miracle boob

You've probably all heard about the wonderful things breast milk can do for your child. A beautiful gift that keeps giving throughout the years, the benefits of breast milk (everything from learned intimacy to healthy skin) can't be overlooked.

Now it's time to think outside the box -- or rather, the boob.

Before you reach for that chemical-filled medication to help out for that family emergency, think about unbuttoning your blouse. Don't scoff at it. It's clean, sterile and antibacterial. Here are just a few uses:

*PINK EYE: place some breast milk directly into the eye. If doing so directly from the breast is difficult, try expressing it into a cup and using an eye dropper.

*SORE, CRACKED NIPPLES: Although the best cure for injured nipples is a correct latch, surviving the chafing can be unbearable. Let your milk dry on your nipples and try to go topless for as long as you can. I know you may feel as unattractive as a cow wandering the fields, but it's a heck of a lot more comfortable than feeling the rub of your bra.

*STUFFY NOSES: spray directly onto the nose and any other crusty areas. Let soak while rubbing into the nostrils to loosen debris. Remove debris with a nose suction device for infants or with a tissue.

When creating your gift registry at baby on the hip, remember to add Medela products to your wish list.

Happy feeding!

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A note from Catherine Hernandez, author, baby on the hip's blog
Remember: All of my suggestions are just tools for your tool box. They will work for some and won't work for others. As a certified pre/postnatal educator, I can't tell you how important it is to take people's advice as merely ideas you can pull out and try only by choice. There's no magic in parenting. Everyone has their own needs, issues and concerns.

Holiday Survival Guide

Just as I was about to send out the monthly newsletter about our boxing day blowout, I realized how important it is to share ideas about how to endure the holiday craziness -- babies and tots in tow.

Read this blog twice before heading out to the mall. Take a deep breath. Then go.

Some tips:

Do as you do
While you're cooking a festive dinner -- be it for Diwali or Kwanzaa -- you can keep the wee ones busy by giving them tasks similar to what you're doing. Fill a break-proof bowl with small balls or Papoose Play Food to mix together. My mother would do an amazing game with the grandkids. She would pretend she was a customer at a restaurant and gave her little "waiters" a paper and a pen to jot down her order. For kids who can't read, have them draw a sketch of the order instead. It's great for comprehension and reading skills.

Walk this Way
To avoid the Toddler Scream-A-Thon, get Junior to push the stroller with you while shopping. This helps keep their hands away from merchandise. Just make sure you place all jackets and bags in the seat of the stroller so that the stroller doesn't topple over. To encourage even more autonomy, wee ones can also sport their own small stroller to place wheel their favourite stuffy about town.

Circuit Playing
Have a bag of your child's favourite toys at the ready during any outing. Don't present all at once, though. For example, have a selection of 3 toys strapped to your stroller with something like the Pippalily toy strap. Each time you sense a need for more stimulation, change the toys on the strap.

What a Turn Off
Remember that over-stimulation can be often be the reason why your baby won't stop crying over Holiday dinner. If it's not your sister aggressively teaching your baby sign language, it's your uncle tossing your little gal up into the air hoping for some giggles. Not fun. Events like these can be as disorienting as going to a carnival with a migraine. Find a quiet place to feed. See if she needs a nap. If not, engage in much more quiet play.

What coping ideas do you have?

can you help a dude out?

We recently got an urgent letter from Santa. This is what it said:

Dear baby on the hip,

In an effort to turn my workshop green by 2011 (Bullfrog powered as of yesterday, thank you!), I am handing off the following gift requests to baby on the hip.

Can you help a dude out?



Recipient: NICE new mama whose swank condo is about to turn into baby central. She hopes for some stimulating decor that won't scream "My style is also on maternity leave."
Wish: A Bamboo Mobile by Petit Collage. Modern simplicity hanging from each string. 'Nuff said.



Recipient: NICE kiddo with NAUGHTY hands whose favourite activity is Steal Daddy's Lagostina Pots and Pans.
Wish: Educo Gourmet Chef Kitchen will keep him super busy with knobs and shelves while Daddy makes real dinner.






