nursing necklace

Leaky Looks: YOU Choose Edition!

June 3, 2015 by Kileah McIlvain 4 Comments

You spoke, and I delivered! This week to kick off the month of June, AppleCheeks, Naked Tank, and Bebe Au Lait teamed up with me to give you our freshest and latest #LeakyLooks! I asked all of our Leakies on Instagram and Facebook the #BoobOutFashion they wanted to see MOST on our picks this week. The top 3 came in as Boho/Hippie Mama, Beach/Daytrip Mama, and Workout Mama. Have fun looking through your looks! Pin, share, repost, tag us and tell us what you would choose!

To The Beach We Go!

I think most, if not all of us, want that perfect summer dress. Light, flowing, flattering and breathable (and #BoobOut -able!). I started out with this gorgeous all-cotton Torrid maxi dress that hits loosely at the natural waist and flows comfy and loose over all of our beautiful mama shapes! I saw the AppleCheeks nursing infinity scarf and fell in love with the colors immediately! As a scarf-lover myself, this lightweight item works as a no-fuss fashion statement, nursing cover, and beach hair protector all in one! I added in a soft pink bra, a silver footbed sandal, teal leather diaper bag, and a wide-brimmed sunhat from LL Bean (and let’s not forget the chewbead bracelets! I love wearing a TON of these in the summer!). I chose to include one of EWG’s highest-rated sunscreens (and gentle on sensitive skin!) and an adorable AppleCheeks diaper. Toss in a Mastitis Patrol tee for your little, sunglasses, and your favorite soft-soled sandals and you’ve got the makings of a fantastic day in the sand and surf!

Rockin’ That Gym Look!

I got so many awesome requests to do another workout look this week! I had done a couple of looks here and there, but this has got to be my favorite collection so far! I centered this look around one of the BEST Leaky wardrobe pieces in my closet-the Naked Tank! It’s breathable, lightweight, comes in white or black, and means I don’t have to put on 3 layers to function comfortably (can we say NO OVERHEATING OR SWAMP BOOBS?! Plus, free shipping for orders over $50? Yeah. Just Do It. No pun intended. Ha.) I LOVE these Belabumbum yoga jogger pants that fit loosely in the hip and thigh and hug the ankle! The rebound racer sports bra that I chose isn’t actually a “nursing” bra, but it might as well be! the front two straps are high-quality velcro that allow you to undo a side and adjust after you empty a breast! The HydroFlask insulated water bottle has always been one of my favorite go-to’s for keeping liquids cold OR hot, depending on my needs. Add in a durable gym bag, a lightweight top to cool down in when you leave the gym and some great Asics trainers and you’ve got yourself a no-fuss, all-function workout ensemble!

Work That Bohemian Mama!

I fell in love with this cotton wrap boho skirt from oOlives on etsy and just HAD to use it to create this bohemian hippie look! A wrap skirt is such a great option for both pregnant and nursing mamas as it’s easily adjustable and comfortable (and cool!). I added in a peasant top from Walmart (inexpensive!) and a lovely bralette from Aerie.com. Now…the piece that I’m MOST excited about in this look is the Bebe au Lait muslin nursing cover in Botanica! This lightweight premium cotton muslin is the PERFECT match for a hot day, whether you need it to shield baby from sun or distraction while eating or you can drape it over a low branch to give baby extra shade! I’m pretty sure I want every print they have. Ha! I added in the Ergo carrier in Dandelion because it’s all cotton and a lighter color which means it’ll be reflecting heat more than absorbing it. I finished off this look with a fun diaper bag, Born gladiator sandals, and an awesome multi-colored necklace from Modcloth!

So there you have it, Leakies! YOUR CHOICE. And I absolutely LOVED your ideas! I hope you like what I picked! Tag me on instagram (@theleakyboob or @abitofearth) and show me how you rock YOUR #BoobOutFashion!

PSSSSST. Remember to keep an eye out for our upcoming giveaways!

They’re almost here!

Filed Under: #booboutfashion, #LBLwednesday, Article, breastfeeding fashion, Featured, Leaky Looks Breastfeeding Fashions Tagged With: #BoobOutFashion, #LBLWednesdays, #LeakyLooks, breastfeeding fashion, Leaky Boob Looks, Leaky Fashion, Leaky Looks, nursing bra, nursing fashion, nursing necklace, Nursing Tank

Dark Chocolate Lactation Granola Bark

June 1, 2015 by Carrie Saum Leave a Comment

by Carrie Saum

In my house, anything I make or bake will get eaten either by family or friends. But it is a very rare occurrence that anything I bake goes in the trash.

When my son was born, I made plenty of lactation goodies (including this lemonade and these cookies) and it was impossible to keep them to myself. First of all, I didn’t WANT to keep them to myself because I’m a sharer by nature. Then I couldn’t because all of the people coming in and out of our house knew about the goodies and wanted to partake.

However, that became expensive. FAST.

I got smart about it. I made all of the treats I could that were inexpensive. I could buy oats in bulk for super cheap. My mom gave me a giant jar of local honey from a farm (also very inexpensive), and the rest is history. I made little crunchy granola bars that resembled Nature’s Valley but without any added junk.

But here’s the thing. I GOT BORED. Since I needed the fuel to keep my supply up while exclusively pumping, I tried my hand at different recipes. Because boredom is the master of invention. I think. No, that’s not the right quote. But it’s the right idea. I love trying new things, but I also have to try new things to keep the game interesting. And feeding yourself (and your baby) is always interesting.

So, when boredom struck, I struck back. I added sunflower seed butter. And chocolate.

