The benefits of breastfeeding your baby are often disputed among breastfeeding advocates and mothers who choose the bottle over the breast. Many of the benefits of breastfeeding can be duplicated by bottle feeding mothers and it really boils down to a matter of personal choice. Those who bottle feed their babies choose to avoid some of the unpleasant experiences that came with choosing to breastfeed an infant. In an effort to lighten the serious battle between the bottle and the breast, let’s take a look at some of the humorous benefits of breastfeeding. If you need some help with breast feeding problems – you can reduce your costs with mothercare discount vouchers and codes.

One great perk of breastfeeding is that you get to wear sexy, easy access, nursing clothes.  Most nursing clothes are designed to allow your infant easy access to the breast. This feature is a great convenience, but it also can lead to inadvertent breast flashes in public if your nursing clothes are not properly secured after feeding your infant. If you find people following you around while out in public, check your shirt.

You get to join the stylish trend of baby wearing. Breast fed infants often nurse more frequently than bottle fed infants. This can lead to the feeling that your child is always attached to your breast. Baby wearing can be seen in malls, grocery stores and parks across the nation. Baby slings, swaths and holsters are sold that encourage a nursing mother to flaunt her baby wearing style. Some even offer anytime access to the breast- a very nice perk for the infant.

Another wonderful benefit of breastfeeding is the delightful experience of public breast feeding. Curious onlookers and the not-so-subtle glances of those hoping to catch a glimpse of an exposed breast add to the excitement and tension of trying to nurse your hungry infant in public. Many women cringe at the thought of public breast feeding, choosing instead to nurse their infants in bathroom stalls and the back seats of cars. Public breastfeeding for some is an invitation to be free and let it all hang out. Heaven help the poor soul who makes a snide comment or stares too long at this hormonal, sleep deprived mother.

This brings us to the classic sore nipples. There is just no other experience that compares to allowing a hungry infant to chomp, suck, chew and grab a breast that is plagued by bruised, cracked and sore nipples. No amount of prenatal education or coaching by the La Leche League can prepare you properly for sore nipples- it must be experienced to be appreciated.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful time of nurturing and bonding with your infant. It is also a lesson in balancing pain and humility with a little humour. The humorous benefits of breastfeeding cannot compare to the genuine benefits of breastfeeding for many mothers. Learning to take the unpleasant aspects of breastfeeding with a grain of humorous salt is part of the wonderful world of choosing to breastfeeding your infant.

potty seat

The first day parents begin the process of potty training their toddler can be a day of happiness and trepidation. No more diaper changes is a big incentive to begin the process, but it can be a long and frustrating experience. While you as the parent may be ready, with the potty seat, underwear, books on how to potty train, DVDs and a reward system established for positive reinforcement, you need to make sure you have prepared your child for the big event. It helps them understand that changes are coming and you will be there to help guide them along their way.

First, establish the language or lingo your family will use to describe urinating and defecating with your toddler. It can be the formal terminology or something simple, like “poop” or “pee pee.” Whatever it is, make sure that everyone, including Grandma and Grandpa and any extended family members, know the words so they can also help with the potty process.

To get your child used to toilet training, let him or her be present when you go to the restroom. This will show them more clearly than just telling them how to potty train. Let your child see urine and bowel movements in the toilet and let them flush the toilet. It lets them get used to seeing their waste in the proper location and also lets them adjust to the sound of flushing. Some kids can be fearful of the noise a toilet makes.

Give your child a potty chair and make a production of how it is his or her very own big kid chair. Initially, allow your child to sit fully clothed on the potty seat, like it is a regular chair. Let your child to leave the potty chair at any time they want and remember to never force your child to spend time sitting on the chair.

Take your child to the potty chair whenever he or she gives you the signal that they need to evacuate. You will usually have a good idea when they need to go as their facial expressions may change. You may also need to act as a reminder since toddlers tend to get absorbed in what they are doing and only realize they need to go when it is too late.

Refrain from expressing disappointment if your child does not urinate or have a bowel movement in the potty. Never punish your child for potty accidents or for their refusal to sit and use the potty, if he or she is resistant. You put your child at risk for regression by doing so. Try working on building positive toddler behavior by seeking out good advice from family, friends, your doctor, or by researching online. This will lead to toilet training success.

There are a couple of quick potty training tips to remember when teaching your child how to potty. Try not to give your child any liquids a few hours before bedtime and never use pull-up type training pants. Liquids at night mean one of two things. They will either have an accident or you will need to get up with them to go to the potty. Pull-ups are very similar to the diapers you are trying to get them out of and can be confusing for your child.

feeding your baby

Knowing when to start feeding your baby solid foods and when to start potty training can leave new parents confused. Many questions pop up in the process, such as when to start solids. Should you make homemade baby food? How much is enough? To help you weave your way, let’s look at some food guidelines for infants and toddlers. We will cover the when, what and how much questions you may have about feeding your child up to the age of 3.

In nearly all healthy children, the recommended age to start solid foods is 4 to 6 months. Age is just one criterion for readiness, though. Your baby’s motor skills and stage of development will also help determine when he or she is ready. Does he have sleep issues? Hunger may be the culprit. He should be capable of holding his head up and should no longer have the reflex, which causes them to push anything but liquid out of their mouths.

What is on the menu for baby’s first meal? Rice cereal is a customary and safe first food, but most babies can tolerate a variety of foods like rice cereal, vegetables, fruits and meat. While meat is often reserved for older infants, some experts feel there is no reason to wait.

How do you know how much is enough? The first few weeks of eating solid foods is more about becoming accustomed to spoon-feeding than meeting nutritional needs. Your baby is learning to negotiate food. Don’t expect your child to eat more than one or two teaspoons at a time during the first week or so.

Older infants may try to feed themselves. It means messy meals, but letting your child feed himself encourages the development of his fine motor skills. Around the 1-year mark, give your baby water, breast milk or formula from a cup they can sip from.

If your child seems disinterested in solids when you first offer them, wait a few days and try again. While some are persistently poor eaters, most babies eat what they need to be healthy. If your child is growing and developing in a way that satisfies his doctor, and he is healthy and energetic without sleep issues or potty learning issues, then his intake is meeting his needs. How do you know if you are feeding your baby enough? Look for a few telltale signs, such as pursing his lips tight when the spoon comes his way, spitting out every spoonful you manage to get in his mouth and swatting at the spoon.

After he reaches age 2, your child can have the same foods the rest of the family eats; just make sure the food is healthy. Feeding your baby meals that include a great mix of whole grains, lean protein, reduced-fat dairy foods, and fruits and vegetables that are cut up so your child can chew and swallow them safely is a great way to promote lifelong, healthy eating habits.