Parenting Archives - Page 12 of 15

Parenting Isn’t Easy – A Reflection of Love

February 24, 2015 by Melanie Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: Adapted from MorgueFile

Parenting isn’t Easy at All.

It’s 9:30pm.

You’re washing your face and trying to keep your eyes open. The day is done, until the baby wakes for his 1am feeding, you can’t help but feel run down. Your hair is a mess, there are several unexplainable stains on your shirt. The bags under your eyes have replaced the ones that used to be in your closet. You can’t help but wonder where you have gone. The girl who was spontaneous, carefree and well put together.
You run a warm bath hoping to get a few moments to yourself. You head downstairs to pour a glass of wine and grab a book that you bought last year and still haven’t opened. Before you head back upstairs hubby asks if his jeans are clean for tomorrow. You shrug and head back down to the laundry, you knew you forgot something.

But don’t you always?

The clothes are sitting sopping wet in the washer. You give them a quick sniff and throw them in the dryer with a few extra dryer sheets. You take a deep breath and head back upstairs and fall onto the couch. You hit the cushions and feel your eyes starting to close. Suddenly you remember the bath water is running. You get to the bathroom just in time to see the water pour over onto the floor.

Perfect.

Another mess to clean. Your relaxing bath turned into yet another chore. You soak up the water and then sink into the tub. You take a sip of your wine, and slowly lower your head under the water.

“Mommy, mommy”

Did you just hear someone calling you? No, the children are asleep.

“Mommy, mommy”

There it is again, your oldest is awake. Great!

You pull yourself out of the water and open the door.

“Mommy” he says with a smile on his face. And then wraps his arms around you. “I love you”

You breath. The frown on your face turns into a smile. Your short lived bath, and tired eyes are no longer on your mind.

This is what makes you realize that none of that matters. True love, the perfect ending to your night. Those tiny arms around your waist.

“I love you too little man, I love you too”

Parenting isn’t easy, but it’s the little moments that make you realize it’s all worth it.

This post was originally part of Time for Mom, a mom blogger link up. Check out other posts from our co-hosts on their sites:

Rachel @ Can’t Google Everything

Brie @ {…a breezy life}

Valentines Crafts for Kids – A Canvas of Love

February 10, 2015 by Melanie Leave a Comment

**Disclosure: Affiliate links contained in this post

Looking for the perfect valentines crafts for kids idea at the last minute?

Here it is. Valentine’s Day is a time to express your gratitude to loved ones, usually in the form of cards, flowers and chocolate; however, if you’ve been searching for a unique gift for loved ones, or a keepsake for your own home, below are the instructions for one of the easiest, cutest, Valentines crafts for kids to do on canvas.

What you will need:
A blank canvas (we used 12*24- you will need room for handprints, a footprint and a small quote)
Red Paint
A fine paint brush
Child or children (I used my toddler and infant)
Foil & tape ( this is what I put the paint on)

Tablecloth (to protect your table from messy hands or spilled paint)

Step One: Lay down the table cloth and then squirt some red paint onto the foil. (I tapped the foil down so it didn’t lift when we pressed hands and feet into the paint)

Step Two: If two children are making this craft, I recommend having the older child do this first step. Have your child get red paint on one hand and rub it onto their other hand. After both hands are covered press their hands in the shape of a heart onto the canvas towards the upper right hand side. (I cleaned my son’s hands before moving on)

Step Three: Press the foot of your infant (or the same child if only one child is making this canvas.) Once the foot is covered in paint press it onto the canvas on the opposite side towards the bottom. (I then cleaned my son’s foot)

Step Four: This is where you take over- unless your child is older and has a steady hand. Write near the heart. “From the bottom of my/our heart to” (choose your wording depending on if you have one child or two making the canvas) Next to the footprint write: “to the tip of my/our toes”

Step Five: Below “to the tip of our toes” in bigger letters I wrote: “We Love You!” If it is one child this would say “I Love You”

Step Six: I wrote the names of the boys on the bottom of the canvas along with the month and year to help remember when they created this art when we look back on it in the future.