Then I got a little crazy and instead of cutting them, I broke the granola into pieces that were pretty and irregular and made me feel decadent. And every new mama needs to be made to feel decadent, right? And maybe even a little fancy, too. They’re also a breeze to make, and very affordable.

Ingredients for Granola Bark:

1 1/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp melted butter
1 Tbsp molasses (optional, but adds depth of flavor)
1/4 cup sunflower seed butter or peanut butter
1/4 cup honey

Ingredients for Chocolate Layer:

6 oz 90% cacao chocolate
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp raw honey

Directions for Granola Bark

Combine all dry ingredients, and mix throughly.
Combine all wet ingredients and add to dry ingredients.
Spread granola mixture in a 7×12 inch parchment-lined dish. Pack it down hard, leaving no breathing room.
Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Allow to cool completely in the pan.

Directions for Chocolate Layer

Melt chocolate and coconut oil in your home-made double boiler
Add vanilla and stevia
Once melted and stirred well, pour into the pan of chilled nut butter mixture (Optional and delicious step: Spread a thin layer of peanut butter or sunbutter over the granola first, then pour your chocolate over it.)
Allow to harden in the refrigerator for an hour, then break into pieces. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

For an extra milky boost you can add 2 tablespoons brewer’s yeast and/or 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal to the granola bark. Be warned that some tummies don’t respond well to the brewer’s yeast so if you or your baby tend to have sensitive stomachs, it may be best to skip it.

*Note: These do NOT keep at room temperature because of the coconut oil the chocolate layer. If you want the chocolate to keep at room temperature, consider using (sustainably and humanely harvested) palm oil instead of coconut oil.

You will be impressed with yourself when you make these. Better yet, make these for a friend who just had a baby and she will be forever grateful.

Barking up the Lactation Tree,
Carrie

If you love this smoothie recipe, you might like this recipe for Paleo Chocolate Chip Granola or these Gluten-Free Strawberry Shortcake on Our Stable Table.

*Note: It’s important to point out that most women aren’t going to need to eat food with the intention of upping their milk supply, if everything is working the way it is supposed to, your baby will know how to up your supply just fine themselves. Skin-to-skin and feeding on demand are the best ways to increase breastmilk supply to meet your baby’s needs. (Concerned you have low supply? Read this to help figure out if it is something you need to be concerned about.) For those women, galactalogues just happen and they don’t need to think about it. But some women, like me, do need a boost. As a mom who ended up exclusively pumping and indeed having low supply such that I ended up on medication solely to increase my milk production, I know what it’s like to look for anything, anything at all that would help my body make even just a little more milk to help feed my baby. With the support of my health care providers, we tried everything. It becomes “I will eat all the cookies, I will drink all the shakes, I will eat all the parfaits!” if it even just makes me feel like I’m doing something to address the low supply struggle, it is worth it.

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Carrie Saum brings a passion for wellness and over a decade of experience in health care to her clients. A certified Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor (AWC) from the Kerala Ayurveda Academy, she empowers individuals and families to achieve health and balance through time-honored practices and health knowledge.

Carrie has extensive first-hand experience in vast array of medical and service fields. With background in paramedic medicine, Carrie spent ten years serving in the non-profit sector managing organizations, programs, and orchestrating resources to meet health needs of people across the United States and abroad in countries such as Guatemala, Mexico, Kenya, and Zambia. As an AWC, Carrie currently coaches her clients and their families about topics including nutrition, weight loss, and stress management. In addition to her work as a wellness counselor, Carrie is a passionate “foodie” and author. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and young son and writes at OurStableTable.com.

Filed Under: baby, Boobs, Bottle Feeding, Breastfeeding, breastfeeding difficulties, breastfeeding health, breastfeeding help, Breastfeeding the newborn, breastmilk donation, breastmilk pumping, breastpump, breasts, extended breastfeeding, Featured, guest posts, Milk Supply, nursing, Pumping, recipes, relactating, Uncategorized Tagged With: Baby, Breastfeeding, breastfeeding challenges, Lactation Cookies, lactation food recipes, lactation recipe, Newborn, nursing necklace, pumping, recipe

Boob Out Fashion: Spectactular Summer

May 28, 2015 by Kileah McIlvain 2 Comments

by Kileah McIlvain

Last week when we released our Special Occasion Edition, a leaky on our Instagram feed asked me about nursing SWIMWEAR. I couldn’t stop thinking about it! What IF there WAS such a thing as beautiful, functional swimwear for nursing mamas…or outdoor gear that is breastfeeding-friendly…or workout wear that made it easy to access the milk…what IF?!

Well, @megfyfewatkins ….THANK you for the idea that wouldn’t leave me. I FOUND the droids…err…clothing…you were looking for! (Yes. I’m a Star Wars nerd. More on that, later!)

By the Poolside

This gorgeous look is centered around the beautiful Pez D’Or La Mer 3-piece tankini set! Provides extra support for your lactating breasts, easily makes milk accessible and really compliments a wide range of figures! I added a Dotti Lazer-cut Kimono cover-up and a simple Sanuk white sandal (so dang comfy. seriously.) In the summer, chances are you’re going to want both you AND baby to cool off in the nearest cool water, so what better way to carry your squish than in a Beachfront Baby Water Ring Sling! Lightweight, dries super-fast, is easily adjustable for comfort and weight of baby and looks effortless. Add in a beautiful and functional Jelly Strands chewbead necklace, a Storksak diaper bag and some EWG-approved Badger Sunscreen and you are good to go for a beautiful day at the beach or by the poolside!

