Attachment Parenting

Attachment Parenting, Earthway Parenting, Post Partum

Courtney’s breastfeeding journey

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When I was pregnant I never even considered that I may not be able to breastfeed.

When my first daughter was born the labor and birth were quite traumatic and resulted in an emergency c section. After a very quick look and cuddle, she was taken to the special care nursery and we were separated for quite a few hours. When I was finally able to see and hold her and have some skin to skin time it was only for a short while, in which she nuzzled around my breast a little, and then due to my health I had to be taken out of special care and so we were separated again.

Attachment Parenting, Conscious Parenting, Earthway Parenting, Gentle Parenting, Play, Toddlers

Finding our flow in surrender

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As parents we all have far too much to do.

Our modern lives are focused around productivity, both at work and in our home, most days I feel a constant need both internally and externally to have “something done” with my day, to be ticking items off my long to-do list.

But what if what we really need, every now and then, is just to do nothing?

To hibernate. To slow down. ⠀ As the cooler months start to close in around us lets choose to disconnect from the outside world a little more (and more importantly the online world!) and let’s opt for a deeper connection with our loved ones. What would it feel like to entrench ourselves in our emotional and spiritual wellbeing rather than our sole focus being on our physical fitness?

Perhaps we could begin with putting down our phones and actually checking in with each other.

Hadas Images
Attachment Parenting, Co-Sleeping, Earthway Parenting, Infant care, Post Partum

Parenting your baby during the night is not about a set of rules and sleep strategies.

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Parenting your baby during the night is not about a set of rules and sleep strategies.  Parenting your baby at night time is all about connection.

As a new parent I was shocked to find myself feeding my new baby literally around the clock.  Eight weeks into being a new mama I was desperate for sleep.  I called in the big guns, a local midwife!  ‘The reason your baby will not sleep is due to her sleep associations.  Your baby has a dummy AND you breastfeed her to sleep.’  These were her exact words stated to me as I was crying and feeding my eight week old daughter. To sleep. 

Attachment Parenting, Baby Wearing, Co-Sleeping, Earthway Parenting, Gentle Parenting, Infant care, Post Partum

Expectations

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Expectations.

We all have them.

Do your expectations as an adult meet up with your expectations that YOU have for your baby? Your child?

Expectations as an adult tend to go a little like this… To be loved.  To be respected.  To be acknowledged and also nurtured.

Why then do we feel that our baby or older children would not also have these same expectations?

I ask this because I feel that some of us are still on the same ‘old school’ page of Crying It Out (CIO).  With our little people we may feel even that punishment is more sufficient instead of teaching.  Perhaps we have an expectation that our children should ‘respect our authority’ then we will return the favour and in turn ‘respect them!’

I know that this might jostle a few feathers and I am ok with that, because if it does, then I am SO pleased that you are here.  I am so excited that you are using the new year as an opportunity to take stock, take action and create change within your home, after all this is where the magic really happens..

Attachment Parenting, Conscious Parenting, Gentle Parenting

Holiday Vibes!

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Is anyone else feeling the overwhelm of the year coming to a close?

Parties, dinners, graduations, the organisation of trips away, shopping, shopping, shopping…

Are your children feeling ‘off track and stressed out?’

Could it be they’re reflecting the negative energy you’re putting out?

I know as a mama I’m having my fair share of ‘moments’ as the holidays rapidly approach, and I know that my children are vibing off of that too.  We are all so ready for the holidays to begin whilst also being aware that, ‘this too shall pass.’  And it does pass, seemingly more and more quickly as the years go by.

This time of year is a wrap up of all that has come in the months before while at the same time often an avalanche of chaos, stress and anxiety around the numerous things we need to get done, to attend, to buy, to cook, to clean, item after item that needs to be handled and ticked off our many, many holiday ‘to do’ lists.  This can create tension within homes, anger around finances being stretched, and anxiety around events with young children.

Attachment Parenting, Co-Sleeping, Infant care

A gentle approach to sleep and settling for your new baby

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As new parents you will find yourselves shocked to the core in the realisation that yes, your new baby will feed around the clock. The average new baby will sleep for 16 out of 24 hours BUT all babies are very unique. You may find that your newborn will sleep up to 19 hours or as little as only 8.

You need not worry though because it is not about ‘how may hours’ he or she will sleep, you may simply have either a wakeful baby or a sleepy one. A cat napper or a baby that leisurely sleeps the day and night away (now wouldn’t that be lovely!).

In those first few weeks post-partum your new baby will wake, feed and then fall asleep again. Only to wake no more then 2-3 hours later, yes, for yet another feed! As your new baby grows so does their appetite, you will find that your baby will want bigger feeds as opposed to more frequent feeds, they will tend to be more active between feeds also, which will then (fingers crossed!) allow for deeper and longer sleeps!

Your Infant needs a loving, responsive interaction always. This is an essential foundation  for connection and building trust.  Your touch is just as important and as fundamental as the food that you provide for them.