Rear Facing carseats beyond 12 months old?

I recently read an article..  2 Is The New 1: Rear-Facing Car Seats Until At Least Age 2
The article is really good and made me feel better about keeping my twins rear facing in their carseats.

I am starting to think that maybe rear facing beyond 12 months old, should be promoted by the NICU as well. Honestly the main reason I am keeping my twins rear facing is because they were born 8 weeks premature. I am sure they would love to turn forward facing in their carseats, but they really are not complaining. I still have the fun fisher price rainforest mirrors attached to the seat, and they seem to really enjoy looking into them. I provide them with snacks, sippy cups, books, and small toys. They have no issue with rear facing at 2 years old. Your child does not have to be a preemie to be hurt or killed badly in an accident, while sitting front facing in their carseat.

The next thing that convinced me to keep them rear facing, was the abundance of memorial videos on your tube for toddlers that died due to being forward faced in their carseats.

Your child's head is the HEAVIEST part of his or her body.  Ever hear of internal decapitation???
Yes, it IS as bad as it sounds.


Check out this video!


This video is very sad and is about an 18 month old who was front facing in his carseat.  brace yourself for this one.


Check out this video as well, it is about the importance of the 5 point harness.



There are many car seats on the market now that will hold a child heavier than 35 pounds rear facing!!

Any thoughts??

                                                             

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Udder Covers - For Nursing Mothers

While I, personally, am a die-hard BF Mom who will be the first to tell you to go... *Ahem* Eat your meal in a bathroom stall or with a blanket over your head, before I will do so with my baby... Not all women are comfortable with public nursing.

I do not use nursing covers. I do not believe in nursing covers. They are a pain in the... And I digress...

The whole point of this post is to stop and spread the word about a promo code for a free $32 nursing cover at uddercovers.com (if you're not currently breastfeeding they make great baby shower and holiday gifts)!

You just pay the shipping. The code is "Family2010".

Go to uddercovers.com, click on "Shop Now", select the product you would like (they also have 3 piece gift sets available with this promotion) and you will automatically be directed to the center of the page where you can enter in the promo code! Type in "Family2010" and it will pull up the ones available. They are selling out fast. You can use the code more than once - you just have to open a new browser/window to do so. Good Luck!

This promotion gives you a $32.00 discount off your total order no matter what you put in your cart! This promotion code is valid once per transaction, so you can order as many times as you would like!



You just pay the shipping. The code is "Family2010".

Go to uddercovers.com, click on "Shop Now", select the product you would like (they also have 3 piece gift sets available with this promotion) and you will automatically be directed to the center of the page where you can enter in the promo code! Type in "Family2010" and it will pull up the ones available. They are selling out fast. You can use the code more than once - you just have to open a new browser/window to do so. Good Luck!

This promotion gives you a $32.00 discount off your total order no matter what you put in your cart! This promotion code is valid once per transaction, so you can order as many times as you would like!

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Parents of Multiples & All Parents: Have Fun Raising Bilingual Children With Sing-A-Lingo

Parents of multiples have unique challenges in the daily aspects of taking care of their children. From feeding two or more babies simultaneously to possible language delays that can occur in toddler multiples--everything is part of raising multiples. According to renowned author, pediatrician, and Yale graduate, Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P, one of the many benefits of raising bilingual children is, "when babies grow up hearing two different languages in about equal amounts, most become fluent in both languages simultaneously. There is no cost in terms of emotional or intellectual (cognitive) delays. In some ways, bilingual children may have an advantage. For example, they may find it easier to learn certain grammar rules or rules relating to reading and writing. And, of course, they can speak with a wider range of people than can children who speak a single language." Parents, including those of multiples, who want to raise bilingual children can find educational products with Sing-A-Lingo.
Piña and Michael Madera, co-founders of Sing-A-Lingo, are Spanish speaking parents who made the decision to raise their children bilingual. Piña has worked as an educator since 1987 and was raised bilingual since it is her Mexican mother's language. Michael holds an M.A. in Spanish and a doctorate in Psychology. Understanding the developmental benefits of music for children, being musicians themselves, and wanting to create products that integrated useful Spanish into their daily lives,
Sing-A-Lingo was born.

Sing-A-Lingo has developed a new comprehensive Spanish program for fun and easy language-learning. The Spanish-All-Day Program combines music, visual aids and interactive games to encourage children to learn Spanish by providing language opportunities throughout the day. This new program expands on their first album, En Mi Casa (In My House). En Mi Casa features catchy Spanish lyrics about common activities, and provides families with a soundtrack for a typical day. The original songs featured on the album are about practical, functional topics in environments where children already find themselves, so practicing Spanish just happens. En Mi Casa has been well-received by parents and children everywhere and is the recent recipient of a 2009 iParenting Media Award and Parents Choice Award. This new comprehensive program from Sing-A-Lingo helps caregivers and educators teach children the fundamentals of learning Spanish.

