Surviving, Occasionally Thriving & Always Learning
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Last Sunday I took my 16-month-old daughter to her gymnastics class (aka a bunch of toddlers wandering around in circles). As everyone gathered in a circle at the start of class, the instructor went around and asked everyone what they did the previous day (a Saturday).
Every parent explained some wonderful outing they went on as a family with their young children. As I listened, I felt some major mom guilt start to course through my veins. I compared my answer to those I heard from the other parents.
The major event of my Saturday had been having some much-needed alone time while my husband took our two young kids to the splash pad. While I had luxuriated in that alone time, I all of a sudden felt like a bad mother.
A selfish, inadequate, martian, disguised as a mom. Why had I not spent all of my Saturday with my family? That’s what healthy happy families are supposed to do, right? After all, our kids are only small for so long and life is short.
Especially if you are an introverted mother, these thoughts are familiar to you. You love your family more than anything, but you also need time alone to feel grounded and soothe your overstimulated soul.
This predicament is 100% normal for introverted moms.
Let’s talk about why introverted moms need moments of quiet and solitude, and how they can find the right balance between their introvert needs and being present with their loved ones.
Introverts are wired to thrive off of alone time. It’s not because introverts are selfish or weak that they need a good dose of solitude every now and then.
Author Jenn Granneman explains that introverts’ brains rely on different pathways and chemical messengers to feel contentment and happiness than extroverts’ brains do.
Introverts are wired to recharge and work out their problems in solitude. They do not need personal space all of the time, but they need it routinely.
Just as extroverts need some hustle and bustle to feel alive, introverts need calm and quiet to feel at peace in the world and with themselves. Their brains tap out otherwise, and this is when mom burnout and mom overstimulation become real problems.
I loved learning about the scientific perspective on introverts verses extroverts because it provides some clear and concrete reasoning as to why introverts and extroverts thrive in different environments.
Author Jenn Granneman explains that extroverts and introverts have different levels of sensitivity to the neurotransmitter dopamine (a type of chemical messenger in the brain).
Extroverts love getting big dopamine hits that come with lots of social interaction and busy stimulating environments. Introverts, on the other hand, are very sensitive to dopamine. So while a big hit of dopamine is thrilling for an extrovert, it may send an introvert off the deep end.
The neurotransmitter that gives introverts a thrill, on the other hand, is called acetylcholine. This messenger in the brain travels along a different pathway than dopamine and is activated in calm and quiet environments. Introverts can spend time thinking and reflecting on problems during these times.
This helps me understand why I often get overstimulated and feel like I’m going to combust at the end of a long day with my energetic children. Even when we have had the best day together, my mind often feels pretty frazzled by the end.
My brain simply has a low threshold for processing external commotion. And there’s a lot of external commotion with kids, especially when you are a stay-at-home mom. It’s just the nature of taking care of energetic growing little humans.
So if you are an introverted mom, you will probably experience irritability and feel off-kilter if your brain is constantly bombarded with dopamine and does not get enough quiet breaks. You need some calm and quiet moments to give your brain that boost of acetylcholine it is craving for its mental health.
Returning to my story about comparing myself to other parents in my toddler’s gymnastics class, I realize that chances are, there was at least one other introverted parent in that class who also would have liked having had a little alone time on a Saturday. Nobody said so, but I guarantee someone was thinking it.
While I initially felt like I was the only introverted mama in that class, I’m now rethinking that assumption after picking up a new book by Susan Cain (2012) called “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking”. She explains that our culture values extroverts, and as a result, introverts often become invisible.
Another good book that reenforces this idea is Laurie Helgoe’s (2013) book, “Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life is Your Hidden Strength”. Helgoe explains that introverts make up 50.7% of the population, yet they often think they are in the minority.
Our culture has a particular image of a “happy person”. That person is usually outgoing, talkative, popular, accomplished, well-dressed, and highly socially active; an extrovert. Amidst this “happy person” persona then, an introvert may feel like they do not belong.
If the ratio of introverts to extroverts is about 50/50 though, why is there such a stigma against a focus on solitude? And I’m not talking about solitude 100% of the time. Just some routine doses of solitude throughout the week to recharge, think things through, and connect with one’s inner life.
I love the way Helgoe (2013) puts it,
“We tend to view alone time either as a problem to be overcome or a luxury we cannot afford—not as a staple we all need. We’re not just social animals. We are solitary animals as well.”
Those are such beautiful and validating words for an introvert to hear.
All of this talk about alone time may lead one to think that introverts are anti-social. This is not the case.
As an introvert myself, I love alone time AND I love people. I just have a lower threshold than an extrovert does when it comes to a lot of socializing and small talk at social gatherings.
As humans, we tend to categorize people into being either this or that. It’s easier to think of people when they fit into a nice and neat little box. Introversion verses extroversion though, is simply not about being social or not.
While introverts need some solitude in their lives, they also need people. They care about people and spend a lot of time thinking about improving and contributing to other people’s lives.
For example, when I get alone time, most of it is usually spent working on this blog. Or creating artwork for people’s homes. For my blog, I spend time researching ways to improve the way my family operates in the day-to-day, fun things my kids can do, or how to generally be a better parent. Then I write about these things when my husband takes our kids on an outing and I have a quiet house to myself.
So even though an introvert may demand an empty house for some alone time, they are often still thinking about their loved ones and problem-solving for a better tomorrow in that time.
Alternatively, if a mom has been overstimulated for too long without any alone time to regroup, her brain may be fried and she may just hunker down for a quiet evening after the kids have gone to bed and zone out while watching tv!
With a culture that puts extroverts on a pedestal, it can be difficult for introverts to love and accept their particular personality traits.
I realize that it is essential though, to accept and embrace my introverted personality. Not only for myself but for my children as well. So they know what it looks like to love themselves for who they are and honor their own needs.
