Just Love Your Baby

Boob Juice

2010-02-14T07:38:00.000-08:00

I thought that breast milk was supposed to start regulating itself after the first few weeks. Seeing as it has been six months, this is getting ridiculous. Would someone come over to my house and tell my boobs to behave? Please!! How is it possible to soak through the disposable nursing pads twice in one day? Child, you will have to start eating more!!
A note on nursing pads:
I really want to use the wool pads from Evymama. I keep trying to use them; sometimes they work, sometimes I leak straight out the middle or dribble down and out the bottom. I even bought the washable cotton ones. That was a joke. The no name disposable ones fell apart on my boob. Literally. I was covered in fluff. The other disposable brands I find very similar, and they do usually work for me (but they are still heavy with boob juice at the end of the day).

What nobody every told you about having a baby

2010-02-08T15:26:00.000-08:00

As if having a baby wasn't hard enough, you've read all the books and gotten all the advice, but somehow they all forgot to tell you a few things...

Here is our list of things nobody ever told us about having a baby:

babies get toe jam
babies get tons of ear wax - don't use Q tips!
babies get fluff in the creases of the palm of their little hands
newborns peel all their skin off like a snake
baby poop is liquid mustard
babies fart really loud man farts
breastfeeding hurts and can be really hard, blistering and scabbing may occur (but it does get easier and is worth the agony)
breast milk is sticky!
breast milk does not come out of one hole in the middle of your nipple, but from an array of holes at different angles
breast milk has a spraying radius of at least 3 feet
it burns to pee for about 2 weeks if you've had a tear and you have to spray warm water on your perineum (that means your crotch) with a water bottle for relief

What was news to you? We want your feedback! Let's compile a list so new moms aren't as surprised as we were!

Don't forget Mom

2010-02-08T15:19:00.000-08:00

It's easy to forget about gifts for mom when everything baby is adorable and cute, but something thoughtful for mom goes a long way. There are many things that you could gift mom with that would be fun but useless, and in our opinion no one needs crap from crapcity.
Things that are nice to get include new pyjamas and slippers (let's face it, you'll be stuck in the house a lot), a magazine subscription to something easy-read like People, US or Hello, even a great book of short stories.
We're big fans of supporting breastfeeding, so gift certificates for nursing bras or tops is great. Nursing pads and lanolin nipple ointment also are great and needed.
Offering up time once the baby is born so that mom can get her nails done, a hair cut or a massage is awesome. It's hard to do these things while holding your baby. Of course you gave her a gift certificate for these things too.
Give your gift in a nice storage container that can be used for toys or clothes. There's a great toy box from Ikea that we LOVE http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30079407, it looks like a red treasure chest.

Remember: Thinking about mom will help her not go insane.

Prewalking Shoes

2010-02-05T08:48:00.000-08:00

Seriously, what are "prewalking shoes"? Are shoes not made for walking? If you are worried about your babies feet getting cold put the booties on that grandma/aunt/grandma's friend lovingly knit for your little one.

