This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday link up at I Thought I Knew Mama. Also check out This Moment at Every Breath I Take.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
{Wordless Wednesday} Nov 30 Edition
Monday, November 28, 2011
This is How We Go to Sleep
This is how we go to sleep...
8:30ish...
The shower curtain screeches open and I race to dry off and dress. DH is getting BabyE into his PJs in the bedroom, and I can hear the fussing has started already. It is time to sleep. I settle into bed on my side, spread out the fleece changing pad, and DH lays Baby down beside me. Baby automatically rolls on his side, searching. He snuggles up to nurse, our tummies in firm contact, sharing body heat. I curl my body protectively around him. His feet rest on top of my legs. After an hour of eating and pacifying, Baby has been soundly asleep for a while. I'm caught up on emails and my Google Reader subscriptions. I finally force myself to place him, so carefully, into his co-sleeper beside me and click off the light. The steady rhythm of his breathing is the last thing in my consciousness before I drop off to sleep.
Midnight...
I click the light back on. Even without my glasses, I can tell Baby is smiling up at me: the dark of his wide open mouth against the bright face. It's impossible to regret being awake at this hour to experience that sight.
2ish...
I awaken to baby head-butting me, trying to get a good latch. I don't remember waking, turning on the light, pulling him into bed next to me, but there he is. I doze a little more while he eats, and then lay him back in his bed.
4ish...
As Baby nurses, I am thankful for Dr. Sears' advice: If baby isn't fussy, don't worry about burping him. If baby isn't bothered, double-diaper and don't bother changing a wet diaper at every feeding. Drop your shoulder to offer the other breast rather than moving or rolling baby over to the other side. It's normal for babies to wake up 2-3 in the night at this point...It lets us all get back to sleep more easily without all the rocking, patting, singing, pacing in the middle of the night. I think of my dear friend often at these 4am feedings. Did we really stay up this late for fun back when we were in high school? Baby only sometimes makes it back into his own bed. I imagine he thinks it's too lonely over there by himself, a whole 12 inches away from me. Before I can get up, we've both fallen asleep again.
6ish...
Inevitably BabyE awakens before Mommy and Daddy think it's time. There's really no need for DH to set his alarm for work these days. It's as if Baby learned the schedule early on, and he wants to make sure to see Daddy before he goes to work. It's time for another day to begin. Thank goodness for naps!
What does your nighttime parenting routine look like?
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Worldless Wednesday (On Sunday) - So True!
My sweet sis took this pic for me not long after I had BabyE. Love it!
This is part of the Wordless Wednesday link-up at Thought I Knew Mama. Stop by and check out some of the other images. Please click to subscribe to the GrowingSlower RSS feed.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Problem of Expired Child Carseats
Donate: It is commonly believed that child carseats expire after six years. While this may be true for some models, they do vary. Evenflo carseats have an eight year life. Consider this aspect when purchasing to find a seat with the longest possible lifespan. Check the expiration date on the bottom of your car seat. Even if your child is done with the seat, many local organizations collect and distribute donations of used carseats that have not expired and have never been in a crash. Call your local woman's shelter or pregnancy counseling organization and ask if they could use your carseat.
Recycle: For carseats that are broken, expired, or have been in a crash, recycling is the next best option. Graco's FAQ site states that it does not have a recycling program for child carseats. They recommend recycling locally or removing straps before discarding in a landfill. Thanks for nothin' Graco! Likewise with Evenflo. The keyword 'recycle' cannot even be found on the Britax website. When I started this search, I had a quaint idea that carseat manufacurers would have some recycling program in place. The one I imagined wasn't great. You might have to ship the heavy plastic all the way to their plant, and you would probably have to pay them $25 to recycle it. Even such a mediocre option does not exist!
Luckily we live in a very environmentally conscious area, so there was one local store which collects and recycles carseats for $8. DH raised his eyebrows at that. Would I let my frugal side or my desire to help the environment win over this time? The two sides were at odds with each other again. In this case, I just couldn't let this 25+ pound hunk of plastic go to the landfill. I've never paid to recycle something before, but I figured since the carseat was a free hand-me-down in the first place, so it was justifiable. As I drove away from the shop $8 poorer, I felt pretty good about my decision.
What solutions have you found for your unused child carseats?
Please click to subscribe to the GrowingSlower RSS feed. Also, check out my current blog project. I'll be posting a weekly Linky so everyone can share their "This is how We" stories about their babies and children. It's a snapshot of our daily lives, so we never forget those fleeting moments. Look for my post this week so you can share your "This is how We Sleep" snapshot.
