10 Reasons to Breastfeed
- Breast milk is the most complete nutrition for a human infant
- Breastfeeding promotes bonding and healthy brain development, more so than any other form of feeding
- Research has shown that breastfeeding for at least two years reduces your risk for breast cancer by up to 50%
- Breastfeeding reduces chances of infections and colds by passing the mother’s antibodies and immunities to the baby
- Breast milk is always available and at the perfect temperature
- Average cost to formula feed for the first year of life = $1,260
Average cost to breastfeed for the first year of life = FREE - Breastfeeding increases the mother’s metabolism, allowing you to lose baby weight quicker
- Breastfeeding helps your uterus to shrink back down to size quicker as well as shorten postpartum bleeding time
- Breastfeeding helps raise the baby’s IQ
- Research has shown that breastfeeding significantly reduces the risks of childhood obesity
10 Reasons to Cloth Diaper
- Babies who wear cloth diapers have fewer issues with irritated bums and rashes
- Better for the environment
- Average cost to use disposable diapers over 30 months = $1,551
Average cost to cloth diaper using a premium diapering system over 30 months = $610 - Cotton diapers are gel and chemical free
- Less chance of your baby developing a chemical intolerance/allergy
- These are not your Grandma’s cloth diapers! Cloth diapers come in an unlimited number of colors and styles to match your lifestyle
- Cotton diapers are breathable, while plastic disposable diapers are not, which means more comfort for your baby
- Less chance of product contamination and recalls
- Convenience of always having diapers available and never running out
- Cloth diapered babies are, on average, quicker and easier to potty train
10 Reasons to Wear your Baby
- Free your arms and hands and relieve your hardworking back, shoulders, neck, and wrists.
- Keep little hands away from delicate displays or public restroom walls, and give little feet a rest or keep them from taking your child in undesirable or unsafe directions.
- Easily share jokes with an older child or keep tabs on an infant, naturally including children in your interactions from a comforting place — heart-to-heart with you.
- Maintain an open airway for baby with proper positioning, unlike in a carseat, swing, stroller, or bouncer can restrict the flow of oxygen to the brain.
- Savor eau de tiny-sweaty-baby-head, fuzzy-head kiss-therapy, and chubby-cheek-noms at your convenience.
- Navigate unpaved, crowded, or places deftly, with no bulky equipment to tote if your child decides not to ride.
- Slings can be double as changing pads, pillows, picnic blankets, teethers, and magical hammocks, costumes, roads, rivers, and more. And they wash up easily.
- Allow a much-needed nap to happen anytime, anywhere.
- Connect with local and international families who enjoy it and become a part of the pan-cultural tradition of babywearing.
- It doesn’t matter if you carry kiddos on your front, back, or hip; a few minutes every now and then, or every day for a few hours — once you’ve done it, you understand how satisfying it can be to connect with your children by giving them a ride.
10 Topics to Discuss with your Pediatrician
- Antibiotics/use of medications for common ailments
- Alternative or holistic health options
- Breastfeeding/extended breastfeeding and weaning
- Circumcision
- Co-sleeping
- Routine testing and well-child visits
- Getting baby to sleep
- Nutrition/introduction of food
- Vaccinations
- Routine procedures to baby immediately after birth such as eye ointment, Hepatitis B and vitamin K