Understanding and Accepting Sleep Needs in Babies

Understanding and Accepting Sleep Needs in Babies. How knowing what your child's sleep needs are will help you be a better mom.

Whenever you read about how long your child should be sleeping, you will notice there is a range given. Night sleep should be 10-12 hours. Naps should be 1.5-2.5 hours long (unless it is a catnap, and then it may be only 30 minutes). Despite that range being given, moms tend to fixate on the larger number. 

I often get concerned questions from moms because their child is "only" sleeping ten hours at night and they can't figure out how to get to that 12 hour mark. I always remind them, ten is in the normal range. Ten may be enough for your individual baby. 

Of my four children, two have been low sleep needs and two have been high sleep needs. Understanding and accepting that there are different sleep needs is very freeing to you as a parent. Once you realize your child has low sleep needs and doesn't need as much sleep at night nor as long of naps in the day as a high sleep needs baby, you will be able to relax and just enjoy motherhood so much more. 

How Healthy Sleep is Possible from Birth Through Older Children

How Healthy Sleep is Possible from Birth Through Older Children. You can have healthy sleep at all ages. You start with a strong foundation and then hold strong to it. 

Healthy sleep is a worthwhile goal for your baby. Once you have worked to get that healthy sleep for your baby, it is absolutely worth holding fast to it through the toddler years, preschooler years, elementary years, and teenage years. Then you send your child off into the world as an adult who knows how to sleep. That may sound silly, but when you look at the rising number of prescription sleep aids, you know sleep is a skill that is indeed valuable.

Nap and Bedtime Concerns for Preschoolers

Nap and Bedtime Concerns for Preschoolers. How to know when to drop naps all together and what to do if your child stays up playing in bed past bedtime.

Sleep concerns and questions do not end when your child leaves babyhood behind her. You continue to wonder when to drop naps and worry about how quickly they fall asleep. These issues are both being addressed today.

Ideas for Establishing Good Sleep Habits and Dropping to One Nap

Ideas for Establishing Good Sleep Habits and Dropping to One Nap. Get great sleep from the beginning and continue those habits into the toddler years.

Something I never regret as a parent is that I spent time and effort on setting up healthy sleep habits. I never said, "Wow, I wish my toddler didn't take naps still" or "Hmm...I sure would like it if my 4 year old didn't have a rest time each day." I never shake my head that my 13 year old goes to bed and a reasonable hour each night. I never sit in jealousy when I hear the other moms talking about how their jr. high student is up until midnight each night and they can't get him/her to go to bed.

Nope.

I always think to myself, "I am so glad I worked on those sleep habits from the beginning." Sleep difficulties don't end at some magical age one day. The child who fought sleep as a 7 week old, naps as a 2 year old, and beditme as a five year old is not a teenager who says, "Oh, you want me in bed by 9 PM each night? Okay." Yes, some of those magical unicorn children will exist, but most maintain the habits put before them as babies unless those habits are changed at some point.

Four Best Tips for Traveling with Four Kids

The Best Tips for Traveling with Four Kids. Travel tips for families with toddlers, preschoolers, and children.

Traveling with children creates a lot of great memories to look back on. The time, money, and effort it takes to travel with your children is completely worth it! Studies even show that spending money on experiences is better than spending it on possessions. With that said, the more kids you have, the harder it can get to pull off logistically. Here are four tips that will make your next trip with four kids easier. Many of these can be used with any number of children, so if you don't have four children, read on! 

And a note. Travel does not need to be far away nor expensive for your child to love it and create great memories. You can take simple camping trips or even just day trips to places around you and do more of a staycation. Children are easily satisfied and often prefer the simpler trips to the big, grand ones.

Musical Science: An Easy Way to Introduce Sound Waves to Children

A fun way to learn about science through music. How to teach sound waves.

by Kimberly Cartwright

How does music work? Okay, that is a broad question. Music is a very personal experience. Let's focus in on how we physically hear music. How does pushing a key on a piano translate to what we hear as a musical note? The science of sound comes down to one main thing: sound waves. Simple waves can produce that beauty that is a symphony. But let's not try for that right now. Let's keep it simple. Grab some glasses of water and let's explore the science of music.

What to Put in a Welcome to Summer Gift Basket for Your Kids

What to Put in a Welcome to Summer Gift Basket for Your Kids. Great items to give your kids to kick off summer.

