If you’ve experienced a renewed bout of separation anxiety with your preschooler, you probably understand how frustrating it can be to address. We recently went through this with our own (then) three year old, and I’d like to share some ideas that friends offered on how to gently respond.  Read More…

Leave a comment | Posted in Alternative Caregivers, Attachment Parenting, Balance, Consensual Living, Consistent Care, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity, Routines and Schedules, Work and Family

Dionna from Code Name: Mama shares nine ideas plus some great books and other resources on how to gently and effectively introduce the concept of fire safety to toddlers and preschoolers.  Read More…

2 Comments | Posted in Family Safety, Natural Learning, Playtime, Reading

Natural Parents Network is powered by an incredible group of volunteers. Over the past week, many of the us were able to meet for the first time in person at two different locations. Come read all about who gathered where and what fun activities we had planned. And let us know if you want to join us as a volunteer!  Read More…

2 Comments | Posted in Natural Parenting Products

Essential oils are extracts of plants, and there are many that can be used effectively in relieving common childhood illnesses and other concerns. Find out which EOs to use for teething, bruises, colds, and more.  Read More…

6 Comments | Posted in Alternative Medicine, Holistic Health

Expecting parents can find a ton of checklists online and in books like “What to Expect,” but so many of them focus on “what to buy” or “finding a hospital.” Those lists aren’t geared toward the more natural-minded family. This one is.  Read More…

9 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Birth, Parenting Philosophies, Pregnancy, Preparing for Parenting

Playground and play group etiquette often dictates that when your child hurts another child, takes something away, refuses to share, or any of those other behaviors that make parents cringe, you must demand that your child apologize. Even if your child obviously doesn’t mean it. When Kieran hurts or frustrates another child, I do want to acknowledge and comfort the …  Read More…

5 Comments | Posted in Consensual Living, Gentle Discipline, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity

Welcome to the IF We Believe! Blog CarnivalIn honor of National Infertility Awareness Week. This post was written for inclusion in the monthly IF We Believe! Blog Carnival hosted by Arpita of Up, Down & Natural.Scroll to the bottom of this post for a list of other wonderfully brave mamas who participated in this Carnival and shared their stories of …  Read More…

27 Comments | Posted in Alternative Medicine, Balance, Fertility, Healthy Living, Holistic Health, Preparing for Parenting

Tornado season is upon us! Toddlers aren’t too young to start learning safety practices, we just have to be careful not to describe tornadoes so graphically that we terrify them. Following are some ideas I’ve found in my research to introduce tornado safety to your toddlers. 1 1. Introduce the Concept of Tornadoes During a Calm Moment: Don’t wait until …  Read More…

3 Comments | Posted in Family Safety

Many congratulations to the winner of the copy of Respectful Parents Respectful Kids: Jenna Z Jenna Z said: I’d love to read Eat by Choice, Not by Habit! This was a joint giveaway with Code Name: Mama, so entries were combined and one winner drawn. Jenna Z entered at Natural Parents Network. If you were not the lucky winner, you …  Read More…

Leave a comment | Posted in Natural Parenting Products, Reviews and Giveaways

I’d like you to meet an amazing mama, Jen of The Dinoia Family. Jen is a wonderful woman, mother, and writer. She is a member of our natural parenting community. She is the mother of three beautiful children, and she breastfed all of them. She was still breastfeeding her youngest, Nicholas, until this past October when she was diagnosed with …  Read More…

4 Comments | Posted in General