to get them clean.
So, you just go buy a “natural” product and everything is good, right? I’m sorry to have to tell you, it’s not. The term “natural” is not regulated and if a product is “mainly” or contains natural ingredients, it can be labeled “natural”. That means, it can still contain chemical fragrance, preservatives and lathering agents. Tricky, tricky. There are some great products out there, but even those contain one or two chemicals. It’s hard to know what is safe and what isn’t sometimes. There are so many different opinions on the matter. That leaves making your own products, which I simply do not have time for, or you can find great products you have confidence in. 
I have found that in Baby Miracles. 100% natural and organic, made in the USA and a local business to me! The body wash/shampoo and body cream are even vegan. These are lush, creamy, so yummy smelling, you’ll want to eat them! As a matter of fact, the slogan is “Products so pure you can actually eat them”! Some of the soothing ingredients include shea butter, aloe vera, avocado oil and coconut oil. So gentle and nourishing for the skin. Forget synthetic fragrances! Essential oils are used to give a just right amount of smell – Patchouli, damask rose, vanilla bean, tea tree, lavender, roman chamomile. In Heaven yet? To top it all off, all the products are backed by a stay-fresh guarantee for one year! There is a full line for babies including a body wash/shampoo combo, body cream, diaper rash ointment, baby powder and a massage cream. These are absolutely amazing products I can really stand behind. Check them out!
February 22, 2011
I breastfeed my children. I’m sure that doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Breastfeeding is something very special to me. It’s more than a way to feed my child. It’s nourishing, bonding, communicating, and comforting. When my nursling is at the breast, we make eye contact. We hold hands. So much more is going on beyond giving my baby milk. I don’t feel like this is something that should be done behind closed doors or covered up. If my baby is hungry sitting at a restaurant, I’m going to feed her. It doesn’t matter where we are – I will breastfeed my baby. We don’t use a cover because we shouldn’t have to. In fact, in the state of Pennsylvania, there are laws protecting us saying we don’t have to.
That said, I understand some women like to be covered. I just really don’t like the covers available. Even their names are offensive, as if to suggest something needs to be hidden. There was not a single cover I knew of that I would have recommended to clients. Breastfeeding needs to be seen – That doesn’t mean your breast has to be exposed. However, until more people see it on a regular basis, breastfeeding will continue to be seen as taboo. It’s up to us to make it “normal”. And then I found it. The perfect nursing cover. Baby Bond. Even the name is wonderful!
Baby Bond Nursing Covers are worn like a sash. Separate two layers of fabric to expose the nipple and let baby attach. The breast is completely covered and baby is out for the world to see! No more hot covers to obstruct your view. There are three styles available and I chose the Couture. It can be worn two ways – As a sash to cover your breast if nursing opening is on your top, or around the belly to cover your exposed tummy if you must lift your shirt to nurse. So versatile! They roll up into an attached pouch and you can toss it right in the diaper bag and come in several great colors.
This is such a great alternative to those “other” covers. If covering is what it will take to get more women breastfeeding, cover away! Please give the Baby Bond a try. While keeping modesty, breastfeeding is still visible to all. Women can nurse in public, baby can make eye-contact and bond and people are exposed to breastfeeding. Everyone wins!
Baby Bond has very generously offered a 25% discount to my readers! Enter code TLCP at checkout to redeem.
February 15, 2011
Let’s talk baby carriers. There are so many options out there, where does a mom start? A good place to start is material. Most carriers are made of a cotton base fabric. Some have stretch, others are woven and have little to no give. I love a stretchy carrier for the first few weeks; They keep a new baby snuggled close in soft fabric. However, I tend to have larger babies and they quickly become too heavy for my comfort in a stretchy carrier. While they can be rated up to 45lbs, there is no way I see carrying a child that heavy. A woven wrap is much more supportive and look quite beautiful on. You can wrap them in so many ways, you are bound to find something you love. However, the wrap I have is long and cumbersome to wrap – the ends drag on the ground and I hate to get it dirty!
So, what’s a lady to do? Something supportive and easy to use are the two main things I look for when getting a carrier. Hands down, my favorite carrier is the Performance ERGObaby. So simple to use – secure around your waist, put baby in, pull the shoulder straps up, clip the chest strap and off you go! All the straps are fully adjustable. Both my husband and I can wear the ERGO with comfort. I use it every day. Doing dishes, vacuuming, going on walks, grocery shopping. You get the idea. My baby is quite comfortable in it too. There is an attached hood you can use for privacy during breastfeeding or to keep a sleeping baby’s head from bobbing all over. Two zip pockets (one houses the hood) to sow your wallet or keys on excursions. The Performance has less padded shoulder straps than the Original carrier. I actually like it better. They lay more flush to the body, thus creating a better fit. The only gripe I have is the elastic bands to keep the slack in the straps up. The older model I have uses hook/loop closures to secure them and works great. The elastic has a tendency to slip off and the slack unravels leaving it flying in the breeze. That said, ERGObaby is the perfect carrier to wear newborns through toddler years on front, back or hip.
