Earth Babies Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Breastfeeding’

1) POUCH SLING (or Pocket Sling)

A pouch sling is by far the easiest of the baby carriers to use. It is a tube of fabric which you wear diagonally across your body (on one shoulder like a sash). The tube is folded double, forming a pocket which you can pop baby into.
At Earth Babies we stock the Rhubarb and Custard Pouch.

Pros:

Very easy to use,

No real learning curve

Ideal for newborns and small babies

Streamlined look – not bulky

No clips, buckles, rings, tying or adjusting

Lightweight and folds slim to fit in any bag

Possible to breastfeed with baby in it

Excellent for quick trips/errands

Cons:

Weight distributed to only one shoulder

Not Adjustable – baby cannot be pulled in close to the body resulting in body strain and feeling baby is not secure

Not specifically practical with toddlers

Comes in different sizes – correct size is important

Can be difficult to determine correct size

Parents/caregivers can’t share pouch if different sizes

Less discreet for breast feeding (does not provide cover)

A bit of a manoeuvre to take off if baby falls asleep

Though it does free up your hands it is not hands free (specifically once baby sits upright)

2) PADDED RING SLING

A length of fabric with padding in the shoulder area and the edges of the fabric. Some are thinly padded in the body of the sling. The one end of the sling is sewn closed to form a tab or point and this is threaded through 2 rings on the opposite side to form a circular tube.
It is similar to a pouch in that it has limited adjustment but is easy to use (pro’s and cons are similar apart from that the Padded ring sling has slightly more scope for adjustment and it is a bulkier carrier)
At Earth Babies we no longer stock a Padded ring Sling

Pros:

Easy to use,

No real learning curve

Ideal for newborns and small babies

Possible to breastfeed with baby in it

Excellent for quick trips/errands

Easy to take off if baby falls asleep

Padding provides a little cushioning on contact points (shoulder)

Cons:

Weight distributed to only one shoulder

Not wide range of adjustment – baby cannot be pulled in as close to the body resulting in body strain and feeling baby is not secure

Comes in different sizes – correct size is important

Can be difficult to determine correct size

Parents/caregivers can’t share pouch if different sizes

Less discreet for breast feeding (does not provide cover)

Though it does free up your hands it is not totally hands free

Because of the padding it can appear to be bulky and can be hot to wear

If the body is lightly padded the sling becomes less flexible around the body

Does not fold up small but can fit in a bigger nappy bag

3) UNPADDED RING SLING
An unpadded ring sling is the most practical of the carriers.
It is a length of lightweight fabric with rings sewn in on one end. The open side of fabric is fed through the rings (like a basic belt buckle) to make a secure pouch/pocket for the baby.
The sling is worn over your shoulder and across the body like a sash. You adjust the size and fit of the carrier by pulling the fabric through the rings to get excellent support and comfort for you both.
At Earth Babies we sell Earth Babies Unpadded ring sling

Pros:

One size fits all – can be shared with all caretakers

Unlimited adjustment ** – the top, bottom edges and the centre (body of the fabric) can be adjusted independently to custom fit your needs.

** The close fit allows for comfortable and secure hands free carrying.

Easy to get baby in high and snug

Good for the snugly tummy to tummy position

Good for quick trips/errands and longer periods of wearing (even with bigger babies)

The open tail makes it excellent for discreet covered breast feeding

Has the most options of all the carriers on positions in which baby can carried – lying down (on back or tummy to tummy); upright (facing in or out – legs in or out); hip carry, back carry and hammock carry (for preschoolers)

Lots of room to get longer legs in and out.

Easy to take off once baby falls asleep

Folds up small, fit in practically any nappy bag

Non bulky to wear

Light, flexible and breathable fabric

Cons:

Weight distributed to only one shoulder

Takes practice to get used to adjusting fabric through the rings and getting a comfortable carry

Some people do not like the extra fabric in the tail

Rings can appear to be in the way if not correctly fitted

If not used correctly it can be uncomfortable and cause strain

4) SOFT STRUCTURED CARRIER
Soft structured carriers are more conventional back-pack type carriers. Ideal for heavier, older baby and toddler carrying.
They have an approximately rectangular section which holds your baby securely against your body and straps to attach the carrier to you. Some tie on and some fasten with clips. They are generally easy to use and distribute the weight of your baby evenly, and vertically on your back much like a rucksack or backpack.
At Earth Babies we sell the Khanyisa African Baby Carrier

Pros:

Easy to learn to use

Can be used on front or back

Relatively adjustable in size

One size fits most so can be shared by parents/care givers

Has a padded waist belt to support under babies bum

Weight distribution is balanced over both shoulders, back and waist

Good for heavier babies/toddlers,

Comfortable for long periods of wearing and carrying of heavy babies

Usually have highest resale value

Sturdy fabric

Cons:

Adjusting of belts and buckles can take a while to figure out.

