My 6 week old baby is generally pretty happy, but he does have those hours at the end of the day. Those hours when he’s most likely trying o process all of the stimulation from the day and the things that usually comfort him- walking, rocking, nursing- don’t.
The only thing that calms him down is the stability ball. It’s the craziest thing actually, because he can be pretty upset and the minute I sit on that ball to bounce with him in my arms he is instantly soothed.
As I said before, I have a love/hate relationship with that ball, but if it means calming my fussy baby, I’ll do whatever it takes.
It’s late summer and I’ve been staying indoors for the last 5 weeks, but that doesn’t change the fact that we are in the middle of a record breaking hot, hot summer.
It’s time for my yearly post on sunblock. When it’s time to slather on the sunscreen, it’s best to use a mineral based formula. These don’t penetrate the skin, and instead just reflect the sun’s rays. Most sunblocks contain cancer causing chemicals, and when baked into the skin by the sun, they increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
There is a great database called Skin Deep where you can search the type of sunscreen you use and find out how safe (or dangerous) they are. I recommend using it for all of your personal care products.
Also, it’s best to completely avoid the spray-on sunblock. The toxic cancer causing chemicals and hormone disruptors in the sunscreen become airborne and are then inhaled by your children and anyone else around.
—I still love my Roomba, and this week I discovered a new use for it- keeping my 2 year old in his chair during dinner.
Since he won’t let his feet touch the ground while the Roomba is in use, I usually turn it on when we leave the house. But since I’m not leaving for 40 days, I ran it during dinner the other night. What do you know! Since he was already in his seat and he refused to touch the ground, he sat with us for the entire meal. I’m totally onto something.
—I am not natural at all costs, which is why I call myself Integrative. I had yet another case of mastitis, a week after my last bout, and this time when my fever neared 103 degrees and didn’t budge for two days, I called my doc for a prescription for antibiotics. My natural ways didn’t go out the window though- because this was the first time in exactly six years I had been on antibiotics, I did everything I could to maintain a healthy gut flora and prevent thrush in my newborn.
— Now matter how many minutes of everyday I stare in awe of my rapidly changing and growing children, it never seems like enough and, as hard as I try, I can’t freeze time.
“Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold.” – Zelda Fitzgerald
I just spent twenty minutes inflating my “birthing ball.” Technically, it’s just a balance ball or stability ball, however they are very useful during the days leading up to labor and during labor itself.
Gently bouncing on the ball can actually help the baby get into position
Doing hip circles on the ball helps to open up the pelvis and makes delivery easier
sitting on the ball offers relief that a more structured chair or sofa doesn’t
The hospital where I delivered my 2 year old son recommended I bring my own ball in case the ones they had were all being used. I still love the image of my husband and me in active labor walking the long city blocks to the hospital with the suitcase, boom bucket, and birthing ball in our arms, stopping every few minutes for me to bounce.
Little did we know that ball would be FAR more useful after we brought our newborn home. I remember my sister saying there was no use buying a glider or rocking chair when babies love the stability ball, so in one of those “witching hour” moments when absolutely nothing would stop my baby from crying, my husband held him in his arms and bounced on the ball.
It was magic.
He instantly stopped crying, and fell asleep shortly thereafter. We were amazed and overjoyed. If I had known how many hours I would spend bouncing on that darn ball, I would not have been as happy. But in that moment it was wonderful.
This was always the result. Went from crying at full throttle to sound asleep in no time flat.
For the next 6 months or so, my husband and I traded off sitting and bouncing on that ball, during all hours of the day and night. It worked better than anything else we tried. I had a love/hate relationship with it, but it was miracle enough for me to know that I will use it again with this new baby.
Do you have a birthing ball? How about a deflated exercise ball gathering dust? Do you have a crying baby? Then I encourage you to get it out, puff it up, and start bouncing!
If you don’t have one, I consulted a fitness expert and found out how to choose a ball based on your size:
Each ball holds up to 600 pounds
How to choose size of ball:
Up to 5’7″ tall use 55cm
5’8″ to 6′ use 65cm
6’to 6’4″ use 75cm
He also recommended the best place to order one online- they have the best quality balls:
I know how much all of my friends love dressing their children in Tea Collection, so I have to share this tidbit:
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Just enter code MSALE20 at checkout now through Monday, May 30th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time to receive this additional savings.
This super sale is good on limited quantities and they always sell out, so check it out today!
