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So I hope you had quick and easy success making the various cleaning products mentioned previously {Homemade Cleaning Products – Part I & Part II}. I hope you found it as simple as I have, and if not, practice makes perfect! 🙂 I have been making my own cleaning products for about a year and a half and I still find myself tweaking the mixtures. One major tweak I had to make was to our laundry detergent, as my Hubby started breaking out from either the lavender oil I added or the Fels Naptha (thus one of the reasons why I switched to Kirk’s Castile soap). Besides that, the formulations I’ve made thus far have worked perfectly! But please don’t give up if you have a botched attempt, it’s worth another try! (Plus, what are you out monetarily except a dollar or less?)
After realizing how easy it was to make my own laundry and dish detergent, I knew it had to be just as easy to make other liquid soaps. So my next venture in homemade cleaning products was making various liquid soaps – hand, dish and body soaps. I first attempted making liquid hand soap.
Items needed:
Grater
Liquid glycerin (found at your local craft store or drug store) ($3.47 – 8 oz. at Hobby Lobby)
Bar soap
Large pot
Water
Funnel (can find a cheap one in the automotive department at your local store)
1 gal. milk container (rinsed well)
Empty bottle with pump for soap
Directions:
1. Grate entire bar of soap.
2. Fill pot with 1 gal. (16 cups) of water and soap shavings.
3. Add 2 tbs. of liquid glycerin, turn heat to med/high, and stir til soap disolves.
4. Let cool 10-12 hours in pot.
**If thicker than needed, blend with hand mixer and add a little water at a time until you reach a good liquid soap consistency of your liking. Don’t be surprised if some soap consistencies require you to add more than a cup of water – this is OK! Be aware that the consistency will be a lot thinner than what you buy at the store (the soap manufacturers just want you to use their soap quicker so you have to buy more sooner).
5. Pour into empty containers, using funnel if necessary.
**If you want you can use a foam dispenser, just be sure that the consistency is 1/4 soap to 3/4 water. If not your foam dispenser pump will clog.
Total Cost:
The total cost of the liquid hand soap varies upon the cost of bar soap used in the mixture.
For example:
1 bar Kirk’s Castile soap = $1.08
Liquid Glycerin – 1 oz. = 2 tbs. =>$.43/oz.)
==> $1.51 – 1 Gal. of liquid soap
==> $.01/oz. of liquid soap
Next up is homemade dish soap. Now, I have to admit I haven’t personally made this yet but it should turn out just as good as other homemade liquid soaps.
Homemade Dish Soap:
1 bar Kirk’s Castile Soap ($1.08 for 1 bar)
Water
Empty dish soap container & empty milk gallon container (well rinsed)
Essential oils of your choice
Funnel
Directions:
1. Grate entire bar of soap.
2. Put in a mixing bowl, add enough water to cover the soap gratings.
3. Let it sit overnight.
4. Stir with a spoon – if it feels too thick still, gradually add more water til you reach the desirable consistency.
5. If desired, add whichever essential oils you prefer for added awesomeness and fragrance! 🙂
6. Pour into empty container for use and extra container for storage (best practice would be to label container).
==> Depending upon the size of your container, you can calculate the costs. Either way, this is one cheap and efficient way to achieve clean dishes!
** Please be aware that you may not experience as many suds as when using a comparable commercial brand – this is just because suds are created by particular ingredients which are added to create these suds. It’s just another added consumer ingredient that’s expected in order for consumers to “know” their dishes are being cleaned (ie. bubbles), when in the long run suds doesn’t equal clean and disinfected dishes.
Liquid Body Soap:
There are two very similar recipes for making your own body soap. The first requires no stove top, just simple measurements. The second is almost as easy, except you’ll need a stove top to melt the soap into a liquid.
Option 1:
Ingredients:
1 Bottle – Dr. Bronners Castile Liquid Soap
Olive Oil or Jojoba Oil (whichever you have available around the house)
Water
Essential oil – optional
Empty Foam Pump (7 1/2 oz. used in this example)
Funnel
Directions:
1. Fill empty foam pump container 1/2 way with Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap
2. Fill 1/4 way with water
3. Add about 2 tbs. of olive oil
4. Add any essential oils if you want (15-20 drops)
5. Shake and pump onto a wash cloth or loofah for best results. Must shake each time before use.
Cost per 7.5 oz. Foam Bottle:
Dr. Bronner’s – $7 (16 oz.) – $.44/oz. –> $1.76
Olive Oil – $.01
==> $1.77/7.5 oz. foam bottle (lasts about 2 months on avg.)
** You can also use this same bottle for shampoo, it works perfect to clean your hair too!
Option 2:
Ingredients:
1 Bar – Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap (or any other soap you have around the house)
6-8 cups – Water
2 oz. coconut oil or liquid glycerin
Medium sized pot
Empty foam container and additional empty container for extras
Funnel
Directions:
1. Warm water in pot then add 2 cups of soap shavings and coconut oil or liquid glycerin (either help with moisturizing).
2. Turn off heat, then let sit over night.
3. Funnel into foam container and pour any extras into another empty container (label).
Cost per Batch:
1 Bar – Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap – $3 for 5 oz.
2 oz. coconut oil or liquid glycerin – $.43/oz.
==> $3.42 per batch
So as you can see, making these various liquid soap recipes is SO simple and it will save you time and money in the long run! Think of how much an average bottle of dish soap or body wash is – at least $5 or more! And these recipes are natural and chemical free – thus adding even more incentive to making your own liquid soaps (plus you’re recycling empty plastic bottles)!!
** Which homemade cleaning products have you found to be your favorite?? Please feel free to leave any comments below about your own experience making cleaning products, other variations you like, and any questions, etc. I would love to hear! Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, your support is greatly appreciated! 🙂
Making your own laundry detergent and dish detergent is the perfect starting point for anyone who’s just embarking on making home made soaps, etc. This was where I started and I found it to be the quickest and easiest few steps ever – not to mention the instant savings!! I remember thinking, “That’s it??”, and I double checked everything thinking that I must have missed something but I didn’t, it was that simple!
I picked up a 3 gallon bucket at the local dollar store, along with a few measuring cups, grater and large wooden spoons. You can use your everyday kitchen supplies but I decided since I would be doing this regularly I wanted to have designated supplies for soap making. I still haven’t picked up a large pot from the Goodwill or Savers but every so often I check in there to see if they have one for sale. For now, I just use my usual kitchen pot and it works just fine, cleans easily, and hasn’t done any damage to the pot (which it would take a lot to do any damage anyways).
For the ingredients you’ll need a bar of soap, Washing Soda, Borax, and water. The bar of soap can be anything extra that you may have laying around the house, ie. Ivory or Dial. Lots of recipes call for Fels Naptha or Zote, which are both found near the laundry detergents aisles at the store. I have tried Fels Naptha and in my personal opinion and experience, I would shy away from using it. The main reason is because it’s just a collection of soap scraps from the Dial factory and you never know what may be in the particular bar you’re using, thus causing the outcomes to vary. Zote is an excellent laundry bar soap to use and it’s very economical. My personal choice is Kirk’s Castile bar soap, which is biodegradable, hypoallergenic and has no synthetic detergents.
Here’s the ingredients for each item used within my homemade laundry detergent:
Kirks Castile Bar Soap – Coconut oil, soap of coconut, vegetable glycerin and water ($1.08 per 4 oz. bar)
Washing Soda – Sodium carbonate ($3.24 – 55 oz.)
Borax – Sodium, boron, oxygen and water ($3.38 – 76 oz.)
(I found the Kirks Castile Bar soap by the other body soaps in the toiletries section and the other two ingredients within the laundry detergent department.)
