DIY Tie-Dye Woven Wrap

I got a few requests to do a tutorial on my woven wrap I just made for me and Caleb!

It sure was a process but sooooo worth it to see my little dude melt into the wrap when I wore him. Overall I I enjoyed being creative and I can tell this is just the beginning of a DIY obsession with making baby carriers!

I joined a DIY Babywearing Group and was inspired by all of the amazing projects people were posting. I also joined a Dyed Baby Carrier group and was able to learn so much before attempting my dye job. If you are considering this project you need to join these groups! They are a wealth of knowledge. I did a Low Water Immersion dye with Tulip dye but there are so many more options out there to dye a wrap or a baby carrier if you are interested!

Steps simplified: 
1. Buy supplies
2. Scour and wash fabric
3. Hem wrap
4. Dye wrap
5. Rinse and wash
6. Wrap you baby!

Before you start:

-Decide what size wrap you want and add 1-2 yards for shrinkage. Click here for sizing info. I made a size 6 wrap + a Kanga and I got 8 yards of fabric to account for shrinkage.

-Set aside four days for this project (deep cleaning day, hemming day, dying day, rinsing and washing day)

-Make sure you have all of your supplies

Supply list: 

-3-8 yards Osnaburg fabric (I got mine at walmart)
-1-6 packets of dye (depending on how many colors you want)
-Soda ash
-Large tub/bucket
-Matching thread for hemming (it will not pick up dye)
-Iron and Ironing board
-Working sewing machine 
-Optional: rubber bands

Scour/Deep Clean your fabric:

The purpose of the scouring step is to deep clean your fabric before dyeing. It helps in removing invisible sizing or other finishes that can interfere with dyeing, though there are some finishes that can't be removed so easily. There are a few ways to do this, but here is what I did:

-Place fabric in bath tub
-Boil as much water as possible
-Pour boiling water over fabric and (optional) place a trash bag over it to reduce heat loss
-Stir with a wood spoon (I pounded it!)
-Add 1/2 cup soda ash
-add boiling water to cover fabric
-Let sit, stirring every 10 minutes for 1 hour
-Put your fabric in the washer and do hot cycle followed by a hot dry. Repeat this step (2x wash/dry)

Hem your Wrap 

Watch this video prior to hemming, this will save you tons of time! This lady is an amazing twin baby-wearing mama.
*tip: to cut fabric to size, you can rip!

Most wraps are ~30 in wide, I left 2 in on each side

Iron and roll technique

Test out your wrap!

Kanga (with extra fabric!!)

Dye Your Wrap
-Mix your dye according to the instructions and based on the type of dye job you are doing.
-Apply rubber bands if the technique you are using requires it
-Apply your dye based on how you are dying (some processes require you to soak your fabric in soda ash first)
-At this point your wrap should either be in a plastic bag or in a bucket/tub
-Let it sit for at least 12 hours to let the dye set

Low water immersion, folded into the bin

I added dye first then fixed it with soda ask 1 hour later

Kanga (no folds)

Rinse your wrap
-Put your wrap in the bathtub and RINSE away with cold water! It is helpful to commit 30 minutes to this part because the water must run clear in order to insure all the dye has been rinsed out. Dye can be toxic to babies if it is not rinsed out properly.
-Wash your wrap on cold 1x, then hot 1x.
-Dry on hot

After rinsing and washing. the wrap is done!

Kanga

I did some cloth diaper pre-folds too!

Wrap your baby 
-For wrapping techniques and advice, check out this website!

Super comfy wrap!