Sing-A-Lingo has an easy approach to learning...Sing...Laugh...Learn...a method all parents can use!

For More Information: Visit Sing-A-Lingo Website: http://www.singalingo.com/

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Mother's Day History

History of American Celebration
When the first English settlers came to America, they discontinued the tradition of Mothering Day. While the British holiday would live on, the American Mother’s Day would be invented—with an entirely new history—centuries later. One explanation for the settlers’ discontinuation of Mothering Day was that they just didn’t have time; they lived under harsh conditions and were forced to work long hours in order to survive. Another possibility, however, is that Mothering Day conflicted with their Puritan ideals. Fleeing England to practice a more conservative Christianity without being persecuted, the pilgrims ignored the more secular holidays, focusing instead on a no-frills devotion to God. For example, even holidays such as Christmas and Easter were much more somber occasions for the pilgrims, usually taking place in a Church that was stripped of all extraneous ornamentation.

Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day Proclamaition of 1870

The first North American Mother’s Day was conceptualized with Julia Ward Howe’s Mother’s Day Proclamation in 1870. Despite having penned The Battle Hymn of the Republic 12 years earlier, Howe had become so distraught by the death and carnage of the Civil War that she called on Mother’s to come together and protest what she saw as the futility of their Sons killing the Sons of other Mothers. With the following, she called for an international Mother's Day celebrating peace and motherhood:

Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise all women who have hearts,
Whether your baptism be that of water or of tears
Say firmly:

"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands shall not come to us reeking of carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of
charity, mercy and patience.

"We women of one country
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says, "Disarm, Disarm!"
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice!
Blood does not wipe out dishonor
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have of ten forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war.

Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.

Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.

Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God.

In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions.
The great and general interests of peace.

The Rise & Fall of Howe's Mother's Day
At one point Howe even proposed converting July 4th into Mother’s Day, in order to dedicate the nation’s anniversary to peace. Eventually, however, June 2nd was designated for the celebration. In 1873 women’s groups in 18 North American cities observed this new Mother’s holiday. Howe initially funded many of these celebrations, but most of them died out once she stopped footing the bill. The city of Boston, however, would continue celebrating Howe’s holiday for 10 more years.

Despite the decided failure of her holiday, Howe had nevertheless planted the seed that would blossom into what we know as Mother’s Day today. A West Virginia women’s group led by Anna Reeves Jarvis began to celebrate an adaptation of Howe’s holiday. In order to re-unite families and neighbors that had been divided between the Union and Confederate sides of the Civil War, the group held a Mother’s Friendship Day.


Anna M. Jarvis's Mother's Day in 1908
After Anna Reeves Jarvis died, her daughter Anna M. Jarvis campaigned for the creation of an official Mother’s Day in remembrance of her mother and in honor of peace. In 1908, Anna petitioned the superintendent of the church where her Mother had spent over 20 years teaching Sunday School. Her request was honored, and on May 10, 1908, the first official Mother's Day celebration took place at Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia and a church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The West Virginia event drew a congregation of 407 and Anna Jarvis arranged for white carnations—her Mother’s favorite flower—to adorn the patrons. Two carnations were given to every Mother in attendance. Today, white carnations are used to honor deceased Mothers, while pink or red carnations pay tribute to Mothers who are still alive. Andrew's Methodist Church exists to this day, and was incorporated into the International Mother’s Day Shrine in 1962.

US Government Adoption
In 1908 a U.S. Senator from Nebraska, Elmer Burkett, proposed making Mother's Day a national holiday at the request of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). The proposal was defeated, but by 1909 forty-six states were holding Mother's Day services as well as parts of Canada and Mexico.

Anna Jarvis quit working and devoted herself full time to the creation of Mother's Day, endlessly petitioning state governments, business leaders, women groups, churches and other institutions and organizations. She finally convinced the World's Sunday School Association to back her, a key influence over state legislators and congress. In 1912 West Virginia became the first state to officially recognize Mother's Day, and in 1914 Woodrow Wilson signed it into national observance, declaring the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

The Fight Over Commercialization
The holiday flourished in the United States and flowers, especially white carnations, became very popular. One business journal, Florists Review, went so far as to print, “This was a holiday that could be exploited.” But the budding commercialization of Mother's Day greatly disturbed Jarvis, so she vociferously opposed what she perceived as a misuse of the holiday. In 1923 she sued to stop a Mother’s Day event, and in the 1930's she was arrested for disturbing the peace at the American War Mothers group. She was protesting their sale of flowers. In the 1930’s Jarvis also petitioned against the postage stamp featuring her Mother, a vase of white carnations and the word “Mother’s Day.” Jarvis was able to have the words “Mother’s Day” removed. The flowers remained. In 1938, Time Magazine ran an article about Jarvis's fight to copyright Mother's Day, but by then it was already too late to change the commercial trend.

