For my baby (11mo) and I we often share a smoothie (one or more of the other kids always wants some too).



- small handful of nuts (either raw brazil nuts, or raw almonds soaked for a day or so and then I can slip the peels off)... good source of protein and calcium, gives a nice creamy richness to the smoothie

- a dozen or so dates (for extra sweetness... yum!)

- 3 medium or 4 small ripe bananas

- some frozen fruit... I'm very partial to blueberries!  (about 1 cup)

- some water... I've never measured, maybe a cup or so?  The amount you use will determine the thickness.

Blend until smooth. 



This makes a very generous amount, but we have lots of kids so for us it's barely enough.  This isn't really a desert I guess... the baby and I eat it as our meal.  It makes a great afternoon snack too.

I'll be 38 in August.  In December we're expecting baby #7.  We began our parenting adventure when I was 9 days shy of turning 22.  I don't know how many children we will have... we leave that up to God... but I am sure excited about each one!  It doesn't get any less wonderful or special... actually it gets even more and more special and exciting every time... there is just nothing to compare with the experience of falling in love with your brand new little baby and watching him/her grow and develop -- it's all such a miracle!

Whenever a couple says they are 'thinking of having another one' or can't decide whether to or not... I always remind them that if they do have another one, they will love that baby so much and they will never never regret the decision.  Babies are always a blessing.

Thank you, Tanakit, for your good suggestions.  I wonder if I should make the single (step 1) word cards always the same font size (about 3 inches total height) and in red, regardless of whether it's to be used right away or when we are already on the 3rd, 4th, or 5th steps with the boys (because you are still teaching new words when you are up to any one of the steps, right?)  I just figure that then, if I am progressing slower through the steps and starting at a younger age with the little miracle in my belly, then I can still use any of the single word cards that I've made.  Does this make sense?  Would it bother a 3 or 4 year old, who is used to reading much smaller and black letters, to still be getting all his new words giant and red?

I tried the suggested 6" x 22" posterboard word cards a couple of years ago (life happens and our dive into Doman was a very short-lived one) and I found that size incredibly cumbersome.  But I am thinking of following someone's  suggestion to me of sticking with posterboard.  I have a laminator and could laminate all my word cards, (even baby #7 might not be the last baby we'll use these on ) but still the cost is much much higher, and the laminator will only take 8-1/2"x11"... at 2 cards per sheet cut lengthwise that's $.36 per word card... posterboard cut 6"x22" would be $.16 per word card, and posterboard cut 5-1/2"x14" (8 to a board) would be $.08 per word card.  So that's quite a difference.  I am thinking of doing the 5-1/2"x14"... it'll be less cumbersome and more affordable.  Does anyone think that won't be big enough?  Maybe for Step 3 phrases and Step 4 sentences I could do 2 lines lengthwise on 8-1/2"x11" cardstock... is it terribly important that the phrases and sentences be on one line only?

Well, time and money are precious and I only want to do this once and make materials that will be good for whatever age I start with, so I seek good advice before I get started.

I agree... knowledge is useless if you don't have love and wisdom.  Fortunately, it is so easy to teach moral values... just be a good example.  Faith in God... well, that comes from God so I leave that up to Him.  My goal is just to be a good example, tell them about God, teach them from the Bible, and leave the rest up to God.  I think when you have a good relationship with your children based on unconditional love, then they won't be too interested in rebellious activities... they won't be seeking other excitement or passions to fulfill some emptiness... they won't be so influenced by peers to do things that they know are stupid or harmful just to get approval.  They will all make some mistakes but I don't believe that teens will all go through rebellious years as is their reputation... I know plenty of really nice young people -- smart AND wise.

I'd be very interested in a kid food recipe exchange... recipies that are 'kid tested' already... that our own kids really like... or maybe also our little tips/ideas for getting more nutrition into our kids (for example putting out a raw veggie tray w/ dip for them to munch on while we are preparing dinner).  Perhaps some easy ideas for baby food that are better than feeding them out of a jar... (mashed avocado and banana for example... quick and very nutritious).  Sometimes you just get into a rut meal-planning-wise and it's great to get some refreshing new ideas that will work for a busy 'professional mother'.