I am not sure what has come over me, but this summer I decided to do a "welcome to summer" gift basket for my kids (shhh...they don't know yet). I guess it all stemmed from my decision to start tracking video game time for the week on timers. One mom mentioned she does this in the Chronicles of a Babywise Mom Facebook Group and I loved it! I thought it would be a good idea to balance these timers, which aren't that exciting, with some exciting things for summer.

Here are my items so far. I still have a couple of weeks before they are home for the summer, so if you have a great idea to send my way, let me know! I started with a list of things we want to do this summer, then created a basic schedule, and thought about what I need to purchase for our upcoming summer months. There are things I would get anyway, so putting them all in a basket and presenting it as a gift adds a lot of excitement. This post contains affiliate links.

Timers

This is the item that inspired this whole idea of a basket. I bought these timers on Amazon to use to keep a running total of how much video game time has been played. The kids currently track their own time, but it is often a "Um...I have about an hour left." We do three hours a week, so I made sure to get timers that do more than 90 minutes. I got a different color for each child. The main timer that I got came in three colors, so I got three of those plus this style of timer. 

Piano Book

All of my kids play the piano. It is fun to have a book of fun piano songs to play, and they are all obsessed with the Greatest Showman, so I got them a Greatest Showman piano book. It will be above the levels of Brinley and McKenna, but McKenna can pick out at least the melody and Brinley can copy the melody from the other kids. Even if only Brayden plays, the girls will have a grand time singing along, so it will be a big hit. I really wanted this book to be to all of the kids so that no one could try to pull a "Don't play from my book" moment. I don't allow those type of statements, but I just anticipate this being popular enough that I wanted to make my life easier on myself. 

Paper

A ream of paper people. That is all it takes for pure joy. My girls all spend a lot of time drawing, so they go through a lot of paper. I love giving a ream of paper as a gift. Go crazy kids!

Journal

I got each child a journal. I got them journals to write in for themselves to keep thoughts. I also got journals that are "Mommy and me" journals for us to write back and forth with each other. Kaitlyn and I have done this without any prompts--just a blank journal--but this rates so well that I wanted to give it a try and see if it is nice to have some prompts to strike up conversation. This will help them be able to share things with me they might feel too embarrassed to say out loud. It will help us get to know each other better. It will also keep up their writing skills. I am super excited about this item! Here are the journals that I got:

• Just Between Us: Mother and Daughter
• Between Mom and Me: Mother Son Journal
• You Are Braver Than You Believe and Stronger Than You Seem and Smarter Than You Think
• The Unicorn Journal
• She Believed She Could So She Did

Book

We spend a lot of time at the library in the summer, so I debated about getting a book, but I want each kid to have their own, new book to read that they are excited about. We will hit the library every week, but my kids love owning their own books and they will read books over and over again.

Outdoor Toys

There are so many outdoor toys you could get. Water balloons, chalk, bubbles, squirt guns, balls, sprinklers, bikes, roller blades, etc. We already own a lot of great outside toys (see my post on our favorite outside toys here). One thing we were out of is water balloons, so I got a big pack of those. 

Swimming Gear

If your child needs a new beach towel, swimsuit cover up, suit, or even sunscreen, you can add it in. I am doing a shopping voucher for my older two; they are old enough they have opinions and tastes different than my own so I want them to have a say.

Treats

This is pretty self-explanatory. Treats. You could plan some fun summer treats, like homemade Popsicles and include ingredients for that treat, or just some favorite treats.

Movie Items

We like to do outdoor movies, so some popcorn and a new movie to watch this summer is fun.

Experience Gifts or Tickets

If you plan to go to a baseball game, the zoo, mini-golfing, etc., you can purchase the passes or tickets ahead of time to include in the basket. This gives you all time to look forward to the fun event. It also commits you to completing summer bucket list items you have for your family. You could also announce a vacation coming up with items for the vacation. 

Items for Goals

As each summer approaches, I sit with each child and go over goals they have for the summer. I outline what skills I want them to learn. They can request things to learn. So I am having a child learn to clean mirrors properly this summer. I might buy some things to add in that help with mirror cleaning if we need it. Kaitlyn wants to learn to sew, so I could include something for her to go with this goal for the summer. Cookbooks, printouts, ingredients...Again, things you would already get, but you wrap it up in gift form. 