We love this valentines crafts for kids so much that we are keeping this canvas for ourselves and are hanging it on our wall in the living room. We have a spot where we change out the canvas art the boys create as the seasons change. This was a quick project but is very cute, so we may make a few more for family members. I love art projects that have their hand or footprints so we can see how they grow as the years pass, incorporating other designs and words into them makes them even more memorable. I hope you enjoy this canvas art and quality crafting time as much as we did.

Welcome to Time for Mom!

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DIY Nailhead Bulletin Board

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Natural Ways to Protect Against Measles

February 6, 2015 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Information contained in this post are for informational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Please seek advice from your general practitioner or pediatrician for any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on the information in this post is taken at your own risk. Affiliate links contained in this post.

No matter which side of the vaccine debate you are on, the recent surge in media coverage on the latest measles outbreak can be alarming for any parent. There’s risks on both sides, whether you and your children have received vaccinations for measles or not, you may still be at risk of contracting measles. Despite current media hysteria, in the last three out of four years, there have been more cases of measles than there have been with this current outbreak. The risk has been there.

What we want to do here is simply be proactive and let you know what you can do to protect both you and your family during this time. So, what are naturals ways to protect against measles?

First, let’s talk about what you should be looking for? According to the CDC, common symptoms of measles are:

fever
pink eye (conjunctivitis)
runny nose
dry cough
A skin rash

Measles, according to the CDC, starts with a mild to moderate fever, and then one notices the other symptoms. The rash is made up of small red spots, some of which could be raised, in clusters. Typically, one notices the rash behind the ears and along the hairline, then the face, down the arms and trunk, before moving to legs and feet.

What can I do to lessen our risk of measles and/or aid in the treatment of measles?

Most sources say there’s no treatment for measles, however, there are many correlations for lessening the complications of measles by:

getting plenty of rest
increasing fluids
high doses of Vitamin A
increasing Vitamin D and Vitamin C

We can start being proactive now by increasing our consumption of these vitamins and taking supplements to ensure that our and our children’s bodies are in their healthiest state. Instead of your normal go to foods, try getting 2-3 of these foods in everyday. Here’s 50 foods you can help boost your immunity to help protect against measles:

-Foods highest in Vitamin A

Sweet Potato
Carrots
Kale
Spinach
Collard Greens
Turnip Greens
Other Dark Leafy Greens
Butternut Squash
Pumpkin
Romaine Lettuce
Dried Apricots
Cantaloupe
Red Peppers
Bluefin Tuna
Mango
Papaya
Broccoli
Peas
Asparagus
Tomatoes
Turkey Liver
Beef Liver
Fortified Oatmeal (check your labels)
Paprika
Fermented Cod Liver Oil

-Foods highest in Vitamin D

Fermented Cod Liver Oil
Trout, Salmon, and other oily fish
Shiitake or Portabella Mushrooms
Pork
Beef Liver
Orange Juice or Milk Fortified with Vit D
Fortified Cereals (check your labels for more than 10% daily value)
SUNLIGHT – Okay, this isn’t a food, but just 10 minutes of sunlight provides the daily recommended amount of Vitamin D. Stay outside for 30 mins everyday!

-Foods highest in Vitamin C

Peppers (Yellow Bell highest, then red, then green)
Guavas
Kale
Kiwi
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Strawberries
Oranges
Tomatoes
Papaya
Pineapple
Mango
Cantaloupe
Peas
Cauliflower
Red Cabbage
Lemon

Additionally, you should be making sure that:

You are drinking plenty of fluids everyday
- Adults should be drinking 9-13 cups everyday (men more than women); Children over one should be drinking 4-5 cups everyday.
Getting the recommended amount of sleep

Lastly, there are many supplements that you can take in addition to the above, especially if you do not feel like you are getting enough nutrients from food. For us, personally, we choose to give Skibbles

We take similar supplements for ourselves. These are some of the ways that we are working to naturally protect against measles ourselves, in addition to protecting about everyday illnesses that one may experience this time of the year. We truly hope that everyone stays safe and works hard to protect their immune systems the natural way.

This post is not meant to be looked at as saying that if you do these things you or your loved ones can’t catch measles, but rather that these things will boost your immune system to naturally protect against measles in the event that you do, they can lessen your overall symptoms.

*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Information contained in this post are for informational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Please seek advice from your general practitioner or pediatrician for any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on the information in this post is taken at your own risk. Affiliate links contained in this post.

