November « 2011 « This Tiny Spark

5 Great Charities to Support This Season

by Lin

Please remember charities when you open your wallet this holiday season! This is a list of my favourite charities, in alphabetical order. With all of these charities, your dollar goes a long way and really helps those in need. And keep in mind that donations make excellent gifts for those ‘hard to buy for’ friends and family members!

1. The Cancer Society - For many, many families, cancer is a major part of their lives. The Cancer Society does outstanding work. Donations help fund research, provide resources & counselling, improve quality of life for patients and families, and create information on cancer prevention. Your money can also fund special programs! I was lucky enough to volunteer at The BC Cancer Society‘s Camp Goodtimes last summer. This summer camp is for children with cancer and their siblings. The camp is run by the most amazing group of people I have ever met. For one week, the kids get to be regular kids. They swim in the lake, eat s’mores, sleep in bunks and make new friends. It builds confidence and gives them an opportunity like nothing else. Check out the video below to get a taste of what camp is like. And take a look near you to see if you can donate to or volunteer at a similar camp. It will change your life! (Canadian Cancer Society) (American Cancer Society)

2. Children International - I highly recommend Children International as an excellent alternative to religious-based child sponsorship programs. As a secular group, Children International supports children from families of all religions and creeds and does not require church attendance in order to receive aid. You can sponsor a children from a number of different countries around the world, and you even have the option of travelling to meet your sponsor child! There is also the opportunity to fund special projects from bug nets to immunizations to putting a new roof on your sponsor family’s home. I enjoy dealing with the organization as they are not pushy or greedy, and they keep you updated on your child’s progress through letters and photos. If you want to make a one-time donation, those also go very far to help under-privileged children and families.

3. The Food Bank – I’m not ashamed to share that we used the Food Bank when I was a child. I used to love it… all those shelves full of food! It’s only as an adult, and a mother, that I realize how hard it must have been for my parents. Have you ever worried that you might not be able to feed your children, or yourself? Have you had to choose between groceries or paying rent? What an amazing public service the food bank offers: full bellies & peace of mind. I am so proud of my mom who fought very hard to get us back above the poverty line, to a place where we can donate to the food bank that once fed us. Even if you’ve never relied on this service, know that it makes a huge difference for families. You can donate monetarily or by bringing new, unopened food items to your local food bank.(Canadian Food Bank) (American Food Bank)

4. Kiva – Have you heard about Kiva? It is a great idea that has spread like wildfire and is making a huge difference for small business owners in developing countries. For a $25 donation, you can make a ‘microloan’ to the business owner of your choice. Then a number of other lenders can fund that same small business until they meet their requested loan amount. The loans may be used to buy inventory, fix up a store, or improve their equipment. When the business owner receives their loan, they can make the necessary improvements to their business, and increase their revenue. Then they pay the loan back as per the lending terms. You receive back all of your $25! The best thing to do then is to reloan the money and help another small business get on its feet. In this simple way, Kiva makes a HUGE difference for people around the world by making them self-sufficient. Go make a loan today!

5. The Red Cross - Most people don’t think about the Red Cross until a disaster strikes, but it should be on your regular donation list. Not only does the Red Cross help communities struck by disasters, they help refugees, reunite families separated by disasters, and give ongoing support to those who need it most. Currently they are seeking help for the drought in Africa. Everyone wants to help when there is a tsunami or earthquake, but please remember those who need help TODAY. The Red Cross does a wonderful job of managing money to get resources and humanitarian workers directly to those in need. (Canadian Red Cross) (American Red Cross)

Do you donate year-round? What are your favourite charities?

Society

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Cloth Diapers – Part 1: My Experience

by Lin

I’ve had a few friends asking me about cloth diapers lately, so I thought I would answer their questions here!

Maya has been in cloth diapers from the start. We did use disposables in the hospital because I didn’t want to buy enough newborn-sized diapers to get us through a 3 day hospital stay. I was glad we could switch to cloth once we brought her home. The disposables smell funny… kind of like plastic and chemicals and a weird perfume that tries to mask those smells but just makes it all so much worse.