This has been part of the Sorta Crunchy Your Green Resource link-up.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Green Kids Toys
BabyE received so many wonderful eco-friendly toys as baby gifts. Even though we didn't include any kids toys in our baby registry list, many of our friends and family share our value for green consumerism. Since the holidays are already sneaking up on us, I thought I'd share some gift ideas. Yes, there are alternatives to all those brightly colored plastic toys in every conceivable shape! Organic fabrics, wood, metal, paper, and cardboard can make great alternative toys. This elephant rattle by MiYim is made from organic cotton. Babies love teething on the soft knitted texture, and moms can feel good about the natural fabric going in baby's mouth.
This Natural Skwish by Manhattan Toy is natural wood with non-toxic finish. Baby doesn't have it figured out quite yet, but DH and I think it's so much fun. The bungee cords allow it to squish down and then spring back into shape, and the wooden beads make a pleasant sound as it moves.
I am so in love with this gorgeous handmade rattle from Don Warner Design at the Northwest Fine Woodworking Gallery. I can really see this becoming a family keepsake that BabyE's kids will play with someday. I love how it fits perfectly in his pudgy little hand!
This post is a part of Your Green Resource Week 9 at Sorta Crunchy & at Moms The Word. I'm having so much fun checking out all the great links every week! Click to subscribe to the GrowingSlower RSS feed.
This post is a part of Your Green Resource Week 9 at Sorta Crunchy & at Moms The Word. I'm having so much fun checking out all the great links every week! Click to subscribe to the GrowingSlower RSS feed.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Green Baby Registry Checklist {Free Printable}
When I first saw the five page registry checklists from bump.com and Target, I was shocked. Would my baby really need all that stuff? What if every one of the over 4 million babies born in the US every year got a complete set of all that new stuff? (I wish "stuff" was a four letter word, because that is how I feel about it. Ick!)
After I reduced and reused as much as possible, I did a ton of research looking for green baby products that really work well. Here are my top three strategies for greening your baby registry checklist and my printable Green Baby Registry Checklist download. It fits on one page (not five). This is what worked for us, so I added some blank spaces for you to write in your own must haves.
When there is no nursery to outfit, so many items are suddenly unnecessary: crib, bumpers, mattress, dresser, changing table, and the list goes on.
I am a light sleeper, so I knew if I had baby in bed with me full time I'd be getting even less sleep than I already am with three feedings a night. Getting a sidecar co-sleeper that joins up with the side of our bed was the perfect solution. I love that it converts from a bassinet to a full-size play yard, so it grows with baby, even further reducing the amount of stuff you need.
A week of watching DH carry sacks of used sposies to the dumpster and I had enough. I just know all my diapers from baby-hood are still sitting in a landfill somewhere, and that is really not something I wanted to pass on to the next generation.
Beyond just cloth diapers there are several other traditionally disposable must-haves that have a reusable alternative. Instead of disposable wipes, we use cloth. Instead of garbage bags, we use washable diaper pail liners to hold used diapers. We have small wet bags to hold used diapers when we're on the go. I even use washable cotton nursing pads.
allows you to add products from any site on the web to your list. That way you can select the greenest of all the products out there, even if they're not available on Amazon.
The really great thing about this is that it allows you to add handmade green items from Etsy. There's no better feeling than supporting the small businesses on Etsy and receiving their beautiful one-of-a-kind creations.
If you want to add something from Etsy, I recommend contacting the shop owner to set up a reserve listing for you. That way when your friends and family go to purchase it, you know it will still be available. Keep in mind listings on Etsy last only four months.
Title image from Caitlinator on Flikr. This post linked up with Sorta Crunchy and Hippie Housewife.
After I reduced and reused as much as possible, I did a ton of research looking for green baby products that really work well. Here are my top three strategies for greening your baby registry checklist and my printable Green Baby Registry Checklist download. It fits on one page (not five). This is what worked for us, so I added some blank spaces for you to write in your own must haves.
 |
 |
3 Tips to Green Your Baby Registry
1. Co-sleep
To be honest, I didn't have much of a choice about co-sleeping, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Living in a one-bedroom there is really no place for baby to go but in our room. This is a perfect excuse for anyone who wants to give me a hard time about co-sleeping.When there is no nursery to outfit, so many items are suddenly unnecessary: crib, bumpers, mattress, dresser, changing table, and the list goes on.
I am a light sleeper, so I knew if I had baby in bed with me full time I'd be getting even less sleep than I already am with three feedings a night. Getting a sidecar co-sleeper that joins up with the side of our bed was the perfect solution. I love that it converts from a bassinet to a full-size play yard, so it grows with baby, even further reducing the amount of stuff you need.
