From Nursing to Bottles

Transitioning a baby from nursing to bottles can be a tough task! While some babies transition beautifully, others do not. Many do it because they do not want to nurse anymore, cannot nurse anymore, or have to go back to work. Here are a few tips to try and help the transition easier!

 

Tip #1: Start trying to use bottles somewhere between 2-6 weeks of age. This could just be one bottle a day. This will hopefully prevent the baby from getting so used to nursing and so good at it that they hate bottles and refused to use them. You can still pump and put your breastmilk in the bottle, in fact this is recommended. Even put some in the very bottom of the nipple so they taste it as soon as they suck.
 

Tip #2: Take it slow. Don't only nurse one day and then try all bottles the next. This is a transition and your baby needs to be able to adapt. Slowly introduce more and more bottles over time.

 

Tip #3: Have daddy or someone else give them the bottles (until they are used to it). If the baby sees or smells mommy (Yes, they know your smell!) they may refuse to take the bottle knowing you are near! Try to be out of the room when this happens!

 

Tip #4: Stick with it! Your baby may really have a hard time transitioning to a bottle. Don't give up! I know it is hard on you both, but they will get it!
 

Tip #5: Try different bottles/nipples. I did a review on bottles here. Check it out. We used Playtex VentAire and loved them! However, your baby may not. You may have to try several bottles before they find one that makes them happy and most "resembles" you. Also, make sure the nipple is the right size and flow (it should be slow.)


Tip #6: Try different temperatures of the milk. You obviously want it warm and not hot, but you can try different temperatures of warmth. If you are really need to, pump your milk and measure the temperature right away and try to get it as close to that as possible.

Tip #7: Try holding your baby in different positions when getting the bottle. It may not be the bottle itself. It is possible when they drink from a bottle they get more gas or have a hard time eating in that position. Some examples you can look up would be the following: Cradle hold, Cross-over hold, Football hold, and Reclining Position. These are especially good for nursing but can be used with bottles. Also, you may need to sit them up a lot to feed the bottle to help reduce gas and improve digestion.



That is it for now! Good luck!
Email me with any questions you would like me to address!!

Until next time,





10 Things Not to Say to a Working Mommmy

Since I did a post on what not to say to a Stay At Home Mommy, I figured I would flip the table and do one for the working mommy. Obviously, I have a little more experience with this one since I am a working mommy. However, I still got input from other working mommies and did a little research as well! Enjoy!

 

1) You should be a stay at home mommy. This is time you will never get back.

Chances are, she knows this. All this statement really does is put a guilt trip on the mommy. She knows that it is precious time and that her kids are only small once. However, she knows that bills don't pay themselves so she really has no choice. She buckles up everyday and says goodbye to her little one because she has to, not necessarily because she wants to. When her child runs into her arms when she sees them after work, it makes everything worthwhile. You can never take away those precious moments! And P.S., aren't all years of your child's life precious?

 

2) Don't assume every working mom wants to be a stay at home mommy.

There are many women out there who pride themselves in their job. They enjoy working. They enjoy what they do and they think their job is valuable. That is totally okay! I know a mom who works because it makes her miss her kids more during the day and enjoy time together at night more. I know another who works because she values her education and wants to teach her kids that she is not confined to the home. Not all working moms desire to stay home. It is all personal preference! It doesn't make them any less of a mom!

 
3) If you really wanted to stay home you would find a way to make it work.
This is not necessarily the case and it is wrong of you to assume the financial situation of her and her family. Just because you may think they have enough to "make it work" doesn't mean that they do. Any mommy who wants to stay home has probably tried all the logistics to make it work. Sometimes, they just can't. Don't assume that if they don't "make it work" that they didn't try hard enough or give "enough up". Also understand they may also be helping with saving for a college fund for their child or other things that they think are valuable things to have.

 
4) Stay at home mom's are more dedicated to their children.
This is completely false. Working moms are very dedicated to their children. They are dedicated to providing needs for their children. They sacrifice their wants and desires to stay home so their children have what they need. Both mommies provide, just in different ways!