A Baby! Our Announcement

February 1, 2015 by Larisha Campbell 6 Comments

Almost 3 years ago, we started our blog as a way to share with our family and friends our journey into parenthood with a new baby. Our daughter is a little over two now, and a few months ago we found out that we would be joyously welcoming another precious baby into our lives. We are finally ready to share our excitement with the world and letting everyone know that we will be expecting this summer.

Just like with Skibbles, we have kept our pregnancy very quiet so far for personal reasons, which may seem very odd when it comes to a blogger…Don’t we share everything!? But hey, this is a very personal decision right?

Here’s answers to some questions that you may be wondering about our pregnancy and what we are willing to share at this time:

We are more than halfway through our pregnancy
We’ve decided at this time not to share our exact due date, but rather just let everyone know that we are due sometime between May and July.
We are excited to share that we are having another GIRL
We have a million names on our list, but just like with Skibbles, we won’t be sharing her name on our site. Any suggestions for a baby nickname for our site?

I will say that this pregnancy is COMPLETELY different than when we were pregnant with Skibbles. I find myself tired way more often than I remember with her (WHICH WAS OFTEN!) and have to remind myself that I’m also chasing a toddler around which is exhausting in and of itself. While I’ve gained less than 10lbs so far, I find that I feel like a whale already. I think I starting showing a few weeks BEFORE we got a positive pregnancy test.

Overall, I feel amazing. We are beyond blessed to be experiencing a second child, and I’m thrilled that Skibbles is going to have the bond of sisters. Of course I’m nervous as well as to how another baby will change our entire lives, but we’re up for the experience!

Like the first time around, we are still shocked that God trusts us with one child, let alone now two and we once again find ourselves asking…We’re Parents!? …again!

What Semi-Crunchy Natural Parenting Means To Us

January 30, 2015 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

I get asked all the time …what is natural parenting? what do you mean semi-crunchy? These are both terms that we use to describe our parenting, but just because they mean one thing for us, doesn’t mean that they mean the same thing for others who describe themselves within the realm of semi-crunchy natural parenting too.

First, let’s talk about what I mean by natural parenting. Natural parenting is described by Natural Parents Network as the “desire to live and parent responsively and consciously”. According to Natural Parents Network they have four subcategories that essentially make up natural parenting: attachment parenting, ecological responsibility, holistic health, and natural learning.

The reason that I use natural parenting over just attachment parenting is because I think parenting needs to encompass more than just the attachment speak. So what is natural parenting to us? Well, it’s a lot of things. Our main key focuses that we believe in are:

Preparing for Birth, Pregnancy, and Life – we do this by researching, questioning, and educating ourselves on risks and benefits of recommendations during our pregnancy, as well interventions for newborn care and childhood, as well as the recommendations for us as adults
- For us during pregnancy and birth specifically this means limited inventions during pregnancy, natural, unmedicated birth, delayed cord clamping, immediate skin to skin contact
We believe in exclusive breastfeeding and extended breastfeeding
We do not believe in Cry-It-Out or other forms of sleep training children
We co-sleep by bedsharing since birth
We babywear
We practice baby-led weaning instead of cereals and purees
We do gentle discipline
We use cloth diapers
We garden and recycle and teach our children about the importance of natural preservation
We find natural, holistic alternatives to health conditions like using essential oils
We make most of our meals from scratch, watch ingredients lists, and eat organic
We allow learning to happen naturally and plan to homeschool
We extended rear-face and are very adamant about car seat safety

And many more things encompass what we believe when referring to natural parenting.

Now, what in the world does Semi-Crunchy mean?