Summer Schedule

Last but not least is a copy of the summer schedule! My kids love seeing what to expect each day, so this seems lame, but the kids actually like it. For summer schedule ideas, see:

• Sample Summer Schedules for Kids
• How to Have Structure in the Summer Months
• Planning the Summer Schedule

See these other posts on summer from the ladies of the BFBN:

• 5 Cheap and Easy Outdoor Activities For Toddlers 
• Inexpensive Summer Toys That Will Keep Your Toddler Busy
• The Best Outdoor Toys for Toddlers
• Science By The Pool
• 5 Easy Disney Themed Movie Nights

3 REASONS IT IS OKAY TO NOT LIKE BEING PREGNANT {Guest Post)

Inside: 3 REASONS IT IS OKAY TO NOT LIKE BEING PREGNANT . Pregnancy is not always fun and it doesn't make you a bad mom to not enjoy it. 

I've often seen harsh comments made by some that say a woman has no right to complain about being pregnant. I understand the sentiment. As a whole, I don't like to complain. I like to try and see the positive to things. However, I also see that for some reason, complaining about pregnancy is equated to being ungrateful. Of course, there are exceptions to the majority, but I would say that in general, this assumption is false.

Pregnancy Is Hard

You can be fit and healthy but pregnancy can still be super challenging. There are the obvious physical ailments such as morning sickness, the extra weight to carry around, swollen joints, round ligament pain, etc etc. However, so often the unseen things are excluded. Hormones play a huge role in how we feel. Did you know that there is such a thing as antenatal depression? No one knows how pregnancy is going to affect them, but I would say that most women wouldn't say it is a walk in the park. (Read about the 5 things that surprised me during pregnancy -- HERE)

Pregnancy Is Unique

I admit that I get easily frustrated when women push their experience onto someone else. Just because you didn't feel a certain way doesn't mean that another woman can't or won't. Pregnancy is so very individual. We experience things differently. Our situations are different. Gosh, I've been pregnant three times and they've all had their own unique symptoms. If you had an 'easy' ride, then that's wonderful, but don't brush away the feelings of others just because you didn't personally experience them. Some women feel like goddesses during pregnancy. Their skin glows and they feel like the essence of femininity. Others (like myself) feel sick and totally unlike themselves. While I greatly value what my body is doing to grow my child, I don't feel feminine...I feel more akin to a beached whale.

You Still Love Your Baby

If I'm being honest, if I listed out the things I would miss about pregnancy, and those I would not, the 'would not' list would be significantly longer. I don't love the fatigue, the hormone swings, the weight gain, the morning sickness, and the general lack of control. I struggle with not being capable of some of the basic tasks of daily living. HOWEVER... I still love my baby. I don't love being pregnant, but I'm so excited that I get another child out of it. The nine months of challenges are outweighed by that moment when I get to hold my precious child in my arms for the first time. Do I complain about the pregnancy during those nine months? You betcha! However, as much as I struggle with my body image and mental health, I still have the utmost respect for the ability my body has to grow and nurture a human into existence. So, it's okay to not love being pregnant. I remember my mother saying that if a stork could just drop the baby off, that would be great. Ha! However, I think there is a difference between not enjoying something and not being grateful for it. I don't love it when it rains, but gosh I'm thankful that it makes the country I live in so green and lush!

Christine Keys          

Motherhood & Parenting Blogger

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Related Pregnancy Posts on this Blog:

• Morning Sickness
• Pregnancy and the Guilt
• Pregnancy: Weight Gain and Eternal Perspective
• Pregnancy: Think Through Abilities

How to Have Successful Independent Playtime for Twins {Guest Post}

How to get your twins to play independently each day. This is great for giving twins some time alone. 

Independent playtime is important for all children, but it is especially important for twins. Our twins share a bedroom and are literally together 24/7, aside from when they are in independent playtime. It was a challenge to separate them, and we endured many days of tears and them pounding on their doors, calling for each other. It was quite heartbreaking, but I persisted because I believe that independent playtime for twins is essential. They need a chance to explore, play, and grow in their individual personality without their twin to influence them.

Why You Should Do Independent Playtime for Twins

As I mentioned above, independent playtime is important for all children,  but I think that it is especially important for twins. The bond they share is absolutely incredible and it's an amazing blessing to watch it grow and develop. However, let's face it... one day, they're going to be separated! Whether it's for elementary school, high school, or college, one day they will be apart. While it's natural that they will miss each other, I don't want my girls to be so dependent on each other that they fall apart if they aren't around each other.