In opposition to the flower industry’s exploitation of the holiday, Jarvis wrote, “What will you do to route charlatans, bandits, pirates, racketeers, kidnappers and other termites that would undermine with their greed one of the finest, noblest and truest movements and celebrations?” Despite her efforts, flower sales on Mother's Day continued to grow. Florist's Review wrote, “Miss Jarvis was completely squelched.” Anna Jarvis died in 1948, blind, poor and childless. Jarvis would never know that it was, ironically, The Florist's Exchange that had anonymously paid for her care.

Worldwide Spread of Mother's Day
By the time of Anna M. Jarvis's death, over 40 countries observed the Mother’s Day. Here is the history of the spread of Mother's Day throughout the rest of the world.

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A Little Laughter Makes Each Day Easier...

You just KNOW that this MOM does not get to sit around with four laughing babies all day, so what a gift it is to have this moment! Remember to cherish the fun times, they outweigh the crazy times it we let them!

What did your multiples do to make you smile today?

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Playgroups and Names

We didn't do much of a theme with our names. We tried to stay with a Celtic theme for most of our kids, with some exceptions for literary characters or family names. That's it.

I'll second Kristen's opinion of NOMOTC, with some extras. I, too, noticed that it wasn't about the kids, it was about the moms, and I did not feel welcome there with my little ones. (This was in Austin, TX, 10 years ago.) At the time, most of the mothers of HOM (higher-order multiples) in the area felt the same, so we had our own separate group for triplets and up. We had a yahoo group, and we went out to a moms-only dinner once a month. Sometimes moms got together for playdates, but we didn't do any big activities as a group with our kids. It filled a need to be with other moms "like me" in having triplets or more.

I never did find a playgroup that worked, though. Never found a multiples-only playgroup, and never found one friendly to multiples. We're a walking freak show, not somebody you make friends with, apparently. One lady ran into me with my triplets at a coffee shop once, and invited us to join her playgroup. We went three times, and then the group was scheduled to meet at my house...whereupon I was called the day before the meeting and told I was no longer welcome. I tried a local babysitting co-op, too (don't get me started on finding sitters for triplets!). They kicked me out.

Multiples intimidate other families, I think. Singleton babies don't know what to make of it when multiples come to play. The multiples are already accustomed to crawling all over each other and playing together, and the singletons flip out. Moms of singletons don't know what to make of us, either. Some of them put us up on a pedestal as being goddesses of child-rearing just for staying sane (or some semblance of sanity). Some of them don't understand the chaos that comes with bringing more than one baby anywhere, the 20-minute diaper change routine, the 1-hour feeding routine, the fact that MOMs can't just sit still and watch one child, we have to constantly bounce to keep one child after another out of trouble. Based on my experiences in Austin, it seems like HOMs get the same reaction from twins.

It's hard not to take it personally. But keep trying. Eventually either you'll find the group that fits you, or you'll make your own, or you'll just settle in with some friends who are welcoming without any structure at all. Any way, while you're looking, at least our kids have built-in playgroups!

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I guess I'll introduce myself. My name is Ellena. I am turning 30 next month, and I'm the mom of 4 children under the age of 3! I have TWO sets of TWINS born 2 years 3 months apart! We tried for years to get pregnant on our own. Finally after 4 IVF attempts we conceived our now almost 3 year old fraternal twin daughters Kayla and Haley. I had complications during that pregnancy, and ended up on bedrest in the hospital fighting off early labor from 29 weeks to 33 weeks 5 days when they were born. Kayla spent 2 1/2 weeks in the NICU and Haley spent 5 weeks in the NICU (due to a collapsed lung). You would never know to look at them today that they were born 6 weeks 2 days early! When they were 1 1/2 we decided to try IVF one last time in the hopes of having a 3rd child. We didn't want to wait too long inbetween since our girls are so close. We wanted a 3rd child to be close enough in age to play with the girls as well. Well, we conceived twins again! At first we were told it was 2 more girls - my husband just laughed, shook his head, and joked about building a man-cave out back! About a month later we were told that we were getting one boy out of the bunch after all, and my husband was ecstatic! Our girl/boy twins are now almost 5 months old. We are very busy, and so very blessed. :)

Ellena

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Twins/Multiples Names?