Uncomfortable if not correctly fitted

Can’t really be used for comfortable breast feeding

Not recommended for newborns and babies under 3-4 months (lack of neck/head control)

Does not hold baby as snugly against body as some other options may

Can only be carried in upright position

Child is always inward facing (towards parents body)

Very bulky to store

4) WRAP
A wrap comes in either stretchy or non-stretchy fabric. It is the most versatile and probably comfortable baby carrier but the one most difficult to learn to use optimally.
It is a length of fabric with which you wrap the baby onto your body in different positions.

At Earth Babies we sell the Traditional Kikoi wrap (non stretchy) – The stretchy Wrap me up Baby Wrapz is coming soon.

Pros:

Two-shouldered carry – most people find them extremely comfortable to wear, even with a heavy baby, as the baby’s weight can be spread closely over both shoulders, back and the waist/hips.

Fit any size and shape perfectly

Gives baby’s head, neck, back, hips and legs ideal support

Holds baby high and snug

Grows with baby

No baby too small for this style carrier (perfect for premies & kangaroo care)

Can pre-tie and pop baby in and out for quick errands

Versatile – you can wear your baby in almost any position, choosing a wrap that suits you.

Can be used for newborns right through to older toddlers

Cons:

Greatest learning curve, especially for back carries **

** This means that occasional carers are less likely to try using it

Long piece of fabric can be intimidating and overwhelming when wrapping.

Bulky to store

Some people feel constrained or engulfed by the amount of fabric around them.

For some it is not an easy on and off option so only used if wearing baby for long periods.

It can be hot, depending on the fabric and season

Why not try our fun Which Baby carrier for me? Quiz

A quick fun guide on which carrier/s would best suit you, according to what you want it for.

***You can choose more than one option per group

1) How long do you think you would like to carry for

a) For the first 6 months
b) For the first year plus
c) For the first year at least
d) For as long as I can carry their weight

2) In what situations do you think you would use your carrier, do you need free hands?

a) Around the house or quick outings – 1 hand free will be enough
b) When out, shopping or working. Need to be hands free.
c) For long periods of wearing. Need hand free.
d) For going on long walks or hikes

3) Who will be using your baby carrier?

a) Only me
b) Anyone who cares for baby
c) Mostly myself and possibly husband
d) Myself & husband (and possibly others)

4) How much time are you willing to spend learning how to use it?

a) Few minutes max
b) I don’t mind practicing a bit
c) I have time and love experimenting, give me a challenge
d) I would prefer something you set up and leave. Not too fiddly

5) What look do you like?

a) Stylish, Trendy
b) Boho, Relaxed
c) Casual, Comfortable
d) Sporty, Structured

6) In terms of comfort, how do you imagine carrying baby most?

a) Lying down or sitting
b) Lying or on my front, I like hip carrying
c) Upright snuggled close – on my front able to face out
d) Once big enough definitely on my back and upright.

7) How old is baby right now ?

a) Pregnant or Newborn
b) Pregnant – 8 months
c) Pregnant or Newborn
d) 4months and older

8 ) If breastfeeding – are you wanting something you can breastfeed easily & discretely in?

a) Would be nice if it was easy, discreet not really an issue
b) Yup that is high on my list
c) No I doubt I will be feeding with baby in a carrier
d) If they can but it is not really something I would do

9) Will you be putting baby in and out often?

a) Yes, needs to be quick in and out
b) Yup relatively easy in and outs
c) No once baby is in they will stay there for a while
d) No but would like it to be fuss free when we do use it

10) Do you want to always have it close at hand and is carry space an issue?

a) I want it folded neatly and take as little space possible in my bag
b) I want it close so needs to be able to fit in my bag
c) My bag is BIG – space for everything
d) Dont mind carrying something extra when I need it

If your highest score was A, you might enjoy a pouch.
If your highest score was B, you might enjoy a ring sling.
If your highest score was C, you might enjoy a long wrap
If your highest score was D, you might enjoy a structured carrier

