I also found some good information about ear infections in the book How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor, which was written by a doctor and actually recommended to me by my son’s doctor. If I remember correctly, the book mentions how most ear infections heal on their own and antibiotics actually provide little to no benefit. The book helped me many times when I started to wonder about a medical condition.

Again, I should remind you to read my disclaimer. I am not a medical doctor and you should always consult your physician for medical advice and opinions before you try any of these ideas.

With that said, here are some tips and natural remedies for ear infections:

• Similasan Earache Relief Drops – I’ve used these for my son and they seem to work great.
• Put 1-2 drops (no more than 2) of Lavender Essential oil into a humidifier and let it run overnight in the child’s room. (Make sure it’s essential oil.)
• Put oxygen water drops into ears.
• Put drops of garlic oil into ears. (It fights the infection.)
• Put drops of colloidal silver into the ear to reduce swelling and relive pain (usually within an hour).
• Put drops of white vinegar into the ears.
• Put drops of hydrogen peroxide into the ears.
• Put drops of breastmilk into the ears.
• Don’t drink cow’s milk.
• Get adjusted every other week by chiropractor (helps with draining).
• Put white willow bark drops into the ears. (It is a natural pain killer.)

-Wendy – ParentingTips365.com

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies five of the top nine pesticides used on cotton crops as the most dangerous; they are cyanide, dicofol, naled, propargite, and trifluralin – and they are probable carcinogens.
• As cotton becomes clothing, it is exposed to more toxic chemicals – silicone waxes, harsh petroleum scours, softeners, heavy metals, flame and soil retardants, ammonia, and formaldehyde.

When it’s been time to purchase new cloth items for our family we’ve been trying to buy items made from organic cotton, especially bedding. With your face and body touching those sheets for many hours a day, it seems logical to want the purest cotton. And with the green movement becoming more mainstream, it’s becoming easier to find organic cotton items. We purchased organic cotton sheets for our bed from Macy’s online. (I’ve since seen cheaper ones at WalMart.)

Then came time to buy a few things for our son. He needed a toddler pillow, nap mat for school, and a blanket. I was happy with the products I found – and even happier when I saw how much more available (and cheaper) organic cotton items for babies and kids are.

Here are a few ways you can green your child’s sleep:

Toddler Pillow and Pillow Case

There were several online stores that had organic toddler pillows (small pillows or travel pillows), including Amazon.com and kidbean.com. But I ended up getting our son’s pillow and pillow case from a seller (SK Naturals) on Etsy.com, a great place to buy and sell handmade items.

Nap Mat

Our son needed a nap mat for his preschool and we didn’t want the plastic ones that are so common. I looked all over and besides buying the materials and making it myself, the only organic one I found was also on Etsy. I love that site! The seller I purchased from is baby momo and here is the organic nap mat. And I just saw another vendor on Etsy have an organic nap mat as well. If there is demand, they will make it!

our son posing for me on his new organic nap mat

Crib Sheets

Organic cotton crib sheets are more available now than ever. When my son was born almost 2.5 years ago, I don’t remember seeing many organic cotton choices. Just last week I went into my local Babies R Us store and saw a whole section (albeit in the back of the store) for organic bedding items, such as crib sheets, blankets, changing pads, etc. I thought that was great! And they were a great price, too. Of course, you can find many organic crib sheets (at varying prices) on Amazon.com and Pottery Barn Kids has more to choose from as well. Target has organic crib sheets as well as crib sets.

Mattress

Many parents want to know why you should buy an organic crib mattress. They wonder if it’s worth the extra money. According to Absolutely Organic Baby, the mattress layer just under the top vinyl layer in most regular (not organic) mattresses contains a fire blocker.

That fire blocker is actually 7.5% boric acid, which is used for killing roaches, and 2.4 % antimony, which is most similar to arsenic. In Europe, researchers have found that antimony actually leaches through the vinyl and can be absorbed by a baby’s body. They have directly related high antimony levels to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

The price of organic cotton crib mattresses has gone down a bit and they seem to be more available in more places. Amazon.com has a great selection and you can also find a few at Babies R Us. If you do a search online you can also find stores like The Organic Mattress Store, Savvy Rest, The Organic Mattress,

And don’t forget organic mattresses in other sizes, like twin and bassinet.

