baby : products
These items were absolute essentials in caring for Taylor. I am in no way (don't I wish) compensated for promoting these products, and I'm not one to compliment anyone or anything without my complete sincerity.

Mothering Magazine
I've read several different parenting magazines from cover-to-cover over the years, and they often leave me feeling empty. The articles and advice columns aren't very thought-provoking, and the ads (especially the food-related ads) promote an unhealthy lifestyle.

Pick up a copy of Mothering the next time you're at the store and (maybe habitually) reaching for your regular parenting magazine. You'll notice the difference immediately. You often won't be able to read it cover-to-cover because the topics will cause you to pause and reflect.

Mothering has also recently begun digital magazine subscriptions.

Evenflo Glass Bottles
You'll be using bottles hundreds of times before your baby outgrows them, so choose the healthiest material -- glass (instead of plastic).

Evenflo glass bottles are available in two sizes, 4-ounce and 8-ounce. Each bottle comes with a latex nipple; however, I suggest throwing out the latex and buying silicon replacement nipples instead. Latex leaches harmful chemicals, so silicon is the safer option.

If you're worried about glass breakage, don't. These are very sturdy bottles. Taylor has thrown them overboard from her highchair onto our hardwood floors many, many times without breaking them. However, dropping them on tile or concrete floors will shatter the bottles instantly.

Soothies Gel Pads
Every breastfeeding mom needs these in the first couple of weeks of motherhood. As you learn how to properly latch your baby onto your breasts, you'll become a bit sore.

Soothies Gel Pads are the answer. I tried refrigerated, organic cabbage, but it just didn't do the trick because the cabbage warmed to my body's temperature too quickly.

These gel pads are magic! You just put them in your bra between feedings, and in addition to soaking up any leakage, mild soreness is greatly relieved. Typically, the pads last for 3 about days (or when they change from clear to cloudy).

Kleen Kanteen
Forgo the mystery of figuring out which plastic sippy cup is safe or not and opt for a Kleen Kanteen made of stainless steel instead. The spout that fits into the sippy adapter is far more comfortable on the mouth than other metallic bottles (i.e. Sigg). Now that this product is catching on, it comes in a variety of hip colors and an insultated tote is available (separately).

Natural Toys
Choose toys (even rattles and teethers) made out of wood or cloth instead of plastic. In addition to being heathier (by avoiding harmful chemicals in plastic), natural toys inherently benefit the child, the family and the environment.

We've become accustomed to toys that light up and make noise, leaving children to be passive participants in a video game-minded culture. Natural toys, devoid of cartoon-like and commercial images, require children to activate their imaginations and engage with other children and adults in their play. Beautifully crafted toys are often handmade and built to last a lifetime (or several lifetimes), thereby decreasing the clutter and overconsumption of more disposable (plastic) toys.

My favorite brick and mortar store in San Francisco is The Ark (with locations in Noe Valley & Laurel Heights).

Prefolded, Cloth Diapers
Sopping up baby spit-up seems to be an all-day and all-night job during your baby's early weeks. Especially if your baby is a major spitter (like Taylor was), prefolded, cloth diapers are invaluable.

They're super absorbent, and once baby has outgrown the spitting up, you can use them as a blankie/lovey. Because you've washed them about a million times by now, they're wonderfully soft and cuddly. And if you happen to lose your baby's blankie somewhere or need to wash it while he or she is sleeping, you have a whole stack of other blankies ready to use.

Coconut oil
Once your baby begins eating solids, it's more likely that he or she will experience diaper rash. As a preventative measure and as a healing aid, use unrefined coconut oil (after allergy-testing it, of course). Coconut oil is edible, so you can't get any more pure than that, and it's also a natural antimicrobial.

Homeopathic Arnica Gel
As your little one(s) become mobile, they will inevitably bonk their heads and other body parts as they learn to crawl, pull up to a standing position and walk. Buy homeopathic arnica gel at your local health food store and apply it to the injured body part immediately after the injury.

Arnica relieves muscle aches and stiffness, due to minor injuries, overexertion, falls, and blows. It also reduces pain, swelling, and discoloration from bruises. It works like magic, as if the injury had never even occured.

updated 09.30.08