[La Leche League]

You really can do it.  For your first baby, don't stress that breastfeeding wasn't successful... you did your best and you gave your baby your love and nurturing and that is the most important thing that a baby needs.  I'd also definitely advise going to the La Leche League.  They are very very supportive and knowledgeable.  Many women who weren't successful to breastfeed talk about poor milk supply.  Cracked nipples are a sign of a poor latch and with a poor latch, the breasts aren't stimulated properly to make milk.  A good lactation consultant can teach you what signs to look for to know that your baby has a good latch each and every time.  Pain and anxiety can hinder the let-down of the milk... a good lactation consultant knows how to put you at ease.  Giving a newborn the bottle in those first few days can confuse him... (it requires a different sucking technique)... if supplementation is absolutely necessary at first, then it is better done with the patient use of an eyedropper or something.  Still, a good lactation consultant can help sort out a 'confused' baby too.  Many many women whose first experience wasn't so great go on to have a long and wonderful breastfeeding relationship with their subsequent babies after they get the support they need.  Those first few weeks is the hurdle... after that it is almost always smooth sailing and the easiest thing to do... you're going to love it.

As for the preeclampsia and pregnancy nutrition, I am no nutrition expert but fairly well read... also I am healthy (about one 1-2 day cold every couple of years... no other health issues... bp 110/60).  I can only offer a couple of thoughts to think about.  What do all the 'natural mommas' in nature eat?  they aren't drinking the milk of other species... they're all weaned!  We are afraid that we won't get enough calcium, but why are the industrialized countries that have the highest consumption of milk also the ones with the highest incidence of osteoperosis?  There is loads of high quality calcium in dark green leafies, many fruits, and nuts like raw almonds.  Also, I recommend to eat as much of your food as close to it's natural state as possible.  All those other mammals in nature eat unprocessed, uncooked food and I'm pretty sure they are not suffering from diabetes, heart disease, varicose veins, morbid obesity, cancer, or preeclampsia.  We are killing ourselves with our overprocessed food.  (warning... radically change your diet suddenly and you will feel a few days uncomfortable as your body adjusts... but eating healthier is better for you and your baby of course and your body will soon feel much better again).  Also I highly recommend getting regular exercise... going for a long walk everyday is an easy thing to do and so good for you.  Your circulatory system moves your blood by the pumping of the heart, but your lymphatic system that moves the junk out of your body is only 'fueled' by the action of your muscles.  Also, exercise releases chemicals into your brain that help you relax and have less up and down of your emotions and less anxious feelings.

Enjoying the health benefits of being a 'natural momma' doesn't have to be stressful or difficult at all.  It doesn't have to involve a bunch of supplements and concoctions and herbal remedies.  Just keep it simple and close to nature.  If you can eat 50% or more of your food in it's natural state (organic is even better if you can afford... I can't usually but I am still healthy and feeling good), then you will feel tremendously better and I really believe you can avoid preeclampsia and all the problems that created the next time around.

I hope some of this makes sense to you or is helpful and encouraging in some way... I hope the arrival of your next little miracle will be a much more enjoyable experience for you.

I play piano and would love to start my little ones with piano nice and early, if I only knew what method to use.  Generally I have always been told that they are 'ready' for piano when they are starting to read, about 6 to 8 years old.  I think piano is GREAT and I agree with all the points made to support that.  As to whether some small children would decide that they don't like to learn piano, I believe that they would all LOVE to learn piano with an enthusiastic, encouraging, at-ease teacher, and they will all HATE to learn piano with a critical, pressuring, serious-type teacher.  For a little one you'd probably have to use all the good Doman advice like 'no testing', 'no correcting' (use modelling), short sessions (stop before they want to).  I'm going to try to find out more about how I can teach my younger children to learn the piano... they are certainly enthusiastic to play along when I am trying to 'tickle the ivories'!

I can easily see how to add another child to my profile, but I've noticed that under some people's user names (to the left of their posts) it'll say a number of children and then "+p" and then underneath it'll show "Latest:" and have a nice little countdown to the exciting day.  I've already entered my children into my profile, but I can't figure out how to add the little miracle growing in my tummy.


..... oh, boy... I didn't really give you a chance to even answer and then I tried some more and finally figured it out.  Well, answer for the benefit of others if you'd like, but otherwise this post could be deleted I suppose.

So many women express sad feelings about not being able to breastfeed their babies (low milk supply esp.)  Don't feel guilty about it because you did the best that you could for your baby and still you loved and nurtured your baby which is the most important thing.  When you have another baby and want to try again, then I'd suggest contacting a lactation consultant (many hospitals have them I think) or a person from the La Leche League (breastfeeding support group).  Often 'low milk supply' can be a result of things like poor latch, sleepy baby, frequency of feeds, maternal anxiety/stress/tiredness or just misunderstanding (such as a baby who is suddenly wanting to nurse a lot more often is perhaps going through a growth spurt and only nursing more often to stimulate more milk production)... a lactation consultant can be a great support and a wealth of information.  Rarely is a woman's body truly unable to supply enough milk, and it's very very likely that, with good support, the next time you will enjoy a long and satisfying breastfeeding relationship.