Directions:
1/2 bar – Kirk’s Castile Bar Soap, shredded
1/2 cup – Washing Soda
1/2 cup – Borax powder
(10-15 drops of Essential Oil – Lavender, Tea Tree, Rosemary, etc.)
1. Grate soap and put in sauce pan.
2. Add 6 cups water and heat until the soap melts.
3. Add washing soda and borax and stir until dissolved.
4. Pour 4 cups hot water into bucket
5. Now add soap mixture from pot to bucket and stir well
6. Now add 1 Gallon (16 cups) plus 6 cups of water and stir well
7. Let soap mixture sit for about 24 hours to gel.
(The picture shown above is after about 12 hours – if it doesn’t completely “gel” after 24 hours, just stir and that should help it gel completely. If it doesn’t gel, that’s fine too, it will still work the same!)
8. Use 1/2 cup per load! (I will add a little OxyClean if there’s really soiled items, this is optional though)
It’s that simple!
Breakdown per Ounce & Per ingredient, as called for in recipe:
Kirk’s Castile Bar Soap – .27/oz –> $.54 (1/2 bar)
Washing Soda – .06/oz –> 4 oz = 1/2 c. –> $.24
Borax – .04/oz –> 4 oz =1/2 c. –> $.16
==> $.94 – 2 Gal. ==> 64 loads
==> $.01/load (1/2 cup)
**Compare this to a 134 oz. box of Tide, 80 loads, $.28/load, $23/box!
You couldn’t get a cheaper price than that anywhere at the store!! Think of all the savings your family could put elsewhere just by making this one item yourself!!
The average household does about 9 loads per week * 52 weeks = A whopping 468 average loads per YEAR! (as stated here in this WSJ article.)
So, in using the figures above, that would be about $138 for Tide and $6.58 for your own detergent PER YEAR!! Need I say more?? 🙂
Dishwasher Detergent
The second, by far easiest, homemade soap item is dishwasher detergent. It’s as simple as measuring, stirring and you’re done – Viola!! You’ll just need a large empty yogurt container or something of the like to store the powdered detergent in (even a Ziploc baggie will do, just watch out for possible holes).
Ingredients Needed:
2 Lemonaid packets (1/2 oz. each) – must be unsweetened lemon aid powder ($.20)
1 cup – Borax ($.32)
1 cup – Baking Soda ($.24) – 16 oz. = $1.97 ($.12/oz.) or 216 oz. = $6.50 (Costco) ($.03/oz.)
1/4 cup – table salt ($.08) – 26 oz. = $1 ($.04/oz.)
==> $.84/16 loads (1 Tbs./load)
==> $.05/load
Mix all above ingredients together, mix well and use 1 tablespoon per load.
The best part about both of these home made detergents is that their biodegradable and cause little to no harm on the environment as well as your own body! So go pick up these few ingredients and you’ll be set with over a years worth of laundry and dish detergent!!!
If you have any further questions or comments to add please feel free to leave them below and I’ll be happy to address them as best as possible.
Next, learn how to make your own body wash and hand soap! Stay tuned 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog!
Homemade Cleaning Products – Part I
I have a huge list of subjects which I have planned to blog about before I delved into the subject of homemade cleaners but I just couldn’t wait any longer. So I will return to the list following a few posts about homemade and natural cleaners.
Every time I put in a load of laundry or am making my next batch of detergent I think about how I would like to write about the process of making cleaning supplies on the blog. So I couldn’t resist any longer! I must admit – I’m a clean freak! I have been since a young age. I probably have a slight case of OCD but don’t we all to a certain degree?!? Humans are creatures of habit – so however you want to put it, we can’t help it – it’s an innate characteristic in all of us. After I became a Mom I started paying a lot more attention to what chemicals I was using in the house, as well as on our bodies. I did some preliminary research online and found a plethora of information regarding the effects that household cleaners and chemicals have on the body in the long-run. Everything from causing cancer to birth defects to infertility issues and lots more! It’s pretty scary!
So, after realizing what I’ve been subjecting my body to all these years, I was determined to eliminate as much exposure to these harsh household cleaners and chemicals as I could. I’m the type of person where once I know something is bad for me and what can happen, I will take the appropriate steps to eliminate said things. I wanted to make this change for myself, as well as my son. Like any parent, you hope to raise your child(ren) the best way possible, you try and make the best decisions, and protect them from what you can to ensure they live a long and healthy life! 🙂 With regards to the endless amounts of toiletry products sold today that are contaminating our bodies with numerous chemicals, I will be writing about this in the near future, so please check back for that!
I first discovered the countless ways white distilled vinegar can be used as a cleaner and after that I was hooked! Check 
out this site here – it lists over 80 uses for white distilled vinegar around the house! Vinegar is my go-to cleaner for most things around the house. I even use it when I’m rinsing and preparing fruits and veggies – it’s a lot cheaper than buying those cleaners sold specifically to “clean” your veggies and fruits. I am a very frugal person so if I can cut corners and still get the same effect I will happily do so. I also use vinegar when washing my clothes – I pour some in during the rinse cycle to help get any extra soap residue out of the clothes and it also acts as fabric softener. Here’s an extensive list of ways to use vinegar when doing laundry.
I have a bunch of industrial size spray bottles (Home Depot sells a 32 oz. size for a $1) in which I fill up with a variety of mixtures to use when cleaning various areas of the house. I just label the outside and reuse them. One mixture is vinegar and water, which I mostly use to clean off surfaces. (If you want, you can add a little lemon juice too for more disinfecting power.) Another is a bleach and water mixture (just a little bleach will go a long way) that I mostly use to clean the kitchen and bathroom sinks and any other areas that require a more deeper clean.
**Update: Substitute Grapefruit Seed Extract instead of bleach to make a chemical free, deep-cleaning alternative.
Borax is a popular natural cleaner that has countless uses throughout the household and beyond. We use it mainly in our homemade laundry detergent (please see the next post to learn how to make it). By itself, Borax is also an excellent de-greaser and stain fighter – it breaks down and turns into Hydrogen Peroxide, which is the main ingredient in OxiClean. Another use for Borax, which we use lots, is for a bug repellent – we mix Borax and water in a spray bottle and spray around the house (inside and out) for bugs. This is the perfect natural solution when there’s little ones in the house. 
Lemon juice is another natural substance used for countless cleaning uses and is an excellent natural disinfectant as well! If you have a cutting board that has some stains on it, rub some lemon juice on it and let it sit until you see the stains fade (usually letting it sit overnight works best). The lemon juice also disinfects the cutting board at the same time! For an extensive list of ways to use lemon juice as a natural cleaner go here. On a side note, lemon juice is a natural digestive aide, so drinking a warm glass of water in the morning with lemon juice in it will aid in healthy, problem-free digestion! 🙂
Baking Soda has endless capabilities from cleaning various surfaces to neutralizing acidic odors to boosting laundry detergents’ power by neutralizing the pH balance. Arm & Hammer Baking Soda is becoming more popular on the market as a multi-
purpose cleaner – from toothpaste to deodorant to laundry detergent – more people are learning about the numerous benefits baking soda offers. I personally love using baking soda mostly when doing laundry. I will add it at the beginning of the load to better balance the pH in the water to get clothes cleaner, fresher, and brighter. It’s also the perfect addition when washing babies’ clothes, because it acts as a tough stain fighter sans the harshness of commercial stain fighting solutions (just add 1/2 cup when adding the laundry detergent) or add a 1/2 cup during the rinse cycle to further deodorize the soiled clothes. For further uses of Baking Soda, go here to the Arm & Hammer website.