Baby Carrier Comparison (Pro’s & Con’s)

1. Happy baby: Babies who are carried more often have been found to be in general calmer and they cry/fuss less.

* Mother and baby contact is the baby’s first socio-emotional interaction – it allows for both emotional and sensory stimulation.
* A Study done in 1986 by Hunziker and Barr on increased carrying and its affect on infant crying, showed that baby’s who were carried more throughout the day cried less and the intensity of their crying was less distressed – (this study specifically looks at the occurrence and increased diagnosis of ‘3 month colic’ ).
* Decreased reflux and colic (wind): Many moms have said that a sling helps with colic (wind), by reducing the need for burping as well as babies’ tendencies of vomiting and excess spitting up. Being supported in a more upright position seems to help, as does the soothing movement of the mother’s body.

2. Feeling secure: being close to mom is a baby’s safe place.

* Moms have found that babies who are carried are less likely to become overstimulated – not only is baby happiest when in physical contact with a parent, but in a new environment – especially one with a lot of outside stimulation (eg. shopping centre) – babies often feel insecure. The general trend is covering of a baby’s pram to block out the visual stimulation. This however does not block out the auditory stimulation, which can overwhelm when isolated with no view of the cause. Babywearing helps baby feel safe in all situations.

3. Alternative style carriers are gentler on tiny backs:

* They support the baby’s neck preventing whiplash type injuries to neck and spine.
* Allow for carrying in positions that place no weight bearing pressure on the spine (”The young baby should be horizontal or inclined, with the spine supported along its length” ~ Rochelle L. Casses, D.C)
* The baby is supported by fabric that conforms firmly to their body, this eliminates pressure on their developing backs from hanging upright, unsupported and with all their downward weight on their pelvis & lower back.
* Baby is supported under the entire bum and thighs not only between the legs.

4. Comfortable for mom/dad:

* No rigid frame with set arm and leg openings.
* Baby’s weight is distributed more evenly across the body and supported into the body (usually against the shoulders, back and hips) as opposed to the full weight hanging from the shoulders and away from the body (which pulls your centre of gravity off kilter resulting in the strain of continuously correcting posture).
* Certain of the carriers (unpadded slings & wraps) have unlimited adjustment which allows you to find the most comfortable balanced carry for yourself and baby

5. More confident parents

* A parent able to recognize baby’s needs and triggers and reduce crying, helps to lessen the feelings of panic or being overwhelmed.
* When spending close time with your baby, it is easier able to recognise and relate to her needs, this promotes responsiveness and allows for an increased attachment.
* Can help with maternal depression and aids bonding between mother and baby
* Mothers’ struggling to adjust to having a new baby have found that carrying can help them to bond without the pressure of having to emotionally interact when they feel unable to.

6. Soft carriers such as the slings and wraps offer a variety of carry positions which you can change depending on your baby’s age and mood. eg. lying – horizontal or diagonal, upright – facing in or out, on your front, hip, back etc.

7. Improves baby’s development:

* Babies who are held and cuddled a lot are more attentive and develop mentally and physically much quicker than babies who receive minimal physical contact.
* Enhanced language and social skills: Babies who are worn experience people interacting at eye and voice level, through this involvement in conversation they learn not only language, facial interaction and sounds but the ability to listen.
* Carried babies spend more time in a quiet, alert state which allows for optimal learning – without specific teaching taking place.
* A baby with a sense of security and trust is more receptive to external stimulus.
* The continual movement helps develop and regulate a babies vestibular system which helps with balance and spacial awareness.
* Interaction within their environment helps the brain to grow and learn through stimulating the branching out and connecting of nerves – babywearing helps the right connections to be made

8. Allows for easier breastfeeding

* Contact is an important trigger both for babies latching ability but also a mothers ability to produce milk. Carrying allows for this closeness.
*Slings are ideal for discreet breastfeeding when in public, making it a more comfortable experience for mother, baby and those in the vicinity.
* For a mother with older children sometimes finding time to breastfeed can appear to be a challenge – a sling can help support baby at the breast, leaving mom hands free to give attention to a sibling at the same time (cuddle, read a story, build a puzzle etc).