Well, crunchy is just a fun term coined to describe everything that I just mentioned above. So here we are really focusing on the “Semi” part. As much as I wish to be the best 100% Crunchy, Natural, Attachment parent- I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not. So why? Well, the answer is simple, I’m not perfect. And to be 100% honest, we didn’t start on the natural journey at all until we into halfway through our pregnancy with Skibbles. Here’s what I mean-

We use disposables too. In fact, since about 16 months, we’ve been exclusively using them over cloth diapers after I was running into issues.
Eating organic isn’t possible 100% of the time. We aren’t made of money and I believe that limiting processed foods is better than not having an organic apple. Everyday we try to get better.
I enjoy eating out when we can. We know this isn’t the best, but I can’t turn down an Amish doughnut, a spoonful of Nutella, a cookies and cream milkshake from Chick-fil-A, or that delicious greasy pizza from our favorite place.
We watch way more TV that I care to admit.
I loose my patience some days and my voice gets raised.
I don’t ALWAYS enjoy breastfeeding. Since day one, I’ve had moments, days, weeks, where I wanted to throw in the towel…I remind myself that each day is a new day and we’re still going at 26 months.
Sometimes there’s more snacks throughout the day than there is real food because I just need a break from the whining.
We give plastic toys AND wooden ones
Andrew would never allow me to get rid of our microwave
We don’t always get outside and explore and have fewer playdates than I really want
And to be 100% honest – there are just some parts of “crunchy” parenting that freak me out or that I just don’t think would work for our family – like kombucha or elimination communication.

The main idea here is that there is not a “one-size” fits all when it comes to natural parenting. We are all parents and we are all trying to do our best. This is what works for our family and we change and adapt everyday as we feel that we need to do so. At the end of the day, I think we all just pray that our children grow into upstanding adults that respect themselves and others, work hard, love unconditionally, and appreciate the little things we did for them.

Do you find yourself a part of semi-crunchy natural parenting? Something else? Weigh in below in the comments.

10 Things I Miss About Pregnancy

January 27, 2015 by Melanie 2 Comments

As women we know pregnancy is an amazing experience with a beautiful outcome. There are so many precious moments that we miss once our bundles of joy arrive; hearing their heartbeat from inside, the first kicks, and little baby hiccups. But along with the sweet loving moments of pregnancy, there are a few other things I miss that aren’t talked about quite as often.

1. Napping without judgment. Napping several times a day during pregnancy was completely acceptable. And people were more willing to watch the kids. I feel this was mostly because they didn’t want to deal with the wrath of my raging hormones if they shot down my request.

2. The crazy, huge meals at all times of the day. Eating ice cream, an entire package of sausage, and shrimp for breakfast was considered a well balanced meal. I also loved that I could eat down and eat an entire package of Oreos without blinking an eye.

3. The pregnancy “excuse”. Invitations can be declined without hurt feelings. If you don’t want to go somewhere you have an excuse no one will question. “Sorry I am just so tired” or “I have the worst morning sickness.” (Even if you aren’t squatting over a toilet at that exact moment, no one will question you).

4. Litter Boxes. I hate them. I love my cat, but I DESPISE the litter box. During pregnancy, this becomes hubby’s chore. Even if he gets home late from work he is in charge of that nasty box of cat excrement. This alone makes me want to get pregnant again.

5. The Pregnancy Truth serum. For 9 months of your life you can tell it how it is and no one will say anything back to you. If I did this now I would be called many things none of which are pleasant.

6. The free pass. If the house was a little less tidy when hubby came home from work, no mention of the toddler tornado would be discussed. And he would clean up even after working for 7 hours and his commute. This also worked with the wretched toddler poop diapers. With the enhanced sense of smell, this duty became his. And that is glorious.

7. Doing the deed. You are exhausted for 90% of the pregnancy. The hormones, the sickness, the weight; the last thing I thought about was getting it on. When you aren’t pregnant you suck it up for love, but when I am pregnant “I’m Tired” is an acceptable excuse. No questions asked, no sulking, no guilt.

8. You carry the weight, but lift none. No heavy lifting. Maybe this is just me. But I have moved twice while pregnant. So I personally adore this. I sit my pleasantly plump self down and direct traffic.

9. Spandex! Spandex clothes no matter the occasion are highly acceptable when you are pregnant. Especially in the later months, they are typically the only acceptable leaving the house clothes you can breath in. I hate jeans (those terribly uncomfortable garments), but leggings, oh…..they are so cozy. #teamspandex

10. Your craving is my command. Knowing that if you had a craving at 3am for Chick-fil-A french fries, bananas Popsicles, and YooHoo (no other chocolate milk will suffice) Hubby will run to three different places just to satisfy your pregnancy cravings. If I woke him for a craving now he would laugh in my face, roll over, and go back to sleep.