Stuffed Animals and Lovies

Don’t forget those blanket lovies and stuffed animals that become your child’s security item. They chew on them and snuggle with them and they spend many hours next to their faces. It makes sense to have some organic options.

MiYim has a good assortment of organic stuffed animals, lovies, rattles, and other toys. Under the Nile is another good brand, too.

Laundry Detergent

Now that you’ve purchased organic cotton bedding items, don’t forget to wash them with eco-friendly options! Amazon.com has many organic laundry detergent options. We use soap nuts, which is a super eco-friendly option, and great for those with skin sensitivities like eczema (like me and my son).

Please leave a comment and share your good finds for greening your child’s sleep! Sweet dreams!

-Wendy – ParentingTips365.com

The Milk-Saver

When breastfeeding a baby, especially during the early days, many moms experience leaking from the opposite breast baby is on. Many times they use a towel to soak up the breastmilk as it pours out. But those of us who nursed know hat breastmilk is like liquid gold, every drop, every ounce is to be treasured!

Apparently so did the folks over at Mymilkies.com. They have a product called The Milk-Saver, which actually provides a way to save that milk for future use! The milk-saver collects the breast milk that is leaked out when your milk lets down. You can store this milk and save it for any time you need it.

You can find Milk-Savers by the Store Locator tab on their website, or at Amazon.com.

Milk Bands

Nursing moms all have their own ways of remembering which side is next to start nursing on, but I’ve come across a great new gadget to help you! Milk Bands look similar to those “Livestrong” bracelets popularized by Lance Armstrong. One side says “Left” and the other side says “Right”. Just flip the bracelet inside out when you start to nurse so you always know which side is next. They also have time measuring sliders that can track how long your baby nursed!

You can purchase Milk Bands on their website, or at Amazon.com.

ITZBEEN Baby Care Timer

The Itzbeen Baby Care Timer has four timers that count up with the touch of a button. The four timers count how long it’s been since the last changing, feeding, sleep or awake, and other (medication, exercise, etc.) There is even a switch to flip back and forth to help moms rmeember which side to start nursing on. The timers are available in three colors: blue, green, and pink.

You can find the Itzbeen timer by the Store Locator tab on their website, or at Amazon.com.

Has anyone used any of these products? If so, leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Wendy - Parenting Tips 365

Enjoy my big list of books that love the earth!

Earth Is Our Home

• Our Big Home celebrates the interconnectedness of all living things; it shares the important environmental message that we not only share this planet with all the people but also with the plants and animals.
• I Love Our Earth features a poem that celebrates nature and complements photographs of people and places around the world, which reflects our shared connection with the planet.
• The Whole Green World is the story of a little girl who goes off into the world to plant seeds. She spreads happiness as she goes and is surrounded by the flowers and trees that make the “whole round world”.
• The Earth and I is the simple story of a boy and his interactions with his special “friend”, the Earth. One example is: “I help her to grow. She helps me to grow”, which accompanies pictures of the boy tilling soil, then eating food.

Earth Day Books

Here are a few books with an Earth day theme:

• It’s Earth Day! (Little Critter) is about Little Critter learning about climate changes and then wanting to do something to slow down global warming; he learns to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
• Earth Day-Hooray! combines math ideas with Earth Day and recycling as the students try to collect 5,000 aluminum cans to raise money to buy flowers for their park.
• Earth Day Birthday is written to the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”; it celebrates Earth Day and 12 different creatures that inhabit the planet (e.g., eleven seals a-swimming). It also provides a brief history of Earth Day, ideas for gifts that children could give the Earth (e.g., plant a tree), and the lyrics and music.