I see my 4-year-old’s introverted tendencies, and I want him to grow up loving these parts of his personality. And I hate to admit that I have historically felt like these were parts of him that I thought we needed to “work on”. While this came from a place of wanting him to be happy, I realize now how misguided I was.
Here is a little story about how I have recently come to understand introversion better, and as a result myself and my child better.
My 4 year old used to attend a gymnastics class. He historically loved these classes (most of the time anyway).
One day though, he attended a new class that was extra busy and was filled with a bunch of high-energy kids he did not know. A few minutes into the class, he broke down crying and the instructor had to pick him up and carry him out of the room. He had gotten overwhelmed and from that point on refused to go to another gymnastics class.
As I reflect on his personality type now, I recognize how overstimulated and overwhelmed he was in that situation. For extroverted little kids, a loud fast-paced environment may be the perfect nurturing thing for them. Their brains are screaming for more movement, more noise, and more activity. For my introverted son though, those things can lead to sensory overload.
So rather than try to continue pushing him to go back to class, we are reassessing what types of activities will nourish his introverted mind and feed his soul. Additionally, help him build his coping skills, since he will inevitably be in high energy and chaotic environments as he grows up.
I have also been thinking about how maybe we need to cut back on organized activities and give our kids plenty of time and space to daydream and play. All small children need this free time, especially introverted ones.
While it is wonderful to embrace ourselves for who we are, it is also important to recognize when we need to push and stretch ourselves.
As an introverted mom, I know that I need to push myself to be more involved in social situations and activities with my kids. This helps with my kids’ social development, plus it’s good for me.
So I nudge myself to talk to other parents at preschool drop off and pick up. I reach out to fellow moms to schedule play dates, and I talk to random strangers given the opportunity when I’m with my kids.
Some great outdoor activities include making giant bubbles, homemade kinetic sand, and playdough.
References
Helgoe, Laurie (2013). Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength. Sourcebooks.
Cain, S. (2012). Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. Penguin Books.
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The 1-year-old stage is an exciting time. Most little ones start to take their first steps shortly after turning 1 (some earlier, some later) and they are ready for their first pair of shoes!
Making sure those first pair of walking shoes are the right fit and the correct size is important for healthy foot development.
As an adult with some gnarly bunions from wearing ill-fitting shoes, I appreciate taking the time to make sure my kids wear their correct shoe size. The all-around fit in terms of width and ample wiggle room for toes is important too.
My 1-year-old (currently 15 months old) is average in terms of her height and weight and is currently somewhere between a 4 and 5 toddler/little kid shoe size in most shoe brands.
Your pediatrician can tell you where your child falls percentile wise for their age at their routine wellness checks. This will give you some idea of whether your child might need a bigger than average size shoe or smaller than average if you have not measured their feet.
Keep in mind that the size difference between a 1 year old who is 12 months old versus a 1 year old who is 23 months old can be pretty drastic!
So if you are not measuring your child’s foot and are just googling what size shoe for a 1 year old, keep this difference in mind.
For example, according to Baby Center, an average 12-month-old girl in the United States is close to 20 lbs and just over 29 inches tall. At 23 months, the average girl is nearly 26 lbs and just over 33 inches tall.
That’s about a 6 lb weight gain and a 4+ inch height gain within a year. For someone who is less than 3 feet tall, that’s some significant growth in a short period of time!
Also, boys are typically bigger than girls at this age, so a “typical” shoe size for a 1 year old can also vary depending on a child’s sex.
If you want to find a comfortable fit and the right shoes for your child’s feet, it’s a good idea to measure their foot and reference a children’s shoe size guide. Shoe size guides vary from brand to brand, so be sure to check the right one for the shoe you are considering.
As a busy parent of 2 wild children, I know that taking the time to measure out a squirmy little foot can be a challenge. Luckily, it can actually be quite easy with a trick or two up your sleeve!
The best way I have found to measure squirmy little feet is to take two board game boxes with nice 90 degree angles and sandwich my child’s foot between them (if you are not in a shoe store with one of those feet measuring devices, trying to get a 1-year-old to stand straight with the back of the heel against a wall is pretty much impossible).
I lay a piece of paper down first with a couple of pieces of tape securing it to the floor. Then I have my 1-year-old stand on the paper. Next I quickly place a board game box on each end of her tiny feet (or just do one foot at a time). The floor and the side of the box should make a nice 90 degree angle.
Most kids should be able to hold still just long enough to sandwich their little foot in between the board game boxes. When they step away, just hold the boxes in place.
You can then make two tick marks against the inner edge of the boxes to get an accurate measurement of their foot length.
Next, just measure the distance between your two tick marks with a measuring tape and reference a shoe size chart for whatever brand you are buying.
Consider that some 1 year olds have wide feet. While a shoe may fit them great length wise, it may be too tight width wise. In these cases, either sizing up or finding a shoe that comes in a wide width is important for a proper fit.
For example, according to Target’s Cat & Jack size chart, my daughter is a size 4. I can hardly squeeze her plump little foot into a size 4 though, so we have to size up if buying this brand.
Some little kid shoe brands like Stride Rite though, have shoes in “medium”, “wide”, and “extra wide”widths for the best fit.
To measure for width, take a non-stretchy ribbon or string and snugly loop it around the widest part of your child’s foot. Hold your finger on the end point and then pull the string away and measure the length of it.
Alternatively, some online shoe companies have printable shoe sizing guides. You can print them out at home and then have your child step on the paper to get their shoe size according to both foot length and width.
Shoe Sizing for Babies and Toddlers
Typically little kid shoe sizing ranges from 0 (newborn) up to 12T.
Then it gets weird because you shift into big kid sizes that typically start at size 13, which is then followed by sizes 1 through 7. As already mentioned though, shoe brands can vary slightly from one another in terms of their sizing charts and systems.
