Top eight things parents need to educate themselves about(in no particular order)

I hope if you can get anything out of this article it is to question the parenting options and be informed of your choices. Your child relys on you to make educated, mature decisons about their upbringing and health.

1. Childbirth

I am a HUGE natural birth advocate. While I understand some women just want pain relief, or the comfort of the hospital. I urge every woman to at least research and understand the pros and cons of such medical aid. We will post our birth stories soon, but for now I had two beautiful natural out of hopsital births and my sister had a traumatic midwife hospital experience. I recommend watching the Business of Being Born (its on netflix and easy to find online) I had a doctor before and after watching this twice and crying the whole thing, I prayed for a homebirth. I was angry, I felt betrayed by the medical system and its horrible treatment of the birthing process.

Birth without fear is the BEST resource to educate yourself on empowering your own birth, no matter what route you choose. It is an amazing community of mothers, I urge you to read some birth stories to figure out what is best for you. My second birth went SO much easier because I wasn't in fear, and I was in control of myself and it made labor progress QUICK. I was informed and empowered. It was spiritual and beautiful. Everything a birth should be.
https://www.facebook.com/birthwithoutfear?ref=ts

Here is the whole business of being born documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMX3ahiOT3o

2.Breastfeeding
My first child I was ignorant of the importance, and how to breast feed. My Doula the second time around was a godsend as she taught me what I didn't know. As a mother who formula fed one and breast fed the other, I strongly urge everyone to at least try. I get SO much more sleep because we co sleep and breast feed. No bottles to scrub, no formula to mix up in the midst of a crying baby. Not to mention the bond and nutritional/medicinal value of breastfeeding. It is a beautiful thing nursing your child and watching them grow.It is a-freaking-mazing. There are amazing resources online for all the information you need to make educated decisions about what to feed your child. My big problem with formula is that it is powdered cows milk with synthetic vitamins, and hexane gas(a known narcotic gas) with other questionable ingredients.(Corn syrups, MSG and Arsenic) Breast milk is more than just a dead powdered food product, it is medicinal, nutritional and your baby needs it. Formula is a last resort.I urge mothers to look into breastfeeding, then donation breast milk, then and then homemade formulas,.
Here is a page about the marketing of formula
www.facebook.com/callingfortransparency

Educate yourself about formula, and its effect on a babys health
http://www.vaccineriskawareness.com/Dangers-Of-Formula-Milk

Places to find donation milk (WHICH IS EASY and there are plenty of generous mommas that want to help)

http://www.eatsonfeets.org/
http://www.hm4hb.net/

There are so many online communites that will come together to feed your baby what it was meant to be fed.

Respect the breast is my favorite go to advice forum on breastfeeding questions
https://www.facebook.com/RespectTheBreast?ref=ts

Kelly mom is essential--http://kellymom.com/


3.Vaccines/ Natural Immunity/ Delayed Vaccination
Vaccines are a very touchy debate with many. I am not anti vaccination, I am PRO SAFE vaccination. Which in my research and understanding-- ARE NOT.  They have tons of questionable ingredients that I would never inject my precious baby with. But I do understand people want to protect their babies from disease, which I urge you to research vaccine effectiveness, which they are not. The huge thing with vaccines for me is that they use aborted human fetal cells to GROW DISEASES/VIRUSES on. They also use a plethora of other animal tissues in the vaccines.(MONKEY DNA) I freaking object. If you do the research and still want to vaccinate, you should at least consider delayed vaccines or alternative scheduling. There ARE doctors to fit your needs no matter what.Vaccine detox is a great idea if your dead set on vaccinating too. Too many perfect babies are vaccine injured and the parents don't even KNOW.Then far too many babies are injured and die, or have brain damage, or seizures, or autism(yes there is a connection)

Dr. Mercola is such a good resource for health related issues--(the documentary is worth your time)http://www.mercola.com/2007/feb/15/shocking-documentary-will-convince-you-to-stay-away-from-vaccines-for-good.htm

Information on animal tissues in vaccines--http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/abortedtissue.htm

Information on vaccine ingredients--http://novaccine.com/vaccine-ingredients/

Vaccine injured database- http://www.healing-arts.org/children/vaccines/vaccines-database.htm


4.Circumcision
We have a blog on this and I urge you to read it, read more, and DON'T DO IT. Watch  a video and tell me you think that isn't genital mutilation. It changes their brain chemistry for life. The foreskin is a functional part of the penis. It contains 70% of nerve endings in the penis. The procedure is cruel and traumatic for the baby, and can cause hemorrhaging,heart attacks,seizures, and death. The claim that 'they just slept right through it' is bogus and is actually just the baby in shock. The information is right there all you have to do is want it, and be accepting that the generations before us messed up. Plain and simple it is not your choice to make aesthetic changes to your baby's penis. It has no medical validity, and is purely for profit of the medical industry. It is genital mutilation, plain and simple.
Dr Momma is my favorite site for information on circumcision--
http://www.drmomma.org/

Circumcison causes life long harm
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2002/06/prweb41148.htm

This is a wonderful community and will answer any questions you have

https://www.facebook.com/SavingOurSons?ref=ts

Again there is SO much research as to why you shouldn't do this and it is right at your fingertips. Seek the truth.