What are your twins/multiples names and how did you choose them?

Graham Rune and Parker Ryan  4/21/08

*I had a lot of trouble putting together 2 boys names and daddy agreed with whatever I chose, luckily. We did not match their first names by first letter or rhyming names...but both middle names start with an R and have 4 letters.  :)

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My Life with Multiples

My name is Pam, I'm 38, and the mom of six kids! I have four sons who are 14, 11, 8 and 6 years old. This January I did something I never thought I would do...I delivered twin baby girls, vaginally, without an epidural (that was dumb), at 38 weeks!

Our home has been turned upside down! I was a pretty settled boy mom. I understand legos, and video games, and I enjoy that if the Star Wars movies are on, I get a few hours of relative peace. I always wanted a daughter, I just never imagined that I would get two at once!

I have a pretty wide circle of friends with multiple connections...most of whom I was friends with before having twins of my own. One of my very best friends is an identical twin, another is married to one, and I have several friends with sets of twins. The great thing about this is I have so many people to turn to to get their opinions on my twin questions!

I'm learning a lot. I'm learning as I go, and I love sharing what I've learned with others. From twin pregnancy ( a supportive and competent doctor is a MUST!), to breastfeeding twins (it CAN be done!), to finding ways to do things better or easier. I'll share it all with you!

I'm enjoying this journey! I hope you do too!

We may not always agree on how we do things, or raise our kids, but I always appreciate the conversation, so grab a cup of coffee, and lets talk about our multiples!

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Welcome to the Madhouse

I'll start things off from my end with another intro. My name is Elayne, and I have six children. Three of them are triplets, 2 of them are blind, 2 are going blind, 2 have autism spectrum disorders, and 1 has cerebral palsy. Yeah, that was only six kids! You can read their birth stories on my own blog/site, Multiple Mayhem.

My triplets (technically surviving quadruplets) Brenden, Tamara, and Caitlin were born in 1999 at 26 weeks. I'll post a summary of their birth story another time, but we'll leave it at the entire pregnancy from start to finish was a freak-show of medical mismanagement, ending with doctors who preferred to send a 26-week triplet pregnancy home in early labor rather than bother with coming to the hospital to examine and try to stop it. 26 weeks gave us the cerebral palsy in Caitlin, and a diagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (a wrong diagnosis) in Tamara and Caitlin. Caitlin also got Asperger's from me.

Later we had Liam, Jarod, and Kender, but one at a time this time. When Kender was born, he was almost completely blind. Finding his diagnosis led us to startling news: He has Familial Exudative Vitreo-Retinopathy (FEVR), a very rare condition...and so do Tamara, Caitlin, Jarod, and my husband Brian. Brian is blind, but was misdiagnosed and was told it wasn't genetic. Tamara and Caitlin were misdiagnosed because they were preemies, and FEVR and ROP look very much alike at birth. Jarod is legally blind, but just how bad his eyes were was completely missed by our pediatric ophthalmologist at the time (who has since been fired); we just thought he needed glasses and had a lazy eye. The girls aren't blind yet but do have active eye disease and have lost some vision.

So that's how I unintentionally ended up with the largest family of blind people I know. Now we pay for our retinal surgeon's retirement.

Other stuff: I'm a free-range parent. Part of me feels like I was pushed into it by having triplets in the first place (I only have two arms, after all), but I also feel like I would have been here anyway. I'm also a pagan Libertarian, and I am a Texan stranded in Michigan for the past 7 years (and we moved here for the money, if you can believe that). We homeschool our family, including teaching the skills of blindness now, which keeps us (well, me) very busy. And we are trying to set up sustainable gardening around our house, a little bit at a time.

Since my multiples are older, I have a bit of a different perspective, and I'll share what I've learned over the years as the muse strikes me. I look forward to sharing with you, dear reader.

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Life with twins as an AMA mom !

Wait...what?!

Well, I just got the invitation to participate in this blog (thank you, glorious leader/s!), and I'm looking forward to sharing some of *my* life with all of you! (At least some of the more interesting parts! :-)

Brief intro (not really brief, but just play along with me for a minute): My name is Carolyne (or CJ for short) and I live in the great state of Texas. I'm not a native, but I sure sound like one after living here since I was 12! ;-)


My life revolved around hpts for many years!
Now, by the grace of God, it revolves around my kids!

