Happiest Baby On the Block is back!

Saturday February 19th
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
$60 (up to 2 parents)

We are thrilled to repeat the Happiest Baby Workshop! It is so popular that we are going to offer it quarterly. To register, please contact Michelle Richardson at 366-8111 or the store at 988-0010.

 

Baby Guru Presents CPR Workshop

Tips for New Moms

Words of Wisdom from Real Mothers at La Leche League Meetings

From The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, 8^th edition

·      Newborns don’t look like magazine babies.

·      A dirty house builds extra immunities.

·      Wait long enough and it will change, and the questions and answers will be different.

·      Sometimes the books are just wrong.

·      A dog is an excellent floor cleaner.

·      The ideal adult-to-baby ratio is about three to one in the first week.

·      When people offer help, say yes.

·      Listen to your baby.  Respect him and his intuition. He will tell you what he needs.

·      You can only do what you can do.

·      Step outside when you can, throw your shoulders back, take a deep breath, and look up for at least a few seconds.

·      It’s important to see other babies, so you know what’s normal.

·      Join a playgroup. It’s not for the child, it’s for the mother.

Experience HOPE on September 30th

Parents are encouraged and welcome to learn more about how to address the subject of sex and sexuality with their children. At some point in all of our parenting journey, there will be a time when you have to have this conversation. Planned Parenthood of Hawaii can help you feel comfortable and confident to do so and will share tips and information in this upcoming workshop. To register, click here.

Happiest Baby On the Block Workshop

We are thrilled to offer our very first Happiest Baby Workshop on Sunday Oct 3rd!
To register, please contact Michelle Richardson at 366-8111 or the store at 988-0010.

July's Olelo Noeau By Mele

“Aohe puu kiekie ke hoao ia e pii”
Olelo Noeau 209

This Hawaiian proverb or olelo noeau means, “No cliff is too big that it cannot be scaled.” (Pukui, 1983). This proverb is often used when you find that inner strength to complete a task or reach a goal that almost seemed impossible. Everyday I am faced with many challenges raising five children ranging from the ages two years old to eight years old. Yes, if you do the math I have either been pregnant or breastfeeding for the past ten years. SERIOUSLY, WHAT WAS I THINKING?

To keep my sanity and adult mind on track, I chose to go back to school. I finished my bachelor’s degree in Hawaiian Language in 2000. I had my first baby in 2001. After my third child in 2005, the University of Hawaii at Manoa started a Master’s program for Hawaiian language. I was working full-time at Punana Leo and decided to stop working to go back to school. There were only four of us in the program so the hours worked around a ‘working mom’s’ schedule. With night classes available, I chose to stay home with my babies during the day and go to school at night. Yes, I loved staying home, but not forever. As soon as Dad pulled up his car I was literally handing them off in the driveway. I didn’t feel bad at all for leaving; it actually felt GREAT. Did I ever think I was a bad mother for wanting a break? NEVER. The time for myself gave me peace of mind to really nurture and address my other strengths in life.

Sometimes I get so caught up in my children that I forget about the other passions I have in my life. And when those passions challenge me, like hours and hours of research, I remember my inner strength that comes from the love I have for my children to help me get through these situations. I try to raise them to be ambitious and thorough, so finishing a task they take on is very important. So they are my strength that pulls me to the top of that steep cliff.

To all the Moms and Dads out there who do whatever it is in life that requires that inner strength, my hats off to you. It is never an easy thing to have to dig deep, make sacrifices, and accomplish the things we want in life.

June's Olelo Noeau by Mele

“Pipili no ka pilali I ke kumu kukui”
olelo noeau 2662

This Hawaiian Proverb, or olelo noeau means, “the pilali gum sticks to the kukui tree.” (Pukui 1983). 

This proverb is often used when referring to the strong bond between a child and a loved one. Whether it be a grandparent, parent, an aunty or uncle, it usually speaks of the bond between generations. As I mentioned before, I was born and raised on the island of Maui. Every summer my children are blessed with visiting their grandparents. And in return it is definitely a break for me =). All five children spend time living a ‘simple life.’ That’s what I call it. However, my two older boys, who are 8 and 7 years old, claim that’s how poor people live.

So, my father being a hardworking grandpa tells them, “No, this is how a family that works together lives. We raise and grow the food we need to stay healthy. We work hard doing so that we can use our money to buy fun stuff.”

Working hard in the taro patches and feeding the cows -- my boys decide this is kind of a cool thing, but nonetheless a weird lifestyle. I remember getting a call from my son telling me, “Mom, did you know that they pick the oranges from the tree and just eat it? And what’s even worse is they climb the tree and they don’t even wash the fruit.” I was laughing so much. However, I thought to myself, this is such a small thing that I overlooked as a parent, MY SIMPLE LIFE.