Thank you for your kind words... truly though, even though I know it's the best for the babies and all that, I'm just too lazy for all the work of bottle-feeding!  Hats off to you women who survived all that work... you are all so dedicated to your little ones no matter how they were fed!

Short answer:  They can start holding their food well before they need to be eating it.

I would say DON'T RUSH IT.  6 months especially is very very young still.  Unlike learning to read earlier, there is no advantage to learning to eat solid food so early.  Some of my children were still up to 95% breastfeeding at 1 year of age.  I always try to think of how the design of our nature is.... if we had no blenders and cereal factories (for making cheerios!), then what would we feed our babies?  They would breastfeed and start with some soft fruits in the second half of their first year.  As they get more teeth then they can handle more and more 'solid' foods.  During their first year I'd say breastmilk or formula should be their primary food source.  When they are bigger babies then they will take to food easily and you'll avoid all the fuss of spit up food and so on... their digestive systems will be that much more mature.  Believe me, when we finally did make 'food' a larger part of their diet, they learned to eat very very quickly... don't be in a hurry.

[different coloured cardstock for the foreign words (perhaps a different font too?]

Thank you for your reply.  The first idea won't be suitable for us... my husband isn't comfortable at all to speak in German and in French I think he only knows this lovely phrase "voulez-vous couchez avec moi ce soir?" (which is only for my ears naturally!).  

Well, with some ideas and suggestions from people like you, I am beginning to formulate a little plan:

Step 1  I will gather more Dutch resources (music CD's, books, children's movies(?!)...not readily available here in Canada though; it'll take some searching.  I will start making a collection of Dutch picture/word flashcards... I think I will choose a different coloured cardstock for the foreign words (perhaps a different font too?) so that it'll always be distinguished from the English words.

But I will begin majoring in French for the foreign language, because the materials are already so readily available.  Also my older children will be beginning/(and getting back into) the Rosetta Stone French as part of our homeschool curriculum.  They are not excited about it, but as we live in Canada and the kids in school must learn some, then I am telling them that they just have to learn some too.  I could have a 'rule' that any television watching when Daddy isn't home has to be in French.  (Daddy hasn't any interest in promoting French, but he wants them to learn things of course... he would say 'why not German, Dutch, or Spanish?!)  When I make my flashcards for French, (again a different colour cardstock), then I will use words from the Rosetta Stone program that the kids are using and also from any books that they are very intersted in (like trucks for DS5yr).  I think I will start in a more comfortable way.... building everyone's vocabulary (including my own) first.  I'll use "anki" (a spaced repitition flashcard program free on the internet) for myself... I assume that any of the kids can learn new words as fast as or faster than myself.

Step 2  After we are building a good base of vocabulary, then I will get/make books with clear pictures and simple sentences.  Perhaps by this time the older ones could start helping me 'teach' the littles with the flashcards (reinforcing their French lessons).  Any movies/music will be useful perhaps just to get the ear/tongue used to the sound of the language at this point.

With Dutch I will continue to play music/movies for my own enjoyment (as I've done for years now already) and continue to collect more resources (especially books!) and perhaps have a cousin of mine help me with translating our favourite stories from English to Dutch.  I can make a pretty good Dutch sound (so I'm told) because it is a language I heard quite often as a baby and child.

Step 3  When our French program is going well, perhaps after a few months or so, I will consider whether to add Rosetta Stone Dutch to the school-aged kids curriculum (I own this already)... but I expect resistance to this so I don't know.  I could then start adding a Dutch-Doman program and approach it in the same way as French.  All along I will try to find time to learn more Dutch and French myself, so that when I feel comfortable (or almost comfortable) I could start speaking in a foreign language with the younger ones... probably when Daddy isn't home (I don't want to make him feel left out).  I'd have to make up some sort of 'language rules' at that point, probably translating often for the older ones so they don't ever feel like they are treated different or something.

Step 4  When we have acheived some sort of fluency, then I think it would be time to find some more ideas to enhance our learning and take it to a higher level... native speakers, foreign students, perhaps a vacation or two... so that the kids can see that knowing another language can be a truly useful thing and perhaps they will then embrace it more.