There are endless benefits to babywearing. Keeping your newborn close regulates body temperature, respiratory rate and heart beat. Babies who are worn cry less and sleep more. Often times putting a fussy baby in his carrier and wearing him around the house will put him right to sleep. It’s also thought babies who are worn learn more quickly because they are at the level of conversation. With your hands free, housework is much easier. Babies love being held, using a carrier keeps them close and gives your arms a break!
Go check out ERGObaby. They have a few different carriers to suit everyone. In addition, there are some great accessories that can be purchased separately (like a backpack, fanny-pack sized bag and teething pads baby can chew and suck on).
February 7, 2011
When you having a baby, there are so many things you need to get. On the other hand, so many things really aren’t necessary. I’m a minimalist when it comes to most things. It creates less waste and I like that. When it comes to babies, they don’t need much. However, one thing you cannot have too many of is blankets. Blankets serve many, many purposes. From keeping baby warm to changing pads to propping baby up. I’m not one to swaddle, I prefer skin-to-skin contact (and it’s very important to get that contact). But a nice, soft blanket to keep you and baby warm during feeding is lovely. I’ve had many a blanket and have found a few that rank high. Among them are those by Swaddle Designs.
Founded in 2002 by an R.N., Swaddle Designs has a lot to offer. They make everything from burp cloths to adult-sized snuggle blankets. Among my favorite items are the Ultimate Swaddle Blanket, the Marquisette Swaddle Blanket and the Baby Lovie. I literally could not pick just one! The Ultimate Swaddle Blanket is generously sized at 42″x42″ and is made of super soft 100% cotton flannel. It comes in a variety of beautiful colors and patterns and is available in organic cotton. If you’re looking for a lighter blanket, the Marquisette Swaddle Blanket is where you can stop the search! It’s a bit larger than the Ultimate Swaddle, at 46″x46″ and made from lightweight, open-weave cotton (think muslin). Each swaddle blanket comes with a tag sewn on with directions on how to swaddle. Every baby loves a security blanket! The perfect gift for the new baby in your life is the Baby Lovie. Absolutely adorable and so, so soft! Sized perfectly at 14″x14″ and washed up in a snap. Get a couple so baby will never go without!
When you visit Swaddle Designs you will see the huge variety of what they offer. Beautiful products at a great price. They offer a Deal of the Day – A featured product (or two) at up to 50% savings! You will also find other deals linked in the Deal of the Day section, where other products are up to 40% off. Signing up for emails will get you 10% off savings and additional saving to be sent periodically. You really can’t beat it. They also support many charitable causes, which are all listed on their website. Support a great company that gives back. I love Swaddle Designs and all they have to offer!
January 31, 2011
Okay. I admit it. I’m a little obsessed with cloth diapers. I love them. Everything about them, really. How they look, the cost savings (well, if you aren’t buying them up like some do….), how they feel. If babies must wear diapers, isn’t it nice to have soft, natural fibers against their skin, instead of plastic and chemicals? It just makes sense to me! So, I’m delighted to be able to review EWies (U-eez) Diapers for you!
EWies pocket diapers are awesome. They are available in a rainbow of colors, made very well, wash up nicely, trim and have 100% cotton interiors. The insert is also 100% cotton. You know how I enjoy natural fibers! Wash the insert 5 times to get it wear-ready, stuff the diaper and you’re set! I was pretty happy with how absorbent the diaper is. The cotton lining actually kept my baby’s skin fairly dry. I have a heavy-wetter and have found I can’t use the included insert very long. Alternatively, I’ve been tri-folding a prefold and using it for overnight. I couldn’t be happier!
EWies come in sizes. Newborn for babies 5-10lbs, small is for babies 8-15lbs, medium fits 16-35lbs and large fits 33-45lbs. The medium fits my 22 pounder very nicely, with room to grow. Up to 35lbs may be a stretch. Let’s hope for toilet learning by then. Since they are so easy to use (just pre-load them!), daddy or the babysitter should have no issues with using them. Just wrap around baby like a disposable diaper and off you go! You can also feel good about supporting work-at-home-moms when you use EWies, too! A great diaper that works hard to keep your baby dry and trim. EWies definitely gets my Seal of Approval!