Dawn Dish Soap (the original blue kind) has been around for almost 40 years and has held strong as the best household cleaning 
staple to fight grease and much more. There are endless expensive soap scum cleaners on the market but nothing will remove soap scum better than a mixture of Dawn and white distilled vinegar. Just warm up one cup of vinegar in the microwave and pour it in a spray bottle. Then add a cup of Dawn to the bottle, shake and spray where needed. (If you want to make a smaller or larger batch, just make sure it’s a 1:1 ratio for best results.) The mixture will be a watery-gel like substance, which allows it to stay better on vertical surfaces while soaking. Let it sit on the dirty, scummy surface for a while – between 2 hours to possibly over night if needed – then use a sponge and some warm water to scrub off (you shouldn’t have to scrub much at all). The results will amaze you and you’ll never use anything else to clean your showers and baths again! Besides the sparkling noticeable results in your shower and tub, the savings when making your own cleaner are unbeatable!
19 oz. bottle of Dawn – $5.97 –> $2.50/cup
1 gal. bottle Vinegar – $2.12 –> $.13/cup
–> $2.63 per 2 cups of cleaning solution (32 oz. spray bottle holds max. 4 cups)
For those who might be more interested in purchasing natural cleaners, Shaklee is the route to take. I recently discovered an all natural, biodegradable household cleaner, sold by Shaklee Corporation. They’re one of the first companies ever to sell a biodegradable household cleaner. Shaklee is also the first company in the world to obtain “Climate Neutral” certification and totally offset CO2 emissions, thus resulting in a net zero impact on the environment! Their products are naturally safe and proven effective. I purchased two of their cleaning products after using a sample I was given and was really impressed! The two products I purchased were a bottle of the Basic H All-Purpose cleaner and the Basic G Germicide cleaner/disinfectant. If you check out their website, they also sell starter kits that include a variety of cleaners and laundry detergent, etc. to use around the house.
The Basic H is sold as a super concentrated solution in a 16 oz. bottle and creates over 48 gallons of all-purpose cleaner. It retails for about $12.00 a bottle. All you need is 1/4 TEASPOON of Basic H and 16 oz. of water in a spray bottle to make an all-natural, super powerful, all-purpose cleaning solution! If you wanted to make a cleaner for windows and mirrors, just add 1-2 drops in 16 oz. of water! And for a degreasing solution, mix 1 1/2 tsp to 16 oz. of water. I also use it when cleaning my floors too. So as you can see, this one bottle will last you a few years and is pretty much all you need with regards to cleaners! It was so nice to purge all the various cleaning supplies I had in my cupboard and replace it with just a few spray bottles. 🙂
The Basic G is a super concentrated germicide solution that disinfects, cleans and deodorizes various surfaces and kills over 15 major pathogens – from salmonella to MRSA (“staph” germ). So just like the Basic H, you just need the tiniest amount of Basic G (1/2 oz.) per gallon of water and viola, you have a disinfectant cleaner for ten times the cost of commercial cleaners and a lot more effective than most brand name disinfectant cleaners. The bottle is sold in a 1 Quart size, will make up to 64 gallons and retails for about $20. This bottle will last a household a few years or more, depending upon how often they use it. The one draw back regarding the Basic G is that it’s not completely all-natural but it is the most effective, guaranteed, complete disinfectant! Shaklee also sells disinfectant wipes, which has Basic G as one of the ingredients. My friend who introduced me to Shaklee products was telling me about how she uses the Basic G to sterilize all the surfaces used before starting a new batch of beer. (When making your own beer you must have a completely sterile environment for the yeast, otherwise your entire batch of beer will not turn out!) Thus far they have never had a bad batch of beer and contribute a lot of their success to using the Basic G as their disinfectant.
Well I hope this information was informative and helped to educate you further about ways to clean your house without spending much money, as well as cutting down on the number of harsh chemicals used and exposed to. One thing that I sometimes remind myself is that there was a time when all these hundreds of cleaning products didn’t exist yet the house was just as clean! Consumerism has taught us that we need these various specific products to ensure our house is clean, etc. but in all reality we don’t need any of such products. Lots of people tend to assume it takes a lot of time and effort to make their own cleaning products and so it’s just easier to buy the specific products. When in all reality to make your own cleaning products, it takes less than 5 minutes! However, there’s nothing wrong with buying and using cleaners, there’s just a lot more positives to making your own, natural remedies. I think one of the best aspects of making your own cleaning solutions is that most of the individual ingredients used when making the cleaning products lasts a few re-fills or more. So in the end, you’ll find that you don’t need to replenish cleaning products nearly as much as if you were purchasing the ready-made items.
In the next few posts I am going to show you how simple and quick it is to make your own cleaning products, like laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, hand soap and liquid body soap. Once you see how easy (and cheap) it is, you’ll never go back to commercial products again!
The Technology Debate – Kids under 2 & the TV – The Good, the bad & everything in between
As a parent we are constantly inundated with the latest studies and findings about what’s good and bad for your child(ren). Whether it’s regarding their development, health issues, environmental factors, media exposure, etc. there’s a study published for every little thing and beyond. I’ve learned very quickly as a new parent you just have to pick and choose your focus areas and do your best to provide the things you believe are “right” for your child(ren) . There was a family in the news a year or so ago that wouldn’t allow anyone in their immediate family (and beyond) to know what the gender of their child was because they didn’t want to their child to be genderized from birth. I think that’s going way further than needed! For the most part, a child is born with innate characteristics and personalities which define who they are. I could have allowed my boy to play with only dolls but I’m certain that he would still love his trucks and cars just as much either way! But I digress….what I really would like to discuss is the debate regarding the effects TV has on children, especially under the age of two.
The AAP originally began the TV debate back in 1999 with their warnings about children under 2 and TV. One of the reasons for their warnings was due to the sudden influx of baby learning DVD’s on the market, stating how un-beneficial such DVD’s are for babies. The TV is simply a glowing box that mesmerizes any child under 2 – they really don’t understand what’s going on on the screen. Since the AAP’s warnings in 1999 there have been numerous studies published about the effects of TV and media on children, especially under the age of 2. In 2011, the AAP updated their recommendations by backing them with various studies conducted since their 1999 recommendations. One survey conducted said that 40 – 60% of households report having a TV on for much of the day. “Secondhand TV” can harm development in children under 2 in many ways – one being that the caregiver/parent talks significantly less than if the TV was off, thus harming their language development. A child will look up at the TV screen every 20 seconds or so when playing, thus lowering their attention span, possibly causing attention problems later on in their development.
So next time you are contemplating buying a Baby Einstein DVD or Sesame Street DVD aimed for children under 2, you might want to think twice. All the media products aimed for babies and young toddlers are a gimmick. Yea the title and descriptions of the DVD may sound very convincing and enticing but in the end, it won’t help your child read or talk sooner than normal.
The first two years of life is a very critical time for brain development in life. Language development is huge!! Babies and toddlers should hear an average of 10,000 words a day to help with language development and much more. They should also experience lots of sensory things – like touch, affection, smell, sounds, etc. Now keep in mind that the brain is very resilient. So for instance, if a child is neglected at a very young age, once placed in a loving environment their brains will quickly adapt and catch up/develop more but never fully.
Take a look at the picture on the left. It shows the difference between a normal brain and a sensory-deprived brain of a kindergardener. Pretty astonishing the differences!! So as the day ticks by, be sure to talk to your baby/toddler/child and explain all your doing so they can hear lots and lots of words, as well as learn too – communication is key! Reading to them lots is HUGE as well!!
