Kangaroo care was created by Edgar Rey, a Colombian pediatrician, in 1978 as a solution to caring babies in his care since in the hospital he worked in there weren’t there enough incubators. Plus, even the incubators they had were inadequate. So, he told the mothers to place their babies skin-to-skin for hours at at time. And what happened was amazing – the babies in kangaroo care began to truly thrive. And so as a result this type of care was formally developed in Colombia as a way to care for babies and today it continues not just there but also all around the world.

There are many evidence-based reasons why kangaroo works. Here’s a throughout list of benefits from the University College London Department of Psychology.

Physiological evidence

Babies spend more time in quiet sleep (Acolet et al., 1989) and this result persists after 6 months (Gale et al., 1993)

Longer alert states and less crying at 6 months (Whitelaw et al., 1988)

Their heart rate is lower and more stable (Ludington et al., 1996)

Apnea and bradycardia decrease (Fohe et al., 2000)

Body temperature is maintained and oxygenation and gas exchange improves (Fischer et al, 1998; Ludington & Golant, 1993; Acolet et al., 1989; Bauer et al., 1996; Fohe et al., 2000)

Improvement of arousal regulation and stress reactivity (Michelsson et al., 1996; Mooncey et al., 1997)

Analgesic effect during painful medical procedure (Gray, Watt, & Blass, 2000)

Prolonged and augmented breastfeeding rates (Charpark, Figueroa, & Ruiz, 1998; Ramanathan et al., 2001)

Faster growth rates and earlier discharge from hospital (Kambrani, Chdede, & Kowo, 1999)

Psychological evidence

Mothers reported more positive feelings towards the baby and lower maternal stress (Tallandini & Scalembra, 2006)

Mother had a better sense of their parenting role (Affonso et al.,1993)

Mothers were less depressed (Feldman, 2002)

Perceived their infant as less abnormal (Feldman, 2002)

Increased maternal behavior during hospitalization period (Feldman, 2002)

Mothers felt more confident and competent in meeting their baby needs (Tessier et al., 1998)

Babies were more alert and more responsive (Feldman et al., 2002; Tessier et al., 1998; Tallandini & Scalembra, in press)

Babies had higher developmental rates (Feldman et al., 2002)

Babies improved their abilities to make understandable requests and to make appropriate responses to maternal stimulation (Tallandini & Scalembra, 2006)

Following KC procedure being adopted by the mother, mother and father were more sensitive and less intrusive, the family style was more cohesive positive and it has shown a long term positive effect on the whole family environment (Feldman et al.,  2003)

So, while it was started by placing babies on their mother’s chest, we know that fathers can also be very beneficial to their babies when they too practice kangaroo care with their little ones. Many dads find it also a comforting way to bond with their baby.

It’s easy to practice kangaroo care. Simply place baby directly skin-to-skin on you and then cover baby with warm blankets. You can also use a wrap for kangaroo care.

And while it’s most beneficial to babies that need an extra boost, it also can be a beautiful way to spend the time with your thriving baby while doing kangaroo care at home.

My latest journey is leading me towards becoming a certified childbirth educator and postpartum doula. I chose the International Childbirth Education Association for my childbirth educator program and for the postpartum doula program I chose DONA International. And I also chose to do certification programs vs. just becoming on my own by calling myself those names because I feel it’s important to get the certified education that encompasses more than just my own experience but also that is internationally recognized and respected.

In the course of the next few months I will be taking over 40 hours worth of workshops and classes, plus reading over 15 birthing and pregnancy books, studying my study guides, becoming CPR certified, observing births/labors, providing postpartum doula services to new mothers, conducting an evaluated childbirth education class, writing several papers, creating a large database of local resources, working with others in the birth community, and processing my certifications through ICEA and also DONA. Phew! And yay! Both exciting and challenging to say the least, but I can’t wait!

Once done (sometime in the Fall 2012), we’ll begin childbirth education classes at Granola Babies that prepares parents-to-be and experienced parents for birth but also provides them with information that empowers them if the birth does not go as planned (a piece I feel is lacking in many birthing classes…and sadly I see the result of broken hearts who were not prepared for anything but an ideal birth).  And through my postpartum doula training, I’ll  continue helping new parents in caring and bonding with their new baby, but with new tools to in my box of resources. And also will be hosting classes on Children and Sleep that will help parents dealing with sleep issues and/or preparing for what it’ll be like with a newborn and sleep. Let the journey begin…

It’s that time again! One of our favorite and most loved baby carriers at Granola Babies is going to be available in new Spring prints/designs. Remember when the prints of the Beco Gemini were on the outside of the body like this?

Pretty prints in front.

And then later due to women wanting the dads to also want to wear the Gemini (psssst they didn’t get the memo that real mean wear pink) too. And so they were mostly buying solids instead of the lovely print they personally loved….Beco came out with the new Geminis with the prints in the inside instead. So, then you could only see the print when the head rest was down. The dads were happy! And some of the mamas too.

Cool dude. Cool print.