5. Food additives/Diet

Although my outlook on food veers very psuedo-vegan-esque-ish (lol) I understand that not everyone wants to or will quit meat and dairy. I urge you to consider researching a little more, and limiting your intake. As heart disease cancer and diabetes are the three biggest killers, I suggest you maybe consider that it is unhealthy and causing diseases in most of the modern world. Either way you pick, 100% of everyone should feed their children as many organic fresh foods as possible. A whole food diet is the key to health. Please reconsider the cheerios chicken fingers childhood, it is frankly out of hand. I grew up on a SAD diet (Standard American Diet) of overly processed meats, cheeses, and sweets(fast food a  plenty) I have fibromyalgia which I think between vaccines, abuse, and a bad diet could have been prevented. Most Americans have candida overgrowth/infections. We are not a healthy country and need to stop ignoring the elephant in the room. It is possible, my son eats a organic whole food diet vegan except honey. He isn't big on berries, but loves sauteed spinach and asparagus.  Whole foods means no preservatives, or artificial flavorings. Vegetables, beans, quinoa, fruits, nuts, you get the idea. All of these food additives need to be removed from children's diets, it is causing harm.
Our blog on food-
http://thejudgeymoms.blogspot.com/2012/02/top-ten-best-and-worst-foods-for-your.html
Food additives linked to behavior problems in children
http://www.rense.com/general76/chchem.htm

Why choose whole foods diet?
http://www.the-natural-path.com/natural-and-organic-food.html

Great info
http://www.besthealthfoodstore.net/natural_foods_balanced_diet.html

6. Household products/Personal Products

Most people nowadays seem obsessed with sanitizing everything, with harsh unnecessary chemicals. With the health epidemics in this country, it cannot be ignored. We are filling our homes with toxic chemicals that our children breath in and touch regularly. This is such a simple solution. BUY VINEGAR, BAKING SODA, AND A STEAM MOP. Seriously. This includes regular dish soap, I would invest in a natural/organic brand that doesn't have synthetic fragrances(we will talk later about those) Laundry detergent, including baby brands like Dreft, are filled with dioxins,fragrances among other toxic chemicals that irritate baby's skin. All the mainstream baby soaps are toxic crap. I used to use J&J until I found out because of my sons eczema and I was PISSED when I started researching ingredients and reading labels, get that shit away from me. Both of our kids breaks out from regular soaps and detergents. Our bodies are already being bombarded with enormous amounts of toxins,more than any generation before us. These are simple changes in the products you buy that will eliminate unnecessary strain on your little ones body

Rocking Green is my favorite I have used it for 2 years.It lasts me about 4 months between cloth diapers and a family of 5 for 16$ Beat that, Gain.

http://rockingreensoap.com/?page_id=944

Dr bronners is great soap for everyone-- Great information on this FAQ
http://www.drbronner.com/faqs_main.html

Toxic ingredients in J&J-
http://www.imperfectparent.com/topics/2011/11/02/harmful-chemicals-in-johnsons-baby-shampoos/

Fluoride is toxic and actually hardens teeth so much they become brittle. It is a neurotoxin and should be avoided. I write my mayor regularly about removing it from the water supply. Hitler was the first one to use it to make the people docile, stupid. I recommend finding a better toothpaste. Its not hard to find at most grocery stores now a days.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/50-reasons.htm

8.Attachment Parenting and its benefits
I think all the controversy with the TIME magazine article has really just swayed everyone from the truth. Turned it into a sideshow. AP isn't just about breastfeeding, you can be a formula feeding attachment parent.It is about tuning into the needs of your child, and using instincts to form that child's emotions into a health happy balanced person. Ignoring your child's emotional needs, starting with crying it out to sleep, is never healthy for anyone involved. It isn't spoiling, its human nature between mother and child. There are benefits, and I think its the easier way to parent anyways. It forms children that are emotionally healthy without attachment problems.

