I first began thinking about potty training when my son, Gordon, hit the 18 month mark. Stories of other children who were out of diapers at a year old served as motivation as well as the fact that I am a teacher with two months at home in the summer to serve as #1 potty-training coach. There were many things to consider, like the fact that Gordon doesn’t speak yet (would he be able to tell me he has to go potty?), the possibility of signing him up for a preschool program once a week to meet other kids (would he have to be out of diapers to attend?), and the implications for my mother-in-law who watches Gordon when my husband and I are working (is it too much to ask?).

After weighing the pros and cons, I decided to take a very casual approach and just test the waters. So, with Gordon in tow, I headed out to Wal-Mart and, with Gordon’s help, picked out a simple, blue potty that transforms from a traditional potty to a step stool and potty attachment for a regular toilet. We were both very excited.

Cari

I found this super cute toy that is good for babies 9 months called the Frog in a box. It is a softer version of the classic toy on a spring. The frog has a squeek and a rattle plus the lilly pad crinkles.

Available at galt toys for 32.00 U.S.

I don’t even have to go looking for great articles on breastfeeding they just fall in my lap.

Today Reuters has an article on how “Breastfeeding reduces anxiety into childhood”. It starts by listing the many benefits of breast milk such as the hormones, nutrients, enzymes, and antibodies that are passed from mother to child. In Britan, 9000 children were monitored from birth in a major study. All children were found to have a high level of stress but the breastfed ones coped better. It was not clear why they were less anxious. Physical contact between mother and child may have helped in reducing the anxiety.

“The more we look at breast-feeding, the more benefits we see. As this is something that is, in evolutionary terms, normal it is likely to be important in normal human development,” Dr Scott Montgomery, an epidemiologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden

There is so much postitive information coming out about nursing. I believe that every mom should at least try to breastfeed. It may not be for everyone, it does take a lot of work. Your baby deserves, at least, for the colostrum. After all breastfeeding is free. The milk is always warm and you always have it with you.

It has been 6 months and you have been breastfeeding normally. One morning you go to nurse and for some reason the baby will not take your breast. What has happened?

Something has changed in your breastfeeding routine that they baby is not happy with. It is called a “nursing strike” and it usually last for about 2-4 days. For moms who feel they have been breastfeeding for long time this gives them the opportunity to wean. For other moms who are enjoying the special time they have with their baby and the bond they have created, this is devastating.

My son went on “strike” a few months ago. He would take breast and bottle. One night around 4 am I went in to feed him as usual, he refused the breast and would not stop crying. He wanted nothing to do with it. We took him to the doctor and he checked out okay. I could not figure out what had changed so I started back at square one in a quiet room and began to rebond. It has been suggested that you should try to re-introduce the breast when the baby is slightly tired. I tried this and it worked. I was very patient with him. If I offered him the breast and he didn’t want it we would move on and I would offer it again later. Even though he wouldn’t take it I would still offer it before and after each nap. I wanted to establish a pattern with him that this was when we feed. After about 6 days he started to nurse again. In the meantime, I pumped and fed him by bottle. This was the problem I believe. The bottle allows for instant gratification and you need to work to get the milk out of the breast. Mr. Lazy baby wanted to take the easy way out and get fed faster. I don’t know if I blame him. He has since decided that he wants breastmilk, only if I retrieve it for him and give it to him in a bottle.

If you experience a nursing strike La Leche League has some excellent suggestions. They are extremely knowledgeable and have pretty much experienced all breastfeeding issues.

Related arcticles:

When a baby won’t nurse by Carrol Brussel