Hug Of Joy™

2010-12-15T09:06:00.000-08:00

Wearing Instructions

NOTE:

Proper positioning is crucial for your baby’s in a baby carrier, especially for newborns, preemie babies, twins and babies with breathing complications such as a cold. For these babies the Cradle Position is not recommended. The Cradle Position may be used after 4 months.

It is very important to make sure baby is not in a curled position where their chin is towards their chest, which can cause breathing problems.

These wearing instructions must be understood and followed to assure the wearer understands how to properly use their sling.

About Babywearing

Babies are meant to be carried. Babies are born with reflexes that help them hold on to their parents. Babywearing is the practice of carrying your child in a sling or soft carrier, and it’s an extension of this instinctive act. This practice has a very long history & is a tradition across many different cultures, and it balances our intuitive understanding that babies need to be held with the practical need for parents to have their hands free.

Today we are rediscovering that,simply, babywearing makes life easier by meeting everyone’s needs. Busy parents are free to get on with their daily lives while babies are held safe and secure, soothed by the movement and warmth of their parent’s bodies.

Remarkable Benefits of Babywearing

Research supports our instinctive understanding that babies need to be held.

Babies who are carried cry less - up to 51% according to studies - & have decreased levels of stress hormone in their blood streams.

Carried babies have more regular respiratory rate, heart rate & a more stable body temperature.

Being carried improves sleep patterns, with babies falling asleep more quickly, more soundly & for longer periods.

Babywearing improves infants’ digestion & has been shown to reduce the symptoms of colic and reflux.

Carried babies have advanced motor skills because their vestibular system in their brain is stimulating by the person carrying them. This means carried babies will already have begun to acquire balance & muscular development before they start to crawl & walk.

Babies who are held gain weight better, & nurse better.

Babywearing improves parent-baby bonding, allowing parents to be more aware and responsive to their baby’s needs. Babywearing can reduce the risk of depression.

Carried babies are up where they can hear & see adult interaction & activity which promotes cognitive and language development. Babies that are in carriers speak earlier and have more advanced speech.

Baby wearing helps mothers to strengthen muscles and ligaments which have been stretched or weakened by pregnancy.

Is your sling the right size?

To Check:
When not pregnant put your sling on resting on your left shoulder so seam edges aren’t up against your neck, rounded vertical seam with name tag is in front of your right chest, fabric across your back is smooth. Sling should be 1.5 inches un-stretched down directly in front of your right chest.
If your sling does not fit properly please contact us within 30 days after baby is born so that we can exchange your sling. We will be happy to check your sling to insure it is in like-new, sellable condition, so that we can promptly send you a new sling.

Note About Snug Fit

Hug Of Joy slings are snug at the top edge to help baby stay in safely, and help baby remain in a proper position Hug Of Joy slings fit high and snug so that baby’s weight feels like part of your body when you move and not a weight hanging away from you and straining on you. This fit allows you to comfortably wear baby up to 30lbs. The 4- way stretch feels incredibly comfortable, distributing the weight all around your body eliminating the feeling of weight. Baby will not feel confined or become restricted as they grow. There is no pulling or digging like you often find with a non-stretchy sling.

Folding & Putting On Your Carrier

1) Fold the carrier in half inside itself – putting all one color to the inside.

2) Put one arm out straight, hold sling hanging with rounded seam and name tag down, put sling on to your arm and over your head like a beauty pageant sash. Sling should fit over the rounded point of your shoulder & edge not up against your neck.

3) Open the sling to create the pouch – rounded seam with name tag in front. This pouch by name tag is where the small baby sits, or older baby’s bum sits.

4) The ROUNDED seam with name tag is where baby’s bum goes in all positions.

Washing Instructions

Machine wash cold water, gentle detergent, hang to dry or dyer on low. Do not dry clean, bleach, iron, use harsh detergents or high heat.

Cradle Position ~ 4 months on

Rounded seam with name tag in front of you, open pouch with inside layer up high against your body. Hold Baby up high on FREE shoulder that's not carrying sling, as if burping, lower baby till feet are in sling pouch, cradling baby in your hands scooping feet in pouch towards side of your body that has a free shoulder (as in picture) – baby is sitting up like in a chair NOT down flat inside of sling. Baby's face is free and not pressed against the wearer or the sling fabric. Baby's neck is open and their chin is not against their chest. Wearer can place fingers between baby's chin and color bone to ensure chin is not curled over chest causing airway to be restricted.

