Breastfeeding during the toddler years

I have posted about breastfeeding in the past. It's a passion of mine and I will post again and again on it, particularly when I read something that makes me clap my hands and yell, "Yes, someone gets it!"

Since last summer I have been thoroughly researching what food is best to eat. Recently I have made a commitment to eating Primal (80/20 rule). The following is from Mark Sisson:

Milk with fatty acids for brain development, antibodies for immune system support and high nutrient and fat content resulted in healthy babies who would more likely survive the challenges of Grok’s day. If the milk could change as the child aged to better meet his/her needs over time, that child would have an even better chance of making it to adulthood. And, as we know, these characteristics in breastmilk were exactly what evolution favored and selected for over time.

Because it took two years for babies and young toddlers to develop teeth adequate to chew much of the food available in Grok’s day, they were dependent on their mothers’ milk. (There were, of course, no Cuisinart processors or food mills in Paleolithic times – and little time to bother with elaborate food preparation anyway.) Children transitioned to solids at a slow and gradual rate and took milk from their mothers throughout the toddler years.

I love it! This is what needs to be expressed to parents, pediatricians and every person who eventually wants kids.

There are, of course, more than nutritional reasons to continue breastfeeding into the toddler years. I have found that it helps immensely to calm/relax Rooster prior to naps/bedtime, after getting hurt, or anytime he becomes extremely upset (more frequent nowadays when he exerts his independence). It has helped with teething, both as a comfort for pain as well as a supplement for nutrition. Rooster often did not want to eat anything solid. As long as he was nursing I did not have to worry about meeting his nutritional needs with solid foods for a few days at a time. Last, but certainly not least, emotions are running high for Rooster right now and nursing helps him feel secure, safe, and connected to another human being (his mama!). He's learning so much right now that I am confident nursing is a need of his while making so many developmental transitions.

A picture says a thousand words

Very telling.

Prohibition's dark side

I had never heard about the U.S. government's role in poisoning people during prohibition until reading this article.

Officially, the special denaturing program ended only once the 18th Amendment was repealed in December 1933. But the chemist's war itself faded away before then. Slowly, government officials quit talking about it. And when Prohibition ended and good grain whiskey reappeared, it was almost as if the craziness of Prohibition—and the poisonous measures taken to enforce it—had never quite happened.

Interesting how some things seem to get swept under the rug.

Laughing himself right outta office

Buh-bye, Mr. Bennet. So long, farewell. Don't let the door hit you in the butt.

For the record, it's not funny.

Kids and talking - updated

I'm a rather quiet person but have made it a point to talk to and with my son as often as possible; sometimes to the point of sounding silly to myself. But I know this is good for him as he learns how to communicate, speak and identify the world around him.

I came across an article titled Children reaching age 3 without being able to say a word, survey finds with concern. After reading it I found a disturbing sentence within it:

The survey of more than 1,000 parents found that a child’s background was not a factor in how quickly they learnt to talk. Working parents who put their babies in day care are just as likely to have a child whose speech develops late
as those who leave their baby in front of the television.

LOL. Those are the only two choices? Really? All this time as a housewife and mom I have been interacting with Rooster by talking with him, playing games, reading, rough-housing, following him around the house as he does laps, etc. and I could have instead just plopped him down in front of the TV.

Those silly Brits.

Update: A fellow Dr. Laura reader/listener notices the same.

original post 01/03/10 at 7:40 pm

Resolutions

They can be fun. Back in 2006 and 2007 my New Year's resolutions were to try a new wine every month. I know I hit it in 2006...most likely 2007 was a success as well. I don't think I made one in 2008. Last year I resolved to cut out processed foods and am glad to report it has stuck.

This year I resolve to be more primal. Thanks to Mark Sisson and his website and book I have a lot of information and guidance to be successful.

In a nutshell I aim for these goals:

1. No grains/sugar/legumes
2. More long walks
3. Increase weight lifting and body weight workouts
4. Play more!

I love the last goal and Rooster will definitely appreciate that one :)

I will be posting primal recipes and other information at my other blog soon. See you there!

We are going to whip these people out of their boots!

A new beginning.

A must watch...in fact, watch it several times!

Merry Christmas

May the love of Jesus Christ reach you this wonderful season!

How can I make it more likely that Rooster ends up in prison than graduating high school?

By moving to Detroit.

In exchange for decades of entitlement programs and government spending, the people of Detroit have been rewarded with record high unemployment, failing schools, very little economic activity and a blighted landscape. Steven Crowder reports from the Motor City.

To give you a taste, the average home price is now at $5,700.00.

Once a great city, Detroit is now in ruins because of leftist governmental policies. Watch the video.

Vaccines

We know the importance of vaccinations, but my husband and I are also very hesitant to allow Rooster to have 6 shots at once with 8 different vaccines. So since birth we have been on a selective vaccine schedule that sorta follows Dr. Sears' guidelines.

This article I came across today is quite interesting although rather long.

But getting back to the safety issue, it is my contention that the science used to ‘prove’ MMR does not cause autism is simply inadequate. And I’m not the only person who thinks so: In my research yesterday I came across this video interview where you can see and hear Dr Bernadine Healy, former director of the National Institutes of Health in the USA, express her concern about the way in which a link between vaccination and autism has been so readily dismissed. She accuses the US Government health officials of deliberately not doing the scientific which would show, once and for all, whether vaccines can cause autism, and if so, what the extent of the risk is (so that parents can make an truly informed choice about whether to have their child vaccinated or not). And Dr Healy also suggests that the reason for why the US Government has not done the definitive scientific work is because it is afraid of what it might find when it looks. The interview concludes by Dr Healy stating that the question about whether vaccination can cause autism has still not been answered.

I have read that this vaccine debate is over - there is proof that there is no link. This is false, of course. There is no definitive proof either way. That makes it very, very curious as to why there aren't more studies out there looking into it. Perhaps because there aren't enough non-vaccinated children to study (a theory of Dr. Sears).