Homeopathy is an alternative form of medicine that has been used for thousands of years to treat everything from life threatening illnesses to the common cold.  While many people used to modern medicine may find it suspicious, it is still one of the most used types of medical treatment worldwide and is steadily gaining popularity in the western world.

Homeopathic medicine is based on three basic principles.  The biggest principle of homeopathy is that like treats like.  Instead of treating based on the disease doctors think you have, treatment is done based on the symptoms you know you have.  The second principle is that there is only one treatment, not two or even ten like a traditional doctor might give you.  The third principle is that everything is given in extremely small doses.

To treat yourself homeopathically, you must figure out all the symptoms.  Once you know your symptoms, you find a substance that causes the exact same set of symptoms and take a small amount of it.  Because you are only taking a very small amount, the substance not only doesn’t harm you, it’s said to cure you, generally long term or even permanently. 

When most people hear about homeopathy, their initial reaction is “no way!”  Treating symptoms with something that causes your symptoms seems totally counterintuitive, but it’s a concept that’s used in modern medicine as well as more ancient cures.  Shots commonly used to treat allergies contain a small amount of whatever you’re allergic to.  Many vaccines contain a small amount of the disease they’re designed to protect against. 

While homeopathic medicine is not only considered effective, it has many benefits over modern medicine.  Like many other natural medical treatments, most homeopathic remedies are totally natural.  While this doesn’t necessarily make them safe, these remedies tend to cause fewer side effects, have little drug interactions, and are generally better for your overall health.

Homeopathic medications are also considered better for your body because they work with it. Many modern medicines work to suppress symptoms like fever or coughing. These symptoms are the body’s natural ways to get rid of disease.  Instead of suppressing symptoms, homeopathic medicine works to cure the problem itself while addressing the specific symptoms.

When the right treatment is found, homeopathy is considered very effective.  The big problem is that just like there are thousands of prescriptions and over the counter drugs, there are also thousands of homeopathic remedies as well.  And if you don’t pick exactly the right one, it won’t work. 

While you can buy homeopathic remedies over the counter, just like herbal and other alternative medicines, that doesn’t mean it’s 100% safe to treat yourself.  If you’re serious about this treatment you should speak to a doctor who has experience in alternative medicine or even see a specialist in the area.

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Introduce preschoolers to the concept of sharing and fair play with this fun game. In the Noodleboro Fun Park game, kids visit the Ferris wheel, Log Flume, Circus, and more to earn sharing stars for the group. An audio CD and a storybook enhance game play.

This game for kids ages 4 and older uses a carnival to teach the concept of sharing with others. Sharing is often a big concern for parents, especially ones with multiple kids or kids who attend daycare so this game might be just what they are looking for. It consists of carnival rides and activities….a log ride, a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, and circus tent. The pieces are all really well made and cute so that the game looks like a lot of fun right from the start, just like a carnival. You roll a die to find out which ride or carnival game you need to do and then if you “win” you get a token. If you win the log ride for example, by balancing a ball on a forked twig without letting it fall, you win. Each ride has a unique token and each player has to get all their tokens before the park closes. Cooperation and sharing comes into play because you have to do the same rides more than once and you may get extra tokens that other players don’t have. Since everyone loses if you can’t get out before closing time it gives players incentive to share tokens with other and get sharing stars in return.

My own kids loved playing this game. Every time we played I heard “Can we play again???!” The game is for kids 4 years and older and I think the hand-eye skills in at least one of the rides does require some skill that kids younger than 4 might not have yet. There are definitely small pieces that young children could choke on too.

Noodleboro also has a Learning to Listen Pizza Palace Game and a Learning About Manners Picnic Basket Game.

Since moving to an urban community a couple of months ago, the kids have been spending more time skateboarding, walking to the park, and generally running about on the sidewalks.

So I was pretty excited to get a Skuut wooden balance bike.

I’ve never visited Scandinavia, but from books the kids and I have read together, biking is a way of life there, and kids start out with these wooden “balance bikes” before learning how to ride a “big bike”. No training wheels, the child learns how to balance using their feet so there’s no scary transition.

I thought my 3 and 5 year old girls would love the Skuut, but so far it’s been my 7 year old, who already rides a regular bike, who loves it. When it’s too cold to ride outside, he Skuuts around on the hardwood floors of the apartment!