Obviously Im going to link Dr. Sears
http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/attachment-parenting/7-benefits-ap
Are you a problem parent- a must read--
http://theattachedfamily.com/membersonly/?p=1408
7. Baby wearing

My nephews first time piggy backin'

Plain and simple. ITS FUCKING AWESOME! Dear lord, I love my Ergo. I hate strollers,I actually use a wagon instead. I wore my son until i was 41 weeks pregnant,on my back in my Ergo. Its healthy, its natural. Get a good one that isn't a crotch dangler they cause hip displaysia, baby carriers are totally worth the money. I have a mesh ring sling for the water and its super cute. Seriously, how long have women been carrying their babies? Remember Africa?! The health benefits are there and it is great to be able to do, well, ANYTHING (remember eating?)
Dr. Sears is down http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/fussy-baby/baby-wearing/benefits-babywearing

Seriously consider an Ergo( go on craigslist if it is out of your price range)  Best buy Ever
http://www.myfavoritebabycarrier.com/ergo.html


8.Sexualization of our youth and gender stereotypes

Sexualization happens FAST. All the sudden the baby is born wearing a mini skirt and a cheeta tank top. It limits girls to the confines of princess and pink, and that in turn forms insecure and superficial unhealthy feelings because of the oversexualized of women. We then put boys into a world of violence, skulls and gender stereo types and wonder what is going on with them. It is limiting to everyone and so unhealthy. The 'pink washing' of girls merchandise is so out of hand.Colors have no gender! I want my little girl to be able to be a child, not a princess. Princess is for fun, not a lifestyle. My son likes fuzzy things and flowers and tap dancing, and climbing on everything. A family once while I was buying a wooden kitchen for my son said that their son wanted one and wanted to be a chef, but he was a boy so they wouldnt think about buying it. Their are so many examples of gender stereotypes that need to be addressed. We are limiting our children and they are the ones who suffer from it. Pigtail Pals Ball Cap Buddies is my favorite website ever. Her blog is amazing and she is doing the best service for the youth. Her children are witty and full of life, and everything children should be. Check it out!

https://www.facebook.com/PigtailPals?ref=ts

http://pigtailpals.com/

Peggy o'renstein-- Author of Cinderella ate my daughter

http://peggyorenstein.com/blog.html
http://peggyorenstein.com/books/cinderella.html

Written by Haley--I used the word urge a lot in this article.I should count.

Breast is best ( when you're in covered up in a bathroom alone and the baby isnt too old)

Kagomae and I

I planned on using a cover, I really did. But then here I was with my hours old sweetie when we were going to have our first visitor (a male) I was nursing her for the second time, i was using a nursing pillow and tried to use a cover. I put it on for a whole five seconds and felt like a freaking circus tent. This isn't a sideshow it is my little girl nursing! I decided right there that this was a beautiful natural thing and other people are going to deal with it. Fast forward 4 months later, dozens of mean looks, ONE nice comment, and one rude DMV employee ( whom will never say anything to a nursing mother again, I went hormonal on her) and pounds and pounds of chunky happy baby later and were still going strong.

I will admit I get sick of the glaring jerk offs, but I sadly admit I used to be them! I have only two distinct memories of women nursing my whole life. One was when I was a kid, and I feel like if my mother had taken a moment to talk about why she was doing that and that it wasn't gross then I would have had a lifetime of different thoughts about it. The second time i was waitressing and i wasn't grossed out, i just remember thinking the kid was too old. Blah, I hate that I was so uninformed my whole life and with my first child. But now I'm an advocate for breastfeeding acceptance.
Breastfeeding grosses people out (Americans mostly) Why though? We are a hyper sexual culture whose media forms our sexuality in a big way. Breasts being sexually attractive is a learned behavior not human instinct. Countries like Bali are good examples. They are not sexual organs!  Some people like feet, yet we don't all wear socks with flip flops and gag when we see a painted toe.

So, how to deal with the sheer ignorance and meanness of peoples reactions to nursing in public( or in your home, god forbid)Everyone says smile and continue nursing but what I want to do is say "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU GLARING AT?!" or  "I bet you use that mouth of yours in a sexual context, yet I still see it flapping a -freakin' -way" I think I need to take the middle ground and just be prepared and stop and talk to people about why it makes them uncomfortable. I yelled at that lady at the DMV, but her opinion didn't change, now she just knows the laws and is probably scared to ever try that again. So thats a good thing, but maybe I should have informed her a little so she had a new paradigm of thought about it. I feel for women who feel self conscious and will never breastfeed in fear of societies reaction. I feel for women that feel that they HAVE to use a cover, as it is a choice not a requirement. I want people to know that breast is best even when its in public and whats not best is feeling shunned and ridiculed.

On a final note, I am far more disgusted at the large amounts of dead flesh and milk from other animals in your cart than my  little one getting the nutrition she needs. And you don't see me barking and glaring(or judging) at your family!
Remember that your forming peoples opinions and reactions by exposing them to a little bit of nature and that the more people that see it, the more babies that might get 'the good stuff' :)