I am the mother (that sentence STILL brings a tear of gratitude to my eye after all this time!), after years of dealing with infertility, miscarriages, and a number of fertility treatments & IVF procedures (thanks to God that we have had wonderful insurance to be able to do all this!), of 3 miracle children. My oldest daughter, Maya Grace, was the result of my third IVF in 2000 and is 9 going on 19--yes, tweenie angst is our friend (NOT) here!
This is Maya:

Isn't she beautiful? :*) And smart to boot!

My twins, Samuel and Sarah, were the result of our "one last time" IVF(#6!) try in 2007. This is my son Sam:

My handsome boy, before his buzz haircut on 5/2.
He's the sensitive one.

And this is Sarah:

We call her "Mini-Maya", 'identical' twins
separated by 7 years! :-) She's the clown in
our house!

All 3 are the loves of my life. :*) Sam and Sarah were born in July of 2008 (someday I'll share all the exciting birth stories with you, I never could do anything easy). I find it so hard to believe they will be two years old in a few months!!

Now you may be wondering what that "AMA" stands for--especially since it seems like a lot of the moms here are younger than me. For some reason God had me wait a really, REALLY long time before my family came along! AMA is a medical term that means -*gasp*- "advanced maternal age"--yep, I'm what they used to call a 'late in life' mother. How old am I then? Hold onto your hats! Next year I'll be the big 5-0!! Yep, that's 50 in human years! :-)

Let me give you all a moment to catch your breath as you think about that OLD age. That really, REALLY OLD age. 1...2...3...there, it should have sunk in by now. LOL.
I can hear the comments now: "WHY WOULD ANYONE HAVE LITTLE KIDS WHEN THEY'RE THAT OLD?!" It wasn't like we planned it this way! ;-)

My husband and I started trying to have a family after we married in September 1994.
Yes, this was before cell phones, laptops, YouTube and Facebook were popular!

I had Maya just after I turned 39 (both of our birthdays are in October). I was 46 when I had the twins in 2008, just a month after I had BRACES taken off my teeth! (More adventures.)

Yes, my life has been anything but ordinary, that's for sure, LOL. So many stories, so little time...well, maybe some time, now that the twins are getting older and more independent.

So now, this forum has arrived, and a chance to share some stories about my history with my precious kiddos, my views as an AMA mom, and just life as it happens with the twins and Maya in general (I'll try to skip politics and religion, I've got another blog and Facebook for that). ;-)

That's about enough for an introduction for now, it's getting late and Maya's got school in the morning, and the twins get up early! Y'all sleep tight, and don't let the bedbugs bite! :-)

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A Gift for a Grieving Mother's Day

Mother's Day is around the corner. I am a grieving mother, as are many out there. Mothers who have experienced the loss of a child (at any stage or age) may find Mother's Day an emotional day.

However, you can help these mothers realize that they still are mothers, and with a sweet token, you can help them remember the child that was lost. They will appreciate your kindness, recognizing that their babies were, in fact, babies, and that they are grieving.

Forget-Me-Not seed packet. Forget-Me-Nots are Perennials, which means they will come up year after year. This symbolizes that you will never forget the baby that was lost. Seeds can be found in just about any garden shop.

Locket. A locket is a great piece of jewelry for any grieving mother. She can put a picture, a lock of hair, ashes, etc. in it and always have her child close to her heart.

A Doll or Teddy Bear. A Doll or Teddy bear is often one of the first toys that a baby receives. You can find them in all shapes and sizesand at any toy store.

Poems. There are tons of poems that are available on the internet that can be used. Or you can write your own. Finding the perfect poem to say what you want may be a little harder, but I know if you just look you will find exactly what you are looking for.

Journals. A simple journal with a new pen would be wonderful for the grieving mother to have a place to put her feelings down. Often being able to write how you feel helps the mother to feel better.

Rose Quartz. This pink gemstone is believed to promote healing. Many different items can be found at My Forever Child.

Cards. Do not forget the card. You may have a hard time finding just the right card for a grieving mom. I would suggest in that case to purchase a blank card and write a special message in it.

With so many choices, I am certain you will find the perfect gift for a grieving mother on Mother's Day.

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The Miracle Blanket

The very best investment my husband and I made was to buy four miracle blankets before our twins were born and they have come to the rescue for us. They really are very serious when they call it a miracle blanket. If used properly this blanket can bring you and your babies endless nights of sleeping joy. They not only calm your baby when fussy and make them feel secure but help them to sleep better, more soundly, and longer.We bought four of them because we have twins and when one set is dirty we have the other set to use.I have tried other brands of swaddling blankets and was not as happy with them. I just can not say enough good things about miracle blankets.The only thing I would say they could do to improve is make more color options, maybe some cute patterns and larger sizes for larger babies.

