Mom Life According To Elisa

  Autism may be linked to the consumption of processed foods during pregnancy, according to a new study . Dr. Selah Naser of the University of Central Florida has investigated the relationship between an acid added to packaged foods and fetal brain development. He believes that this acid may contribute to autism.  Read More

I don't use rewards like toys, candy, or money to  motivate my child . I find that without treats and prizes, she  gains more self-confidence  and  better values her personal achievements . But I didn't always feel this way.  Read the rest here on POPSUGAR

Breastfeeding on a schedule worked best for my baby, but I quickly learned not to talk about it.  Breastfeeding mothers  often rely on babies' hunger cues and shun schedules. But the clock's guidance actually transformed  my colicky infant  into one who was happy, alert, and even  met her milestones  more quickly. Read the rest here on POPSUGAR

Finding the best nipple cream may have saved my  breastfeeding journey  from ending within weeks. I had no idea how  painful nursing  would be for me, especially since my baby had a poor latch. In the end, I made it through and ended up  nursing for two years and four months . I came to love and cherish breastfeeding, but I almost didn't make it past the first month. Read the rest here on POPSUGAR

“Have you been depressed or thought of suicide?” The question rolled off the doctor’s tongue, and I smiled and shook my head on cue. I had heard it about seven times over six weeks after having my baby girl — from NICU nurses, our pediatrician, my lactation consultant, and now from my OB at my 6-week checkup.  They all rattled the question off, and I always smiled and said no. Depression has never been much of a friend of mine, and after having my first child, I was on the other end of that spectrum. I was so happy I felt a constant sense of bliss and euphoria. Between the postpartum and breastfeeding hormones flooding my system with oxytocin and soaking in the concept that I did this—I had a baby, my life’s goal complete—there was no depression. None. But there was anxiety. No one ever asked me about that.  I never even asked myself. It’s very difficult, for me at least, to reflect upon my emotional or mental state while I’m in the middle of experiencing it. I can...

I learn all my best baby sleep tips from the amazing consultants at Sleep Wise Consulting. For our sensitive little girl, paying attention to what she ate helped so much with her sleep. Check it out:  Eating the right foods (and avoiding the wrong ones) can significantly impact how well your toddler sleeps. After age one, babies’ nutritional needs shift, and it’s easy to unwittingly cause sleep problems by offering the wrong foods at the wrong times. There are two major changes in a baby’s dietary needs after her first birthday. To begin, milk is no longer the primary source of nutrition, but rather solid foods are now more important. Secondly, cow’s milk can be introduced. When you start cow’s milk, you’ll wean formula. But cow’s milk is not simply a replacement for formula. It plays a very different role in a toddler’s diet, and it needs to be offered in a new context. Read the full post over at Sleep Wise's page

I highly recommend Sleep Wise Consulting by Katie Pitts when it comes to sleep. The ladies on her team seriously make magic! Check this article out on why good naps beget good night sleep: Babies who take good naps will sleep better overnight. It may sound counterintuitive, but we promise it’s true. Keeping a baby up longer during the day will not tire them out for a good night’s rest. In fact, one of the most important factors in sleeping through the night is a well-rested baby. What Happens When a Baby is Sleep Deprived? To understand why this is true, let’s take a look at what happens when a baby is not well-rested. Have you ever stayed up later than usual and experienced a second wind? That surge of energy is from the stress hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline. Your body produces them because it senses that something is wrong. You did not go to sleep when your body clock said it was time. This is what happens to a baby who misses the right time to go down for a nap. The di...