Because, in spite of your best efforts, stuff happens.   Someone will spill something, or thow up on someone.  A flight will get delayed, or cancelled, or it might just sit on the tarmac for hours and not go anywhere.  Your knees will be jammed into the seat in front of you, and that person will repeatedly try to recline.  Sounds like fun, right?

It’s not in my nature to be a Negative Nellie, but these things happen at the best of times on the road, and chances are, they could happen when you’ve got your kids with you.  You’ll occasionally come across someone who has a romanticized view of what air travel is like, but the days of relaxing before, during, and after a flight are long gone for most of us – now reserved only for those who can afford such luxury. For the rest of us cattle, we hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

So find your happy place and make sure it’s close by when you need it.  Keep your cool for the sake of your kids, and you’ll all be much more relaxed when you get where you’re going.

Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel – your online guide to family travel with babies and toddlers.  Connect with her online at www.havebabywilltravel.com or www.twitter.com/hvbabywilltrvl

The last trip was my 4-year-old daughter’s 8th and my 9-month-old son’s 3rd. Other than the usual hassles of a giant pile of luggage and figuring how to make sure both kids are fed and occupied on the travel days, it went off without a hitch. Come to think of it, the very first trip we took with our daughter also went off without a hitch, but I was still a very stressed out new mom who wanted to make sure we got to our destination in one piece physically AND mentally, and enjoyed ourselves once we were there.

But when I think of that first trip, that’s not what I remember. I remember how she kept dozing off in odd places during the first couple of days. I remember her squeals of absolute joy as she hit the beach and crawled in the sand for the first time. I remember her pointing at a cat and saying “cat”, and pointing at a dog and saying “cat”.
Much like childbirth, you just kind of forget the bad stuff. Like how I cried out of sheer exhaustion and frustration when she wouldn’t nap and woke at all hours during our first few days. Like how out of sorts I felt until we established our “vacation routine”. Like how I panicked when I realized the pasta with tomato sauce she was greedily eating had shellfish in it, and I hadn’t yet introduced her to that yet.

As my site nears its 3rd birthday, it’s a wakeup call of sorts for me to not forget where I came from. That first trip was tough, and as much as it’s easy to forget the bad, it’s important not to. I don’t ever want to seem smug or glib about the troubles and hassles involved in getting from point A to point B with a baby in tow. They’re real and they exist and I think being prepared is half the battle.

And also just like childbirth, it’s totally, totally worth it.

Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel, your online guide for family travel with babies, toddlers, and young children. Connect with her online at www.havebabywilltravel.com or www.twitter.com/hvbabywilltrvl

Suitcase: Goyard

Baby’s First Birthday Invitations
1.  Tie a single birthday candle with a ribbon and glue to a blank card.
2.  Have invites printed with a photo from the day of birth along with a current photo of your child.
3.  Using blank folded cards, grab some non-toxic paint and have a fun activity with your child making hand or foot prints on the invitations.  Do it in the bathtub for easier cleanup.
4.  Companies like TinyPrints have great themed invitations in funky and current designs.  If you’re feeling ambitious, you can take advantage of Canada Post’s custom stamps and design one with a photo of baby’s tiny feet or beaming smile.
5.  Last minute or think mail is ridiculous?  Try an evite invitation and keep it easy and organized.

Goodie Bags and Party Favours
1.  We don’t think that any one year old will notice if they leave without a loot bag, but… it can be a nice gesture.  Try to get something for the parents that can be used by the baby.
2.  Board Books are always a great idea.
3.  Travel size wipes, powder and rash cream are constantly needed.
4.  If you have the time, a personalized favour is appreciated forever.
5.  Why not photocopy your child’s favourite recipes (or just use ours) and make them into a book for the other parents.  Cooking and meal planning are always a challenge.

First Birthday Party Games
Really?  You actually want to do games with the tots?  Why not just take a photo on the sofa of all of the babies together.  You can then drink some wine, eat adult food (most parents will bring their child’s favourite snacks anyway) and enjoy the other parents.
1.  Our Birthday Party Ideas article offers some themes and activities for parties.
2.  Instead of traditional ‘games’, why not begin a new tradition.  Have each person write a special wish for baby on a card and continue this every year for the child to read always.
3.  Make a time capsule.
4.  Have each atendee sign their name on a white tablecloth every year.  Have a talented family member embroider each name in a different colour every year.  My grandmother did this for me through the school years and I now have an heirloom that is displayed at every birthday.

