The Holistic Parent - Summer 2015

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Summer 2015 / theholisticparent.ca

A GUIDE TO BABYWRAPPING

by Andrea Pletch

PAGE 20

REGUL ARS

OUR TEAM Meet the people who make this magazine awesome PAGE 4

BITS & BITES A recipe for the perfect Spring Salad PAGE 6

PRODUCTS A spotlight on healthy eats for the whole family PAGE 8

COLUMNS

MIND The Lightness of Letting Go by Nicole Schiener PAGE 10

BODY Demystifying Headaches by Dr. Shannon Viana PAGE 12

SPIRIT Running Towards Myself by Tania Heinemann PAGE 14

THE {MODERATELY} HOLISTIC MOM Formula Shaming by Elaine Kapogines PAGE 30

FEATURES

THE GUT-IMMUNE CONNECTION

BY DR. CHANEL CRESSMAN m

E u!

E yo R e with

ke

F

Ta

T H E MIND ...

B O DY ...

SPIRIT

How food can fuel inflammation PAGE 24

M A G A Z I N E

GOOD SLEEP HABIT(AT)S

BY MARIA ANDRUSIAK MORLAND

Quieting the critics in favour of you PAGE 26

LABELS: THE DEATH OF FOOD

Summer 2015 / theholisticparent.ca

HolisticParent_Spring15_COVER_02.indd 1

BY MELISSA BAER

2015-04-23 8:43 AM

ON THE COVER Kim Van Veen and Emeric were shot on location at The Wellness Team on Queen in Hespeler (wellnessteamonqueen. com) by Trent Sluiter of Fedora Media (fedoramedia.ca).

theholisticparent.ca

Trading labels for mindfulness PAGE 28

Sponsors Profile

SPECIAL: Show Guide

PAGE 16

PAGE 17

Summer 2015 THE HOLISTIC PARENT

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UP FRONT | OUR TEAM

CONTRIBUTORS

DR, ANDREA PLETCH Chiropractor| Babywearer Dr. Andrea Petch is a chiropractor at Fuzion Fitness in Cambridge. She is also one of the group leaders of the KWC Babywearing group (searchable on Facebook). As both a chiropractor and a babywearer, Dr. Andrea is particularly aware of the issues associated with the ergonomics of babywearing. See her article A Guide to Babywrapping on PAGE 20.

Volume 1, Issue 3 | Summer 2015

PUBLISHER | EDITOR Elaine Kapogines elaine@wiltshiremedia.ca

DR. CHANEL CRESSMAN Naturopathic Doctor Chanel strives to find a healthy balance in today’s world with many priorities. She loves food and it’s connection to the body and focuses her practice on women’s and pediatric health. Chanel practices at Waterloo’s Urban Wellness Studio (urbanwellnessstudio.ca) where she incorporates acupuncture, IV therapy, diet and lifestyle therapy options. She also blogs at fortheloveofgreens.ca. Read her article The Gut-Immune Connection can be found on PAGE 24.

ART DIRECTION

www.creativebungalow.com Erik Mohr (Creative Director) erik@creativebungalow.com Anna Sparrow (Graphic Designer) PHOTOGRAPHY

MARIA ANDRUSIAK MORLAND Doula | Sleep Counsellor Maria is a practising birth and postpartum doula, and a breastfeeding peer counsellor, both volunteer and private, having spent over 15,000 hours helping parents feed their babies (bottle and breast). She has also spent over three years helping parents get real sleep, with real information.To learn more about Maria and her services, check out thebirthingspace.ca.

Her article Good Sleep Habit(at)s appears on PAGE 26.

Trent Sluiter www.fedoramedia.com CONTRIBUTORS

Maria Andrusiak Morland, Melissa Baer, Dr. Chanel Cressman, Tania Heinemann, Dr. Andrea Pletch, Veronica Qubrossi, Nicole Scheiner, Dr. Shannon Viana ADVERTISING DESIGNER

Elizabeth Wise ADVERTISING SALES

Elaine Kapogines elaine@wiltshiremedia.ca

MELISSA BAER The Farmer’s Daughter PUBLISHED BY

Melissa, aka The Farmer’s Daughter, grew up on a certified organic grassfed beef farm, Vibrant Farms, in Wilmot Township. She attended business school at Western University, and uses her very unique up bringing to empower others around the food they eat, their health and taking massive action towards optimal health. Read her blog at www.theorganicfarmersdaughter.com. Check out her article Labels: The Death of Food on PAGE 28.

www.wiltshiremedia.ca The Holistic Parent magazine is published three times per year. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher © 2015

SPONSORS A SINCERE THANK YOU The Holistic Parent would like to thank our sponsors, Inspire Health & Wellness (Gold) and Hybrid Hair & Detox Spa (Bronze). A portion of their sponsorship has been donated to Life With A Baby, a not-for-profit peer support system for parents with children 0-6 years old to help combate postpartum mood disorders.

Single copy price is free at to all patrons of the Growing Up Healthy Show and is available through our over 35 community partners in Waterloo Region and surrounding areas. Visit theholisticparent.ca for a list of distributors.

ISSN 2368-6790 Publications Mail Agreement No. 42845523 Undeliverable copies and change of address notices should be send to: 334 Baldwin Dr. Cambridge, ON N3C 0C2

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THE HOLISTIC PARENT Summer 2015

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SECTION UP FRONT| NAME | RECIPE

SEASONAL PRODUCE RETURNS

By VERONICA QUBROSSI

In mid-to-late spring, fresh, local produce, once again begins to fill up the tables at our local farmer’s markets.

Some of the first items to pop up during spring in Ontario are asparagus, radishes and baby spinach. In general, much of the asparagus we might purchase at our nearest grocery store has travelled more than 3,500km from Mexico to reach our plates. While purchasing organic from faraway places may at times be our best option, we can definitely do better during the warmer months.