2. Cloth Diaper
The first week of BabyE's life we used chlorine free disposables. They had a handy cut out for the cord, and we didn't want to deal with getting the meconium out of cloth while adjusting to life as new parents.A week of watching DH carry sacks of used sposies to the dumpster and I had enough. I just know all my diapers from baby-hood are still sitting in a landfill somewhere, and that is really not something I wanted to pass on to the next generation.
Beyond just cloth diapers there are several other traditionally disposable must-haves that have a reusable alternative. Instead of disposable wipes, we use cloth. Instead of garbage bags, we use washable diaper pail liners to hold used diapers. We have small wet bags to hold used diapers when we're on the go. I even use washable cotton nursing pads.
3. Shop Etsy
I registered with Amazon Baby Registry because their Universal Wishlist Button allows you to add products from any site on the web to your list. That way you can select the greenest of all the products out there, even if they're not available on Amazon.The really great thing about this is that it allows you to add handmade green items from Etsy. There's no better feeling than supporting the small businesses on Etsy and receiving their beautiful one-of-a-kind creations.
If you want to add something from Etsy, I recommend contacting the shop owner to set up a reserve listing for you. That way when your friends and family go to purchase it, you know it will still be available. Keep in mind listings on Etsy last only four months.
Free Printable Green Baby Registry Checklist (15 kb)
Layette
- Gentle laundry detergent (I used to make my own, but now I use Charlie's Soap Laundry Liquid.)
Nursery
- Co-sleeper or Play Yard with removable bassinet
- Organic Cotton Waterproof PlayYard Pad
- 2 fitted Organic Pack N Play Sheets
- 2-4 receiving blankets
- Baby Monitor
- Teething toys (Everybody loves Sophie!)
- Cloth grasping toys
- Soft or board books
- Puppets (That just sounds like fun!)
Changing
- Changing table pad
- 2-3 Changing table pad covers
- 2 Washable cloth diaper pail liners
- 3 dozen organic cloth baby wipes
- Container for cloth wipes
- Organic Cotton Cloth Diapers
(1 dozen per day, adjust for how often you plan to wash)
- Diaper Covers
(3 per dozen diapers)
Bath
- 3-4 Soft washcloths
- 2 hooded baby towels
Feeding
- 4-8 bibs
- 2 dozen burp cloths
- 6-8 pairs washable nursing pads
- Nipple Cream
- Nursing Cover
Medicine Cabinet
- Baby nail clippers or blunt scissors
- Thermometer
- Nasal Aspirator (Nosefrida Snotsucker Nasal Aspirator
is amazing! I really like that it's washable.)
Travel
- Diaper bag
- Changing pad
- 2 Small Washable Wet Bags
- Wipes Holder
- Baby carrier/ sling (Ergo Baby Carrier
and Moby Wrap)
- Sun shade for car
How did you green your baby registry checklist?
Title image from Caitlinator on Flikr. This post linked up with Sorta Crunchy and Hippie Housewife.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Reduce Reuse Register: Green Baby Registry Checklist List
Right after finding a midwife, creating a baby registry seems to be at the top of the to do list for every new mom-to-be. Maybe that's because every conversation goes something like this: "I'm pregnant" "Really? When are you due? Where are you registered?" There is no doubt baby registries are a great thing for well wishing family and friends to find you exactly the gift you've been hoping for. However, one trip to Babies'R'Us left us feeling more than a little horrified at the abject consumerism that new babies seem to require in our culture. That is not the legacy we want to leave our child or the values we want to teach him. After vowing never to return to that over-lit box store filled with new plastic and disposable goods, I took another look at what we really needed for baby. Living as a family of three in a 700 square foot one-bedroom has also influenced our decisions. This list is revised and improved from the suggested registry checklists (over five pages each when printed!) available on thebump.com and target.com. Not only does it reduce consumption, but it also makes having a baby look much more affordable. This is the list of what worked for me, but of course your list should reflect what works best for you.
Reduce
Consider removing the following items from your list completely.
Layette:
4-8 undershirts or vests
1-3 sweaters or jackets
Coming home outfit (We had a home birth, so he was already home)
6 T-shirts (Baby t-shirts never stay down over his little belly)
No-scratch mittens
Nursery:
Crib (Consider a co-sleeper or family bed situation)
Crib Mattress
Crib bedding set
Bassinet
Bumper pad
1-2 Heavy blankets
(Last I checked babies aren't supposed to sleep with blankets. Try blanket sleepers if it's cold)
Crib Mobile
(BabyE spends exactly zero time in his co-sleeper alone and awake. He wouldn't allow that, and neither would I.)
