• Created on 9/7/11 by Mothering Editorial

Related Articles:Sidebar: How to Make A Birthday Garland By Kelly Bertram Issue 110, January/February 2002 Every year I make a flower garland for my son to wear at his birthday celebration. We began this tradition when Sairse turned one, and the garlands have been a joyous and magical aspect of his birthdays that he looks forward to each year. On Sairse's first birthday we were living in Olympia, Washington, where I attended Evergreen State College. The school has an organic gardening program, and the students sell their vegetables, berries, and flowers on campus all... read more

• Created on 8/16/11 by Mothering Editorial

    Etsy "Handmade Portraits" brings us toymaker Amber Dusick. Amber creates the kind of toys she wanted for her son: simple, natural, and inspiring. Watch her Etsy profile at YouTube. Amber's work was featured in Mothering's natural toy webinar. If you didn't catch it the first time around, be sure to watch her wooden toy making tutorial.   read more

• Created on 9/9/10 by Mothering Editorial

Natural Selections: Don’t Believe Every Bottle You Read By Olivia CampbellWeb exclusive Rushing through the aisles, trying to outrun your baby’s inevitable grocery store meltdown and avert the toddler candy tantrum, you remember you’re out of baby soap. Being the informed and concerned parent you are, you grab a large bottle of “Natural-organic-soothing-hypoallergenic-unscented-tear-free-you’d have to be a terrible parent NOT to buy this” soap.That evening, as your little ones splash in the sweet-smelling bubbles, you catch a glimpse of the ingredient list on that new... read more

• Created on 7/19/11 by Mothering Editorial

By Rachael Ashak Porter Issue 133, November - December 2005 Have you noticed the term tween in print recently? Perhaps you've heard this age category tossed about on your local morning news program, or seen it emblazoned on a glitter-enhanced banner in the Juniors section of a department store. If not, hang in there's no doubt you'll see it soon. You may even notice a tag that's been created for very young children: pre-tween. What are we getting ourselves into? The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines tween as a child between middle childhood... read more

• Created on 3/27/11 by Mothering Editorial

By Ellis J. Biderson Web Exclusive In the middle of a dinner, my daughter suddenly glanced to the floor on her right, excused herself from the table, and got the large, clear plastic jug that once held baking soda from its familiar place under the sink. We call it the bug jar. After removing the index card that is kept in the container, Lisa placed the open top at an angle to the floor near the screen door and, with a slow, practiced motion, used the card to gently encourage a cricket to hop into the jug. With the card held over the top to prevent the cricket from... read more

• Created on 6/9/11 by Mothering Editorial

By Sara Kirschenbaum Issue 127, November/December 2004 I grew up on the 18th floor of an apartment building in lower Manhattan. We hardly knew our neighbors, and they certainly never entered our apartment. But when the Full Moon Work Crew families pour through my front and back doors, I love the way their muddy shoes and warm greetings erase the boundaries of privacy and isolation in my single-family home. They know my house. Heck, they’ve worked on some part of every room. And the families in our Full Moon Work Crew work magic. Each Full Moon Work Crew project is like... read more

• Created on 5/4/11 by Mothering Editorial

Baby on Board: Bicycling with Your Child By Paul B. Cooley Issue 111, March - April 2002 When I finally worked up the courage to bicycle with my infant daughter, I discovered that drivers treated me with more politeness than I had been accustomed to, either as a bicyclist or a motorist. This new courtesy was a relief. Although bicycling in traffic with Sadie terrified me, the degradation of our environment and community caused by motor vehicle use, and the ease with which I fall into the habit of jumping into the car whenever I need to go somewhere, terrified me... read more

• Created on 3/5/10 by Mothering Editorial

by Sarah J Buckley MD Web Exclusive Excerpted from Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: The wisdom and science of gentle choices in pregnancy, birth, and parenting by Sarah J Buckley MD www.sarahjbuckley.com Is it really possible to raise a baby without diapers? Can our babies actually communicate their elimination needs? Well, how do you know when your baby needs to breastfeed? Perhaps you recognise a certain gesture or cry. Perhaps your baby is restless, fist or finger sucking, or has a newborn's blind rooting behaviour. Maybe you also consider when your baby last fed,... read more

• Created on 8/20/10 by Mothering Editorial

I once saw a picture of a japanese mom wearing her baby. He was able to see well over her shoulder. Are there any carriers you know of that do this. I have an Ergo but baby only can see from the side. I would love it if I can get his near my face.The traditional style of Japanese baby carrier is known as an onbuhimo. It's a body of fabric with a set of top straps and rings on the bottom that the top straps go through. I don't know whether the picture you saw was of a mom using a traditional baby carrier or a more modern one. Apparently there has been a real... read more

• Created on 7/21/10 by Mothering Editorial

Hi Jane, I recently read the Mothering magazine issue: Wear your baby and wondered if you could tell me what kind of mei tai carrier is featured on page 57. I have been searching for one like this with a hood to cover my infant's head. Thanks.Unfortunately that particular brand of mei tai is no longer made! The ones featured in that picture are by Nurslings Hemp Tai, also known as NHT. A shorter-bodied version was called the Baby Hemp Tai or BHT. There are makers of universal hoods for mei tais that attach to the shoulder straps, so you can convert your favorite... read more