Purchasing a bunch of asparagus trucked in from Mexico has likely used more calories of energy to arrive on your dinner table than it is going to provide you with — that’s not great for our environment. And sadly, the asparagus continued losing nutrients from the second it was picked. Additionally, this purchase does little to nothing to support our local economy, and often the large conglomerates that provide us with these faraway foods don’t care for the farmers in an ideal fashion either.

By purchasing fresh, local foods we increase the nutrient quality of what we’re eating, reduce the environmental impact of our food, while supporting our local economy and the entrepreneurial farmers at our local farmer’s markets.

That’s a decision to feel good about!

To help you make use of the first local foods cropping up this spring, I’ve created a charming and crisp Spring Salad topped with a healthful Asian-inspired Savory Sesame Vinaigrette. To transform this salad into a complete meal top it with grilled chicken breast, adzuki beans or your favourite nuts and seeds.

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SPRING SALAD AND SAVORY SESAME VINAIGRETTE Yield: 4-6 servings SPRING SALAD • 1 large bunch baby spinach • 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed • 1 bunch radishes, trimmed • 1 green apple • 1-2 green onions SAVORY SESAME VINAIGRETTE • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar • 2 tbsp olive or flax oil • 1 tbsp coconut aminos* • 1 tbsp tahini • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil • 1 clove garlic, crushed • 1/2 tsp ginger, grated • 1/2 tsp roasted paprika • Dash of cayenne * coconut aminos can be substituted with an organic, gluten-free tamari

DIRECTIONS BRING about 1-inch of water to

a boil in the bottom of a medium pot with a steamer basket. Place a large bowl of cool water beside the stove.

CHOP the asparagus into thin diagonal strips. Leave the tips whole.

PLACE asparagus in the steamer basket, covered, for about 2 minutes. Then, transfer to the cool water bath.

MEANWHILE , thinly slice the radishes, apples and green onion.

Set aside.

DRAIN asparagus. Set aside.

Assemble the salad by combining baby spinach, asparagus, radish, green apple and green onion in a large or portioned bowls.

COMBINE all vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl or mason jar and mix thoroughly.

TOP salad with vinaigrette just before serving.

Enjoy! theholisticparent.ca

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SECTION UP FRONT| NAME | PRODUCTS

GOOD EATS

Healthy food for your whole family

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THE HOLISTIC PARENT Summer 2015

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UPFRONT SECTION | PRODUCTS | NAME

MEAL IN A JAR Redefining fast food, one jar at a time! Meal In A Jar provides healthy options for people with busy lives; and parents are probably among the busiest. Glutenfree, dairy-free, zero preservatives.

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ORGANICS LIVE Organics Live sells 100% certified organic produce for less than retail. They also include free delivery, free customization and you can pause your account at any time. Organics Live always sources local when available and always best in season. They deliver year round on Tuesdays anywhere in Kitchener Waterloo, Cambridge & Guelph. If you finally want to start eating better, contact local owner Dean Landry at 226.240.1052.

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Summer 2015 THE HOLISTIC PARENT

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MIND | MINDFUL MAMA

THE LIGHTNESS OF LETTING GO Mindful practices to lighten the load Story by NICOLE SCHIENER

L

ast year I prepared a presentation on the topic of letting go of guilt. I’ve often joked that when babies are born, our infants are placed in one arm while we are weighed down with a heavy load of guilt in the other. Parents — in our desperate struggle to satisfy our insatiable tiny humans and trying to please those around us — can feel overwhelmed and constantly like we are failing. But what I like to remind my clients (and myself) when the familiar face of guilt rears its ugly head: We are only human. We will make mistakes. We will find ourselves yelling or cancelling outings. We will struggle to keep up with the housework and may fantasize about our pre-baby days.

And in those most desperate hours — perhaps after a traumatic birth or a cluster feed that never seems to end or a horrible bout of teething — we might even wish we could send them back. Guess what. This does not make us terrible parents. But if we begin down the all-too-common path of self-criticism rather than self-compassion, we will be heading down a slippery slope towards depressive symptoms and over-reactivity.

This is where I’ve found mindfulness to be so helpful. Tuning into our feelings without judgment and becoming curious rather than critical is like a gentle rain that can wash away our “transgressions” and invite us to look into the triggers. Sometimes it’s mistaken beliefs or unhelpful thinking styles that can entrap us in unrealistic expectations and feelings of inadequacy. Other times it is

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additional reading ...

Check out Kristen Neff (self-compassion. org) & Christopher Germer (mindfulself compassion.org)

the harsh words of another: a caregiver, an abuser or a past partner echoing in our heads and playing out in our hearts and bodies.

Letting go of these internalized untruths is essential for lightening our load. Or perhaps it’s the unexpected way our children’s behaviour triggers us; bringing up old unmet needs or wounds from our past; thrusting us into what Daniel Siegel calls the “low road.” If you are in the helping profession or have been deeply impacted by news headlines or some other form of vicarious trauma, our little people’s actions can also trigger fear and pain from others’ stories.

As we connect with our bodies and allow the sensations, without trying to stuff or numb them, we can gain vital information about what not only we need but what our children need. We can create distance from the triggers and reconnect with how precious and innocent our children truly are. Empathy breeds compassion. But first we must be compassionate towards ourselves then we can connect empathically with our children. Mindfulness buys us time. It slows down our reactive response and helps move us into our compassionate/ wise mind. A soothing touch and a reminder that we are all in this together helps to calm and increase our sense of connection. Only in this space can we be creative and turn our struggles into lessons or learning opportunities.

I’ve found being mindful in nature or in a moving meditation such as yoga to be especially self-supportive. Soaking in all of nature’s beauty is both calming and restorative. Feeling the strength of my body helps reassure me that I can handle whatever comes my way.

With mindfulness, we are connected with universal energy and the awareness that we are merely “drops in the ocean” of life. Some of yesterday’s major frustrations become minor irritations as we learn to “let go and let God.” NICOLE SCHIENER M.Ed, CCC, CGE, blends over 10 years

of professional experience as an individual, couples and group therapist and public speaker with personal insights as the mother of two passionate little people.