I think the Skuut has an awesome, clean looking and attractive design. It took us about 5 minutes to put the bike together (it arrives in a flat pack box).

The design is simple but quite functional. The seat is adjustable as far as height, making it comfortable for a child from ages 2-5 (or a small 7 year old like mine – maximum weight is 70 pounds). It also easily angles back and forth for comfort.

And it’s darn cute! The thing looks good just hanging around which is all the better. Leave it to the Scandinavians to design something for kids that isn’t garish and ugly and plastic.

Another thing I noticed, and I’m not sure exactly what the wheels are made of (the website says they’re pneumatic rubber?), but they don’t stink like other rubber wheels. A plus since we store it in our apartment.

My son said about the bike:  “You pedal with it with your feet, it goes like 3 miles an hour and it lasts going for ten seconds or longer.”

My 5 year old said:  “It always doesn’t have wheels but it’s so easier. Sometimes I can balance on it but not really good of course. But I like the bike very, very much.”

Environmentalists would be impressed that Skuut, has partnered with Trees for the Future, and ensures that a tree is planted for every bike sold. Also notable is the fact that the bike won Dr. Toy’s 10 Best Active Products.

Kids like to be involved in the kitchen. They want to be a part of the action and it is a great place for learning and bonding. Kitchen stands are becoming a hot item among natural, attached moms because they make it so easy to bring the kids into the kitchen with us. Take a look at this review of the Kinder Perch, a sustainable US option that is much better than the learning Tower.

Many parents are concerned about the effects of modern technology on their kids. At younger and younger ages, children are spending more and more time interacting not with human beings, but with cell phones, computers, video games, and other devices. Do we have reason to be worried about this, and how do we go about setting limits?

In the book Generation Text, Dr. Osit reveals how the combination of high-tech interaction and immediate gratification is putting our children at risk for developing distorted self-image, poor work ethic, a sense of entitlement, and weakened social skills, as well as aggressive tendencies. Parents owe it to their kids to set boundaries when it comes to the use of gadgets, for their kid’s long term physical, emotional as well as social health.

Statistics show that kids spend more than half of their playtime in front of screens. The effect of this is that they are somewhat disconnected to the family. Why should parents be concerned about this?

   1. Social skills – when “intermachine” interaction replaces people interaction, kids will not readily learn to pick up social nuances. For example, texting eliminates many challenges socially that contain important lessons for kids and teens to learn.
   2. Values – the attitudes and behavior of kids has declined because modern kids have access to the world. The messages they get are not always appropriate.
   3. Anonymity – we get more brazen and nervy when using technology. That’s not always healthy for relationships.

Dr. Osit talks about “access” and “excess” in his book. Access refers to easy availability of the world and other people. Kids can be all over the world in their bedrooms. Children can be exposed to ideas and concepts that are disturbing and that can change their developing brains. In the past, parents tried to protect their kids from these influences until they were more mature and could make better decisions. Now it’s harder than ever to do so.

Excess – kids who live in economically privileged parts of the world have too many privileges and possessions. There is often is a sense of entitlement with these things. What’s acceptable and common for the age group is not always appropriate. Parents need to think about what’s best for their child and family, not what the neighbors are doing.

Instant Gratification

Too much technology can lead to weak delayed gratification muscles. As parents we need to help our kids learn how to delay gratification in order for them to be happy, healthy adults. Many parents are going overboard in expending too much money, time and resources. Parents are operating in a busier, fast paced world and because of guilt we say yes, sometimes to compensate for a lack of time.

Studies show that kids – even teens – really do respect and admire their parents and want to please them. They also crave to spend more time with their parents. We need to start creating more balance with our kids and give them the gift of our focused attention instead of more gadgets.

When used the right way, technology can be a parent’s asset. For instance, with shy kids technology can boost their social ability. It can compensate for their weakness. What’s needed is to establish limits and boundaries with your kids before you give your child the privilege of using technology such as the internet. Instruct them on what they should do for example, if they come across pornography online.

Computers should be kept in a public area of the home and the rules of use posted nearby. Parental controls are easy to implement and some of these are free from the internet service provider. Kids should be coached to come to the parents if they stumble on something inappropriate online. Encourage them to come to you if that happens and help them understand that you won’t get angry but will talk about it. This is an opportunity for you to hand down your values to your kids.