Recipient: NICE new parents with very little sleep thanks to the arrival of their winter baby.
Wishes: All must-haves to keep baby warm such as a Bamboobino After-Bath Wrap, Blabla Booties and Hats and a Perlimpinpin Bamboo Blanket.



Recipient: NICE baby-sized Houdini with NAUGHTY blankets and clothes that won't stay on her cute chubby body.
Wishes: Bubbagum Wrap to keep those arms calm during sleep and Snugwarmers to keep those Rubenesque ankles toasty between pants and socks.



Recipient: NICE toddler who's about to receive a lot of toys this Holiday season.
Wishes: A 3 Sprout Wall Organizer with three generous pockets.

Thanks, baby on the hip. Candy Cane Martinis for your staff on Boxing Day, 'kay?

Word up,

Santa

Old Skool Halloween

In our lovely Leslieville shop, we had the fun opportunity to see dozens of bedazzled and bloodied children parading around before the Halloween weekend.

While I was amazed at the store-bought costume choices (I toast that young man who wore his T-bone steak get-up with pride), it made me nostalgic for the homemade kind.

Let me give you an idea of the hand-crafted disasters I had while growing up. I’d love to hear about yours.

1) My mother worked for TD bank for close to 30 years. Back in the 80s, when she helped execute the introduction of the TD ATMs – then known as Green Machines – she thought it would be so darned cute to dress her two eldest daughters as these relatively unknown machines. Imagine it: Me and my sister dressed in green boxes, our white-gloved hands and white-stocking legs sticking out of the sides and bottom, buttons and slots decorating the outside. “What are you?” we were asked by many school yard meanies. We tried to explain that we were these new bank machines where you could deposit your money without the aid of a live bank teller. They didn’t believe that they actually existed. “How can a machine do that? You’re lying.”

2) There was a darling elderly couple in our neighborhood who enjoyed guessing what each child was dressed in. They were often wrong. They often didn’t care. When my little sister was a bunch of grapes, they exclaimed “Balloon man!” When she dressed up as the Phantom of the Opera, they exclaimed “it’s the magic man!” When, as a heavy handed teen, I came to their door and they asked who I was. I said, “I’m Death.” “Oh,” the lady said, “We gotta speak up because she’s deaf!”

Some tips this Halloween for parents of tiny tots:

Think about the cold weather. Can the costume fit over a warm jacket?

Make sure the costume is easy to take off in case of washroom emergencies.

Be sure to bring a larger bag so that your tot doesn’t have to carry so much. Simply have them hold a smaller basket which they can then unload every few houses.

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disaster averted

Don't kid yourself. You didn't just give birth to a baby. You gave birth to a magician. By the time the wee one learns the art of walking, they will also learn the art of disappearing: walking away from you, walking into trouble and not listening in between.

But the most impressive is when they magically transform from human to slippery fish. You know the act: It always happens in the most public place. Say, at the shoe store, at a neighborhood picnic, or when accepting a prize onstage in front of the adoring press, that your kiddo decides to go ballistic. And thank the heavens your child at least has belt loops otherwise, you might as well try and catch a snake covered in Vaseline. That trick with the arched back is impervious to any parent's hopeless attempts to grab hold of their out-of-control kin.

When I was neck deep in toddler woes, I learned my own trick. You see, I had had enough of well-meaning onlookers giving advice about the situation. I mean, when you drive by a traffic accident, do you roll down your window and shout "Hey Buddy, you should have pumped the brakes instead of steering." But yet, people find it completely acceptable if not charitable to tell a parent of a screaming toddler, "Sounds like she's hungry mama. Time to feed her!" or "I wouldn't give him an inch until he says sorry."

Here's my trick: I too would disappear. Once I get the feeling the toddler disaster train is rolling into the station, I'd simply find a quiet place for the tantrum to unfold. This accomplished several things:

*It would probably stop the tantrum before it even started since we were able to talk it out.
*Finding a quiet place gave me the chance to speak calmly and my child the chance to, in her own time, explain what the issue is with little frustration over her communication skills.
*The privacy kept onlookers at bay and their advice at the curb.

In celebration of the wonderful, walking, grabbing, screaming, laughing toddlers in our lives, here are a few items we have in store:

Papoose's felt food are to die for! Practice language skills by playing restaurant, letting your toddler take your order and serving up fun.

