Category Archives: Beyond Childbirth

Steps Toward Parenting with Positive Reinforcement

  By Donna DeForbes | October 29, 2013 - 5:00 am |
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happy-kids-running

This is a guest post by Madoline Hatter. During the formative years of your children’s lives, you have much influence in how they view the world. In order to embrace certain attitudes or prevent others, much can be done on your behalf to help your kids develop a positive outlook on life. Using positive reinforcement over negative discipline can shift the way your child looks at any given task. Negativity Breeds Negativity When you focus on negative outcomes regarding misbehavior, the child’s focus is on that negative aspect of life. Too many negative thoughts can be detrimental to a child’s development as he or she learns to always look at the bad side. Instead of respecting you as parents, your children could fear you due to the disciplinary actions that could ensue for any given rule that is broken. Focus on the Positive Positive reinforcement doesn’t have to mean that … Continue reading →

Top 5 Additional Uses for Breast Milk

  By Donna DeForbes | August 23, 2013 - 5:30 am | ,
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Uses for Breast Milk | Eco-Mothering.com

We already know breast milk is tops for feeding your child, but did you know it has other uses, both medicinal and cosmetic? The immunologic agents found in human milk help fight against bacteria, viruses and parasites… with no wonky side effects. Here are a few home uses for breast milk recommended by moms (and some doctors) around the world. Treat an Ear Infection Those amazing antibodies in your breast milk can fight off ear infections, which occur most often in children ages six to 18 months. Put about 3-4 drops at the entrance of the ear canal every few hours. The infection should clear up within 24-48 hours. Some moms follow the breast milk with bottled garlic mullein oil. Clear Up Acne Lauric acid, a component of breast milk, has antibacterial, acne-fighting qualities without the side effects of drugs. Dabbing breast milk alone (or a mixture of breast milk … Continue reading →

Top 5 Green School Supplies

  By Donna DeForbes | August 16, 2013 - 5:30 am | ,
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Eco-Friendly School Supplies | Eco-Mothering.com

It’s time for school shopping again, and you can make green choices by seeking products that are lighter on the planet. It’s so much easier now than it was a few years ago– just Google “eco school supplies” and you’ll find tons of sites. And the prices are reasonable. Here are five items from kids to teens that offer up eco qualities. ID Carrying Case, $12 For your teenager… this 3×4” colorful fabric ID carrying case is made from eight recycled plastic sachets, and the interior is lined with waterproof plastic. Each one includes a recycled glass key chain on the zipper and a handmade bead charm. The best part? Buying one of these supports A Ban Against Neglect (ABAN) — a non-profit in Ghana that empowers street girls while cleaning up the environment. Purchasing one of these cases provides an ABAN girl with one month of math and English … Continue reading →

MommyCon 2013 Natural Parenting Convention

  By Donna DeForbes | August 1, 2013 - 5:30 am | , ,
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MommyCon 2013 | Eco-Mothering.com

Sometimes I think I’m sleeping under a rock. I just found out about a fast-growing, natural parenting event called MommyCon. If I’d known about this months ago, I’d have arranged our family’s summer trip around the Philly convention. While I can’t make it for the inaugural year, it’s not too late for you to go. Scroll to the bottom for a ticket giveaway! What’s MommyCon? It is a boutique-style, traveling event with a focus on natural parenting techniques and products. Speakers range from local birthing experts to national bloggers on the topics of breastfeeding, cloth diapering, babywearing, green living and natural health and wellness. Discover new baby products from green companies. Feed your baby in the Nursing Lounge. Try on a variety of baby slings and carriers. Get to know other moms and mothers-to-be who share your family values. Win an awesome giveaway. MommyCon is a laid back convention open to … Continue reading →

How to Safely Dispose of an Old Car Seat

  By Donna DeForbes | July 23, 2013 - 5:30 am | ,
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Proper Car Seat Disposal | Eco-Mothering.com

We’ve held on to Sofie’s convertible car seat just in case we had a second child. That doesn’t appear to be happening, and now I’m ready to clear out much of the baby stuff that’s hogging precious storage space in our basement. Which brought up the question: What can I do with her old car seat? Can I Donate It? A car seat can only be passed on to someone else if it has never been in an accident and has not gone past the manufacturer’s expiration date. Even though Sofie’s 2006 car seat is accident-free and still in good condition, it is too old to safely donate. Most manufacturers list an expiration date on the seat, and if you can’t find one, six years is often considered the limit. Why? The materials degrade over time, especially from the intense ultraviolet light coming through car windows. This compromises their safety … Continue reading →

Top 5 Benefits of Co-Sleeping

  By Donna DeForbes | June 28, 2013 - 5:30 am |
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It’s been a little over a year since Sofie moved out of our bedroom. She was five and a half. Many parents might raise their eyebrows over that, but I know there are even more who are nodding in recognition. We didn’t start out intending to be a co-sleeping family, but fell into it naturally and, for the most part, it worked for us. For three and a half years, our family bed consisted of a queen bed and a twin pushed together. Then we moved Sofie’s twin into her own bedroom (to entice her there), although she slept on a mat in our room for quite a bit longer. It provided some distance and worked well as a transitional stage. Now that she’s gone, I sometimes long for those co-sleeping days and rejoice when she crawls into bed with us on weekend mornings. Everyone sleeps better Which is definitely what … Continue reading →

Keep the Family Busy with an Active and Outdoorsy Summer

  By Donna DeForbes | June 25, 2013 - 5:30 am | ,
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outdoor-summer-activities

This is a guest post from Allison Davis. The kids are out of school for the summer! Keep the family entertained and active by embarking on these fun summer activities. Backyard Camping Trip Pitch a tent and pull out the sleeping bags, flashlights and lanterns. If you’ve got a fire pit or portable grill, you can cook your meals over a real fire. Don’t forget the chocolate bars, marshmallows and graham crackers! Sit around the fire at night and tell ghost stories or sing campfire songs while indulging in S’mores. While sitting fireside, play educational games about health such as Kool Smiles dental bingo or download coloring pages from oncoloring.com. Down and Dirty in the Vegetable Garden The North Dakota State University “Food Wi$e” page and the Family Nutrition Program promote hands-on experiences for kids. Gardening teaches kids about science, reading, math, organization and responsibility. Kids may be more interested … Continue reading →

BE YOUR OWN YOU! Girls and Self-Esteem

  By Donna DeForbes | June 4, 2013 - 5:30 am | ,
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Girls and Self-Esteem | Eco-Mothering.com

Since the moment I knew I was having a baby girl, I wanted her to be strong and confident and brimming with the self-esteem that eluded me as a girl. (Do mothers of sons have these thoughts, or do we naturally assume boys are born with loads of self-esteem?) I still struggle with maintaining confidence in who I am or what I do. Feeling “not enough” is one of my gremlins. So how do I teach my daughter what I never learned? And what exactly is self-esteem? One dictionary offered two contradictory definitions: self-es•teem (noun) 1. A realistic respect for or favorable impression of oneself; self-respect. 2. An unduly high opinion of oneself; vanity Those who follow the second definition equate self-esteem with conceit (ridiculous, isn’t it?) and therefore tend to see it as a bad thing. They use phrases like “having a big head” or “getting too big for your britches.” Sadly, these parents usually have low opinions of themselves because they too were raised … Continue reading →