Caleb 6 Months

Age: 6 months
Weight: 22lbs
Size clothes: 9-12 months

Interests: Caleb loves to watch us eat food and drink our Spark in the mornings. He will try to grab at anything I have in my hands. We have learned that Caleb is happiest in the water. He would stay in the bath all night if I let him, he adores Daddy Shower Time, and the beach is just about the happiest place on earth. He loves getting his whole body in the ocean and kicking around like he is doing eggbeater or breaststroke. I will take him to the YMCA pool 1-2x a week and he wins over everyone in the pool with his swimming attempts. Another one of Caleb's interests is smiling. He brings so much joy to strangers because of his infectious smile. I love seeing people's faces light up at the sight of my dear son grinning from ear to ear and squealing at them. I haven't had much experience with other people's babies, but a lot of people tell me "he is such a happy baby!" and I have to agree. He is really interested in faces, people, and can recognize the people who he sees the most (family, Stephanie, and other babies we know). It is so fun for him to see John walk in through the door and he can go from fussy to all smiles in 2 seconds when he recognizes who just came home.
 

Sampling the sand

Challenges: Nursing is continuing to be a big challenge because of the distractability factor. We usually nurse right before he naps and right when he wakes up so that if we go out he won't be hungry. A good thing and a challenge has been the long naps. They are amazing for him, for me, and for being a homebody. However it is really challenging to plan something in advance because I want to respect his sleep and give his little body a chance to grow and recover. During said naps Caleb loves to put his blanket over his face, smell it, suck on it, and play around before he falls asleep. I know they are really breathable and he won't suffocate, but it is heart-stopping every time I go in to check on him and the blanket is on his face. He sleeps without clothes and just in a diaper for naps so it is pretty hilarious to see him sprawled out and the entire blanket is bunched up on his face and nowhere near his body.
 

Caleb's preferred sleeping position (EEEK)

Milestones: Caleb has started to blow raspberries and will do it like he is having a conversation with us. His coos are becoming more conversation like and he is laughing at things that are actually funny. We have given him tastes of food and started to let him explore a few things with his mouth and hands. We are waiting to officially introduce solids until he is sitting independently and I am in no rush whatsoever after seeing what a mess he makes! If you read my Movement Readiness post you will remember that John and I are intentionally not putting him in a sitting position until he can independently put himself into one (try it out by lying on your tummy or back and then sit yourself up, it's hard!). We want his spine to have the best chance to develop normally and without all the messed up things we have going on that give our chiropractor so much business.
 

Loved reading his indestructible book

Eating/sleeping/pooping: All of Caleb's nutrition comes from boob juice right now. With a baby led-weaning approach he has tried/sampled: watermelon, peaches, green beans, avocado, banana, hummus, grapes, sand, dirt, and grass. He is napping 2-3x a day (morning, afternoon and sometimes early evening) for 2-3 hours. At night he will go to bed between 8pm-9pm and will wake up between 4-5:30 to nurse. I bring him in bed at this point and we will snuggle and fall asleep until 8am or so. Sometimes he will sleep until 9 or 10am! I started reading The No-Cry Sleep Solution book to figure out how to help him put himself to sleep without letting him cry. I think he knew I was reading the book because without much effort on my part he just started figuring out how to put himself back to sleep in the middle of a nap, before bed, and in the middle of the night.
 

trying out some summer fruit on daddy

Funny Memory: Caleb knows how to rotate himself 90 degrees when he is playing. We just finished his Montessori floor bed (instead of a crib) and have had a few funny things that have happened at night. A few nights ago I startled awake at 5:30am because I thought someone was trying to break into our house. It turns out Caleb had rotated and was kicking his little hear out on the closet doors. What a wake up call! The next night I could have sworn he fell asleep really quickly after I nursed him. When I went to check on him about 30 minutes later to see if the blanket was on his face, he had rotated 90 degrees, had his feet on my pillow I keep next to him for nursing, and the blanket was over his face like a mummy. I had John and my sister Hannah go look at him because of how funny it was. This morning takes the cake. I heard whimpering at 3:45 and went in to check on him. He had started out in the middle of the bed, rotated 90 degrees, flipped over onto him tummy, and inched his feet of the edge of the bed and he must have flung the pillow out of the way on his way over there (pic below). I just about died laughing after I picked him up and nursed him.

floor bed fun

Uncle David pushing Caleb in the stroller

Our new water wrap I made!