We've been hearing the Prince Lionheart Wheelie Toys run across the floors in our store ever since they came in. And it's for good reason. These wheelies are nothing but great times!

The Beaba Babycook grows with your youngster. In only 15 mins meat and veggies are steamed. Then just turn a dial and it purees to the consistency needed for your growing kid.

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Snow Angels

baby on the hip knights you all experts at braving the cold.

We know how you choose a size larger for Halloween costumes to ensure winter coats can fit snugly between the Tigger get-up and your tyke's tender skin.

We see you breathing warm breath into those mittens before putting them on your kin's wee hands.

In celebration of the chilly times ahead of us, here are some great tips:

Nothing more satisfying than doing up one zipper and knowing your kiddo is taken care of. Meet the 7am Enfant Igloo Sac. Waterproof and lightweight, this stunning outerwear will keep out the cold in a cinch.

Picture it: You finally board the bus after waiting in the snow for 20 mins. Of course, this is when your wee one begins fussing to be breastfed. Solution? Use a Bebe Au Lait nursing cover to make breastfeeding through winter layers much more comfortable in public.

We were rejoicing when our baby turned toddler thanks to a few expert steps. That is...until we realized this meant struggling with toddler boots in the winter. Thanks to Kamik winter boots, we don't have to fear. 100 years of experience has helped designed these super-cute toe-snugglers.

Now onto you: What are your favourite ways to keep baby warm?

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Poop 101

baby on the hip is hosting another FREE diapering workshop. Our super-informative staff, Shannon and Nina are ready to dish the dirt on how to handle your baby's #1s and #2s.

Be prepared to flush the following myths right down the toilet:

Myth #1
Cloth diapering is going to transform my bundle of joy into a bundle of rashes. No thank you!
The dirt: Disposable diapers are great at absorbing. But that means your baby will be sitting in its own waste for longer, which means a higher incidence of rashes. Those toxic chemicals don't help either. Cloth diapers means the moment your child gets soiled, the sooner he/she will want to get changed, meaning less rashes.

Myth #2
Cloth diapering will make my friends smell me and my poopy baby from a mile away. What about my social life?!
The dirt: Shannon and Nina can show you the numerous ways to help make cloth diapering fit into your lifestyle and for you to keep your friends. Hint: adorable wet bags in a rainbow of colours.

Myth #3
Cloth diapering is super expensive. How am I going to afford Junior's medical school?
The dirt: Shannon and Nina can show you how disposable diapering is actually pretty darned expensive in comparison. Plus, it often leads to faster toilet training. Sweet!

Myth #4
Cloth diapering is just for earth-loving hippies. No granola, please. I'm sticking to my corn flakes.
The dirt: There's a little hippie in all of us. That's why baby on the hip has turned people from all walks of life into lean, green, parenting machines. With our numerous cloth diapering systems, loving the earth has never been easier. And if you're not down on cloth, we also have a wide assortment of biodegradable disposable diapers to choose from.

Date: Oct 24th 2010
Time: 10am-11am
Location: Our store at 969 Queen St E
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Picture This

Before the staff knew all the features on the Baby Jogger.
Before polyester was a sad memory.
Before MC Hammer was a reality TV star.

This is what we were like.



(above) Floor Manager Wendy's paintings fill our store. But that's no surprise. She was always up to her elbows in paints and colouring books and would take any chance to be creative.



(above) Marketing, Online Coordinator and baby on the hip blog author, Catherine could not be taken shopping because she was either pretending to be a mannequin or giving sizing advice to women in the underwear department at Zellers.



(above) Don't let Sales Staff member Jasmin's friendly demeanor fool you. As an only child, she distinctly remembers playing the role of Bossy Betty on the playground.



(above) Here's a pic of Assistant Manager Shannon laughing it up (or yawning, not too sure which) with her pappy. Note the timely upholstery.



Congratulations to Susan Chaves who won a $10 gift certificate through our "Picture This" baby pics contest. We asked people to contribute pictures of their kin enjoying merchandise they purchased at baby on the hip. Not only did Susan send us this photo of her son Tiago enjoying her blabla doll, she also informed us there's another baby on the way, who her $10 gift certificate is going towards. Her purchase? Another blabla doll.