Great Stuff We Actually Use

2010-02-02T18:03:00.000-08:00

New parents are bombarded with baby products. The urge to buy everything for your new baby is overwhelming, and the manufacturers know it. Be leery of over buying before the baby comes, asking for exorbitant things on your baby shower registry or getting caught up in the hype of trendy products. A newborn baby needs only five things for about the first month: milk, diapers, blankets, mom and dad. Okay, maybe six, a nursing pillow. It's nice to have a carrier like a wrap or pouch sling. You obviously already had the car seat. Crap.
Okay so you need stuff.
But not a lot and nothing expensive and that's the point. The bouncy chair that costs $30 that has toys attached to it is better than the $100 dollar wooden one that goes with your decor. Why babies like the tacky plastic toys and not the neutral coloured organic cloth toys is a whole other topic entirely. But I digress. Really new babies need very little because they don't start playing with their toys until 3 months. But when they start to play and roll around having a few choice toys and gadgets is really important for their development. Some babies love the stuff that lights up and makes noise, some are happy with rattles, stuff that shines, is crinkly and textured.
Do you really need a:
bumbo chair? No, it's nice to have but definitely not on our essentials list.
baby spa? No, use the sink or just a plain baby tub. You don't need all the gadgets.
play mat? Yes, but not necessarily the $100 Baby Einstein one. I got one off Kijiji for $10 that he loves. Tiny Love makes nice ones.
Jumperoo/Excersaucer? Yes, the circle of neglect is great to have. Also recommended buying one second hand to save some money.
Swing? No, never used one.
nursing pillow? Yes and No, it depends on how your breastfeeding experience is going. I thought I could do without one but found that I really needed one in the beginning. My Breast Friend was the one I had and was a great choice. Even though I only used it for maybe 3 months it really helped.
Highchair? Yes but, there are a lot of different options for this one, check what is available and choose what will fit for your lifestyle. The big bulky plastic chairs are hideous. The booster seats or seat wraps are good choices for small kitchens where space is at a premium. There are new high chairs for the well off parents who want to show off how much money they can burn- the Hi/Lo chair that is Canadian made, or the Stokke Tripptrapp are so uber expensive it's ridiculous. But they look so cool!!!
Jolly Jumper? Yes, babies love it and will use it before the jumperoo because it is more supportive. Please be sure to sing "Jump Around" by House of Pain while baby is jumping. It's just better that way.
video baby monitor? No, unless you are obsessive parents who need to see your baby at all times these are just over priced monitors that feed off of our fear that something will happen to our baby while it's sleeping. There's nothing wrong with the regular monitors. If you need to see your baby in colour on a screen, then watch your home movies.
bouncy chair? Yes, I find mine really useful when he doesn't want to lay down but I can't carry him- like when I'm cooking in the kitchen etc.
Baby Bjorn? No, we don't recommend these types of carriers. There is debate over pressure being on the baby's soft hip/pelvic bones.
Carriers we do like: Baby Hawk Mei Tai, Cuddly Wraps, Sleepy Wraps, Pouch slings, Ring slings and the Ergo. The Mei Tai is a lot like the Ergo but instead of the clips it's long wrapping straps.
gliding/rocking chair? No, I really wanted one, have one and don't use it. Unfortunate purchase. A lot of moms we know bounce on an exercise ball to get their little ones to sleep. That seems more economical than the $300 chairs.
diaper bag? No, use your backpack or another kind of bag. It's all the same in the end.
coordinated baby bedroom furniture? No, as long as you have drawers and a closet don't feel like the furniture needs to be new and/or from the same designer. Your baby has no idea that you paid $50 for the crib or $500. Make sure it's safe but it doesn't need to match the shelving unit. Use Ikea, Goodwill, Kijiji or Craig's list to get any furniture you need.

In the end what ever stuff you can get used or hand-me-down is great, but everyone will use different stuff and like different stuff. This is just great stuff that we actually like and use.
E
Hannah's input:
I bought the Oeuf Lounger and we've used it almost everyday. I bought it because I liked the way it looked, neutral and matched the decor.
I also use the rocking chair that was ridiculously expensive almost everyday. It's a fully covered one and is very comfortable. It's good for story time. I think it was a good purchase for us.
You do not need a change table! They take up a lot of room, are expensive and dangerous. It takes half a second for your baby to fall off. It's happened to friends who strapped their daughter onto the table only to have her fall out the bottom. Use the floor and that way when someone else is changing your babies diaper you won't have to worry.

The Tooth Fairy Effect

2010-01-29T08:21:00.000-08:00

I know it's not just Hannah and Luke. It seems like the Tooth Fairy has been making visits to our babies and waking them up at all hours. And just when we got them to sleep like champions! No fair! There is something criminal about how new moms are teased with a child who sleeps through the night at 3 months, only to discover that it isn't going to last.
Watch out for using certain kinds of teething gels, try it on yourself first. Would you want to have a numb mouth? They need to feel their mouths for nursing. Why not just try a bit of acetaminophen or an all natural camilia drop? You can get these anywhere. I've seen the camilia in the Super Store or any health food store like the Big Carrot should have it in their baby section.
How long will this phase last? I hear they just keep getting more teeth!
Yikes!
E

Sleep Deprivation

2010-01-27T15:11:00.000-08:00

I haven't slept more than three hours since I was five months pregnant due to insomnia and frequent urination. Now Luke is almost six months old. I still have insomnia and he wakes up frequently for various reasons. Currently, he is teething and I can't sleep; not a good combination. We co-sleep and I love cuddling with Luke but when neither of us are sleeping it can be somewhat uncomfortable. I may have actually sat up at 4am last night after waking up every thirty minutes, and said "for fucks sake." I felt like a bad mother for a moment then got up and Luke and I watched an infomercial. I feel nauseous a lot of the time and my head is foggy but I keep reminding myself that Luke is only going to be this little once. I'm sure I won't suffer any long term brain damage. Right?
H

Top 10 Worst Baby Shower Gifts

2010-01-27T11:54:00.000-08:00

These are some of the more useless or irritating things that we think make terrible baby shower gifts. Please think twice before you give these items.