But, the rest of us women who really wanted the lovely print and whose husbands would wear it because they don’t care one way or the other were a bit bummed out. And so Beco made a change and this Spring some of the lovely prints will be back to being on the outside and some will stay with the prints on the inside. It’s a win-win! Way to go Beco!

And so here is the new Spring line for the Beco Gemini ~

Sierra can now be seen!

And there's a new print (Piper) too with black straps!

And for the ultra cool there is also Pony print with...DENIM body and straps. Yes...denim!!

Beco Gemini in the new Piper and Pony are special editions and only 200 were produced. Where to get these? Granola Babies ofcourse! As always free shipping on Beco Baby Carriers within the USA.

As a homeschooling parent, I do sometimes deal with assumptions about homeschooling when talking to friends whose kids are in school (public or private). Some of these are in this video, which is really funny -  at least where I’m standing as a homeschooling parent. The assumption that the kids don’t get to socialize is a common one and oh so false. There are so many social opportunities for homeschooled children and really lots of time we don’t have time to do them all (there are that many!) since we also enjoy just getting out ourselves in the outdoors or taking a day in after a busy previous day.

As homeschoolers, my children have the benefit of receiving individualized education with  lots of chances of learning out in nature, through field trips, socialization with others, as well as in the comfort of their home. There’s never a boring day around here and we love that. And now…the video for more myths debunked.

Hali's homemade almond butter.

My kids love almond butter and I’m so glad I switched them over to almond butter instead of peanut butter…it’s so much more yummier but also better for us!  We usually buy raw almond butter from our local Sprouts grocery store. But now I’m ready to make my own with Hali’s recipe.

At the store we’re blessed to be able to share in the journeys of the mamas that work for Granola Babies. And Hali is one of those mamas. Hali is incredibly creative and so when she recently learned she had to go gluten-free, she took that as a challenge to make home-made delicious gluten-free recipes of the foods she loves. She recently shared her gluten-free almond recipe with us.

Gluten-free Almond Butter – by the way it’s only 3 ingredients!

2 cups raw almonds
1 – 2 pinches sea salt
1 1/2 teaspoon Coconut oil

Preheat oven to 350. Bake the almonds on a cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes. After they’re baked, put them in a food processor and blend them with the salt for about 10 – 13 minutes. Add coconut oil, blend again. The natural almond oils will start to blend with the coconut oil, making it nice and creamy.

Almond butter will store up to 3 months in an air tight jar in the refrigerator.

Around here we love silks for both girls and boys. They use them from early on as creative playing toys…yes toys. My kids make forts, tents, ropes, play food, capes, baby doll blankets, and more. Some of the silks come in ready-made toys such as garlands and capes. And even these have additional creative play – for example my daughter is wearing her cape as a skirt.

All dressed up in playsilks.

At home and also at Granola Babies we are strong advocates of natural and open-ended play. And silks help to foster this through creative play. I love this quote from The Whole Child – Creativity and Play article.

One of the most important types of creative activity for young children is creative play. Creative play is expressed when children use familiar materials in a new or unusual way, and when children engage in role-playing and imaginative play.

Here are some more ways our kids play with their silks.

Our basket of playsilks.

Granola kids chasing each other with silk toys.

Using a playsilk under the blocks as a "sink full of water".

Our children and their friends playing in a circle with their silks on.

I’ve hand-selected a mix of silks at Granola Babies and like many of our products I added them because my kids loved theirs so much. Some of these include Playsilks, Capes, Veils, Streamers and there’s more here too.

My daughter really wants sisters. So, on Monday she decided she’d just make them by turning her brothers into girls. And since they are always up for a game…they agreed! And what a fun time it was pretending to be girls all together. Lots of giggles and lots of goofiness and way too many photo opportunities to save for later. Hmmm…maybe on their first date? Either way it was for sure a moment I wanted to linger in for a while.

Having fun in their dresses.

There are a few reasons why Vatanai woven wraps make the best choice for beginner wrappers and also those in warm weather. While I do also love other woven wrap brands such as Neobulle (sadly no longer available in the USA unfortunately), Storch and Girasol, as well as Didymos. And I have my fair share (don’t ask me how many…it a lot!) of woven wraps in a variety of brands, I still reach for a Vatanai for those learning to wrap and also those in warm weather.

Happy baby in a Vatanai woven wrap.

Vatanai woven wraps for new wrappers.

When you’re leaning to wrap, you’ll quickly learn that wrapping has a learning curve. And if you’re like most new wrappers, the length of the fabric you need (most need a 4.6m length) is going to feel overwhelming. To some, even those determined to learn to wrap, it’s going to feel similarly to having a huge blanket put over you. And so add to this a thick wrap that is very wide and it makes it not just frustrating to learn to wrap but takes longer. I like to make wrapping as easy as possible to learn, so instead of a thicker woven wrap, I recommend a Vatanai since it’s lighter and glides easily over your body as you’re wrapping. It’s also the kind of wrap that doesn’t require the “breaking in” (getting the wrap from stiff feeling to soft) that other brands do.

When you’re learning to wrap you’re also using more fabric than you need to do the carry. It’s common for new wrappers to not tighten enough and therefore end up using more fabric than needed (the carry is looser than it should be). Well, when you’re using a lighter wrap, you manage the fabric much better and in turn get a better carry.