Now, there’s always instances when a parent/caregiver needs time to finish tasks around the house and can’t continuously entertain a baby/toddler. So, in my experience and opinion, in such instances a DVD is the easiest way to keep a child entertained for a bit. So do what works best for you in order to keep your sanity throughout the day! Most families, especially single parents, working parents and parents with children of various ages, will turn to the TV for a bit to get dinner cooked or clean the kitchen, etc. It happens. I think the biggest thing to remember when it comes to hearing and reading about the AAP’s recommendations regarding TV and babies/toddlers, is to not stress or create more guilt because you let your child watch some TV during the day. We are all human!!
Some great suggestions for ways to keep TV exposure to a minimum are:
–> Talk, play, sing, dance, listen to music, and read together throughout the day!
–> Don’t put a TV in your child’s room!
–> Unstructured play is a better way for a baby/toddler to spend their time then staring at a glowing screen.
–> Play music while you’re at home doing other activities instead of having the TV on in the background. (Pandora is perfect to play on your iPod dock and free!)
–> Watch age appropriate shows WITH your child if you are going to let them watch some TV. Make it a learning experience by keeping a rolling dialogue going while watching TV with the child, pointing out various things.
Here’s a few articles I found to be interesting with regards to this topic:
- http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/infant-tv-guidelines/
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/19/tv-guidelines-for-babies-_n_1019815.html
- http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/health/19babies.html
Natural Mommas has been nominated for The Versatile Blogger Award by Whole Parenting Family! What a neat honor and opportunity. Thank you SO much Whole Parenting, it’s very sweet of you! 🙂 This nomination is definitely a nice motivational boost, especially as I venture into Corporate America and the work world for the first time since becoming a Mom. 🙂
The Versatile Blogger Award is all about spreading the love of blogs and bloggers. So as part of being nominated, I would like to share some of my personal favorite blogs.
1.) Two Bobbins Later – Free Crafting DIY tutorials, Baby & Mommy Boutique, and Etsy Store.
2.) Family Dinner – Conversations on creating a happy and healthy home and beyond.
3.) Homemade Baby Food Recipes (& more!) – An Excellent source for learning about foods, fun recipes and much more!
4.) Play At Home Mom LLC – Endless ideas for learning activities to do at home with your child(ren).
5.) I Can Teach My Child – The perfect place to find activities for young children, resources for parents, some crafts, tips and more.
6.) Specializing in Toddler Dispute Resolution – A fun blog about ways to keep your toddler entertained, also has recipes and tips, as well as food storage (canning) info!
7.) Mama Smiles – The life of a well educated (PhD, Masters & BA) Mothers’ life adventures in parenting, activities to do with kids, books they love, and much more!
8.) Farm Girl Fare – One woman’s adventures in cooking, farming, and gardening – a wonderful collection of DELICIOUS recipes, gardening, and her farm fun!
9.) The Centsable Shoppin – The best blog ever (locally) to find great deals, coupon matchups and more! Without this blog I would be lost when it comes to couponing!
10.) Follow The High Line Home – A friends’ blog about her adventures traveling from place to place with her Husband and dog, really cute and fun to read!
Now to share seven fun random facts about myself:
1.) I have played the flute since 5th grade and my dream career is to be in a professional orchestra traveling the world!
2.) I was supposed to be a boy and my name was going to be Eric but in the early 80’s ultra sounds weren’t anything what they are today, so they were way off!
3.) I was in All-State Band and went to numerous band camps.
4.) I love riding horses and used to go to Little Elk Horse camp every summer when I was younger.
5.) I am an only child.
6.) My dream house is a house boat in Amsterdam!
7.) I can also play the piano, saxophone, piccolo, can sing, and have perfect pitch.
Music and it’s endless benefits!
I live, breathe and sleep music – it’s in my blood. Music is what has the strongest ability to alter my mood, motivate me, change my day, and much more! I don’t know who I would be without music in my life. I don’t know if my mom played a specific song for me continuously while in-utero and beyond but either way, I turned into a very naturally talented musician. Music doesn’t come naturally for either side of my family. Music is something that I will always keep instilling in D’s life and mine as well! I hope that one day he will just magically tell me that he wants to join the band or orchestra – that day will (hopefully) forever melt my heart! 🙂 If he doesn’t, I won’t be hurt either, as I never want to push my expectations upon him. I found that throughout my upbringing, music was my center gravity and my way to express myself. Especially through the teenage years – I went from pop, to grunge, to death metal, to techno, to classical, to new age and beyond. My eclectic taste for music has helped me cope with a roller coaster of emotions while growing up. I had a natural acceptance toward any kind of music but especially written band/orchestra music. Always being in band and orchestra from fifth grade through graduation really helped ground me to commit to something and helped me feel like I belonged somewhere (which is huge during the high school years). I wasn’t a cheerleader or sports type of person so it was my perfect “exercise” of the mind for me! I loved it!
With regards to babies and music, there are numerous studies published supporting the notion that babies should listen to music as much as possible, even while in-utero! Listening to classical music can greatly improve spatial reasoning, at least for a short time (about an hour) and learning to play an instrument may have an even longer effect on certain thinking skills. Classical music pathways in our brain are similar to pathways we utilize for spatial reasoning. When listening to classical music the spatial pathways are “turned on” and ready to be utilized. Researchers believe that musical training creates new pathways in the brain. Babies as young as three months of age are able to pick out the complex classical musical structures from such composers like Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven, and can recognize the classical musical selections heard before. 1
Listening to any kind of music in general helps build music-related pathways in the brain and music can have very 
positive effects on a persons moods which may make learning easier. For example, when attempting to memorize facts for an upcoming test, lots of people find if they put the facts to a simple tune they are more likely to remember more information than if they just rotely memorized the facts sans a musical tune. Have you ever noticed when you hear a song you haven’t heard since grade school and once you hear the music you suddenly magically know all (or most) of the words? This is because our brain learns more quickly and retains information longer when you set words to a tune. When I was in fifth grade we were given a test about the presidents and had to memorize all the presidents in order and write them down. So I put the presidents’ names to the jingle, “Rudolph the red nosed reindeer” and it made is SO much easier to remember them all. I can still recall most of them due to this!
So sing to your baby lots because they love patterns and rhythms of songs. Also, play a variety of music for your baby which encompasses many different musical selections and styles. Any kind of music listening will help build music-related pathways in the brain and can also have positive effects on moods that may make learning even easier.
Another great way to incorporate music more into your little ones world as they get older is starting music lessons early on – around four or five, whenever you feel your child seems ready. The brain of younger kids are equipped to learn music quickly, enjoy making music, and can learn the basics of some instruments which helps build a life long love of music.
Studies have shown that infants are programmed to move to the beat and prefer it over the sound of simple speech. Babies are born to dance and gravitate towards music. 2 So help your infant “dance” when you’re enjoying music together and eventually they will show you how to dance!
One thing my little guy and I enjoy during the day when we’re home is listening to Pandora radio off of the iPod dock. It’s the perfect way to hear an eclectic assortment of music from the toddler station to Black Eyed Peas station! We dance around and sing along to the tunes, it’s a lot of fun! Pots and pans with wooden spoons a perfect to make some percussion noises. Making shakers from different small containers. I have found the best are thin medicine bottles with the child-proof tops. I will put beans and other size objects in the bottles and then he shakes away. Each makes a different noise and he LOVES shaking stuff. The smaller medicine bottles are perfect for their little hands and grip. I love creating toys and noise makers for him from various containers, it’s always something new to him and he is enthralled forever! And we will shake to the beat of the music we’re listening to also. I also have an electric piano that I let him play with because it has a bunch of buttons, which every kids LOVES! So he will serenade us with his beautiful piano music a lot too. 🙂
Musicology is a kids course offered in many cities across the country. It’s becoming more popular and is catching on 
quickly with the parenting community as another great class to sign your kiddos up for. We personally haven’t partook in their classes yet but we are going to be enrolling D in them for the summer session. I’m sure he will LOVE it! A Mommy friend of mine has been taking her son since he was a wee one and she loves going (and so does her son) each week. She tells me about all the great ideas they share about things you can do at home with your little one regarding music and learning. So if you’re looking for a fun music and learning thing to do together with your little one(s), you should look into a local musicology class in your town/city.
