Baby Foods: Organic, Natural, Regular?

Baby foods, the time has come for your mini-me to have his/her first taste of your delectable cooking. Just kidding! It's time for baby cereal, or for some parents some vegetables! 

 

Baby Cereal, what's the deal?

 

 

Source: http://www.target.com/p/gerber-cereal-rice-16-oz/-/A-14528801

Infant cereals are a popular first food for babies. I guarantee that you can walk into any drug store and grocery store and find some infant cereal. Two common kinds are infant rice cereal, and infant oatmeal. Most doctors recommend baby cereal and argue that it is a wholesome, gentle, and easily digestible first food, but due to some recent research in infant cereal (http://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-health/fda-wants-arsenic-limits-baby-rice-cereal-n549361) some articles have surfaced (http://www.foodrenegade.com/why-ditch-infant-cereals/) in hopes to discourage parents from using infant cereals as a first food or a food period to feed infants. Some argue that any amount of arsenic should not be fed to babies whether it's a small amount or not. I am not here to tell you the right or wrong answer but to offer sources and discuss what I currently do with my daughter. I did not introduce rice cereal as a first food, instead I made my own baby food by pureeing some avocado and breast milk. I did end up giving Ella some rice cereal later but it is not a daily food, just something I give a few times a week (by the doctor's recommendation) to increase caloric intake. I use Earth's Best Organic Rice Cereal:

Source: https://earthsbest.com/en/products/brown-whole-grain-rice-infant-cereal/


So what is the difference between terms natural and organic? Natural is a label slapped on to many food items as a gimmick to attract healthier shoppers. It would be reasonable to assume that natural products are less processed, and have little to no hormones, right? Wrong, there are no FDA or USDA regulations to control what qualifies as "natural". This misleading labeling is a way for manufacturers to appeal to organic shoppers without following organic standards. The organic food industry is the most heavily regulated industry of all three food industries (regular, natural, and organic). Only organic guarantees no toxic synthetic pesticides, toxic synthetic herbicides, or chemical NPK fertilizers are used in production, and no antibiotics or growth hormones are given to animals (http://www.organicitsworthit.org/natural/natural-vs-organic).

However, many people still trust the FDA and the USDA regulations on food enough to give their infants the regular baby foods and that's okay! It is a parent's choice to choose what brand of food is given. I personally choose to use organic and natural ONLY when necessary (the store is out of the organic flavor, it's late and can't go anywhere else, etc.). I personally feel that if I can't make homemade organic is the best option due to the organic food system's heavy regulations. I personally taste all of my daughter's foods before giving them to her, and I can definitely taste a difference when natural is used versus organic.


I also make Ella's baby food when I can. The basic recipe I have learned (from baby bullet and several other books) is to puree the vegetable/fruit of choosing with 1/4 cup of breastmilk/formula. You puree the food until its smooth and can either refrigerate it from up to a week, or freeze it for a month. It's very important to make sure everything stays very clean when making baby food, it is very easy to taint a batch and risk having your child get exposed to a bacteria from a kitchen counter or cutting board. Stay clean when making baby food! I wash my hands a lot through the process. When in doubt rewash your utensils with hot water and soap.


Below I'm going to share a 4 reviews of my favorite baby foods for Ella.

Plum Organics

Source: http://www.plumorganics.com/products/just-veggies-butternut-squash/















So far Ella eats avocado, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and carrots. Butternut squash is her favorite, but not just any butternut squash! Plum organics has the best tasting butternut squash (mom approves), it has cinnamon which offers a little kick but perfect for developing baby's taste buds. Plum organics is my first choice for it's puree quality (nice and creamy, never chunky) and it's taste (like it was made at home). Their packaging is also non-BPA and child-safe which is nice!