While Vatanais make for excellent wraps for beginners, they are by no means a wrap for only beginners. Many wrappers that have wrapped with a variety of woven wraps will quickly tell you that Vatanais are just as supportive as thicker wraps. And while there’s usually the mention of “pressure points” (pressure on your body from where the wrap is not evenly tighten), that is usually a result of not wrapping well.

Vatanai woven wraps for hot weather.

Oh when it’s hot, it’s hot! And wrapping in almost anything is going to feel warm. But, put on a thick wrap and it’s VERY hot! So, for warm weather babywearing and especially for humid weather, Vatanai woven wraps are a hands-down the best choice. I love my Girasols and my Storch, but not so much on a hot and humid day. On those days, it’s Vatanai all the way for it’s lightness. I dress down to a tank or a light top and the Vatanai wrap just feels like part of my clothing and not an extra blanket-like layer.

It’s fun to wrap and it’s so much fun to LEARN to wrap too. And having gone through the learning curve of wrapping years ago, I so wish that at the time someone had recommended a Vatanai to me instead of the thicker wrap I tried to learn with. And while I have wrapped with thick wraps even in humid hot weather, wrapping with a Vatanai during hot seasons is like a glass of lemonade on a hot day when you compare it to a thicker wrap.

Weaning from breastfeeding is a different journey for each mother-baby, as everyone has specific needs and styles. However, here is some information and links on how-to and doing so in a gentle way that makes the process a little easier for both of you. Remember that it can be an emotional stress on not just your baby but also yourself, especially if you’re not ready to wean emotionally but need to do so for physical or your circumstances make weaning necessary. Also, if you’re able to wait until 18 mos, it will be easier than starting before 18 mos. A baby 18+ mos. old has a better understanding of waiting than babies under 18 mos of age. And finally before starting the weaning process, keep in mind there are many benefits to extended nursing you may want to consider before weaning.

Most important thing to remember when weaning — it’s a process that takes time. Be gentle, be patient, keep in tune with your child, and wean gradually. It can take a month or more to wean a child. Also, avoid weaning when there’s been a drastic change in your baby’s life (a move, a change of childcare, a recent vacation, etc) or when your baby is sick.

Weaning from breastfeeding

• Start by reducing the amount of feedings one at a time. Drop the easiest one to drop, which is usually not the nursing to sleep and the first waking nursing. It may be the second nursing session of the day or the middle of the day, or whatever other time is easier for you and the baby to drop. Some babies nurse all day long (or so it seems) so you’ll first need to keep track of the feedings (can be mental notes) and then decide which one seems best to drop first. Drop one nursing session every week and remember to take time to let baby and your body adjust to less feedings.
• During the weaning process and at the missed feeding, offer substitutes such as water, solids (assuming your baby is over 9 mos old) or do things such as playing favorite game, heading outdoors or other forms of distraction that include things baby likes. If your baby is under 9 mos you may need to feed baby either donated breastmilk (through a local milk bank or organizations like Human Milk for Human Babies) or formula. Consult first with your pediatrician.
• When you’re weaning, you’ll want to increase cuddles, kisses, hugs, special bonding times and quality time. Nursing provides more than nutrition – it provides comfort and security, so as you reduce nursing, you’ll want to increase in other forms of comfort and security for your child.
• If your baby strongly resists not nursing and other measures of comfort or distraction are not working, then nurse during that session and try again another time that day or wait until the next day.
• Watch for signs that you’re weaning too quickly. These include reactions such as increased crying, seems withdrawn, increase in night wakings, increase in separation anxiety. If you notice these, take a step back and slow down the weaning process or continue at another time if possible.
• As you gradually wean, your body will adjust accordingly and you’ll produce less milk during the weaning process.
• Continue slowly dropping nursing sessions during the weaning process until you reach the last nursing session. Again, remember this is a process that will take time and patience is needed while weaning.

Additional weaning information -

How weaning happens

Signs you’re weaning too fast

How to wean (LLL)

Weaning from the Pump

Nursing when baby is sick

Weaning Tips

We don’t vaccinate our children. Yet, I’m not anti-vaccinations. I strongly feel that each parent is their child’s best expert and so it’s up to each parent to decide what is best for their child. However, I also believe that decisions should be informed decisions. Learn both the good and the bad and then decide. The majority of pediatricians will give you the “Why”, yet it’s really hard to get the “Why not”. And so quarterly we host a workshop by Dr. Pamela Middleton and Dr. Bill DeMoss called “Vaccinations from a Holistic Approach” also called  called “Immunization: The truth behind the myth.”  Both Dr. Middleton and Dr. DeMoss give a passionate, information-filled workshop on why not to vaccinate and alternatives to vaccinating. After this workshop, parents are then able to take all the information they’ve received from both sides and better make this important decision for their child and their family.

It’s a full house whenever we host this workshop. I believe information should be easy to get, so we offer it complimentary for parents.

Parents at Granola Babies workshop.

Standing room only.

Learn, be educated and make informed decisions.