Yoga For Two

This was such a fun look to put together! I pulled this look together based on this Old Navy Burnout Tank I JUST purchased last week! It’s really easy to breastfeed in and pairs really well with the Melinda G Sports Nursing Bra that I picked out (Yes. there ARE actually sports bras that are made for the breastfeeding and pumping mama!). I love the easy cuteness of a good Bolder Band to keep sweat out of my face as I’m working out. REI has Hugger Mugger Batik yoga bags that I seriously want like…all of. I added an Echo Vessel water bottle and a great gym bag. My first carrier I ever had was an Ergobaby Original carrier. They still remain one of my go-to carriers and after birthing 4 hobbits, it has always held up to our busy lifestyle!

Take A Hike

Living in the Pacific Northwest is kind of like saying “I live in a mecca for all things lush and outdoors.” An hour to the misty mountains. An hour to the soft-sanded coast. Deep lakes, temperate rainforests, and internationally-acclaimed hiking trails are one of our trademarks in these parts. Imagine my HAPPINESS when I discovered there is an actual clothing line designed for the active, pregnant/breastfeeding mom! Mountain Mama has an impressive line of great outdoorwear for the active outdoors mom! Crafted well from durable material and versatile for just about any wardrobe. I included the Salomon Ellipse GTX women’s hiking shoes (top-rated by Outdoor Gear Lab!) and the Lillebaby All-Seasons carrier in Stone as it’s incredibly breathable and the dimensions work so very well for both mums and dads! (see a GREAT review my husband did on them HERE!). Throw in a GORGEOUS Tekhni Pax Delta Hip Sack, some chemical-free thinksport sunscreen, and a double-insulated Kleen Kanteen stainless-steel bottle and you are set to explore the great outdoors with your family!

Are you inspired, yet?! Want to show us your summer-friendly #LeakyLooks outfits? Inspire the Leakies and tag us using our hastags on instagram or facebook! Now get outside and enjoy life in all of its summer beauty in all of your #booboutfashion awesomness!

PSSSSST: we have some super-awesome exclusive stuff coming soon (As in, next week!). (a giveaway? a Leaky feature? What could it be?!)…so keep watching our #LeakyLooks space and get your share-button ready! It’s going to be GOOD.

Nurturing Life Giveaway – Breastfeeding

August 13, 2014 by theleakyb@@b 84 Comments

Nurturing Life

These two words define and drive everything that Motherlove does, from their organic farm in Colorado, to their herbal care products, the educational classes taught by founder Kathryn Higgins, to the Nurturing Life Foundation, Motherlove’s non-profit which supports mothers and children all over the country. So it’s no surprise that Motherlove has had such a beautiful, long-standing relationship with The Leaky Boob, extending their support of mothers and children to our Leakies and their breastfeeding journey with their babies. The Motherlove website sums it up well:

What is Nurturing Life?
It is fostering an environment where development, growth, and health are encouraged, and doing so in each facet of our life, including each stage. True beauty can emerge in your life and others’ as you nurture life in yourself, your friendships, romantic relationship, through pregnancy, birth, in your relationship with your children, and more, and yes, even your garden.

“At Motherlove, we use Nurturing Life as our mission statement because nurturing moms and babies together is essential for both to thrive. During pregnancy, moms are reminded minute-by-minute of this relationship and we typically focus on our health and wellbeing because it’s tied to our child’s life.” (Nurturing Life – Self Care for Mothers, by Motherlove Herbal Company)

To wrap up this series of Motherlove giveaways that has touched on the ways mothers can intentionally nurture life through pregnancy and postpartum, through the ups and downs and aches and pains, we now focus on breastfeeding. It is only fitting as we are celebrating World Breastfeeding Month right now.

Every new mother’s story is her own, whether it is very similar to other mothers’ experiences or appears to be completely opposite. Every relationship between a mother and her baby should be free to develop in their own particular way, at their own particular speed. There is no template that will fit every mother-baby relationship. The Leaky Boob recognizes this and welcomes every mother, whether they bottle-feed, use SNS, breastfeed for a day or for years, whether their baby-days are in the distant past, or even if they never had a baby. All are welcome. And Motherlove also recognizes this reality, ready to meet mothers and babies where they are, encouraging them to pursue the Nurturing Life, and providing quality and safe products for whenever a need arises for them.

To help celebrate World Breastfeeding Month, Motherlove is collaborating with two other TLB sponsors, specializing in nursing necklaces, so that Mom and baby both get a prize this week! Freja Toys and KangarooCare are each offering 3 beautiful necklaces, which means you could be one of the 6 prize winners for this giveaway. Varja from KangarooCare wanted to share this heart-warming message about her breastfeeding journey with all of us:

“I knew I would breastfeed since the moment I found out that I was going to have a baby. And I did it. I nursed my first child for 4 and a half years, and the second for 2 and a half. I breastfed during pregnancy and then 2 kids at the same time. My breasts produced milk for 5 years non-stop. Some might say this is too much, and others that this is nothing special. But to me, breastfeeding is a real miracle. I am a vegetarian and I was told that I would never be able to give birth to a healthy baby and then breastfeed. But it was not so. I am convinced that breast milk is not just clear liquid with a specific chemical composition; it is love. Liquid love.”

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Motherlove, KangarooCare and Freja Toys are coming together to offer 6 prizes for 6 lucky Leakies!

All six prizes start with a Motherlove Nipple Cream salve.

Then the breakdown is as follows:

Prize 1: a KangarooCare Fox Nursing Necklace, from Apple Wood

Prize 2: a KangarooCare Organic Nursing Necklace in Cream & Oatmeal, from Juniper Wood

Prize 3: a KangarooCare Simple Rainbow Nursing Necklace, from Oak Wood

Prizes 4-6: a Freja Toys Organic Cotton Nursing Necklace, winner’s choice of color.