Front Upright Position ~ Newborn on

Rounded seam & name tag in front of you, open pouch with inside layer up high against your body. Hold Baby up high on FREE shoulder that's not carrying sling as if burping. Cross legs -like sitting cross legged, so you can cup bum and feet with one hand while supporting head with other hand, and slide bum into the sling. Slide baby into sling belly to belly with you. Baby sitting cross-legged in the sling. baby's head is out of sling. Baby's face is free and not pressed against the wearer or the sling fabric. If baby is small enough that they go too far into sling for their head to be out, fold up appropriate sized blanket to boost baby up till baby is as shown in picture. Newborns and preemies may need a thick blanket folded into a square and placed a the bottom of the pouch to sit on so baby's head and face are out of the sling as in picture

Cradle Position Lying feet out - 6 months to 30 lbs

Bigger babies & toddlers
Sling with rounded seam & name tag in front of you. Child stays high on the shoulder that's NOT carrying sling -like burping; feet go between your body and sling (not in the pocket). Still keeping baby up on your shoulder -Pull outside edge up & place on child’s shoulders and hold there, with free hand reach up under sling and pull inside edge of fabric down & place behind knees. Slide baby down to sit in the seat of fabric. Baby’s legs straddling your waist. You can now lean baby back with head to either side of you. Scoop legs to one side and lean baby over as in a slightly reclined chair.

Kangaroo Position - 4 months, Baby holds head up well

Rounded seam & name tag in front of you, open pouch with inside layer up high against your body. Hold baby facing outwards, back leaning against your chest. Cross baby’s legs, slide baby bum first into the pouch.

Hip Carry / Front Carry 6 months on

Baby can hold head up well. Sling with rounded seam in the front. Child stays high on the shoulder that's NOT carrying sling -like burping; feet go between your body and sling (not in the pocket). While baby remains up on your shoulder, pull outside edge of fabric up & place on child’s shoulders and hold there, with free hand reach up under sling, pull inside edge down & place behind knees. Slide baby down to sit in the seat of fabric. Baby’s legs straddling your waist. Adjust top edge up over baby's' shoulders, little baby arms inside of sling. You must make sure bottom edge of carrier is far past bum & all the way to behind the knee. Then pull Knees UP higher than bum so bum creates deep bucket seat to hold baby in. Now you can slide baby belly to belly hip or back.

Back Carry -6 months, Baby sits up well

Baby can sit up well.
Put baby in the Hip Carry Position – See above for proper leg positioning in Hip position. If baby is on right hip, place right hand on baby’s hip/ bum, with other hand grasp bottom of carrier in front of you. Gently slide/ slightly bouncing carrier with baby around to your back.. Make sure top edge of the carrier is high over baby's shoulders or even up to neck for sleep, arms tucked inside. You must make sure bottom edge of carrier is far past bum & down to behind the knee. Knees pulled UP higher than bum so bum creates deep bucket seat to hold baby in

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE:

We understand how strongly you feel about making sure your child is safe. Thank you for taking the time to read the following safety instructions. If you are unsure about your child’s safety in your carrier please take baby out of your carrier and contact us and we will be happy to help you with your concerns.

HugOfJoy@telus.net

Baby’s safety depends upon the care of the person using the Hug Of Joy carrier. Each baby is unique and the wearer must assess the baby’s readiness to be in a particular position, and assess whether baby is in the carrier properly based on the baby’s individual needs. The age recommendations in these instructions are a general suggestion only, and each wearer must assess baby’s individual needs and readiness to be in any position. Fabric and seams naturally wear out with time; the person wearing the sling must check to insure that the sling is not too old or worn to be safe for baby.

It is very important to make sure baby is not in a curled position where their chin is to their chest. It is very important to understand proper positioning - these wearing instructions must be understood and followed to assure the wearer understands how to properly use their sling

* Hug Of Joy carriers are recommended to use up to 30 lbs.

* * When you first begin to use your sling use your hands to hold baby until you become comfortable moving about without bumping baby into objects, and until you become comfortable bending with your knees so as not to cause baby to fall out of the sling.