Unless your baby is walking at a very young age (before 12 months), there’s no need to buy infant shoes. Unless you are dressing them up in a cute outfit, shoes are pretty irrelevant for non-walkers. It’s fun to buy baby shoes though, and they can also protect baby’s feet in cold or sunny weather.
Generally, you can find baby shoe sizes as follows;
Toddler shoe sizes then generally go from 12-18 months or size 4 up to size 12T. 12T typically fits kids up to around 5 years old. I have found this to be true with my son. He is 4.5 years old and is a size 11 according to Target’s Cat & Jack shoe size chart).
Both of my children used Stride Rite soft motion sneakers for their first pair of walking shoes. While Stride Rite shoes can be a little pricey depending on the style, I found both pairs of Stride Rite soft-soled shoes for my kids at the thrift store.
The first pair was $2 and the second was $10, and they have been the perfect shoes. Many young toddler’s “used” shoes have little to no wear and tear, so buying used instead of brand new shoes is a great option.
Stride Rite’s first walker soft motion shoes have a wide toe bed and are soft and flexible for natural movements while walking. The wide-toe bed provides more than enough wiggle room for developing feet and the soft soles create a protective and flexible support system. Plus, these little sneakers look so cute.
I love that Stride Rite has some eco-conscious shoe options as well. You can also check resale sites like Poshmark to see if there are any gently used shoes available.
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When I first heard about breast milk jewelry, I scoffed at the idea. Why would anyone care about preserving their breastmilk in a weird piece of jewelry?
Fast forward a few months to when I started making plans to wean my baby, and I found myself thinking about breastmilk jewelry and how I wanted some.
In fact, I felt like I needed it. I felt that I could not wean my daughter without preserving some of my breastmilk into a keepsake. My breastfeeding journey had been full of so many ups and downs. I needed some way to honor all the trials and tribulations as well as the breastfeeding bond I shared with my daughter.
Breastmilk jewelry seemed like the perfect way to memorialize the special time in my life as a nursing mother. It also seemed like a meaningful keepsake to pass on to my daughter one day, so that she could always have a small part of me and our special bond.
I started researching ways to make my own breast milk jewelry or have a piece made for me. I’ll be sharing here what I found to be the best way to make breast milk jewelry, including the products I used and the process.
There are 3 options when it comes to acquiring a piece of your own breast milk jewelry;
1. Buy a DIY Kit: Breastmilk jewelry kits will have everything you need (jewelry blank, resin, breastmilk preservation powder).
2. Have someone else make your jewelry: Send a small amount of breastmilk to a jewelry maker who will craft your piece for you.
3. Follow a DIY method using your own materials: For example, some online tutorials recommend using ingredients like cornstarch, Mod Podge, and resin).
4. Make your own DIY kit: Buy breastmilk preservation powder, resin, jewelry blanks, and a silicone mold).
I wanted to find the most affordable and highest quality option for my breast milk jewelry. I also had specific types of jewelry pieces in mind.
After considering each of the above options, I found that number 4 was my best bet; making my own DIY breast milk jewelry kit. I could make multiple pieces of customized jewelry that I knew would be great quality for half the cost of a good DIY kit sold online.
I liked the idea of making multiple jewelry pieces because I wanted to have one that I could always keep as a tangible memory, as well as one to pass on to my daughter.
So I needed to find a great breastmilk preservation powder, some nice jewelry blanks, molds to match the blanks, and some resin.
After shopping around online, I decided that the best option for ready-mixed breastmilk preservation powder was from Precious Relics Jewels.
I like that this seller shares a little bit about her product and story. Additionally, her breastmilk preservation process requires heating the breastmilk to kill bacteria and stabilize it. This is not called for with all breastmilk preservation powders.
I did not want any mold or weird bacteria growing in my jewelry pieces down the road, so the heating process seemed like an important one in the jewelry making process.
Oddly, the recipe for breastmilk preservation powder seems to be top secret, because I could not find any sellers who list the ingredients in their powder blends. While the Precious Relics seller also does not share the ingredients, she at least explains that the ingredients are non-toxic.
She also uses eco-friendly packaging as much as possible. Bonus is that she also sells small bottles of Ecopoxy resin. So I bought a packet of her Everlast Dust and her resin refills.
These two items cost me $35.34 including tax and shipping.
You mix your preserved breastmilk powder with resin to form your breastmilk stone. You can also use resin to adhere your stone to a jewelry blank, if you’re not using a pronged jewelry blank.
As mentioned above, I bought a two-part resin mixture from Precious Relics Jewels along with the preservation powder.
You will need some jewelry blanks to hold your breast milk gems.
I love rose gold jewelry, so bought 2 rose gold plated 925 sterling silver pendant blanks (a blank is the frame of a pendant with an open spot for a stone to be inserted) from Gem Beads 2012. This Etsy shop has tons of different jewelry blank options. I also bought a rose gold plated sterling silver ring.
I like 925 sterling silver for jewelry because it is nickel-free (hypoallergenic), durable, and affordable.
I also considered stainless steel jewelry blanks, since stainless steel is also durable and even more affordable than 925 sterling silver. Some people, however, may have reactions to stainless steel jewelry.
Since my daughter has very sensitive skin and I plan on giving her the breast milk pendant piece one day, I wanted to go with the best hypoallergenic option.
I spent $21.72 on my 3 sterling silver 925 jewelry blanks.
There are lots of options when it comes to buying a silicone mold. You just need to make sure the size mold you are buying matches the size of your jewelry blank.
I kept it simple and bought a mold for 3, 6x8mm ovals to match my three 6x8mm oval jewelry blanks.
The Etsy shop SOS Molds has so many different molds and the ones I got from this shop worked great. I spent about $5 excluding tax and shipping for a 3 piece mold.
Looking at all the steps may feel like a lot of hard work, especially when you are already a busy mom. In reality though, it’s a pretty straightforward process. As long as you have all of your materials, you shouldn’t have any problems making your own beautiful breastmilk jewelry!