Hanging out with family and friends on the 4th of July

Aunt Hannah at the beach

Such a fun visit

24 Day Challenge

John and I are on day 11 of the 24 Day Challenge and the results are in!

I lost 2 inches off my waist and I lost 4 pounds! WOOOOT!!

I am elated because I didn't expect such awesome results post pregnancy and AdvoCare products yet again took me by surprise and over-delivered. If you have never done a cleanse or have tried one that made you feel awful, you have to try AdvoCare's Herbal Cleanse. It is seriously amazing because you eats tons of great food, have loads of energy, and kick out those toxins that need to pack up and leave. It's like spring cleaning for your insides in the most gentle and uneventful way. The 24 Day Challenge includes a 10 day cleanse and a 14 day maximum results phase. My friend Jodi is the one who encouraged me to do the 24 Day Challenge again after having Caleb! She is an amazing friend and rocks at helping people get great results with AdvoCare products. I love her so much!

Before picture with Jodi, who is due in July!

Day 10 of the Cleanse

Curious about the 24 Day Challenge? Here are some common questions I get asked.

Will it work? 
Yes! The 24 Day Challenge has helped thousands of people across the nation achieve their health goals. The first time I did it I lost 4 inches off my waist, 3lbs of body fat, and a bunch of digestive issues I was having got cleared up and I felt so much energy! Watch this amazing video to learn more about the results people are seeing and how the program works.

Is it safe?
Yes, it is safe. I took products all throughout my pregnancy, during labor, immediately after birth, and now while I am nursing! (There is a list of "pregnancy and nursing safe" products). It was really important to me that the products I put in my body had research behind them and would be safe for my baby. I have been so pleased with the results I have gotten throughout every stage of my life so far! Safety is the first consideration for every AdvoCare product.  Each product is backed by more than 270 years of combined experience and expertise from the Scientific & Medical Advisory Board.  AdvoCare products are based on proven and effective science and nutrition, not on the latest fad diet. I love this! It is recommended that you check with your health care provider before starting any wellness program. 

Will I get help?
Yes! The first time we did the 24 Day Challenge our friends Rob and Jodi did check in calls with us every few days to make sure we were on track, taking the products correctly, and feeling great. The support was what really helped us get success! My husband John, myself, and our friends and mentors Rob and Jodi would be delighted to walk you through the 24 Day Challenge to help you meet your health goals. We love giving back and helping other people see the results we saw. There are also some really great tools to help you monitor your own progress in addition to personal support.

What did you do? 
We did the 24 Day Challenge, ate clean, and worked out 3-4 times a week. John does CrossFit and I did light swimming, yoga, and walking.

I'm interested. What should I do next?
Well, order the Challenge of course! I would love to connect with you and share more to customize a plan that will work with your budget and your lifestyle. You can shoot me an email at and I will get back to you to set up a time to chat!

If you want to check out the products or order you can look at these programs:

Basic 24 Day Challenge
Nursing 24 Day Challenge
Fit Pregnancy Products

Caleb 5 months

Its official. We now have a man-child. Caleb is growing up so fast and I wanted to start doing a monthly update since I have opened up the baby book twice. Hopefully this digital recording of his growth will be a good replacement!

Mom/son selfie at the beach

Age: 5 months
Weight: 20lbs!
Size clothes: 9 months

Interests: Caleb loves being outside. He will calm down instantly when we hit the great outdoors. Often John will take him for a walk in the evenings in the Ergo so I can have a little break and Caleb always comes back happier than when he left. He loves other babies and will light up with a big smile when he sees other little ones at yoga, church, or for a play date. Caleb is also really interested in grabbing our ears, mouths, noses, and hands. He wakes us up with some sweet cuddles that turn into face-grabbing sessions. He is fascinated with water bottles and cups and will watch me like a hawk when I am drinking water. I have started to give him cups to play with and explore and those are an all time favorite. Our little love bug is obsessed with being in the water. He loves the YMCA pool, baths, and showers. I put his face under every time we go to the pool and he doesn't seem to care at all! In the shower last night John reported that Caleb would dip his head into the water sideways and was letting the water run down his face. John thought he had fallen asleep or something but upon closer inspection he was just enjoying washing his own hair and letting the water run down his face.