* Be cautious in the kitchen. DO NOT use your sling while cooking or working with sharp or hot objects.

* Do not drink or eat hot items when baby is in the sling.

* When using your sling and bending over, bend at the knees with your back straight (not at the waist) and support your baby with one hand so as not to cause baby to fall out of the sling.

* Toddlers can grab dangerous items off shelves and tables. Keep an arm’s distance away from potential hazards.

* Be careful of baby’s head while going through doorways and turning corners

* Do not ride a bicycle or other moving equipment while baby is in the sling.

* The sling is NOT a substitute for a car seat.

These safety tips are only a few of the many things a person must be thoughtful of while caring for a child in a carrier, and it is up to the person responsible for baby to be aware of that baby’s individual needs regarding safety.

Remarkable Benefits of Babywearing

2010-10-14T14:35:00.000-07:00

What happens to your baby in a Baby Sling?

Research supports our instinctive understanding that babies need to be held.

Babies who are carried cry less - up to 51% according to studies - & have decreased levels of stress hormone in their blood streams.

Carried babies have more regular respiratory rate, heart rate & a more stable body temperature.Being carried improves sleep patterns, with babies falling asleep more quickly, more soundly & for longer periods.

Babywearing improves infants’ digestion & has been shown to reduce the symptoms of colic and reflux.

Carried babies have advanced motor skills because their vestibular system in their brain is stimulating by the person carrying them. This means carried babies will already have begun to acquire balance & muscular development before they start to crawl & walk.

Babies who are held gain weight better, & nurse better.

Babywearing improves parent-baby bonding, allowing parents to be more aware and responsive to their baby’s needs. Babywearing can reduce the risk of depression.

Carried babies are up where they can hear & see adult interaction & activity which promotes cognitive and language development. Babies that are in carriers speak earlier and have more advanced speech.

Baby wearing helps mothers to strengthen muscles and ligaments which have been stretched or weakened by pregnancy.

What about after the baby sling?

2010-10-14T10:52:00.001-07:00

What about after the sling?

What we reccomend after you can no longer use your sling

"The ERGO baby carrier is a dependable and comfortable soft structured carrier perfect for wearing newborns to preschoolers. It is a baby carrier that appeals to men and women alike.

For those new to babywearing, it is a very easy to use carrier. It has buckles, not ties. The buckles are easy to adjust and fit almost any body type with comfort. It wears like a backpack so even the most hesitant baby wearers will not be intimidated by the ERGO.

It also has padding in the shoulder and waist and distributes the baby’s weight to the hips instead of the shoulders and back, making this a superior baby carrier for long hikes.

In my involvement in online baby wearing communities like “The Babywearer” I can attest that I have seen some amazing photos of babies, toddlers and preschoolers being worn in the ERGO in some amazing places – to the tops of hills, on sightseeing walks, and all around many airports. In fact, in my experience wearing a baby in the airport is much easier than pushing them in the"

Ergo Giveaway!

Win the Ergo baby carrier of your choice from MamaDweeb! Ends 10/25. http://bit.ly/9xdbYI #babywearing #giveaway

http://mamadweeb.com/2010/10/ergo-giveaway-bhb-2.html

Baby sling in ICU - 5 weeks old

2010-10-12T15:53:00.001-07:00

With all the confusion that is surrounding baby carriers after the recall of the Infantino "purse style" baby carrier, I find myself thinking of all the critical life moments that were made a success story because of a my baby sling specifically, and especially that it WAS a baby sling, not a snugly or back pack carrier that was needed for the job.

I am shameless in my love for my baby sling! It is the safest place for my baby.

After being Choppered to Children’s Hospital with my baby, James, 5 wks old in heart failure, I found it very challenging spending 5 days trying to hold him in my arms and stop him from crying as I had been advised to do by the head of Electrical Cardiology to prevent him form going into another heart episode - I was asked to stay by the bed and try and hold him as it was the only thing that kept him from going into arrhythmia. Not the morphine, not the Chloral hydrate sedative, not the Flecainide heart drugs, but Holding Him. Wow, did I ever feel like I was asked to hold a grenade when the result of him crying hard was him going into SVT- heart beat of 320bpm- and having to be injected with a drug to made his heart flat line, and then have his heart restart again. This had been happening repeatedly all day long, every day, as they tried to find the right heart drugs for him, until they had me hold him.