Tiny Maya in Kissaluv & Bummi's Super Whisper Wrap

For the first couple months we used Kissaluvs fitted diapers, covered by Bummi’s Super Whisper Wraps or Thirsties Duo Wraps. The Kissaluvs are just the right size for a newborn, and if Maya wasn’t such a big kid, we could’ve got a few more months use out of these diapers. I also recommend the Thirties covers because I like the leg gussets… an extra layer that conforms to baby’s leg and helps keep poop from leaking out.

After she outgrew those diapers, we moved on to hand-me-down Bum Genius diapers, which we still use today (I bought a few more used diapers from a friend as well). Maya is 1 now, and I expect those diapers to fit until she is potty trained because she will slim down a little once she starts walking. We also have a few Kawaii baby diapers that I picked up for super cheap. Both of these types of diapers are pocket-style, which means there are absorbent inserts that need to be put into the diaper before using them. It only adds a couple extra minutes of preparation, but the diapers dry much quicker than those with built-in absorbent layers.

Maya in a Kawaii diaper

If I was buying a whole new stash of diapers, I wouldn’t buy the Bum Genius or the Kawaii again. I find the leg elastic on the Kawaii is a bit tight on Maya’s thighs, and the snaps tend to pucker the waist which looks uncomfortable. All of the Bum Genius we have are velcro-closure, which is convenient for quick changes, but scary when the baby learns how fun and easy it is to undo velcro! It is also a royal pain in the butt for washing because the velcro tabs stick to everything (even if they’re stuck down), and they curl and fill with lint.

My dream stash of diapers would be all side-snapping Monster Pants diapers. These diapers are made by an online friend of mine who has a daughter Maya’s age. I bought some large Monster Pants pocket diapers to stuff with Joey Bunz inserts for nighttime when my other nighttime diapers were leaking. What a difference from our usual diapers! I love the side-snapping closures because it makes the waist and legs snug but not tight or puckered. Two rows of snaps mean I can adjust the leg and waist tightness separately… keeping in leaks but not corseting poor Maya! And the Monster Pants leg gussets are incredibly excellent. I love that Maya doesn’t have creases on her legs when I take the diaper off. Plus the lining is apparently made of magic because it feels dry to the touch in the morning (after 12-14 hours of wear!), even when the inserts are all soaked. Melissa is also amazing to purchase from, makes diapers to your custom specifications, and has a website coming soon!

So that is a summary of my experience with cloth diapers so far! Stay tuned for Part 2: Cloth Diapering Tips & Tricks

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(Please note: All opinions on this page are my own and I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my endorsement of these products)

Cloth Diapers Products

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Wordless Wednesday – Video Edition

by Lin

Sorry for the lack of posts the past few days! I have two great posts that are partially written… I just have to find the time to finish them up. Soon!!

Wordless Wednesday

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Daddy Doesn’t Babysit

by Lin

That’s right, my husband doesn’t babysit Maya.

Why? Because he can’t babysit his own kid. When Simon cares for Maya he’s parenting her. He’s being a dad and a husband, and doing what dads and husbands do! I don’t worry one bit about leaving Maya with Simon because he can do everything for her that I do (apart from breastfeeding), she adores him, and I get a break for a little while.

Simon is not a Male Mommy. He doesn’t do everything the same way I like to, and I think that’s really good for everyone. Maya likes the change of routine, Simon has the confidence to parent in his own way, and I get to let go of the little things that really don’t matter. It’s not unusual for me to find Maya wearing a red onesie with pink pants and green socks (all coated in banana), and Daddy has somehow attached all of her toys together into one giant toy monstrosity. And as a mom, part of me wants to put Maya into clothes that match, clean the banana out of her hair, and untangle that crazy toy ball as soon as I walk in the door. But really none of that matters because the time they spend together, without my meddling, is forming a father-daughter bond that will last a lifetime.

Moms, would you call your time with your children ‘babysitting’? Of course not! So give your partner a bit more credit too. He is capable, connected and completely in love with your kid(s), and he would love the opportunity to shine as a father. Not as a babysitter.

Does your husband or partner ‘babysit’ your kids?

Parenting

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Bath Time!

by Lin

1 week old Maya in the tub with me

Maya has always loved water. Even when I was pregnant and I was having two baths a day to ease my aching hips, little fetal Maya would kick up a storm as soon as I relaxed into the tub. When she was a newborn, she would cry because she hated the sponge baths in the little baby tub and really preferred to be submerged as much as possible. Baths in the big tub with me were a hit!