Earth's Best

 

Source: https://earthsbest.com/en/products/category/infant-foods/jars





Earth's Best has been around for 30 years (1985) and has been advocating for sustainable farming since the company's birth. Their jars are recyclable and easy to clean for your own DIY projects at home. I personally have only been able to purchase some locally once but Ella enjoyed her carrots. Earth's Best also has food pouches too which can be convenient for moms on the go! They also have starter packs which can be helpful when introducing baby's first foods!

Beech-Nut

Source: http://www.beechnut.com/foods/stage-1/











Beech-Nut is a more popular baby food company and it has a "natural" line and a line that is certified organic. I had a horrible experience with the naturals line due to its horrible tasting butternut squash. It did not taste anything like Plum Organic's butternut squash and just tasted watered down. However, Ella does enjoy the organic sweet potatoes and I am interested in obtaining some organic pumpkin for her to try. However the consistency of their purees are very chunky and not as smooth as Plum Organics. Although, this might seem more "natural" to consumers, it's very uncomfortable for a baby to try to swallow for a first food. Beech-Nut is another green company that actually has green buildings!

Gerber Organic

Source: https://www.gerber.com/products/organic#















Gerber has jumped on the bandwagon and now has a growing organic line of over 50 foods. Gerber has been around since 1928 and has been a very successful baby food company overall. The quality is average and the puree is smooth, but for a company that has been around for so long I am disappointed for how long it has taken them to grow organically. That was meant to be a pun and a serious statement.


So here are four different brands of organic baby foods to try!

What does your baby like? What baby foods do you have in your cupboard? Organic, Natural, or Regular?

The Disease Called Parenting: How your friend circle changes once you're diagnosed with children.

It happened, a positive pregnancy test. You and your partner are so excited. Several weeks pass and you finally announce the news. Over 200 likes! Wow! Everyone is so happy for you!

 

 Nine months pass and now you have a baby in your lap, after the initial adjustment parenting suits you. Your friends stop by and take adorable pictures holding your bundle. You sneak out once in a while for a drink or they help you hold your diaper bag at a local restaurant. Everything is going good.

 

Your baby begins to make noise, yell, blab, and  babble. Now your baby can do tummy time effectively and is finally starting solids. You have a couple friends that stop by every week or so but most of the time it's you & baby and your partner. You love being with your child and don't miss going out and drinking but you wonder what happened to all of your friends.

 

What happened? Where are your 200 friends? What gives?

 

Welcome to the Disease Called Parenting. 

 

You've been diagnosed with children and it's going to hurt for a few months to a year but once some time has passed you'll learn that the friends that are worth your friendship won't stop being friends because you've evolved into a parent.

 

If you're a younger parent like myself (20's) you may be struggling socially a lot more than parents in their 30's. Many of our friends, work colleagues, and possibly classmates don't have children yet, and aren't thinking about it right now. This won't be the case forever, but having a child will test your existing friendships.  There are many type of friends that will handle your diagnosis differently, see below.



The party friend: This friend will seem okay with you becoming a parent but will be displeased when you're unwilling to go out frequently to the bar. They will try anything to get you to go out. Let him watch the baby, you need to have some time for yourself! Time for myself? I get plenty of time for myself, when every one around me is sleeping so I can do things like clean up my kitchen, plan my course work, and blog (right now).


The hippy friend: This friend is more spiritual and laid back, they may have their own vices and still go out but they are the last person to push you to do anything. This friend is willing to make plans, relax, but definitely goes with the current and doesn't force things upon you. If you want to go out, we can go out, if not we can hang here and watch some Netflix.


The career friend: This friend is so busy with work they can rarely find time to do anything for leisure. Even their leisure time is spent networking for their side career. They can stop by every month or so but always have their plates full. I have been working for the past two weeks straight. 
  

The perfect communicator: This friend works, has side projects, but still makes time to hangout on a weekly basis. This friend may be the same sign as you or be a friend that is a better more tidy version of yourself. I have to take photographs of this dog show tonight, but we can still definitely meet up for some Ramen.