Unique First Birthday Gifts
1.  We always like to get something special for the Mom who has given so much of her love and time to the baby.  A necklace with baby’s name on it or a book in which to journal is such a nice thought.
2.  If you have the time, try a personalized book.  It is a great keepsake and can be read for years by parents and children.
3.  A monogrammed tote bag is always appreciated – particularly if the current diaper bag is looking the worse for wear.
4.  A homemade CD of music that calms your child, or simply the best tunes to move around to.  It might be a perfect solution for a child who gets fussy in the car.

Taking Time For You
The past year has probably been a whirlwind.  Take a moment with your partner to remember the birth, remember the high and low points of the year, to cry and laugh.  You could write favourite memories, light a candle, have a bubble bath, or sleep all night in bed with your baby – skin to skin.  This is your day as much as baby’s and you should be proud of yourself.

- Jill Amery just had a rather significant birthday herself.

Image: Plush singing cake from Multipet.

Driving while talking or texting

If the safest option – blocking  your phone signal when you reach a driving speed is not an option, try this.  Drivesafe.ly is a Blackberry application that reads text messages and emails and lets the sender know that you have heard the message, but are currently driving and cannot respond immediately.  Aside from the obviously humourous times when your husband texts a dirty message during a meeting and you have forgotten to turn off the feature.. it’s a pretty neat app.

For the iPhone, you have a few more options.  Courtney Gibson, a Toronto Engineer and technology aficionado, offered two options.  You can either hold down the “Home” button (just below the screen) on your phone, or if you are using a hands-free device, press the talk button on the headset for a few seconds and then speak a command once it beeps.  (”Call Micky Mouse”)  If you have more than one number stored in your phonebook, it’ll ask you to clarify which one (”Calling Micky Mouse.  Home or Mobile?”  “Mobile.”  “Calling Micky Mouse, Mobile….”).

Hmmm.  Do you like to make lists in the car?  Gibson also mentioned that there’s a nice, free application from Dragon Dictate that came out a few weeks ago.  You can do full voice dictation into it – but you then need to cut and paste the text into an e-mail or SMS message: it’s not fully integrated yet (and it also relies on having a data connection for doing the speech recognition) but it is great for making a shopping list and using your car time wisely.  Just make sure you still pay attention to the road.  And don’t be looking for any applications that can apply lipstick and open the mail.

- Jill Amery is still learning how to use her technology wisely.

1. Don’t rush. Plan your packing list and pack the car in a relaxed fashion. Make sure you have gas, oil, and windshield fluid. This will eliminate stress about the controllable things.
2. Get your technology together. Whatever you decide is permissible with your kid is your decision. But if you allow the DVD player, iTouch and Nintendo DS, make sure that you have all of the components, batteries, and have the right shows from iTunes loaded onto the devices.
3. Keep diapers, wipes, loveys, and a first aid kit in an easily accessible bag.
4. Snacks: Determine what will give them energy but make the least mess in your car. Candy will often create some bad behaviour, so you might want to try cheese or popcorn instead. Ensure that anything that can spoil be kept in a freezer bag, and remember that water is important.
5. Try to look at the drive as an opportunity rather than a necessary evil. Tell stories about the day they were born. Discuss what they did in school this week. Get to know them. Tell them about another country and different traditions practiced there. Tell them an easy version of a Shakespeare story and talk about the feelings of the characters afterwards.
6. Check out www.momsminivan.com
7. Wrap little dollar-store gifts for each child, and hand them out every hour.
8.  Water.  Crucial.
9.  Don’t be afraid to stop at a rest area or playground and let them (and you) burn off some steam.  Often, a 5 minute run will get you there faster and more safely than flying juice boxes and screaming in the car.
10.  Sing every song you know.

Oh look. You’re there already.

Image: Range Rover

Other options for colic that are safe and gentle are homeopathic remedies.  The most common homeopathic remedy is Chamomila.  This remedy is indicated for a colicky infant who is very irritable and restless and wants to be carried.  The infant will have one or both cheeks are flushed red, and the abdomen will be distended.

I also recommend a gripe water formula by Wellementsâ.  It contains all organic ingredients that help to relieve gas and soothe the digestive system such as chamomile, ginger and fennel extracts.

The Subcommittee on Nutrition During Lactation reports:

“On average, lactating women who eat to appetite lose weight at the rate of 0.6 to 0.8 kg (1.3 to 1.6 pounds) per month in the first 4 to 6 months, but there is a wide variation in the weight loss experience of lactating women (some women gain weight during lactation). Those who continue breastfeeding beyond 4 to 6 months ordinarily continue to lose weight, but at a slower rate than during the first 4 to 6 months.”