5) I don't know how you work. I couldn't be away from my kids that much.
"It is very easy to say goodbye to my child as they reach for me every morning saying 'Mommy'", said no mother ever. Saying this is basically saying to her she is insensitive and doesn't miss her kids and wants to be away from them. Just because she works doesn't mean it is easy to be away from her kids all day. Every morning it is hard to say goodbye to her children. Every. Morning. But she does it because she has to, not because it is easy. She learns how to deal with it. It makes her a strong woman doing something that is so hard for her to do daily to help her children.

6) Don't you worry you will miss out on things if you don't stay home?
No, I don't want to see my child roll over for the first time or take their first step. I don't want to see them play with toys and hear their sweet giggle or watch them sleep during nap time.
Yes!!! Of course the mommy probably worries she will miss these things but you asking this question doesn't really help that worry for the mom. However, she probably really cherishes her time when she is with her children since she doesn't see them throughout the day. When you are away from your child in the day, it makes you miss them. It makes it that much sweeter when you get to get home after you have missed them all day. This is just something she can't dwell on or it will drive her crazy. You should not either. She knows that she will just have to soak up her time with her little one when she can and leaves it at that!

7) I couldn't let other people raise my child.
First of all, a day care/pre-school is not raising their child. The day care providers do not make decisions for the children - the parents do. The day care providers are not home with the child when they are sick, the parents are. The parents provide guidance, are at all the extra things they do, provide needs for the child, disciplines the child, gets up with them at 2 am in the night and at 5:30 am on the weekends. The parents instill the values in the child and raise the child. Although the family is thankful for help from those around them and the day-care/pre-school is a great asset to the child, the parents ultimately are raising their child.

8) I bet your child misses you during the day OR I would miss my child too much.
Yes, I bet they do. And yes, mommy misses them like crazy! But you buckle down and do it because you have to. Not because you don't miss them or they don't miss you. It is just life and life isn't always easy. Both mommy and child make it through the day and both are okay!

9)I would give anything to be able to be away from my kids during the days.
If so, let's turn in your resume somewhere! Just like a SAHM mommy is more work and can be way more tiring than you know, so can a working mom. Try working at a job all day, coming home, spending time with kids, cooking dinner and cleaning it up, getting kids ready for bed, packing lunches, taking kids to events, grocery shopping, taking care of bills, and any other household chores that need to be done, all within a 3-5 hour period. It is tiring and not an easy thing to do!

10) There are not enough parents raising their children at home.
I agree! Unless you want to pay bills for people, fight for paid parental leave, or flexible work schedules, you cannot really point this out. I am sure some dad's would enjoy more time at home with kids too. With the financial strain so many families face already, is it really wise to have more parents at home just to have them at home? I disagree that it is better to do that and cause financial strain on families. Families look at what needs they have and what they can do and if the mommy has to work then that should be accepted and not questioned. There is very good, quality child care available for children and is the only option for some people unless they put themselves in finanical ruin, which in my opinion is not smart.

Ultimately, just be sensitive to the mom and try to put yourself in her shoes and what it would be like in their position. Like I said in 10 Things Not to Say to a Stay At Home Mommy, you may have a close relationship where you can talk about this openly with a mommy, but be careful not to place guilt on the mommy. Also, try to understand their situation and why they do what they do. Be sensitive of other people and their feelings.

God has a plan for everyone. Whether that be a working mommy or a stay at home mommy. Where ever He has placed you, do your best to accept it! He has you there for a reason. If He changes your position, try to accept it and understand His will is perfect. He will always provide! On my personal blog, you can see how He provided perfectly for our family! He will for you too! Just trust.

 

Until next time, 

 



10 Things Not to Say to a Stay At Home Mom

As most of you know, I am not a Stay At Home Mom. I know, so how in the world am I going to write this if I am not even a SAHM, right? Well, this post is not from personal experience, but from what my friends have told me and some research I have done. I realize that not all SAHM's will feel exactly the same about this post, but I have used how the majority felt to create this.

 

 

1) Does your husband really make enough for you to stay home?

Honestly, this is not your place to ask and should not concern you. It is her and her husband's choice. Let them make it and be supportive of their decision.

 

2) You are JUST a stay at home mom, you don't have a job.

