Monthly Archives: March 2012

breakfast with bear

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Earlier this week, The Kind Life mommy and “Clueless” actress Alicia Silverstone gave the world an inside look at one of her favorite ways to feed her ten-month-old son.  Silverstone posted a video of herself pre-chewing baby Bear Blu’s food and feeding it to him from her mouth.  She writes:

“I just had a delicious breakfast of miso soup, collards and radish steamed and drizzled with flax oil, cast iron mochi with nori wrapped outside, and some grated daikon. Yum! I fed Bear the mochi and a tiny bit of veggies from the soup…from my mouth to his. It’s his favorite…and mine. He literally crawls across the room to attack my mouth if I’m eating. This video was taken about a month or 2 ago when he was a bit wobbly. Now he is grabbing my mouth to get the food!”

It’s obvious why this video went viral.  It’s not normal to feed a baby this way.  It’s gross, right?  Or is it?  For those who were unaware, pre-mastication really does exist in this world.  In fact, throughout the course of human evolution until recent times, pre-mastication of foods for infants was crucial to ensure nutritional adequacy and to support infant immunity.  It’s apparent now that modernized agricultural systems and food technology has deemed pre-mastication unnecessary.

Since the video, experts have weighed in on the concern that pre-mastication can potentially transfer harmful bacteria from mom to baby.  A quick rush to judgement of Alicia’s parenting ways by everyone and anyone blew up the mainstream news programs this week.  Day and night-time talk shows, celebrity gossip websites, twitter feeds, and Facebook pages all posted, shared, and commented on the breakfast with Bear video.

When I saw the video, my first reaction was that of amazement.  While I probably wouldn’t choose to feed my babies this way, I am not alarmed, concerned, or disgusted.  Alicia seems like a health conscious, nurturing parent and it’s her choice how she feeds her child.  Let’s not forget that she obviously does not feed him like this ALL the time.  I know for certain in the past I have pre-chewed food for my kids and put it in their mouths using my hands (how clean are those?).  I’ve also sanitized pacifiers that fell on the floor by spitting on them and/or licking them.  I didn’t do it all the time, but I did do it.  Hasn’t every mom done this at one time or another?

What was your reaction to the video above?

dr. lisa

Bum Boosa® Giveaway

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It’s a great day for a giveaway!  I’ve decided to start doing giveaways on my blog so I can share with my readers the kinds of products I use and love!

Today I’m excited to introduce you to a line of natural baby wipes from Bum Boosa®.  When it comes to your baby, you want nothing but the best and you wouldn’t mind helping out the environment as well.  Am I right?  Well then, let me tell you a little about a product I found and fell in love with.  Bum Boosa® Bamboo Products are made of renewable, sustainable bamboo in combination with natural ingredients for biodegradable and natural baby wipes, soothing and natural diaper rash ointment, soft and eco-luxurious bathroom tissue, and other eco-friendly products soon to join the marketplace.

Most diaper wipes on store shelves today are made from petroleum-derived plastic.  This drives me absolutely insane.  As a mother to two young children, I use baby wipes every single day.  Not just for diapering (we are out of that stage for now), but for wiping little hands and faces, and even their toys.  The last thing I want to be doing is exposing them to more chemicals on a daily basis.

Bum Boosa’s® baby wipes are:

  • Award Winning;
  • A non-synthetic, tree-free product;
  • Derived from a renewable & sustainable bio-based material;
  • Contain plant-based ingredients including organic aloe vera, calendula and 100% natural scent;
  • Are alcohol free, Paraben-free, and Sulfate-free;
  • A USDA Certified Bio preferred product;
  • Made in the USA at a 100% wind powered facility

Today’s giveaway is for the Bum Boosa® Eco-Gift Bag: 

Includes (3) packages each of 80 count Bamboo wipes, (1) 4 ounce container of diaper rash ointment, (1) 10 ml bottle of pure grade Bulgarian Lavender Essential Oil with a recipe card for making your own natural baby skin care products.

A big THANK YOU to Sonja- a fellow mom on a mission, President and co-founder of Bum Boosa® Bamboo Products.  Please take the time to visit the Bum Boosa® site to learn more about her success in creating safer, gentler, more eco-friendly baby products.