Caleb hanging out with Emmitt and Charlie.

Norah and Caleb at Yoga

Play date with Sonny

Challenges: Caleb wakes up about 45 minutes into a nap after his first sleep cycle has ended. I have been trying to let him put him self back to sleep but usually he gets too active for that to actually work. I have to catch his little noises before he officially wakes up, and if I can get to him in time he will go right back to sleep with a little side-lying nursing or his pacifier. Another thing that has been challenging is diaper changes. Caleb enjoys the freedom of an un-diapered bottom and will become very upset when it is time to put on a new diaper. An ongoing challenge is we are now on week four of a modified nursing strike. He doesn't refuse to eat, but he will refuse certain positions, certain places, and he will only tolerate a certain amount of noise. If he is seriously hungry he will eat regardless, but it has been challenging to figure out how and when to feed him. Our go-to nursing position is side-lying before naps and when he wakes up. If we are out and about I need to put a towel over his head to make it dark or I find a quiet place free from distractions.

Naked freedom

Milestones: Caleb is passing object between his two hands and turning them over. It is so cute to see him hold an object above himself, inspect it, reposition it for the best chewing angle, and plunge it into his mouth. If he didn't get it right he will try it again. He rolled from his back to his front a few times this month but doesn't seem too interested in trying to repeat that anytime soon. Caleb is starting to do baby push ups and lock out his arms when he is on his tummy. The face he makes is priceless. He is really interested in crawling and unfortunately the chubby ones are typically delayed in the whole movement thing. More mass=  more time to build up muscle.

Push-ups on Daddy

Eating/sleeping/pooping: Caleb eats every 2-3 hours during the day but I don't really keep track of how often he eats. At night he is eating every 3-5 hours. He is sleeping wonderfully at night and will wake up only to eat and them pass out again. He takes his first night shift in our office in his Rock-n-play. If I am awake enough to move him back into the office I will, otherwise he spends the rest of the night in bed with us. He goes to sleep between 8pm-10pm and is fully awake at 6:00 am. Today he slept in until 7:30 so that was a little weird. On to more exciting topics. Pooping happens roughly every 36 hours (not every day but most days) and creates quite the fuss. He loads his diaper up when he does go poop, much different than the little pip-squeek poops of the newborn days.

Good afternoon mom!

Funny Memory: The funny memory of the month is when I dressed Caleb up in the most ridiculous outfit for an evening walk with John. John was telling me that Caleb's torso is warm but his extremities get cold when he is wearing him. I decided to put light bulb leg warmers on his legs and a frog hat on his head. Combined with the own cloth diaper cover he has a completely ridiculous outfit. I took a video of him and couldn't resist snapping a few pictures.

Frog hat, owl diaper cover, light bulb leg warmers. Winner

Caleb is inspecting himself in the mirror

Speedo time

Park time with Ruby and Grandpa Danny

Nap time with the little dude

PSA

I have a PSA I would like to announce to hopefully save a few babies lives.

IT IS NOT SAFE TO PUT A CAR SEAT ON TOP OF A SHOPPING CART

I myself have tried this once in the Target parking lot with my mom when Caleb was 7 days old. I felt like the carseat was going to slip off if I turned a corner too fast. I ended up putting the carseat inside the grocery cart and piled my Target goods on top of Caleb's lap. Also not super safe. That was the day I vowed never to take my car seat into a grocery store because of how much of a hassle it was. Now, I wear him into every grocery store or if he is sleeping I will occasionally use my stroller and place my items inside a reusable bag. However, every time I go grocery shopping I see multiple car seats on top of shopping carts. I didn't realize the grave danger that this poses until a few moms posted about the topic in a Facebook group I follow. I started researching this issue more and would love to share how you can be a part of saving babies lives!