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Summer 2015 THE HOLISTIC PARENT

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BODY | HEADACHES

DEMYSTIFYING HEADACHES Identify your headache Story by DR. SHANNON VIANA

A

s a chronic headache sufferer myself, this topic has always been a frequent area of discussion both at home and in practice. My journey with debilitating headaches began as a teenager, but unfortunately it wasn’t until I embarked on my doctoral program that I really began to understand the types of headaches I had long suffered from and the global impact of headaches in general.

The reality is that most of us will experience headaches during our lifetime. But what is a headache? Are all headaches the same? And why do some individuals have them rarely and others have them all the time? One thing to understand about headaches is that there are many different kinds. Each type of headache has its own triggers and characteristics, which helps to explain why people experience different kinds of headaches at different frequencies.

Unfortunately, most people presenting with a complaint of headaches have never taken the time to have them properly diagnosed.

The International Headache Society classifies headaches as either primary or secondary in nature — which simply means they are either caused by something directly like muscle tension or the headache is a result of something else like the common cold. Given the numerous headache types, we will highlight those most commonly seen and treated in a chiropractic office.

Two of the most widely known primary headaches are tension-type headaches (TTH) and migraines. Of all headache types, the TTH is easily one of the most common reasons individuals seek out chiropractic care. TTH sufferers often use words such as tense, squeezing or achy to describe this type of headache. They find that they are triggered by such things as stress or anxiety, poor posture, dehydration, fatigue, bright lights or noise. TTHs are usu-

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take away ...

There are many different types of headaches, and it’s important to indentify which type(s) of headaches you’re experiencing.

ally felt on both sides of the forehead, described as mild to moderate in intensity and not made worse by physical activity. A TTH can last from hours to days.

Often many individuals confuse TTH and migraine symptoms. To receive a diagnosis of migraine you must have at least two of the following characteristics: one sided, throbbing in nature, of moderate to severe intensity or leads to an avoidance of physical activity. They must also cause either nausea or vomiting or be worsened by light or sound. Migraines have been shown to be triggered by such things as stress, frequent alcohol consumption, menstruation, chocolate and/or aspartame.

Rebound headaches and cervicogenic headaches are two great examples of secondary headaches frequently seen in natural health care offices. Rebound headaches result when patients who have treated their headaches with over-the-counter pain medications on a regular basis suddenly discontinue taking them. This change will often result in painful and debilitating headaches which can, in severe causes, lead to hospitalization for withdrawal symptoms.

Cervicogenic headaches or headaches arising from structures in the neck are quickly increasing in frequency. With a population that relies so heavily on prolonged technology use individuals are presenting with very similar symptom patterns including neck, shoulder pain and frequent headaches which are mild to severe in nature.

Once you have had your headaches diagnosed ask your health provider which treatment option is best for your type of headache.

While it may not be possible to eliminate headaches completely, many people see a significant decrease in frequency by using a combination of chiropractic, massage therapy and acupuncture. Always consult your physician right away if you experience any new or severe headache symptoms.

DR. SHANNON VIANA , DC, is a chiropractor and owner

of Inspire Health & Wellness in Kitchener. Beyond the traditional chiropractic care, she also employs the use of ultrasound, electrotherapies and orthotics in the care of her patients. www.inspirehealthandwellness.ca

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Summer 2015 THE HOLISTIC PARENT

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SPIRIT | SELF CARE

RUNNING TOWARDS MYSELF Self care with a true emphasis on self Story by TANIA HEINEMANN

T

welve years ago I decided to train for, and run, a full marathon. All 42.2 kilometres. I trained through late fall and winter on Waterloo county back roads. It was cold and windy and snowy. I signed up for a marathon program at a local running store.

The tricky part was that my coach didn’t ever really get to know me and forgot about me many times on those cold Sunday morning long runs: the water stations removed before I finished, the flags were taken down, the store where we met was locked. At the time I was embarrassed; I was left wondering why was this happening to me?

I tried to let him know I existed, however the other runners were his friends and he didn’t seem that interested in taking time to get to know me — a new marathoner-to-be.

So basically the odds of me continuing to train and succeed were stacked against me.

But I am a Leo (also known as a bit stubborn from time to time), so I found a way to just run — I ran, ran and ran. I brought my walkman (yep, battery operated) along, and it would freeze half way through the runs. So I had me, myself and I. My friends originally signed up to do the training with me but due to injuries and other life stuff they had to leave the training or switch to the half marathon training. So I was alone. And I got to face my demons.

I learned that running the marathon was physically demanding (I finished it just over four and a half hours. My goal was to literally “cross the finish line and not be taken away by ambulance”), however, I learned that running the marathon was more mental. I had

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take away ...

Self care comes in many forms.

Make the choice to shut out negativity, whether internal or external, and do something for you and only you.

the odds stacked against me and I could have listened to the voices encouraging me to just give up, and sometimes I did. Or I could wake up and choose to try those painfully early long Sunday runs again.

Even though I was slow, and even though I was alone, even though it was like I didn’t exist inside the running store and my coach forgot about me and didn’t care to know me. I cared enough about me to try, to get up and plan ahead. I started to carry money for extra water if I had to stop at a convenience store. I purchased a new listening device to last a little bit longer in the cold weather. My husband cared for me and my family and friends encouraged me.

On race day my Mom showed up, driving several hours out of her way to be there, my best friend and her parents surprised me. My husband and some friends supported me by showing up at different places along the running route — seeing their faces helped me keep going. I never thought I could run a marathon, however I did it and the lessons linger.

When life has been challenging I go back to that time: Running a marathon is hard, I can birth my babies. Running a marathon is hard, I can study a bit longer. Running a marathon is hard, I can make good choices. I am glad I didn’t give up. So here are my words to you: Push through every day and don’t be afraid to try. Life is a marathon.