Little Green Books

Little Green Books are produced by Simon and Schuster. Their slogan is “Green books for Green readers”. Not only do the books have green themes and stories, the manufacturing of these books is environmentally friendly. The books are printed on recycled materials with vegetable or soy inks and most books are Forest Stewardship Council certified (responsible use of forest resources). The SimonLittleGreen.com website has great “green” tips as well. Here are some of the books in the “Little Green Books line:

• The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle: A Story About Recycling is the diary of a plastic bottle as it goes on a journey from the refinery plant, to the manufacturing line, to the store shelf, to a garbage can, and finally to a recycling plant where it emerges into it’s new life…as a fleece jacket!
• Easy to Be Green: Simple Activities You Can Do to Save the Earth is filled with cool coloring pages, Earth-saving tips, fun facts, and easy activities kids can do to help the environment.
• My First Garden follows a mother and daughter as they dig up soil, plant a flower bed, and water the seeds to make their very first garden. Together they watch the colorful vegetables grow!
• I Can Save the Earth tells the story of Max the Monster, who is an environmental nightmare. His excessive ways finally cause the power to go out, which forces him to go outside where he discovers the big world and all the ways he can help the environment. I found an interview with the author, Alison Inches.
• Little Monkey and his friend Little Panda spend their day eating their favorite foods and playing together! It is a supersoft fleece cloth book that’s made out of cotton and recycled Polartec® fleece.
• Little Panda his friend Little Monkey spend their day eating their favorite foods and playing together. It is also made out of cotton and recycled Polartec® fleece.
• The Polar Bears’ Home: A Story About Global Warming is an 8 x 8 storybook that shows how global warming affects two baby polar bear cubs and their family. It includes tips for kids on what they can do to help slow down global warming.

Why Should I Books

Why Should I books present brief, entertaining stories that answer children’s questions and feature amusing color illustrations on every page. A note at the back of each book is for parents and teachers, suggesting ways to use these books most effectively. Books in the series are:

• Why Should I Recycle?
• Why Should I Protect Nature?
• Why Should I Save Energy?
• Why Should I Save Water?

Kids’ Involvement Books

Here are a few books that have activities kids can do to help save the earth.

• Recycle!: A Handbook for Kids discusses how to recycle to cut down on the need for landfills. The author talks about paper, plastic, glass, cans, and polystyrene as well as mentioning the ozone layer and facts about garbage.
• 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth shows children how specific elements of their environment-like a light switch or a toilet-are connected to the rest of the world. Practical tips show kids how they can conserve energy, recycle waste, and take on important environmental projects.
• Earth Book for Kids: Activities to Help Heal the Environment is filled with ideas for arts and crafts projects, experiments, and experiences that encourage children to enjoy and heal the environment. Topics discussed include acid rain, endangered wildlife, pesticides, energy, recycling, pollution, landfills, rain forests, water conservation, and related topics.

Theme Baskets

Instead of traditional Easter baskets, use something else that can hold goodies and build a theme around it:

• Fill a big plastic bucket with fun sand box toys such as sand molds, shovels, and sifters.
• Fill a bucket with swimming items such as new swim suits, water shoes, floaties, pool toys, or goggles.
• Fill a flower pot with packets of seeds, gardening tools, gloves, etc.
• Fill new backpacks with fun things like a flashlight, bug jar, magnifying glass, etc.

Non-Food Ideas

Here are a few non-food goodies and toys, especially for younger kids:

• Bubbles
• Bubble blowers
• Coloring books, crayons, markers
• Books (Happy Easter Little Critter, The Berenstain Bears and the Real Easter Eggs, Peter Rabbit’s Easter)
• Card games (such as Uno, Go Fish, Old Maid, Crazy Eights, Slap Jack)
• Fun flashlight
• Homemade play dough
• Yo-yos
• Natural finger paint
• Egg & Chick-Shaped Chalk
• Stuffed animals
• Travel games
• Homemade silly putty
• Bug collecting kit
• Flash cards
• Disposable cameras
• Egg shakers

Here are a few ideas for older kids:

• Age appropriate reading books
• Sketchpads and pencils (for older kids)
• Origami paper and instructions
• Cross-stitch kits
• Model car kits
• Movies

Oriental Trading is a great place to find some goodies for their Easter basket.