Why it is Unsafe to Place A Child in an Car Seat on Top of a Shopping Cart
-Car seat manuals have *WARNING* signs telling parents to never put their cart on top of a shopping cart

-Carts themselves have a warning on them telling parents it is unsafe to put a car seat on top of the cart.

-The carseat may slip off the cart

-Falls can be fatal. A 3 month old died in 2011 from falling off the cart in a parking lot.

-Clipping a car seat onto a cart using a click system can cause the seat to malfunction in a crash and doing this will void the warranty of a car seat.

-The child safety restraints found on a shopping cart are intended to restrain a child who is sitting in the shopping cart, not an infant car seat. 

A picture I took at my local Sprouts. Notice the far right image warning telling parents NOT to place their car seat on the shopping cart

Inside a car seat manual you will find this warning

Think about it:
-Shopping carts bump often in crowded areas. 

-You typically need both hands to push a cart and grab food items, reducing your reaction time to catch a falling cart or car seat


-If a parent turns away for a few seconds to look at an item their eyes are not on their child

-You have 20+ lbs an entire 4 feet off the ground on a slippery surface on wheels. Think back to Physics class for just a moment if this sounds like a stable situation...

-Babies make unpredictable movements and may cause the center of gravity of their carseat to change quickly

-Nothing you’re going to buy at Costco, Target, Trader Joe's or Sprouts is worth risking your child falling off the cart face first.

Does this look safe to you?

Solutions for moms:
 -Wear your baby in an infant carrier that has proper hip positioning. The only outward facing compatible ones I have found are the Ergo 360 and the ones mentioned in this blog post.

-If possible, leave your baby at home with another adult while you go shopping

-Bring another adult to the store with you to watch your children in the car

-Use a stroller that is compatible with your car seat and carry a hand basket or reusable bag to place your items inside. Do NOT place items on top of your baby or on top of their stroller

-Carry your baby in your arms inside the store and ask one of the store associates to help you shop. Inform them that your need them to push a cart or hold your hand basket while you grab your items.

-Use Amazon.com as much as possible!

Auntie hope modeling the best way to get around town

Save a Life: 
-Do NOT place your own child in a shopping cart while they are in their infant carrier

-Forward this blog post to any parent you know who might not be aware of this information

-If you see a parent with their child in the car seat on top of a cart, kindly inform them that it is not a safe way to shop with their infant. A good way to say this would be "You probably have no idea about this, but it is really unsafe to place your child in their car seat on top of the shopping cart. I know you care about the safety of your baby, so let me show you the warning sign on the cart" Flip up your cart to the warning sign and show them. You have no control if they listen to you or not. How would you feel if you witnessed a shopping cart accident and didn't speak up?

-Ask to speak with the store manager of stores you frequent and tell them about how unsafe it is for their customers to place car seats on top of the cart while they shop. Put in a request for the store to have infant compatible shopping carts available to customers. Also put in a request for employees to inform parents about the risks when they see parents who are not complying with their shopping cart warnings.

Further information: 
Video of a lucky baby who someone caught falling
News Report: Shopping Cart Injuries are on the Rise
A recent report states that 66 children are treated daily for shopping cart related injuries 
Video of a Wal-Mart cart and a falling car seat test

How to Fly with a Baby

Over Mother's Day I flew with Caleb to visit my parents! My dad flew with me from San Diego to Oakland and I flew solo with Caleb from Oakland to San Diego. I have a few tips for other moms and dads who desire to fly with their babies! I read a few blog posts, talked to a few friends, and looked up tips from various airlines prior to flying so I could be prepared. Overall it went great and there was an 80% occupancy for both flights so Caleb and I got our own row. Amazing but not typical!

Caleb ready for take off!