TANIA HEINEMANN is a registered holistic nutritionist,

postpartum doula and lactation consultant. She is the owner of Yellowood Nutrition with locations in Waterloo and Cambridge. yellowood.ca

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PROFILE | SPONSORS

INSPIRE HEALTH AND WELLNESS INSPIRE HEALTH AND WELLNESS is an all-in-

one natural healthcare clinic conveniently located near Grand River Hospital. It is our goal to help patients reach their vision of health; whether that means helping someone who has been suffering from chronic pain to enjoy a walk around the block, helping children with persistent skin conditions like eczema or working with infertility in young families.

At Inspire we recognize that each patient is unique and will bring with them not only their own health history but also their own ideas on what ‘health’ means to them. We believe it is important to work closely with each patient to meet their health goals. The clinic’s philosophy can be seen across our healthcare team, comprised of registered massage therapists, chiropractors and a naturopathic doctor. It is demonstrated in the community programs, partnerships and health initiatives and it’s exemplified in our patients success stories.

At Inspire we strive for a natural solution to pain management and recovery.

Our practitioners are trained and knowledgeable in a variety of techniques to treat conditions like: back and neck pain, respiratory problems, allergies, arthritis, insomnia, sprains, GI issues, eczema, stress, pregnancy discomfort and more. Our team will work closely with you to identify the source of your complaint and work to correct it. Treating the source rather than the symptoms often leads to a better quality of life for most patients.

Our focus on patient care is what delivers incredible satisfaction. Patients share their Inspire story with friends and family, and it is their experiences that inspire us to continue to provide high quality care and results.

The clinic works with organization across the Region of Waterloo to deliver programs and education that is relevant and impactful, typically at no cost to the community. That means delivering programs like Mommy and Me in collaboration with the Manulife Centre for Community Health Research and City of Kitchener, or participating in events like MANEx in support of St. Mary’s Hospital. We work with the community for the community.

Some come see what makes us different, leave inspired for more!

MEET A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM

Dr. Sarah Connors is a naturopathic doctor with training in acupuncture, nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She treats a variety of conditions including: eczema, stomach or intestine issues, weight loss, insomnia, skin conditions, allergies and more. Dr. Connors can be found hosting a variety of talks and workshops in the region ranging from how to combat flu season or transitioning toddlers to solid foods to weight loss programs and how to develop your own mobile health kit. She also works to improve community health with First Nations members.

Not sure if naturopathic care is right for you?

Dr. Connors offers complimentary 15 minute consultations to discuss your healthcare needs.

525 BELMONT AVE. W., UNIT 107, KITCHENER INSPIREHEALTHANDWELLNESS.CA

HYBRID HAIR AND DETOX SPA HYBRID HAIR AND DETOX SPA is Kitchener-Waterloo’s First Eco Friendly Salon and Spa. How do we claim that auspicious title?

Well, we certainly do more than just take a plant to work! We run on Bullfrog Energy, which is 100% wind and solar derived energy.

We’re a member of Green Circle Salons, a group that assists in the recycling of cut hair into to eyeglass frames and chairs, used foils to ceiling lights and fans, and dispose of used colour safely opposed to rinsing it down the drain.

We compost all biodegradable products. We carry all styling and back bar products that are the safest available options for professional use, eliminating many toxic preservatives, colour additives and unnatural scents. We partner only with manufacturers of skin and hair products that reflect our beliefs in Fair Trade, Vegan and Environmental Consciousness.

We also offer a refill program on our Mason Jar shampoos and conditioners. We have products in glass containers to reduce the amount of plastic entering landfills and to facilitate the refill program. We wash our own linens to eliminate the harsh toxins used

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THE HOLISTIC PARENT Summer 2015

in mass laundry services and use biodegradable laundry detergent.

We use hand linens in our washroom. We are also heavily involved in community programs, including supporting the WelFit Program at the University of Waterloo.

We offer safer full Hair and Skin Care Services for the entire family, as well as Holistic and Energy Healing Treatments. Join us for our many workshops and classes to help guide you on your healthier lifestyle path!

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2015 SHOW GUIDE May 3, 2015 The Family Centre Kitchener, ON Thank you for joining us at this innovative that Thank you forevent joining us at this innovative brings together vendors, event speakers that brings expert and together vendors, support networks alike to expert speakers, provide healthynetworks options for and support every alike family. to provide healthy options for healthy families. Supported by

SPEAKER SCHEDULE Location: The Café TIME 10:30-11am 11-11:30am 11:45-12:15pm 12:15-12:45pm 1-1:30pm 1:30-2pm 2:15-2:45pm 2:45-3:15pm 3:30-4pm 4-4:20pm

TOPIC G.R.A.S. Generally Recognized As Safe…or is it?

Creating Happy & Successful Children: Easy steps to building emotional intelligence Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD and Intestinal Health: What is the link?

How to Rekindle the Intimacy Spark After a Baby Secrets of the Formation of our Subconscious Life Scripts The Holistic Approach to Children’s Mental Health How Children Learn Money & Youth: Helping prepare for their financial future Tips for How to Approach the Sex Talk The Battle to Live Within Ones Financial Means

SPEAKER Jeremy Tracey Jenn Forristal Marianna Duba Gaia Shawna Morrissette Nate Hager Jenn Forristal Sandra Wilson Dave Fleischer Gaia Shawna Morrissette Maryke Mior

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Summer 2015 THE HOLISTIC PARENT

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COVER STORY | BABYWEARING

A GUIDE TO BABYWRAPPING Story by DR. ANDREA PLETCH

Photography by TRENT SLUITER

What is babywearing? All that babywearing means is that you are carrying your baby close using a carrier. The oldest form of babywearing involves wrapping your child in a piece of fabric, tying it around both of you to keep them close. At its most basic, a simple piece of cloth can be used to carry your child — a towel, a tablecloth, a sheet or even a shirt can be used. However, when most people talk about babywearing and wrapping, they are talking about using wraps specifically designed to carry babies.

There are two main types of babywearing wraps — stretchy wraps and woven (or German-style) wraps. Stretchy wraps are made of a long piece of jersey-type material. They are soft and cuddly, and ideal for newborns. You can tie a stretchy wrap on and pop your baby in and out, without having to retie the fabric. They are perfect for little babies.