For days he hadn't sleep. Just writhed and screamed from all the procedures he had been put through, his heart constantly spiking to 320 bpm and having his heart stopping and restarted by doctors, countless wires and sensors coming out of his head and chest. Now I'm asked to try and stay by his side and hold him as much as I can to keep him calm. I was so worried I was hurting him holding him with all the IVs in him, and then the ICU nurse took one of the "needles" that were used in the IVS in his arms, legs and head and showed me that they were not needles at all but squishy bits of tiny rubber tubing that went into the vain – mushy plastic tubes - not needles pocking into him when I held him! That was it! On went my stretchy fitted sling and in went baby, IVs, heart sensors and all, So gently sliding down into the upright kangaroo care position. I started walking around with him and they gave me a remote monitor so he wasn’t hooked to the wall and he was SO happy and peaceful. He fell asleep!! I sat in the rocking chair and rocked him for the first time without my arms aching, or my brain reeling form 4 days without sleep worrying about dropping him while rocking him.

I thought after about the fact that I would not have been able to carry him if it were necessary to buckle strap or wrap him into a more complex carrier. They needed to be able to lift him out quickly if he had an attack and a sling made that possible in seconds.

There is no way I could have carried him in any type of pack or snugly carrier where his legs hung out. He had had so many IVs put into his legs and ankles and it was much safer for him to have his legs relaxed inside the sling.
I was told by the paediatric nurses that babies that age have a falling reflex and that when they feel their legs and arms hanging and waving free it signals their brain that they are falling. They said babies that age are much calmer and happier if inside a carrier more like being swaddled rather than limbs waving free.

We were very grateful to have our Baby Sling while our baby needed to be kept calm and recover.

Incredible Medical Benefits of Carrying Your Baby

2010-07-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

“Researchers have found that infants who are touched and carried more produce more immunoglobin, which protects against respiratory infections. Touch improves intellectual and motor development immediately from birth,” says Barbara Nicholson, co-founder of Attachment Parenting International. “It also helps regulate a baby’s temperature, heart rate and sleep/wake patterns, especially when baby is held skin-to-skin. These babies not only gain weight faster, but they nurse better, are calmer and are able to be more quickly soothed when they cry.”

Attachmentparenting.org

http://www.attachmentparenting.org/pdfs/NaturalLifeBabywearing_AMcMann.pdf

What a Mom Really needs !

2010-06-03T21:55:00.000-07:00

“Let me know if I can help you in any way when the baby is born.” … “Just let me know if you need a hand.” … “Anything I can do, just give me a call.”

Most pregnant women get these statements from friends and family but shy away from making requests when they are up to their ears in dirty laundry, unmade beds, dust bunnies and countertops crowded with dirty dishes. The myth of “I’m fine, I’m doing great, new motherhood is wonderful, I can cope and my husband is the Rock of Gibraltar” is pervasive in postpartum land. If you’re too shy to ask for help and make straight requests of people, I suggest sending the following list out to your friends and family. These are the things I have found to be missing in every house with a new baby. It’s actually easy and fun for outsiders to remedy these problems for the new parents but there seems to be a lot of confusion about what’s wanted and needed…

1. Buy us toilet paper, milk and beautiful whole grain bread.

2. Buy us a new garbage can with a swing top lid and 6 pairs of black cotton underpants (women’s size____).

3. Make us a big supper salad with feta cheese, black Kalamata olives, toasted almonds, organic green crispy things and a nice homemade dressing on the side. Drop it off and leave right away. Or, buy us frozen lasagna, garlic bread, a bag of salad, a big jug of juice, and maybe some cookies to have for dessert. Drop it off and leave right away.

4. Come over about 2 in the afternoon, hold the baby while I have a hot shower, put me to bed with the baby and then fold all the piles of laundry that have been dumped on the couch, beds or in the room corners. If there’s no laundry to fold yet, do some.

5. Come over at l0 a.m., make me eggs, toast and a 1/2 grapefruit. Clean my fridge and throw out everything you are in doubt about. Don’t ask me about anything; just use your best judgment.