Tips: 
Determine what you will check and what you will carry on
I didn't check a single item for our four day/three night journey on our way from Oakland to San Diego. WHAT?? Yes. It is possible with a baby. I had a carry on suitcase with all of our clothing, wipes, and a few diapers. I carried Caleb's diaper bag/backpack as my personal item, wore him in the Ergo, and had an extra hand to either hold his car seat or I put it on my suitcase. I didn't want to risk losing our bag with all of his clothing, I didn't want to bring our stroller, and we don't own a pack-n-play. Simple was how I wanted to do it. On the way home I checked our bag. Consider gate checking your car seat because I have read a few controversies about checked car seats becoming damaged and unsafe because of the way they are handled through the baggage checking process.

I can carry everything independently!

With my car seat on my carry on I have a free hand

Investigate you Airline's Lap Child Policy

We flew Southwest and they have free seating. A lap child needs a ticket that you obtain at the service counter near the gate. I didn't realize this and tried to board with him and no ticket! I also asked the ticket counter how full the flight was. They told me I didn't need to gate check his car seat and I could bring it on the flight! I would recommend asking your airlines service counter how full the flight is and if there is any way you could be reseated next to an empty seat.

Barely enough room to do a lap diaper change. His head was touching the seat in front of us

Make sure you have all important documents
Be prepared with a copy of your child's birth certificate. I had it but they never wanted to see it. However, I am not sure if other airlines are more strict about this. Make sure your license and boarding pass are accessible in either your pants pocket, diaper bag, or pocket in your baby carrier.

Think about how you will walk in the airport
Before you decide to carry on everything like I did, visualize what it will look like for you to carry on all the items you are planning on bringing. Can you put it through the metal detectors easily? Can you carry these items for up to 30 minutes? Do you have way too much stuff for the amount of hands you have? Can you go pee when you have to or do you look like a camel ready for a cross-Sahara adventure? Do you have help when you are traveling? Talk these things through with your travel partner beforehand to minimize stress during your travel day or think about them if you are traveling solo. If you are frazzled in the airport your baby will feel it and be stressed out before you even step on the plane!

A car seat that is gate checked can be slug over a carry-on rolling suitcase!

Consider eliminating bulky baby items
Do you really need the sound machine, the breast pump, the pack-n-play, a stroller, a car seat and its base, 40 diapers, three different baby carriers, and the play mat? Consider minimizing! This will make travel a lot easier. One thing you will need is a car seat, unless your car rental company has car seats you feel comfortable using. There are also car seat rental places all over the nation if yours for some reason gets lost. I had my mom purchase diapers ahead of time for us so I didn't have to pack them and I did not bring Caleb's car seat base. Did you know most car seats can be buckled into a car safely without the base? Educate yourself prior to travel about your particular seat and how to install it without the base. Here is an installation video of mine I watched. I decided to use a white noise app on my phone on airplane mode to replace Caleb's bulky white noise machine. I didn't bring a breast pump and I did have to hand express a few times. I decided not to bring a stroller because my family would help me wear him when we went on outings. If you simplify you will have less things to worry about!

Family Security and Family boarding 
In most instances you can wear your child through security, push the stroller, and get VIP treatment by going through family security. It might be in the first class section of your airlines or in the business select line. If you are wearing your child threw security they will take a hand swab after you go through the metal detector. Family boarding is different for every airlines but it is so nice to know ahead of time where to go!

Think about feeding
Does your infant eat wherever? Awesome! Is your 4 month old a distracted eater like mine? Are you comfortable doing a little NIP (nursing in public)? Do you know how to nurse in your carrier? If you are seated next to a linebacker can you still nurse in your seat? If you want a frame of reference to start practicing, try nursing in a beach chair, a lawn chair, or a desk chair and see how much room you have to maneuver your baby. It might be easier for some moms to bottle feed on a plane or to practice a new nursing position prior to the travel date. Caleb kicks when he eats and if I wasn't in my own row I don't think I would have been prepared for how cramped plane nursing feels with 17lbs of baby.