The library is also another GREAT resource for music, learning and play! Our local libraries have story time throughout the week and they incorporate music, stories, movement and sometimes even a craft as well – all for free! We go to the library at least once maybe even twice a week, it’s such a fun place to explore together and learn. The library is also a great place to check out CD’s! What a perfect resource to refresh your music library with new, exciting music! 🙂
Music is such an important asset that should be incorporated in each and every persons life from birth, and even before! Science helps people logically explain wonder of the world and universe. Music helps people express and assimilate knowledge in creative ways and helps organize feelings and much, much more! Music has endless benefits so after reading this post (and leaving your own ideas, tips, experiences below in the comments) go turn on some awesome music and rock out to it for a few minutes! Escape the world around you and let the music take you to realms beyond existence! 🙂
1 http://www.educationoasis.com/resources/Articles/building_babys_brain.htm
2 http://www.babble.com/baby/baby-development/babies-born-to-dance/
Car Seats & Safety Precautions!
Car Seats – just mentioning the words makes me feel so overwhelmed!! There are SO many decisions parents must make for their child(ren) and one of the first decisions is “which car seat is best for my child?” Truthfully, when we were looking for car seats, the thought didn’t really cross my mind regarding ratings, safety standards, etc. – I just wanted a cute travel system stroller. So naive of me to think in this manner! But I admit that I was a very un-educated first-time pregnant woman with lots of “pregnancy brain” issues going on! 🙂 I don’t even remember what brand travel system we ended up with but it worked for what we needed it for. We also didn’t need it for very long and ended up selling it by the time D was seven months old! He is a very tall child so he grew out of his “bucket” seat very quickly! (Which I was thankful for because it was getting REALLY heavy to carry around!)
When he was about five months old I started doing a bunch of research regarding convertible car seats – ones which were created for rear AND forward facing. I knew he would be quickly growing out of his current “bucket” seat and wanted to make sure we had the next size on hand and ready to go. I had learned LOTS since D was born about baby gear, especially from other moms. One of my mommy friends was telling me about the car seat they chose for their son because he was so tall and also informed me about a plethora of information regarding car seats and small children – things I would have NEVER known if it wasn’t for her sharing this knowledge (at least not in time for purchasing the next car seat).
We ended up buying the Sunshine Kids (now called Diono) Radian car seat for numerous reasons – first, it has the longest rear-facing capabilities on the market (up to 40 lbs.), the steel alloy frame and aluminum reinforced sides make for a very sturdy car seat frame, FAA approved for air travel, and can also be used as a booster seat (up to 100 lbs.). Also, our main car is a Toyota Corolla so we wanted something that would fit but not be too bulky for the back seat, which the Sunshine Kids car seat allows this. You can actually fit three of these car seats in a row comfortably! Which lots of other car seat brands are SO bulky and wide that it’s impossible to fit anything else near the seat. We also wanted to plan ahead and make sure whichever car seat we got allowed us to comfortable put another car seat in the back (for baby #2 someday…). They now have a more recent model out that has a better side impact cushions and 5 more pounds added to the rear-facing capabilities. This is a great brand and car seat for the price – read the reviews and you’ll be hooked! But also be sure to do research on the many other brands out there like Brittax, to make sure you’re comfortable with your decision, as it is an expensive one but well worth every penny!
The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that children stay rear-facing for at least two years or as long as the car seat requirements allow. This is a change from the one year or 20 pounds recommendation beforehand. Check out the article here regarding the latest changes and why such changes have been implemented. I personally believe that it’s about time that the AAP did so and this will hopefully save childrens’ lives too!
One study found that riding rear-facing was five times more safer than forward facing. A rear-facing child seat is more capable of supporting the head, neck and spine of smaller children whose bones have yet to completely harden (which doesn’t happen til after their third birthday)! These few facts are enough to convince me to keep my child rear-facing for AS LONG AS POSSIBLE! This short video does a great job of explaining why one should extend rear-facing car seats for as long as possible – Extended Rear Facing.
www.car-seat.org is a great organization which has created a forum for parents and others to explore and utilize when needing information regarding car seats and the numerous aspects surrounding them. Here are some EXCELLENT tips from Brealin Rogers, Child Passenger Safety Technician, regarding how a car seat should be buckled in, how a child should be securely strapped in, as well as car seat recommendations.
- The harness needs to be snug enough to pass the pinch test and the chest clip needs to be at armpit level. Not down on the belly.
- The straps should not be twisted at all. If the harness is not twisted and lies flat, the crash force will spread evenly. If it’s twisted, the force will be concentrated on certain areas and could cause major injuries. This could also make it hard to tighten the straps properly.
- You can never use LATCH AND seat belt at the same time. Pick one or the other. They are equally safe.
- Most of the time you cannot use LATCH in the center seat. Check your vehicle’s manual.
- Forward facing straps need to be at or above the child’s shoulders. Rear Facing straps need to be at or below the child’s shoulders.
- Top tether all forward facing car seats. If your car does not have top tethers, contact the manufacturer and ask to have one retrofitted.
- Use the appropriate seat for your child’s height, weight and age. Rear face as long as possible, harness as long as possible and booster as long as possible. Each step up in car seats is a step down in safety if it’s done too soon.
- A properly installed car seat should move less than 1” from side to side and front to back at the belt path. A little wiggle is ok. More than 1” is not safe.
- Don’t use an expired car seat or a used car seat. If you aren’t 100% sure of it’s history, consider it unsafe.
- Don’t use any aftermarket products. If it didn’t come with the seat, it’s not safe. Bundle Me, Mighty Tite, shoulder pads, head pillow, snuzzler, mirror, sun shades, seat protector… the list goes on and on. They can interfere with the seat, or become a projectile.
- Don’t put bulky clothing or coats on your child.
- Always wear YOUR seat belt! Children do what they see. Set a good example and teach your child safe habits.
- Don’t be afraid to get help! Over 90% of car seats are being misused. Make sure yours is not one of them. Find a certified CPST and have your seat inspected. It could save your child’s life. http://cert.safekids.org/
INFANT SEATS:
*front adjust harness*
- Safety 1st Onboard35 – 4-35 lbs.
- Graco Snugride30/35 – 5-30/35 lbs.
- Chicco Keyfit30 – 4-30 lbs.
CONVERTIBLE SEATS:
- Sunshine Kids/Diono Radian – RF 5-45 lbs. / FF 20-80 lbs. / Booster up to 120 lbs.
- Graco MyRide65 – RF 5-40 lbs. / FF 20-65 lbs.
- Safety 1st Complete Air 65 – RF 5-40 lbs. / FF 22-65 lbs.
- Cosco Scenera 40 – RF 5-40 lbs. / FF 20-50 lbs.
- Learning Curve/First Years True Fit Premier – RF 5-35 lbs. / FF 20-65 lbs.
- Evenflo Titan Elite – RF 5-35 lbs. / FF 20-50 lbs.
- Evenflo Triumph Advance – RF 5-35 lbs. / FF 20-50 lbs.
COMBO/HWH SEATS:
- Evenflo Maestro *Not a good booster* – 20-50 lbs.
- Graco Nautilus – Harness 20-65 lbs. / HBB 30-100 lbs / LBB 40-100 lbs.
- Britax Frontier85 *2 year minimum* – Harness 25-85 lbs. / Booster 40-120 lbs.