10. Stuffed toys. Sorry all you Teddy Bear lovers, but they're useless for the first few years.
9. Baby soaps and shampoos and lotions. Especially baby scented things. You don't need them. They smell good just as they are. If you need something, please use all natural products like pure organic shea butter, oatmeal and olive oil.
8. White pants, sleepers, really anything white that goes near the diaper area!
7. Diaper Genie. Just use a regular garbage can and bags.
6. Wipes warmer. Now really people, who invented this thing?
5. Change table. Too expensive for something that you don't need. Just use a change pad.
4. Crib bedding sets. You shouldn't even use bumper pads anyway, or the quilt. Just buy the sheets separately.
3. Pee Pee Tee Pee. Far to powerful a spray to be useful. Plus boys will pull at their jewels and just pull it off anyway. If you want to use a face cloth for protection they work just as well.
2. Ornamental and sentimental keepsakes. These things are tacky and stupid. Nobody wants junk that you have to keep.
1. Anything that takes batteries. For example the Fisher Price Aquarium toy for the crib, toy that make irritating noise etc.

Be careful what you register for... you just might get it!

Top 10 Best Baby Shower Gifts

2010-01-27T10:36:00.000-08:00

10. Money for an RESP or an independent savings plan
9. Gift card or cash so parents can get what they didn't realize they would need after the baby comes
8. Baby clothes in larger sizes, small ones are nice but only last so long. 3-6 month or 6-9 months sizes get a lot of wear, but watch the brands, different labels make their sizes fit small.
7. Receiving blankets. Always needed, always useful.
6. Activity toys for when the baby is older ie. Jolly Jumper, Jumperoo, Play Gym and Sophie the Giraffe.
5. Frozen home cooked meals. Because you never have time to cook anything, even a peanut butter sandwich.
4. Molly Maid. Aside from not being able to cook anything, you can't clean anything either!
3. Foam floor squares from Canadian Tire, about $14.99, you get 4 for a square 4 feet X 4 feet. So great for playing on the floor, rolling around etc.
2. Kids books. Board books are great for babies who might rip book pages, but it's nice to start a library of classics.
1. Diapers- cloth preferably. You will use them for years.
Need we say more.

Henna belly tatoos are a cool way to celebrate and show off your bump- for the hip mom who has everything!

Good article on Vitamin D

2010-01-26T17:57:00.001-08:00

"Newman argues that recommending vitamin D for every breastfed baby sends a message that breastfeeding is deficient. He also points out that many parents find the supplements expensive - a worthwhile expense in those situations where they are needed, but a waste of money if they are not. In addition, some babies don’t react well to the vitamin drops; one of McKellar’s friend’s daughters threw up every time she was given the supplement."

http://www.todaysparent.com/baby/breastfeeding/article.jsp?content=855905

Hair Cut

2010-01-26T09:44:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,
I think we can all agree that it really feels great to get your hair done. Scalp massage, an hour to relax, then you look fabulous for the rest of the day. This is hard to do when your baby is small, you're breastfeeding and the salon is down town. But aren't we the ones who deserve it the most?
I took my babysitter along with me (aka Nan) so we could both get our hair done and do the old switcheroo with Brody. She went first, we were early and my hair dresser Mike B. wasn't in yet. Did I mention that we were at House of Lords on Yonge St. just south of Bloor? If anyone has ever even walked past there you will know that the music is pumping, the hair dressers are often pierced and leather clad, (that's why I love taking my mother in law lol) but it's a great and reasonably priced place to get your hair done. If your hair dresser shows up.
NEVER EVER stand up a new mom who booked an appointment a week ago, made special plans to get down there and hasn't had a hair cut in 5 months! Alas, Bess did my hair, highlights and all, looks pretty good if I must say so myself.
Did I mention the loud music? Brody slept most of the time, whether he was overwhelmed by the experience or is just a great baby, taking him with us was great.
But I would not ever call this a baby friendly place to get your hair cut. Had I been brave enough to venture into the washroom, it would have slayed me to find a change table. They offered that I could sit in the back and feed him, but I feel comfortable breastfeeding and feel the need to do it out in public as much as I can to support breastfeeding and mothers in general (or to piss people off, lol).
After our hair, we went to have coffee. I love to sit in the window of Second Cup and nurse him, possibly spraying the window, just so people walking by can see what we hardly ever see- a breastfeeding mother. Don't we always see the baby with the bottle in their mouths? I think we should start walking down the street with our little ones latched on, leaky boobs and all, proud that we are doing our best.
btw, my hair still looks good today, thanks Bess!
E