However, once your baby gets to be heavier (typically in the 18-lb range), stretchy wraps tend to start to stretch out too much, leading to them needing to be retied frequently to maintain their tightness. They need to be used with three layers of fabric over your baby, so they can get very warm. And you cannot do back carries in a stretchy wrap — your baby can lean back out of them and potentially fall.

German-style woven wraps are wraps made of fabric woven specifically for babywearing. The fabric has a small amount of diagonal stretch, which makes it conform nicely to your body, while still providing a lot of support. Woven wraps come in various lengths, from two to six metres long. Different lengths of wrap are used to wrap in different ways. Woven wraps can be used for front, hip and back carries.

They can be used for newborns, toddlers and preschoolers — any child you want to carry, you can carry using a woven wrap. Woven wraps can be made of cotton, linen, hemp, silk, wool or can be a blend of materials.

There can be a bit more of a learning curve with woven wraps than with stretchy wraps, but they are far more versatile.

So why do people choose to wrap? One of the most common reasons people start is simply that they love the look of a wrap. Wrapping is flattering — unlike some other carriers that always seem to accentuate

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any lumps or bumps, wraps are able to work with your curves. Wraps are beautiful themselves — you can get wraps that are simple, solid colours, but if you prefer a rainbow or a pattern of ladybugs or the skyline of Toronto on your wrap, you can get those too. In fact, just about any pattern you can imagine can be found in a wrap. Natibaby makes a wrap that has gears on it; Didymos makes one with geckos; Vatanai makes one with whales on it. The wrap can be as individual as you are!

The comfort most people find with woven wraps is hard to match.

You can spread the fabric over your shoulders or twist it into a rope.

You can do carries that don’t need a waistband if you find that more comfortable (nice if you are recovering from a Caesarian section or if you have a short torso and find other carriers push your pants down).

You can keep weight off your shoulders by doing a torso carry. Woven wraps allow you to carry your child however you and they find the most comfortable — there isn’t any one carry that you have to do.

As well, wraps allow you to keep both your baby and yourself in the most ergonomic positions. You want your baby to be in a seated position, with their knees higher than their bum. They should have their back completely supported, without any slumping, which will keep their airway clear and their chin off their chest (this is particularly important with small babies). A wrap allows a nice, deep seat for your child, and because it doesn’t have any padding or straps, it allows it to be perfect no matter how big or small your baby is.

Wraps are amazingly customizable. You can carry your child on your front, hip or back with a woven wrap, but there are many options for

theholisticparent.ca

KIM VAN VEEN

FAMILY My partner/fiancé is Mike. We aren’t married but have been together since high school. The kiddos are Jaxon, 9, Maverick, 7, Ryder, 4, and Emeric, 15 months ABOUT KIM I’m a full-time mom right now! Hobbies include knitting/sewing/crafting, running, spending time with my boys, being active in the community (running the Waterloo Babywearers group) HOW DID YOU GET INTO BABYWEARING? I’ve been babywearing since I had my first in 2006. I started with a pouch sling, and I made my own ring sling and mei tai using tutorials. With #2, I moved on to a Moby wrap and a Patapum. With #3, I had an Ergo, a Beco, a K’tan and my first woven wrap converted ring sling. The passion for babywearing had officially begun! With my fourth son, I got even more involved with local babywearers and purchased my first woven wrap when he was two months old.

FAVOURITE THING ABOUT BABYWEARING? I truly believe that the first three months of a baby’s life are the fourth trimester, and they were happiest in my arms and cuddled close. It just made sense to wear them to keep my hands free! I use carriers to keep wandering toddlers close, it keeps us warm on chilly days and the all-day-hug is amazing. While they’re little I love to have them close.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BABYWEARING COLLECTION: My collection is always changing depending on the season and what colours/patterns I’m interested in. I have soft structured carriers for quick ups (and daddy wearing), ring slings for nursing on the go and to leave in the van, and many woven wraps of varying lengths, blends, patterns, and brands.

FAVOURITE WRAP: I think my Natibaby Henna Flower wrap will forever be my favourite!

ADVICE FOR NEWBIES Try, try and try again. Don’t give up on babywearing after one unsuccessful try. If you don’t like a carrier, try a different one. And if you are stuck, seek out a local babywearing group to get some help!

WEBSITE facebook.com/waterloobabywearers

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COVER STORY | BABYWEARING

FRONT WRAP CROSS CARRY

POPPINS HIP CARRY

RUCKSACK CARRY

The Front Wrap Cross Carry is probably the most popular carry used by parents. It’s ideal for newborns and smaller babies and can be safely done with a woven or stretchy wrap. With this carry, you can tie the wrap in place first and then tuck you baby in, adjusting the tightness once the baby in place if you need to. This carry is very supportive and can be done with older babies and toddlers. However, stretchy wraps tend to be less supportive once the baby reaches around 18lbs so it’s best to exclusively use a woven wrap at that point.

This carry is also great for skinto-skin because of the coverage it provides the parent.

The Poppins Hip Carry is a great transition between front and back carries. While front carries are easy to master, back carries can take more practice and a little confidence. The hip carry is a good “ in-between” step, especially for beginners. This is also a great carry for curious toddlers because they can more easily see the world opposed to a front carry. Many parents seek out the less ergonomic, less comfortable forwardfacing out (FFO) position when babies start showing interest in looking around more — the hip carry is a safe alternative to FFO. The key is to get a good, solid seat for your baby, keeping in mind the ‘M’ position for the legs/hips.

The Rucksack Carry is a great one to start back carrying with. Once you get the hang of this basic back carry, it’s a quick and convenient way to carry your baby or toddler.

When you first start, it’s recommended that you practice kneeling on a soft surface, seated on a couch or having a spotter within arm’s reach. This carry is suitable for infants from approximately four months and older who have good head and neck control. It is also best done with a shorter wrap, but can certainly be done with something longer if that’s what you have on hand. Back carries are recommended with woven wraps only — never attempt a back carry with a stretchy wrap.

