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!

Image source.

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