The
Laundry
Narrative

Co-sleeping is a breastfeeding mother's best friend. I never thought we'd be a co-sleeping family, it just sorta happened. During the first few weeks, we had trouble getting Evelyn to sleep in her bassinet and ended up taking shifts with her sleeping on our chests on the couch. (Dangerous!) Now, I understand the need that babies have to be near their mothers. Now, it seems obvious that a baby naturally feels safe near her mother and in danger in a cold, isolated place. However what seems obvious to me now was distorted by the tradition of generation before me and years of seeing babies in crib, whether in real life, in books, movies...

Those first weeks, we could have been able to get more sleep and saved ourselves from worry by bringing her into our bed. If I had known about co-sleeping from the beginning, we might not have slept with her on the couch. I do not recommend this. We would have been aware of HOW to safely sleep with a baby. It took time to get where we are, but Evelyn now spends a portion of her night in our bed and we all get better rest AND we LOVE it.

Safe co-sleeping is another post for another day, but if you are interested check out these wonderful sources:

• Dr. William Sears on Co-Sleeping
• 10 Reasons to Sleep Next to Your Child at Night
• Dr. James McKenna FAQs About Co-sleeping

An intruder has come into our house. It visited about a month ago and then was gone and everything was peaceful again. Until now. The teething monster is back and taking its toll on our family.

When the teeth come barging in, here are a few things we try:

• crushed ice tied in a baby sock
• momsicles
• teething rings
• last resort: Tylenol

Evelyn's two front top teeth are coming in. They started the day we flew home from visiting my sister. That was one crazy plane ride. I'm planning a post on air travel with a baby soon.

So, what tips do you have for dealing with teething? Cause I'm pulling my hair out over here.

Our church holds an annual fall festival and this was our first year to go. Costumes are encouraged which provided a great opportunity for us to put this hand-me-down strawberry costume to use.



I wanted to wear a costume, too. With little time to plan, I had to think of something that could be assembled from my closet with no trips to the store. It also need to be something I could wear with ease. After a few hours searching online during one of Evelyn's naps, I came up with the mad hatter.


Evelyn was a bit young to really enjoy the festival. She might have more fun next year. It really was just a chance for us to show her off. There were several other cute babies in costumes. We saw a monkey, a fairy, a deer, and a bumble bee.

This is my current stash (+1 that I used to own):

The other day, I got this pouch sling back out and tried it in hip carry and it worked. So, I decided not to sell it. Sometimes if a carrier isn't working for you, you can wait until the baby is older and try it in a different carry. This has been great if she is fussy and wants to be held but I have a few short tasks to work on. I just pop her in there and spend a few minutes doing some chores.



This is my workhorse right now. I love my mei tai. Though, lately I have been struggling a little with the back carry. I have been experimenting with ways to tie it on and I know some of it is practice. I hope to address my problems at the next Babywearing International meeting.


My newest addition! It is so beautiful (and I usually don't like pink). I bought it in the For Sale or Trade section of The Babywearer. Already, I have practiced a handful of ways to wear this and it just might pull ahead of the mei tai for my go to carrier...might. We'll see.



This was a gorgeous carrier, but sadly, I just never could get used to the ring sling. I had issues with tightening the sling and keeping the fabric from slipping and the positioning. I practiced a lot and tried really hard to make it work because the fabric is really vibrant (hard to tell in this picture). In the end, it just wasn't meant to be. I sold it to a friend and I hope she is getting good use out of it. Some people swear by ring slings, but this is a lesson that there is not one carrier that works for everyone and if something isn't working don't give up on babywearing, just try new types of carriers.


While researching ways to wear my woven wrap, I came across another type of carrier: a Kanga. It's an African baby carrier. Not only do I have a rebozo on my "would like to check out list" but now a Kanga, too.

As autumnal as you can get in California.

Posted via email from Fia's posterous

*I started this post a week ago. Even when I'm excited to write about something, it takes forever to find the time to finish it.

Before Evelyn was born, my goal for breastfeeding was one year. I wanted to breastfeed her one year and then I would wean. To be honest, I was a little squeamish about breastfeeding before she was born. I had no idea what it would be like and I wasn't sure if I would like it. Then she was born and while we did run into a few bumps, I found that I really enjoyed it. I LOVE breastfeeding (but the reasons are for another post). In fact, in those early days, I felt most like a mother when I was nursing her. Breastfeeding has become very special to me and I intend to breastfeed for at least two years now. The health benefits alone would be enough to convince me, but it is so much more than that.

Breastfeeding beyond one year is considered extended nursing. Whether a mother chooses to follow child-led weaning or whether she nurses for an extended amount of time, it is important that she doesn't introduce solids too early or to have the baby eating too many solids. Solids are not added to breastmilk intake, but rather replace it. If you aren't ready to start the road to weaning, improper introduction of solids could put your milk supply at risk.

It is for this reason, we have taken a more laid back approach to solids. We didn't introduce solids until six months. Technically, Evelyn ate paper a few days before her six monthversary. How do I know? The diaper doesn't lie. The next day we decided to offer her avocado. We didn't puree it, we didn't mash it and put it on a spoon and put it in her mouth. We cut up a few slivers and put them in front of her. She picked them up, squished them between her fingers, painted the high chair tray, eventually decided to try sticking some in her mouth and immediately spit it out.

Since then, we have offered steamed sweet potato, banana, and steamed carrots. So far, other than paper, her favorite meal aside from mama's milk, the only thing she has swallowed is carrot. We don't offer solids every day. We don't force the issue. If she doesn't want to eat it, then she doesn't have to. She will eat when she is ready. Right now, it is all about the fun of trying new flavors and textures and not for nutrition.


Borstvoeding.com has great information for a baby-led approach to solids

Was it when I caught her licking the side of the plane on the way home from visiting my sister and her new baby? Was it because she kept touching the strangers in the seat next to her on both flights? Was it the weather change?

Evelyn has been sick for almost a week now. She came down with a cold shortly after we returned from Nashville. The bulb syringe has been put to good use, even though I hate pinning her down with my knees and bracing her head with one hand while I stick this strange looking object up her nose. Of course, she fights and fusses every time. At first, I tried to make a game of it by squeezing it near her face so the tickling of air rushing out over her face would fascinate her. No matter how much she laughs at the game as soon as the syringe is near her nose, her smile turns to a look of concern.

I've been taking hot showers as she plays in her swing, the warm steam helping to clear her nose. We run the humidifier at night, but no matter what we do the minute she begins to nurse it becomes clear that her nose is still congested. Often she breaks off, turns away, frustrated that her biggest comfort is failing her. So, we wait. We wait for this intruder to run its course. In the meantime, I encourage naps often, letting her nurse during the nap so that she isn't awake to be annoyed by the snuffling of her nose. I cuddle and calm and assure her the best I can.

What tricks do you have for dealing with a cold?

**Thank you everyone for your support. A lot of readers expressed encouragement for the direction that I intend for this blog to go. I'm very grateful.**