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Good luck to everyone! Please use the widget below to be entered. The giveaway is open from August 13, 2014 through August 20, 2014. A big thanks to Motherlove for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women; and thanks also to KangarooCare and Freja Toys for making this giveaway a whole lot more fun! Please be sure to visit their Facebook pages (Motherlove, KangarooCare, Freja Toys), follow Motherlove on Twitter, and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.

This giveaway is restricted to U.S. residents only.

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Filed Under: giveaway, World Breastfeeding Week Tagged With: Breastfeeding, Freja Toys, Giveaway, KangarooCare, motherlove, nipple cream, nursing necklace, nurturing life

Freja Toys Giveaway

December 3, 2013 by theleakyb@@b 399 Comments

If you aren’t familiar with Freja Toys, drop everything and go check them out here! We are long-time fans of their charming Ukrainian crocheted toys, and would have their complete collection if we could. Freja Toys has been a sponsor of The Leaky Boob for quite a while, and we’re excited to bring you this opportunity to get to know them a bit better, and offer you a chance to win some adorable toys too!

TLB: We were thrilled to have Freja Toys join The Leaky Boob community as a sponsor earlier this year! We own a couple of your dolls already, and just love all the precious toys you make. What is the main thing that you would like our Leakies to know about Freja Toys?

Tanya: Our toys are very popular among kids and adults. All our products are unique and full of warmth and love. They are made from natural materials and are absolutely safe for your kid’s health! And our main goal is to give joy to kids and their moms and to make the world around happier and kinder! We often receive words of gratitude from our customers. They are a great source of our inspiration!

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TLB: What is the inspiration behind your name?

Tanya: My great-grandmother’s name was Freyja Amundsen. She was originally from Scandinavia. She was a marvelous needlewoman and had a talent in knitting! I’m sure I inherited a great deal of her genes in this respect. I took a great interest in knitting since I was 7 years old. And this passion still hasn’t passed! So I decided to name my brand in honor of my great-grandmother 🙂

TLB: Could you tell us a bit about how your toys are made?

Tanya: Primarily we produce a stockinet (machine knit) of wool yarn and cotton thread. Thus we get a base of our dolls. Then we make the dolls’ body and clothes. The dolls’ body is knitted with the multicolored stripes which imitate a t-shirt, lingerie and shoes. The dolls’ skirt, dress or pants are removable. The dolls’ hair of cotton thread is completely handmade and each doll’s face is embroidered by hand. Handwork is our key distinction and advantage, particularly at the stage of the toy’s design and decoration.

Our nursing jewelry, teething toys and crochet baby rattles are also made completely by hand.

TLB: Since this is The Leaky Boob after all, do you have a favorite breastfeeding tip you could share with us?

Tanya: Trust your baby! Don’t look for answers outside, just listen to your little one.

TLB: One more question: if someone in the U.S. wanted to order some toys for Christmas, how soon would they need to put an order in for it to arrive on time? 🙂

Tanya: Last date for Christmas orders is Dec 5th. Unfortunately we can’t guarantee that your package will come on time for holidays if you place your order after that date. The shipping time to US takes 2 – 3 weeks.

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Tanya is giving away 3 Babywearing Dolls and 3 nursing necklaces to 3 lucky Leakies. Every winner will get a babywearing mommy/daddy doll with a baby doll of their own choosing and one of the petite nursing necklaces (our bestseller!)

Retail Value: Dolls $42.00 – $45.00, Nursing Necklaces $20.

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Currently Leakies can find these and other knitted dolls and nursing/breastfeeding necklaces FrejaToys items in the www.frejatoys.etsy.com website.

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Good luck to everyone! Please use the widget below to be entered. The giveaway is open from December 3, 2013 through December 10, 2013. A big thanks to Tanya and FrejaToys for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women; please be sure to visit them on Facebook and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity. You can also find them on Pinterest!

This giveaway is open to international entries.

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Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: babywearing dolls, Crocheted dolls, Crocheted Toys, crocheted veggies, Freja Toys, FrejaToys, Giveaway, nursing necklace, toy veggies

The Breastfeeding Toddler Explains

August 5, 2013 by theleakyb@@b 41 Comments

The transition from infant to toddler is usually a very gradual process, at times completely imperceptible. But it is very real and there are some very special aspects of breastfeeding a toddler that are unique. One shares with us.

Dear grown-ups,

My vocabulary is still quite limited but that doesn’t mean my brain isn’t going all the time and there are a few things you need to know. Particularly about breastfeeding toddlers. Because some grown-ups seem to get confused, I will take a moment to explain very simply so even an adult can understand. As a breastfed toddler, what I like to just call “human being”, I don’t understand why anyone would think I shouldn’t be breastfed. The milk is yummy, I like to be close to mommy, it’s fun, and I was just a baby still yesterday and I’m not grown up over night, you know. Also, I don’t care how many months I am, I know I like to breastfeed and I still need it, so please don’t make it sound gross or bad. That just seems mean. Don’t be a meanie. Some toddlers may be ready to move on, that’s fine and I’m not judging them but don’t judge me just because I’m not ready yet and need to breastfeed to get through my day. I don’t judge you for what you drink to get through your day, ok? Acting like there’s something gross and wrong about something I’ve been doing my whole life is confusing, just let me do my thing. I can’t imagine ever stopping breastfeeding but most of the people I see don’t breastfeed any more so I figure it’s inevitable I’ll stop at some point. Just not today.

Also, before someone tells me there’s no nutritional value to breastfeeding past the first year (it feels nutritional to me, more than most chicken nuggets) check out how breastmilk continues to change to meet my very special toddler requirements here and a mommy’s point of view on how special breastfeeding is here.