Step 5  Perhaps someday my husband will feel encouraged to 'go German' on them.  That would be nice, but there is no way that I could teach it to them (just my pronunciation alone is awful...'sounds Dutch' he says).  Spanish is a lovely language that I learned in school for a couple of years, but as it is all on my plate right now, I can't even dream of that possibility right now... maybe if my 'plan' works really well, then someday?  I don't know.  My DD15yr wants to learn Italian... she just thinks it sounds beautiful.  I told her that when she completes Rosetta Stone French level 1, then perhaps I could try to find the $ for Rosetta Stone Italian.

Am I just dreaming to think that I could help my children master other languages with some degree of fluency?  We homeschool, so daycare or immersion school won't be considered.  Does ANYONE have a successful experience teaching another language under similar circumstances?

[can a young child master a foreign language with fewer than the recommended 15hr/week if the method(s) used are more efficient?]

My family speaks English (husband and 6 children).  Husband also can speak his native German, but he never does.  I know some French from several years of French in school, but not enough for a conversation... it would be a great language to teach my little ones as Canada is bilingual (job opportunities) and there are lots and lots of resources at the library.  My children all have dual-citizenship Dutch-Canadian (eldest child also has German citizenship!), so I feel Dutch is a language they 'ought' to know.  It's not particularly useful in the job market, and there certainly aren't many resources available, but I know a little from hearing it as a child, I've learned some more as an adult, I can read it, but understanding and especially speaking it is somewhat limited; certainly not fluent.  I am trying to formulate a plan for tackling the goal of teaching them two foreign languages.  I've read before that to learn a language fluently, the kids need about 30% or at least 15hrs/week exposure.  Now, I've also heard that the kids are ready to start learning to read when they are about 5 or 6 years old... many here know it can be done earlier and more efficiently and effectively!  So my question really is, can a young child master a foreign language with fewer than the recommended 15hr/week if the method(s) used are more efficient?  I think everyone will agree that reading a foreign language book with them will do far more for their language learning than having the radio on in the background in the target language.  Has anyone successfully taught their children a foreign language, that they aren't very strong in, with Doman method or other highly efficient way themselves (not daycare or other native speaker)?  How many hours were dedicated to teaching, and what percentage of the time was used for flashcards, foreign movies/shows, reading books, etc.?  How successful were your efforts?  Myself, I love to learn more of other languages, and I will enjoy so much to learn right along with them.

Here is another thought... for an adult to learn a language of average difficulty or somewhat related to their native language, with an hour a day using efficient methods it can be accomplished in 6 months... no classes, teaching yourself using language tapes, various literature, flashcards using spaced repetition ("anki" is a great program available for download for free... http://anki.com/), television/movies.  I suggest a book called "How to learn any language" by Barry Farber (who taught himself a couple dozen or so languages!) and this website    http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/e/index.html    if you are interested.  Knowing that there is a much more efficient way to learn a foreign language for adults makes me wonder if a Doman flashcard method, an organized adult-led system, can help to achieve learning a 2nd or even 3rd language in less than the 15 hrs/30% recommended by language experts.  Comments?  Has anyone done it?  Any language acquisition experts out there?

I have 6 children and my advice to you is to 'do the time' now to save yourself a lot of work later on.  Be 100% consistent 100% of the time is the kindest most loving thing you can do for your baby.  If you are uncomfortable with spanking when your baby is a little older, then there are lots of other alternatives, but sometimes using spankings (never with anger or yelling, only for outright defiance/disobedience, only on the bottom) is just a more straightforward, efficient way.  Your baby is still quite young to be exercising a lot of outright disobedience... at that age I think they would simply forget what you said 'no' to 10 minutes ago or are just being curious.  One thing that will cut down on a lot of the tantrums for a little one is to establish routine and order in their day.  The same bedtime routine at the same time every night; same with naps and waking up.  Mealtimes at the same time in the same place.  If you want them to help tidy up their toys before the next activity, do it EVERY time.  If you don't want them to go in the fridge, don't EVER allow them to do it.  And never, never give in once you say 'no'... not even if they turn colours with their screaming!  For our toddlers, if they are old enough to understand what we are saying, we do not allow crying (for not getting their way) to continue for very long... they will be put in their crib for a few minutes only, but they are old enough to understand what we want them to do.  We expect obedience and good behaviour from our children and it sometimes takes effort to follow through and make sure it happens, but the effort you put in today will save yourself a lot of trouble in the future.  Train them to be pleasant people to be around... what behaviours annoy you or those around you?  Patiently work on those issues... don't get upset if they aren't 'getting it' as quickly as you'd like... they're a work in progress.  Just like teaching Doman, being consistent in your program ensures success.  I don't believe in yelling, name calling, slandering, belittling, blaming.  (Yelling is good, though, for fires and cars coming!)  With too many freedoms to do what they like or make their own choices, little ones don't feel as secure and you'll have more temper tantrums.  You are the adult and you know what is best for your child... a toddler shouldn't be making too many of their own choices.  If they are having a lot of tantrums, maybe they are being given too many choices.  Your child will be happier when they know what to expect and when they can count on their parents to be the adult leader.  Constantly distracting them is not dealing with the discipline training and won't serve you or your child's best interests in the future.  That's my take on it because I simply don't have time to be raising any 'spoiled' children... that's just too much work!