6. Put a sign on my door saying “Dear Friends and Family, Mom and baby need extra rest right now. Please come back in 7 days but phone first. All donations of casserole dinners would be most welcome. Thank you for caring about this family.”

7. Come over in your work clothes and vacuum and dust my house and then leave quietly. It’s tiring for me to chat and have tea with visitors but it will renew my soul to get some rest knowing I will wake up to clean, organized space.

8. Take my older kids for a really fun-filled afternoon to a park, zoo or Science World and feed them healthy food.

9. Come over and give my husband a two hour break so he can go to a coffee shop, pub, hockey rink or some other r & r that will delight him. Fold more laundry.
10. Make me a giant pot of vegetable soup and clean the kitchen completely afterwards. Take a big garbage bag and empty every trash basket in the house and reline with fresh bags.

These are the kindnesses that new families remember and appreciate forever. It’s easy to spend money on gifts but the things that really make a difference are the services for the body and soul described above. Most of your friends and family members don’t know what they can do that won’t be an intrusion. They also can’t devote 40 hours to supporting you but they would be thrilled to devote 4 hours. If you let 10 people help you out for 4 hours, you will have the 40 hours of rested, adult support you really need with a newborn in the house. There’s magic in the little prayer “I need help.”

Gloria Lemay

midwife, doula, vbac, intact boy, waterbirth, birth, vancouver

Facebook | You Pillows

2010-06-03T20:52:00.000-07:00

Facebook | You Pillows: "Must have ! " :-)

Mommy Moments

2010-05-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

James pushing the living room furniture around the room = me re-organizing my living room 30 times a day. Hailey finding James face "too irresistible" to stop pinching = a whole lot of James screaming and a whole lot of Mommy saying "come here Hailey so I can pinch your ears, after 10 mths that is the new deal !". Mommy sitting on the stool in the bathroom for a time out without them knowing I'm in there = priceless!

Mommy melt Down

2010-04-29T21:29:00.000-07:00

Forgot my sling when I took James, now 10 mths, to the pediatrician today and was I ever frustrated! What a chore trying to hold him in my arms in the waiting room and then while I went to the washroom ( going to the washroom with him in the sling is like you don’t even have a kid compared to what I had to go through )... OH MY GOODNESS, have you ever tried holding a wild ninja baby in your arms and trying to use the washroom an then get yourself put back together, all the while, trying to not put them on the disgusting floor or let them touch Anything?! In with the Dr was the worst. Now he’s bored a squirming. I was exhausted after and then had to carry him in my arms, which felt like they were going to fall off, all the way back to the car. Insane! Of course I had taken the stroller out of the car earlier or at least I could have used that, although he wont stay in that happily for long. I’m not sure what people do without slings for 10 mth old wild babies, but it was not fun!

No more mommy melt downs!

Come to a Show - Hug Of Joy baby slings

2010-04-28T13:14:00.001-07:00

Come to a show, meet the owner, get custom fitted,

Receive a One-On-One Demo
and
Special Show Pricing !
http://www.lilrascalsswap.com/

He loves snuggling with Daddy

2010-03-02T00:29:00.000-08:00

Love it that my husband likes to carry him in the sling, and that we wear the same size! I get to spend some quality time with my daughter and baby gets to bond with daddy.

Just a few hours old.

2010-02-27T23:07:00.000-08:00

Baby James itty bitty, just a few hours old. Me after 16hrs of hair raising labour - my arms hurt and I felt like my entire body had been used for a punching bag for 16 hrs. I remember wondering why face and scalp hurt so much! I needed help to walk down our stairs and my arms were too weak to hold James. This surprisingly didn’t go away for days, and I remember feeling so grateful to be able to hold him in the sling when he was crying or I wanted to snuggle him. I knew I couldn't hold him in my arms for long, and it felt so strange to leave him in another room for long after he had been part of my body for so long. It was so nice for me to be able to make that adjustment with my daughter as she realized how much of mommy was not hers any more. At least when I put him in the sling, I could tell that to her it didn't seem like I was constantly holding him -between- me and her, and at times she didn’t notice that I was holding him at all, snuggled down in the sling in the cradle hold -especially since I was able to help her with both hands. Helping her with both hands for all those things I was used to doing for her like go potty or swing on the swing was something I wouldn’t have been able to do at all if I was just holding him in my arms. I felt like it eased that first bit of time that can be so awkward, and helped to bring some peace and normal times into our days. I felt like when I put Him in the baby sling everyone was happier.