Wish you had heard about this giveaway? Be sure to become a fan of our page on facebook!

Symphony Sweet

baby on the hip is proud to join the Medela hospital rental program. This means that if you're a new parent in the Greater Toronto Area seeking to rent a Medela Symphony breast pump system, you can come to us.



Rental periods are determined by you.

See in store about pricing.

For more information about the unit, click here.

Pump on!

Nice Package

As a green company, our free gift-wrapping is pretty minimal. We re-use a lot of our boxes our suppliers give us (including Styrofoam nuts!) and opt to use a modest amount of tissue paper and ribbon as well as our company sticker instead of lavish parade float packaging, plus all of our new materials are earth-friendly thanks to Progress Packaging.

We’re sure if she could, Mother Nature would write us a thank you note – on recycled paper, of course.

There are a few occasions, however, when we get a request to create a gift basket for someone special. This is when our sales staff gets to be creative and raid the store, usually informed by a budget and a theme.

Here are some of our recent favourites:

One smart gift giver wanted the new parents to leave the hospital with everything they could possibly need to deal with a wailing newborn, sanity not included. Our idea? A Diaper Dude Camo Messenger Bag with each pocket full of pacifiers, footies, nail clippers, receiving blankets and scratch mittens. (See pictured above).

One frantic customer called us one day wanting to purchase all remaining items on their friend’s registry. Most of the registrant’s friends had already bought the cuter items, but shied away from the more practical products. All that was left was a selection of cloth diapering accessories. Understanding the customer’s need for their gift to look more adorable than pragmatic, we quickly assembled a gift with a Monkey Doodlez Diaper Pail acting as the gift basket, filled it with the diapering items and wrapped it in cellophane. Not only will this be the most used gift, it will probably be one of the most memorable.

Going from poopy to clean, we remember one customer with a limited budget who still wanted the basket to feel plentiful and fun. Using the Daphne Bath Seat as a gift basket, we stuffed it with a selection of All Things Jill bath products and Bamboosa Hooded Towels.

Recently a celebrity father of twins was to receive a gift basket from us, and naturally, we wanted to impress the booties off of this famous twosome. The delightful basket was stuffed to the brim with two each of a selection of Babysoy clothing, each set bound in raffia to represent the new pair’s arrival.

Here are some products we’ve been dying to use as baskets:

WARM BABY
7am Enfant B212 Evolution baby bunting, stuffed to the brim with winter baby gear.

LAUGHING BABY
Prince Lionheart wheelie toy ridden by your favourite blabla.

DROOLING BABY
Baby Cubes, opened with each compartment stuffed with the Under the Nile chew toys.

STRUTTING BABY
Pair of Tip Toey Joey shoes stuffed with Sophie the Giraffe and Chan Pie Gnon toys.

baby on the move

Remember those days when our tots would sit still? Remember when we would have to move the baby mobile so that our wee one could actually reach the toys? Sigh. Now everything – and we mean everything, save for our credit card – isn’t safe from our kiddo’s curious hands.

One dear mother of two I know prided herself on what she called the “diaper change hold”, which she used when her little guy liked to crawl away when the cleaning wasn’t done yet. Without putting any pressure on the baby, she’d place her one bent leg over her baby like a brace, and proceed to change the diaper upside down.

It was genius to a mom like me who simply learned how to change my daughter while giving her the illusion she was still crawling. Let me explain. I would hold one of her chubby ankles and while her equally chubby knees would continue the crawling motion, I’d get the job done. It was like putting underwear on a running antelope.

We’d love to hear from you. What are some of your ideas for keeping your babies still? This could be a strategy you use during feeding. Or a song you sing while struggling with that onesie. Anything you can think of. And we know you have many.

Here are some of ours:

There is no need to cancel that reservation for 3 now that your infant has caught a bad case of the “grabbies”. Mylittleseat works for all shapes of chairs – including the chairs at your favourite restaurant.