Can you relate to any of my missed pregnancy moments? Do you have any you would like to add? If I didn’t love the taste of wine so much and the fact that I can see my feet I might just get pregnant again.

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5 At Home Date Night Ideas

January 20, 2015 by Melanie 3 Comments

5 at home date night ideas

Once you have children it can be hard to find time for yourself, let alone your relationship. It can be hard or near impossible to arrange a date night. You may not have anyone to watch your children, you can’t afford it, or you are just too tired to leave the house. I am here to tell you to take your love life off of the back burner and put it in the oven and turn the heat up. Below is a list of at home date night ideas to show the love while spending little to no money.

1. Movie Nights- Once a week or month whatever you can make work for you as a couple. Pick a movie, make snacks, snuggle up on the couch, and most importantly put the electronics away. (Two hours without a phone or computer will not kill you) Switch up the genre each time; take turns in the drivers’ seat. (Variety and change can be fun and if neither of you like it, laugh about it later) We bought a book that recommends 1000 movies you need to see before you die; it is separated into different genres. We like to go through and pick random movies neither of us has seen. You don’t need to buy the book, Google is just as good.

2. Spa Night- Enjoy a Bubble Bath, give each other a back, foot, neck rub, listen to soothing music and enjoy some wine or champagne. (You both work hard whether it be in or out of the house- unplug and unwind, you will thank me later)

3. Sports Night! Hubby will LOVE this one. Did you go to the same college or different colleges? No college, what about Professional sports teams (there are sports for every season I am sure there is one you can agree on) Wear your team colors, if you like different teams try to find a game where they play each other. This can make for a fun competitive night. Men love when you show enthusiasm in something they like (lets face it they do it for us pretty often). Place a bet on the team you think will win (winning team gets a massage, makes dinner, baths the kids) Make sports food snacks: chips, hot dogs, burgers, beer. You can make it extra fun if you score tickets and go to the game.

4. Game Night- This is one of our favorites. I think I might be a little competitive. Pull out some old board games, set it up in bed, play some music that was popular when you and hubby first met. It makes you feel like a young carefree couple again. Again you can put some wagers on the win. Perfect game time snacks (cheese, crackers, popcorn, wine)

5. Cook Together (okay so this might have to happen later than normal dinner time once the kids are asleep but I swear it will be worth it) Google a fancy recipe (something you wouldn’t serve the kids- mostly because they wouldn’t eat it and it would be too expensive to waste) Work together, show each other your inner chef. Share a bottle of wine, micro brews, or make some fancy cocktails) Sometimes we pretend we are on a competitive cooking show. Not only will you have fun but you will reward yourself with a delicious meal.

These are just a few fun at home date night ideas that can bring the spark back into your relationship. Write these ideas or others on a Popsicle stick, keep them in a jar and pull on out at least once a month and spend some quality time together. You deserve it and afterwards you will notice the difference.

Looking for a simple way to bring you and hubby closer each night? Turn off your phone after the kids are asleep, turn on a favorite TV show and snuggle on the couch. JT and I do this each night after we put the boys to bed, and it a definite mood changer. It’s not one of our at home date night ideas, but it is our time to relax and show our love for each other not just as mom and dad but as a couple.

10 Reason We Love the Boba 4G Carrier

October 18, 2014 by Larisha Campbell 2 Comments

*Disclosure: We received the product(s) discussed in this post free of charge. Thoughts and opinions are 100% ours. Affiliate links may be contained in this post. We receive a small commission for purchases and thank you for helping us continue to run our site.

A little over a year ago, we received a Boba 3G carrier. We instantly fell in love and use our Boba almost everyday. When the Boba 4G carrier came out, we got one right away and were just as in love with the small, but significant changes. Just recently, Boba wowed us again when they announced seven new color swatches. The moment we laid our eyes on Wildflower, we knew we needed it. It’s freaking gorgeous. And everyone that has seen it agrees. But what I get asked most often is WHY we love Boba. Well, let me tell you…