I also think it's a great way to nurture their individuality. I've noticed that my twins like to mimic one another. Josie will be reading a book and Margo will see her, and decide she wants to read that book for herself. Margo will be playing Paw Patrol, and Josie will come along and need to play with the pups at that exact same moment. They influence each other, for better or for worse. I want them to have a chance to not be influenced by each other for a few minutes a day; I want them to learn what their own interests are and develop their own preferences for play.

Independent Playtime for Twins at the Same Time

Since it is very common for twins to share a bedroom, it can be tricky to find two separate places for them to have independent playtime at.

Separate Bedrooms

This is our current setup. One twin goes in their bedroom, and the other twin goes in their brother, Theo's room. Theo goes downstairs in our playroom, but if we didn't have a playroom I would put him in our guest bedroom. You could even child-proof your master bedroom and do independent playtime in there. A bin of toys could be kept in your closet, or brought in from another room.

Bedroom and Playroom or Living Room

This worked for us in the beginning. Our playroom is on a different floor than our bedrooms, and since they were crying and calling for each other, I tried separating them by floors. Not being able to hear each other cry was extremely beneficial. However, I ultimately wanted them both in the bedrooms because our playroom is off of the kitchen with no door, and I know it's hard for them to see me walking around and not be able to come to me.

Sound Machine

They no longer cry, but I still use a sound machine (with a different sound than they get for sleeping!). The bedrooms they are in are right next to each other, and I don't want them to hear the other one playing and become sad that they aren't together. 

Tip: If you are doing independent playtime for your twins at the same time, do whatever it takes to make it so they can't hear each other.

Independent Playtime for Twins at Separate Times

If your logistics don't work out and you simply don't have the space to do independent playtime at the same time, there are still ways you can do it.

T.V. Time

If you are a work-at-home-parent, or simply have housework to get done, you can alternate T.V. time with independent playtime for your twins. While one twin is having independent playtime, the other can get their T.V. time, and then vice versa.

One on One Time With Parents

You can also use independent playtime as an opportunity to have one on one time with your twins. I try to do this once a week with each child because every parent of twins knows that it's hard to find one on one time with them!

Cleaning Up After Independent Playtime

I've noticed with my girls that when independent playtime is over they are so anxious to see each other that it's like pulling teeth to get them to clean up. I've switched things up a little, and now I let them reunite and then we clean up both rooms together. They are much happier to clean up once they have given each other hugs.

Keep Your Tone Light

When I put my twins into independent playtime, I keep my voice bright and cheery. I say things such as "you're going to have so much fun playing by yourself! Josie will be in the other room playing and having lot's of fun and you can see her when your time is up!" I also remind them of what will happen after independent playtime.

Reward Them

I suppose this isn't specific to twins, but I give them lots of praise when independent playtime is over. Our 'reward' is their television time for the day. My kids all love watching t.v., and it isn't something we do a ton; for us, it is the perfect reward for independent playtime. If it's a snowy day and we don't have plans, I'll sometimes let them watch a longer movie; if we have plans or I want them to play outside, it will be a quick ten minutes of some nursery rhymes (our favorite nursery rhyme show is Little Baby Bums). 

Other Helpful Twin Posts

How We Started Independent Playtime

Tips to Keep Your Newborn Twins on the Same Schedule

The 5 Best Things About Doing Babywise with Twins (and the 3 hardest!)

Tips and Advice for Feeding Twins

How to Get Your Twins to Sleep Through the Night

• Babywise and Twins
• Five Tips for Getting Twins on a Schedule 

Caitlin is wife to Ben, and mama to their son Theo (4) and identical twin girls Josie and Margo (2). They live in Rhode Island and she is passionate about healthy living, keeping it honest and real, and bringing encouragement and solidarity to all moms, but especially to twin moms. You can follow the chaos over at her blog, Twin mom and More.

What It Is Like to Exclusively Pump

The Realities of Exclusively Pumping. What it is like to pump and feed your baby breast milk through a bottle.

A group of moms I am continually in awe of is the exclusive-pumping group of moms. Pumping is no joke. It takes a lot of time and a lot of work. Then after pumping, these moms feed the baby a bottle. Exclusively pumping takes so much time and work that I really don't know if I would be able to make it through. There are many moms who do it, however, so if you want to, know it can be done! 

Caitlin from Twin Mom and More is writing today on her experience exclusively pumping for her twins. She shares:

"Pumping... ugh. Is there anyone who can honestly say that it's an enjoyable experience? I haven't met a single mom who has enjoyed the experience. There are many reasons women choose to exclusively pump breastmilk for their babies and to enjoy the experience is not one of them. I breastfed my first until he self-weaned at ten months old. I planned on at least attempting to do the same thing with my twins. The idea of exclusively pumping was not one that I even thought about because my breastfeeding experience with my first was so easy."

