Is my baby ready for solids?



Is my baby ready for solids? 

This is a quick check list to know for sure. If YES to all of the above, your little one may be ready to begin babyled weaning (i.e. consumption of the first non-milk items).

If no to even one, waiting a little longer may be best. Watch your baby, not the dates or the calendar (except for age minimums). There is no harm in delaying the starting of solids for a baby who is otherwise nursed/fed on cue around the clock, and there are many benefits (immunity, development, gut health) up to a certain point, and when it is done in baby's own perfect timing.

Additional good reading on this topic and more: 

Baby Matters (the science behind why waiting matters): http://astore.amazon.com/peacefparent-20/detail/0975317040

Take Charge of Your Child's Health (chapter on breastfeeding, and chapter on starting solids/natural weaning): http://astore.amazon.com/peacefparent-20/detail/156924653X

Natural Family Living (chapter on breastfeeding/starting solids): http://astore.amazon.com/peacefparent-20/detail/0671027441

Our Babies, Ourselves (sections that address breastfeeding and weaning throughout humanity and around the world today): http://astore.amazon.com/peacefparent-20/detail/0385483627

How Weaning Happens (an oldie but goodie!): http://astore.amazon.com/peacefparent-20/detail/0912500549 

Babyled Weaning: http://astore.amazon.com/peacefparent-20/detail/161519021X

Parents with little ones moving into their weaning days are welcome to join the Babyled Weaning Group on Facebook: FB.com/groups/Babyled

Breastfeeding moms are welcome to join: FB.com/groups/Breastfed

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The Webster Technique: Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy and Birth

By Jeanne Ohm, DC
International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) Executive Coordinator
ICPA: http://icpa4kids.com


Chiropractic care benefits all aspects of your body's ability to be healthy. This is accomplished by working with the nervous system - the communication system between your brain and body. Doctors of Chiropractic work to correct spinal, pelvic and cranial misalignments (subluxations). When misaligned, these structures create an imbalance in surrounding muscles and ligaments. Additionally, the resulting nerve system stress may affect the body's ability to function optimally.

The Webster technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and diversified adjustment. The goal of the adjustment is to reduce the effects of sacral subluxation/ SI joint dysfunction. In so doing neuro-biomechanical function in the pelvis is improved.

Dr. Larry Webster, founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association discovered this adjustment as a safe means to restore proper pelvic balance and function. This specific sacral analysis can be used on all weight bearing individuals to determine S/I joint dysfunction/ sacral subluxation and is therefore applicable for the entire population. The assessment includes heel flexion to buttocks, with restricted flexion indicating the affected SI joint. Correction is made with a diversified, sacral adjustment. It is used on all weight bearing individuals presenting with this biomechanical restriction. Common symptoms include (but are not limited to) low back pain, sciatic neuralgia, and symptoms associated with sacral subluxation and/or S/I joint dysfunction.

The ICPA recognizes that in a theoretical and clinical framework of the Webster Technique in the care of pregnant women, sacral subluxation may contribute to difficult labor for the mother (i.e., dystocia). Dystocia is caused by inadequate uterine function, pelvic contraction, and baby mal-presentation. The correction of sacral subluxation may have a positive effect on all of these causes of dystocia.


In this clinical and theoretical framework, it is proposed that sacral misalignment may contribute to these three primary causes of dystocia via uterine nerve interference, pelvic misalignment, and the tightening and torsion of specific pelvic muscles and ligaments. The resulting tense muscles and ligaments and their aberrant effect on the uterus may prevent the baby from comfortably assuming the best possible position for birth.

In regards to pregnant mothers, Dr. Webster reported that when a mother sought care and her baby was in a breech position, the restoration of pelvic neuro-biomechanics with this adjustment also frequently facilitated optimal fetal positioning. There are cases published in the chiropractic literature that support this theory. More research is needed and is currently underway by the ICPA.