Toddler’s guide to breastfeeding (so simple, even a grown-up can understand):

Hungry? Breastfeed.
Sad? Breastfeed- rub mommy’s arm.
Happy? Breastfeed- giggle lots and dribble milk.
Bored? Breastfeed and sing with your mouth full of milk, won’t be bored any more!
Feeling silly? Breastfeed and growl while sticking finger up mommy’s nose, she’ll growl too!
Tired? Breastfeed.
Tired but don’t want to sleep? Breastfeed- keep switching sides.
Tired but don’t want to sleep and want to try to keep playing? Breastfeed- break out dance moves.
Want to go to sleep? Breastfeed.
Just wake up? Breastfeed and consider falling back asleep.
Fall asleep on the breast and mommy tries to sneak away? MUST BREASTFEED.
See mommy is busy and want her attention? NEED to breastfeed NOW. Sign milk constantly at the breast.
See mommy is not busy? Breastfeed.
See mommy is bored and needs something to do other than laundry? Breastfeed.
Mommy trying to work? Breastfeed.
Afraid mommy is going to go down the toilet? Keep mommy safe, saver her by holding on to the boobies by breastfeeding!
See mommy sat down? GET THE BOOBIES! Even if you just breastfed, breastfeed now, she wants you too, why else would she sit down?
See the ta-tas out when mom is changing? BREASTFEED NOW! DO NOT LET THEM GET AWAY!
Fall down? Breastfeed, pop off and wail occasionally to remind everyone what happened.
Get hurt? Breastfeed.
Got hurt yesterday but just remember? Breastfeed and whine at the same time.
Broken toy? Breastfeed, pull mom’s hair so she knows how upset you are.
Can’t climb that stupid gate thing? Breastfeed and point at it.
Break mommy or daddy’s toy? Breastfeed and make sure she keeps looking you in the eye until the oxytocin kicks in and you help her forget about the toy.
See mommy and daddy kiss? Breastfeed and slap daddy away.
See mommy and daddy hug? Breastfeed and give daddy the evil eye.
See friend breastfeeding? Breastfeed more than them.
Mommy sleepy? Time for gymnurstics.
Mommy tries to exercise? Breastfeed- insist on side lying.
Mommy eating? Breastfeed- time for gynurstics or stick fingers in her mouth.
Mommy getting ready for date with daddy? Breastfeed- insist on hand on other one too, give daddy stink-eye.
Mommy talking on the phone? Breastfeed while standing on her lap, pop off occasionally to yell in her face to help her talk.
Mommy making food for other people? Remind her how easy it is to breastfeed. If she doesn’t do it right away, cling to leg, refuse the carrier, and jam your hands down her shirt as soon as possible.
Need to pee? Breastfeed then freak.
Just changed diaper and need to poop? Breastfeed.
Wearing clothes? Breastfeed.
Naked? Breastfeed?
Love dinosaurs, baby dolls, trains, elephants, anything else? Breastfeed to celebrate and tell mommy all about it.
Get a new toy? Breastfeed and insist mommy breastfeed the toy too.
Toys get hungry? Have mommy breastfeed toy, get angry that mommy is sharing with toy, throw tow, breastfeed and give toy stink-eye.
On a plane? Breastfeed- swallow loudly to clear ears and make everyone happy you’re not screaming.
Headed to the car? Quick, arch back, twist, anything, BREASTFEED.
Mommy holding you while meeting new people? Breastfeed or at least let them know the boobies are yours by shoving hands in mommy’s shirt.
Daddy and mommy snuggling in bed? Need that boob! No, that one! No, the other one! Must breastfeed on both right now!
Mommy in shower? Let her know you need to breastfeed and are worried the shower will wash your milk away. Screaming may be necessary.
Walking? Breastfeed every couple of steps.
Climbing? Breastfeed when they move you off things. Every time.
Have sickies? Breastfeed lots and lots and lots.
Cutting molars? Smash all the things! And breastfeed.
See picture of breastfeeding? Breastfeeding for all!
Hear music? Do the breastfeeding dance.
Knock over block tower? Breastfeed- hold block and hit mommy with it.
Grandma coming over? Breastfeed and tell her how excited you are about it at the same time.
Having a first experience? Breastfeed.
Think mommy is going to leave without you? Desperately need to breastfeed to avoid starvation.
Mommy returns home after being out? Five minutes or 5 hours, you must breastfeed while berating her for leaving even if you didn’t actually notice she was gone.

Isn’t breastfeeding wonderful?

You know what else is wonderful? The roll of toilet paper. You can use the whole thing to fill the potty, it’s so fun! And then mommy has to clean up a giant mess and it’s time to breastfeed again. Everyone has fun!

Love,

Your friendly local breastfeeding toddler.

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What would you or your toddler add to this list of toddler breastfeeding? Have you changed your views of breastfeeding beyond a year?

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Filed Under: Article, baby-led weaning, Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding and society, breastfeeding humor, child led weaning, family, Featured, humor, Jessica, motherhood, Parenting, toddler, Weaning Tagged With: breastfeeding and society, extended breastfeeding, family, full term breastfeeding, motherhood, natural duration breastfeeding, nursing, nursing necklace, Parenting, Toddler, toddler breastfeeding, toddler explains breastfeeding

The Vintage Honey Shop Giveaway

July 12, 2013 by theleakyb@@b 312 Comments

Jennifer and Melissa, the creative ladies of The Vintage Honey Shop, love to share beautiful things with the world, as you clearly notice when you visit their Shop. So when they recently did a photoshoot of nursing moms outdoors on furniture you would expect to see in someone’s home, they were so pleased with the results that they wanted to share them too! Jenifer and Melissa answered a few questions for us below, and we all hope that the following images and giveaway help brighten your day.

TLB: The Vintage Honey Shop has such a charming, classic feel, as the name suggests. What do you use for inspiration with your necklaces and other products?