Dresser
(DH cleared out one drawer in our dresser for Baby's things. They are pretty small after all. Do they need their own dresser?)
Hangers
Hamper
Activity mat
Activity gym
(I momentarily considered getting one of these, but now I realize he would have been bored with it within three weeks. There are some wood versions available, and there's even an affordable one at Ikea)
Changing:
Changing table (We're using the top of our dresser)
Diaper Cream
Wipe Warmer (He's never fussed during diaper changes, but if he did I might consider finding a used one.)
Diaper disposable system
Diaper disposable refills
Bath:
Baby bathtub (I'll talk about How We Do Bath Time in an upcoming post. Stay tuned.)
Baby soap (Warm water works just great, and there's no chance of irritation or allergic reaction.)
Baby shampoo
Baby hairbrush
Feeding:
I know it's uncommon to have the luxury and/or desire to being with your baby 24/7. You'll see the whole list of bottle-feeding supplies on the Reduce list because we're exclusively breastfeeding. At his pediatrician's recommendation I grudgingly got a manual pump, but he hasn't conceded taken a bottle yet.
Bottles & nipples
Bottle liners
Bottle warmer
Bottle sterilizer
Bottle brush
Pump
Milk Storage Bags
2-4 Pacifiers
Formula
Medicine Cabinet:
Consider waiting to see which of these items you'll actually need. Three months in, and so far we haven't needed any of them.
Medicine dropper or spoon
Infant acetaminophen
Antibiotic cream
Saline nasal drops
Baby gas drops
Teething gel
Travel:
Umbrella Stroller
Lightweight jogging stroller (seriously there were three strollers on the Target list!)
Reuse
Consider getting these used to help divert items (especially bulky plastic ones) from the waste stream. A dear friend gave me all the hand-me-downs from her boys. Some of these you probably already own. Check craigslist or local consignment shops. There's no need to get everything new just because there's a new baby. Full disclosure here, I did get a couple of these items new. Sometimes convenience just wins out. Nobody's perfect right?
Layette: Even if you don't register for them people will give you baby clothes. They're just so cute! Who can resist? If there are still some items you need, baby clothes rarely get worn out because they out grow them so fast.
4-8 bodysuits or onesies
4-8 one-piece pajamas or gowns
2 blanket sleepers for winter baby
1-3 rompers or other dress-up outfits
4-7 socks or booties
1-3 hats
Bunting bag or fleece suit for winter baby
Swimsuit for summer baby
Nursery:
Rocking/Arm chair
Music box/sound machine/CD player
Nightlight
Toy Basket
Organizer baskets
Swing or Bouncy Chair
Clock
Jumper
Bath:
Bath toys
Changing:
Diaper pail
Feeding:
Dish washer basket for small items
High Chair
Nursing Pillow
Nursing Pillow Cover
Travel:
Convertible car seat (Only if it is not expired and has never been in a crash.)
Stroller System
Register
Layette:
Gentle laundry detergent (I used to make our own, but now we use Charlie's Soap Laundry Liquid.
NA)
Nursery:
Co-sleeper or Play Yard with removable bassinet
Waterproof mattress pad
2 fitted sheets
2-4 receiving blankets
Baby Monitor
Teething toys
Cloth grasping toys
Soft or board books
Puppets (that just sounds like fun!)
Changing:
Changing table pad
2 Changing table pad cover
2 Washable cloth diaper pail liners
3 dozen cloth baby wipes
Container for cloth wipes
Cloth diapers (1 dozen per day, adjust for how often you plan to wash)
Diaper covers (3 per dozen diapers)
Bath:
3-4 Soft washcloths
2 hooded baby towels
Feeding:
4-8 bibs
1-2 dozen burp cloths
6-8 pairs washable nursing pads
Lanolin nipple cream
Medicine Cabinet:
Baby nail clippers or blunt scissors
Thermometer
Nasal Aspirator (Nosefrida Snotsucker Nasal Aspirator
is amazing! I really like that it's washable. NA)
Travel:
Diaper bag
Changing pad
Baby carrier/ sling
Sun shade
Stay tuned for Part 2 of Green Baby Registry where I'll discuss how to Green the items left on your registry list. I'll also provide a printable PDF of the list you can take with you while registering.
Reduce
Consider removing the following items from your list completely.