I followed Precious Relic’s step-by-step instructions to make my breast milk stones. Below is a little insight into the process, but if you end up purchasing Everlast Dust I recommend following the instructions from the source!
The first step is making sure you have ordered and gathered all of your supplies. This was the most time-consuming part of the whole process.
The next step is collecting a small amount of your own milk. You do not need much! I was dreading having to bring out my pump and fill a breastmilk storage bag, but as it turns out, I just hand-expressed the tiniest bit of milk which was enough to mix with the preservation powder. You only need 5 mLs if you are using Everlast Dust preservation powder.
Precious Relics recommends a double broiler method to heat your breastmilk so that you do not overheat it.
I put a little bit boiling water in a small pot and set a small fry pan on top. Then I added the milk to the fry pan and let it heat up until the edges were lightly bubbling.
Then I added the preservation powder to the heated breastmilk in the fry pan and mixed them well.
Spread your preserved breastmilk mixture into a thin layer on a piece of parchment paper. This helps it dry out and release moisture.
Precious Relics explains that this is a critical step in the preservation process. Luckily you do not have to do anything, but let your powder sit in a protected area out of direct sunlight.
The drying process takes at least 24-48 hours, according to the Everlast Dust Instructions. I let my powder sit for 48 hours, and then for another 48 hours after grinding it.
I did not have a mortar and pestle, so just used my espresso tamper. I ground it right on the piece of parchment paper it had been drying on.
After waiting for another couple of days for the powder to dry out even more, I did another quick grind session to turn it into an even finer powder and then got everything ready to start mixing the resin.
I mixed the resin and then added in a little bit of preserved breastmilk powder. I kept adding small amounts until it was a nice opaque color.
I ended up having more breastmilk powder than I could use for my 3 jewelry pieces, so I made a couple “gemstones” for my 4 year old. I still had a bunch of powder left over even after this, so I may make more stones in the future.
After letting your filled molds sit for at least 24 hours, you will have your beautiful keepsakes!
The breast milk ring and pendants I made turned out great. And making the jewelry was a satisfying process and surprisingly relaxing.
And now that I have my keepsakes to memorialize my breastfeeding journey and nursing bond with my daughter, I feel ready to complete the weaning process and step into the next phase of motherhood!
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If you are a breastfeeding mama who has had recurrent plugged ducts, you know the struggle. What starts as a fairly small tender spot on your breast can quickly become a painful hard lump. If a clog does not clear up on its own or with some home remedies, it can turn into a real problem.
So, learning how to take care of stubborn clogs is essential for busy mamas who have better things to worry about!
As a breastfeeding mom with a history of recurrent clogged ducts, I have finally figured out a protocol to treat and prevent them. I am generally able to clear a clogged duct in a day or 2. And when I keep up with a preventative daily sunflower lecithin capsule, I do not seem to get any clogs in the first place.
I take up to 4 capsules of Legendairy Milk’s Sunflower Lecithin to help clear plugged ducts. This is the label’s recommended dosage. For prevention, the suggestion is 1 capsule 2 times per day. I stick with 1 capsule per day for prevention and that has worked well for me.
Each Legendairy Milk Sunflower Lecithin capsule has 1200 mg of organic sunflower lecithin and 111 mg of phosphatidyl choline.
While I share my experience here with sunflower lecithin supplements and clogged ducts, please be aware that I am not a medical professional. All medical questions should be directed to your healthcare provider.
I have found that it takes me 1-2 days to clear a plugged duct following Legendairy Milk’s suggested sunflower lecithin supplement protocol. I also stick to a regular nursing schedule and do some manual massage over the clogged area while nursing. These three strategies seem to help move painful clogs along.
Since I have had quite a few clogged ducts during my breastfeeding journey, along with a couple of milk blisters and some horribly painful milk blebs, taking a sunflower lecithin capsule daily for prevention has also become essential for me.
I have found that on 2 or 3 occasions when I stopped taking sunflower lecithin for a few days, I got clogged ducts a few days later. Coincidence or science?
At first, I just thought it was a coincidence. I was skeptical that the supplement was doing anything in the first place, but as a desperate mama, I was willing to try anything. When clogged ducts continued to coincide with my intermittent breaks in my sunflower lecithin regimen, I started to wonder if there truly was something remarkable about the product.
I decided to research sunflower lecithin to see what might be behind its seemingly powerful properties.
Sunflower lecithin is a natural substance and fatty compound that is extracted from sunflower seeds.
It is a common food additive and emulsifier (helps ingredients mix), and is also used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved it as a generally safe food and defines it as a mixture of phospholipids, glycolipids, carbohydrates, and triglycerides. As far as sunflower lecithin supplements go, Everyday Health notes that the manufacturing process of supplements is not FDA-regulated. This means that there isn’t any standardized quality control when it comes to supplements sold on the shelves in stores or online. Something to keep in mind when you are shopping around for a good supplement.
In addition to sunflower seeds, lecithin is also extracted from egg yolks and soy. Other meats and vegetables naturally contain lecithin as well.
On the label of Legendairy Milk’s Sunflower Lecithin bottle, the company states that their product is a fat emulsifier (helps keep fats in breastmilk from sticking together) and helps with milk flow. By making breastmilk less sticky, sunflower lecithin helps clear clogs and helps keep them from forming in the first place.
Drugs and Lactation Database notes that there are no clinical scientific studies on breastfeeding women taking high doses of sunflower lecithin. This is largely because the manufacturing process of dietary supplements is not FDA-regulated. So the quality and effectiveness of a supplement like sunflower lecithin varies from brand to brand. This variation in quality means that results from one study using a certain manufactured supplement will not apply to a supplement manufactured by a different company.
Despite the lack of research on the effects of sunflower lecithin, reputable sources like the Canadian Breastfeeding Foundation and La Leche League International suggest that sunflower or soy lecithin supplements can potentially be helpful for some breastfeeding mothers with recurrent clogs.