To avoid the famous toddler “I don’t want to sit here anymore” protest squiggle, the Pippalily Toy Strap may be the solution. It’s a favourite amongst our shoppers to keep toys in the stroller or car seat, which means less idle hands.

Choose a toy that challenges tots’ motor skills – quietly. The Plan Toys Fruit and Veggies set allows little ones to practice “cutting” through adorable wooden veggies and fruit with little more noise than the sound of Velcro. Sweet.

Now, onto you.

Recipe Swap

We know, we know. You've been calling, dropping by and crossing your fingers wondering when the Baby Cubes are coming. Everyone is going gaga over them, which is why they are flying off our shelves. And who can blame them? They're BPA free and make storing your very own baby food as easy as pie (if pie was mushed up so that a toothless tyke can eat it).

Counting down to the arrival of our new shipment (a little birdie told us it may come as soon as end of this week or early next week!), we want to hear from you, our amazing supporters, what recipes you love for your baby cubes.

Well?




***

About Baby Cubes

Baby Cubes are the only reusable baby food container on the market that has a lid attached directly to each cube for a hassle-free and convenient way to prepare and store baby food. Made from BPA-free plastic, each cube snaps into a stackable tray to save valuable freezer space. Dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe.

Each $8 pack contains 8 cubes!

When these are back in stock (we'll be sure to tweet and facebook it), check out our website for more info and to order online. www.babyonthehip.ca

High risk of breast cancer and damaged childhood development? Ummm…no thank you.

We’re pretty certain that when you set up your baby registry with us, you never added things like bisphenol A (BPA) to your wish list.

That’s why when one of our dear customers alerted us to the recent article in the Globe and Mail about the dangerous levels of BPA in our systems, we had to alert you too.

In short: It’s in a lot of the things around us, from CDs to tin cans. Even in low concentrations it can affect our hormonal health.

It’s forced many to finally think about what we put into our bodies and of course, for you the concerned parent, about what is going into our kin’s mouths. High risk of breast cancer and damaged childhood development? Ummm…no thank you.

If you’re looking at lowering the levels of it in your growing family (and we certainly hope you are), here are some tips.

* Think about anything that is in contact with baby’s mouth. Think about how long that pacifier has lingered in your baby’s mouth. If it’s not BPA, toss it and replace it with something like the Bornfree Day and Night Pacifier.

* Think about food storage. Many of us store food in regular plastic containers, but plastics are often the carriers of BPA. Either shy away from plastics or be very discerning about the quality of plastics you are using. Read the label and ensure it is BPA free. For those of you who are breastfeeding, try the Medela Glass Breastmilk Feeding and Storage Set.

* Search for green businesses in your area that are dedicated to educating its community about green options. Now visit them, find products you like and ASK QUESTIONS. Non-toxic products are sometimes more expensive but they are worth it. Just make sure you find out which products are best for you and fit your lifestyle.

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No Fuss Over the Fussy Baby

We recently asked our facebook page fans what their favourite tasks were while putting their bundle to bed.

Here are two answers that we loved:

“Bath time, because I have 2 girls and it is double trouble but bundles of fun."

- Terry Bennie

“The minute my little guy starts to nurse, the eyes roll back. It's like he's in breastmilk heaven. That's a wonderful bedtime moment.”

- Heather Black

Now, for those of you who read this and say, “wait a minute. Whose kids actually sleep? My baby barely blinks let alone sleeps!” no worries. baby on the hip has you covered.

Or, should we say swaddled?

Sleep-challenged babies may need to get those arms and legs down to their sides. After all, those jerky movements that naturally strengthen their limbs can also scare them out of their nappies. One solution is to wrap that wee body in the embrace of a swaddling blanket. A tip: Ensure the blankets are generously sized so that no Houdini baby can escape during nap time and that the cloth is breathable and soft.

If your babe needs to have its sucking reflex satiated, consider a pacifier. It’s super important (at least to us at baby on the hip) that whatever is in baby’s mouth for long periods of time is safe both for the environment and your little one.

If your arms and back are exhausted by the constant rocking, you may want to consider an alternative to a crib. Instead of being in a stationary crib, the Kanoe Baby Hammock offers the sensation of being rocked, even though you might actually be catching a few winks yourself.