From SAHM's I have talked to, this is very offensive. I can definitely see why. A SAHM is a full-time job. It is full of house cleaning, laundry, playtime, feedings, changing diapers, play dates, library time, errand running, snot wiping, throw-up cleaning, tantrum bearing, activity planning, and much, much more. I am a teacher, so I am home for 3 months in the summer and I can testify that it isn't just sitting watching movies all day.

 

3) Since you are a SAHM, it must be nice to take naps whenever you want.

It would be nice. However, those dishes don't clean themselves, laundry doesn't do itself, and dinner sure doesn't cook itself. Many SAHM's are doing the necessities of the home while their child naps so they can be on child duty again once their child wakes from their nap.

 

4) It must be nice to not have to work everyday.

Have you ever tried to keep a 6 month old from waking up while your 2 year old is screaming? For hours on end? It is a full time job. You can't let a 2 year old and a baby do as they please as you curl up with a book in bed.  Well, unless you are ready to call the fire department when your 2 year old swallows the bathroom cleaner they found while you were reading and if you can drown out the deafening scream of a baby when they are hungry. It is a full-time job and can be frustrating, tiring, and just plain overwhelming just like any other job.  

 

5) Your husband must make really good money. I could never afford to stay home.

Don't assume this is something they can "afford" or the amount of money her husband makes.  They have found a way to make it work for their family. You don't see the sacrifices their family makes on a daily basis. It is unfair for you to assume this.

 

6 )Do you feel like your degree was a waste of time and money?

Just because they are a SAHM now doesn't mean they won't ever go back to work. However, if they never did, that is their decision. And that is totally okay! Many professionals are not working in their specific "degree" area. Many SAHM also may have not known they wanted to stay home when they got their degree. It may have been a desire after their child was born. That is okay too! Their profession may not be their "degree", but it is still a very important one!

 

7) I could never stay home. I couldn't be without adults all day.

This is like telling the mom that she doesn't long for adult interaction. That may not be true at all. In fact, it most likely isn't true. You also don't know that she doesn't have play dates planned. Even if she doesn't, that doesn't mean she doesn't long for it. She probably takes the situation at hand day by day and just deals with what she has to.  

 

8) What do you do with all your free time?

Oh, SAHM's sit around eating candy and drinking soda while watching Lifetime movies or take long, relaxing bubble baths. Meanwhile, they let their kids run amuck while doing this. I mean, come on. Seriously, children cannot take care of themselves. If you have children, you know it can be hard to find time to go to the bathroom by yourself, let alone have free time.

 

9) It must be really nice to stay home. I really want to, but we just can't financially.

At times, this can make the SAHM mom feel bad that she is able to stay home and you cannot. You do not want to put this strain on your friendship. Your finances are totally different than theirs. Try to be supportive of her opportunity to stay home even if you cannot. You don't want to throw guilt their way for you not being able to stay home. That is not their problem. It is something you have to work out with YOUR family. That is not pleasant to be around. Try to think positive.

 

10) Ultimately, don't get too nosey.

This is a family decision. Unless you are in the family, or they ask, it ultimately has nothing to do with you. Sorry to be so blunt, but it is true. Let their family make the best decision for them and you make the best for yours. If you are close friends with the person, there will probably be times you can ask questions about staying home, but do remember to be respectful of their personal decision. Be careful not to assume and to respect them as you would want to be respected of your decision.

Some of these may be hard to do! :) Especially if you want to stay home but cannot. From personal experience, I try to think positive and look at my situation totally separate and realize it is best for my family. Not that I don't get down sometimes, but throwing a pity party doesn't change things. Just enjoy your sweet blessing from God when you are able to be home with them in the evenings and realize He has a plan for you!! Trust Him and try to make the best of the situation!
 

 

Until next time,

 





To Stay Home or Not to Stay Home!

This is a huge question new mommies and even mommies of more than one ask a lot! Should I be a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM) or work or send my child to day care. There are several things you need to consider before making this decision.

 

1) First and foremost, is this something you want to do or feel pressured to do?