Without hard clinical evidence, we are left with the anecdotal evidence of breastfeeding mamas struggling with clogged ducts.
So I am here to say that sunflower lecithin supplements have helped treat and prevent my recurrent plugged ducts and milk blebs. For the first half of my breastfeeding journey with my second child, I was constantly dealing with these issues. Now, as long as I stick with a daily sunflower lecithin capsule, I can prevent these problems. When I get lazy about my daily dose though, I have found that I start to develop a milk bleb or clogged duct.
Here’s what I do as a breastfeeding mom to deal with clogged milk ducts;
As soon as I feel a clog developing, I take action. I take up to 4 Legendairy Milk Sunflower Lecithin capsules spread throughout the day. I am also diligent about nursing on a schedule so that I am not going too long in between feeds. Some online sources encourage a breastfeeding mom to nurse or pump as often as possible to reduce a clog, but I have found that there is a balance to be had.
Too much nursing or pumping can boost milk production. When milk is already backed up, an increase in milk production and an overly abundant milk supply are not helpful. So in most cases, I have always stuck to my normal nursing or pumping schedule when dealing with a clog. If the clog has become extremely painful and seems like it is quickly getting worse though, I do sometimes go ahead and try to do an extra nursing session.
As I nurse or pump when dealing with a clog, first I make sure my baby’s latch is good and she is in a good breastfeeding position. Even when I am dealing with a milk bleb and sore nipples on top of a clog, I am diligent about a good latch. Then as I am nursing, I try to do some gentle breast massage on the hard lump where the clog is. I try not to use too much pressure to keep it from being painful or too harsh on delicate breast tissue. I also do not want to stimulate more milk production. If my affected side is really sore, I apply a hot water bottle to the tender lump before nursing to soften everything up a bit. I have found that a warm shower before nursing has also helped make nursing with a clog a little more comfortable.
Even if I catch the development of a clogged duct and or milk bleb early on, it still usually takes a handful of nursing sessions and massage to fully clear the clog. When I actively manage clogged ducts as soon as I feel them coming on, I have never had one stick around for more than 2 days.
It’s important to watch out for any symptoms of mastitis if a clog isn’t clearing. John Hopkins Medicine explains that mastitis is an infection in the breast that can be accompanied by flu-like symptoms and a red spot or streaks on one or both of your breasts.
Mayo Clinic explains that a doctor usually needs to prescribe antibiotics to clear a mastitis infection. Additionally, Healthline notes that if not treated, mastitis can lead to a breast abscess (an accumulation of pus from infection). Luckily I have never had to deal with either of these issues, but I know I would head to the doctor if I ever started developing any signs of infection.
It is worth noting that sunflower lecithin is not for everyone. Health News explains that some people may have an allergy or may experience adverse reactions such as gastrointestinal problems as a negative side effect. Sunflower lecithin could also negatively interact with medications, so it is important to speak with a healthcare provider about taking sunflower lecithin alongside other medications.
Sunflower Lecithin supplements are relatively easy to come by. I buy the Legendairy Milk product at Target. You can find it in the breastfeeding and formula aisle in the baby section. You can also buy them at most major grocery stores in the vitamin aisle.
Since supplements are not regulated by the FDA, it’s worth doing a little research on the brand you are planning on buying. While you may find one brand that offers sunflower lecithin for cheap, you may not necessarily be getting a quality supplement.
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These healthy toddler muffins with no added sugar are a big hit in our house! They are full of wholesome ingredients like carrots, oats, unsweetened applesauce, and almond butter.
Additionally, you can easily make these muffins gluten-free or vegan with a couple of tiny tweaks!
While I originally started making these carrot muffins for my toddler, I eat them too. And now my 1-year-old gobbles them up as well.
We love to spread some cream cheese or almond butter on top of a warm muffin for a healthy snack or as part of a hearty meal.
I am especially happy to have a batch of these wholesome muffins on hand on days that are busy and chaotic. There’s nothing like homemade snacks full of nutritious ingredients to bring everyone back to center.
I’ve tried out a number of healthy muffin recipes over the years (banana spinach muffins, yogurt blueberry muffins, peanut butter banana muffins, the list goes on), but this carrot muffin recipe is the one that we keep coming back to again and again.
Even without added sugar, these homemade muffins are still wonderfully sweet and toddler-approved.
This healthy recipe calls for unsweetened applesauce and almond butter as natural sweeteners. Applesauce additionally makes these muffins soft and moist. Almond butter also helps bind all the ingredients.
You can also add chopped raisins for an additional boost of sweetness. Raisins are a great source of iron for kids.
If you want to sweeten up these muffins even more, spread almond butter over the top of a muffin to add a sweet nutty flavor. Almond butter will also give your little ones a boost of protein along with some healthy fat! (Almond butter should be spread thinly for younger toddlers to prevent choking risk.)
These delectable kid-friendly muffins are a great source of nourishment. They are made with the following simple ingredients;
Aside from a little baking powder, baking soda, and vanilla extract, that’s it! No added sugars or long list of questionable ingredients.
A single muffin offers kids a whole grain (oats), a vegetable (carrots), a fruit (apple), a fat (coconut oil), and a protein (eggs) all in one!
Add a side of plain Greek yogurt for dipping or spread almond butter or cream cheese on top for more protein and a perfect healthy snack. Sub in unsweetened vanilla cashew yogurt or vegan cream cheese for a dairy-free option.
Not only are these muffins nutritional powerhouses, but they are also easy to make! You can mix all of the wet ingredients and dry ingredients in any old order into one large bowl. The only other dish you have to dirty besides a muffin tin is a fork for mixing! There are enough dishes to deal with when it comes to feeding kids, so let’s make baking as simple as possible.
