Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Jen via Facebook:

Hi Christine, I just had my third little boy. He is a joy. Although I successfully breast-fed my first two sons, I was not successful in getting my second son to use a bottle (which led me to be resentful towards the end), so I have taken your advice and started my baby on a bottle at three weeks. I was wondering about how often you pump and provide bottles to keep up your supply and still be able to nurse? I've forgotten how I managed with my first son.

Continue reading "Dear Boston Mamas: Nursing & Pumping" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 19 Jul 2011 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Dear Boston Mamas; Feeding & Nursing; Gear; Sleep; Web (Admin)
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I met Gretchen Rubin last year at Mom 2.0; I loved hearing her speak, reading The Happiness Project (which I highly recommend everyone read), and becoming friends with Gretchen over the course of the year. Gretchen is a gifted writer, deep thinker, and lovely friend, and given that I reflect on gratitude in life's big and small moments regularly, I particularly love that Gretchen's mission involves finding happiness in all corners and in tangible ways. For today's four favorites guest post, I asked Gretchen to share four ways to find happiness while in the trenches of parenting a newborn.

Continue reading "Four Ways To Find Happiness In The Trenches" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 15 Apr 2011 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Family Issues; For Grownups; Sleep
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Now that I have recovered from my pregnancy shock, I have, admittedly, been viewing baby gear with a decidedly more interested eye (we donated many of our wee things because I was convinced we were done). And I was intrigued when hushamok came onto my radar. Beautifully modern in design, free of noisy (and unnecessary, in my opinion) bells and whistles, and constructed of organic materials, hushamok's beautiful hammocks and seats have a wonderfully natural vibe -- both in styling and also because they take advantage of natural movement as a soothing mechanism. I recently saw the hushamok dream at my friend Braden's house, and not only did I want to crawl in for a cozy snooze, but her baby was, in fact, sleeping happily and peacefully in it. And as part of my Boston Mamas Fourth Birthday Giveaway Series, hushamok generously is gifting one lucky winner with their Organic Cotton Hammock ($195 value). Simply check out the rules below and leave a comment on this giveaway by Monday, August 16, to enter to win.

Continue reading "Birthday Giveaway: hushamok" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 14 Aug 2010 | Permalink | Comments (90) | Filed in Gear; Sleep
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Oh the irony of sleep: parents love it and long for more and kids resist it. Either way, pretty bedding helps create a welcoming environment (and yes, I've used cool bedding to make Laurel's bed more enticing for sleep). Whether you're looking for bedding sets, or need a top to bottom room makeover (furniture, décor, etc.), check out Artistic Sensations. Offering a wide variety of themes and styles to outfit kids' rooms, I'm especially drawn towards their organic bedding, which includes sweetly patterned and cozy looking options that make me feel happily sleepy just looking at them online. And as part of my Boston Mamas Fourth Birthday Giveaway Series, Artistic Sensations generously is gifting one lucky winner with a $250 gift certificate towards bedding! Simply check out the rules below and leave a comment on this giveaway by Monday, July 19, to enter to win.

Continue reading "Birthday Giveaway: Artistic Sensations" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 17 Jul 2010 | Permalink | Comments (155) | Filed in Decor & Furniture; Eco Living; Home; Sleep
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Back in our sleep deprived (and admittedly clueless) days of early parenting, Dr. Harvey Karp’s Happiest Baby on the Block was one of our go-to parenting manuals. And lucky for local parents, on October 7 (6-8 pm), you can learn baby and toddler calming techniques (related to sleep, tantrums, etc.) from Dr. Karp himself, thanks to an event coordinated by my friends over at Isis Maternity. Taking place at the Isis Prudential location, the event will include Dr. Karp’s presentation + Q & A, refreshments, book signings, and raffle prizes. Space is limited; ticket proceeds will benefit Massachusetts Citizens for Children.

Posted by Christine Koh on 29 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Development & Behavior; For Grownups; Local; Outreach; Sleep
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No matter the season, babies find comfort in being swaddled, and I’ve written before about the wonderful lightweight-ness of aden + anais’s cotton muslin wraps for summer babies. And in addition to these wraps (also available in winter weight), aden + anais offers sleeping bags that are lovely for keeping babies cozy yet ventilated when they want to be free of the baby burrito. For our 3rd birthday party, aden + anais is offering one lucky reader a 4-pack of muslin wraps or swaddling blankets + a sleeping bag (retail value: $74). Simply check out the rules below and leave a comment on this giveaway to enter to win (by midnight EST, Tuesday, July 21).

Continue reading "Birthday Giveaway: aden + anais" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 20 Jul 2009 | Permalink | Comments (131) | Filed in Gear; Sleep
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This past weekend we hosted Laurel’s 4th birthday party, and while it differed significantly from her previous parties in size (6 instead of 20 kids), it shared the same sense of themed imagination as in past years. Year 2 was an “everything yellow party” (all food and decorations were yellow), year 3 was a “rainbow color party” (tie dye), and this year was a “nature fairy party.”