 The scared of babies friend: This friend may initially act like they are happy for you but will sometime ghost you either during pregnancy or once baby is born. Oh congrats! That's so amazing! *never responds to text messages or emails again*

So becoming a parent means your friend circle might change, and grow smaller but that's okay. This gives you more room to make friends with people that have kids! Because, let's face it: you love your kid more than anything in the whole wide world. So, why not find some friends that have kids for your kid to play with? Sure, you can fight the kid date thing forever (ugh, I don't want to have coffee with so & so's mom are you serious??), you don't have to be friends with every parent, but if you open up your circle you may find some allies.

Parents, what kind of friends do you have? Also which ones did I miss? Feel free to comment below!

 

 

Breastfeeding: My Experience

When a pregnant woman often declares her want to breastfeed she may commonly hear the remarks below if not similar ones:

1. It's really hard,  I couldn't do it!
2. Good luck! You'll never be able to do anything by yourself!
3. Don't you think bottle feeding is easier? It's so much easier.
4. I couldn't make enough, but good luck trying.
And so on...

First off, I would like to state that breastfeeding can be different for anyone, but I think my experience with breastfeeding shows that you CAN get over little frustrating humps, and you CAN breastfeed successfully. 

My birth experience was not a good one. I was induced and after putting my body through 16 hours of induction the doctor decided Ella had to come out. I was dehydrated, exhausted, terrified, and angry. I felt the doctors make an incision, I felt immense pain when she was pulled out, and I threw up on the table, and also went unconscious. I did not get to meet my daughter when she was pulled out. I did not get skin to skin, and I did not get to hold her for 1-2 days. My daughter was not fed/put to breast for two days. She was in the NICU the whole hospital stay and our time was very limited together due to both of our needs for rest.

 

Now,  I have heard people argue that when having an experience almost similar or equivalent to mine they could not breastfeed. I've had people argue that their bond with their child was altered tremendously and it took time to repair their bond. Even in the documentary the Business of Being Born, one of the directors/producers declares her frustration with attempting to breastfeed and how it changed her perceived notion of the bond she would have with her son.

 

Sooo....did I breastfeed....do I still breastfeed....what happened....

I still breastfeed Ella who is now four and a half months old:

 

 

How did I do it? Below I am going to share some tips/suggestions that kept me trying/succeeding and forming and maintaining this great bond with my daughter. Today, do I argue that my bond with Ella was bruised or wounded by our birthing experience? No! Do I think it could have been if I didn't do the work I did to make our breastfeeding relationship work? I do. 

What did I do in the beginning to make it work? When I was in the hospital with Ella I made sure to be up there every 3 hours to feed her, I made sure to pump afterwords for 15-20 minutes. I made sure to eat healthily and even eat snacks after feeding and pumping and I made sure to rest in between feedings. I made sure to hold her as often as I could while she was in the NICU. I was patient, hardworking, calm, in physical pain, and EXHAUSTED. But I did it! You can do it. I was in a lot of pain, but I did the work to make sure Ella and I could have the great bond we have today. Nurses applauded my efforts, they were in shock a younger mother like me did what I did to ensure a good breastfeeding relationship. Anyone can do it. You can do it. I made myself walk again within the first day of a c-section, I did everything the doctors told me to and more to ensure that Ella and I would make it breastfeeding and we did. You just have to work girl, but you can do it! Below are some tips to help you continue on!

Brit's Breastfeeding Tips:

 

1. Be Patient! It takes time to get this to work, I thought in the first 3-5 weeks I would never make it past 3 months! I did! IT GETS BETTER. Your nipples will get tougher, you will become more comfortable and HE/SHE will figure out how to do this (unless the baby is tongue-tied where they physically can't latch). If you have a healthy baby without any mouth impairments I assure you they do learn to get better at it. Ella used to have a crummy latch but now she's a pro!

 

2. Drink tons of water BUT make sure to not flush out all of your nutrients! You need to stay hydrated, but you need to balance your water intake with nutritional food and a daily vitamin. If you do not balance this you risk feeling exhausted and worn out.

