Parenting resources
A friend once told me I should put together a list of all the helpful information I have come across as a parent. Well, here it is! I wish that I had a list like this when I was pregnant...it would have made things so much easier! I fully believe that it takes a village to raise a child. Today, we don't always have that, especially when we move away from our families and home towns.
It is my hope that you I will provide you with some helpful tools so that you may be better able to educate yourself and be prepared for pregnancy, birth, and parenting. It is the most rewarding job I have ever had, but it is also the hardest. Without a strong support group, I would be lost.
Please feel free to send me an email if you can think of anything else I might want to add.
Thank you!!
It is my hope that you I will provide you with some helpful tools so that you may be better able to educate yourself and be prepared for pregnancy, birth, and parenting. It is the most rewarding job I have ever had, but it is also the hardest. Without a strong support group, I would be lost.
Please feel free to send me an email if you can think of anything else I might want to add.
Thank you!!
Pregnancy & Birth
- Houston Natural Birth
- B.I.R.T.H. -- really great birth fair that happens here every year - tons of good info and links
- Texas Midwives
- International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN)
- ICAN links
- What is ICAN video
- The Unnecesaean
- Postpartum.net
- Postpartummen.com
- Naturally Knocked Up
Parenting websites
- Mothering- interesting magazine and website with loads of helpful articles and threads in the online community
- Car-Seat.org - always useful car seat info (e.g. the basics)
- CPSafety - more helpful details (such as why it's so important to keep your child rear facing as long as possible)
- Peaceful Parenting
- The Stir by CafeMom
- Nurturing Across Cultures
- Cosleeping - sharing a bed (or room) with your children
- Dr. Sears
- Aha! Parenting
Babywearing
Breastfeeding
- La Leche League
- Kelly Mom - really good source of breastfeeding information as well as tons of other good stuff
- Dr. Jack Newman - great source of info on treating breastfeeding ailments
- Common Breastfeeding Problems
Cloth Diapering
- Fuzzibunz - one size is good, but the sized diapers fit better in my opinion, you would need more diapers if you buy the sized, though
- Kissaluvs - my favorite Marvels one-size fitted (require a cover), and all-in-one (no stuffing the pocket!) tons of other great products
- Bum Genius
- Bummis covers
- Thirsties - covers, diapers (great pockets! don't have to remove the liners like fuzzibunz/bum genius, just throw whole thing in wash!)
- Lucy's Hope Chest diapers - fabulous! but can be hard to find - shop is currently inactive
- Imse Vimse - i have a swim diaper, but the company has other great products, including diaper liners
- Wahmies - bought these: diaper pail liner and wet bags (for dirty diapers when out and about)
- Diaper Sprayers - here or here
- Pinstripes & Polkadots - detergent choices for cloth diapers
- How to wash cloth diapers
- Zany Zebra - lots of recipes for making your own wipe solution for cloth wipes
- Diaper swappers - find used cloth diapers
Home health & nutrition
- Wholesome Baby Food - great recipes for making your own baby food, very helpful and yummy!
- Dr. Sears
- Arnica gel - Great for bumps and bruises!
- Chamomilla - teething tablets (or regular chamomile tea)
- Gaia Herbs Children's Ear Drops - great for ear aches, after swimming, probably plane rides, too - my sister-in-law just breaks open a garlic oil capsule and drips it directly in the ear.
- California Baby everything! I love their shampoo/body wash & diaper rash cream, but the sunscreen is one of the best out there, though quite expensive
- EWG Sunscreen Reviews - Find a safe sunscreen for you & your family
- Gentian Violet - good for treating Thrush - it's very messy but effective; ask a lactation consultant before using for proper measurements
- Triple Nipple ointment - mix equal parts: triple antibiotic, hydrocortisone, miconizole nitrate - also for Thrush
Books
- Baby Bargains - awesome for helping make decisions on which brand of baby items is worth your money!! - it was our baby shopping bible!
- Dr. Sears Library - Baby Book, Attachment Parenting, Breastfeeding Book
- No-Cry Sleep Solution
- Helping Baby Sleep
- Itsy Bitsy Yoga
- Baby Signs
- The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth
- Birthing From Within
- The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
- Montessori from the Start
- How to Raise an Amazing Child: The Montessori Way
- Playful Parenting
- Graceful Parenting
- From Diapers to Dating
- Beyond the Big Talk
- What Every 21st Century Parent Needs to Know
- I Love Dirt
- Last Child in the Woods