Healthier Food Ideas

Here are a few ideas for some healthier treats:

• Pretzels
• Granola bars
• Small box of raisins or other dried fruit (my son *loves* dried cranberries so those would indeed be a treat for him!)
• Trail mix (raisins, pineapple, banana chips, almonds, papaya, walnuts, etc)
• Fruit leathers (such as FruitaBu Organic Smooshed Fruit)
• Yogurt-covered pretzels and crunchy sesame snacks (check out the bulk bins at natural food stores)
• YummyEarth Organic Lollipops

I found a place to buy all natural candy, but their Easter deadline has passed. You should check out The Squirrel’s Nest and see what they have!

What to Put In Plastic Eggs

Here are a few small things that you can put in plastic eggs:

• Small cars
• Stickers
• Small toys
• Money
• Coupons (for things like an hour of TV time or video games, stay up an hour later, etc)
• Puzzle pieces (regular for older and wooden ones for younger kids)

For the puzzle piece idea, assign each child (if you have more than one) one egg color. Buy a small puzzle for each child and place a few puzzle pieces inside their plastic eggs. Instruct them to only pick up that color egg. Once they find all their eggs, they open them up and start putting their puzzle together (with the help of the puzzle box).

I hope I’ve given you a few ideas for alternatives to candy in Easter baskets. What are you putting in your kids’ baskets this year?

The book is designed to be a step-by-step guide to help parents learn the new communication skills. The information is presented in seven chapters:

1. Helping Children Deal With Their Feelings
2. Engaging Cooperation
3. Alternatives to Punishment
4. Encouraging Autonomy
5. Praise
6. Freeing Children from Playing Roles
7. Putting It All Together

Each chapter is divided into two parts:

• Part 1 discusses the new topic, provides short exercises to help learn and understand the topic, shows cartoons that illustrate “ineffective” and “effective”methods, and ends with a quick reminder page that is perfect for reference.
• Part 2 is filled with common questions, comments, and parents’ stories to help understand the topic further and hear about real situations.

The book starts by addressing how important it is to respect and accept your child’s feelings. Empathy towards another person, especially a child, might be difficult for many people. The authors suggest reading the book slowly so you can practice one aspect at a time.

The book has a great section on problem solving and it focuses on involving your child in the process.

I was surprised to learn how they don’t agree with the common use of time-outs as punishment. Once they explained their reasoning, I agree with them completely.

What I Thought

The book was easy to read and I loved the cartoons they used to help illustrate ideas; the visual aspect really helped me learn the ideas. I did do all the exercises, as they suggest, and it really helped me understand why these ideas work so well. I was also surprised to learn the correct way to give praise; it will definitely take some practice!

This is easily the best parenting book I’ve read! It falls in line exactly with how I wish to parent my child. It will take some time for these new ideas and methods to become more natural, but I’m so glad I have this book to help me.

When Should You Read This Book?

As the authors say, it’s never too early or too late to read this book. I read this book now and my child just turned two. Even if he’s too young for some of the situations discussed, he’s never too young to have a mom that talks to him with respect. I’m glad I read it now; it gives me time to start changing the way I talk – and think.

The book is also great for improving relationships with anyone; it can help improve how you communicate with adult family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc.

Other Books by the Authors

The authors have also written several other books that may be of interest to you:

• Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too
• How To Talk So Kids Can Learn
• How to Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk
• Liberated Parents, Liberated Children: Your Guide to a Happier Family

Some of their great products include:

• Lunch kits
• Party paks
• Cloth napkins
• Stainless steel bottles
• Stainless steel food containers

Using these products is a great way to help the planet – nothing to throw away at the end of a meal! And the products are made with safe materials.

The nice people at Kids Konserve have offered Parenting Tips 365 readers a coupon code to use on their products! Hooray! Now’s a great time to get those products you’ve had your eye on. How about getting your kids a lunch kit for school? Or maybe a party pak? What a great way to avoid wasting all those paper plates, cups, and utensils at parties.

To receive 10% off your order, use the coupon code parent365 at checkout. But act now, the coupon code is valid until 4/30/09. You can get to their site by one of the links in this article, by the image on the right side of the page, or directly at www.kidskonserve.com. Happy shopping!

Once you’ve used your discount to purchase some great Kids Konserve products, come back here and share with us! Yes, let’s have our own Kids Konserve show and tell! What products did you get and how will you use them?