Caitlin shares the real, honest realities of what it is like to pump. If you are considering pumping for any reason, be sure to check her post The Realities of Exclusively Pumping out and see what you might be in for. Don't worry; she is very encouraging while being very honest all at the same time. 

The ladies of the BFBN will all be talking about breastfeeding this week. Check the blog daily to see the talk of the day and where to read it. 

• Monday: Valerie at Chronicles of a Babywise Mom How I Breastfed For 12 Months Even When Everything Went Wrong
• Tuesday: Christine at Christine Keys THIS IS WHY BREAST IS NOT BEST and Kimberly from Team Cartwright  What Twins Can Teach Us About Breastfeeding Attitudes
• Wednesday: Katrina from Mama's Organized Chaos Advantages of Breastfeeding on a Schedule and Natasha from Let's Be Brave How to Survive the First Few Weeks of Breastfeeding 
• Thursday: Caitlin from Twin Mom and More
• Friday: Emily from Journey of Parenthood

How to Be Successful at Breastfeeding

How to Be Successful at Breastfeeding

If you start breastfeeding, you probably want to succeed at it. Despite that initial plan and desire, you may run into difficulties and road blocks that can make you second guess if that is a possible reality. Today, two of the ladies from the Babywise Friendly Blog Network are discussing how to succeed with breastfeeding. One is through breastfeeding on a schedule (it can be done!) and the other is on tips to get you through those first couple of months. 

Breastfeeding on a Schedule

We all like breastfeeding on a schedule, right? And we are all familiar with the information out there insisting breastfeeding on a schedule will not work. I still remember a lacation consultant telling me feeding on a schedule absolutely would not work. This was when Kaitlyn, my second-born child, was seven months old. I had breastfed Brayden for 12 months and was on month 8 with Kaitlyn. "Then...why has it worked for me?" I inquired. "It just doesn't work" was the reply. 

Okay...

So if you are worried about feeding on a schedule or have a friend worrying, check this post from Katrina at Mama's Organized Chaos. She says,

"Up to the point of delivery, I was convinced that I'd have to feed on demand, and was thus planning on doing so. I'd saved all sorts of baby schedules, but was resigned to the idea that it just wasn't going to work. 

Luckily, Caroline was born at 37 weeks, and doctors put us on a feeding schedule immediately. I am so glad the doctors pointed us in the right direction for our family. We started using schedules immediately, and never turned back! Caroline is now 3 years old. I was able to breastfeed for a full year, all while using schedules. I couldn't be happier with how that first year turned out.  Knowing that many breastfeeding moms think schedules are not an option (as I once did), I am on a mission to spread the word that breastfeeding on a schedule is not only possible, it works insanely well!"

Read all about her Advantages of Breastfeeding on a Schedule here.

Survive the First Bit of Breastfeeding

I shared all about the difficulties that can arise while breastfeeding. Many of those difficulties you face come in the first couple of months while breastfeeding--right when you are most vulnerable and unsure of yourself. Natasha from Let's Be Brave is sharing her tips for surviving those first couple of months. I love this tip about handling visitors:

"...try to plan visits around the baby's feeding schedule if possible.  I wasn't super shy about breastfeeding in front of people or stepping out of the room if I needed to, but plenty of people are uncomfortable with either of these options.  Just keep that in mind so that you don't get stuck in a situation where your baby is hungry or you're uncomfortable because you need to nurse and there are people hanging around.  Although this situation is probably inevitable, so have a game plan!  A certain something you or your spouse says to let people know the visit needs to be over or a way to excuse yourself from the situation - something like "I need to go nurse the baby and she's going to take forever!  I'm so sorry we can't visit longer!" "

Head on over to read all of her tips: Title: How to Survive the First Few Weeks of Breastfeeding 

The ladies of the BFBN will all be talking about breastfeeding this week. Check the blog daily to see the talk of the day and where to read it. 