To have a chance at winning the Bum Boosa® Eco-Gift Bag, just leave me a comment below or on my Facebook page under the Bum Boosa® giveaway link.  Easy!  Giveaway open until Friday March 30, 11:59 pm EST.  Winner announced on Monday.

Have a great day!

dr lisa

hello moon

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Hello moon. It’s great to see you, finally. I’m freaking exhausted. I’ve looked forward to our rendezvous all day. You look beautiful as always. Bright and pure as you light up the night sky. Now excuse me while my head hits the pillow and my body lies still for the next six to eight hours (hopefully, fingers crossed). Hold on. I don’t know why I just said that. I jinxed myself.

Yep.  Where’s some wood?

Knock on wood.

Knock on wood!

Knock on wood!

Quick.

Hurry up!

“Whaaaa!!!”

Too late.

There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him to sleep.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

the real spring

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Tuesday was the Spring Equinox in this part of the world.  A time for renewal and joy as the earth awakens from its winter slumber and life begins again.  Spring is the season of rebirth.  The smell in the air and the warmth from the sun brings us all a sense of peace and nostalgia.  We are reminded once again of the wondrous beauty nature has to offer.  The flowers are in bloom and the sounds of birds tweeting, twittering, and chirping bring music to our ears.  There’s just something about the way spring rides in and changes the minds and moods of everyone it touches.  It’s magical.

This magic also brings with it a long list of things that need to get done (you know, more to add to our never-ending list of mommy duties and whatnot), but it’s okay because it’s spring.  Spring cleaning makes me happy.  Dusting, vacuuming, digging, bagging, junking, watering, weeding, spraying, cleaning, and washing just seem easier to accomplish in the springtime.  I don’t know why, but as long as my windows are open and the sunshine is rolling in, I can clean every toilet and bathtub in the house with a smile on my face.  The same goes for rounding up dust bunnies from under the couch, giving the pantry a makeover, and sorting through the kids sock and underwear drawer.  And when it’s all said and done (if ever), the celebratory dance I do in praise of my now organized and rejuvenated home could not be more justified.

Spring is also a time for cleansing our inner souls.  A time for change.  A time to look within ourselves, to be conscious of who we are and who we want to become.   A chance to focus on what really matters in life and to reinvent ourselves as mothers, as daughters, as sisters, as aunts, as friends, as women.

Here is my “real” to do list this spring:

Happy Spring!

lisa

the independent lion

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My three-year old has emerged into an independent little lad. He is constantly informing me that he can “do it myself.” Whether the task at hand is driving a car, steering a grocery cart, pouring some milk, or making a bowl of oatmeal- he’s up for it. Going to the bathroom takes forever now. He tends to get a bit unruly if I try to aid in his daily grinds. I never thought I would long for the days when I was up to my eyeballs in dirty diapers. It was, if I dare say it- a bit easier back when I had the control. I controlled how and when we changed his pants. I picked out and put on his clothes swiftly and diligently. He had no choice or say in the matter. Well it’s not like that anymore. Everything takes so long now. Not diapers and breastfeeding long, but getting dressed, brushing teeth, combing hair, going to the potty long.

While I do encourage positive growth in all aspects of my child’s development, and thoroughly embrace his autonomy and willingness to try to do “everything” himself, I still find it hard not to swear sometimes. Prime example: We were running late this morning and I’m in the kitchen getting everything packed up and ready to go. The kids finish their breakfast and I scoot them upstairs and tell them to get out of their pajamas. Their “good morning” clothes were laid out on the bed. I finish up quickly downstairs (God knows I can’t leave them alone for too long) and I honestly don’t expect my little one to wash up and get dressed by himself in a timely manner. Or at all for that matter.

Boy was I wrong.

Just as I’m about to head for the stairs, here comes my little guy as ferocious as a lion, yet happy as a clam.

“Oh, shit.” I mumble under my breath. WTF? Honestly though, I can’t help but laugh. How did he get that on so fast? We are going to be so late.

I guess we’ll just go to the zoo instead.

lisa