DEDICATED BOOSTERS:
- Graco Turbobooster
- Britax Parkway SG/SGL
- Sunshine Kids / Diono Monterey
- Recaro Probooster
SEATS TO AVOID:
- Safey 1st Alpha Omega
- Graco Comfortsport
- Evenflo Tribute
- All 3 in 1 convertibles (with the exception of new Radians)
Safe Kids CPST
Brealin Rogers, Child Passenger Safety Technician
480-600-2099
smileybrea@gmail.com
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This YouTube video shows the differences between the impact on the child when rear and forward facing during an accident.
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If this post can educate at least one person about the correct standards regarding child car seats, it could be enough to save a child’s life (and hopefully many more), which is more than I could ever ask for! Please take a little time to educate yourself regarding car seat safety. It’s the least I can do to try and help prevent dangerous, even fatal injuries from occurring!
Here’s a few other sites that offer excellent information regarding child safety seats, where to get help, etc.
Seatcheck.org – Connect. Inspect. Protect.
NHTSA.gov – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Also, contact your local fire stations for help regarding car seat installation, etc. Most facilities are educated and trained to help parents properly install their car seats.
I hope this information is enough to at least startle your inner curiosity and help start your own research regarding child car seat safety. It’s one of THE most important decisions you can make in helping protect your child(ren) against possible deadly impact car crashes. Children are SO fragile and innocent – don’t put your child in harms way, especially when it’s something you can so easily help prevent!!
When I was going through our pre-baby check list I stumbled upon the “finding a pediatrician” step. I did some research and discovered a few Pediatricians in our area and called them to make an appointment. When choosing your child’s doctor, a big factor to decide first is whether you want to go to a big multi-doctor practice or a small practice with a few doctors practicing. We ended going to three places to interview each Pediatrician and tour the office to get a feel for everything. We went to each place with a list of general questions we wanted to ask the Pediatrician, as well as their staff.
The first thing when you are shopping for a Pediatrician is to observe their office staff and nurses, note the feeling you get when you arrive and throughout your visit. This is so important because it shows you the level of happiness within the office environment that will be passed onto your baby each visit (as you’ll be there lots!). I ended up terminating my relationship my OB doctors’ office after I had D because I was sick of the service I received from the front office staff each time I was there. I gave them plenty of chances but the straw that broke the camels back was when I was trying to get my IUD covered by insurance. They never returned my phone calls and kept ignoring me, so I got nowhere really fast! So, eventually I had enough and told them that I was leaving due to their grumpy front office staff, found a wonderful new place and LOVE it!! So the nurses and office staff make all the difference in the world, in my opinion. When calling to make our initial interview appointment I also noted how I was treated on the phone, the wait time, how many buttons I had to press to reach a real human being, etc.
(Side note: During our very first visit after D was born we had a few minor insurance issues and with all my crazy hormones I got really flustered and started crying to the office personnel because I was so confused and frustrated over everything. But the ladies in the office helped explain what steps I had to take and that it was no big deal. They didn’t make me feel dumb by being all flustered by things and quickly helped me feel better. The situation could have been a lot worse but they were so kind about assuring me things were OK! It’s these small things that make all the difference in the long run and I’m so thankful for our choice of doctors’ office.)
Second, is to make sure you know before hand your views regarding vaccines, circumcision (if applicable), breastfeeding, medicine use, attachment parenting, etc., so you can have a conversation with the Pediatrician about these topics during the interview. If you don’t see eye to eye on your top issues then it’s best not to waste each others time and move onto the next doctors office. The last thing you want to be doing after your baby is born is stressing about finding the right Pediatrician for your family.
Lastly, go through your list of Pediatricians and weight the pro’s and con’s of each and talk it over with your significant other. Then once you’ve decided, jot down their information so you have it when you’re at the hospital. Most Pediatricians don’t do hospital visits anymore but the hospital will contact the office regarding the new arrival so they know. After you are discharged from the hospital you will be instructed to make an appointment with the Pediatrician to do a post-hospital check up.
In the end, we were glad that we did our research before D arrived so we had one less thing to worry about once he arrived. Not all people research their child’s doctor before hand but it’s in each new parents best interest to do so. What have you got to loose? It’s also the cheapest thing that you’ll do when preparing for baby compared to all the other purchases you’ll be making! 😉
Please feel free to post below your personal experiences or things you’ve learned about finding the right Pediatrician for your child(ren). 🙂
The Big Vaccine Debate – To vaccinate or not?
I was hesitant at first to write a post regarding vaccines because there’s already so much controversy out there. However, I feel that in sharing my thoughts and information it may open other peoples minds to do their own research regarding vaccines so they can make an educated, informed decision regarding their child(rens) health. As a parent, especially a new parent, it’s such a HUGE decision!! For me it was one of my first big decisions regarding my son’s health. Knowing that my decisions will affect his health and well being for the rest of his (and my) life is a MAJOR decision! Which brings me to my first point – whatever your decision may be, you must be at peace with it and the possible repercussions it may bring. There’s no guarantee in life and life’s a gamble but it’s the educated choices that we make in life that make all the difference in the future.
Dr. Sears has written a well organized cover-all book regarding vaccines on the current recommended CDC vaccine 
schedule, called “The Vaccine Book : Making the Right Decision for Your Child.” He offers a “fair, scientific and straightforward discussion of the shots you are giving your child,” weighing the pros and cons of vaccination(s) in order to make an educated decision regarding your child’s health. The book covers all the diseases the vaccines protect again from common to severe, how the vaccines are made and the ingredients, possible side effects, which vaccines to avoid getting at the same time, and at what age is safest and most important to get each vaccine. What I love about the book is that Dr. Sears never pushes in one direction or the other, he simply goes into specific details about each vaccines’ details to educate people so they can make their own personal, educated decisions. He has two suggested alternative vaccine schedules that parents can choose to follow if they dislike the CDC’s regular vaccine schedule. The selective schedule contains the most crucial vaccines for the specific ages when most needed and skipping or delaying the less critical ones til their older. The alternative schedule contains all the vaccines listed on the CDC’s schedule but are spread out so that there’s only one aluminum vaccine given at a time. This is to minimize the exposure so their system can process the aluminum without reaching toxic levels.
In The Vaccine Book, Dr. Sears sums it up best regarding aluminum in vaccines, “There is good evidence that large amounts of aluminum are harmful to humans. There is no solid evidence that the amount of aluminum in vaccines is harmful to infants and children. No one has actually studied vaccine amounts of aluminum in healthy human infants to make sure it is safe.” (p. 204) He has an entire chapter which discusses the ingredients in vaccines. He’s got some great points and the statistics he mentions are very eye opening and downright scary! For instance, a healthy baby who is 12 pounds at two months old can safely get at least 30 micrograms of aluminum in one day. The Hepatitis B shot contains 250 micrograms of aluminum! That’s a lot of aluminum for a 12 pound infant with a new immune system!
One of the ways I try and help combat the effects of vaccines within my sons body is with vitamin C. “Vitamin C has been documented to augment the antibody response of the immune system.” (http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v08n07.shtml) On the day of his shots I drink lots of OJ and take a vitamin C supplement the morning of a doctors appointment and make sure that I nurse D before we go to his appointment to ensure he has a good amount of vitamin C in his system before his shot(s). (We do the alternate schedule.) Then I nurse him again right after his shots so he receives more vitamin C and comfort as well after receiving his shot(s). I was told to do this when he was about three months old by another Mom and have done it ever since. However, I just found this article cited above which states you should boost their vitamin C intake more than a week before their shots (as well as afterwards), so I will be doing this from now on! When there’s lots of vitamin C in their system at the time vaccines are administered, the vitamin C helps prevent kidney damage that otherwise occurs with mercury. Vitamin C has been found to be highly effective in neutralizing the toxic nature of mercury in all its forms. Hopefully one day this will be recommended by all doctors before a shot is administered to help combat any kind of side effects.
