Archive for June, 2010

Though spanking has been passed on from generation to generation in many families, many experts agree that it is not, and never has been, an effective way to discipline a child.  Children who are spanked may refrain from repeating a misdemeanor rather than risk another spanking, but they obey only as long as the risk is present.  Spanking may stop a child’s undesirable action in its tracks, bit it won’t change behavior.  It doesn’t teach children how to differentiate right from wrong  (only what gets them spanked and what doesn’t) – which is, after all, the most important goal of discipline.

There are many way to teach a child from right and wrong.  One of the toughest things about being a parent is the power that comes with it.  Yes power.  I have seen parents scold there children after they wonder off but it was mainly because the parent was not paying attention to the child.  The parent looks up and doesn’t see there child then goes into a panic and scolds the child when they find him or her.  Or how bout when a child is given everything and finally the parent says NO and the child goes into a fit and then the parent gives in to quiet or appease the child.  That is the beginning of a pattern that the child will know that if he/she throws a tantrum they will get what they want.

Now don’t get me wrong.  There are good and bad children and sorry mom’s and dad’s they are born that way.  Spanking them will not make them good.  The most important thing we have to remember is that teaching them the difference between right and wrong is the goal.  Why is stealing bad?  Why do you not tease other people but encourage them?  Those types of thoughts are the ones that will build the foundation for who your child will choose to become.  When I say choose I stress that because ultimately it is there choice you are only there to guide them.  Hope that helps.

Mark

The natural way

Breastfeeding your baby should be the most natural thing in the world, and people often assume that everything will go smoothly. However, in reality, many mothers find that breastfeeding is not as easy as they thought it would be. However, there are many things that you can do to make breastfeeding a success and a pleasure for you and your baby. Taking time to relax and enjoy each other, eating a healthy diet with plenty of liquids, fresh food and nutritious snacks, getting as much sleep as possible, asking for help when you need it – all these are things which will help to establish a healthy breastfeeding routine.

Follow these simple breastfeeding tips to make sure you continue to promote a positive breastfeeding experience:

• Drink lots of water (8 glasses a day)
• Put your feet up whenever you can. Regular rest is important for healthy milk production.
• Eat a healthy diet containing mostly fresh (preferably organic) foods free of artificial preservatives, colorants or flavoring.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, smoking (including second-hand smoke) and other drugs
• Don’t give up! Putting your baby to the breast – even if there is no milk flow – will help to stimulate lactation over time.
• If little to no milk flow is a problem try Nature’s Milk Drops to naturally help with production.

Support healthy milk flow

Modern research has shown that breast milk is the perfect nourishment for babies, as it not only contains all the nutritional requirements in ideal proportions, but also provides protection from disease and illness in the form of antibodies from the mother’s own immune system.

Not only is breast milk the perfect food for babies, it also comes ready for use (no mixing!) and requires no sterilizing of bottles and far less risk of contamination. In addition, babies that are breastfed for the first 6 months of their lives are far less likely to develop allergies. There has even been research to suggest that babies who are breastfed go on to develop a higher IQ than those who are not. Breastfeeding also provides the perfect opportunity for bonding between mother and baby and has the added advantage of helping the mother to shed those extra pounds she has collected during pregnancy! The list of benefits to mother and baby just goes on and on!

-MOBS

My expecting wife told me a little story that I thought I would share with all of you.  She is 7 months pregnant and going through that very hard, Bigger then the good year blimp, Feeling.

In my eyes she is beautiful but in hers she is large and growing every minute.  She came home today beaming that a lady complimented her saying “you are the cutest pregnant girl I have ever seen.  You go girl!!!”

It made my mom to be beam with happiness and pride of what she is creating.  In today’s world where thin is a must, it’s nice to let the mothers of the world know that they are the most beautiful ones of all.  Remember however you look at it we have all come from our mom’s belly.  That kind of links us all together in a special way.  So everyone take an extra second out of your day to be a little extra nice to those mom’s to be out there.

Here is a little organic gift idea for the Momma to be.  A little gift that indulges a special mama in a big way. From lips to toes, and everywhere in-between.

It is a little something that says a big “I Love You” – naturally!

Spread the love!!