Olympic fun with a baby sling

2010-02-24T10:35:00.000-08:00

So nice to take in the Olympic events with baby and not be struggling with the crowds, and be free to hold Hailey's hand - I hope I get to use baby sling for James as long as I did for Hailey, but I have a feeling James won't be going in it at 3 1/2 though!

Facebook | Joy Lofquist Nolette

2010-02-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

Facebook Joy Lofquist Nolette:

See us in France ( :

"Le porte bébé tube Les autres porte-bébés Porter bébé"

Beautiful little boy- James Riley !

2010-02-22T22:39:00.000-08:00

Well two years later since we had decided no, we decided YES and did get pregnant, and we had a beautiful little boy- James Riley. Wow has it been interesting to say the least running Hug Of Joy baby slings, with a new baby with a heart condition who sleeps LESS than Hailey did. That's right, up every few minutes! Fun stuff. After all is said and done, incredibly, I love my husband and we still get along, and laugh! I am so happy with my little guy, and have found my new relationship with my 4 yr old daughter as it has changed not only having a baby but one with special needs, and yes I do love Hug of Joy (probably because I invented and created it. We are looking forward to 2010 bringing some more peaceful times!!

It's hard to believe that life can change so much !

2010-02-22T22:24:00.001-08:00

wow, has so much changed, and happened. It's hard to believe that life can change so much since I wrote here last. Nothing, not a single thing is the same - my face, my boobs, my husband, my sex life, my babies, my diet, my preferences, things that I thought were absolutes - changed! Now, we have been through, and still climbing out of this crazy economic crisis - has it ever been a crisis. Scary with kids! We had a baby with a heart condition who never sleeps, and found we have the most amazing friends. We could never have made it through these crazy times withought our incredible friends! Hug of Joy baby carriers has grown and become more than we ever could have imagined. Who new that people would feel that Hug Of Joy slings is the best baby carrier they could get - I felt it was - but wondered if it would ever spread and become common knowledge or that I would hear it from people on the street. That was really exciting and rewarding when that begin to happen! ( :

Hug Of Joy apart of the Olympic Celebrations!

2010-02-22T22:22:00.000-08:00

Hug Of Joy apart of the Olympic Celebrations! So happy to hear a happy customer say ..."So, we stuck K in the sling (a Hug of Joy. Quite easily the best sling EVER!) and walked the half a block to the sky train station...."

http://kelseybkeller.blogspot.com/2010/02/olympic-adventure.html

I must be crazy

2008-01-09T21:17:00.000-08:00

We have decided to try and have another baby. We were waiting till Hailey started sleeping a little better - better meaning waking less than 10 times a night, or at least not waking screaming like she is being tortured. She's now 27 mths and I think she is just that kind of child and that it's not going to change anytime soon. so unless I want to have another when shes' 5 and I'm pushing 40 then it's now or never. I think if we keep waiting we will get to comfortable going out of the baby years and then we will have missed the boat.

So somehow I am going to pull of having 4 hrs a night sleep, and also being tired from pregnancy, and Oh ya Hailey not having naps. I imagine all these scenarios of how I will manage Hailey getting up 10 times a night and new baby getting up all night. maybe the new baby will be the one to sleep through the night!! LOL

The thing that I actually find most hard sometimes is that no one I know has a child like this. I hope that she grows out of it one day - maybe before the baby is born!

Ya, I must be crazy.

How Long Can a Person Not Sleep ??

2008-01-01T23:21:00.000-08:00

Hailey doesn't sleep. At 27mths this is nothing new to me now. She wakes at least 8 times a night, and has decided to drop her naps I think. I've tried driving her to sleep for her naps and holding her while she gets mad and finally takes a nap by passing out from being held and mad.

I'm thinking of trying to wear her to sleep. I used to when she was little, but haven't for a while partly because she's such a light sleeper and if I wear her to sleep then I can't get her off with out waking her. Also, when she napped even though it was only for a hr Id try to finally work - like a mad woman for an hr.

maybe I'll just try wearing her down and then be really quiet while she sleeps. She's up so much at night I think she's sleep depraved and I want her to have a nap.

the pediatricians and allergists don't' seem to be giving em any help, so back to the baby carrier.