BEGINNER | LONG WRAP IDEAL FOR NEWBORNS

INTERMEDIATE | SHORT WRAP IDEAL FOR OLDER BABIES/TODDLERS

INTERMEDIATE | SHORT WRAP IDEAL FOR 4 MONTHS+

how to tie the fabric. The various lengths of woven wraps are designed for different types of carries. Many people start with a long wrap, since longer wraps give you the ability to do more carries, since you have lots of fabric to work with. Mid-length wraps allow you to do carries with fewer layers (that means that it’s a bit cooler — good in the summer!). Short wraps mean less fabric, so they are easy to stuff in the diaper bag and go.

As with all babywearing, safety is the most important thing. When you are wearing your baby, always make sure you are observing safe babywearing techniques (TICKS): Tight; In view at all times; Close enough to kiss; Keep chin off the chest; Supported back.

So, how do you choose the wrap that is right for you? Start with

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DOUBLE HAMMOCK (WITH SALTWATER FINISH) The Double Hammock is a very sturdy carry. It can easily be done with heavier kids and can be worn for long periods of time. It very nicely distributes the weight through your chest and shoulders and with the double passes it provides twice the support. This is a more difficult wrap and therefore should be attempted after you become comfortable with back carries in general. You will need a long wrap for this carry. The saltwater finish refers to the way it’s tied in the front. This variation adds a little spice to your wrap as well as changing the way it sits on your shoulders which can add a little extra support.

EXPERIENCED | LONG WRAP IDEAL FOR OLDER/HEAVIER KIDS

something you love to look at — if you are excited to use it, you are more likely to spend the time it takes to learn to use how to wrap. One hundred percent cotton or a cotton/linen blend makes for a wrap that is easy to care for — they can almost all be machine washed and dried.

Start with a longer wrap — when you first start wrapping the extra length is helpful, because if you don’t tie as tightly as you need, you still have multiple layers supporting your baby (and spreading the weight on you). Then, if you can, find a local babywearing group where you can get some one-on-one help with using your wrap. If you can’t find someone locally to help you, YouTube can be a great source of information. The most important thing — keep practicing. Wrapping is such an amazing tool to have while babywearing. Try it out!

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FEATURE | INFLAMMATION

THE GUT-IMMUNE CONNECTION How food can fuel inflammation Story by DR. CHANEL CRESSMAN

O

ur gut (or gastrointestinal tract) holds up to 70 percent of our body’s immune cells. This is an important biological barrier for us as most of the bacteria or viruses that we encounter come through our gut in food or drinks. Thankfully, our gut is ready with a strong immune system. Our entire gut lining is coated in gut-immune cells (GICs) which help regulate our system. One of the important roles of GICs is to identify what is “foreign” (bacteria, virus or parasite) and what is “self” (saliva, food or our own cells). Essentially, our GICs have the ability to turn our immune system on or off. This is especially significant in children as their bodies are being introduced to new foods and infections.

Being able to differentiate between these is an important step in the development of their immune system.

However, with food allergies or intolerances, this is where things can go wrong. If we misidentify a piece of food as foreign, our immune system will mount a reaction leading to inappropriate inflammation. Although inflammation can be appropriate, such as when we sprain an ankle, inappropriate or chronic inflammation can cause a significant amount of damage and unfortunately lead to a wide variety of negative side effects. Anything from tummy aches to colic and spit-up or more developmental issues such as ADD can all be aggravated by food intolerances. Furthermore, chronic inflammation in the gut can lead to more food intolerances as that inflammation damages our gut lining and throws our immune system off.

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controlling inflammation One of my favourite things to do to help support a healthy gut is to include a good probiotic. Probiotics are good bacteria that naturally live in our gut. They are introduced at birth, and help prime our digestive tract and immune function. These friendly bacteria help us break down our food, generate certain vitamins, regulate bowels and modulate the immune system. They help the body correctly identify what’s self and what’s foreign, preventing food intolerances from starting. Unfortunately, certain medications, such as antibiotics or corticosteroids (such as those in many inhalers or certain topical creams) kill off these good probiotics and negatively modulate the immune system. Using these medications as infrequently as possible is another way to help control gut inflammation. food as fuel Feeding the gut vitamins, minerals and fibre is another way to decrease inflammation and promote a healthy immune function.

Thankfully, veggies and fruits are packed with all three of these. When we “eat the rainbow” — a diet rich in green, yellow, red and purple veggies — we get a wide variety of these nutrients. A diet high in vitamins and minerals means that the body has all the essential building blocks to control any inflammation in the body. For example, vitamins A, C and E found in brightly coloured fruits and veggies help to decrease inflammation by acting as antioxidants in the body. Fibre, again found in veggies and fruits, not only helps regulate the bowels, but is a prebiotic which feeds our probiotics.

Additionally, limiting processed foods and opting for healthy fats, such as those found in grass-fed meats, fish, avocados and nuts, is another way to decrease inflammation.

These fats not only provide lots of energy, but encourages the body to respond in a less inflammatory pathway. In turn, this means less inflammation overall, less damage to the gut lining and less risk of intolerances. a happy, healthy gut We want to use food as fuel to decrease inflammation, not promote it. Creating a healthy gut environment through the use of probiotics and nutrient-rich foods is the best way to decrease the risk of food intolerances or allergies. Add a few extra veggies to their plates, their bellies and their immune systems will thank you.