The 4G has an integrated infant insert that snaps in for use from 7-45lbs
There are foot straps for toddlers so their legs get a break while staying in their ergonomically designed frog position
Removable sleeping hood with it’s own pocket which also doubles as a great way to discretely breastfeed
Snap Strap Holders on both shoulders of the carrier to help hold a purses/diaper bag/other bag
Multiple adjustments so anyone can wear the same carrier (comfortably fits 5’0″ to 6’3″)
Pockets to hold valuables
2-3″ higher rise on body of the carrier compared to other brands
Easy adjustments to nurse discretely in the carrier
Thick waistband to support lower back
Designed to ergonomically hug your child to your body creating a sense of security

We were honored to wear this carrier at the Babywearing World Record this year at MommyCon Philly. We got so many compliments from it and it was the perfect carrier for us to wear all day. I don’t typically wear her for more than an hour or two at a time, but at MommyCon I wore her for almost eight full hours. This was a lot of strain on my back, but I didn’t feel any pain until around the last hour. I couldn’t imagine what I would feel like in another non-supportive carrier or even worse, no carrier at all. I’m extremely grateful for the way that Boba allows me to feel knowing that I’m providing comfort not only to myself, but creating a sense of comfort and security for my child. I’m excited for the opportunity to one day hopefully use it with another infant and wear them from birth in the same carrier with the new infant insert.

Bonus! #11 reason we love Boba: THE ADORABLE DESIGNS!

This year Boba announced the launch of SEVEN new designs (all pictured below). Additionally, the still carry five previous designs, including Montenegro (black), Safari (tan), Dusk (gray), Kangaroo, and Tweet. Solid colors are $125, Print designs are $128, and Organic Prints are $148.

All carriers can be purchased on their website or directly from Amazon.com.

(#WearAllTheBabies is only available on their website)

Why I Stopped Judging And Became A Babywearer

October 1, 2014 by Melanie 2 Comments

*Disclosure: This is a guest post. Thoughts and opinions may differ from ours. Affiliate links may be contained in this post. We receive a small commission for purchases and thank you for helping us continue to run our site.

Baby-wearing.

Before I was a mom, the thought of wearing my child around seemed absolutely ridiculous. I would think to myself, “why does that person have their child strapped to their body? Just let them walk, put them in the cart, or use the stroller.” Looking back now, I realize I knew nothing.

Children are beautiful, amazing, difficult little people. After becoming a mom, you realize you are willing to try everything possible to calm your children when they are crying and cranky. My oldest son suffered from severe acid reflux, so painful cries were a common occurrence at our house. I would find myself begging and pleading for his comfort and for silence.

It wasn’t until I won a Moby wrap that I truly understood the power of baby-wearing. I now take back every silly joke I made about parents who wore their children. Those parents aren’t crazy; they are baby gurus!

They knew what I was about to discover: baby-wearing is the answer to it all.

When the package arrived, I sat down and opened it. A confused look took over my face; it was 5.5 meters of intimidation. How do I use this long piece of fabric? This cannot possibly hold a child, and if so, he is not going to like it.

Wrong and wrong!

The directions included were hard for me to comprehend, so I pulled up YouTube on my trusty iPhone. After studying 3 videos, I decided to give it a try. My first attempt was loose and sloppy. On the second attempt, I was looking better. By attempt three, I had a calm, sleeping baby. I thought to myself, “This has to be a fluke. I exhausted him with all the wrapping and tying.”

The next day, I decided to give it another go; he was fussy, and I was exhausted and on the verge of tears. You wouldn’t believe it. I didn’t believe it. Success! We had absolute silence. He went from wails to fast asleep within five minutes. I now had a quiet, sleeping baby. From that moment on, I became hooked and without any more judgment or fear. I found my solace in this long piece of stretchy fabric. I knew then that I needed more carriers. Within a few months, I owned a Boba soft structured carrier, a ring sling, and beautiful woven wrap. I formed a new addiction to coincide with my cloth diapering one.

I started off judging those parents who wore their children, but in reality I had no idea how smart they were. Wearing my toddler on my back while shopping has made it an enjoyable experience again. No longer am I chasing him around the store and trying to prevent public meltdowns. My house is clean again, and the dishes aren’t stacked in the sink as high as his Lego tower. I strap him on and get to work.

What Carrier Should I Get?

