Natural Birth and Baby Care.com

Natural Toddler

by Stephanie
(Maple Ridge, BC, Canada)

This is Soreia, she is 18 months old. She is a breastfeeding, co-sleeping, sling riding, ECing, cloth wearing, very curious little girl.

Her birth was perfect, natural, fast and quick. We where in the hospital but after the birth the hospital encouraged bonding between the mother, father and baby (and any siblings) by not allowing any other family or friends to see the baby until they leave the hospital. They even allowed my husband to stay overnight with us.

Soreia started breastfeeding on demand right away and even gained 1.5 pounds by her first week check-up. Don't get me wrong it wasn't always easy; I developed mastitis when she was 7 weeks old and was diagnosed with severe PPD when she was 6 months old. But I knew that breastfeeding was what I had always wanted for her, and saw all the benefits that she was gaining from it and so I was determined to stick with it as long as she wanted to.

I was encouraged by what I was reading on this website about ECing. We have used the EC method with Soreia since she was 2 weeks old. It is so nice not to have to change poopie diapers however I was never able to continuously see the signs for pee so we use cloth diapers when we are out. Now at 18 months she is using the potty on her own about 80 % of the time when we are at home.

I love natural parenting and the bond that it has created between my daughter and myself. There is no other feeling in the world that compares to the joy I feel every night when we are cuddled together in bed after a wonderful day of discovery and learning.