We got the Fisher-Price Rainforest Peek-A-Boo Waterfall Soother for a baby shower gift. Friends had recommended having something like this and so I was happy to receive it. Little did I know at the time how wonderful it would end up being!

I think we put it on our son’s crib (on one end) when he was a small baby; maybe a bit older than newborn, but still really young. He slept in a bassinet next to my side of the bed during the night, but we did have him take his naps during the day in his crib. When we put him in there for his naps, we turned on the soother to the rainforest sounds since we had heard some babies like to have some sort of white noise while they sleep. I don’t know how he liked it at that age, but we enjoyed listening to the crickets over the baby monitor. I would say that a longer timer would be good, as the 18 minute timer seemed short; when it stopped, we would hustle back in and turn it on again. We would talk about the length of his naps in terms of how many rainforest cycles he went through; he slept for two cycles so that must mean about 40 minutes!

When he got older it was so much fun to see him enjoy the rainforest soother and it was so exciting when he could turn it on by himself! I did nurse him to sleep but sometimes if he woke up later, I would hear him and brace myself for the inevitable cry out for me. But to my utter delight, sometimes that didn’t happen. I would hear him moving around and then I would hear the soother turn on. I breathed a sigh of relief that he figured out a way to soothe himself back to sleep. You don’t know how many times at night I was singing the praises of this soother!

Our son and the soother, 9 months old

Once he was a bit older and able to fall asleep on his own, he would turn on the soother as soon as I put him in his crib. I tell you, it felt like freedom! After so many months of needing me to fall asleep, it was very freeing to be able to walk out of the room with him awake and content, just watching his soother.

So yeah, if you haven’t guessed it already, I am a big fan of this soother. I know it has several settings for different music, but we really just left it on one; our son didn’t seem to mind hearing the same song over and over. And it really was amazing to me how much he really liked watching this. You wouldn’t think it would hold his interest for very long, since it does the same thing over and over, but he sure loved it!

If you want to see what it looks and sounds like, I found a link to a demo of this soother on Amazon.com.

I mentioned how great I think a crib soother is in my post on Baby Products: What to Get and What to Forget. If you are looking for a crib soother, I highly recommend this one!

Our son loves this soother (9 months old)

But I just came across a company that has some wonderful basic kids’ clothes made with organic cotton – and they are a bit cheaper in price than other organic cotton clothes I have seen. For example, their organic cotton pants are $13.50 each or two for $24, and they are available in sizes 3/6 months through 5T. I was pretty excited about that and wanted to share it with you.

Basic Brilliance has the following items made with organic cotton:

• Baby and toddler pants
• Long sleeve onesie
• Short sleeve onesie
• Long sleeve tee shirt
• Short sleeve tee shirt
• Knot hat

I love that they are basic pieces of clothing in solid colors that can be mixed and matched. Since they are cotton, they are super comfy for kids to play in.

Have you found any other sources of less expensive children’s clothing made with organic cotton? If so, please share it with us in the comments section!

Now that you have that information, let me take this time to remind you that I am not a doctor nor in the medical field at all. Please consult your health care practitioner before trying any of the recommendations I list below. If you suspect a low milk supply you should contact a board certified lactation consultant or a La Leche League leader. I am simply a mom who has breastfed her child for 23 months now (and counting) without supplementing with a single drop of formula, and I want to help other breastfeeding moms, too.

Top Recommendations For Increasing Milk Supply

It comes down to a simple fact: the more milk that is removed from the breasts, the more will be produced.

• Nurse frequently: Since milk production is a supply and demand process, nursing, nursing, and more nursing is the biggest thing that will increase your supply. Aim to nurse every 1.5-2 hours during the day and every three hours at night. You could even try up to every 30 minutes during the day. If you tell your body you need more milk, your body will respond by making more milk. (And just a reminder, when you are nursing every two hours, it means two hours from start of feeding to start of feeding.)
• Skin to skin contact: If you can, take your baby to bed with you for a whole day or two and lay shirtless and just nurse frequently and rest. The physical proximity provided by skin to skin contact encourages baby to nurse frequently and therefore helps increase milk production.
• Offer both sides at each feeding: I would suggest nursing for at least 20 minutes on each side. Let the baby finish the first side and then offer the second side. I know when nursing you are supposed to watch the baby and not the clock, but sometimes sleepy babies stop nursing before they are finished and they just need to be encouraged to continue!
  