Dr. Osit suggests eliminating distractions during family times and setting a good example by turning off cell phones at the dinner table and on family outings. Model the behavior you want. If a parent is addicted to their “Crackberry” they can hardly criticize their child for being addicted to their Nintendo DS!

You can find this book at Amazon.com

Working women all over know the joy that comes when they find out there will soon be a baby added to their family.  She and her spouse have a lot of planning to do and a long time to plan.  Many women decide to breastfeed their babies and wonder how being a breastfeeding mom will affect their job.

Breastfeeding isn’t always easy no matter how natural it is.  Add job stress to the fears you may already have about not being able to supply enough milk for your baby, and you may be concerned about the prospects of being able to do both.  You may be glad to know that millions of women have been breastfeeding moms and held down their regular job.

Employers are required by law not to discriminate against breastfeeding moms.  In fact, they may also be required to provide you with a relaxing place where you can pump while you’re at work.  Of course, you would have to pump during your scheduled breaks and during your lunch hour, but they cannot keep you from doing so.

You may wonder if it’s worth the effort to continue breastfeeding.  Here are some reasons why continuing to breastfeed even though you’re stressed from work is a good idea:

* Breastfeeding provides the best nutrition possible for your baby. 

* Pumping while at work will make breastfeeding while you’re at home easier.

* Breastfeeding can save you quite a bit of money. 

* Your baby will be healthier because your breast milk provides antibodies and nutrients that just aren’t available in formula.

* Because your baby is healthier, you’ll miss less work.  This should be enough reason for your employer to encourage your choice to pump while you’re at work.

* You won’t miss your baby as much which could make you more productive.

Be sure to let your boss know that you plan to breastfeed and that you intend to pump during the day to provide your baby with the best possible start.  Talking with them ahead of time will enable them to research the laws concerning breastfeeding and to set aside a private area where you can pump in privacy.

If your company doesn’t have a refrigerator, plan to bring a small cooler that you can use to store the breast milk.  You’ll also need to bring an electric breast pump to make expressing milk quicker.

Don’t beat yourself up if you find that pumping while at work doesn’t work for you.  Remember that your baby will still get the benefits of breast milk while you’re at home on maternity leave.  If you continue to breastfeed when you get home, your child will receive the benefits of breast milk but you’ll have formula to fall back on while you’re apart.

Read: The Nursing Mother’s Companion: Revised Edition

Early childhood caries has risen to the top of the list of childhood diseases with over 25 percent of children affected. Dentists will attribute poor oral hygiene, nighttime nursing and starchy foods as the cause. Unfortunately, many of the affected children do brush their teeth well, eat a reasonable diet, and not all of them nurse at night, so there has to be some other underlying cause.

I have a child with early childhood caries. Our saga began when we noticed one of her front teeth was rapidly decaying before she turned two. A visit to the family dentist found six of her upper teeth were essentially dissolving. The pediatric dentist who saw her next recommended surgery under anesthesia where the affected teeth would be cleaned out and fitted with metal crowns. My husband and I opted to take a wait and see approach and explore the possibility of our daughter’s caries being nutritionally related. A year later, we have managed to arrest her caries through improving her diet, and it is this information I want to share with you.

The most important dietary change is to eliminate all refined flour and sugar. While most of us look at white flour as a non-nutrient, for a child suffering from dental caries, white flour is downright toxic. As a parent, you can be doing everything else right, but continued exposure to white flour can negate all other efforts. You can’t just switch over to whole wheat products, either, as whole wheat often means mostly white flour with a bit of whole wheat flour thrown in for good measure. You have to make your baked goods from scratch and the safest ones are those made from freshly ground sprouted wheat berries. Additionally, the flour should be presoaked in a solution containing yogurt or whey to improve the digestibility. My daughter does not get any baked goods unless I have made them myself.

Eliminating sugar may seem obvious. White sugar is a no-no, but so are the various natural unrefined sweeteners out there, including Rapadura, Sucanat, date sugar, honey, and stevia. Foods high in natural sugars should be limited, and possibly avoided altogether at first, especially if your child is experiencing tooth pain.

