• Last updated 3/6/13 by JenniO11

brought to us by Tummy Calm   Parents are often told by their pediatricians to give their children gas drops to help relieve tummy aches, ease fussiness, alleviate painful bloating, gas pains and even excessive spitting up. But knowing which to give and when to give them can be confusing.   The information below may help you decide what is right for your family, explaining what different formulas are available, and also give you other ideas for treating your little ones’ tummy troubles.   Gas Drops Explained Gas drops are an over-the-counter... read more

• Last updated 3/3/13 by HWBMama

By Megan Leary     I was at an event supporting midwifery legislature when I saw the Le Leche League booth and made a bee line for it.  I have been pretty fortunate in that breast feeding has gone great from the start for my daughter and me, but my issue now was that breastfeeding was going almost too well.  She was now a year old and she was nursing like a newborn again.  I was up every two hours at night nursing her and then up-and-at-em the next day for my full time job.  Needless to say, I was perpetually tired and desperate for some mama... read more

• Last updated 2/11/13 by JenniO11

We know that Mothering.com moms love babywearing, so we were thrilled when we got the chance to partner with Boba to share their Carrier 3G with our community and our Mothering Mavens.  To read more about how you can join the Mothering Mavens, our private product review program, click here!   The partnership brought together 14 Mothering Mavens, each with a baby between the ages of 4 months and 2 years, in a small private focus group.  Each Maven got to pick out a brand new Boba 3G Carrier that she could test and keep and was asked to share her thoughts.... read more

• Last updated 2/8/13 by Melanie Mayo

Thank you to Kate Lindello for sharing her experience with postpartum depression in the hopes that it will help other moms.   The following information was originally posted on Kate's blog where you can read more of her writing.    Find support in Mothering's forum for Postpartum Depression.      It's time. I know I mentioned awhile back that once Helen was born I was struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety and that I would be sharing my story with all of you. I knew from the moment I started feeling like myself that I wouldn't keep quiet... read more

• Last updated 1/30/13 by Melanie Mayo

Being honest with women about the challenges of breastfeeding   By V.K. Harber   As a post-partum doula, breastfeeding is hands down the thing I spend the most time on with new mothers, and I love it. Supporting a mother in the first few challenging weeks of breastfeeding is enormously satisfying because I know firsthand the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby. I want to help any woman who wants to breastfeed to do so successfully.   Finding women who want to breastfeed is not hard. The campaign... read more

• Last updated 1/28/13 by AdinaL

     When my second child was born a little over    five months ago, she latched on immediately and very well.  I was thrilled.  With my first daughter it had been a rocky start with oversupply and a very fast let down.  The ease with which my second daughter took to nursing was a huge relief.     Until we reached about 9 days old.       Suddenly, she started making a clicking noise with every nursing session, and I couldn't for the life of me, get her top lip flipped out to get her mouth in that perfect flange position. Combined with her 2 week... read more

• Last updated 1/19/13 by Sarah Clark

    I remember registering for my first baby before he was born. I went to a giant baby warehouse store with a HUGE corporate list of things that I "needed" for this new little one and obediently registered.   And then he came.   The crib sat in the corner, the swing hung empty, and the tub wouldn't fit in my shower.   Sometimes I think groups of childless men sit around shining wood tables and literally make stuff up that new babies "need" for survival just so that they can make money. Seems like a good idea, but for the first time mom, I think it... read more

• Last updated 1/7/13 by JenniO11

sponsored post brought to us by Boiron Camilia   by Pam Middleton, integrative pediatric specialist   Q: What is benzocaine, and why is the FDA concerned about its use in OTC products for children?   In April 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public about the use of over-the-counter (OTC) products containing benzocaine. Benzocaine is a local anesthetic and is the active ingredient in many OTC products used to relieve pain in the mouth and gums from a variety of conditions such as teething, canker sores, and irritation of the mouth... read more

• Last updated 12/19/12 by SKValenzuela

By S.K. Valenzuela     As parents, so much of what we do involves paddling against the current. We routinely thwart our children's wishes when it's in their best interest for us to do so, and we weather the consequences of their displeasure. We push back against influences in the culture around us--influences we perceive as harmful or negative or just plain wrong.  Often struggling to be a good parent is just that: a struggle.  But there are times when going with the flow is exactly what's required.     Taking a baby-led approach to caring for your infant... read more

• Last updated 1/14/13 by Marcy Axness

For anyone who becomes a mother within nine months of a major holiday season (and, taking into account all of the holidays within every faith and cultural tradition, that means almost everybody!) I have a radical idea for you:  Simplify your idea of how the holidays will look this year. Better yet, let yourself let someone ELSE handle everything. That way, your holidays with a new baby can be marked by joy, connection and peace -- just as they're meant to be!   This doesn’t mean that I don’t think you are up to the task of balancing the needs of your infant with... read more