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Summer 2015 THE HOLISTIC PARENT

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FEATURE | SLEEP

GOOD SLEEP HABIT(AT)S Quieting the critics in favour of you Story by MARIA ANDRUSIAK MORLAND

S

low fat content leep. Every parent wants it. Very few of us get it. And the less we get the more we crave it. So what to do when after having a baby it’s all you think of our milk (for mammals) which about? If you’re like most parents, myself included, you start to research, which means you Google it. Usually at 1 a.m. “How do I get a baby to sleep?” “How tells us that human long should babies sleep?” “Do babies need to self-soothe?” “Where should a baby babies need to feed very often, and also by the powersleep?” “Why won’t they just go to sleep!” And the internet tells us: You’re doing ful chemical and physical it wrong. You haven’t bought the right book. Or done the right program. You’ve regulation that happens caused bad habits. You have already failed. So you buy the books. You read the when a child is touching blogs. People give you advice at your family dinner or on Facebook or on the their parent skin-to-skin. bus. They all tell you you’re not trying enough: long enough, hard enough, Unlike nest mammals, like good enough. That you’re not enough. rabbits, we can’t healthily But I have a secret. All of them, all of those blogs, all those books, feed our babies every four they’re all…wrong. How do I know? Because when I started to hours; unlike cache animals, like seals, research, after the fog of new motherhood wore off, I started we can’t leave them for 10-12 hours; unto read with my cognitive science and sleep specialization hat like follow mammals, like giraffes, our back on, two areas I happened to study in university. And babies can’t get up and walk to us when there seemed to be just one thing missing from all those they need more nutrition. To treat blogs and books and programs. Evidence. So what does the them this way, leaves them in a physievidence tell us? cal state called self-preservation mode, Well, there are a couple things it definitely doesn’t tell rather than in growth mode. us. It doesn’t tell us that your baby will get more sleep Finally, the evidence points to long term by changing their feeding method. One what developmental scientists 2011 study (just for example, there are many) call “self-regulation,” the actushowed that by nine months there were no real take al scientific term for the child differences in sleep between breastfed and away learning a skill over time, at formula-fed infants at all. ... the age that is appropriate It most certainly doesn’t say there You are your for them. And guess what is any such thing as “self-soothing.” baby’s natural mode a baby has to be in to Self-soothing was a theoretical habitat so having learn self-regulation? That’s research term made up in the them on you, next right — growth mode. And 1970s to ask the question about to you or near you how do their brains learn the skills why some children wake up is not creating of self-regulation? By having it shown crying. It has nothing to do bad habits but to them over and over from the physical with a baby being able to put rather meeting a act of being calmed by their parents. What the themselves to sleep, or back to biologial need. evidence says most strongly is that what your child sleep, and there is no evidence actually needs is you. By letting your child sleep to support it being true that with you, on you, next to you, near you, anywhere babies should be able to do this and everywhere that works for them and you, you’re anytime in the first two years, or not giving your child bad habits, you’re giving them that leaving them alone “teaches” their natural habitat. You. this skill.

So all this tells you is that almost no matter what you’re Interestingly, the evidence does say that doing, you’re likely doing it right. And if something doesn’t breastfeeding mothers actually get more sleep, feel right to you, then stop doing it, and don’t let anyone tell as long as they’re caring for their children close you that you’re wrong. And if you’d like to try something to them — up to 45 minutes more than bottlenew, even if it seems unfamiliar or non-“traditional”, you feeding moms or an hour and a half more than can remember that all strategies are for a very short time in breastfeeding moms who keep their babies farther away from them as they have been told they “should.” The your child’s life and that it’s best for your family, and probscience says that humans are mammals, and we are specifical- ably for all humans. Because you are your child’s best parent, ly carry mammals, animals that have developed to hold, feed and their natural habitat. You’re good enough. Just you. And you care for their offspring on their bodies. We know this by the extremely can sleep on that.

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FEATURE | UNLABELING

LABELS: THE DEATH OF FOOD

beyond the labels as there are so many different interpretations? To be totally brutally honest, sometimes I would rather have a non-organically raised piece of steak grown by a farmer that understands his soil vs. a certified organic farmer that doesn’t understand his soil. How do we become more connected to our food again?

Do labels help? Yes. Can we do better? Yes, with a decentralization of the food system, where each of us in our own communities depended on a different collection of farmers and food providers for our food.

If we visited our food producers and even further if we participated in the growing of our food. I think we’d have a different relationship to our community, to our food and to our bodies. I think we’d be able to shed the “gluten free” culture in favour of awareness — yes, some people are gluten intolerant and, yes, grain is no longer what it used to be. Many however could still eat heritage grain grown by a farmer, but probably wouldn’t like the price of that flour... unless they participated in the production of it. You’d eat less because you know how much energy went into making it. You’d appreciate it more and all of a sudden we’ve got mindfulness of our food, our health, our bodies and our community.

Labels are killing our culture, our food, our communities and our relationships. They had their place, but maybe we can move beyond.

Sure, we do need GMO labeling, but only if your farmer doesn’t save his own seeds and has to buy in new ones every year. I realize this is slightly an idealistic view. Is there something we can learn from it though?

Mindfulness in health, perhaps not all organic is good and perhaps not all food that isn’t organic is bad? Maybe there are shades of green in this certified organic label movement.

Trading labels for mindfulness Story by MELISSA BAER

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n 1987, my father decided after some contemplation that certifying his land organic and farming in a way that worked with nature instead of against it was something that he thought would be better for humans — and most importantly for his family.

At that time organic was a really grassroots movement and didn’t have much of a market.

My father exported most of his grains and soya beans to Europe, and he was able to garner a pretty price for these carefully grown grains at the time.

The organic label has since become quite a prevalent thing, along with so many other labels. When farmers and organizations realized they could charge more money for a product that was growing in popularity, the bandwagon jumping and label frenzy took off.

Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of reasons why organic food costs more. Many of you will only know if you grow it or raise it yourself, but that discussion is for a different time.

With the label frenzy in full force and growing, with multi-national corporations jumping on board the “healthy”, grass-fed and natural money trains, how does this affect our food supply, our relationship to food and our culture as well as our health?

Simply put labels are killing our relationship to food. They in fact can sometimes kill our relationships! As we start to categorize and objectify food using it for status and recreation instead of for sustenance we lose that connection with our food, our health and our bodies.

Something that is designed to bring people closer together in fact is pushing people apart, is dividing people and is even separating us from our own skins in order to lose weight or fit into a certain group of people or any of a host of different things we now use “food” for.