You should implement a steady supplementation program using high vitamin butter oil and fermented cod liver oil, both available at www.greenpasture.org and www.radiantlifecatalog.com. The two supplements should be given together two to three times a day with food. The food you provide your child should be rich in fat and protein. Foods that will fight dental decay include liver and bone marrow and eggs from pastured animals, raw milk, cream and butter from pastured cows, wild-caught salmon, whole clams and mussels, whole crabs, and steak. Blended soups based with bone broth are excellent because you can include lots of fresh vegetables and you can sneak in a generous amount of liver. Fermented vegetable preparations like sauerkraut and beet kvass are also highly nutritious if your child will take them.

The main principle in treating dental caries through nutrition is to follow the principles of the Weston Price Foundation, which call for foods in their whole, natural state, and to avoid processed foods that are devoid of nutrients.

After your first few weeks, breastfeeding in the comfort of your own home is
enjoyable. But sometimes but nursing around your relatives during the busy holiday season, at family reunions and other events has its challenges. Some moms have complained that their family members give unwanted advice, especially around discipline or weaning. It’s not uncommon for relatives to criticize your parenting choices especially when those differ from their choices.

Another issue when breastfeeding around extended family are difficulties in regards to the act of nursing in public itself – whether to do so discreetly where you are or to retreat to another area. No one wants to hide away as if nursing is shameful, but what if you get only flack from your relatives when it’s time to meet baby’s needs?

Here are a few suggestions on how to make things a little easier.

Some moms choose to pump their milk and bottle feed it during this time. That is an option, however, if you are not accustomed to using a breast pump, the additional stress of learning the pump combined with other busyness and stress common to the holiday season might prove to be too much. It could be discouraging when you do not get as much milk as you think you should (since babies are far better at extracting milk from the breast than any pump) and if your pump is not a high quality pump, you could even cause yourself pain.
It is far easier to simply nurse the baby as you would at home, but how do you get around some of these challenges?

Many moms find that a baby sling is an absolute heaven send when breastfeeding around family or at other times when your privacy may be invaded by people or noise.
A baby sling covers you up but also creates a little cocoon for baby so he can get down to business and breastfeed effectively. If your baby skips feedings due to being over stimulated, you may end up with a plugged duct or worse, mastitis. You do not want that during this busy season.

Plugged ducts are common during the holidays anyway due to the additional activity and stress associated with it. A plugged duct can turn into mastitis, which is quite painful and can leave you feeling like you have been hit by a truck, so make sure you take the time to settle baby down and nurse on a regular basis.

It is also important that you get plenty of rest. At the very least, take time to put your feet up when it is time for a feeding, and close your eyes and nap if possible. Do not forget to feed yourself well too. Don’t binge on junk food commonly served during holiday and other festivities, but keep eating a healthy, whole foods diet to keep your immune system strong.

How do you deal with criticism from relatives who don’t respect your parenting philosophies? That can be a tough nut to crack. If the relative in question is a mother herself, it helps to remember that her own experience with breastfeeding colors her perspective. If she had a hard time or was not successful with breastfeeding, her guilt may come out as criticism of you.

If this is a person you see only rarely (such as once a year at Thanksgiving), it might be best to drop the subject and just let the comments slide right by without acknowledgement. But if it is going to be an ongoing problem, try to head off comments at the pass by saying something like:

” I do appreciate your perspective on things, however we have decided to do what we feel is best for our family .”

Breastfeeding book author Amy Spangler suggests that instead of answering the question directly, we direct it back to the person. Ask about their breastfeeding experience, and listen empathically. Point out that your choices are not a criticism of their choices.
Setting appropriate boundaries with family is an important lesson to learn, regardless of the area of discussion.

Doula comes from the Greek word for “woman servant”. A doula is someone, usually a female, who attends to the pregnant mom during labor. She is useful for a variety of reasons, from being your biggest advocate, to help keep things under control, and being a wonderful supporter. A doula can run hundreds of dollars if you go through a private business. However, some hospitals and natural student schools offer doulas for around $100-$150. If you are able to find one for that price and are pregnant, I highly recommend splurging for one as you could really use the support in one of your most challenging endeavors in life!