-mark

You have some time on your hands Mom/Dad?  Here is a great recipe for Sweet Dreams Organic Baby Lotion.

Submitted By:
Karen of Dunnellon, FL

Summary:

Soothing baby lotion for baby’s skin and lightly scented for calming
Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. aloe vera gel
1 1/2 tsp. lanolin
1 1/2 tsp. Vitamin E oil
1/3 c. virgin coconut oil
1 oz. pure beeswax (white),filtered
3/4 c. camelina oil
1 1/2 tsp. essential oil (optional) 2 tbsp. lavender powder
1 1/2 tsp. chamomile powder
Instructions:

In a blender, mix aloe gel,lanolin,vitamin E oil. Using a glass container, melt coconut oil and beeswax until fully melted. Gently stir in camelina oil. Slowly pour oils into blender on low. At this point oils will thicken and turn white. Stop blender and add essential oil,if used. Blend gently in short bursts. Do NOT over blend. Add lavender and chamomile powders, blend gently until incorporated. While mixture is still warm, pour into containers. This mixture will thicken quickly as it cools. This lotion doesn’t leave oily feeling to skin and absorbs well. Great as a massage lotion for baby. Makes approximately 2 1/2 cups.

Please let us know how it turns out.  We are going to make a batch and we will let you know how it stacks up to our Mama Rose’s Naturals Organic Baby Lullaby Lotion.

Hope you enjoy,

MOBS

Visiting family or friends this summer?  Their home may not be safe for little ones.  Ask about potential hazards and what special equipment they have so you’ll know what to bring.

You want to know where you’re children will sleep.  If there are stairs, take along mesh stair gates.  Other items to consider: covers for faucets and door handles:  plastic zip ties to secure cabinets; an inflatable tub for bathtime; and a night-light.  If you don’t want to lug too many gadgets around, rent shortterm equipment in select locations from babysaway.com, babytravelpros.com, or the travelingbabyco.com.

Of course you can bring along our Natural First aid Kit or our All Natural Bug Spray.

Hope that helps,

MOBS

Not really sure how I feel about this man made disaster but I’m for certain I am sick of oil.  I am at an age (34) where I have grown up my whole life and all we ever talk about is oil.  Oil prices when they skyrocket, politicians getting donations or boosters from oil companies or the simple fact the last 2 out of three wars were essentially for oil.

What saddens me first is that I strongly believe we suppressed the scientific advancement for alternative solutions because at the time the oil companies were steering the movement more to line there pockets rather then thinking for the future.

http://www.rense.com/general72/oinvent.htm

http://byronwine.com/

I will not get too bogged down with all the conspiracy nonsense or look at the past and get angry.  The bad news is those companies and politicians got away with that nonsense in the old days.  The good news is we are changing and changing for the better.

This article is not about me and it’s not about you.  This article is for all the ones that can’t even read yet.  Yes, we are now moving towards alternatives faster then ever before and yes it seems the world as a whole it paying more attention to the footprint we leave but for all intensive purposes we are not doing enough to ensure we leave this place a better cleaner planet for our children then when we were given it.  The problem is as our awareness is growing so is the population.

Alright, so what is the immediate answer?  Hold on let me check the black book.  Well there really is no immediate answer but leverage is in the air and certainly in the water of the Gulf right now.  I can’t understand where Obama get’s all this money from but hey I’d rather have a paperless debt then a destroyed planet for my children.  Politics is simple the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  Use this spill to demand that your local politician lobby’s for more money on alternative fuel research.  Actually I think they should just get BP to use any of it’s profits for research for the next 1000 years.  Any who, sorry to get off on a tangent.  I have listed some sites below for donations that I feel will help the families suffering from this disaster.

Mark

http://www.matteroftrust.org/

http://www.gnof.org/gulf-coast-oil-spill-fund/disaster-on-the-gulf-coast//

Cloth Diaper Systems

by ALLABOUTCLOTHDIAPERS.COM

I remember how overwhelming it was when I first began cloth diapering.  There were so many choices (and SO many more now!) and I had no idea where to start.

The one thing I did know was disposable diapers are gross and I needed something else.  I refused to compromise my child’s health any more (the gel crystals all over his private areas was the stick that broke the camel’s back!).

