A Peek Inside The Other Baby Book
Birth: bring forth new life |
During pregnancy, we stand at the crossroads of the miraculous and the mundane. We honor the sacredness of incubating new life, while smiling at the absurdity of shoelaces, or shaving past our knees. As belly flutters morph into rib jabs seemingly overnight, we prepare ourselves for birth—an event that terrifies and elates us, and summons every emotion in between. Yet birth is the most necessary and natural occurrence on our planet.
In our educrazy society, it’s easy to believe that a stranger with a degree is your best authority during delivery. But long before diplomas, there were mothers, and there was birth. Journey with us as we honor the wisdom of our bodies: a mother’s intuition that grows alongside our babies. |
Touch: nurture with affection
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Touch is the sense that teaches us to be mothers. Far from spoiling your
babe, the benefits of holding him close can’t be underestimated. You’ll learn
how cuddling a newborn fell from fashion, and why cozying up with your precious
cargo nurtures both of you, inside and out.
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Milk: feed with love |
Breastfeeding is one of the most amazing powers a mother has. Research
can’t deny the utterly perfect composition of baby’s natural and intended food.
We’ll divulge the juicy details of our society’s love/hate relationship with
nursing mothers; explore the early days with your nursling; provide natural
ways to overcome common glitches; and wander through some words on weaning.
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Sleep: rest in security |
To sleep or not to sleep? For most new parents, it’s the million dollar
question. Despite cultural beliefs that we should measure infant sleep success
in long, solo stretches, biological evidence points in an entirely different
direction. We’ll share some context behind the Western world’s outdated taboo
on sharing sleep, and while we’re there, bulldoze a few myths and alleviate
some fears. And then, if you want to try out the family bed, we’ll tell you how
to do it safely.
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Potty: respond to elimination cues |
The big diapering question facing many expecting parents is “cloth or
disposable?” But around the world and in pockets throughout the US, parents are
practicing a third option: infant pottying. The practice itself is pretty
straightforward - take baby to the toilet. We’ll address who, what, where,
when, why and most importantly - how.
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Relate: connect from the heart |
Meaningful relationship is
the crux of this chapter. We'll help you push aside a thousand “shoulds”
so you can focus on connecting your little one without worrying if you’re boosting
his IQ. Once your baby gets that you’re a rock solid in his life, he’ll be primed
for exploring new territories, and building new relationships. Your role in the
connection game? Forget “educational” videos, or bins of brain stimulating
toys. Instead, ramp up rough and tumble play, your focused attention (put down
the Smart Phone…), and a willingness to learn – from your baby.
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Eat: enjoy food together |
Forget purees, spoons, and choo-choo trains. We’re advocating for a
back-to-baby approach. Ready? Offer food. Sit back and enjoy the show. There’s
a bit more to it than that, but not much. We’ll give you the 4-1-1 on a simple
practice the baby food industry isn’t excited about.
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Flow: letting go into joy |
Before we bid you adieu, we’ll tie it all together with some reflections on living the baby-led life. We know, it’s not hip to put baby first, but it is what’s healthiest for baby and - believe it or not - mom. The investment of love you make in year one will pay off handsomely, immediately and in the years to come. So sit back, grab a cup of tea, and learn how your mindset makes all the difference.
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