The obstetric literature has determined that correct positioning of the baby in-utero affect birth outcome and decrease the potential for undue stress to the baby's developing spine and nerve system. Obstetric literature has determined the importance of normal pelvic neuro-biomechanics including uterine function and pelvic alignment for the prevention of dystocia (difficult birth). It has also determined that correct positioning of the baby in-utero affects birth outcome and decreases the potential for undue stress to the baby's developing spine and nerve system.

Chiropractic literature has determined the significance of sacral adjustments in normalizing pelvic neuro-biomechanics. It is therefore considered prudent that this specific sacral analysis and adjustment be used throughout pregnancy to detect and alleviate sacral imbalance and optimize pelvic neuro-biomechanics in the mother. Because of the particular female adaptations from the increase of hormones, weight gain and postural adaptations, pregnant mothers have a greater chance of sacral subluxation and neuro-biomechanical imbalance than the general population. Additionally, because of the effect the chiropractic adjustment has on all body functions by reducing nerve system stress, pregnant mothers may have significant benefit by having their spines checked regularly throughout pregnancy, optimizing health benefits for both the mother and baby.


Further Resources

The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association offers classes of instruction and awards qualified attendees a Certificate of Proficiency in the Webster protocol. Only those doctors on our site maintain recognized certification status for the Webster protocol.

Parents: to find a Certified D.C. in your area, visit our Membership Directory: http://icpa4kids.com/locator/index.htm

To read research about this technique visit: http://icpa4kids.org/Chiropractic-Research/Webster-Technique/

To read about the history of the technique, see the following two resources: http://icpa4kids.com/about/webster_technique_history.htm

http://icpa4kids.org/Chiropractic-Research/the-webster-technique-results-from-a-chiropractic-practice-based-research-program.html

Questions about the Webster Technique (Pathways for Family Wellness): http://pathwaystofamilywellness.org/Chiropractic/questions-about-the-webster-technique.html

Doctors: to attend a Proficiency Workshop, visit our schedule for Seminars: http://icpa4kids.com/seminars/

Dr. Jeanne Ohm's "Perinatal Care" seminar offers Webster Certification: http://icpa4kids.com/seminars/Schedule_Ohm.php

Expecting mothers are welcome to join either of these Facebook groups:
Birthing: FB.com/groups/Birthing (more holistic)
Pregnant Moms Due this Year: FB.com/groups/DueDateGroup (more mainstream)






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Reasons to Skip Swaddling

By Wendy Priesnitz for Natural Child Magazine
Shared with permission.


The practice of wrapping newborn infants tightly in blankets that restrict movement of their limbs is an ancient one, happening even before Biblical times. Its popularity has ebbed and flowed, but it is still routinely practiced in many hospitals, and is making a comeback among some parents, either in the form of a tight blanket that holds the baby’s arms and legs straight, or a looser form of wrapping that keeps the arms free. There are, increasingly, commercial “baby swaddles” and other swaddling paraphernalia, as well as YouTube videos to teach parents how to swaddle correctly.

Swaddling is done for many reasons, including warmth, the prevention of scratching, and to calm crying and fussiness in hospital nurseries and at home. Unfortunately, swaddling seems to conflict with the emotional care that is the basis of attachment parenting and other conscious ways of being with children, in addition to having some physical problems. Here are some reasons not to swaddle your newborn.

1. A baby cries for a reason and the parent’s job is to quickly determine the reason for the cry and solve the problem with milk, attention, pain relief, motion, a dry diaper, a temperature change, or whatever is required – with the priority on fixing the situation, not on stopping the noise. Wrapping an infant up tightly might lessen her crying, but it might also make her feel abandoned and stressed, rather than relaxed and content.

2. Swaddling leads newborns to sleep more and deeper. That will provide a welcome respite for tired parents, but it will also interfere with skin-to-skin bonding, and lessen the frequency of feeding, slowing weight gain and increasing dehydration.