They are a good size but I could see them not working too long for a baby that was a 10 pound baby at birth.We swaddled one of our twins with the miracle blankets until 6 months of age. At 8 months our smaller twin still prefers to be swaddled. He fusses if we do not swaddle him for his naps and at bedtime. The moment he gets swaddle he is instantly happy and ready to sleep. If you follow the instructions properly and do understand that at first they will resist just a little but as newborns and it may take you two or three times each time you swaddle them to get it right and get them calm, you will really get great use of thhe miracle blankets. Our twins really have enjoyed the secure feeling the miracle blankets bring them when they sleep.

There is a video available of how to swaddle with a miracle blanket at theit website. Baby wraps, baby accessory, colic, infant sleep, remedies, infant health, crying babyThe difference between miracle blankets and other blankets is that the miracle blanket has a set of internal flaps to swaddle the babies arms with, a built in pouch for the lower half of the babies body and a smaller internal flap that goes over the arm flaps to keep them secure as well as the longer flap that wraps around the babies body for a perfect and comfortable swaddle.

                                                                

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Foam Mats for Playing on

OK so as much as I like the standard alphabet and numbers foam mats for serving their purpose of a safe place for babies to crawl, they just are a huge pain in the rump.For one they do not always fit into each other and I hear, although my twins do not do this... a lot of moms have issues with them coming up easily and catching their babies chewing on the foam pieces. YUCK! Also they are NOT that thick. They bubble up and get these parts where it is all poofed up and coming apart from them sliding when you walk or crawl across them.I was constantly reshaping the foam mat we have, we have 2 sets of them because we have ours boxed in by 2 superyard XT play yards to make a nice play area. I tried them with and without the edges/borders. Every time one of us gets in there we had to be ultra careful not to scooch around or the foam mat would get all messed up. So I was having to take out all the toys and redo the mat at least 2 times per week. Let me just tell you how annoying that was.I also did not think it was enough padding when they topple over while sitting, crawling, trying to stand etc. It really was not at all.

SO a while back I saw a set of the alphabet/numbers/shapes floor mats at onestepahead.com I pondered what the difference in them and the ones I had would be. Well after careful through, research, and consideration I said OK and bought them. I bought 2 sets of the alphabet plus a set of the shapes. I plan to go back and buy a set of the numbers as well in the near future. HOLY cow they ROCK!!!!! They are SO THICK!! They are very sturdy, you can feel the difference and see the difference right off the bat. The colors are way more vibrant and the quality is 10x what the other ones are. Plus they ARE recommended for birth and up where as the other ones are for 3 years and up.They seriously are not kidding at one step ahead when they say it is the most thickest foam mat you can get. It is amazing. So much cushion and padding. So very durable for walking, scooching, and crawling on. I am 100% satisfied with this mat and we just got them this week!!I highly recommend getting them!I use another set of foam mats under our jumperoos for nice padding on their feet as well, the old kind. I think I may just upgrade there too and get a set of the ones from one step ahead to go under our jumperoos as well. The One Step Ahead foam mats

One Step Ahead Baby - Interlocking Foam Puzzle Mats

The other ones I was using Amazon.com: Alphabet 'N Number Foam Puzzle PlayMat: Toys & Games

                                                          

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Preparing For Multiples

Multiples are multiple times the blessing. Once your little bundles of joys arrive, you will be taking part in one of life's wonderful and crazy roller coasters, including, taking care of more than one child simultaneously. Naturally, when having more than one child, your mind does think about costs and if you will have to buy double or triple the amount of baby items. There are items that you will have to buy more than one of but not everything needs to be multiplied.

The first step in preparing for multiples is creating a baby registry. The following is a basic list that could help you when preparing to buy items for the arrival of your new babies. (The list is based on having twins, but when you see that you need to buy 2 of an item, buy 3 or 4 if you have triplets, quads, etc.):

2 Cribs (Crib mattress can be firm for better back support.)


1 Bassinet (It is common that multiples are preemies or are small in birth weight. You can just buy one bassinet and then transfer them to cribs when bigger.)


1 Pack 'n Play (One can be bought first but eventually two will be needed due to weight limitations.)


1 Double Stroller


2 Car Seats (Buy another set if you have a second car.)


2 Sunshades for Car Windows (Buy another set if you have a second car.)


2 Bouncy Seats (Helpful to keep babies entertained while Mom is trying to accomplish other things.)


1 Baby Swing & 1 Portable or Travel Swing (There will come a time when you want both babies to be in a swing and it is helpful to have one that is portable.)