If you want to stay home, then you for sure should consider it! However, if you don't want to, it is totally okay. You are doing what makes you happy and that in turn will make your family happy. Don't ever be a SAHM because of pressure. You are no less of a mommy if you decide to work instead of stay home. Some women have to work and some enjoy working. Both are fine!

 

2) Second, you need to look at your finances.

Is staying at home something your family can financially do? You need to calculate your bills and expenses and then calculate how much money you will need. If you cannot financially meet your bills without an income from you, than you should not stay home. I personally cannot be a stay at home mom because of finances. I really want to stay home, but for our family, that is what is best. Is it better to put your family in a financial strain or to provide for the needs of your family? That is something that you have to decide.

 

3) Third, decide if you will be a full-time stay at home mom or not. Sometimes, it is good for the mom to get out and work a little or volunteer a little and to let the child have some time interacting with other kids at a pre-school or day care. It is healthy for both of you. Either way, you just need to make this decision.

 

4) Take it year by year.  

Don't feel pressure to make a plan for two years down the road right now. Take it year by year and month by month with your family to decide what is best. When a few years down the road comes, you can make decisions then. Enjoy your decision now and don't worry about the future.
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6

 

5) Talk to other SAHM's and other working mom's to see what life could be like both ways.

Sometimes it helps to see other's points of few on the situation who are actually in the situation. I recommend talking to several women in both categories. This will help you see a wide view on both options and which fits you better. Try to really understand what everyday life would be like in both situations. (Although all situations are different, this gives you a better understanding.) Make a pros and cons list. Be very honest!

 

6) Consider a job where you can work from home.

The option of a SAHM mom may not be available for your family, but you may possibly be able to work from home. Maybe this is an option with your job or you may be able to find a position where this is available. This is a good option for those who need the mother's income but it still allows her to be at home. It would be totally different than a SAHM mom that doesn't work, but at least you could be home and find a balance that way.

 

Hope this helps you! Pray about it and make the best decision for your family. Neither is right or wrong. Look out for the next two blogs: What not to say to a working mom and What not to say to a SAHM.

 

Until next time,



 

 

 



5 Ways to Help Your Child's Development

As Brody gets older, I really am watching his development to make sure he is on track. I also really want to help anyway I can to help improve his development and keep it on track. Here are some ideas I have seen and tried and Brody loves them and so do I! I have found that when I give Brody these activities, he ask to do them again. He enjoys the challenge and having to use his brain to think.

 

1) Read to them. You can actually start reading to your kids when they are just a few months old. In fact, doctors recommend this. This is helpful for development from a very young age. Brody is now old enough to where he loves books and enjoys reading them with us. It is lots of fun! We read at least one book a night before bedtime.

 

2) Create fine motor skills games. The game I love for fine motor skills is putting pipe cleaners into a colander. You give your child a pipe cleaner and they have to put it in a hole on the colander. Brody loves this game. Once they get good at putting them in, you can even have them make a loop and put both ends of the pipe cleaner in holes.

 

 

 

3. Play sorting games. Brody LOVES this game! I got a muffin tin of 6 and put small objects in each one. Each tin as the same object and at least 2 of that object. I show him how it should look. Then I take them all out and put 1different object in each tin and he has to match the same objects with the ones in the tin. He picked it up quick and loved it! For more challenging tasks, you can have your child sort colors or even numbers as pictured below.

 

 

 

4) Allow your child to help you put things away. This will help teach them organization and also help them learn where things should go. It will help them know that socks do not go in the refrigerator.

 

5) Use lots of vocabulary with your child. Make your child try to say what they want before giving it to them. For instance, if they want bubbles and just point and grunt, make them say "bubbles" before allowing them to have it. Also, point out things to them. When an airplane passes over, point to it and say, "Look, an airplane." Do this every time you see one and they will catch on. This will help boost their vocabulary and talking.

 

These are only 5 things to help, but there are so many out there. If you just google activities to help fine motor skills, vocabulary, development, etc. you will find countless activities to do with your child. Just keep your child's brain actively thinking and moving daily.  Happy learning and having fun with you and your little one!

 

Until next time, 

 



Fun Family Fall Activities

Does your family ever get in the same routine of doing the same thing over and over again every day or every weekend? Now, this is not a bad thing, but over time it can get monotonous or boring. Here are some fun ideas to try with your family if you are in a rut.

