We are firm believers in You Are What You Eat. Not just from a weight management perspective, but also for optimal internal health. I’ve followed the following list of foods, and when to introduce them, recommended by our naturopathic doctor for both of our kids to help reduce the risk of food allergies and ensure good digestion. (see bottom of page for more details)
Food for Babies 0-6 Months Old
The World Health Organization and many international health decision makers, recommend breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of a baby’s life.  Of course, not everyone is able to breastfeed, but if you are it is a good minimum goal to set. We had large babies and chose to begin slowly introducing solids one at a time, for several …

Right around the birth of our first child, the World Health Organization put out a report that recommended breastfeeding children until the age of two, and exclusively for the first 6 months of life. My pharmacist friend was using the report as a benchmark for her family, as were many other mothers I was talking to. Up to this point, we hadn’t felt like mainstream parents, and I found comfort in the wide-spread acceptance of this information that was supporting attachment parenting concepts that we liked. We put any discomfort we or other family members felt aside about feeding in public and other issues, and decided to breastfeed our daughter for a minimum of one year. We were hopeful for, but not sure we’d make …

In our society, there is generally a high value placed on being competitive not only at home, but in the workplace, sports and even within relationships. Competition is said to “build character” and “achieve excellence” and overcome laziness – it is a very normal way to demonstrate our success as humans.  Competitive sports are thought to be great for “team building” and working together towards a goal. Trophies and prizes are handed out regularly to children at sporting events, or even at school. I grew up playing sports and believe the physical activity is of great benefit – as an average athlete, I was master of none. As parents we read some Waldorf findings about children being introduced to sport too early because: 1) they …

I like the idea that I am just a small blip on the evolutionary path of the human race. I don’t have to figure out our ever-changing world, and my place in it to know what to do as a parent. If change is inevitable, I see my job in the human continuum as helping to ensure we are shifting or evolving in a positive direction. The challenge is to identify the difference between evolved change, and change for the sake of itself.
Our children have the ability to live more fulfilling lives than simply being an animal of the stock-market food chain. But I often feel at a crossroad when faced with big parenting decisions. Parents that have the ability to marry the good of …

To vaccinate or not is often a choice that is influenced greatly by where you live,  local health threats, personal values and your risk tolerance.  In Europe, some countries (UK and France) do not fund vaccinations through their government.  In Canada vaccinations are fully funded under the basic health care system. In the US, parents must sign a waiver saying that they do not want their children vaccinated (for religious or personal reasons) before they are sent to school. This is a highly personal choice, and one that must be done in the context of your own experience and values .
How Do Vaccines Work?
Vaccines originated in China where a person was infected deliberately with smallpox to help prevent future infection. Vaccines basically stimulate the body’s …