We now live in a world of so many choices, perhaps these choices always existed we were just not aware of them. We’ve moved from having to grow food to sustain life to having food in a luxurious sense. The more we label our food as organic, free range, sustainable, ethical, humane, sundried, fresh air-raised, spring water-fed, fat free, massaged, marbled, dry-aged, etc., etc., are we not moving away from paying attention to how that food actually affects us? Are we focusing more on the labels and less on what that entails for our bodies? Are we less concerned with what grass-fed means in reality and more that we can appease our guests when we host a dinner?

The organic movement served a purpose, a really good purpose. Like anything that is a grassroots movement, it goes through stages. There are the early adopters and then it gains in popularity and then becomes mainstream. Does it change somewhere along the way? Does the grassroots focus and intent get lost in the bureaucracy somewhere? In my experience, it does.

We’ve come to a point where perhaps the grassroots label no longer serves us. What was once designed to connect us with our food is now disconnecting us. How do we get

take away ...

While labels, such as “organic”, “natural” or “ethical” certainly have their place, we as a culture can and must do better.

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BACK PAGE | THE (MODERATELY) HOLISTIC MOM

FORMULA SHAMING Story by ELAINE KAPOGINES

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ecently I was accused of “formula shaming.”

The accusation was launched by my sister and we’ll fight about pretty much anything, but none the less, I was a little taken aback. I didn’t really know there was such a thing. And I had no idea that I was the perpetrator of such a crime.

The ensuing argument was essentially over an ellipsis — those three little dots used in grammar to indicate an omission, implied or otherwise. On January 23, on The Holistic Parent’s Facebook page I shared the viral video du jour entitled “The Mother ‘Hood Official Video” with the accompanying comment, “A lot of people are sharing this today, but just in case you haven’t seen it, it’s definitely worth watching (even though it’s a formula commercial…).

Now as far as successful Facebook posts go, this would rank near the bottom. It generated only two “likes” (one by the aforementioned sister), reaching a measly 97 people. No comments. No shares. As usual, I was probably a little slow on the uptake and was about the 5-millionth person to share the video that day. Nevertheless, it certainly generated a heated argument between my sister and I. I received the following message: “hey, what’s with the jab at that youtube video ‘even though it’s a formula commercial…’ !!!! no formula shaming!!!! that’s kind of the point of the video. (insert face with tongue sticking out here)” A subsequent message indicated that I had in fact offended her and potentially other readers for who breastfeeding was not part of their plan, and that she did not feel comfortable posting her comments on the Facebook page because “that’s how uncomfortable a formula feeder feels amongst breastfeeders.”

Talk about that mighty pen…or keyboard, I guess. My intention was never to shame anyone. And in fact, I never felt that my comment, implied or otherwise, was negative towards the formula feeders, the commercial or even Similac. I honestly felt like the commercial was worth watching — not only because the message itself was at its core interesting but because it seemed to have sparked an internetwide discussion on media consumption and critical thinking. (I was also hoping to generate some more Facebook hits, but we all know how well that went.) But, at the top of this larger discussion was the fact that no matter what the message was, it had been generated by a formula company. They were trying to sell more formula. Period. And as the publisher of a magazine that deeply supports breastfeeding, I felt it my duty to at the very least make note that the video was a formula commercial.

Would my commentary have been the same if the commercial had been produced by, say, a not-for-profit company called “The Society for the Betterment of Mothers”? Maybe. But you cannot consume the video without at least acknowledging the source. This is not altruistic message; it’s a multi-billion dollar, multi-national corporation trying to sell their product. In this case, formula.

When I began reading the discussions happening all over the web,

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THE HOLISTIC PARENT Summer 2015

another commercial popped into my head. Remember those beautifully produced, tug-at-your-heartstrings “The Dove Campaign for True Beauty” commercials?

Real women in all shapes and sizes are smiling, laughing and made us watchers solemnly nod our heads in agreement, “You are beautiful! And so am I!” Uplifting, check. Refreshing, check. Sincere…maybe. Trying to sell us soap, double check. Dig a little deeper and you’ll very quickly realize that Dove’s parent company — the brains behind this “True Beauty” movement — is Unilever, also the owner of Axe Body Spray and Slim Fast diet bars. Axe commercials would generally rank amongst the most overtly sexualized, most demeaning 60 seconds on TV. Does this change your opinion of Dove’s commercial? Or does it just serve to remind us that at the end of the day, companies are looking to sell product and make money. This is the simple fact of living in a free market. We, as critical thinking human beings, cannot blindly consume information without acknowledging the source. For example, it would be akin to us reading a study stating that “we should be drinking two cups of milk every three hours to maintain optimal health” but missing the fine print that says, “This study was conducted by the Committee to Sell More Milk.” Does that additional information change the validity of the study? I would hope so.

To date, the “Mother ‘Hood” video I linked to has been viewed nearly 8 million times. That means the Similac logo has also been seen 8 million times. And that’s just on the “official” video. I’m sure the Similac marketing team got a big high-five for that one. There was also an interested discussion surrounding the content itself, but I would need at least another 1,000 words to even scratch the surface of that. For more on that discussion, check out Kveller’s article “Don’t Fall For That Similac Commercial” by Mayim Bialik, where Waterloo’s (and The Holistic Parent’s) own Maria Andrusiak Morland is quoted.

But back to my original point. Dear Sister, I never meant to offend you or anyone else. If you felt shamed, I am sorry. It was not my intention. I respect everyone’s right to choose how they parent their children and truly believe that we are all doing the best we can, no matter what that looks like. I am a proud breastfeeder and I think you should be a proud formula feeder, because that’s our right as mothers. And I don’t need a commercial to tell me that. These so-called “mommy wars” are generated by insecurity due to a lack of support, lack of information and a lack of mutual understanding. You and I are not a part of this. You very graciously support me through my breastfeeding journey, and I will happy mix up a bottle of formula and feed my beautiful, healthy, happy niece anytime you ask.

ELAINE KAPOGINES is a full-time mommy and the publisher of this magazine. Check out theholisticparent.ca for more information, content and digital copies of past issues.

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