(Part 2) Top products from r/moderatelygranolamoms

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1558328807/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519765721&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=the+birth+partner&dpPl=1&dpID=51b4Sezn8YL&ref=plSrch

This book is about natural labor and delivery. It's technically geared toward those who will be helping you through labor, but it's fantastic for mother's too! I truly feel this book helped me through my natural labor. It gave great ideas for coping mechanisms as well as an in-depth walk through of the stages of labor and what to expect in each. I highly highly recommend if you're planning natural birth!

So I've hiked the AT and I'm going back this summer!

With kiddo it was hard because he was born in July last summer and our area has something called oak mites which basically make it impossible to go outdoors from august until it freezes.

I recommend looking around at second hand sites/groups/stores for a hiker back pack. I have some off brand and it is just about as comfortable as a fancy one (like the Deuter I wanted to buy). The thing about a kid is they lean to one side or the other, so it's hard to get them really comfortable. Just make sure you can adjust the hipstraps.

We did some car camping and brought the pack n play, but ended up having kiddo sleep between us, and no one slept. We don't co sleep at home, so he was looking at us like "hey, what's going on" and I was convinced I was going to roll over on him. I thought it would be useful to put him in while we set up camp, but he just got mad we weren't holding him, so back into the hiker he went.

We've just been to local campsites, but I would recommend car camping at a place with lots of trails but ALSO access to lots of ammenities, in case you need them. In this case, I HIGHLY recommend the Shenandoah's. Besides the fact that I am just in love with them, they are right on the AT and have tons of camping options, from back country to cabins.

Other than that.... I received this book from the author when I was pregnant. She hiked the CDT with her kids. It has a lot of practical advice.

Or you could just keep bed sharing. She'll eventually want to sleep in her own bed, all kids do.

I read Sweet Sleep which is put out by The Leche League. (https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Sleep-Nighttime-Strategies-Breastfeeding/dp/0345518470/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=sweet+sleep&qid=1575144694&sr=8-3)
It makes some pretty compelling arguments for bedsharing and against sleep training.

We've been bedsharing since our daughter was 3 months old and its been a really positive experience. A lot of moms i talk to want to bedshare because it feels more natural and they like the connection of being closer to their baby overnight but feel guilty about it because they feel their baby "should" be able to sleep on their own already. She'll get there even if you bedshare now. Do what gets your family the most sleep and gives your heart the most peace. And check out the book for how to make bedsharing safe. Or read this article that explains how to make your bed safe https://www.llli.org/the-safe-sleep-seven/

I'm not a moderately granola mom yet (couple weeks to go) but I'm a librarian, and I saw some books that caught my eye the other day, called loose parts and loose parts 2 that look fascinating and super fun with great ideas for diy toys. You can always ask your local library if they do interlibrary loan if they don't have it.

The Complete Baby and Toddler Cookbook from America's Test Kitchen. It has purees, finger foods, snacks, and full family meal ideas. I use it all the time, the puree recipes are pretty simple to make, yet also have interesting flavor combinations.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Baby-Toddler-Cookbook-Families/dp/1492677671?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-exp-a-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1492677671

Don't let people push you into baby led weaning if you don't want to do it. Purees are perfectly fine and healthy and your baby will learn to eat no matter what you do. You do whatever works best for you.

I recently read Marie Kondo's book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing and I'm in love. The message, in short, is to keep only things that you truly love, and discard everything else.

There's a lot more to it, but that is the jist. I'd say read the book, get inspired, purge the towels, and then everything else. I was so inspired reading it I couldn't wait to start cleaning :)

If you can't seem to master regular recipes, I'd just stick with the premade baby food. It's not that pricey (of course, it's more expensive than making it yourself) and it's super easy to use. I consider myself a better than average cook/recipe follower, and I had trouble keeping up with making baby food for my 9 month old.

If you're looking to learn how to cook, I'd recommend buying an actual cookbook. Following recipes online is great, but old school cookbooks have a whole section in the front that teach you the basics. I like this one by Better Homes and Gardens, or How to Cook Everything

Does anyone here have any good recommendations for natural pregnancy books? I'm newly pregnant and I've been eyeing this one on amazon -- has anyone read it or have any other recommendations? Open to suggestions for dad, too. Thanks!

Definitely handle the breeders. Treat them like pets. Otherwise getting them in and our of the cages is very difficult. An adult feral rabbit is fierce. We got one as an adult, and she was so violent that we couldn't even reach in and get her nest set up without her attacking our hands. Storey's Guide to Raising Rabbits was a big help when we started out.

The Natural Pregnancy Book was really great!

I love
https://www.amazon.com/Informed-Parent-Science-Based-Resource-Childs/dp/0399171061

Daddy Kisses

My Dad Loves Me

Dada

Because I'm Your Dad

I Love You Daddy

Edit: Not daughter specific, but I think all are gender neutral.

I use a 1:3 ratio of elderberries, distilled water and organic glycerin in a quart jar and let it soak for at least 4-6 weeks before straining into dropper bottles. This book is great for learning about this kind of thing. Thomas also has another book called Modern Herbal Medicine that is the most user-friendly reference guide about herbs. I threw out all of my books on herbs once I found these bc they’re so comprehensive.

The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide https://www.amazon.com/dp/1623170796/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hmO7BbRFDS3QK

One book I have that I look forward to using is Renee Kohley’s “Nourished Beginnings”.
The recipes are based on a natural, whole food diet and are suitable for babies, toddlers “and beyond”.
https://www.amazon.ca/Nourished-Beginnings-Baby-Food-NutrientDense/dp/1624143016