Nursing Strategies to Help Increase Supply

In addition to the nursing strategies mentioned above (frequent nursing, skin to skin contact, and offering both sides at a feeding) here are a few more nursing strategies you can try to hopefully increase your milk supply:

• Nurse longer: Let your baby finish one side before offering the other; don’t watch the clock or limit the feeding to a certain amount of time. This allows the baby to get more of the high-fat hindmilk.
• Switch nursing: The goal of switch nursing is for the baby to get more of the creamier hindmilk. Let the baby nurse on the first breast until sucking slows down and then move him to the other breast and encourage him to nurse actively again. When his sucking slows, move him back to the first breast and then finish the feeding on the other breast. You may need to change his diaper or burp him between switching sides to help keep him awake. For more information, visit Ask Dr. Sears.
• Double-nursing: After you’ve finished nursing your baby on both sides, hold him upright for 10-20 minutes to allow trapped gas bubbles to escape and thus make room for more milk. Then nurse him on both sides again. For more information, visit Ask Dr. Sears.
• Nurse at night: Prolactin is the hormone which stimulates milk production. Prolactin levels are higher at night and increase during sleep. This might be why some babies want to nurse at night; moms may make more milk at that time. If you nurse between 1am and 4am when the prolactin levels are higher it might help you surge faster.
• Pump while nursing: Pump one breast while he’s nursing on the other and then switch. When the feeding is over, double pump (pump both sides at once). Double pumping has been shown to increase prolactin levels.
• Power nurse: Put your baby to the breast for 5-7 minutes per side once an hour. Do it as many hours in a row as you can stand. After 24 hours you should notice a big difference in your supply. It might be a challenge if you’re busy, but it’s very effective and worth it.
• Massage: Massaging and stroking the breasts before nursing can help the milk flow. I have also heard of massaging castor oil on the breast.
• Relaxation and visualization: Relaxation and visualization techniques can help. While nursing, relax and softly stroke your baby. Imagine and visualize abundant milk, as much as an ocean, flowing from your breasts to your baby. When away from your baby and pumping, looking at a picture of your baby can help make the milk flow. I kept a few of my favorite pictures in my pump bag.

Other activities that increase prolactin levels are exercise and sexual intercourse. Of course if you are newly postpartum, your health care provider has probably advised you to avoid or reduce physical activity for a few weeks.

Kellymom.com also has an article on increasing breastmilk intake by the baby.

Try a Galactagogue

A galactagogue is a substance that increases milk production.

• Eat oatmeal: Although there is no scientific evidence regarding oatmeal and milk supply, many moms have seen an increase in their milk supply when having a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast every morning. One possible explanation is that low iron levels in moms can lead to decreased milk supply. Since oatmeal is high in iron it makes sense that it could possibly help increase milk production in some women. I have eaten a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast for years, so it was just part of my regular diet. I didn’t have too many supply issues and I think that eating oatmeal so frequently could have helped.
• Fenugreek: Fenugreek is one of the most common herbs taken to increase milk supply. You will probably notice an increase in milk production in 24-72 hours. You will also probably smell like maple syrup! Kellymom.com has great information about using fenugreek to increase milk supply.
• Alfalfa: Alfalfa is also commonly used to increase milk supply. Just a caution, alfalfa should not be used by people with lupus or other auto-immune disorders. See Kellymom.com for more information on alfalfa as a galactagogue.
• Blessed thistle: Blessed thistle is another commonly used galactagogue. See Kellymom.com for more information on blessed thistle.
• More Milk tincture: This liquid extract is made with certified organic galactagogue herbs (blessed thistle, nettle and fennel seed) and is available from motherlove.com.
• Organic Mother’s Milk Tea: You can find Mother’s Milk tea in many health food stores. Most brands contain fenugreek, fennel, nettle, and/or blessed thistle. It is considered a mild galactagogue.
• Homeopathic remedies: There are several homeopathic remedies that can help increase milk supply: Lactuca Virosa, Galega Off, Calc Phos, Urtica, Ricinus Comm. I suggest getting advice from a homeopathic doctor as they are trained to find the right remedy for your situation.
• Bach’s Rescue Remedy: This is a homeopathic remedy that helps trigger the letdown reflex. It can have a slight sedative effect, so use with caution.
  