ps hug and kiss them lots and lots, read to them lots, love them lots, enjoy them lots... and they will adore you even when you have to make them cry by saying 'no'.  They will know that you love them unconditionally.

I am a Mom of 6 and I'm preparing to start teaching my younger ones to read.  DD15, DD12 are already excellent and avid readers.  DS9 is getting quicker/more fluent using phonics method.  DS(5yrs2mo) knows a few letters... I think I'll tackle his reading soon with the same phonics approach.  But I'd like to teach DS(3yrs2mo) and DS(11mo) with a Doman type method.  Also in December we are expecting another little blessing, so in about a year or less I will want to start him/her with reading also.  For DS3, he will need to progress through the steps quicker and get to phrases/sentences/books asap.  DS(11mo) doesn't have nearly the vocabulary base (the older knows what a dandelion is; I don't think the little one even knows what flower means), so maybe the little one would benefit from having pictures shown with the words?  The little one will need to stay with words and phrases longer.  Probably the little one needs bigger print size, but how big is necessary to start with for him?  I plan to use only 8-1/2 X 11 paper (cardstock) because I'd like to print the words and it's easier to store.  I have the YBCR DVDs, but I am not too keen to use them with the baby... especially not as his primary method.

Well, has anyone been successful starting with 2 or 3 different aged children at the same time?  How did you keep track of each child's program?  If I tackle it in a very organized way and stay ahead of the game in planning and material preparation, then I am becoming less worried about the amount of time needed to teach, but efficiency in my method is still very important because I also have the older 4 to homeschool.  The plus side is that I'm not employed and am blessed to be able to stay home with my children all day, everyday.  Also we have a very affordable supply of printer ink, so I don't mind printing out lots of flashcards if that would be best for individual print size or keeping their cards separate or printing out pictures to go with the word cards.  On the minus side, I cannot afford to buy LR at this time.

I have very much experience with this.  Currently I am pregnant and breastfeeding a baby 11 months old.  For 4 pregnancies now I have breastfed for the entire pregnancy and then tandem nursed after that.  For the first 3 or 4 months of one pregnancy I was still breastfeeding 2 children before the older one was weaned.  I have never had an early labour... they always come late, despite allowing extra extra nursing in those last few days to hopefully 'help' things along!  I have had 4 miscarriages, so I researched that concern extensively and I am convinced that breastfeeding absolutely does not cause miscarriage, just as it does not harm a healthy fetus either.  Eat well (I mean the best nutrition, not 'pigging out'!), drink enough water, get enough rest, and don't worry about it.  Breastfeeding in the last several weeks will activate more uterine contractions, but don't let this alarm you... remember that real labour is not like those braxton hicks contractions; real labour is more crampy... anyways, by the end of your pregnancy you will be welcoming any glimmer of hope that your baby will come just a few days early!  One thing I did observe... if I was only nursing a couple of times per day, then near the end of the pregnancy breastfeeding would become uncomfortable sooner... if I was still breastfeeding quite a bit, then it wouldn't bother me so much near the end.  Other friends have noticed this too.  After the baby is born, it's always neat to see the toddler plumping up more in those first few months... lots of milk now!  The first time I tandem nursed, I actually nursed them at the same time sometimes... that wore off pretty quickly and I never do that anymore!  Besides, there is NO WAY to do that discreetly in public!  The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least 2 years... it's really good for your baby.  Their immune systems are still immature when they are little, and even if they are only nursing a couple of times a day, the milk adjusts itself to your growing baby's needs and they still get all that immunity benefit... not to mention how good nutritionally it is for them!  Congratulations for another little blessing on the way.