Jennifer & Melissa: We love vintage & modern designs! We named our shop, The Vintage Honey Shop, because of our love of vintage designs, but also because we love the color yellow…that deep vintage honey yellow….thus our name was born! We wanted to reflect our love of vintage & modern in our shop. We didn’t even start out making nursing/teething necklaces. They sort of found us! We began making fabric beaded necklaces because frankly, they are really pretty! After we started making them we found that they made great teething & nursing necklaces! Unfortunately, our little ones were past the teething & nursing stage when we made these…but boy do we wish we would have made them when we were breastfeeding!! Would have helped out SO much!! Our shop has evolved into something awesome & great! It is something that we are proud of & believe in! But if you would have told us three years ago when we opened the shop that we would be rockin’ the teething & nursing world…we wouldn’t have believed you! 🙂 We have a love of fabric…we choose fabrics based on how it makes us ‘feel’! If we see it & it makes us smile or jump up & down (yes, fabric sometimes makes Jennifer do that!)…then we buy it! The same goes for our paper products…pretty paper just makes us happy! When we are happy…then we hope that comes across in our products & designs

TLB: I’ve heard that you recently had a fun photoshoot; did it really involve couches, fields and babies? That sounds very unique. What was your favorite part of the photoshoot?

Jen & Mel: Oh my goodness, that photoshoot was so much fun! We had been planning this shoot for over six months. We wanted to do a photoshoot that showcased our necklaces being used by real moms & their babies! So we asked a few of our mom friends to see if they would be in our photoshoot, called our photographer to set up a date & time, and began planning the shoot! We love that our necklaces are natural…we just natural, unfinished bead & rings in our necklaces…and we wanted to reflect that by having our photoshoot outdoors in a field. Being a mom & breasfeeding your baby is very natural, so we wanted to take what we do naturally in our homes to the outdoors! So we set up a bed, couch, rocking chair & vintage quilt outside in a beautiful field!

TLB: Were there any particular challenges involved?

Jen & Mel: A week before our photoshoot, the bed we had planned to use fell through. We panicked! The bed shot was super important to us so we searched all over craigslist & asked around to see if we could find the kind of bed we were looking for. About 4 days before the shoot, Melissa found an old, nasty bed frame sitting outside of craft & furniture store. It was in super bad shape…it was falling apart & it had bird poop all over it! Gross, we know! But it was the style we wanted & it was only $10! So Melissa picked it up & we cleaned, added a wood decal to it & painted it a beautiful yellow color. It look completely different…you would have no idea it was the same beaten up frame! Then the day of the shoot, everything that could go wrong did! It began to rain, we had babysitting issues & Melissa’s electricity went out so she could not do her hair for the shoot! Everything ended up working out…the rain stopped & Melissa was able to get her hairdesser to fit her in to do her hair! Once we arrived at our shoot location, everything came together beautifully! Everything we had envisioned for our shoot had turned out even better than we planned! The babies were hams, the moms looked stunning & all the babies took to the necklaces right away! It was amazing!

TLB: Could you tell us a bit about your photographer?

Jen & Mel: We have the best photographer! Christina Campbell of Eternal Treasures Photography in Murfreesboro, TN was the photographer of this photoshoot & another one we had last year. She was so patient with our moms & babes. When we contacted her & told her what we wanted to do, she didn’t even bat an eye about us taking photographs of moms nursing their lil ones on a living room couch in the middle of a field! She is such a sweetheart…we joke around that we need to keep having photoshoots just so that we can hang out with her!

TLB: Is there anything else that you would like The Leaky Boob community to know about?

Jen & Mel: We are both moms & wives first, then we are the owners & designers with The Vintage Honey Shop. Jennifer has three boys ages 10, 5 & 3. She has been married to her highschool sweetheart for almost 16 years! Jennifer does the sewing, ordering fabric, manages the majority of our social media & makes the necklaces and bracelets. Melissa is mom to her daughter, 9, and son, 6. She too married her highschool sweetheart over 17 years ago! On the weekends she is a critical care nurse that specializes in cardiac care. Melissa is our paper girl! She makes all of our cupcake toppers & paper rosette balls. While Melissa rocks the paper part of our shop, she also helps in handmaking our necklaces too! Melissa is the one responsible for shipping & hand wrapping all of our orders!

We really love what we do. We love it that we make products that help moms feel beautiful & that help with their teething & nursing babies. We are proud of our shop & we strive for excellence in all that we do! We hope that this is reflected in our products & shop!

Jennifer & Melissa are giving away one teething ring necklace to 3 lucky Leakies (winner’s choice).
Retail Value: $25.00

Currently Leakies can find these and other nursing/teething necklaces in The Vintage Honey Shop website.
Additionally, Jennifer and Melissa are offering you a 15% discount for their store from now through July 25! Use coupon code tlb15

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Good luck to everyone! Please use the widget below to be entered. The giveaway is open from July 12, 2013 through July 18, 2013. A big thanks to Melissa and Jennifer and The Vintage Honey Shop for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women; please be sure to visit their Facebook page or follow them on twitter and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity. You can also find them on Instagram and Pinterest!

This giveaway is open to international entries.

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Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: Giveaway, nursing necklace, teething necklace, teething ring necklace, The Leaky Boob, The Vintage Honey Shop, vintage

Mommy Jewelry Sturdy and Purdy Giveaway

March 5, 2013 by theleakyb@@b

Becoming a parent is an event that changes you, and life as you know it, in many expected and surprising ways – most everyone recognizes this. Perhaps less recognized, is that having your second child is often just as, if not even more, full of surprises and changes than with your first. You think you have this parenting thing figured out with one, and then realize that what worked for them isn’t going to cut it for the second. There’s beauty in the reality that as your family grows and changes, you all change and grow together. This is something that Jeemaa, jewelry maker and TLB sponsor, is experiencing right now! She shares some of her thoughts in a brief interview below, and shares some of the creations that her new baby boy have inspired with The Leaky Boob community through a giveaway further down the page.