If a mother gains weight or has stopped losing weight after the first two months, she can increase her activity level and reduce her intake by 100 calories per day. Although mothers reducing their caloric intake by 25% safely lost about one pound (.45 kg) per week without affecting their baby’s growth, according to a study by Dusdieker, nursing mothers need at least 1800 calories per day. Diets of less than 1500 calories per day are not recommended, although fasts of less than one day have not been shown to decrease milk volume.

A review article published in 1996 confirmed that exclusively breastfeeding mothers showed a greater loss of weight with a decrease in the percentage of body fat as well as hip and lower thigh circumference at three months postpartum than mothers who were bottle- feeding or partially breastfeeding.

Crash diets, fad diets and rapid weight loss present problems for breastfeeding mothers. Environmental contaminants including PCBs and pesticides are stored in body fat. Losing weight rapidly can release these contaminants into the mother’s bloodstream quickly and it was once thought that this would increase contaminant levels in her milk. Research brought to our attention after the BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK was published does not demonstrate a significant increase.

It is suggested that mothers limiting their caloric intake pay special attention to eating a balanced and varied diet, including foods rich in calcium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin B6 and folate. If adequate dietary requirements are not met, calcium, multivitamin and mineral supplements may be needed. Weight loss medications and liquid diets are not recommended for breastfeeding mothers.

If a mother has a history of anorexia, bulimia or other eating disorder, she can still successfully breastfeed her baby. However, some women with a history of eating disorders experience a worsening of symptoms after birth. If a mother is suffering from an eating disorder, suggest she seek nutritional guidance as well as help in overcoming her eating problem.

Some mothers are concerned that exercise may interfere with milk production or that slightly elevated levels of lactic acid after exercise could cause negative reactions in their nursing babies. Studies have shown that exercise has little effect on breast milk. In fact, one study by Lovelady showed exercising women having a slightly higher milk volume.

Although wide publicity was given to a study which suggested that babies were less accepting of post-exercise breast milk, after reviewing this and other studies, Dewey and McCrory concluded that “altered acceptance of breast milk due to higher lactic acid concentrations post-exercise is not likely to be a problem in most cases.”

A combination of reasonable calorie reduction and regular moderate exercise will not only help a breastfeeding mother lose weight after the birth of her baby, but will also provide cardiovascular fitness.

References

• Bowles, B. et al. Pregnancy and lactation following anorexia and bulimia. JOGNN 1990; 19(3):243-48.
• Dewey, K. and McCrory, M. Effects of dieting and physical activity on pregnancy and lactation. Am J Clin Nutr 1994; 59(Suppl.): 446S-59S
• Dusdieker, L. et al. Is milk production impaired by dieting during lactation? Am J Clin Nutr 1994; 59:833-40.
• Hammer, R. et al. Low fat diet and exercise in obese lactating women. Breastfeed Rev 1996;4(1):29-34.
• Heinig, M. et al. Lactation and postpartum weight loss. Mechanisms Regulating Lactation and Infant Nutrient Utilizations 1992;30:397-400.
• Kramer, F. et al. Breastfeeding reduces maternal lower-body fat J Am Diet Assoc 1993;93(4):429-33.
• Lovelady, C. et al. Lactation performance of exercising women. Am J Clin Nutr 1990; 52: 103-1.
• Mohrbacher, N. and Stock, J. BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK. Schaumburg, Illinois, USA; LLLI 1997; 371-86.
• Mussalo-Rauhamaa, H. et al. Relation between the content of organochlorine compounds in Finnish human milk and characteristics of the mother. J Tox Envir Hlth 1988;25(1):1-10.
• Subcommittee on Nutrition during Lactation, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, Nutrition During Lactation Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1991 p.15, 74, 140.
• Weekly, S. Diets and eating disorders: implications for the breastfeeding mother. NAACOG Clin Issues Perinat Women Health Nurs 1992; 3(4):695-700.

Last updated January 10, 2010 by jsa.

Mel Wolk, St. Peters, Missouri, USA
From: LEAVEN, Vol. 33 No. 5, October-November 1997, p. 115

We provide articles from our publications from previous years for reference for our Leaders and members. Readers are cautioned to remember that research and medical information change over time
Ed. Note: This article highlights information on weight loss while breastfeeding featured in the 1997 revision of the BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK and THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING. Leaders will want to check both of these resources for more information on nutrition for breastfeeding mothers.

