Every breastfeeding mama should have some nipple cream on hand, just in case. Most of us find it indispensable that first month! Get yours free with any nursing top purchased at EuphoriaMaternity.com. Free Lansinoh Lanolin – the full-sized 2 oz tube – it’s the only nipple cream officially recommended by La Leche League International.
No coupon necessary!
Between the baby registry and maternity clothes, most moms-to-be are “shopped out” as the due date nears. But before you meet baby, don’t neglect to set the stage for a positive breastfeeding relationship. It’s priceless! Here are the essentials you’ll want to invest in as you gear up for breastfeeding.
1. Quality nursing bras. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard customers regret buying cheap nursing bras. Lactating breasts are tender and heavy. They’ll be working hard, so get yourself some support! When you find a good bra, buy 2. Milk leaks will have you reaching for a clean, dry bra quite often in the first few months. I recommend Bravado’s original nursing bra for total comfort throughout engorgement and at night, and Bravado’s Body Silk Seamless for shape and support during the day.
2. Breast pads. Most women leak… a lot. Disposable nursing pads are reliable and easy. However, they use the same questionable absorbent gel as disposable diapers. A more natural alternative is cotton or wool washable pads. I suggest you get some of both. You can wear washables at home and disposables when you need total protection (and a pad that doesn’t show even through tight clothing). Always start out with just 1 pack of whatever you buy to make sure you like how they fit first.
3. Nipple care. If this is your first baby, count on breastfeeding being a little (or a lot) painful at first. Yes, it’s worth it, but it’s not necessarily the easiest road. Don’t wait until you’re feeling desperate – have some nipple cream and soothies pads on hand before baby is born so they’re ready to help you through the hard times. It seems to me that just about everyone appreciates these products! Other solutions like booby tubes and breast shells are more mama-specific, so buy as-needed.
4. Nursing pillow. No, you don’t need a nursing stool, but you will be glad to have a nursing pillow. True, you can make due with a few regular pillows, but considering the frequency of breastfeeding, a specially-designed nursing pillow is warranted. Breastfeeding pillows offer firm support to keep baby at breast-height and encourage proper posture for mama (ie no back-ache!). Be sure that the pillow you buy is NOT filled with polyurethane foam. Our organic Blessed Nest pillows are a customer favorite.
5. Privacy. This last category is definitely optional. If you do desire privacy when breastfeeding, you might consider nursing clothing or breastfeeding cover-ups. I personally prefer cover-ups, like our Bebe au Lait nursing covers, just since they’re more cost-effective. If you’re already breastfeeding and feel that you can’t nurse in pubic, you really should give nursing clothes and a Bebe au Lait a chance. Combining the two is a super-effective way of covering all your bases.
Wishing you many blessings!
During the holidays I took the kids to a local children’s hospital to donate some handmade plushies to the pediatric cancer ward. The hospital floor was decked out in a lively jungle theme with so many fun holiday details to make the treatment center and waiting areas feel like Christmas. The ladies on staff gave us a short, informative tour. My kids listened attentively with wide eyes, soaking in a new reality… children who must regularly visit the hospital to survive. On the way home Aria (7) and Liam (almost 5) had lots of questions about cancer. How bad is it? Can it be fixed? Do lots of people get it? And, most importantly in my opinion – What causes it?
That’s the question most grown-ups don’t want to ask. What causes it? They’re afraid, we’re afraid because the causes are everywhere in everyday products and it doesn’t seem possible that we’re really choosing something so awful, willingly for ourselves and our little ones.
Today an article from Healthy Child Healthy World caught my eye:
Last week the Washington Toxics Coalition and Safer States released a study that found 80% of new baby and children’s products tested positive for chlorinated Tris (TDCPP), a chemical voluntarily removed from children’s pajamas in the 1970s because it was found to cause cancer.
The report tested 20 products and found this cancer-causing chemical in nursing pillows, changing pads, bassinet pads and car seats. Starting from day one, millions of loving parents in our country surround their children with a chemical so obviously dangerous that US companies removed it voluntarily in the 70′s. The seventies!
This reality is truly outrageous. Someday generations are going to look back and shake their heads at our folly. Meanwhile, said millions of parents continue to bury their heads in the sand. And 50% of all Americans get cancer.
But no problem is too big, too hard that you can do nothing about it. When Aria voiced these hard questions I was so encouraged to be able to connect the dots for her, to explain that all the “odd” choices we make about eating real food and using natural products are precisely the way to prevent cancer. I could see her eyes light up. And, I’ll confess, my heart was filled with thankfulness that I could give her this hope.
Lately our family has had to make some sacrifices due to financial challenges. We can’t always afford to buy organic foods anymore. But I won’t let those little defeats to change the course of our lifestyle. We will continue to strive for natural, healthy living. How could I choose anything else for those I love?
At book club last month I shared my experience using BumGenius’ newly released Flip Training Pants with my friends. Based on my testimony, a few moms opted to cross that line. You know the one – the one where you actually see yourself washing dirty diapers. In the washing machine and everything!