Continue reading "Nature Fairy Party" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 10 Sep 2008 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Art Supplies & Toys; Arts & Crafts; Home; Sleep
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Today, Carole Arsenault of Newborn Nurses offers basic lessons on infant sleep:

"'Lack of sleep' is a phrase that most new parents are all too familiar with. The first few weeks at home with a new baby can be exhausting and overwhelming. Despite the happiness and joy a new baby brings, parents often find themselves eagerly anticipating the time when their newborn will sleep through the night.

Continue reading "Infant Sleep" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 29 Apr 2008 | Permalink | | Filed in Sleep
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Whether it’s due to laziness, a desire to not rush the process, or not having a 2nd child waiting for the crib (one of my girlfriends needed to transition her older daughter early to a big girl bed when #2 was on the way, and the older child responded by climbing into the crib, removing her diaper, and leaving an unpleasant surprise…), it occurs to me that we’ve had a tendency to let Laurel’s growth - or, let’s face it, claustrophobia – determine her nest transitions.

Continue reading "Nest Transitions" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 7 Apr 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Decor & Furniture; Development & Behavior; Home; Sleep
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And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:

Healthy Bump reviews SmartMom Jewelry’s "Teething Bling" (shown). One Chic Mama features the O, Yikes! Bag, which combines style with function to create a perfect bag for busy moms (and dads). Classy Mommy’s fantasy find is Table Five Design’s Cinderella Carriage bed. Moms’ Buzz showcases hot product picks for September.

Clever Parents tackles the question “Will my body ever be the same as it was before I got pregnant?” And MomFinds features the best tips, tricks and products to help send your little one off to dreamland.

Posted by Christine Koh on 14 Sep 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health; Decor & Furniture; Gear; Home; Sleep
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Lately I’ve been dreading the days when I’m responsible for putting Laurel down for her midday nap.

I know this sounds terrible, but lately she’s been ramping up not down during our pre-nap routine. And sometimes this translates to particularly inciting behavior, such as dropping her milk cup over the crib rails and hitting me squarely on the head while I’m trying – probably unsuccessfully – to keep my cool and read her a story.

A new issue, no doubt a byproduct of potty training practice, is that she wants to strip off her pants for nap. It’s not so much the temperature I’m concerned about, but this weekend while she was all revved up, she stripped off pants, then later had a poop and (responsibly, I suppose…) removed her diaper. I know I should be happy about her increasing independence but cleaning up soiled linens during my highly anticipated midday rejuvenation time is about as savory as the prospect of returning to work with my former boss.

No doubt I’ll feel guilty about this confession after today’s midday break (it’s been blissfully silent upstairs for the last hour…), but such is parenting life. It’s not all puppy dogs and unicorns, as Auntie Sha-Sha says.

Posted by Christine Koh on 15 Feb 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Sleep
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Good things can happen when a mom and daughter put their heads together.

Susan Slatmyer and Shaughna Giracca, the mother-daughter team behind Susie’s Swaddlers, found that while swaddling was a powerful means to achieve nighttime infant sleep, babies outgrow traditional 30” blankets well before they outgrow the need to be swaddled. The crafty response to this need evolved into Susie’s Swaddlers. Simple in concept but spectacular in effect, these 43” square, extra large receiving blankets are made to order from soft 100% cotton flannel in singles ($15) or 3-pack gift sets ($40) for boys, girls, or unisex.

And once your swaddling days are over, these blankets serve well in the stroller, crib, or car seat, or as a play mat in the yard or at the beach.

Posted by Christine Koh on 12 Feb 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Gear; Sleep
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We have some dear friends who are about a month out of the “fourth trimester boot camp” phase and they have started working on finding some consistency with their babe’s naps and nighttime sleep. They highly recommend Marc Weissbluth’s Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child ($10.17 at Amazon).

A pediatrician and established researcher in the field of sleep and children, Weissbluth describes methods to implement healthy sleep habits within the framework of a child's natural sleep cycles. The book also offers coping strategies for common nighttime issues (e.g., nightmares, bedwetting), discusses common sleep pitfalls, and explores varying sleep needs depending on a child’s temperament.

Click here for further description of popular sleep methods (e.g., Sears, Ferber, Pantley, Karp).

Posted by Christine Koh on 25 Jan 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Grownups; Sleep
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As Laurel’s world of words has continued to grow by leaps and bounds, we’re reminded daily of just how observant she is, and how imaginative. About a month ago, one way her imagination began evidencing itself was through nightmares. She woke up crying in the middle of the night, and we soon learned about her fear of animals and people coming into her room; among them, a character named Ya Ya the Yellow Cat.

There’s little to do about nightmares other than provide comfort and calm during the day and the nighttime episode itself, but one method that has worked beautifully for us is using Laurel’s language abilities to advantage. Asking questions about her nightmares and listening to her responses shows Laurel that we take her seriously, and has allowed us to reverse the polarity of some of the nightmares over time.