It’s amazing how in such a short time away from such a ‘rich’ generation we lose so much of who we are and what we overlook to perpetuate in our children. The bond between a child and a grandparent is priceless. Yes, yes, I know how our mothers can and will step on our toes, but if we allow them an inch, they will teach our children how to accomplish a mile in more ways than imaginable.

The bond between my children and their grandparents are so strong that sometimes it makes me sad to hear them cry because they miss them. However, with the ‘money for fun stuff’ that Papa spoke of, I was able to buy the kiddies a little computer that has skype ready to go whenever they need to say hello.

Fathers, Dads, Papas: The Unsung Heroes of Breastfeeding

The month of June is to celebrate fathers

Bringing home a new baby can be both a very challenging and happy occasion. Bringing up a child is one of the most important tasks in a person's life. When there is a combined effort to parent between two partners the effort becomes almost effortless. A father's breastfeeding support in the first few days after arriving home can be a positive beginning in a family's journey together.

One of the most popular questions asked by new moms and dads with the IBCLC (Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant) is "when can Dad feed the baby, I want him to feel involved." Feeding, while an important activity, is only one of many ways in which a father can be present in his baby's life. Newborns need to be held, comforted, changed, burped, bathed, spoken to, and loved. Holding a newborn skin-to-skin is a gift that any dad can give his child. Studies show that skin-to-skin contact given by anyone caring for a newborn will make the baby feel more secure, provide warmth, even stabilize heart and respiratory rate. Skin-to-skin also, of course, helps breastfeeding go well. Amazing that such a simple act of holding baby close can help a newborn transition to life outside the womb.

Knowledge is power. When Dad is well versed in the demands and physical and emotional impact breastfeeding has on the family, he is better equipped to be supportive. Attending breastfeeding classes and reading books on breastfeeding will help Dad assist with positioning and other aspects of breastfeeding. Asking questions when mom is with the IBCLC, and helping to deflect visitors with unhelpful advice while in the hospital and at home, will also help the mother's efforts. Dad's participation in the first few weeks of breastfeeding in all these ways will help mom and baby get off to a good start with feedings. We should praises all fathers who are supportive of their breastfeeding partners. One of the best things a father can do for his child is to love Mom. (NL)

Happy Fathers Day!!

The Tao of Poo

The Truth About Poo and Cloth Diapers by Ashley Sidell

What is your first thought when someone says “cloth diapers?” Many think that there is no way they want to rinse poo off a cloth diaper. Or what about stains and the smell? There is a lot to know when it comes to poo and cloth diapering. The truth is, it isn’t as bad as you think!

First, let’s discuss the various types of poo there are. And, all poo is related to what they eat.

Meconium
Meconium is the thick, black, tar-like substance babies pass as their first stool. It will stain anything it touches. Most likely, your baby will pass this substance before their little bottom even touches a diaper, but if not, you can use a biodegradable liner to protect your diapers which you simply flush away when finished. Also, prefolds are an inexpensive option.

Breast Milk
Next, we have breast milk poo. We know this as a very “liquidy” substance that many parents mistakenly think is the hardest to clean. In fact, it is the easiest! Breast milk  poo is water-soluble and will easily rinse off of diapers. Many moms don’t even rinse this type of poo off the diaper before tossing it into the pail. They simply do a pre-rinse cycle on their washing machine prior to running the diapers through a normal washing cycle. 

Formula, Cereal, and Solid Foods
For formula-fed babies, the poo will be a little more green and thicker in texture. Also, when you introduce cereal and other solids to their diet, you will find that baby’s poo will be thicker and clumpier. This type of poo doesn’t have to be so terrible to clean. There are a few ways to tackle this: flushable liners, toilet-paper-scraper method, a thrifty spatula, and for the ultimate cleaning tool: a diaper sprayer! Flushable liners are easy to use and can be quite handy when out and about. Some mommies just take a little toilet paper, shake off what they can and scrape off the rest and toss whatever is left into the diaper pail, letting the washing machine do the rest. I have found that even using a cheap kitchen spatula (specifically designated for this duty) can do a great job at scraping poo without the worries of actually touching it! 

Now comes the fun part! My favorite tool is the diaper sprayer! It is an awesome piece of equipment that even dads can appreciate! It hooks to your toilet tank and has an adjustable pressure valve (so you don’t spray poo bits all over yourself and the walls!) All you have to do is spray the poo off and flush it away. It is also great for cleaning various household items and potty training seats.

There you have it, you now know how to tackle the poos.

There is no more dunking and soaking to remove poo bits from cloth diapers. It’s quite easy and before you know it, you will be cleaning diapers without even thinking about it.