2 Rocking Chairs with footstools (Its helpful to have 2 since you will probably be rocking the babies to sleep in varying rooms.)


2 Front Baby Carriers (Great for Mom and Dad to be able to have their hands free.)


1 Diaper Bag (Buy a Diaper Bag that is roomy to fit bottles and jars of food.)


1 Music Player that can play lullaby music or 2 Musical Soothers for the cribs.


Diapers & Wipes (Buy the Mega/Jumbo pack. Multiples use a lot of diapers--do not buy a lot of the Newborn diapers size since babies gain weight rapidly.)


2 Diaper Rash Ointments


1 Diaper Genie (You may want to buy an extra Diaper Genie if your home has a second floor.)


1 Breastpump (Breastpumps can be rented from the hospital.)


12 Bottles


Microwave Bottle Sterilizer


1 Bottle brush


2 Boppy Pillows or 1 Large Nursing Pillow


Newborn tub or Convertible Tub that can be used for sitting infants


8 Washcloths


6 Hooded Towels


Baby Wash, Lotions, Shampoo


10 Burp Cloths


Plastic Bowls and Utensils


2 Pacifiers


4 Waterproof crib/mattress liner


4 Sheet savers


6 Fitted crib sheets


4 blankets


4 Halo Sleep Sacks (Great for swaddling.)


Baby Monitor


Carbon monoxide detector for baby's room


First Aid Kit


Mylicon drops (To help alleviate gas.)


Vaseline


4 Fleece outfits for Winter


2 Winter jackets for Winter


4 pairs of gloves or mittens


4 Sun Caps for Summer


4 Shorts and T-Shirts Sets for Summer


10 receiving blankets


8 One-piece outfits


8 One-piece pajamas


10 pairs of sock/booties

Original Posting: http://www.examiner.com/x-24159-Orlando-Parenting-Multiples-Examiner~y2010m2d17-Preparing-For-Multiples

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Why I am against GOMOTT..the full story.

I had my twins in April of 2008, 8 weeks early. They spent 28 and 30 days in the NICU at Winnie Palmer Hospital. When they came home, I debated if I should join GOMOTT or not.

GOMOTT is the local Twins and Triplets Club for Greater Orlando.


I thought I would give it a try. So, I joined as a prospective member (unpaid not full member) in 2008, at the time current president of GOMOTT was in her last weeks of being GOMOTT president and sent out all these desperate messages looking for help on the board. I did not know she was on her way out. I was just told she was the president. She said GOMOTT was in desperate need of board members. I saw a few of those messages come through and then eventually responded to one and agreed to take a board position as social co-chair. She put me in immediately to their GOMOTT meetup group as an organizer and also listed me on the GOMOTT official website on their board of directors page as social co-chair. Keep in mind that the president was fully aware that I was, at the time a prospective, unpaid, new member and mom of 3 month old twins. They were barely sprung from the NICU and I was still greatly lacking sleep and fresh at being a mom of twins. I came to learn later that the president screwed up and not only was not even allowed to put me on their board of directors but did not even tell anyone about me or that she put me on the board for social co-chair.

I kept then getting emails to GET PLAYDATES AND EVENT PLANNED ASAP! I got a deadline notice and so I sacrificed 3 hours of sleep one night and researched my butt off to put the best playdates up for each and every "read group" of GOMOTT as well as some big events they asked for. I started immediately seeing YES RSVP's to the events. I had the calendar active and busy where each read group had an event once a week.. and the next morning I came in to the site and saw I was removed as an assistant organizer of the GOMOTT meetup group and they had wiped out the calendar and my 3 hours of work to a blank slate.

I kept my cool and a few hours later sent out some emails asking what happened, what I did wrong, and why they did that to me.

I received snappy, uncaring, responses back and then was finally told they had no idea who the heck I was and how I got on the board and the meetup and had to make an executive decision to eliminate anything I added and ME.

I was STEAMED. I was hurt. I was disappointed

No sorries, no fixing anything just got the big hard boot and an oh well, so sorry from them.
So I told them off and asked to be removed from the group.
I decided to start a group for moms in my area, including moms of multiples. I found some moms of multiples on meetup.com and invited them. Apparently this made GOMOTT members angry.