]]> http://www.urbanmommies.com/the-belly/breastfeeding-the-belly-2/weightloss-while-breastfeeding/feed/ 0 http://www.urbanmommies.com/the-baby/healthy-baby/aromatherapy-and-your-children/ http://www.urbanmommies.com/the-baby/healthy-baby/aromatherapy-and-your-children/#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:38:36 +0000 carter http://www.urbanmommies.com/aromatherapy-and-your-children/ Babies just love aromatherapy.  Imagine hearing the soft gentle sounds of a baby becoming calm again while lavender essential oil wafts through the air, or the feeling of a baby that just comes out of the bath all relaxed and ready to get into their pj’s to snuggle down for a sleep with the aroma of sweet orange and chamomile on their skin. Aromatherapy is a loving and wonderful way to introduce your children to the wonders of alternative health care and smells. Essential oils are composed of tiny little molecules that based on their composition tell us how they act on the...]]> Babies just love aromatherapy.  Imagine hearing the soft gentle sounds of a baby becoming calm again while lavender essential oil wafts through the air, or the feeling of a baby that just comes out of the bath all relaxed and ready to get into their pj’s to snuggle down for a sleep with the aroma of sweet orange and chamomile on their skin. Aromatherapy is a loving and wonderful way to introduce your children to the wonders of alternative health care and smells.

Essential oils are composed of tiny little molecules that based on their composition tell us how they act on the body and mind. There is practically an aromatherapy recipe for any physical or emotional state. Below are a variety of ways to use the oils, as well as some simple everyday recipes and ideas on how to use the oils for your babies and children.

Some of the more common ways for using essential oils are;

• Baths – add 1-3 drops of oil into the bath for children.  Add the oils after you have filled the tub to the desired amount and make sure you swish the oils and water together first before baby gets in.
• Massage – add 1-3 drops of essential oil to 2 ounces of carrier or massage oil/cream.
• Spritzer – add a total of 6-10 drops of essential oil to a 4 ounce bottle of water.
• Vaporizer – add 4 drops of essential oil to most vaporizers or use a scent ball in the child’s room with the same amount of drops.
• Diffuser – add 3-5 drops of essential oil into the diffuser for the size of an average child’s room.
• Inhalation – for older children, (usually around 5 years) have them put their head over top of a bowl filled with hot water and 1-3 drops of essential oils to breath in the oils directly.  If you can get them to hold a towel over their heads that is even better, add the oils after you have added the water and have them to breathe in as soon as possible for best results.

Fun things you can try with your children;

• To reduce hyper times and increase relaxation, create a spritzer with 5 drops of lavender, 4 drops of orange, and 3 drops of chamomile. Gently spray the oils over the top of your child’s head before naps or nighttime sleeps, or spray the room or car where you are spending most of your time.
• For children over 1 year to help them sleep, you can add one drop of essential oil to their pillow or favorite stuffy that they go to bed with. Note this may stain your pillow case. A nice chamomile bath, 1 drop up to 2 years old, 2 drops up to 4 years old and 3 drops up to 8 years old will help baby sleep well.
• If your child is getting a cold you can create a cold chest rub by adding 3 drops of eucalyptus, 2 drops of tea tree oil and one drop of lemon into 2 ounces of carrier oil or natural cream.  Massage the cream into their whole body, or for a quicker application, apply the rub on their chest, lower back and to the bottom of their feet.  Put their socks on to keep let the rub absorb into their feet.
• When your child is around anyone with a virus or starts to shows signs of flu put thyme oil on the bottom of their feet. Add 1 drop for babies up to 2 years, 2 drops from 2-4 and after that 3 drops up till 8 years old.  Put the drops of thyme oil into a 2 ounce bottle of carrier oil or natural cream and apply strictly to the bottom of their feet and to wipe your hands off you can rub it along the lower part of your child’s back.

Young children are still building their immune system and we can help them by using essential oils in their everyday life.  Not only will essential oils help with your children’s immune systems but they can help with just their overall disposition, helping to keep them healthy, balanced, calm and relaxed through their growing and learning years.

Deborah Drummond Baker, owner of Metropolitan Aromatherapy and Massage has been using and sharing the benefits of aromatherapy with her family and two children for over 15 years. She has extensive experience and certification in the alternative health field and has helped many mothers and fathers to use the essential oils in many ways with their children.Her first aroma baby is almost 14 years old and can attest to the wonders that aromatherapy has had for her. Deborah’s 3 year old is following in his big sisters footsteps of being taught the natural way to play with and benefit from the oils.

Please note that using aromatherapy is a personal choice and not to be used as a replacement for medical care, all information and recipes are to be used by your own discretion and as with any suggestion of usage are to be used at your own risk, for any inquiry please contact Deborah at her website www.aromametropolitan.com or call 604-739-3926 .   Note; To find out which essential oils to avoid while pregnant visit the website and look under the Metro News section.