I promised I'd give you the essential update - and I finally sat down and wrote out what's been going on with Galen. You'll find a link below with full details on how our little guy is doing, and what it's like having a baby with feeding difficulties.

I also shared last week that we're doing some signing with Galen. I've really enjoyed teaching him baby signs. It was frustrating to wonder just what he needed - for us and for him! I found a baby sign program to learn some basic signs and we were delighted when he learned just as quickly.

You and your baby will be able to learn quickly too. One of our Tiger Lily readers, Brittany shared this about her Gracie:

"We have been doing some basic signs with my daughter since she was 6 months old. We started with signs for "more", and "all done", and added ones that we would use most often. It seemed to really help Gracie get less frustrated because she could communicate her needs to us, and we could respond. Her cousin, 2 months older, also used some signs, and it was great to see them sign to each other.

Now, Gracie is almost 15 months old and her language is booming! She speaks almost 100 understandable words, which is way off the charts for her age. I think a big part of this is the signs we started when she was young, in addition to talking to her all day long."

I think it's awesome babies like Gracie are doing so well with signing! I've been excited to see Galen using his signs, he even signs "more" when he wants to switch sides nursing. It's so cute!

Other readers wrote in too, saying signing has really helped them and their babies. It seems to be especially popular for helping babies communicate about hunger, thirst, and needing to go potty!

I've set up clips from the program we've been using for Galen - the "more" and "all done" that so many parents find instantly helpful :D

How To Sign "More" and "All Done"

Ok, on to the rest of this week's Tiger Lily!

~Kristen

Here's my Update on Galen

Galen's World - An Update (warning: incredibly cute baby pic following this link!)

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Q&A
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Baby's Head is Straight Back in the Womb

When Did I Conceive?

Exercise After Cesarean Birth?

Am I Having a Miscarriage?

Three Negative Tests, But I'm Certain I'm Pregnant - did you get negative tests even though you were pregnant? Share with this mom!

Are Strollers Really Necessary?

Is a Pap Smear and Pelvic Exam Necessary?

Cavities!!

Red Blood at 38 Weeks of Pregnancy?

Bleeding During Pregnancy?

Ultrasound Query

Questions about Water Birth and its History

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Submit Your Own Question
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Ok, that's a wrap for this week's Tiger Lily! If you haven't joined the Facebook Fan Page yet, you should - you'll get updates on the newest articles right from your Facebook page :D Visit Natural Birth and Baby Care on Facebook!

~Kristen

P.S. Don't forget to check out the baby sign clips - you'll be able to start using these instantly, even if your baby hasn't started solids yet. Galen uses his for nursing and for mealtimes! How To Sign "More" and "All Done"