My primary motivation to make these muffins is so that I can feed my kids healthy snacks, but I also like that I have something nourishing on hand for myself!
I have experienced sahm mom burnout and mom overstimulation firsthand, and I know how important it is to keep myself properly fueled throughout the day to keep up with rambunctious children. So these healthy muffins have become an easy breakfast or a great grab-and-go snack for the whole family.
While these carrot toddler muffins are not going to taste like the sugary carrot cake muffins you get from Starbucks, I can honestly say I enjoy these muffins just as much in their own way. And I feel good knowing that they are not jam-packed with refined sugar and other questionable ingredients.
These muffins are also easily packable to take on outings with little ones. While we often rely on store-bought packaged snacks while out and about, it’s nice to be able to take a fresh home-baked good instead from time to time.
Baking can get pretty messy and chaotic with toddlers, but I have found that this carrot muffin recipe is simple enough that I am 100% willing to invite my toddler to join in on the process.
It’s a great simple recipe to help kids learn about gathering, measuring, and mixing ingredients.
These muffins can easily accommodate a gluten-free diet by using gluten-free oat flour or gluten-free 1-1 baking flour. If making your own oat flour at home, just be sure that you buy a container of oats marked as gluten-free. Oats are naturally gluten-free, but not all are considered 100% gluten-free if they are processed and potentially contaminated in a factory with gluten products.
I have made these muffins using homemade oat flour, Bob’s Red Mill 1-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour, whole wheat flour, and all-purpose flour. Oat flour gives them a dense nutty bran-like flavor, while gf-baking flour, all-purpose flour, and wheat flour give them a more subtle flavor.
To make these carrot muffins vegan-friendly, just substitute flaxseed meal for the eggs.
The Minimalist Baker recommends mixing 1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal with 2.5 tbsp of water to make a “flax egg“. After combining, let the mixture sit and thicken for 5 minutes before pouring in with the other muffin ingredients.
My 1-year-old has a cow’s milk allergy, so dairy-free milk options along with dairy-free meals and snacks have become very important. These muffins are perfect for her and she loves them!
She especially chows down on these homemade muffins when they have Trader Joe’s Vegan Cream Cheese spread on them. This cream cheese is a bit high in sodium and is not exactly loaded with nutrients, but it does provide some fats for growing little ones and a dash of pizazz!
Just leave out the almond butter and you have a perfectly wonderful nut-free muffin. While the almond butter adds some additional sweetness to these muffins, it is not necessary. I have made these muffins plenty of times without adding almond butter and I’m not sure that my toddler can tell the difference.
Adding in some raisins can really jazz up these muffins for toddlers. For our 1-year-old, I chop the raisins up before adding them to the muffin batter to prevent a choking hazard. If your little one is not a fan of chopped raisins, you can try adding some fresh diced apple pieces. Or just leave out any add-ins altogether for a more plain muffin.
For older kids you can add in some mini chocolate chips or maple syrup if you are less concerned about the sugar content of the muffins. Sometimes a couple of little chocolate chips can be very motivating to get a picky eater to devour an otherwise nutritious snack.
After experimenting with gluten-free baking flour, all-purpose flour, oat flour, and whole wheat flour, I favor using organic whole wheat flour. Wheat flour is more nutritious than all-purpose flour and it creates a less dense muffin than oat flour. That being said, I will make these muffins with any of the flours listed and am always pleased with them.
Compared to the other flour options, homemade oat flour tends to change the texture and density of these muffins. And when you initially pull them out of the oven they feel like they might fall apart. After they have cooled though, they are just fine!
Using applesauce creates a pretty mushy muffin batter, and originally I found it a little difficult to know when these muffins were fully baked.
I felt that no matter how long I left them in the oven baking, they still seemed a bit too moist inside. So I bought a kitchen thermometer to make sure I was baking the muffins long enough and they were reaching a high enough internal temperature. Thermoblog notes that muffins should be baked to an internal temperature of 200-205 degrees F.
I found that it took 23 minutes of baking time for these regular-sized muffins to reach an internal temperature of 200 degrees F. Oven temperatures may vary, so give or take a few minutes depending on your oven.
Even at an internal temperature of 200 degrees F, these muffins still may leave a little residue on a toothpick after you insert it, so just know that the toothpick method is not the most reliable with this recipe due to the applesauce.
If using a mini muffin pan, the bake time will be less. I have not made these as mini muffins myself, but Craftsy states that mini muffins typically need 10 to 13 minutes of baking time. I would go for at least 15 minutes with this recipe since these muffins take a few extra minutes than most muffin recipes when using a stand-sized muffin tin.
I always store these muffins in an air-tight container after they have completely cooled.
Master Class explains you can keep muffins in an airtight-container for up to 4-days at room temperature, and recommends sandwiching them in-between paper towels to absorb moisture.
Despite this advice, I still usually pop ours in the fridge and just warm them up before serving. My kids don’t mind when the texture of the muffin has a changed a bit due to refrigeration and I always know they are fresh that way.
Please be aware of any food allergies you and/or your child may have and adjust the recipe as needed.
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Breastfeeding a 1-Year-Old: How Often?
As babies transition from infancy to toddlerhood, their nutritional needs evolve. Their relationship with breastfeeding also changes. Breastfeeding past the 1-year mark is often referred to as “extended breastfeeding”. Many benefits come with extended breastfeeding, as well as some challenges.
One of the challenges of extended breastfeeding is knowing how often to breastfeed a toddler to ensure that their nutritional needs are met. As it turns out, the answer to the question of how often to breastfeed a 1-year-old is not a simple one-size-fits-all kind of answer. This is because breastfeeding habits can vary drastically from one baby to the next.
Here are some of the factors that influence breastfeeding frequency;
Different mamas and their children are going to weigh in differently when it comes to the above factors.
So again, how much you breastfeed your 1-year-old will depend on your individual circumstances, your child’s diet, and your unique breastfeeding relationship with your child.