Then a few months later someone from GOMOTT tried to convince me to rejoin. So after some though I did and then I saw messages on their message board to the GOMOTT meetup group saying they had no idea where to plan playdates too and really wanted ideas.
I gave them ideas and said if they wanted to add places I would be with my twins I was cool with that too. i was given 2 people to contact to have stuff added.. I contacted them and they added playdates to their calendar.. then the next morning a lady named Shannon contacted me and I did not even know who she was, She sent me this mile long email telling me what a disgusting terrible piece of crap of a mother and human being I am and how could I be so vile and evil to be a computer hacker and hack my way into being a member and then adding and changing stuff on their calendar and that I should be fully ashamed of myself for doing such terrible things. I was also now removed/banned from the GOMOTT meetup group.
I thought it was a joke but this Shannon was QUITE serious.
So I emailed some people asking why I would be accused of such a crazy thing and what the heck happened to make them accuse me.
No responses. nothing... then a bunch of "I don't know's" and "well did you's".

I was shocked, I was mad. I gave up.
Then in early 2010 another GOMOTT mom I met convinced me to give it one last try. I filled out a membership form, wrote out a check, mailed it in and then I waited......and waited......and waited........ and almost a month later I got a call saying I had to come before the board to be GRILLED under their new laws and to prove myself to not have ill intentions towards GOMOTT. They wanted to ask me a series of questions during a routine board meeting and then would let me know if I was accepted to the group within a month. They said there were NEW accusations as well as the old accusation of the hacking.. they said I had done something on craigslist against GOMOTT but would not tell me what I did. Apparently whatever it was it was an awful thing according to them.
I then realized GOMOTT IS MADE UP OF MANY LUNATICS AND EVIL VINDICTIVE WOMEN.

I hope things change with GOMOTT for the sake of the decent moms in the group but the way the group is now, is scary.

I told them they were NUTS and I was not going to prove myself to them because I never did anything wrong but get fed up over being wronged by them and tell off a couple of people who wronged me.

I told them to stuff it and to mail me back my check.
From that moment on...I made my own executive decision to BOYCOTT GOMOTT as well as their Twins and their Triplets Club Garage Sale.
...and that is why I hate GOMOTT.
99% of the GOMOTT members I have met apparently believe the accusations and are against me as well.
I can only assume that GOMOTT invented the stories of hacking and bashing on craigslist, and whatever else because of the incident where they screwed me over and I got mad about it..

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Great product alert!!

I will start our new awesome group blog with a product review!!!  I would like to tell everyone about a handy little product called The Little Lasso.

The Little Lasso is a one of throw "no throw" type leashes for sippy cups, snack cups, and baby toys. The reason I like it is because they are very easy to use, have totally cute patterns on them and are easily machine washable and dryable! 

Example of The Little Lasso.

The Little Lasso is made in Texas by moms of children with Down Syndrome who wanted to come up with a handy product to keep their children from tossing and loosing their sippy cups and such.

Well they work!!  They are fully adjustable by pulling the material through a large hard plastic bead.
They function well and are very durable.  There is nothing confusing about using them and they last!

They even work for the Boon Fluid Sippy. You can thread the sippy loop end through the hole in the center of the Boon Fluid Sippy and then loop it through the link end and tighten!!

Check them out, you will LOVE them!!

http://www.thelittlelasso.com/



                                                         

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Life with Twins and Multiples

Come check out a new group blog authored by Mothers of Twins and Multiples!!

http://lifewithtwinsandmultiples.blogspot.com/

Follow and join us!!!

ask about becoming an author, having your twins and multiples playgroup added to the playgroup directory, having your blog added to the blog roll, and more!!!

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Welcome to our new blog!!

This blog will have multiple authors who are all moms of multiples!!

Stay Tuned!!!!

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Books!

Graham and Parker are really into books lately. They like to look through them and talk about the pictures. They also like to make animal sounds too! They bring me books to read them quite often too! I think they will probably end up being really good readers. yay boys!

One of their favorite books is a book called Rusty's bone. They received it from their grandma after they were born. They love this book so much that it has fallen apart twice.

I feel so bad that their favorite book has fallen apart yet again, so I ordered a new copy.

Rusty's Bone is an "usborne" book title. I really have never known very much aboout usborne books but now I think I am interested.
I looked over their website and found a lot of cute toddler book titles on amazon.com

I am considering having a "book party" with one of their local reps. I might even sign up to be an usborne rep. if it seems like something that would work out for me.

I had to order a few more books to get the free shipping on amazon, so I got a few more titles from that Rusty's Bone series (Curly's Friends and Wollys Walk) and one about a Panda in the Park. I think Graham and Parker will really enjoy them.

I found another usborne title in our house today too.. "That's not my bunny" I am going to read it to them later on this evening.

here are some pics of the books!

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