Many ask why the variety of carriers, and how do you know what is right for you. I use my Boba for quick trips with my toddler, the ring sling is perfect when it is hot out, and my beautiful Oscha woven is my go- to with my two month old son around the house and out shopping. When you decide to take the plunge into the amazing world of baby-wearing, remember there is no need to feel intimidated (YouTube is your friend), and the results of baby-wearing will reassure you that you made the right choice. If you aren’t sure what type of carrier you would love, check out a local babywearing group (Facebook is a great place to look for one!). Many of which have a lending library of various carriers for you to try before you purchase.

About the author: Melanie resides just south of Pittsburgh with her fiancé Jon and their two sons: Jace (who will be two in December) and Jaedyn (who was born in July). They are a cloth diapering, baby-wearing, breastfeeding, semi-crunchy family.

Baby K’Tan Controversy Response – Proof why Baby K’Tan is NOT Racist

June 25, 2014 by Larisha Campbell 5 Comments

I recently learned that Baby K’tan came under fire for being “racist” against black families because on their packaging the “white” woman had a man in the picture and the black woman didn’t. I don’t typically post many rants on my blog, but I’m posting here because I hope Google decides to index it at the top in response to this ridiculous topic.

Number one. Stop using the wrong terminology. If anything, they may be stereotyping, but you can’t say they are racist. If they are racist then all of their images would be strictly of white people. Moving on…..

Now, I’m seriously over the middle school drama that we have seemingly come up with in this society. Since when do we have to complain about Every. Single. Little. Minute. Detail. Seriously!! And who has time for that? I mean, honestly, who the hell is sitting around thinking what can I conjure up to start drama today for x-y-and/or-z.

Recently Baby K’tan came under fire when someone posted these photos together (above picture) and said that because the black mother was alone, they they are racist and stereotyping a single black mom. And then a sh** storm broke loose on social media. Without any research. Without any knowledge, people felt entitled to repost this image over and over with their uneducated, minuscule thoughts.

Now I get it. Trust me. You see something that pisses you off and you want to share it. Got it. But there are certain things, like when it comes to racism and especially involving small businesses, that you really should take 0.007 seconds to research and then instead of being in the uneducated group of social media morons that share everything just because, you would actually see the truth. But because you won’t do that, let me spell it out here for you.

1. A 30 second inquiry over at their website would show a variety of races and family dynamics using their carriers. Even men alone. I mean gasp. Maybe they don’t think moms are fit to raise a baby. (Seeing no racism, moving on…)

2. They’ve actually worked with us. A MIXED COUPLE! From the very beginning. When my blog was teeny tiny and barely had 1,000 Facebook fans, they gave us a chance. And guess what. Our pictures were all over our site. Andrew is black. If they were really racist, they could have just said no thank you. But they didn’t. And wait. The picture I showed in my post– It is just of me. Because at the time Andrew was scared to wear her and didn’t want to be in the picture….which leads into…

3. Maybe. Just maybe. They just didn’t have someone the day they had a photographer to fill that part. Or maybe the black male cast cancelled at the last minute and they couldn’t get a replacement but had to go on with production. So they did one family box and then multiple images of women, why? Because it’s depicting the mother- which a majority of the time with a newborn baby is the one that is supposed to be doing skin-to-skin.

4. Because if you do a 5 second Google search, you will see that these are all product packages for Baby K’Tan. Maybe, they only support single families? I’m pretty certain they support all walks of life and are simply just trying to depict what the product is intended to do. Keep your baby close to you.

5. Because the couple on the “family” packaging is actually an interracial couple (white female, Hispanic male). FREEZE. HOLD UP. PAUSE. Are you serious? Such a controversy. And WAIT! They actually have a picture of a black dad babywearing in their ad campaign.

Bonus: And just because I couldn’t have said it better myself,

all the reasons that TheBabyGuyNYC lists.

Get over yourself. Go do something to change the world and stop complaining about things that have absolutely no merit. The 5 minutes of your life you wasted saying that this company was racist could have been prevented by simply looking up the information for yourself. My honest thoughts– white, middle class, middle aged females are known to be the primary consumer and purchaser, so they SHOULD target that audience. Nothing more. Nothing less.

This is a very small company, only five products currently, so I’m sure that their marketing/PR/advertising budget is also small, so maybe, just maybe, when they can afford a multi-million dollar ad campaign they will be able to show more families images. Until then….

We love you Baby K’Tan.

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