Make a friend
People love babies. Make friends around your seat who can help you hold your child if you need to pee. People will stare at your baby and ask you questions so be prepared to be friendly! Let your kid interact with them because it will keep them occupied and kill time.

Be aware of popping ears
Some babies are really sensitive to pressure changes. Sucking on something will help relieve pressure. Nursing, using a pacifier, or having your child chomp or suck on your finger will help them during takeoff and landing.

Be prepared 
What if you have three blowouts? What if the plane is delayed 5 hours? What if you miss a connecting flight? What if your child loses their favorite toy on the plane? Be prepared! Bring an empty water bottle through security and drink up! Make sure to pack an extra change of clothes for yourself and your child for those emergencies.

Relax
Enjoy your flight and talk your baby through everything! If you are calm, cool, and collected then you will be able to handle anything your baby might do or what might happen. Traveling with a child can be difficult, or it can be awesome!

4 generations

Caleb and Ruby at the beach

Auntie Hope carrying Caleb in Carmel

First time meeting Uncle David

Play time

You feed your kid Whaaaat?

I have been doing a lot of thinking about what food I want to feed my kid. Thankfully its easy right now. He gets either right boob or left boob. I plan on continuing to breastfeed for as long as possible, especially after we introduce solid foods. And by solids I mean real, true, solid food. We are skipping the baby food and rice cereal and going straight to human food. WHaaaaat? Why? Well let me tell you...

1.  Rice cereal sucks

I am a little worried about my own response to rice. White rice makes my heart race. Seriously my insulin response is so quick and so severe that I cannot eat white rice by itself or more than a few tablespoons with a meal. I sure as heck am not going to give my dear son something that makes me feel like I am quickly developing type 2 diabetes with each spoonful. Just saying. I will not give my child a high-carb,  refined white starch that I tell people who are trying to get healthy to stay away from.  As an advocate for health and wellness I cannot get behind feeding my baby boxed rice that has been so stripped from its nutrients that it has to be fortified. For more info about why I am choosing not to introduce rice cereal read an ABC article here and another bloggers perspective here.

2.  Food before One is Just for Fun

Yes, I am excited to give Caleb his first taste of watermelon and peaches. However I can wait until he is 6 months or older.  It is recommended that parents continue to breastfeed or formula feed while solids are introduced. This is a baby's main source of nutrition, not the solid food parents are giving them. A baby's gut is not fully formed until they are around 6 months old. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting to start solid food until after the 6 month mark (or later) to prevent damaging the digestive tract. I want to make sure I am taking care of Caleb's little gut the way I take care of my own. I want him to be able to explore food at his own pace and enjoy the new foods he is being exposed to!

3.  Would you eat canned meatloaf and spinach? 

Have you ever played that baby food taste-test guessing game at a baby shower? It is one of the grossest things I have ever experienced! I wouldn't eat that stuff and I don't expect Caleb to desire it either! I will say that I absolutely love the fruit baby foods and used to take jars of bananas and peaches camping with me when I was younger. Obviously I ate them because fruit has a lot of sugar. The meatloaf I will pass on for now, thanks. Now a tasty strawberry, a piece of pulled pork, or a yummy carrot? I would reach for that.

4.  It's what all the cool kids are doing

All the cool kids are doing Baby Led-Weaning (AKA Baby-led FEEDING) instead of baby food these days. The natural, organic, crunchy moms are all aver BLW (the abbreviation I hear is much more cool). I  heard about it from a few friends of mine and I was hooked about learning more! I am so excited to hopefully help normalize giving a child real food from the start of solids. You can check out my friend Renae's blog post on the topic.

5. Its way easier on the Mom 

I barely have time to feed myself, and you want me to shovel a mash of yuck in my child's face for 30 minutes, bathe him because there is goop everywhere, and clean off a high chair, floor, and wall? Nope. I would much rather cut off a slice of the apple I am eating and hand it to Caleb for him to inspect, touch, lick, and eventually much on. I am all about simplicity and making things easy on myself.