Parenting - KellyMom.com

A Farewell to Arms – and Legs … and Feet …

KellyMom — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:36:34 +0000

A Farewell to Arms - and Legs … and Feet …

You've stroked his downy hair as he dreamed his first baby dreams in your arms. You've clung to the edge of the bed while his little body somehow took up all the room. You've slept your sweetest sleep while he nestled so cozily in your arms. And you've barely caught a wink while sleep transformed him into a future World cup soccer star.

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Are you feeling overwhelmed by your child’s intense needs?

KellyMom — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:51:01 +0000

But how much intense parenting they need, possibly including frequent nursing, in the second year depends for the most part on their inborn timetable for emotional development. As parents we can slow down emotional growth by leaving needs unmet. But there is nothing extra we can do to speed it up. ...your investment in your toddler who seems to be 'always attached' will pay off when the time for independence does come.
-- Norma Jane Bumgarner in "Mothering Your Nursing Toddler"

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Books to Avoid

KellyMom — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:06:53 +0000

Warning: These books could sabotage your breastfeeding relationship

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Breastfeeding to Sleep and Other Comfort Nursing

KellyMom — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:30:58 +0000

Many moms feel guilty for nursing their baby to sleep. Nursing your baby to sleep is not a bad thing to do! It's very normal and developmentally appropriate for babies to nurse to sleep and to wake 1-3 times during the night for the first year or so. Some babies don't do this, but they are the exception, not the rule. Many children, if given the choice, prefer to nurse to sleep through the second year and beyond. Nursing is obviously designed to comfort baby and to help baby sleep, and I've never seen a convincing reason why mothers shouldn't use this wonderful "tool" that we've been given.

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Building Your Child’s Self-Esteem

KellyMom — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:03:28 +0000

When a baby finds that her signals are validated and responded to appropriately—that troubles are soothed and pleasure enhanced—she begins to sense that her feelings, expressions, of her very being, are of value and important. A baby learns that she counts for something. This is the foundation of the development of self-esteem—a combination of who you are, how you feel about yourself, and what you think about your future potential.

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Cluster Feeding and Fussy Evenings

KellyMom — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:20:20 +0000

It is very common for babies to be fussy and nurse very often in the evenings, particularly in the early months.

My daughter had a fussy time every evening for a couple of months (yes, it does go away!). I spent weeks camped out on the end of the sofa with a constantly nursing and/or fussy baby every evening from about 6 to 10 PM...

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Co-sleeping and Bed-sharing

KellyMom — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:25:33 +0000

Co-sleeping essentially means sleeping in close proximity to your child. It may be in the same bed or just in the same room. Let's talk about the advantages and safety issues.

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Common Questions in the Early Weeks

KellyMom — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 16:36:43 +0000

Common Concerns - Healthy Baby

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Good Nights – The Happy Parents’ Guide to the Family Bed (and a Peaceful Night’s Sleep!)

KellyMom — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:02:11 +0000

Good Nights -
The Happy Parents' Guide to the Family Bed
(and a Peaceful Night's Sleep!)

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Good Nights – The Happy Parents’ Guide to the Family Bed: Introduction

KellyMom — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:31:06 +0000

Most babies don't come into the world terribly aware of the popular phrase "Sleeps like a baby."

But most parents would really, really like their infant to sleep like the mythical baby in this expression. After all, staying sane and happy in a child's formative years is important, and getting some sleep can do much toward those goals.

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