If all else fails, try and enjoy the moment. Sure you might have been pacing the hallways for hours on end, but one day, your baby will in fact (wait for it) sleep. As hard as it is to believe. It will happen.

In the meantime, sit back (or rather sit up or keep walking, or bouncing or whatever) and enjoy some lullaby tunes.

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Getting Carried Away

Many parents remember sheepishly how they thought they’d find THE ONE and ONLY baby carrier. Ever. That somehow, magically, some fantastic product would be the only carrier in our roster of baby paraphernalia.

Of course, this is as silly as thinking we’d equip ourselves with THE ONE and ONLY teething toy. Or THE ONE and ONLY body motion to get the kiddo asleep.

Not so.

The reality is this: Your choice of baby carrier depends on your lifestyle. And remember: your lifestyle changes. The baby will get older, meaning needs will change. So it's best to think of carrier shopping as tool box shopping to suit your everyday needs.

Do you take public transit? Have back problems? Expect to do a lot of housework with the wee one in tow? Want to try attachment parenting? Make a list of everything you think may affect your choice and then make a dream list of features you imagine you’ll need in a carrier.

Here are some scenarios that may help you out:

• Jill and Jack are vastly different in body size. Does that mean Jack gets to shirk responsibility in holding the bundle during shopping excursions? Nuh-uh. It just means a super adjustable Oli Golightly ring sling is the way to go.

• Jill has major back problems (chalk it up to the 9 pounder!) and Jack loves the idea of add-on accessories and storage. The solution? The Ergo Baby carrier system. Hands-free and full of add-on features.

• Jill and Jack really want to stay true to attachment parenting, especially since their newborn baby is fussy and needs a bit of extra TLC. Their choice: A cozy Mama Kangaroo Stretchy Wrap.

• Jill and Jack are heading to a wedding with the baby. Both want to rise above the “maternity chic” look while holding the baby. They nab up one of the many stylish patterns available with the Pippalilly Pouch Slings.

If you’re shopping online, feel free to call us to discuss options and features. Check out this page to see the many carriers we have in our store.

If you’re in the neighborhood, drop in and feel free to ask our staff for a demo. It’s the best way to find out what’s best for you.

Happy carrying!

Above: One of our favourites, the Beco Butterfly II.

Got CPR?

Diaper bag? Check. 17 changes of clothing (assuming the possibility of 15 colossal accidents and 2 spit ups)? Check. 2 pairs of shoes in case Junior decides their pair of Emilio Lime Livie & Luca slip-ons were simply not their colour? Check.

Think you're ready to head out? Think again.

Of all the things knick knacks parents stow away in their ginormous strollers, the last thing they think about is safety, pure and simple. Heaven forbid an emergency was ever to happen, but if it ever does (knock on wood) it's best you're prepared.

baby on the hip's Infant CPR courses are coming up and it's time to sign up.

The fee is only $40 per person for peace of mind.

To sign up please phone 416 465 4141. If needed, we kindly ask that you give 48 hours cancellation notice so we can fill your spot!

Upcoming Dates:
July 27th, 2010 6:30-8:30pm
August 17th, 2010 6:30 - 8:20pm
September 15th, 2010 6:30 - 8:30pm

Some tips:

• Leave the baby and kids at home. This is your chance to learn lifesaving tools, so try not to be distracted.
• Remember to sign up early because these classes fill up quick!
  

Honest to Blog

Shoppers at baby on the hip come in many shapes and sizes. Yes, we do get the occasional "My wife has sent me for diapers, I am here to buy what she needs," type of in-and-out customer.

But most of the amazing people who walk into our store end up in detailed conversation with our sales associate. We have everything from the "I'm due any minute and I need help finding a baby carrier" kind of customer to the "I haven't slept for 3 days because we need help with feeding" kind of customer.

And then there are those who -- be it because they are too busy figuring out how to turn off the breast pump machine or be it because their waking hour has been changed to 3am -- can not get to the store at all.

That's why we've created our blog: To give you our up-to-the-minute, honest-to-blog truth about what's happening in our shop, news, tips and events.

So cozy up. No dress code in effect. Just read on and enjoy.