Here is the link to a quick summary of the various available brands of vaccines. To learn more about each vaccine, which brand is lowest in Aluminum, why or why not to get each vaccine etc. pick up The Vaccine Book. It’s a must have for every parent!
I don’t consider myself to know everything about vaccines and their effects because I read this book and truthfully I haven’t done much research beyond this book due to the mass amounts of mis-interpreted information out there on the Internet. However, I feel like I’ve learned enough to make a proper, informed decision regarding vaccines for my son and feel comfortable with the choices I’ve made thus far in the matter. Every parent has their own reasons for choosing what they did regarding vaccines and should never have to explain themselves to anyone anyways. I respect their choices and opinions and also love learning from others about what they’ve learned, experienced and know. Giving or not giving vaccines to your child(ren) is a personal/family choice and each person is allowed to do so because of the amazing country we live in. At the end of the day the only thing that matters most is healthy, happy children that are ready to take on the world and create world peace at the same time. 😉
Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences regarding vaccines below, I would love to hear them!
Products, Companies, and Websites I Love & Reasons Why
With the ever expanding Internet and endless information at the tips of our fingers, information overload happens all too often!! Heck, go down the baby aisle and you’re inundated with a plethora of diapers and endless options! It’s nuts!! So I wanted to summarize my top favorite products, companies, and websites I have encountered and found to have helped me during my short stint thus far being a mom.
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of these companies and/or products and I am not paid to mention or use any of their products, services, etc.
1. Breastfeeding
Help and Support:
Dr. Jack Newman – http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/ – Excellent website to get help regarding issues with sore nipples and other breastfeeding issues!
InfantRisk Center – http://www.infantrisk.com/ – Great website to get a plethora of information from breastfeeding to pregnancy and beyond!
Toxnet – http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/ – Look up medications and learn what is all right and not recommended while nursing (and pregnant).
LaLeche League – https://www.llli.org/ – Perfect place to find a local breastfeeding support group to attend, learn more about breastfeeding, meet other moms, and most of all, ensure breastfeeding continues until self-weaned.
KellyMom – http://kellymom.com/ – The ultimate cover-all website regarding breastfeeding, oversupply issues, weight issues, other feeding issues, etc. This is my GO-TO place when I ever have any feeding issues!
* Side note – There are always breastfeeding support groups throughout the country, so call your local hospitals, IBLBC and LLL websites for the latest updated information with regards to on-going support groups and help. I promise you you’re not alone in this venture and support is the best guarantee to long-term success!!
Support the Girls:
All of these companies listed below are my favorite/preferable brands when it comes to nursing tanks and nursing bras. Bravado is my preferred and only brand I will purchase for nursing bras. However, Target has some good nursing tanks and bras that are great! I have found that it pays to spend a little bit more when it comes to nursing undergarments because of their tailored comfort measures and more. Just remember, there are endless benefits when you breastfeed your child so if you have to spend a little more for undergarments it’s all right because you’re already saving your family lots of money that would otherwise be spent on expensive formula!! All of these undergarments and/or nursing tanks are well worth their money in gold in the end! I LOVE my nursing tanks, especially in the hot summer months. Their all I ever wear. Plus, they help your tummy look smaller too! 🙂
Modern Mommy Boutique – A local Chandler, Arizona store that sells wonderful undergarments for the nursing mom, plus more! Check them out!
Glamourmom Nummies Melinda G. Bravado
2. Parenting & Learning
Love & Logic – Simple and practical techniques for parents and teachers to “approach raising kids that provides loving support from parents while at the same time expecting kids to be respectful and responsible.” An excellent approach that we try and practice as much as we can in our household. These techniques will definitely be used throughout the childhood stage and beyond!
Montessori Philosophies, Teachings, Education and Beyond – there are endless resources regarding the Montessori method of education. The link attached above will help guide you towards the right information your seeking.
Attachment Parenting tools, as listed by Dr. Sears here. There is also a plethora of various websites and/or organizations regarding Attachment Parenting, just check them out by Googling: Attachment Parenting.
Dr. Sears – He is a very well known Pediatrition who has numerous books about countless subjects regarding children and child rearing. I found “The Vaccine Book” to be one of the most helpful collections of information regarding vaccines and their side effects written to this day! Check out his library of topics written about in his books – their life saving!!
www.signingsavvy.com – Sign Language – Excellent website for learning sign language. They also have a great baby section that covers the main words used/understood by babies and toddlers. We started teaching D sign language around six months and it took him til about eleven months to really grasp what we were doing and signing to him. However, each child is different and catches on at different rates. After that he caught on within a few hours or days – it’s amazing to watch his daily communication progressions and beyond!
3. Buy, Sell, Trade
DiaperSwappers.com – Forum on a multitude of topics, as well as a place to sell items, etc. Excellent place to find a multitude of items beyond diapers – like carriers, topics about parenting, etc.
Spot’s Corner – Buy and sell your used items.
Baby Half Off.com – Excellent site that offers daily deals with regards to baby/child products. If local in AZ, they offer free pickup as well to avoid shipping (located in Mesa, AZ). Follow them on Facebook to learn about their daily deals the quickest (that is if you use Facebook regularly…).
Inspired by Finn – Sells beautiful, authentic amber necklaces and much more! Great place to find the perfect amber necklace for your child and/or yourself. Amber is the perfect natural remedy when it comes to teething and soothing pain. LOTS of mom’s swear by their amber necklaces; I do! Definitely worth a try if your child is one to struggle a lot with pain when teething.
Bobux, Robeez, Momo’s, etc. – Soft soled shoes sold by MANY companies! These shoes are excellent for the beginner walker, as they are still able to feel their steps, feet, movements, etc. which is very important for their development.
4. Babywearing
Baby Wearing International – This is the main group site that offers support and promotes the premise regarding baby wearing and all the endless benefits it offers. There are branches within the main group for various cities, so check out their site and/or Facebook page for the most updated information regarding local groups in your area! In Phoenix they even have a Facebook Group page so search around and you will most definitely find a support group regarding Babywearing!
Brands:
Taylormade Slings – http://www.taylormadeslings.com – Local Arizona company which meets your many specialized needs when it comes to slings.
Maya wrap – http://www.mayawrap.com – I have a Maya sling and I LOVE it!! Best purchase ever! It even has a pocket to store my personal belongings when on the go.
Beco Butterfly – http://www.becobabycarrier.com – I wholeheartedly believe in this company, love their philosophy, and their amazing products! Excellent customer service and superb products! I LOVE my Beco and hope we will still use it for a few more years! Try their products on at a local store that sells them and other baby carrier brands – it’s the best way to decide/know which one works best for you and baby.
Ergo Carriers – http://www.ergobaby.com – Another wonderful company that sells a variety of soft-sided carriers. One of the top companies when it comes to carriers.
* I could go on with this list but these are the brands that I know of, have used, and recommend first and foremost.
Websites that carry discounted used carriers:
*Do watch out for fake carriers for sale, as this is a growing trend unfortunately! A lot of the times it’s little things like the zipper containing the logo or the warning tag sewed on the carrier is different. So be aware of such practices going on and make sure to do your research before purchasing.
5. Baby/Toddler Food & Recipes
WholesomeBabyFood – She has an AMAZING site that talks about making baby food, various food stages for babies, recipes, and much more. The perfect companion to have when venturing through the baby food making process. She also recently had a book released, so check it out!
blog.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com – I somehow stumbled upon this website/blog recently and fell in love! I found myself exploring their website and learning lots for HOURS on end! It has a plethora of information regarding foods, informational facts, their properties, recipes, and much more! A definite “must” to have bookmarked next to Wholesome Baby Food website for all your baby food making needs.