TLB: First of all, congratulations Jeemaa, on the arrival of your new baby! How is everyone adjusting to this cute new family member?

Jeemaa: Thank you so very much! We are overjoyed to welcome our son Oliver. He is adorable and we are all slowly adjusting to our new hectic life! The first couple of weeks were rough for our two year old Zachary, but he has quickly turned into a loving and caring big brother. It melts my heart when I see him bond with his little brother!

TLB: Have you been able to enjoy some quality down time since the birth?

Jeemaa: At the moment, it is hard to find time for myself, but my husband and I try to save Friday nights for DVR date night. We really look forward to it! Once we establish a good routine that works for everyone, I am sure I will be able to have some quality time for myself.

TLB: Have you noticed anything different with your breastfeeding experience this time around, and has it changed any of your views on breastfeeding?

Jeemaa: Breastfeeding did not come easy to me with my first. The first few months were a blur and all I remember is a lot of pain, problems with latching, mastitis more than a few times and the list goes on. I was pretty close to giving up but kept telling myself one more week. I think Zachary was about five months when I could finally say “OK, I think I can do it!” The second time around, it has been a lot easier! Oliver latched on like a seasoned pro! I still had a few of the same issues (e.g., mastitis, oversupply) that I had with my first, but I knew where to look for answers. I think my views on breastfeeding are evolving and I am definitely more respectful and understanding of others’ decisions – whatever that might be.

TLB: What is your favorite breastfeeding tip?

Jeemaa: I have two. Have contact information for a good lactation consultant handy! My life saver is Chris Harter in Columbus, Ohio. She is an amazing woman full of knowledge and life time experience! Also, take advantage of the breastfeeding help lines!

TLB: How has your new baby affected your jewelry making business, and do you have any special plans for 2013?

Jeemaa: A new baby means less time and I have to use my limited time wiser. It also means new inspirations and new ideas! Just starting from last week, Oliver started grabbing my necklace with his tiny hands. I noticed that he loves grabbing the chunky textured wooden beads more and I thought I don’t have enough of those in my shop. I love colors … especially the colors I find in semi precious stones. Combining his favorite textured beads with my favorite semi precious stone beads, I created more Teething Ring Statement Necklaces. I love the way they look and feel and would like to offer two of them for the TLB readers. I hope you will like them as much as Oliver and I do!

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Jeemaa is giving away two (2) different prizes to two (2) lucky Leakies – one prize each. The prizes are:

A Teething Ring Statement Necklace with Rose Quartz: Made of all natural maple ring, wooden beads and a coin shaped flat Rose Quartz stone. It is simple yet pretty! The textured beads and the movable wooden ring will keep the lil ones’ hands busy. Retail Value: $16.00
A Teething Ring Statement Necklace with Turquoise: Made of all natural maple ring, wooden beads and a coin shaped flat Turquoise stone. It is simple yet pretty! The textured beads and the movable wooden ring will keep the lil ones’ hands busy. Retail Value: $16.00

Currently Leakies can find these necklaces (and others!) in Jeemaa’s Etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/109554099/nursing-necklace-teething-ring-statement
https://www.etsy.com/listing/122924417/nursing-necklace-teething-ring-statement

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Good luck to everyone! Please use the widget below to be entered. The giveaway is open from March 5, 2013 through March 11, 2013. A big thanks to Jeemaa and Mommy Jewelry Sturdy and Purdy for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women; please be sure to visit their Facebook page and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.

This giveaway open to international entries.

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Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: breastfededing, Giveaway, jewelry, necklace, nursing, nursing necklace, teething, teething necklace

KangarooCare Giveaway

February 6, 2013 by theleakyb@@b

Thanks to the World Wide Web, The Leaky Boob’s community has Leakies all over the world. In the same way, TLB now includes a few sponsors beyond the North American continent. One such sponsor is KangarooCare, located in Estonia (that’s in Eastern Europe, in case you weren’t sure). The owner of KangarooCare is Varja, a mom of 2 kids, currently enjoying a family vacation with a fair amount of traveling. Varja and her mom make adorable hand-crocheted nursing and teething necklaces. These necklaces are what are featured in this giveaway. Read on to learn more about KangarooCare, some of Varja’s tips on traveling, and how you can enter to win a KangarooCare necklace!

TLB: Tell us a bit about your business, KangarooCare.

Varja: KangarooCare is a place where you can find breastfeeding and babywearing necklaces and toys for you and your baby. The KangarooCare necklaces are designed for mommies to wear while holding and/or breastfeeding their babies to prevent from pulling, pinching, and squeezing Mommy’s hair, clothes, or the other breast. All KangarooCare items are also safe for the baby to play with and chew on. The necklaces and teething toys are made using crochet-covered wooden beads, which help to massage Baby’s gums and absorb drool. Try it out! You will love KangarooCare – Breastfeeding & Babywearing Necklaces as much as your little one! : )

TLB: You have recently been traveling with your family; how do you keep your business going when you’re far away from it?

Varja: It is not so easy to have full control over the KangarooCare business while I am away from my studio, but I try to check my mail as often as possible, and reply to everyone in a timely way. I have my very own “work” time every day (which is about 2 hours), when my hubby is playing with children, so I can get things done. I also have my mom & best friend, who stayed in Estonia, to take care of KangarooCare. They crochet, put the necklaces together, and send the packages out. I totally trust them : )

TLB: When you’re traveling, what accessories can you not live without?