3. Swaddled babies look so warm and cozy. However, they can become dangerously overheated – not only because of the effect of the blanket, but because they can’t wave their arms and legs around to cool themselves off.

4. Babies need skin-to-skin contact. Those who don’t get it feel profound stress. Skin-to-skin contact can also reduce the stress of being born. As well as helping regulate a newborn’s temperature, skin-to-skin contact also helps stabilize his breathing, hormone levels, and heart rate.

5. One purpose of swaddling is to soothe the newborn by reminding her of the womb. However, a fetus has freedom of movement in utero that is not possible when swaddled. Her post-birth freedom to wiggle toes and fingers (and put them in her mouth) and wave arms and legs is part of the developmental process and helps develop both muscle control and the nervous system. Recent studies have shwon that movement helps improve cognitive functioning in people of all ages, and infants are at a stage of rapid cognitive development. They can't explore how their bodies work when swaddled. 

6. Swaddling has been implicated in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). (It’s also believed by some that swaddling lowers the risk of SIDS because it prevents a baby from rolling onto his stomach, which has been linked to SIDS, and prevents him from covering his face with a blanket as he squirms.) While a swaddled newborn might stay in the position in which he was laid down, older swaddled babies have been known to flip themselves over and get stuck in the face-down position. Overheating has also been linked to SIDS.

7. Swaddling can contribute to dysplasia of the soft hips of newborns, which can lead to problems with the joint later in life. According to the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, “Sudden straightening of the legs to a standing position can loosen the joints and damage the soft cartilage of the socket.”

8. The risk of upper respiratory infections can be increased by the hampered ability to breathe deeply when infants are tightly swaddled. In one study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, the risk of developing respiratory infections increased fourfold in swaddled infants.

One of the swaddlers is advertised in this way: “The first several months of Baby’s arrival can be quite tough on the sturdiest of new parents. The [product] has been proven to greatly extend sleep periods between feedings...allowing Mom and Dad more extended rest, enhanced relaxation, and peace of mind.” I think there are more empathetic ways to soothe our babes.


Wendy Priesnitz is the editor of Natural Child Magazine. She is also the editor of Natural Life Magazine and Life Learning Magazine, the author of twelve books, and a journalist with over 35 years experience. She is the mother of two adult daughters.

Related Reading:

Baby Sleep Resource Page

CoSleeping Group






To witness infant genital cutting: to witness sexual assault

"It is virtually impossible to witness infant genital cutting and not recognize this act as a form of sexual assault." -Danelle Frisbie

The two most common forms of unnecessary infant genital cutting currently in practice in the United States include male circumcision by Gomco Clamp and male circumcision by Plastibell. If you've not previously witnessed how these surgeries take place, often without anesthesia, we invite you to research further, beginning with linked resources and videos below. 








Related Reading: 

The Plastibell Lie SavingSons.org/2012/03/plastibell-lie.html

The Perils of Plastibell Circumcision: A Mythical "No Cutting, No Risk" Method DrMomma.org/2010/05/the-perils-of-plastibell-circumcision.html

Baby Dies Post Plastibell DrMomma.org/2007/06/baby-dies-post-plastibell-circumcision.html

Massive Infection Takes Over Body After Plastibell Circumcision DrMomma.org/2009/11/massive-infection-takes-over-body-after.html

The biggest lie told to parents (a registered nurse speaks) SavingSons.org/2016/04/the-biggest-lie-told-to-parents.html

If this stained circumstraint could talk... SavingSons.org/2012/06/if-this-stained-circumstraint-could.html

Intact vs. Circumcised Outcome Statistics DrMomma.org/2010/01/cut-vs-intact-outcome-statistics.html 

Death From Circumcision DrMomma.org/2010/05/death-from-circumcision.html

Should I Circumcise? The pros and cons of infant circumcision: SavingSons.org/2014/12/should-i-circumcise-pros-and-cons-of.html


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