Layette:
4-8 undershirts or vests
1-3 sweaters or jackets
Coming home outfit (We had a home birth, so he was already home)
6 T-shirts (Baby t-shirts never stay down over his little belly)
No-scratch mittens
Nursery:
Crib (Consider a co-sleeper or family bed situation)
Crib Mattress
Crib bedding set
Bassinet
Bumper pad
1-2 Heavy blankets
(Last I checked babies aren't supposed to sleep with blankets. Try blanket sleepers if it's cold)
Crib Mobile
(BabyE spends exactly zero time in his co-sleeper alone and awake. He wouldn't allow that, and neither would I.)
Dresser
(DH cleared out one drawer in our dresser for Baby's things. They are pretty small after all. Do they need their own dresser?)
Hangers
Hamper
Activity mat
Activity gym
(I momentarily considered getting one of these, but now I realize he would have been bored with it within three weeks. There are some wood versions available, and there's even an affordable one at Ikea)
Changing:
Changing table (We're using the top of our dresser)
Diaper Cream
Wipe Warmer (He's never fussed during diaper changes, but if he did I might consider finding a used one.)
Diaper disposable system
Diaper disposable refills
Bath:
Baby bathtub (I'll talk about How We Do Bath Time in an upcoming post. Stay tuned.)
Baby soap (Warm water works just great, and there's no chance of irritation or allergic reaction.)
Baby shampoo
Baby hairbrush
Feeding:
I know it's uncommon to have the luxury and/or desire to being with your baby 24/7. You'll see the whole list of bottle-feeding supplies on the Reduce list because we're exclusively breastfeeding. At his pediatrician's recommendation I grudgingly got a manual pump, but he hasn't conceded taken a bottle yet.
Bottles & nipples
Bottle liners
Bottle warmer
Bottle sterilizer
Bottle brush
Pump
Milk Storage Bags
2-4 Pacifiers
Formula
Medicine Cabinet:
Consider waiting to see which of these items you'll actually need. Three months in, and so far we haven't needed any of them.
Medicine dropper or spoon
Infant acetaminophen
Antibiotic cream
Saline nasal drops
Baby gas drops
Teething gel
Travel:
Umbrella Stroller
Lightweight jogging stroller (seriously there were three strollers on the Target list!)
Reuse
Consider getting these used to help divert items (especially bulky plastic ones) from the waste stream. A dear friend gave me all the hand-me-downs from her boys. Some of these you probably already own. Check craigslist or local consignment shops. There's no need to get everything new just because there's a new baby. Full disclosure here, I did get a couple of these items new. Sometimes convenience just wins out. Nobody's perfect right?
Layette: Even if you don't register for them people will give you baby clothes. They're just so cute! Who can resist? If there are still some items you need, baby clothes rarely get worn out because they out grow them so fast.
4-8 bodysuits or onesies
4-8 one-piece pajamas or gowns
2 blanket sleepers for winter baby
1-3 rompers or other dress-up outfits
4-7 socks or booties
1-3 hats
Bunting bag or fleece suit for winter baby
Swimsuit for summer baby
Nursery:
Rocking/Arm chair
Music box/sound machine/CD player
Nightlight
Toy Basket
Organizer baskets
Swing or Bouncy Chair
Clock
Jumper
Bath:
Bath toys
Changing:
Diaper pail
Feeding:
Dish washer basket for small items
High Chair
Nursing Pillow
Nursing Pillow Cover
Travel:
Convertible car seat (Only if it is not expired and has never been in a crash.)
Stroller System
Register
Layette:
Gentle laundry detergent (I used to make our own, but now we use Charlie's Soap Laundry Liquid.
NA)Nursery:
Co-sleeper or Play Yard with removable bassinet
Waterproof mattress pad
2 fitted sheets
2-4 receiving blankets
Baby Monitor
Teething toys
Cloth grasping toys
Soft or board books
Puppets (that just sounds like fun!)
Changing:
Changing table pad
2 Changing table pad cover
2 Washable cloth diaper pail liners
3 dozen cloth baby wipes
Container for cloth wipes
Cloth diapers (1 dozen per day, adjust for how often you plan to wash)
Diaper covers (3 per dozen diapers)
Bath:
3-4 Soft washcloths
2 hooded baby towels
Feeding:
4-8 bibs
1-2 dozen burp cloths
6-8 pairs washable nursing pads
Lanolin nipple cream
Medicine Cabinet:
Baby nail clippers or blunt scissors
Thermometer
Nasal Aspirator (Nosefrida Snotsucker Nasal Aspirator
is amazing! I really like that it's washable. NA)Travel:
Diaper bag
Changing pad
Baby carrier/ sling
Sun shade
Stay tuned for Part 2 of Green Baby Registry where I'll discuss how to Green the items left on your registry list. I'll also provide a printable PDF of the list you can take with you while registering.
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