 

3. If you have issues with supply after staying hydrated: try some oatmeal, try making the lactation cookies, just give your body a head start! Sometimes it takes a little KICK to get the milk flowing, that's totally okay!

 

4. If you get clogged up, TAKE A HOT SHOWER. Be patient. Be patient. Be patient. I can't say that enough. Also, if your breasts do not feel better within 1-3 days PLEASE GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR. It's better to get antibiotics to clear this up then to risk baby not getting enough and to risk your health!

 

5. You can pump at night and after feedings to help, but you DO NOT have to UNLESS you need the supply (if you are going back to work). I used to pump all the time, but I'm a stay-at-home mom, so I was overproducing milk and stressing out my boobs. I would wake up way too full and uncomfortable every morning because I pumped at night. If you plan on bottle-feeding you CAN pump but you MAY HAVE TO pump even more than you expect because you're going to be fuller more often and more uncomfortable more often. Your boobs DO NOT need to feel engorged to be full. Your body will learn your schedule and will make milk accordingly as long as you follow my rules. 

 

6. Once you get things going, try to enjoy it! It gets better! It gets easier! Breastfeeding was far easier traveling versus bottle feeding! Also IT IS OKAY TO SUPPLEMENT WITH FORMULA IF YOU CHOOSE. You do not have to stop breastfeeding because you gave in and gave the baby some formula. This is your way, you make the rules too! You will not ruin your bond by supplementing, as long as you continue to nurse physically you can still supplement here and there! 

 

7. Make your own rules! Supplement, EBF for however long you want, don't supplement. Mix formula into baby food, mix breastmilk into baby food. These are your choices. As long as your pediatrician approves you can do whatever arrangement works for you!

 

I am not a doctor or a pediatrician, these are only the methods/tips I use from reading, experience, and discussing certain goals with our pediatrician. 

ALSO: PICK UP THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING FOR MORE TIPS!

It's a great read, and definitely worth your time! 

 

What do you think of my tips? Did you try any of these? How did they work for you! Feel free to comment below:

What's in My Diaper Bag?

Every Parent May Have a Differently Filled Diaper Bag....

 

It's truly about preference! Some moms find different tools more useful and some moms don't even use certain tools at all! 

 

So here's what I keep in my diaper bag: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From left to right:

Sunhat: For sunny days and protecting your baby's precious head from sunburn (I tend to keep sunscreen at home unless we're traveling, she's still a little too small to be using it). 

Baby Wipes: If you've ever suffered a blowout the last thing you would want is one of those cute little traveling wipes tins.

Panty Liners: For yours truly. 

Eye ointment: Ella used to suffer from conjuctivitis, I just keep it in case I need the name of the script.

Altoids

Charging Blocks

Baby Bib: if she's drooling or I decide to bring baby food that day (I don't typically feed her on the go)

Sunglasses

Diaper Disposal Bags (Scented)

Thermomater, Comb, Brush, Nail Clippers

Hand Sanitizer & Baby Bullet Shopping Guide (I also make babyfood) 

Diapers: Sometimes I bring two different kinds based on need (if we are flying, commuting for a long time, or just on a long grocery shopping trip, I use Pampers Baby Dry or Huggies Snug & Dry, if we are visiting friends and have access to a carpeted floor or just easier leisure quarters I use regular Pampers or Huggies. 

Headphones with Mic: For talking on the phone in the grocery store, if needed.

Extra pants or Leggings or Some Sort of Bottom

1-2 Pairs of Socks: She sucks on hers in the car

1-2 Regular Pacifiers 1 Teething Pacifier: Teething can start anywhere, it's best to have something for your baby to gnaw on.