Super Baby Foods by Ruth Yaron – A book published for anyone who is interested in learning how to make baby foods. It breaks down everything into a step by step process understandable by all. It’s also filled with other craft ideas, recipes, nutritional information and much more! This book helped me feel confident when I was first making baby food and I credit it to my great success! 🙂
6. Blogs
Family Dinner – This is an excellent blog sharing various ideas surrounding the “family dinner” and beyond.
Whole Parenting Family – This site turned into blog recently is the perfect plethora of information regarding parenting, children, gardening and everything in between.
Two Bobbins Later – Are you in need of personalized, beautiful, postpartum necessities? She can make you whatever your heart desires to feel beautiful and confident as a mom! Check out her amazing handiwork and artistry!
Farmgirlfare.com – My friend over at Whole Parenting Family introduced me to this site and I LOVE it for all the delicious recipes and ideas she has! Check it out!
* Here’s a list of various blogs I’ve found that have a plethora of fun activities to do with your baby, toddler, and beyond!
discoverydaysandmontessorimoments.blogspot.com
jen-peacefulparenting.blogspot.com
7. Sun Protection
Environmental Working Group – Sunscreen Ratings – www.ewg.org – Great way to see which sunscreens are rated better, with regards to chemicals, etc. Great website for this information plus LOTS, lots more!! Come check it out!
iPlay – GREAT product and company which supplies sun hats which are UVA/UVB protectant AND adjustable! The hat we purchased by this brand was perfect for what we were in search of – protects and adjusts!
Flap Happy – Another great company that makes UVA/UVB protectant hats which ALSO covers over the neck and sides from the sun!
Alba Botanica Natural Sun Protection – This is our favorite sunscreen thus far this season. I’ve heard great reviews from fellow Moms so I went ahead and purchased it and was very happy that I purchased this particular sunscreen. I have already found it to be a very strong protectant while also smelling good too! 🙂
8. Crafts
Pinterest – The top sharing site for crafts, photography, expressions, recipes – it’s endless! You will need an invite to join, so comment below if you need one and I will be glad to send you an invite. 🙂 (Watch out, this site sucks you in and hours can quickly pass before you realize it’s 4am!)
Tip Junkie – A DIY crafts site with oodles of ideas for various craft projects and beyond.
* Endless blogs sharing craft ideas and beyond. Just Google what you’re looking for 🙂
9. All Natural Cleaning Products
Shaklee products – An EXCELLENT company that has been around for many years selling chemical-free cleaning products, health supplements, beauty products, and more. We switched to their cleaning products about six months ago and will never go back to the chemical filled commercial products. We bought a general cleaning solution in which you make your own diluted solution from the original solution (Basic-H). This bottle will last us for at least three years, if not more! Plus, it’s chemical free, thus keeping all those harsh, cancer-ridden chemicals at bay in our household. We also bought their germicide product for sanitizing the kitchen and bathroom (Basic-G).
* A random fact – did you know that you’re technically supposed to dispose of your toilet cleaning bottles at hazardous waste dumping sites instead of tossing them in the recycling bin? Due to their harsh chemical residues, they are not to be recycled because of the toxic chemicals they emit and contaminate the water run-off and beyond!
Saferchemicals.org – A Global movement to decrease the amount of chemicals in our cleaning products, children’s products and more. Sign up to get their latest petitions and sign them!!
* I will be doing a post soon about how to make your own, safe, cleaning products – everything from laundry detergent, hand soap, body wash soap, sugar scrub, and more!
10. Baby Products
Everyday Shea – I recently discovered this line of soaps and lotions (made with Shea Butter) when I was at Whole Foods searching for a good lotion for D that was sold in a decent size with a reasonable price! Before we were using California Baby, which worked great, but it was just SO expensive for such a small quantity. I’m so happy that I found this company, we have since fallen in LOVE with their products and what the company stands for. I’m positive that we will be using their products for a long time to come!
* I later discovered that Everyday Shea returns its profits back to Africa where they are able to create community enhancement projects that help reduce poverty and gender inequality. Their an extension of Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care, whose mantra is “Advancing gender equality and alleviating poverty through the fair trade of Handcrafted Shea Butter.” Check out either website to read further about their efforts and to see their products. We currently use their bubble bath, lotion and soap and LOVE it!! The bottles should last us quite some time (and for the price, I cannot complain)!
Weleda – My mom bought this soap for D awhile back and I really grew fond of it for it’s gentle, simple qualities. We have the Calendula Shampoo & Body wash and love it! I would recommend this to anyone but especially to the sensitive skin type. They have an excellent line of baby care products as well as numerous other products for the skin, hair, and oral care.
Coconut oil – I live and breath by the endless benefits of coconut oil!! I discovered it’s numerous health benefits when I was researching about cloth diapering and kept reading how people swore by coconut oil to heal any skin irritations. So when we started cloth diapering I bought a jar of coconut oil (off of Ebay actually) and have never had to use anything else for any skin irritations (which he’s rarely had thankfully). But a lot of the times we will put it on his bottom areas just as a preventative and soothing measure. I have also started using coconut oil after I shower every other time, I love it! We also use it when cooking a lot since it’s such healthy oil! Who knew that this one item can be used for SO many things and have such amazing helpful, healthy qualities. Check out this website for a great introduction to Virgin Coconut oil.
Calendula cream and lotion – This is a staple must have in the house at all times! This plant is used for numerous reasons like reducing pain, swelling, dry, irritated skin, treating poorly healing wounds, and much more. California Baby sells a great Calendula cream and other various Calendula products, as well as Weleda. I was given this thick Calendula salve, made by Puremedy that is wonderful for many skin issues, including cradle cap and eczema. D recently had his first (and hopefully last) bout with cradle cap and we put this on his scalp and even though it was really thick and greasy in his hair, it helped his scalp and by the next day it was a million times better!
All in all, when it comes to your skin, it’s best to use food grade, organic ingredients as much as you can. Remember that your skin is an organ too, which needs oxygen, food, and hydration to function properly. So please be careful when choosing products that will be used on your babies skin, as well as yours. Modern consumerism culture is SO suffocating that people have taken so many steps back with regards to beneficial health options (and many other things). We just unknowingly buy all these unnecessary products and fast foods because they have popular reviews and advertisements. However we don’t do our own research about what we’re putting on our skin and in our bodies and the long term effects it has on us as a whole. I’m not meaning to say that “us” as a group doesn’t do their research but in general, lots of people could benefit ten fold by doing their own research and educating themselves about what is good and bad for your skin and body to ensure a long fulfilling life!
I was SO surprised and intrigued when I first started learning about the good, bad, and ugly regarding foods and nutrition. I have always known, in general, what is best for my body and mind but I chose for the most part not to follow such “rigid” standards in my twenties and am now paying for it. (Heck we all think we invincible at this age so it’s not surprising at all!) Metabolism is first and foremost on the list of culprits of my own personal weight gain but also not eating properly balanced, spaced out, small meals has caused an offset of issues within my body. I have learned so much and love learning new information about nutrition and foods to better myself as a whole. Breastfeeding has also helped me realize how much our body is interrelated and is very powerful beyond our means!
But I digress majorly and I shall end this post by saying – do your research and know what you’re putting in and on your body. We only get one chance at life so make it worth it and do your best to make healthy decisions for yourself and your family. We are our children’s role models in helping them assimilate the many wonderful new ideas in the future so be sure to provide them with the proper tools to succeed, starting with nutrition!
Super Baby Foods
Natural Mommas 