As she grew, she started to like the baby tub because it meant she could kick water all over the floor. We still only bathed her sporadically… I really think that people over-bathe babies and dry out their skin. As long as you are keeping their diaper area very clean and checking for crud in their armpits and neck folds, you shouldn’t need to give them daily baths. Maya would have baths once a week.

But then… we started solid foods and the whole game changed. Now the kid can use a bath 3 times a day (no, we don’t bathe her that much!). My new “favourite” thing is how she rubs everything she eats through her hair first. You’d be surprised how well banana works as a styling gel! And pre-chewed food always seems to find its way into her belly button or diaper or even into her socks.

Now I will say that she never wears a bib. She just hates them and focuses on ripping off the bib instead of eating her dinner. So Maya spends most meals au naturel, which allows for her to practice eating and body painting with tomato sauce all at once. What a rich learning experience! (You can see a picture of her mealtime art at the bottom of this post)

2.5 month old Maya in the little bath

Around this time, she started taking baths in the laundry room sink because as lovely as the deep tub was when I was pregnant, it broke my back to crouch over it. Not to mention how hard it was to wrangle a soapy, wiggling toddler in all that water!

So far, the laundry room sink baths are going really well and I’ll probably keep those up until she outgrows it.

Plus the kid LOVES her baths. She goes crazy as soon as you dip her feet in the water, splashing and giggling and squealing. She loves to lean back and have her hair washed, and even thinks its funny when she nearly drowns because she kicked up a sink-sized tidal wave that walloped her in the face. She’s just as enthusiastic about swimming in the pool, and in the ocean. Simon is excited because that means he’ll have a surfing buddy in a few years! And I’m glad that she is so comfortable, joyful and confident in the water. What a little fishy!

Yay! It's bath time!

Now I think Maya has a natural love of water, but here are some ideas to help your baby love the bath:

- Lie out everything you need before starting the bath. Make sure it’s all within reaching distance. NEVER leave your child alone in the bath, even for a second.

- Try taking very little babies in the tub with you. Your body will keep them warm and the closeness is soothing for them. Ask your partner to help out by sitting nearby (it can be hard to juggle a baby and soap in a deep bath!), and you can hand him/her the wet baby to dry off when you are done.

Getting her hair washed... happy girl!

- Dunk a washcloth in the warm bath water and put on baby’s chest to keep them warm in the little tub (see the picture of Maya, above) Re-dunk the cloth often to keep it warm!

- Save washing hair until the very end of the bath. Water on the face and a cold, wet head can really make a happy bath time deteriorate fast!

- Bath toys are a great distraction for older babies! Bring some empty containers into the tub and pour water back and forth between them.

- Leave some time at the end of the bath for baby to play and explore the water. Teach him to splash!

- Try to get baby out of the bath before she melts down. Leaving the bath on a good note will make her look forward to it next time!

- Dry baby off as thoroughly and quickly as possible. Cold babies get really grumpy.

- Remember to have a positive attitude! Babies are very perceptive and will pick up on your stress or frustration. If you’re still feeling uptight… have your partner wash the baby, and you go have a relaxing bubble-bath of your own!

Peekaboo!

Do your kids love their baths? What are your favourite bath time tips?

Parenting Tips

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Book Review – What’s On My Head?

by Lin

Our local Public Health Centre has a number of programs for children, and we take part in many of them. One neat thing they do is loan out backpacks full of books and toys. You borrow the backpack for a week or two, then clean the baby drool off everything and swap it for another one. Last week’s backpack contained the Little People farm and a book about animals. This time it’s a dog puppet and the book ‘What’s On My Head?‘ by Margaret Miller.

Unposed shot! She actually grabbed the book while I was writing so I snapped a few quick pictures.

Maya’s review: She likes turning the book’s oversized pages and attempting to poke out the eyes of the babies. Chewing the book is another favourite activity, and she says that it has rich paper overtones, with a strong cardboardy flavour. She also likes having the book read to her over and over and over.

My review: I don’t like having to read the book over and over and over because it only has 10 words in the entire book, so I have it memorized already. The book ends rather abruptly, with no conclusion to the storyline, or really any storyline at all. There is also no attempt made at character development. Yes, I’m joking! Actually the pictures of the babies in the book are really cute, and it’s kind of funny to see how skeptical many of them are about the item on their head!