One spare pair of shoes

1-2 Onesies and a Sweater or Long Sleeve

Teething Bead Necklace: styling and useful

Underneath Everything: Eddie Bauer Diaper Bag in Black & Receiving Blanket

Not Pictured: Toys (I always bring toys for her to play with 1-3), Nail File

Note: I don't have diaper ointment in the bag because I typically don't use diaper ointment, she has only had one random spout of redness and it went away within 2 days. I prefer to not use it until she needs it. Once she begins having any sort of redness it will go into the diaper bag. 

What do you have in your diaper bag?

Feel free to comment with any questions about what's in my bag or why I don't have something! 

"The Man Who Gave Birth", an article written in Time Magazine.

So I was reading Time's September 19th 2016 edition and I discovered an article about a man giving birth....

Evan, the person that gave birth, is a transgender male (this means he was born a woman and took hormone medication to become more masculine and as close to a man as possible). I truly thought it was a beautifully written article that discusses gender versus sex and how many people in the LGTBQ+ community have recently expressed wanting to have children in whichever arrangement is the most convenient. Evan (above) is with a partner that identifies as female and was born female but has personally always wished to experience pregnancy and childbirth. Although he had started hormone therapy he stopped once he discovered he was pregnant, something his partner and himself decided to do. Evan chestfeeds their child and has plans to continue hormone therapy once their child is no longer breastfeeding. When Evan transitioned he purposely chose to not have top surgery because his allergy towards most antibiotics, and because he planned to possibly chestfeed during the future. 

The article was written by his sister, and was a great inside look at the possible differences a transgender person may have when deciding to carry a child. For example, Evan would just wear larger shirts and suspenders to the office when adjusting to the size of his stomach. He also was rarely asked if he was expecting and enjoyed the one moment when a sales associate put him purchasing clothes, the ultrasound in his wallet, and his large stomach together. Evan's partner was also responsible for carrying all of the luggage to the birthing center versus the normal arrangement where the male carries the luggage and the female is waddling to the delivery room. Evan was the "waddler" this time. Evan's sister also felt that Evan's childbirth experience did not alter his gender identity whatsoever, it only reinforced it, comparing it to the same experience as the Sea Horse, a totem that Evan and his partner have all over their home.

I think this article is a great read because it opens our eyes to how much the world has changed. Evan had a very positive pregnancy and was received well by his coworkers and family members. If I ever ran into Evan and his partner I wouldn't see anything out of the ordinary, just a regular couple raising a child. However, many same sex families (those who do not transition nor wish to) still sometimes struggle to be apart of the parenting community. 

It is important to accept all parents, whether same sex, transgender, or any arrangement there may be. Sexual orientation and gender orientation have no effect on a person's ability to be a great parent. Slowly our world is becoming more accepting an example of television adapting is the TV show Modern Family. I would love to see a TV show within a few years that includes more different types of families. I hope the parenting community continues to be more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community.

Source of Article: The Man Who Gave Birth

What do you think? Comment Below!

 

Ella's Weight Check Appointment at 4 1/2 Months

Ella measured underweight according to her growth chart for her fourth month check up. 

So we had to schedule a two week check-up to see if she had gained more since her four month.


Ella gained six ounces. Which is good but not what they would want for her to continue on her growth line. Her doctors are beginning to believe that she was born heavier than what she should have been and now she is headed towards a more average growth curve.

Overall, the doctor was very impressed with Ella's strength, ability to play on her tummy (tummy-time), and her overall demeanor gives her doctor the reason to believe that Ella is perfectly healthy and on a normal track for her age.

I have personally discovered that since I have created a yes space (http://www.janetlansbury.com/2014/08/play-space-inspiration/) has helped Ella Rose excel greatly when it comes to improving overall strength and ability to roll around. She loves playing on my yoga mat and now rolls freely. 

Ella is now on solids and eats only organic purees homemade and pouched.

She loves butternut squash. 

What does your baby like?

Did you feed infant cereal? 

Please feel free to comment below!

Thanks for reading!