Varja: Earrings, bracelets and, of course, necklaces. Having an unlimited access to the KangarooCare studio, I’ve had a hard time choosing the right necklaces for our trip, but I finally did it. : ) My personal favorites are the solid-colored necklaces and the rainbows. I love simple outfits, so they’re the best choice for me.

TLB: KangarooCare is often coming out with new products; what do you have new for us this season?

Varja: I LOVE making something new! : ) I am constantly adding new color combinations & styles, so there can be a wide choice for everyone. Being a woman, I know how important it is to have an appropriate accessory for every outfit.

I am planning a lot of new KangarooCare stuff this season, but that’s a secret! : ) Stay tuned by liking KangarooCare – Breastfeeding&Babywearing necklaces on FaceBook!

You now have a great chance TO WIN one of KangarooCare’s breastfeeding necklaces!

Varja is giving away 3 necklaces to 3 lucky Leakies. Every winner will get a necklace of their own choosing!!!

Retail value $12.00 – $29.00

Currently Leakies can find these and other breastfeeding & babywearing items in the KangarooCare online shop.

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Good luck to everyone! Please use the widget below to be entered. The giveaway is open from February 6, 2013 through February 12, 2013. A big thanks to Varja and KangarooCare – Breastfeeding & Babywearing necklaces for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women; please be sure to visit their Facebook page, and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.

This giveaway is open to international entries.

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Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: breastfeeding accessories, Giveaway, handmade, KangarooCare, necklace, nursing necklace, teething necklace

The Vintage Honey Shop Giveaway

January 28, 2013 by theleakyb@@b

Much like The Leaky Boob itself, The Vintage Honey Shop started out as a hobby for Jennifer and Melissa; an outlet for their creativity and crafty side. Encouraged by family and friends, their handmade items have turned into a local shop where they can both make and sell their paper and fabric creations. With their online Etsy shop, these items are now available for people all over the world wide web. Their handmade teethers are their most popular items and you have the opportunity to win one today through The Vintage Honey Shop giveaway on TLB. See below for details and get to know Jennifer and Melissa a bit better via the following short interview.

TLB: Tell us what TLB readers should know about your company

Jennifer & Melissa: We both co-own and run our handmade shop, The Vintage Honey Shop. Not only are we best friends, but we are sister-in-laws! (We married a set of cute brothers!) We are both originally from Northern Ohio, but moved south to Nashville, TN. Our business sells a variety of handmade fabric & paper items, but we are known for our teething necklaces.

TLB: What inspired you to create your business? What’s the story behind the name?

Jennifer & Melissa: We decided to open up our shop on Etsy because our friends & family would tell us that we should try to sell our crafty items. We decided to go ahead and take the jump…and The Vintage Honey Shop was born! We started our shop as a hobby, but it has turned into a business that we love and enjoy!! Our business is the perfect fit for us. We are able to express our talents, hobbies & interests while running our shop, but best of all we are making products that others enjoy & love!

TLB: How do you balance family life and finding time to create and run your company?

Jennifer & Melissa: The short answer to a very difficult question is that FAMILY COMES FIRST! We both stay home during the week, so when we are not running our kids to school, reading books to our kids or snuggling them in our arms, we do our sewing, crafting and returning emails. We do a lot of our business during the early mornings, during naptime or after the kids go to bed. We have also become great multi-taskers out of necessity! The majority of the items we sell in our shop are ready to ship, and the ones that are made-to-order we allow enough time to be able to hand make them without putting stress on ourselves & family to hurry to get them out. We really enjoy our business and everything that comes with it, but we make sure that our husbands & kids come first!

TLB: How would you describe your mom fashion style? How do you like to dress yourself up when you’re out with your kids?

Jennifer & Melissa: When we are home with our kids, we will be honest…we would NOT want The Fashion Police to critique our style! We pretty much rock our p.j.’s, workout clothes and jeans & t-shirts! Comfort comes first!! When we go out without our kids, we like to accessorize, put on our skinny jeans & rock out boots! Our biggest fashion tip to women to spice up your outfit is to accessorize with bracelets, earrings & necklaces!

TLB: What is your favorite breastfeeding tip?

Jennifer & Melissa: Find support! If you feel alone, having breastfeeding issues or questions, you don’t have to do this on your own. If you are having a problem, someone else has had the exact same one as you! Call your pediatrician’s office to find out when & where local breastfeeding support groups meet or find support on breastfeeding websites such as The Leaky B@@b! Above all, follow your heart. Mama’s have good instinct…don’t worry about what others may say or think!

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Jennifer & Melissa, from The Vintage Honey Shop are giving away 1 Teething Ring Necklace to one very lucky Leaky!

Retail value $25.00

This teething ring necklace is the perfect accessory to wear at home or away! They make great breastfeeding/nursing necklaces to wear while feeding. Not only are they cute, but they serve as distractions for the baby whose hands like to grab everything (like Mama’s hair, face & glasses)! Since it is close to baby’s eye level, it promotes those first fine motor skills of grasping, all the while nursing & bonding with Mama!

Currently Leakies can find this and other nursing/breastfeeding necklaces in the shop of The Vintage Honey Shop.

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Good luck to everyone! Please use the widget below to be entered. The giveaway is open from January 28, 2013 through February 4, 2013. A big thanks to Jennifer & Melissa and The Vintage Honey Shop for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women; please be sure to visit their Facebook page or follow them on twitter (@theVHshop) and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.

This giveaway is restricted to U.S. residents only.

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Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: baby toy, Giveaway, handmade, nursing necklace, teething necklace, teething ring, The Vintage Honey Shop

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