 

1)With fall right around the corner, find a pumpkin patch to go to. Look at the pumpkins and pick one as a family or let everyone get their own. Take it home and have a pumpkin carving/decorating night as a family.

 

 

2) For older kids, create a treasure hunt to do with your kids. Even though you know the path and what is at each spot, your kids don't and they will love the adventure! You can do it just in your house, in your neighborhood, or even at a park area.

 

3) For younger kids, as a family create a masterpiece of art together! You can either get a large piece of paper and color with either paints or something like pudding or you can make a fall picture! One idea is to draw the trunk of a tree on paper. Then, have everyone have their own cork top and dip it in paint and use colors like red, yellow, brown, and orange to create a tree with fall colors. Here is a picture from the Picky Apple and how they did it.

 

 

4) Other crafts you can do is to find fall leaves, dry and press them, then decorate them with puff paint. Another fun one is shaving cream leaf painting. Check out Little Wonders blog to see how they did! It looks like fun!

 

5) Take a nature walk with your family. Find leaves, cool rocks, fun sticks, etc. Be adventurous and let your kids be adventurous and find new things in nature! Let them climb trees, skip rocks, and whatever else seems fun in nature (as long as it is safe of course!:)

 

 

6) Make fall treats together. Make pumpkin sugar cookies, caramel apples, party popcorn (popcorn drizzled with white chocolate and sprinkles), smores over a fire/grill, Halloween Rice Krispies, etc.

 

 

7) I found a fun pumpkin bowling game on this blog. It looks easy and like a lot of fun. It is at the bottom of the page.

 

8) Take a picnic on a pretty day! Pack your lunches and head to the park to eat and have some fun exercise together. Let the kids help pack the lunch too!

 

9) Make homemade ice cream together. If you dare, let the kids pick the flavor and "special" ingredients!

 

10) Make fall scented rice! This activity looks super fun! Kids love playing in rice. Plus, it will smell good! Check out this blog to see how to do it!

 

 

Bonus: You should make these divine looking cookies just because it is fall and just because they look delicious! I will be trying them soon and I will let you know how they are! To find the recipe, go to this blog!

 

 

Hope you have fun with some new activities! Enjoy the start of fall!

 

 Until next time, 

 

 

 

 

 

What to expect when you have a baby

One of the things that scared me a lot when I was pregnant was the hospital stay. I didn't know what to expect or what was going to happen really. So, since it is my son's second birthday today and I am reminiscing on his birth, I thought I would share some important things to expect when you have a baby!

 

1) If this is your first baby, expect a long labor and delivery. This may not happen for you, but it is better to be ready that it will likely happen and expect it than be surprised. My labor and delivery together was 14 hours long.

 

2) Expect lots of beeps and noises. You are hooked to several machines. Sometimes they beep loudly and make lots of noises. Don't be alarmed and automatically assume something is wrong with you or your baby. The nurses stay at a nurses station and constantly monitor you. If something is wrong they will know immediately and come to you.

 

3) Expect lots of pokes and "checking". If you are induced, then you will have to have pitocin and an IV for sure. They will check this and change this. If you have an epidural, you will have several more pokes. And by the way, I was petrified of the epidural and it was not bad at all. Just a little sting and it was over! However, make sure your anesthesiologist is available for a little while after you get it in case it doesn't work. They will also come and "check" you often to see your dilation, effacement, etc. This can very uncomfortable but isn't always.

 

4) Expect that if something goes wrong, to stay as calm as possible. You don't want to get too worked up for yourself and the baby. The nurses and doctors know what they are doing so trust them.

 

5) Make sure you rest while you can. Lots of people will be checking in and wanting to know if your baby is here! Try and relax during all labor if you can and then let people know when the baby comes. Labor and delivery is hard work and you need your rest!

 

6) Expect to have your baby about 45 minutes to 1 hour after they are born and then for them to go to the nursery for a while. They have to clean them, test them, etc. During this time you will likely be moved to another room if delivery and post-partum rooms are separated.

 

Hope this helps to know what to expect a little more! Good luck!

 

Until next time,