Now, how do we get dad to embrace cloth diapers too? More on that next time! (AS)

Ashley is part of our Baby aWEARness Ohana, who works on community outreach and education about cloth diapering and natural parenting to our local military families. Her passion for natural parenting is an inspiration to all of us. Thanks for enlightening us with your knowledge and experiences!

Debuting Olelo Noeau by Mele

Mele, our newest Baby A team member, presents a monthly blog column inspired by Hawaiian proverbs. Mele is a brave mother of five who is also working towards a Masters to develop Hawaiian education curriculum. Out of all of us, she knows very well how to juggle the demands and joys of raising her little ones while still holding on to her sanity and sense-of-self.


“I maikai ke kalo i ka oha”
olelo noeau 1232

My blog posts will feature Hawaiian proverbs and how it may have helped me to understand my values in the life i live and how I make choices in raising my children. I don’t always make the right choices, but I live and learn. Although these are Hawaiian proverbs they may just as well pertain to your life experiences whether you are of Hawaiian ancestry or not. So please, if you like it, love it, hate it, or whatever, I just say ENJOY IT and you may find your stories have some similarities. The best thing about it is, it is UNIQUE because it’s YOUR story.

Haalohi in our loi. Keanae, Maui, 2009.

This Hawaiian proverb or olelo noeau means, “the goodness of the taro is judged by the youngest plant it produces.” (Pukui, 1983).

Everyday I am faced with questions ranging from what should I feed my children for snack today to what school is right for them. I am constantly asking myself what was best for me while growing up. As I remember, reflect, and gather everything that worked I remember, OMG, I’m raising my kids after some shifting of paradigms. So now, I’m starting to freak out and think, I don’t think I know what I need to do.

So back to the drawing board I go. Stressing out and realizing if I think about this for an hour then I may get to sleep for five hours and hopefully wake up eager to start the new day. Forget it, right? I’m human and I want six hours of sleep because a well-rested mommy means a happy mommy. Now at 5 a.m. I’m up and start my day. My four older children are greeted by my 2-year-old who, of course, loves his day because he doesn’t have to be anywhere. However, just having that happy attitude helps in starting my kids’ day off on "the right side of the bed."

Going through the motions of getting washed up and dressed they come to the table and wait patiently for breakfast. After that we’re all packed up and ready to face the world. The older boys help get everyone situated in their car seats and at all four different drop-offs, the boys give each other knuckles and kisses for sister. Just as they each leave my car is when I see how the simple things I overlook are the values they have grasped to get through life just fine. No matter what paradigm we live in, values within a family and what makes it work can be applied to any lifestyle and our children will be the ones to portray it in the best way they can.

So, as a parent sometimes I need to step back and remember what I value and what values I make into lifestyles for our children. The best reward is, of course, watching these values amongst siblings. However, the breathtaking moment is when they leave the car and you watch how they treat their peers and other people in their community. Don’t get me wrong, my babies are little adults and WE ALL HAVE OUR MOMENTS. We will never have a perfect day, but we have a lot of good ones. They are always watching and learning. I am who my children will one day want to be like, so if I see they value what I value, I am doing what it takes to raise my children to be successful. My children are the fruits that my ancestors and I have produced. I humbly say, I am proud of who they are. (MD)

Infant Massage Class by Baby Guru

Gwen Trowbridge, wonder mom behind her company Baby Guru as well as one of the twelve finalists of this year's Hot Mama Contest, will be presenting two awesome classes for parents and their babies at the store this summer.

Infant Massage
June 10th, 17th and 24th from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
$85 per couple or $75 with a Baby Awearness receipt

Infant Massage is an ancient tradition in many cultures that has been recognized for its physical, emotional, social and intellectual benefits to babies and their families. Learn the techniques of nurturing massage during three 1-hour sessions.


The Infant/Child CPR Review 
July 1st from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
$35 per couple or $25 if you also take the Infant Massage class

This workshop refreshes parents on how to provide immediate emergency attention to an unconscious or choking child. This is not a certification course, but it will give parents confidence that they can help their child in case of unforeseen emergencies.


About Gwen Trobridge, in her own words:
After having my first son Tanner, I wanted a resource that could help me along the journey of parenthood. In my desire to make it easier for all parents to love and protect their children, I left the corporate world to start Baby Guru. I began my training in the services I wanted to provide to new parents, partnered up with other “baby gurus” and turned my passion into a business. Along the way we had baby boy #2, Chase.

Baby Guru, LLC is now a mommy-owned and parent-operated business that provides services, education, and resources to all parents so they can keep their babies safe, healthy, and happy. We offer babyproofing services and workshops for infant CPR, baby sign language, car seat installation, baby chef and more!