Please note that I am not a medical professional and all questions regarding your individual child’s needs should be directed to a healthcare professional. I share my experience with my children, but this may or may not apply to your individual circumstances.
While every mama and child will have a unique breastfeeding relationship and schedule, I offer mine here as an example. Some 1-year-olds may nurse more than mine, while others may nurse less. I came up with my breastfeeding schedule after doing a little research and assessing the factors listed above.
Here’s how that breaks down and why the frequency varies so much from day to day;
I have been exclusively breastfeeding my daughter since she was born, and have yet to regularly offer cow’s milk or an alternative milk. As such, she is still breastfeeding quite frequently to get all her essential nutrients in. When I begin supplementing with cow’s milk or an alternative milk, we will decrease her number of nursing sessions.
4-10 nursing sessions is a pretty wide range. While I would ideally like to stick to 4 nursing sessions a day, my daughter sometimes has other ideas. 1 year olds are going through huge developmental changes, and their level of distractibility is high!
So sometimes, getting her to finish a full good feed in one sitting is impossible. As soon as she hastily finishes one side, she will practically somersault off my lap to go play and explore before feeding from the second breast.
On these days, we end up doing sometimes 10 mini nursing sessions spread out over the day, and unfortunately sometimes the night. She may nurse for less than 5 minutes in a sitting during these mini-sessions.
So try as I might to stick to a fixed schedule, our breastfeeding schedule is largely dictated by her whims. As well as the whims of my 4-year-old and how much he wants to distract her while she’s breastfeeding.
As a stay-at-home mom, I can cater relatively easily to these whims and ebbs and flows that come with young children. Some moms need to follow strict schedules though, so again, one size does not fit all when it comes to breastfeeding young toddlers.
If young toddlers have not yet been introduced to cow’s milk or an alternative milk, breast milk remains a primary source of nutrition for them. While they are starting to get a lot of their dietary needs met through solid nutritious foods, breastmilk, whole milk or full fat/unsweetened alternative milks offer specific nutritional benefits like protein, fat, calcium, and vitamin D. The fats in milk are especially important for developing brains. Breast milk additionally offers beneficial antibodies that support a child’s immune system.
Young toddlers 12 months of age and older can start drinking cow’s milk or alternative milk, instead of breastmilk or in addition to breastmilk. There are some general professional recommendations;
WebMd states that toddlers should have no more than 3 cups (24 oz) of cow’s milk or alternative milk in a day. Toddlers who are breastfeeding and drinking human milk on the other hand, are not at risk for over-consuming breastmilk.
Too much dairy can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb iron, another important nutrient for developing children. Too much milk can also make children too full to consume solid foods and healthy snacks that offer other important nutrients. Milk is low in iron, so offering children Iron Rich Foods is important.
Note that some children may be allergic to cow’s milk, and exploring alternative milks is an option if not breastfeeding. Not all milks are created equal though, so check in with your pediatrician for specific recommendations.
Lactation Consultant experts state that 12-month-olds need 16-20 ounces (2-2.5 cups) of breastmilk every day.
The American Academy of Pediatrics however, does not offer a specific number when it comes to how much breast milk a one-year-old should drink. Instead, the emphasis seems to be on offering a variety of nutrient-rich foods and allowing young toddlers to self-regulate breastmilk intake.
World Nutrition explains that exclusively breastfed babies develop the ability to self-regulate their breast milk intake. Babies taking infant formula from a bottle on the other hand are relying on how much their caregivers are filling their bottles and encouraging bottle emptying.
From an evolutionary perspective, breastfed babies self-regulating makes sense given the fact that nursing mamas are not measuring out how much they are giving their babies.
Without relying on exact measurements, nursing mamas can instead give their attention to their toddler’s feeding cues and also distinguish between when a child wants to nurse for comfort versus due to hunger.
The amount of breastmilk that is considered a “full feed” varies from one toddler to the next. So again, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to breastfeeding frequency at the 1-year mark.
According to their studies, Medela states babies may take anywhere from just under 2oz up to about 8oz per nursing session. And that overall, some healthy babies drink around 17oz in a day, while other healthy babies drink nearly 48oz.
That’s quite a wide range! While their studies were done on babies under 6 months old, I assume this variability in milk intake is still relevant for 1-year-olds.
The range in numbers Medela gives serves as evidence that there is no one right answer to how often a 1-year-old should be breastfeeding. A 1-year-old who is taking in nearly 8 oz in a single feed certainly does not need to breastfeed as often as a 1-year-old who is only taking in a couple of ounces per feed.
Obviously a nursing mama cannot determine how much her baby is taking in, unless she is weighing her child with a sensitive scale before and after nursing sessions like lactation nurses do.
Mamas who want to have some sort of number in mind though, can try pumping to see how much they are producing. Even this though, is not a totally accurate way to know how much your little one is taking in.
For one, your body may not respond to pumping in the same way it does to your child latching. When I was occasionally pumping in the first few months of my baby’s life, it was sometimes taking up to 20 minutes to get a let down. With breastfeeding, I can feel the let down happening within the first minute or so of my baby latching.
I have also read that babies are more efficient at getting breastmilk out than a pump is, so you may not pump as much as your baby would get out while nursing. Additionally, the amount of breastmilk you produce can change depending on the time of day. If you pump in the morning, you may produce more or less than you would at night. Still, pumping can offer some insight into how much milk you typically produce.
The last time I pumped, I was producing about 2-3 ounces per breast every 3 hours or so. This was after my supply was well established, so I am assuming I still produce somewhere in that range.
So if a full feed for my baby is somewhere between 4-6 oz, then I figure breastfeeding her a minimum of 3-4 full feeds a day, in addition to meals and snacks with solid foods will meet her nutritional needs.