I want to help you get off to a smooth start.  But, plan for bumps in the road.  No one cloth diaper will work for all babies.  No one laundry detergent will work for all households.  However, as long as you stick to your convictions (why you began looking into cloth diapers) then you’ll ensure success in the long run.

You may have noticed that there are different kinds of cloth diapers.  Some need a cover, others need inserts and then there are those that need nothing added to them.  The following is a condensed explanation of the different cloth diaper systems. (Click => How to Make Cloth Diapers for links on how to make many different types of cloth diapers.)

ALL IN ONES/ALL IN TWOS (AIO/AI2)

An AIO is generally viewed as a diaper that needs nothing else and is very similar to a disposable. The soaker is either sewn internally or externally (referred to as a quick dry soaker) and can close with snaps or Velcro (Velcro is a trademark but there are two other similar products: aplix (softer, long life, doesn’t roll in like touchtape can) or touchtape (stronger stick and available in a variety of colors) ).

An AIO does not require a cover. An AIO with an internal soaker will have a longer drying time because the air cannot circulate around the hidden material.

An external soaker, referred to as a Quick Dry (QD) soaker, allows for air to circulate around the soaker when drying, therefore quicker dry time.  The addition of a pocket to an AIO makes it a Stuffable AIO.

An AI2 has a snap in or lay in soaker . The name All in Two arose from the ability to get two uses out of each diaper.  When your child pees, theoretically you can remove the soaker and replace it with another if the shell did not get wet. AI2s also have a much faster drying time because the soaker is external.

POCKETS

A pocket diaper usually does not require a cover. The exception would be a fitted that has a pocket. A pocket can be made with a PUL (polyurethane laminate) or fleece outer.

The outer can also be any material backed or lined in PUL. Minky is lusciously soft and many makers offer this fabric for their pocket diapers.

The inner material choices for a pocket include: microfleece, suedecloth, velour, athletic wicking material, minky, cotton or bamboo. Different materials will feel different on the baby when wet. Of the fabrics listed above, microfleece, suedecloth and athletic wicking material are considered “stay dry”.  This means baby feels dry after a pee.

A pocket diaper is 2 layers of material sewn together on 3 sides leaving an opening for you to insert the amount of absorbent material you desire. The insert can range from a very trim microfiber towel to a bulkier infant prefold.  Another popular insert material is hemp. Hemp is a natural fiber that is antimicrobial and extremely absorbent as well.  Infant prefolds do double duty as an insert as well. Simply trifold the prefold and stuff the pocket. For added absorbency wrap the prefold around one of the above inserts.

FITTEDS

A fitted diaper is a diaper that contains no waterproof layer therefore requires a cover.  Fitted diapers are the easiest to make on your own because they can be made from any material you have laying around your house.

Fitted diapers can be made from cotton, hemp, fleece, velour, bamboo, knits, various types of terry cloth, kitchen towels, old t-shirts, sweatshirts and many other scrap fabrics you may have laying around. Fitteds are kind of like quiche…toss in any leftovers and out comes a great product!

Without a cover the pee will soak through and get you or the furniture wet. If you are just hanging out at the house for the day a cover isn’t necessary.  Just make sure to consistently change the diaper before a leak occurs.

You will undoubtedly stumble upon fitted cloth diapers and ask yourself the same question everyone asks at one time or another, “why are fitteds so expensive and cute when you just have to cover them up?”  Many factors go into the answer but just think of it like a good wine or expensive pair of shoes…you often get what you pay for.

PREFOLDS

Prefolds are an absolute staple that every mother should have in her basket. They are amazingly durable and versatile. A prefold diaper is a rectangular piece of cloth divided into 3 sections. The outside layers contain 4 layers of fabric and the middle contains either 6 or 8 layers. The middle layer is the absorbent layer.  You will see the prefolds described as 4×8×4 or 4×6×4. This describes the number of layers in the sections. It does not always mean the 4×8×4 are more absorbent. It is the weight of the fabric that indicates absorbency.

You will find some variations to the number of layers especially if you are purchasing specialized prefolds made with bamboo or velour. In some cases there may be 2 layers of bamboo with an extra layer of hemp in the middle.