• Monday: Valerie at Chronicles of a Babywise Mom How I Breastfed For 12 Months Even When Everything Went Wrong
• Tuesday: Christine at Christine Keys THIS IS WHY BREAST IS NOT BEST and Kimberly from Team Cartwright  What Twins Can Teach Us About Breastfeeding Attitudes
• Wednesday: Katrina from Mama's Organized Chaos and Natasha from Let's Be Brave
• Thursday: Caitlin from Twin Mom and More and Carrie from Wiley Adventures
• Friday: Emily from Journey of Parenthood

Related Posts on this Blog:

• Book Review: The Nursing Mother's Companion 
• Breastfeeding in Front of Older Siblings
• Combating Babywise Myths #5: Babywise will cause you to lose your milk supply if nursing
• Nursing Woes
• Reader Nursing Questions
• Sometimes Breastfeeding Hurts
• Success as a Mom is not measured by feeding method...

Exploring Your Prejudices About Breastfeeding

Exploring Your Prejudices About Breastfeeding. Is fed best? Breast is best? What is true?

Have you ever stepped back and honestly evaluated how you feel about feeding babies? Do you judge a mom you see with a bottle? Do you feel superior to others for breastfeeding? Do you wear your months fed from breast as a badge of honor?

I will say, once I started this blog, I stubbornly hung on to breastfeeding until one year in order to keep Babywise nay-sayers at bay. In my last month with one girl, she was biting me EVERY feeding. When I was a couple of weeks away from age 1, my husband really encouraged me to just stop breastfeeding so I could stop being chomped on. NO! I held on because I had to go to that exact year mark.

With another baby, we battled chronic yeast for the last month or two (I don't remember exactly how long...some things you block from your memory...but I have written about it on this blog somewhere). Again, with just a few weeks left, my husband asking me why I didn't just stop. Close enough to a year, you are in pain from the yeast, just let it go. Again, no! I had to make it. 

And I did.

That isn't necessarily something I regret. I am a goal-setter and like to meet those goals. I like to overcome difficulty.

However, what would my choice have been if I wasn't wanting to prove to the haters that hey, Babywise moms can breastfeed to a year. No excuses. 

Today, two Babywise moms are talking about attitudes surrounding breastfeeding  and giving pause to stop and think about what you believe, why, and how you treat others because of it. 

Breast is Best (or Fed is Best)?

Breast is best, fed is best...which phrase is best? Christine from Christine Keys argues neither:

"While I understand what the intention was when the 'breast is best' campaign was formed, the truth is, it isn't a holistic statement. I find this absurd because as a health care professional, the basis of assessment is formed upon the idea of a holistic outlook. Yes, breast is best nutritionally, but it has been made out to be some kind of magical bonding process that simultaneously gives your child the best immune system and start in life. In some cases that can be true, but not all."

Go read up on why Christine dislikes both of these phrases and points out the faults with each. THIS IS WHY BREAST IS NOT BEST

Breastfeeding Expectations for Twin Babies and Singletons

While Christine is exploring that topic this week, Kim is delving further into attitudes as she looks at the advice and expectations for a mom breastfeeding a singleton and a mom breastfeeding twins. She has done both and has experience in both realms. I always love the observations Kim has about how we as a society put different expectations on raising singletons versus twins.

Kim takes you through a list of different aspects of feeding babies as she prepped for her singleton and her twins and the stark contrast between the two. One example she shares is:

"ExpectationsSingleton:If you are a good mom you will breastfeed. Most moms can breastfeed, it is rare to not produce enough milk or have problems.  Babies are able to latch and know what to do.  If you don't breastfeed your child you aren't trying hard enough, you don't care enough, and you will most likely damage your baby.
Twins:Wait, can you breastfeed twins?  More or less I was told I could try, but don't be surprised if it doesn't work.  Have a backup plan just in case."

Head on over to Team Cartwright to read up on What Twins Can Teach Us About Breastfeeding Attitudes. I think this is a MUST READ for everyone out there to help you face some of your own judgement you might be making toward moms and their choices in feeding and evaluate those feelings.

We have enough trouble being mothers without mommy wards hampering our decisions. We shouldn't be making decisions out of fear of what others are going to think. We should only be worried about what is best for the baby, mother, and family. None of us should be judging from the outside looking in and deciding what others should have and could have done.

The ladies of the BFBN will all be talking about breastfeeding this week. Check the blog daily to see the talk of the day and where to read it. 

• Monday: Valerie at Chronicles of a Babywise Mom How I Breastfed For 12 Months Even When Everything Went Wrong
• Tuesday: Christine at Christine Keys and Kimberly from Team Cartwright
• Wednesday: Katrina from Mama's Organized Chaos and Natasha from Let's Be Brave
• Thursday: Caitlin from Twin Mom and More and Carrie from Wiley Adventures
• Friday: Emily from Journey of Parenthood