Have you ever heard of the term crunchy parent? There is no right way to parent a child. Every child will respond to different parenting methods in different ways, and as long as you are working on treating your children like equals and you are making life exciting for them, they are always going to be able to relate to you, feel safe with you and feel happy in your presence. A natural parent has always been described as crunchy – a granola eating, vegetarian parent! But it’s not always the case.
For some natural parents, it means that they favor drug free birth options and opt for baby wearing and breastfeeding. For others, it could mean elimination communication, baby led weaning and cloth diapers. There are many parenting choices that you’re going to make when it comes to having your children, but a common thing here is a desire to raise your baby in a way that is most natural and works for your family as a whole. Natural parenting isn’t an out there movement, nor is it a way that has never been done before. People have been naturally parenting for generations if not sentries. Understanding how to be a natural parent is your next step.
Most natural parents out there agree that the body does its best with the least amount of interference possible, and that includes the body of the baby. From cotton to latex material, you need to choose the best things for your child’s skin and your environment as a whole. Medical care recipient seafood as a preventative measure all for emergencies rather than anything else. That does not mean that natural parents are typically anti-vaccination, it just means that they choose to use natural methods of health care where appropriate – you’re not going to see natural parents ignore emergencies and their babies! Most natural parents choose to pre-plan their pregnancy and their births around being more natural.
They will stick to carefully planned out diets that allow them to get an appropriate amount of weight for the baby to use, while keeping their bodies healthy. They will partake in exercise whilst pregnant and beyond, and they will attend lactation classes so that they can learn how to latch a baby and the baby can breastfeed. Some of them even prefer to allow the baby to crawl themselves to the nipple after they’re born.
Natural parenting is in depth, and the things that you choose to do as a parent are going to be natural if that’s the way you choose to be. There are plenty of ways that you can become a natural parent, and it doesn’t mean that you’re doing anything wrong if you follow other ways of doing things either. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can parent with more natural methods.
- Fixing up your diet. Natural parenting starts in the world, and it begins with fixing up your diet so that you are eating everything that your child needs to nurture and grow. It means that through pregnancy and beyond, you’ll make sure that you have a good balance of vitamins and minerals so that you can comfortably breastfeed and it also means that you are aware of the potential limitations during breastfeeding and putting measures in place now, but those. That means learning what food you can eat during pregnancy for milk production, speaking to lactation consultants and other mothers who have tips and tricks to help you to breastfeed comfortably, and listening to your body and what it needs.
- Understanding natural skincare. Almost every baby product out there from laundry detergent to lotions will tell you all about how natural they are. Reading ingredient labels to be able to avoid artificial fragrances, parabens, phthalates and more it’s so important. You don’t want to put anything harsh on your baby skin, and they can all be present even in the baby products and pretend to be natural. The one thing you should consider, is that your baby does need vitamin D without being exposed to sunlight. Babies have very soft and delicate skin and you don’t want to damage it in any way. Be aware of the ways that you can naturally keep your child’s skin moist and comfortable where it should be without resorting to chemically laden products.
- Considering you’re feeding options. As a natural parent, your go should be things like breastfeeding, with donor milk or supplementary feeding after that before you get to formula. Formula is an adequate alternative, but it’s not the best alternative. That doesn’t mean that formula feeding a baby is bad – and I want to impress upon you now. If you cannot breastfeed, or you don’t produce enough milk, or there is an issue with postnatal depression that leads you to not be able to breastfeed, formula is perfectly fine for your baby to have or you can take a complete lactation protein powder from Majka. Once your baby hits six months old and they are therefore the recommended weaning age for solid food, look for baby led weaning options. This is where you take the baby’s lead and don’t spoon feed them.
- Think about your sleeping arrangements. Most natural parents choose to sleep as close to their babies as naturally possible, which means safe bedsharing. Bedsharing is only safe when you follow the safe sleep seven rules, and once you do this you will be able to get a better night sleep close to your child. Human beings are the only species on planet Earth that try to isolate their children in another room for them to sleep or train them to sleep through the night. Your baby is supposed to wake up through the night, they are supposed to cool for you when they are cold, hungry, thirsty, sad – or even if they’ve worked out they are no longer in a comfortable womb. By bed sharing, you can be close to your child and breastfeed them through the night and you can also ensure that you are giving them the comfort that they seek.
- Skin to skin contact. When your child has a temperature or they are feeling unwell one of the easiest ways to bring that temperature to normal is to strip off the clothes and strip off your clothes and leave them on your body. It’s not always the most comfortable solution, but it’s one that your children are going to benefit from. Skin to skin contact isn’t just good for sick children, either. It’s also a fantastic method if you are looking to give your child comfort. Children know you from your heartbeat and your smell most of all, so if your child is laying with their chest against yours with no close in between you they are going to feel your heartbeat, smell your skin and feel that comfort. Endorphins from both of you will kick in because this is your baby that you created from scratch.
- You could baby wear. Using a sling or a wrap, you can keep your newborn close to your chest while you are out and about. You’ll be able to keep your hands free, and you’ll be able to wear your child against you just much like the way you did when you were pregnant. Baby wearing allows closeness, and allows easy access to your child rather than having them in a pushchair, or in a separate situation from you. Baby wearing isn’t the easiest thing to do, but it’s the right thing to do if you want to remain close your children at all times
- Choose cotton clothing. Choosing natural fibers over synthetic fibers will prevent any toxic chemicals and dyes rubbing against your child or your skin. It will also prevent entry into the body via open pores or sores. Natural fiber clothing also stops your children from developing rashes or any other skin complaints that could be as a result of chemicals in the clothing and fabric in general. Cotton clothing and cotton bedding are usually the way to go if you’re looking for natural materials for your home, just make sure that you are using laundry detergent and soaps that are equally chemical free.
- Choose organic foods. Eating unprocessed foods that are full of the nutrients we need to keep the body healthy is good for adults as much as it is good for children. You’re always better off with filtered water, and natural products if possible so that you and your children can be healthy. Natural products come in all different types, but you can have a look at lists like this one that teach you which foods are better to use for your family.
Being a natural parent does not mean that you are a superior one. All it means is that you consider things differently for your children to bed to others. You can be a parent who looks after their children’s health and well-being without feeling like you are doing something out of the ordinary. Taking your time to learn which ways are best for you and your family to live in a natural way is a great way to teach your children that they can eat well, as well, and feel healthy as a result.