Guest Posts

Read to Your Baby – The Importance of Books, Audiobooks, and the Spoken Word

Guest Post by Shellie Braeuner of Kids Audiobook Reviews

Read and speak aloud – Your baby is listening.

Newborn babies have been listening to the sound of human voices from the time they are in the womb and prefer that sound to any other. (In fact, newborn babies automatically recognize the sound of their mother’s voice minutes after birth, and they can distinguish it from other voices around them.)

There is an important developmental reason for why babies enjoy the sound of human voices – they need to listen to hundreds of thousands of words before they are able to utter even one.

Talking to your baby is vital. Eye contact while holding and talking to a newborn helps them bond and learn the importance of language between people. [Read more…] about Read to Your Baby – The Importance of Books, Audiobooks, and the Spoken Word

Prenatal Massage and its Benefits

by Shellie Braeuner

Guest Post by Shellie Braeuner of Kids Audiobook Reviews.

Prenatal massage is a growing trend in the United States.

When a woman is pregnant, there are massive changes in her body. Women’s hormones change how she holds weight. Muscles in the abdomen and back tighten and flex with the growing child. As breasts change size and weight, even the shoulders can become sore and tight.

Pregnancy-related aches and pains are unpleasant. Having your husband or significant other rub your shoulders and back is nice, but it doesn’t beat a professional massage. Prenatal massage is performed by a professional masseuse who has experience with the unique shape and special needs of a pregnant woman.

Prenatal massage helps pregnant women relive stress, manage pain and increase circulation all without the danger of drugs. Obstetric nurses, doulas and midwives know massage can help a woman during labor. The therapist needs specialized training to help women in this very special time in their lives.

Eight Things Every New Mom Should Know about the Postpartum Period

by Guest Writer 8 Comments

Guest Post By: Jenny Schick of DIYparenting.

1. Know who you want to help you for the first week or two that you are home with baby.

It’s unrealistic to assume you can do it all on your own or that you have to! And if you don’t plan ahead, you could have every neighbor, cousin and coworker stopping by to gawk at your new little one. While it’s nice that people care, set limits because you and baby need rest and one-on-one time.

Be honest by letting others know how they can be most helpful (visiting at a certain time so you can nap or bringing a meal for your family). People genuinely do want to help you so relish in it!

2. Know that a new baby uses a lot of diapers, and not always “newborn” size.

You can never have too many diapers on hand! Most babies outgrow the newborn size very quickly so make sure you have size one available too. If getting out of the house proves difficult, don’t forget miraculous two-day shipping via the Internet! [Read more…] about Eight Things Every New Mom Should Know about the Postpartum Period

Weight Loss In a Nut Shell – Guest Post

by Guest Writer 12 Comments

By: Guest Blogger, Monika Majnik from GroovNutrition.

Staying healthy and at your ideal weight is no easy task…or is it? The problem I see with so many people is that the easiest way is also the hardest way… it puts the responsibility back onto us. Yes, we are responsible.

There are many ads, fads, lotions, potions, gimmicks and various pieces of exercise equipment that tell us that losing weight and getting into great shape is SO easy! Then why has this become a gazillion dollar business, and as a whole, we are getting bigger and unhealthier?

Because! The easiest, most natural way means we actually have to look in the mirror and take responsibility for what we are doing to our own bodies. No quick fix. [Read more…] about Weight Loss In a Nut Shell – Guest Post