9. Free hands:

* What all moms’ need … more hands. It is a lot easier to get daily tasks done while wearing your baby than to try and rush to do things before baby starts crying.
* Some carriers allow for hands free wearing, specifically those that hold baby securely against your body (front back carriers, wraps, unpadded slings).
* Having the ability to be able to do things beyond simply holding your baby in your arms, helps to lessen that isolated/trapped feeling mothers often experience.
* Needed when you have other children – see last * of point 8. This also helps with sibling bonding and acceptance as it lessens jealousy, without too much pressure and tug of war for mom-time

10. They are practical.

* They allow for more freedom of movement – eg. when shopping – having a pram can be limiting in terms of moving between floors, maneuvering between people and aisles and it is impossible to push a pram and a trolley.
* They are economical – carrier R200-R300 vs pram R600 +.
* Baby carriers can be folded up and packed into a bag so are close at hand when needed.


Great Babywearing sites and articles
The BabyWearer
Dr Sears on Baby wearing
10 reasons to wear your baby
La Leche League’s view on the benefits
Babywearing International

Research based articles
Baby carriers and Spinal Stress
Hunziker and Barr study on the affects of baby carrying on infant crying

I wrote an article on the breast feeding crawl for Parent24 which we have mentioned on the main Earth Babies site, it was just never something I thought I would have such personal experience with until my sister needed help thousands of kilometers away. For anyone that struggled before and is going to have another baby, or for a first time pregnant mom, or just for anyone that may come into contact with a mother who needs help breast feeding this is a must read.

There is the video clip of the technique

I doubt there is another title that comes with as much judgement as being a mother. Comparison, superiority, one upmanship, feelings of guilt and inferiority seem to be part of the package. I think the first year of being a mom is the most rough in this regard – everything feels personal. You have to wade through a bit of a swamp of your own opinions and those of others.

We all judge and feel judged (not always intentionally) – and a few years down the line when we have learnt our own lessons and become more flexible, we can no longer remember so clearly ‘how’ we used to think in that first see-sawing year of motherhood.

A friend posted this on a forum a while back – I had a good giggle as it could have been taken from quotes made over the past few years I have been chatting there from the subjects we have argued about, made statements and voiced opinions on.

Read through and then share your score (you dont have to say which ones they were ) of judgments made and judgements felt.

touch… is the mother of all senses upon which our baby depends

In many ways touch is our most important form of communication. It is the most basic communication, the one we first get to experience and understand as babies. Of our 5 senses touch (touching and being touched) is the one that develops us physically, mentally and emotionally – it is this that the other four senses support.

There is always a lot of talk about bonding when it comes to babies – it is often attributed to the way you birth or feed your baby … which leads to arguments galore from those who do not choose the natural route and still feel they bonded.
In truth the only thing that bonding can be attributed is touch. Think about it in terms of people around you – if you have no physical contact with a person whatsoever, it is near to impossible to feel any form of emotional connection to them.

Breastfeeding forces you to put physical contact first.

This is where the argument for natural birth and breastfeeding being important for bonding stems from. Both of these allow for and require immediate and ongoing physical contact.

Thinking of breastfeeding, there is no option of putting that baby down or having someone else hold them during feeding. In the first few intensive weeks until your milk supply is properly established and baby has grown enough to go longer stretches between feeds the two of you HAVE to sit down and be in close contact for at least ½ of the day (newborns need to feed on average 12 times a day).
This allows for a lot of time for them to receive that all essential physical stimulation, to be physically close enough to see their mothers face (a newborn can only see clearly for about 20cm – the distance from your face to breast) and for you to settle in to actually spending time being still and simply holding them rather than doing all those things you feel you ’should’ be doing.

Love is founded in touch

In terms of natural birth the same applies – you are able to sit up and comfortably hold baby immediately after the birth, there is no need for them to be taken away while you are stitched up or taken to recovery etc.

I will admit after my first birth having a quick peek and having baby swept away for all the checks etc would have been quite welcome at the time (I was exhausted) – in retrospect though I am glad for that time I got to hold him close and marvel at the result of the unpleasantness I had felt moments before.
It was a very special time and which altered my birth-experience from too much, to a fantastic one. It changed my thoughts immediately from never again to “hope the next one is also a waterbirth” – not simply feeling able to go through all that again, but actually hoping to go through it all again … that it had all been so worthwhile.

These experiences however are not needed to bond – they simply help it along. It is never too late in a relationship to reach out and touch, to strengthen and re-establish that bond and love. Children and adults alike need those little touches – the pat on the back, stroke on their hair, sitting close, wrestling and tickling, being carried/held, hugs and kisses.