When a Homebirth Fails

2010-01-25T13:09:00.000-08:00

I wanted a homebirth for exactly the same reasons as Emma. The thought of bringing my healthy baby boy into the world in a place for the sick and dying seemed wrong. Unfortunately, Luke did end up being born by c-section in the hospital after more than twenty hours of labour at home. I am so glad that I tried for a homebirth and still feel sad that it wasn't able to happen. Because of the c-section I wasn't the first person to hold my son and he came into this world at a moment when I felt terrified. It was not the birth I had hoped for but the c-section saved Luke's life. I am grateful for the medical intervention because I know that it was neccessary.
Hannah

Homebirth- The Natural Option

2010-01-22T18:56:00.000-08:00

People always ask me the same question: "Why?". I like to think "Why not?". If you are a healthy woman, if your baby is healthy, why would you not consider the most natural and empowering option available to birth your baby?
Homebirth is not as scary as you might think. I laboured for 15 hours before meeting Brody for the first time. He was alert, we were in awe and we were at home.
I was always resigned to the idea that if our homebirth plan did not work out and we ended up in the hospital I would be alright with that. However, with everything working out as smoothly as a labour and delivery could, I feel the need to spread the word about this most empowering experience.
Often people comment "That was really brave!". I wouldn't say brave, it just felt right. My husband had some concerns, but after meeting with the Midwife for a Homebirth information session, all his fears subsided.
What if something goes wrong? Having a midwife does not guarantee that you will have a homebirth, (there are always reasons why having your baby in the hospital is the best option for you) but it does allow you to give it your best shot. Midwives are trained professionals who are equipped to deal with emergency situations. If something happens, they will get you the most appropriate care as quickly as possible. It's a little different from the days when the midwife would arrive, boil water and get the towels. Now they bring medication and oxygen, and the only reason for boiled water is tea.
Think it's messy? Don't want to get blood and placenta on your new carpet?
Don't worry. If properly prepared there will be no sign that you just gave birth except for a bag of garbage, a bag of laundry, oh yea, and a baby.
It doesn't take much to prepare, a few receiving blankets and a plastic sheet for the bed are almost everything you need. And Gatorade. Lots of Gatorade.

I don't know how anyone gets in the car and goes to the hospital. I really don't. When the contractions are going strong, maybe you are throwing up and exhausted, it seems to me that being at home is the most comforting and relaxing place to be.

A lot of women have natural births, but allow the hospital to medicalize what should be a normal process with EFMs, IVs etc. Not to mention the risk of hospital acquired bacterial infections.

As Midwives and Homebirths are becoming more mainstream in Canada, Toronto in particular, we encourage anyone and everyone to at least give it some consideration.
Cheers,
E

Not All Babies Are Cute

2010-01-20T16:33:00.000-08:00

"Thank you for your interest in Kamera Kids. Unfortunately we are unable to offer your child representation at this time. We invite you to re-apply in 6 months with new photos and measurements. Due to the amount of applications we receive, we cannot elaborate as to the reasons your child was not accepted. Some reasons are: photo quality, look/size of the child may be in conflict with another on our roster, etc." - Kamera Kids

Okay, admit it you know you've seen a baby that isn't cute. You might even admit that the baby is ugly. But not your baby. No, your baby is the cutest baby. Ever. Definitely cute enough for modeling. At least we thought so. Before you read the next bit we aren't out to make our babies famous. We just thought it might be something fun to do. We both submitted adorable photos of the boys with high hopes, only to receive the rejection form letter email. Brutal. But why? Their reasons are not specific (see form letter above). We're sure it was the photo quality and not little Luke's manly comb over and adorable double chin. We know Brody looks mature for his age, but that seems like some form of discrimination. What? Is he not "baby" enough for you? We know for a fact that our boys are cute! No matter what your baby looks like s/he is perfect to you. Try not to think about the saying "Only a face a mother could love." All babies really are beautiful.