Yes, when it comes time for potty training, even parents who have always used disposables might consider cloth pull-ups over pricey disposable alternatives. There’s a lot of benefits – money saved, likelier faster training (since the child can feel any wetness), not to mention we all know it’s easier on the environment to reuse rather than throw away an everyday product. Plus there’s a HUGE eliminated drawback… the poop factor. If your child is a little ways into the potty training transition, he or she is likely no longer having messy accidents. A lot of us have nighttime wetters only. Since staying dry at night can be a multi-year battle, even using a cloth trainer at night only offers such a significant savings. Washing pee-only diapers is so much easier on the average psyche. I totally get that.
Anyways, I wanted to let you know that we’ve been using the Flip trainer since it was released in November. My 4-year-old still wakes up wet most nights, but bedding and pj’s stay dry when he wears the Flip trainer. Flip Training Pants are sold in a box with 1 waterproof outer and 5 absorbent inserts for $29.95. For a child wearing a trainer during the day, one insert provides the accident protection you need. But, for an older child sleeping overnight we double up on the absorbent inserts to provide enough oomph for a heavy wetter. You can buy extra inserts separately. I love that my child can easily pull the cloth trainers up and down for those late night trips to the bathroom and that we don’t have to keep investing in throw-away solutions.
And, by the way, if you do have a really messy accident, BumGenius has you covered with snap-open access for a normal diaper change. Just dump any solids in the toilet and wash that pull up on HOT. You’ll be just fine. But, all the same, let’s hope that never happens to you (wink)!
I love this story from Healthy Child Healthy World about a family who faced the diagnosis of autism and fought back with healthy living. The family made important changes to their little boy’s diet, such as eliminating food additives (food coloring, etc.) and preservatives, as well as identifying his sensitivity to gluten and dairy. A boy who was considered by doctors to be autistic was simply being “poisoned by his environment.”
After further changes to his diet, Jake is a different little boy. This is a hard thing for me to write, but he now has a sparkle in his eyes that he never had before. Today, he smiles, laughs and tells me I am his best friend. Friends and families cannot believe the dramatic change in him. He is a happy little boy, whom I am so thankful and grateful to have in my life.
A few months later at Jake’s autism assessment, our pediatrician said she could not explain his rapid improvement, and she now has no more concerns.
When I share information about the dangers of the American diet or concerns with common toxic home products, I often feel like that “odd” person. Reading stories like this is a welcome reminder that real people and even real doctors are seeing a huge difference when folks make wise choices about their lifestyle. Let’s not be afraid to share the truth and to be the change that our country so desperately needs!
Now through January 15th we’re authorized to pass on a $50 savings on your purchase of the much-loved Beco Butterfly II baby carrier! These gorgeous Echino prints are made of a sturdy cotton/linen blend and printed with unique, eye-catching designs that certainly don’t scream “baby”. Use coupon code “BECO50” to save on these limited editions:
When I was pregnant for the first time, I thought a moses basket was a definite luxury. They’re so pretty, so sweet… aren’t they more for looks than anything else? After baby was born I could see soon enough the benefits of a movable bed. Not just in the house or in the garden, but able to come to grandmother’s house as well. A familiar bed just makes everything easier.
That said, I never had a moses basket. We couldn’t buy “everything”, so we only had a bassinet. When I wanted to calm a fussy, but fed baby in the middle of the night, I would reach out and gently jiggle the bassinet beside my bed to approximate a rocking motion. Not the easiest thing to do, but a tired mother will go to great lengths to remain in bed.
A cradle rocks. A bassinet is just the right height by the bed. A moses basket can be carried from room to room. All helpful features and all to be found in our organic moses basket and rocker set made in the USA by Little Merry Fellows. When we came across this lovely, natural design years ago, I knew it was just what I had wanted as a new mom. And since baby’s bed is where she spends most of her time, it’s a great place to start with choosing organic, non-toxic materials.
Because sometimes the beautiful choice is the wisest choice too!
The best toys for baby are classics, tried and true and handed down from generation to generation. No fancy bells or flashing lights, just quality construction and open-ended play value that sparks gentle, age-appropriate curiosity and wonder.
Our baby and toddler toy boutique is one of my favorite parts of being in business! The beautiful woodwork, soft cloth and quality construction – these are toys I love to have in my home and am proud to give as gifts. When you find yourself seeking new playthings, I hope you’ll support companies like Plan Toys, Under the Nile and Haba of Germany who make your child’s safety the #1 concern. We’re proud to stock them and more natural toys for baby in our PLAY assortment!
Natural Baby Toys
Free Baby Toy with $75 purchase through 12/16 for our blog readers and Facebook followers only.
Claim yours during checkout in comments!
Choose from natural Soy Crayons, a Plan Toys Wood Teether or an organic Squeak Duck from Dandelion Organic Toys.
Your order of $75 or more with EuphoriaMaternity.com or EuphoriaBaby.com (excluding baby bedding) qualifies for a free gift!
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