<3 B

Traveling with an Infant: Lessons Learned

LABOR DAY WEEKEND WITH BABY ELLA:

Over Labor Day Weekend, my SO and I along with our doting daughter flew East for a wedding. We were very nervous about packing appropriate items and I soon discovered that we actually over packed what was needed. So I'm going to review what I brought, what I didn't expect, and things I wish I did differently.

Our daughter was four months and it went FAR better than I expected but there were still some hiccups. 

I packed a breastpump even though my daughter is still mostly fed via breast. 

I wish we left the pump at home because we ended up having such a busy weekend that I didn't have the time to pump milk unless I wanted to miss out on sleep. So if you have a jam packed weekend (which we did from 8 AM to 9PM), I would suggest leaving the pump at home. It's unnecessary weight in your bag and you could benefit from a lighter bag when traveling with an infant.

I brought a stroller, but no stroller bag. BUT I DID have a carseat bag for our carseat and it was ABSOLUTELY worth it!

I was so focused the week before on making sure I procured a carseat bag that I neglected to get one for the stroller. The end result? Luggage LOST one of the stroller straps! Now I have a stroller I can't use until I order a new strap! After a long weekend of flying, train rides, and cab rides, the LAST thing we wanted to do was argue with an airline worker over where our Graco Fast Action Jogger shoulder strap was and why it detached from our stroller. It's clear that airport workers don't treat luggage very well, and will toss your luggage carelessly, make sure all of your infant gear is secured and accounted for. We almost lost our carseat because another passenger had the same carseat bag so always label.

You usually don't need documentation for a baby, just make sure you are aware of that!

We were so afraid that we couldn't travel with our baby that a worker lacking training almost turned us away from checking our bags! Once I realized there was an option for an undocumented minor, things went more smoothly. You only need documentation if you're traveling out of county, in which you generally need a passport!

 

Pack clothes relative to the weather but bring others per chance the room is too cold/warm for baby. 

I probably packed way too much when it came to warm weather clothing because we spent a lot of our time indoors where it was very cool. However, the lighter clothing was great for the sweaty 5-15 block walks we had during our time in NYC.

If someone else planned your weekend be prepared to go faster and be more efficient! 

Most people that plan weekends/vacations for others with infants don't realize how much longer it takes to do activities. Make sure to stay on top of all of your feedings and don't forget to stay hydrated! I wish I brought a water bottle with me so I would have stayed hydrated better, I definitely felt like my milk supply paid for it after two days of traveling. Also fight for your baby's needs, most post-baby parents/relatives often forget how time consuming and draining it can be, not just on you but on your baby! Don't be afraid to turn in early if you have to be up at six AM to shower, breastfeed, eat, and dress your infant.

Own a well made baby carrier!

I have several cheaper baby carriers and brought my most comfortable one but soon discovered that it was not made for long commutes or walks! After seven blocks of walking, my back was throbbing and in my mind I was longing for the Boba Air or even an Ergo Baby carrier! If you plan on traveling more often invest in a more expensive carrier, it's worth it.

If you are going to the city, bring the stroller but be prepared to carry/wear baby!

I thought bringing the stroller was a great move for some fifth avenue shopping but soon I realized the stroller was my daughter's worst nightmare! NYC was so packed that the walk was over-stimulating for a suburban baby! She reacted like she was in a haunted house and was making horrified faces at all of the people walking past her. I ended up wearing her, it made her feel more secure and put her in a much more tolerable mood with all of the hustle & bustle of the city.

Most Importantly: BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF AND YOUR BABY

This is a new experience for your baby and even a new experience for yourself. It's okay if mistakes are made, clothes get dirty, or baby blows out his/her diaper in the middle of a classy restaurant, babies are babies every where, that does not change. The more patient you are with the experience, the more you can enjoy it and let things go more fluidly.

If I could do it again I would relax more, look around more, take more pictures, drink more water, and enjoy the environment more! It's a trip! You're supposed to enjoy yourself. Take care of baby, but take care of yourself too!