Did you know? Each parent has his or her own way of touching. Research has shown that when mothers touch babies, they are usually soothing and calming. Moms most often touch gently – they stroke softly, rock slowly, and hold their babies tenderly. Fathers, on the other hand, tend to engage in more physical forms of touch – they bounce babies on their knees, hold them playfully in the air, or roll around on the floor with them. Your baby benefits from these two different styles of touch. Together they contribute to your infant’s healthy development.
http://johnsonsbaby.com/article.do?id=9

Babies benefit immensely from massage and it is not something you need to do a course in, or pay someone else to do. It is something you can do yourself – here is a link to a lovely online video guide in How to massage your baby video

TIPS ON CHOOSING A CAREGIVER – Childbirth Connection

Subjects covered in this article:
** Why is choosing a caregiver one of the most important maternity decisions I will make?
** How will my choice of caregiver influence where I can give birth?
** What are important considerations when choosing a maternity caregiver?
** What are some insufficient reasons for choosing a caregiver?
** How do types of caregivers differ from one another?
** What if I change my mind and want to switch to another caregiver?

I find that when it comes to birth this is the area that women seem to jump in without really considering what they want. Some are lucky and get exactly the care they hoped for, others feel all their birth-wants are a fight, or feel pushed (sometimes gently and others with a hard shove) into the direction they were not wanting. So many of the latter then feel trapped out of dependency with a wrong caregiver who does not feel the same in return.
Changing a caregiver in pregnancy is a very scary prospect to have to deal with when all you want is consistency, refuge from the inevitable fear and safety in the care you receive for you and your child.

I like everyone else went to the obstetrician I had been to for previously, I never thought much further than I am ‘comfortable’ with him. I never considered whether he would be comfortable with the birth I wanted!
Luckily he was totally upfront when I said I wanted a waterbirth, by saying he does not do them but he would refer me to a good midwife – that in itself made me feel properly cared for. There was no judgement, or trying to talk me out of it, just upfront honesty as to how he chose to practice. He was still my back up caregiver so we went to him for those checkups that required scans or that the midwife requested a 2nd opinion.
When choosing the midwife I was just as blasé and simply went with the first of the 2 numbers he gave me, luckily it was the best lucky-pick for me.
With experience though and hearing so many stories from others that did not work out so well I have come to realise this is really the first area we should concentrate all our energy rather than focussing on which baby accessories we feel we need.

Your caregiver is the person who supports you when you feel most vulnerable and in need of someone to put your best interests first.

Follow this link – Breastfeeding is offensive – I love this post it is so true and for me hard hitting in its amusing simplicity. Good for a giggle but also to get you thinking.

If you are on Facebook why not join in the MILC virtual nurse-in next week. My issue is not so much that Facebook feels that nursing pictures are inappopriate (though I cannot see why), but more so the double standard of allowing truely sexual profile pics yet deleting those as innocent as breastfeeding.

The Mother’s International Lactation Campaign (M.I.L.C.) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the normalisation, protection and promotion of breastfeeding.

In 2008 and 2009 via the Facebook group “Hey Facebook, Breastfeeding is not Obscene!(official Petition to Facebook)” The organisation hosted two nurse-in events on the popular social networking site. Facebook continues to remove depictions of breastfeeding from their site, demeaning women and encouraging the misconception that breastfeeding is in any way a lewd, sexually explicit or offensive act and is inappropriate content for their site. Facebook has issued several public statements in response to the petition group, claiming to support breastfeeding but removing some images out of “concern for the safety of the many young users of the site.”

The virtual nurse-ins received extensive media coverage all around the world and membership in the petition group has surpased 240 000. On one designated day, participants simply posted as their profile picture the image of a nursing mother and changed their status line to: Hey Facebook, breastfeeding is not obscene. Individuals used a very diverse and representative range
of images for the event including personal photographs, historic works of art and international symbols.

August 1-7, 2009 is World Breastfeeding Week.

Green is the new buzz word at the moment, we are all being encouraged to think about the impact of the things we do on our environment and I am delighted that there is this change in attitude and a focus on treading more lightly on the earth. I have really tried to live as environmentally friendly as I can, even before Green was the flavour of the month.

I think I came pre-programmed to gravitate towards all things natural, quirky and simple. My parents gave me a great gift as a child – they taught me to ask questions and not just got with the flow. I think they may have come to regret this at times when they were the flow and I was going against.