• Lactation cookies: Don’t you love a reason to eat cookies? Here is a recipe for lactation cookies. Some of the ingredients might sound familiar to you by now: oats, brewer’s yeast, flaxseed meal.

Kellymom.com has a great list of many herbal galactagogues. As a reminder, you should research the risks and benefits of these herbs in order to make the best decision for your situation. If you need help you can contact a board certified lactation consultant.

There are also several prescription medications that can increase milk supply, although I would prefer to save that as an absolute last resort.

Take Care of Yourself

Your body is working very hard to produce milk for your baby and you need to give it all the resources it needs.

• Drink water: Be sure you are drinking enough water, at least half your weight in ounces.
• Eat a well balanced diet: Be sure you are eating when you are hungry. I know life as a mom is busy but you need to take care of your needs as well. I would also suggest making sure you are getting enough protein and eating healthy fats in your diet, which you should be doing anyway. Some examples are olive oil, mixed nuts, seeds, avocado, etc. Here are some more diet suggestions for pregnant and nursing mothers from the Weston A. Price website. I also found an article mentioning the great importance diet has on adequate milk production.
• Acupuncture: Acupuncture has been shown to increase prolactin levels and therefore may increase milk production. Acupuncture could also be used to treat possible reasons for low milk supply, such as thyroid issues. I have used acupuncture myself (for different reasons) and can’t recommend it enough. It really is amazing how well it works for so many issues.
• Get adequate rest: As I mentioned before in my article Breastfeeding Tips: How to Prepare for Success, I know it’s hard to get enough rest as a new mom, especially if you have older children. But I can’t stress enough how important it is for you for many reasons – including nursing. Your milk-making hormones work more efficiently when you have reduced levels of stress hormones.
• Get help around house: Find someone to help you with household chores or older children. Now is the time to take people up on their offers to help you out. Have teenagers come over to play with your older children while you nurse your baby or rest. Have family or friends help with cooking, cleaning, or laundry.
• Slow down: There isn’t much that really needs to be done around the house. Cleaning can wait a bit. Birth announcements can wait a bit. If you are trying to do too much, you have permission to let go of everything but the basics. Let your spouse help as much as he can. If you make nursing your baby a priority, you will be able to establish, and maintain, a good milk supply.

Things to Avoid

There are several things that can hinder your efforts to increase milk supply:

• Formula supplements: Whenever your baby has a formula supplement, it’s telling your body you don’t need to make more milk. If it’s medically necessary to supplement with formula, try an alternative method that doesn’t involve artificial nipples (spoon, cup, or with a nursing supplementer).
• Pacifiers: All of baby’s sucking should be at the breast. Limit or stop pacifier use while encouraging baby to nurse more effectively.
• Early introduction to solid foods: If you are introducing solids to your baby, keep in mind that an increase in solids may mean a reduction in nursing frequency.
• Antihistamines and decongestants: If you can, avoid antihistamines and some decongestants.
• Low thyroid: You might want to get tested for low thyroid if the usual methods for increasing milk supply don’t work.
• Certain herbs: Kellymom.com has a list of herbs to avoid while breastfeeding. The list includes herbs that decrease supply as well as those can be harmful to mom or baby.

Breastfeed-essentials.com has a great list of other hinderances to milk supply.

True low milk supply is very rare, possibly affecting 2-5% of women. Indeed, there could be an underlying health issue. Mobi Motherhood International has a website with great information about living with low milk supply and offers a few possible reasons for low supply.

I wish you all the best in your attempts to increase your milk supply. And congratulations on deciding to breastfeed your baby!

Wendy – Parenting Tips 365