Jon actually was the first to learn about the origin of Laurel’s fears; her big room in our new home, the dogs barking in the yard next door, and the noisy entry downstairs all seemed to contribute to her fear of unwelcome guests. Jon used conversation (and a little bedtime song he came up with) to convey to Laurel that no one came into our house unless one of us said so, and that her room was a safe and peaceful place. And as he asked more questions about Ya Ya the Yellow Cat, he also reminded her about other yellow things and neighborhood cats that she loves; over time, and with these positive associations, Ya Ya became a friend not foe.

Posted by Christine Koh on 5 Dec 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Sleep
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In yesterday’s Boston Globe, Carey Goldberg reported on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) research findings from Children’s Hospital Boston. The autopsy-based research report (published in the Journal of the American Medical Association) suggests that most of the 31 infants examined showed abnormalities in brain cells involved with serotonin (a neurotransmitter implicated in the regulation of mood states). These findings align with existing theories suggesting a biological basis for SIDS; the authors propose that infants who die from SIDS may lack an “alarm system” that normally would make them turn their heads or gasp in response to elevated carbon dioxide levels.

These findings add support to the “Back to Sleep” campaign advocating that parents put infants to sleep on their backs. For more information on SIDS, check out the National SIDS/Infant Death Resource Center (available in English and Español), and the American SIDS Institute. Both sites provide information on regional SIDS chapters.

Posted by Christine Koh on 1 Nov 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Sleep
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Our quick and easy bedtime routine evaporated when we moved a couple of weeks ago. Pre-move, after stories we could leave the room and Laurel would happily chat and sing her way to sleep. Now there’s a lot of stalling and sadness if we try to leave when she is awake. From what we could understand from Laurel, she was scared of the dark.

While our move clearly changed things, a conversation with the mom of one of Laurel’s pals – who, even as the world’s most unflappable toddler, recently has become fearful of the dark – prompted me to look further into night fears.

Continue reading "Dark & Scary Nights" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 15 Sep 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Childcare; Sleep
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So how bad is it that my academic expertise is in music and psychology and I have never explicitly purchased a CD for my babe?

Yes, of course I believe that music has powerful cognitive and therapeutic capabilities. But aside from having a decent existing music collection to choose from, I tend to be utterly underwhelmed by the bubble gum bouncy covers on CDs marketed for parents, and especially exasperated by printed claims such as “Proven to make your baby smarter!” Really? Who proved it? Cite a reference please.

Marketing griping aside, I do have one immediate recommendation. My brother-in-law gave us a wonderful CD by Nina Gerber, a professional guitarist based in California. Nina’s “Sweet Dreams” album ($15) includes acoustic guitar instrumentals that are lyrical and textured, yet calming for both babes and adults. This album occupied a permanent spot in our CD changer for about 18 months, serving as our evening wind down/sleep signal music.

Only available for via mail order, but I think it's worth it.

Posted by Christine Koh on 1 Aug 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids; Sleep
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Oh how we took those thousands and thousands of pre-parenthood nights of sleep for granted! A new mama from Calif. asked for some thoughts and resources on sleep:

What a push button topic this is for parents. You hate when people ask you how your baby is sleeping. It feels like a measurement of your fledgling parenting skills. You desperately want to sleep but you have evolved into a bug with freakishly tuned antennae; you are up and running at every snuffle or snort and it is making you crazy. As you consider various sleep approaches, my opinion is that you need to think about the temperament and any particular health needs of your babe coupled with what you instinctively feel comfortable with as a parent. No single method will work for everyone or should serve as a marker for success or failure. I’ll point you to some resources, and offer a window into our sleep journey; ultimately, you will need to decide what works best for your family.

Continue reading "Let Sleeping Babes Lie" »

Posted by Christine Koh on 31 Jul 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Grownups; Sleep
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Miracles do happen. Just ask my mama friend Paige, whose otherwise peaceful 9-week old babe was waking every couple of hours through the night. Pediatric suggestions to slightly elevate the babe or administer Maalox (in case the problem was reflux) were attempted in vain. Things were getting ugly.

Then one of Paige’s mama friends turned her on to the Amazing Miracle Blanket. No joke. This extra long 100% cotton knit swaddling blanket resulted in an immediate result of 9 straight hours of sleep. Basically, while we all experience sleep-disturbing twitches through the night (I have been known to knee my husband in the kidney), infants haven’t yet learned to soothe themselves back to sleep. Swaddling helps prevent the big twitches that lead to night waking while creating a cozy, womb-like environment.

Machine washable and dryable, the blanket retails for $26.95 at Amazon (green, undyed natural, blue), or more colors are available for $29.95 at BabyCenter. Locally, Paige picked hers up at Isis Maternity.

Posted by Christine Koh on 25 Jul 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Gear; Sleep
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