Oh, speak of the devil there she is waking up! Gotta Go

I wore her all day at the fair - when she wasn't riding the carousel horses!

2007-12-28T01:40:00.000-08:00

An email like this !

2007-12-28T01:24:00.000-08:00

After crazy work days at home with a toddler, long nights, and feeling like the days just all run together and that there is just nothing left but work and baby - I get an email like this and it makes it all seem worth it!

"We LOVE our Hug Of Joy sling!! It has definately been an essential piece of baby gear for our baby boy. At 4 weeks old Brayden has slept countless hours tucked inside his gorgeous carrier and I have managed to get so much done with both hands free - even more important with my preschooler needing my attention throughout the day! I love the custom fit because it hangs right where I want it to hang and it's incredibly comfortable for both of us. Not only are we loving it's function, but it looks fabulous, sleek and modern! People are commenting on it every time we're out and about. I also love that it's reversible.. I actually feel like I can coodinate it to what I'm wearing! Thank you for such a great product and terrific service. Both can be hard to come by these days. Warmly, Mandy, Chuck, Lynden & Brayden "

I always imagined working from home this zen dream job

2007-12-28T01:00:00.000-08:00

I always imagined working from home this zen dream job. Well let me tell you that working at home with a two year old is nothing that resembles ZEN! Wow, I really think that this is the hardest job I've ever done and I've dry walled the walls and ceiling of a run down restaurant! I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time, and I always second guess myself at the end of the day as to whether my daughter is really benefiting from this undertaking of mine and my staying home to "raise her" speaking of which is is often far from the one-on-one, quality-filled happy, educational days, I imagined I would be sharing with her. Then there is my poor husband that shows up to a house that looks like a tornado hit it, and a room full of product that I am desperately trying to get packaged before the post office closes and a fussy daughter standing at my side begging for somthing to eat. Oh, and I still haven't had a shower! I'm sure he is very attracted to me right about then. To top it off, if I do in a moment of stupidity venture to tell my husband when he has finally sat down on the couch, about my doubtful feelings and my guilt for not seeming to be able to get everything even half way done, my husband in his reliably manish way proceeds to do exactly what he does best and tries to FIX the situation with a simple explanation that I just do not know how to mange my time and if I would just do these 3 things he suggests it will be all better - and now the hockey highlights are on could he please watch them. In my internal fuming I realize that it is the least I can do to let him peacefully watch his highlights since he cooked dinner once again while I called clients, and entertained our two year old while I scheduled appointments for the next day and he now has 20 minutes before going to bed. I proceed to tackle the daunting list of TO DOs and I decide to try and work on the website we have just created. It is now 1:00am and I have barley finished one element. Our two yr old has woken 5 times in her usual fashion within 4 hrs, and I decide to go to bed as I will be getting up another 5 times at least with her, and she will be getting up at 7:00am and kissing me on the lips and pulling my eye lids open to tell my eyes loudly "Its' WAke UP Time! "

More about cavities - how about breast milk

2007-09-05T22:31:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share an email I had with my sister-n-law about cavities, drinks, and breastfeeding, and an interesting chat started on a chat site I was readign about breastfeedign and cavities - hey I like to be informed! :

Hi Joy,
I don't have any great suggestions about getting your girl to drink water. I have been lucky as Isabelle has always liked water and has not had any juice yet. It is funny though, she doesn't like cold water and is happier with room temperature. You said you brushed her teeth lots, so I'm sure her teeth are fine. Breastmilk can also
be harsh on teeth, at least that is what Kendall's dentist told her. Cole was nursed for over two years and recently (at the age of 4) had to have a bunch of teeth pulled and a number of fillings. The dentist made Kendall feel like trash by saying it was caused by giving him pop, chips, etc. She was pissed, because Cole had never had any crap since birth. The dentist then said it was probably caused partly by genetics and also nursing him to sleep. He told her she should have always been brushing his teeth after nursing or giving him water to wash out his mouth. This freaked me out a little. After she told me this, I have always made sure to brush Isabelle's teeth after her last feed or give her water. That is why she has been
having water since she got teeth at 4 months. Scary, isn't it? She felt terrible for the poor little guy. If I hear of any drinks that might be more appealing than water, I will let you now. Take care, Cori