This was working great and it was fairly easy to do my bit and live a greener kind of lifestyle. And then my children exploded into my life changing it forever. Nothing prepares one fully for how much you will love the wrinkly, gorgeous little parasite that will invade more areas of your life and time that you ever thought possible. Using eco friendly and natural options helped me to parent in a way that feels congruent to what I believe. I feel like I am working with the parasite- oh I mean baby, in practices such as home birth, cloth nappies, extended breast feeding, co-sleeping, elimination communication etc they just made so much more sense to me than a lot of the do to the baby style parenting that seem so popular today.

Some days though things don’t go the way I planned and I find myself being rather a bright shade of orange (a quick check of the colour wheel shows that red/orange are lurking ominously opposite green) I have read a lot of natural parenting books and websites and have even written articles helping other who want to know about practices like Elimination communication (nappy free) baby wearing, the benefits of extended breast feeding amongst other things. But real life is sometimes far from the books and comes crashing in like a pot of bright orange paint splattering my Green Mom ambitions.

Now orange is a lovely colour one I am quite partial to but it does not fit into my idea of the super natural mom I want to be. The one who always looks cool calm and collected while she plants, bakes, breast feeds, recycles, home schools and all those other great things that earn us the Green Mommy Badge.

One day in particular I remember going to a museum with my sister, my daughter Rachel (3yrs), son Caleb (8 months) we where there to look at dinosaurs, Rachel’s latest craze.

I had duly carried Caleb in a sling while he slept and breast feed him sitting on the floor in a corner while being glared down at by some rather menacing looking ‘wotsit-o-saurus’. Afterwards dead on my feet and with a rather cranky 3year old who wanted mommy to buy lots of toys we collapse at a coffee shop. I just wanted to drink my coffee in relative peace and try to revive myself for the long journey home. I tired to get Caleb interested in an organic 3 wholegrain finger biscuit I had brought with me. After he threw the third biscuit on the floor, practiced standing and wriggling as much as possible on my lap, making it near impossible for me to actually get my drink near my mouth without sloshing the hot contents all over myself and him, my patients was wearing thin.

Caleb suddenly spotted one of those sugar paper tube thingy that they have on the tables and quick as a flash started chewing on it. I was just about to yank it out his hand when I noticed that this tube of sugar was winning where 3 organic biscuits and 2 rattles had failed, it was keeping him quiet and still on my lap. Long enough for me to drink my coffee and an inkling of calm return to my shattered nerves (In my defence it was natural brown sugar and not super processed white sugar – Semantic I am guessing) so with my ideals suffering from a splattering of orange I finish my coffee and trudge the kids back home.

There are plenty of times when I have driven instead of walking, bought some unnecessary thing in way too much packaging. I have even left the computer on all night when I went to settle Caleb back to sleep and landed up falling asleep on the bed with him instead of returning down to where I was working. I would be lying if I said that the TV is not occasionally used as the baby sitter so I don’t have 2 kids underfoot while I cook or clean or whatever other chore needs doing.

I realize that while I am not perfect feeling guilt for a bit of orange every now and again is not making me a better mother in anyway and I might as well recycle this emotion into something more useful, like the drive to do better next time and to think daily of ways to tread lightly on our planet. I think by trying to teach my kids responsible living hopefully it will be easier for them to follow a greener type lifestyle in the future. I think not having the emphasis on all thing eco friendly when I was a kid means that sometimes old habits die hard.

Of course there are the inevitable conversations with mainstream parents who are always keen to tell you about the baby sleeping through the night from a ridiculously early age, and how they go out and have their life back and ‘oh how expensive disposables are’ but how they could never use cloth like you, said with the slightly up turned nose as though the very thought is a beyond repulsive. Some time what they describe seems so easy.

They have the baby all trained so that it is does not really disrupt their life all that much and in comparison I think about the bucket of nappies I have at home to wash, the wooden toys strewn all over the floor, and the umpteen household chores that just never seem to be as important as reading a story or playing dress up going out for a walk. And so what if my son does not sleep though the night, I get to feel his soft breath against my check and I can kiss his fluffy little parasitic head any time I want to in the night.

It may not be the easy way and I am far from being green all the time, but it is the way that makes sense to me even if I get a little orange splatter every now and again. I think more important than trying to be a super green mom, I need to be a mom who is only human and teach my kids that we all have bad days and that sometimes a little orange is okay. So now I am off to find a eco friendly way to get rid of the snails eating our beans.