Bamboo is a highly absorbent material, therefore needing fewer layers than cotton prefolds.  This allows for a trimmer fit as well. It comes down to what you want to pay and how soft a fabric you desire.

Prefolds generally come in three sizes-

• Preemie (4-10pounds),
• Infant (newborn to 15 pounds) &
• Premium/Toddler (15-30 pounds).

There are different types of prefolds out there and many abbreviations for them.

• DSQ simply means that it is Diaper Service Quality versus the type of diaper you would find in your discount store. They are more absorbent than the Gerber brand and are the type that you would pay money for from a diaper service company.

• CPF stands for Chinese Prefold
• Another option for prefolds are Indian Prefolds. Indian prefolds are said to be softer than the CPF and are made of gauze rather than twill.

• There is also the choice of bleached or unbleached. Bleached prefolds are not whitened with bleach but rather with peroxide. Unbleached are in a natural cream colored state. Unbleached do require extra prep time to remove the natural oils in the fibers.

Prefolds can be pinned or snappied on your baby or you can fold it in 3 (trifold) and lay it in a cover. If you choose to use a different system prefolds can still be used as pocket stuffers or doublers. They are an investment worth making.

We hope you enjoyed the article.  Please check out our recommended line of Organic Cloth Diapers.

-MOBS

Okay so it’s that time of year again when we send the little one’s out into the blazing summer sun all day where they go in and out of the water.  I’m just going to give you a quick rundown on sunblock.

Sun shielding products fall into two general types.  Absorbers, technically referred to as Sunscreens, soak up UV rays and preventing them from reaching the skin.  Reflectors, referred to as Sunblocks, bounce back or scatter UV rays away from the skin.

Ocean water and perspiration wash sunscreen off your skin so you will not have the same amount of protection you thought you had after swimming and tanning.  Choose a waterproof sunscreen to minimize reapplication.  Typically, water-resistant sunscreens lose their SPF after 40 minutes in the water; waterproof sunscreens after 90 minutes.  This varies brand to brand so remember to read your product’s instructions and re-apply as needed.

We recommend Mama Rose’s Naturals SunBlocker that offers 100% natural sunscreen protection against UVA and UVB rays, while being water and sweat resistent. This non-greasy formula absorbs easily into skin, and can be used effectively on face and body. Make no mistake, our Sunblocker meets the immediate need for a safe, chemical-free sunscreen for you and your family.

Each ingredient in this outstanding product has been carefully chosen to serve its own individual purpose in nourishing, protecting, and moisturizing the skin. Mama Rose’s Naturals SunBlocker is the perfect blend of ingredients resulting in a pleasant-smelling sunscreen lotion without any dangerous artificial chemicals or synthetic fragrances. For this reason you can feel great about putting it on your skin, as well as your baby’s! SunBlocker provides safe broad-spectrum protection for infants, children, and adults.

Click Here to get our Organic Baby Sunblock.

-MOBS

Making your own soap is not very hard and can be allot of fun.  Natural soap can be made using the cold process, the melt and pour and the hot process, all of which are surprisingly easy to do. It may take some experimentation to come up with the right formulation. All you need is the willingness to learn and the patience to keep on trying to get the best formulation for your skin

Cold Process Soap:

Called Grandma made soap it’s made by combining fatty acids and sodium hydroxide (lye) together.  The condensed version of this type of soapmaking is that there is a certain proportion of lye (sodium hydroxide) and water to fatty acids that forms a chemical reaction called “saponifaction.” During saponification, the oils and lye mix and become soap – the process takes approximately six weeks to fully complete.

When making soap, you will need the right tools and supplies to get everything right. The tools you use will depend largely on the method you will use. However, most of these tools can be found in your kitchen, while some are very accessible (available in your local supermarket).

All you need are containers, a mixing bowl, a wooden spoon, a boiling pot, molding trays and clean cloths.

Let’s get a beginner 4.5 pound soap recipe

16oz Canola Oil
16oz Coconut Oil
16oz Palm Oil
6.9oz Lye (5% superfatted)
15.8oz Water

General Instructions:

If you make your very own organic handmade soap, you will be providing your skin with the best luxury it can ever experience. Natural, pure soap will give your skin the healthiest and the most natural nourishing effect that it deserves.

MOBS