January 24, 2011
Sage Diapers has paved the way in the cloth diaper industry – They were the first company to use PUL as waterproof barrier, the first to use leg gussets and have an umbilical cut-out. Sage Diapers was also the first cloth diaper to be sold in national stores (JCPenney) in 1988. The company has several diaper options available, including a One-Step diaper, fitted, doublers and liners. I was able to try the One-Step system and this is what I found.
The One-Step is simple to use – You just snap in the insert (choose from hemp/organic cotton or micro terry) and wrap the cover around baby and you’re done! Simple enough. I chose the hemp/organic cotton insert because I prefer only natural fibers against my baby’s skin. The hemp/cotton insert needs to be washed a minimum of five times before use to rid it of the natural oils, which are water-resistant. It will reach full absorbency after eight washes. I prepped mine with the five wash/dry cycles and put it to use. Leak. After only 30 minutes of wear. I wash and dried a few more times and tried again – it still leaks. In addition to leaking very quickly, the insert is flat and has no shape to it, so breastfed baby poop runneth over.
The cover seemed nice at first, then I noticed a few flaws. After my initial wash, one of the seams came apart, although the diaper was still usable. The hook and loop on the tabs doesn’t extend to the tip of the tab, so when you overlap them closed, the hook and loop pulls on the PUL of the diaper. Again, only a cosmetic flaw. I use the cover with prefolds and like it just fine, although it is one of the last I reach for. The lining isn’t wet-resistant, so if urine saturates through the insert or prefold, it needs changed because it’s wet. It does wash up nicely and dries quickly.
Everyone I dealt with with at Sage Diapers was lovely and very pleasant to work with. I wish I loved the One-Step a little more. If you can catch them on sale, I would suggest getting one to try. If anything, you’ll get a decent cover to add to your stash! Personally, I would not get another One-Step. I would certainly try other Sage Diapers, especially the fitted. Natural fiber diapers are hard to come by and Sage Diapers has a few good offerings.
January 3, 2011
I love the Earth. That is a well-known fact. I do whatever I can to make my family’s footprint smaller. Which leads me to – I love reuseit.com. They offer a huge range of products from reusable shopping bags and lunch bags to glass straws and reusable menstrual products. It’s your one-stop-shop for eco-friendly, affordable, reusable products. I was able to review three reuseit brand products! They sent me recycled, biodegradable trash bags, cloth napkins and a spray bottle – to make your own cleaners. It doesn’t get more exciting than this! I couldn’t wait to put everything to use.
The trash bags are pretty cool. If you’ve ever used biodegradable trash bags, you know they can be pretty lame. Thin, weak and tear very easily. I was interested to see how the reuseit bags would hold up. Even better than your typical biodegradable bags, these are made with recycled plastic in Chicago (local to reuseit.com). They contain an additive that allows them to completely compost and biodegrade – even in landfills (full degrade in 12-24 months). I was impressed that they actually feel substantial, not cheap and flimsy. The bags held all our kitchen trash (in a 13 gallon can) well, without tearing. There are a couple improvements I would make. I would give the bags handles for ease of removal and tying and I would make them a little deeper. Our bags keep falling into the trash can and were hard to tie when filled completely.
Onto the spray bottle. I’ve been wanting to make my own cleaners. I use natural cleaners, or the old faithful vinegar, but I want to do something a little different. The reuseit bottle is built to last and completely recyclable when you are done with it. They best part about it is that it has recipes for basic cleaners printed right on the bottle, with easy to use gradations for measurements. The nozzle has two spray settings – mist and stream and two “off” settings. For just over the price you’d pay for a bottle of natural cleaner, this bottle gives you much more bang for your buck!
Paper napkins and towels. How wasteful! And when you have a toddler, you go through napkins! Cloth napkins are one more thing I’ve been wanting to switch to and just haven’t made the plunge. Que reuseit “I’m Not a Paper Towel” cloths! A multipurpose, reusable napkin/tissue/drool catch. Hemp/organic cotton blend and nice and soft! Logo embroidered for an elegant touch – these are dinner party worthy! Machine wash and dry. It doesn’t get any easier to make the switch!
All-in-all, awesome, high-quality products I’d expect from reuseit. Head on over to reuseit and take a look around. There’s still time to get in an order before the holidays and there is something for everyone on your list!
December 10, 2010
Previous page