ME:
How awful having to have all those teeth done on a little one - especialy since they have to put them totally under! You know the lactation consultants I talked to through the Health Unit here, and the Le Leache League Leaders ( I've seen them a lot because Hailey couldn't' nurse for 2 months) they said that when babies nurse the milk is actually shooting down at their throat and not even getting in the mouth area. If you read books on the mechanics of baby's nursing you see that they stretch/ suck the nipple so far back that is past the hard pallet of their mouth all the way to the soft tissue that starts at the very back of the pallet as the throat starts. So I think the dentist must have not really known what he was talking about - I guess they aren't really expected to be specially trained in breastfeeding. That sure would have freaked me out too, but it worked out well for you because she likes water - so lucky! I hope Hailey takes to water soon. I tried her today with an actual cup, and she was really interested in it and drank a fair bit - hope the novelty doesn't wear off.

FROM CHAT THREAD on Berkeley Parents Network http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:1DtE9UPWbqYJ:parents.berkeley.edu/advice/nursing/toothdecay.html+breastmilk+cavities+nursing+to+sleep&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1:

"If you were to see a picture of the nipple while breastfeeding, you would see that your nipple goes way back past the teeth area of your toddler's mouth. I know it's hard to believe that it stretches back that far, but it does. The milk doesn't ''stand'' in the mouth as your dentist may have told you. This is La Leche League's stand on the issue. As they state in ''The Womanly art of Breastfeeding,'' ''Studies have shown that breastfeeding itself doesn not cause tooth decay.'' In fact according to one study they cite, breastfed children ''had lower levels of decay.'' Good brushing is strongly recommended. I would suggest that if you are concerned enough to stop nursing, than I would contact La Leche League for yourself and ask a specialist. "

2007-09-05T01:15:00.000-07:00

wanted to mention this about Hailey's drinks. Hailey has juice (watered down by half) because she's such a frequent nurser (every 15 min - shes' 22 mths) and wouldn't take water. Well I have a friend that's a dental hygienist, and I was chatting with her about fluoride and drinks and cavities and told her about Hailey's juice. She said that having juice is the same a giving them a pop - same amount of sugar. The worst part is that the way that they drink out of a Sappy Cup causes the cavities, as they suck the liquids is pole don the roof of the mouth and shot back against the inside of the top front teeth, and this is where the cavities grow ( really hard to even see the inside of the top front ones! ) Plus it would just be a slightly lighter shade of white as the cavity is growing ( how would you ever be able to see this)

She said if you have to give them juice give it out of a regular cur so it doesn't hit against the top teeth. she said really though try not to give juice.

So needless to say Hailey is not getting any more juice, which is causing a lot of problems and I hope she'll take to water. I tried the other options water with stavia, herb tea. She met both with "yuck" and "wash my mouth! wash my mouth! " So she's nursing A LOT, and I'm telling her to try her water. I'm hoping she'll drink it. I'm putting ice cubes in it because worm water really is yucky, and she's used to cold apple juice. I really don't want her to grow up always needing something sweet to drink. So I'm sticking to the water - if you have any good tips I'd love to hear them!

2007-08-21T01:23:00.000-07:00

My 22 mth old really likes to dart away as soon as I get her out of the car whether I'm in the parking lot or at home in our driveway, and am trying to get things together. The only thing that keeps me sane when I'm packing up the car to go or arriving and unpacking is popping her in her sling, and putting her on my back. Surprisingly she goes calm and quiet like she's this zen baby. If you are a mom you know that to have your toddler quiet and in one spot gives you the happiest feeling - now you can actually accomplish a task from beginning to end! What a remarkable idea!! I never realized before I had my baby how hard it was going to be to finish a simple task. Inevitably as soon as you start the simplest thing like wiping down the counter - its' "pee pee on the potty" or "look I wash, I wash" and you see my toddler with tissue from the bathroom sopping wet with toilet water and she's proudly washing everything in the living room with the toilet water, and saying "I help!" So yes I feel like the world suddenly stops spinning and is still for a few moments when I put her in the sling, and get to finish what I started!