All in all, a cute book, but not one I’d want to own because I’m pretty much already sick of it and it’s been less than a week. Maya, on the other hand… is bringing it to me right now. So looks like I’ll be reading it another dozen times before her nap…

What are you reading to your kids today?

Book Review

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Things That Make Me Cry – Part 2

by Lin

I ordered a copy of Alison McGhee’s ‘Someday’ when Maya was a few months old. I read it and cried all over it. Then I let Simon see it and I cried while he (silently) read it. It is such an outstanding and touching book. Highly recommended for all parents and parents-to-be.

To be honest, I haven’t been able to read it to Maya yet. Because I know I’ll totally lose it and cry through the whole thing. I’ve always tried very hard to keep a grip on my emotions because I do get easily overwhelmed. But I’d like for my daughter to have a healthy connection with her emotions (both positive and negative ones), and I think it’s up to me to be a good role-model.

So maybe I’ll read her this fantastic book and shamelessly weep while I do it.

Are there children’s books that make you cry too? Or is it just me?

(Part 1)

Things That Make Me Cry

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My Favourite Sleep Tips

by Lin

Is your baby or toddler not sleeping? I’ll bet you’re willing to try anything to get that kid to sleep so you can regain some of your sanity. I’ve been there too. It’s frustrating and heartbreaking and completely consumes you.

Here are a few of my favourite tips to help your child sleep better:

1. Offer a ‘lovey’

Maya has a special blanket that stays in her crib. She only gets it at naptime and bedtime, but she’s always so glad to see that blanket! You can help your child attach to a special object like a blanket or soft toy by holding it close to you when you rock your baby or nurse her to sleep. Guide the child’s hands to the object or snuggle it under his chin. And then tuck it in next to him in the crib. You might also want to pick up two of the same lovey and rotate them so you always have a clean one (they get pretty yucky from all that baby loving), and you have a spare in case one goes missing. A special lovey makes baby’s bed feel like a safe place, and it really does seem to keep them company during sleeptime.

2. Establish a routine

In our house, the routine is brush teeth, potty, diaper, pajamas, close blinds, white noise, lullaby, story, nursing/rocking, into bed. A modified version of that routine is kept at naptimes too. It makes me feel pretty good to see Maya start yawning as soon as I close the blinds, and by the time we get to the story, she’s ready to snuggle and relax. She will often stop nursing and reach for her crib! No matter what routine you choose, make sure that each step gets baby closer to his bed. So don’t put him in his pajamas in his room, then run out to brush his teeth, then take him downstairs to get his book. It tends to wake them up and mixes up your calming routine.

3. Set the scene

Picture a the kind of bedroom you would like to sleep in: calm, quiet, dark, warm, soft. Sounds cozy, doesn’t it? Can you make any changes to your baby’s bedroom or sleeping area that would make it easier for her to sleep there? Room darkening shades are pretty much the best invention ever. We use them at naptime and at night. I also suggest a white noise machine. It has a calming effect on babies, drowns out household noises, and cues the baby that it’s time to sleep now. We take ours when travelling and use it in the car. Works like a charm! Keep in mind that if your child is too warm or too cold, they may not sleep well. Sleep sacks, like my favourite from Wee Urban, are wearable blankets that keep baby cozy without restricting movement. And depending on your child’s sensitivity, tags or scratchy fabrics may also affect sleep.

4. Protect your child’s sleep

Yep, you might get called a ‘spoil sport’ or ‘no fun’, but once you have that kid sleeping… don’t mess with it! Even if your friends don’t understand why your family can’t come to a late dinner, or grandparents want to keep her awake through her nap, YOU know that your baby copes best when she’s getting enough sleep. Everything is harder when you’re tired. This is true for little ones and us parents! Set your baby up to succeed by making sure he’s getting enough sleep. And maybe grab a nap yourself.

5. Know your child & trust yourself

You know your child best! If a sleep expert or a friend suggests that you use a certain sleep technique that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsure, you don’t have to do it. I would recommend that you get as much information as you can, but keep in mind that the people who write sleep books have never put your baby to bed. If you are unhappy with your baby or toddler’s sleep, there are lots of resources out there. However you choose to tackle sleep with your child, trust that you’ve made the best choice for your family right now.

What are your favourite sleep tips?

Parenting Sleep

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