First, you’ll meet with your doula a few times before the actual birth to create a birth plan together and get to know one another. A birth plan serves as your “voice” during labor. You can sit down with your partner, or with a loved one if you are single, and discuss how you’d like the labor to go. Do you want to avoid drugs if possible? Do you want a home birth? Do you want to breastfeed your baby directly after giving birth? All of this will go in your birth plan and your doula will help you create that, using your best wishes and intentions.

As soon as you know you are going into labor, you can give your doula a call and she’ll rush to your side. If you’re giving birth at the hospital, she is a great asset is finding out info from your midwife or doctor on your behalf and advocating your wishes from your birth plan. If you are having a home birth, she can play the part of the “nurturer” while your midwife attends to more of your medical needs.

It’s not uncommon to have a doula massage your belly during contractions or even massage the perenial area to soften the tissues for baby’s head. She’ll work with you in the tub if you want or put on some soft music and recite a meditation to help you relax. Think of a doula as your personal servant, as this is what you are paying her to do. She also is very useful in helping couples focus on the birth and one another, rather than worrying about other factors that she’ll take care of.

After giving birth, your doula will assist you in breastfeeding for the first couple of times. Odds are you’ll be very exhausted after giving birth, and even if you have read all the literature on breastfeeding, you might be too sleepy to do it on your own. Luckily, she is there, assisting you, but not taking over so you can still be the one bonding with your new child! Speaking from personal experience, she was more than worth the $100 I spent! (Some doulas will do after-visits as well.)

Many parents spend what should be a joyful time – pregnancy – worrying about how they’re going to buy all the gear babies need in time for the little one’s arrival. Are there any ways to get the items you need for the new arrival without spending a lot of money? Absolutely. Here are some of the things to keep in mind that will not only save you money but also be kinder on the environment.

Reassess
The first step is to reassess what you will really need once baby arrives. If this isn’t your first child, you probably have a lot of stuff left over from a previous baby that you could use, assuming you saved things.

If this is your first child, understand that much of the baby stuff that is being marketed as essential is not truly needed in the first place, and is even designed to keep you away from your baby. For example, it is not necessary to create and furnish a nursery at all. Babies and even toddlers couldn’t care less if they had fancy bedding with matching décor. All they want is your time and presence, food and warm clothing. Your baby will likely be happiest if he or she sleeps near you. Bassinettes are generally far cheaper than cribs. Or you can skip the whole thing and let baby sleep with you.

Babies can also play with ordinary household items with your supervision and often prefer these things over the fanciest store bought toys! Wooden spoons, plastic food containers, items from nature and other easily obtainable items stimulate your baby’s creativity and cost nothing because you already own them. Challenge yourself to create a “treasure box” of safe, everyday items you find around your home that your baby could play with. When you do buy toys, focus on high quality, classic items like wooden blocks. These will last for multiple children and experts believe that open ended toys are better for your child’s brain development than fancy flashy battery operated ones. 

Multi Task
Buy baby gear items that serve multiple purposes. A baby sling is the perfect example of this. A baby sling can make a baby swing and exercauser unnecessary. A sling can even stand in for a stroller. Slings are highly portable and can be used to feed a baby discreetly in public, comfort them when they’re upset, and gentle them to sleep. Your baby will thrive developmentally and cry less if she or he is “worn” close to your body. Baby slings can be made cheaply or bought inexpensively.

Obtain Used
As long as you are careful not to purchase items that have been recalled, buying used is an excellent option to help you save money. High quality clothing, cloth diapers, toys, books, furniture and much more is available at yard sales, consignment shops, thrift stores, online auctions and even places like Craigslist and Freecycle. Buying used is also kinder on the environment since it is a practice of reusing, and used items generally have no packaging attached. 

Ask
If your friends or relatives throw you a baby shower, tell people what you really need. Don’t be afraid to ask for practical gifts like cloth diapers, plenty of stylist yet unfussy everyday t shirts and pants for your young baby, and other necessary items. You could also ask friends and loved ones to buy you things like a baby food grinder so you can make your own baby food once baby is eating solids, which also saves you money. And what new mom wouldn’t appreciate a book full of coupons for free babysitting?

Getting what you need for baby without going broke just involves a little forethought and creativity. Be open minded and keep “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” firmly in mind too.