Since many of her nursing feeds these days are only partial feeds, I usually end up sitting down to do more frequent feeding; usually 5 or more times a day. As already stated though, different mamas and babies will end up with varying numbers of nursing sessions depending on their individual circumstances.
A full feed is when a child nurses until they are full. How long it takes a child to finish a full feed depends on several factors;
Generally speaking though, older babies and toddlers can get a full feed in pretty quickly. Nemours Kids Health states that older babies often take only 5-10 minutes on each breast to complete a full feed.
I have found this to be true with my 1-year-old. If fully awake and not distracted, she usually empties one breast in a little over 5 minutes.
In addition to guesstimating how much your toddler is taking in during a nursing session, you can tune in to their feeding cues.
What does your child do when trying to tell you that they want to nurse? What do they do when they are telling you that they are full?
As babies grow, their feeding cues become more nuanced and may vary from the clear signals exhibited during infancy. Here are some 1-year-old feeding cues to be aware of;
Verbal Communication Cues: At one year, toddlers may begin using simple words, gestures, or sign language to let you know when they want to breastfeed. Some young toddlers might say or sign for “milk”, or point to their mama.
I often ask my 1-year-old, “Do you want milk?”. If she is hungry or needs some comfort, she starts frantically babbling and smiling.
Body Language Cues: Young toddlers who are less verbal will give let you know they are hungry through their body language. They may reach for you or tug on your shirt, or lean in towards you and open their mouths.
Fussiness or Restlessness Cues: Irritability or restlessness may indicate hunger or a need for comfort. Offering the breast when your 1 year old is fussing can provide physical nourishment if hungry and emotional nourishment when unsettled.
Interest in Solid Foods: Offering both solid foods and breastmilk gives growing toddlers the nutrition they need. You may need to offer your child a variety of different solid foods before they will eat. Just because they refuse one type of food one day though, doesn’t mean that they won’t eat it another day. Their taste preferences can rapidly change, so continuing to offer a variety ensures they are exposed to lots of different flavors and textures, as well as nutrients.
If they are refusing a lot of solid foods one day, this could indicate that they are seeking a little more nourishment through breastfeeding on that particular day.
Nap and Bedtime Associations: Many breastfeeding babies nurse before naps or bedtimes, and young toddlers may come to rely on this as part of their sleep routine.
Latch and Jaw Movement While Nursing: You know your baby is hungry and ready to get a full feed in when she latches on well and you can see good jaw movement as she nurses.
Aside from tuning into a baby’s needs by reading their self-regulating breastfeeding cues as noted above, nursing moms can also keep track of their breastfed babies’ growth at routine wellness checks. If toddlers are starting to fall behind, this could be a sign that they are not getting enough calories and nutrients in during the day.
At every wellness check, pediatric staff will weigh your child and measure their height. They will note where your child falls relative to other children their age in terms of their physical growth.
Your pediatrician should say something if they are concerned about your child’s weight dropping or increasing significantly from their previous appointment, or if your child is very low in their growth percentiles. If your child’s health care provider is concerned with your child’s growth, they will likely inquire about your child’s diet and make some recommendations.
My daughter’s pediatrician did note though, that it is often normal for young toddlers’ weight to temporarily dip as they become more active between 1 and 2 years old.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life and then up until 2 years of age or beyond. Some mamas decide to breastfeed for 2 years or more, but many can’t or do not want to.
There are other healthy alternatives to extended breastfeeding, so if a mama wants to stop breastfeeding at any point, that is her choice to make. To determine whether or not extended breastfeeding is right for you, here are some questions to ask yourself;
In my case, I thought I was going to wean my baby as soon as she turned 1 year old. I thought I was done with breastfeeding and was looking forward to regaining my bodily autonomy. And hopefully reducing night time wakings!
As it turns out, I’m not quite ready to end my nursing relationship with my daughter. After she recently turned 1, I talked about weaning her a lot, yet I still found myself nursing around the clock. I’m continuing to maintain a regular feeding schedule, and continuing to hem and haw over whether I want to continue breastfeeding.
Benefits of Extended Breastfeeding for Moms
While breastfeeding is a lot of work, there are advantages not just for the breastfeeding child, but for mom too!
The CDC notes that breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
The National Library of Medicine states, “breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer by 4.3% for every 12 months of breastfeeding, which is in addition to the 7.0% decrease in risk observed for each birth.” As a mama who lost her own mother to breast cancer, these numbers motivate me to continue breastfeeding. I want to be around for my children as long as possible, and with a family history of breast cancer, I know that I need to be cognizant of reducing risk whenever I can.
While there are health benefits for mom when it comes to extended breastfeeding, there are also some challenges. Some of these challenges may include;
If you are continuing to offer regular breastfeeding sessions, but notice your young toddler is not all that interested, they may be starting the weaning process themselves.
My first baby self-weaned shortly after 12 months old, and it took me by surprise! If you are wondering whether or not your child is in the process of weaning themselves, you can familiarize yourself with Baby Self-Weaning Signs.
Getting through a full year of breastfeeding is quite the feat. While some moms may feel that it is no big deal, my guess is that most moms are feeling like they have climbed and conquered Mount Everest. I know I did. After experiencing excruciating Nipple Pain, Recurring Milk Blebs, clogged ducts, and countless night feedings, I feel like I deserve a medal.
For myself, part of me wants to continue breastfeeding my 12-month-old, but part of me is ready to move on to the next phase of life without breastfeeding.
If I stop breastfeeding, I do not have to factor in nursing sessions into our daily schedule, which can be pretty busy with a 1-year-old and a wild 4-year-old in my case. The regained sense of bodily autonomy would also be a benefit for me. Still though, I cling on to breastfeeding my 1-year-old for emotional reasons.
All mamas have unique relationships with their children when it comes to breastfeeding, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach to breastfeeding frequency. Knowing how often to breastfeed a one-year-old involves awareness regarding feeding cues and young toddlers’ evolving nutritional needs.
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