Nursing

We’ve scoured the Circle of Moms communities to round up the baby gear you’re most thankful for—the essential, can’t-live-without baby items that somehow make life as a mom infinitely easier. If you haven’t tried one yet, we suggest adding it to the top of your wish list pronto…you’ll thank us later!

5 Essential Baby Items

1. Sling. By allowing you to carry your baby hands-free, baby slings and wraps easily make the list of baby gear moms are most thankful for. “I love my Moby wrap” raves Kimberly V. “I couldn't function without it.” When to use it? All the time says Lisa L.: “With a sling, I had a place to feed my baby (nursing), a place for my baby to take naps, an easy way to carry my baby around and have my hands free, a safe space for my baby to be, to have a vantage point into the world.”

1. Boppy. This popular U-shaped pillow earns high marks from moms like Amanda C. for its multipurpose capabilities: “I found it so useful for breastfeeding, for keeping baby elevated after feeding when he was a newborn, extra support when my little brother held my son, and when he got older he would sit in it (in case he fell back) to play and sometimes nap in it! I love the boppy!” Amanda’s not alone—dozens of moms in conversations on essential baby gear and can’t-live-without items listed the beloved Boppy as one of their favorite baby items.

1. Bouncy chairs and swings. “I don't know what I would do without my bouncy chair” says Mallory C., and many moms couldn’t agree more! Brandy O. says the bouncy chair is a lifesaver, and Tina F. promises it’ll save your sanity. In addition to keeping babies entertained, swings can also help babies sleep. Melissa S. remembers, “I was SO grateful to have a baby swing, that's the only way I could get her to sleep for the first 6 weeks.”

1. Newborn swaddling blankets. While opinions differ on brands, moms seem to agree that swaddling blankets are simply amazing. Renee C. found blankets with Velcro were a godsend, Harriet H. sang the praises for her Aden and Anais blankets, and Esther D. credited the Miracle Blanket with saving her sanity!

1. Nursing gear. While every mom finds their own special combination of nursing gear, some items win raves across the board. Many agreed with Bethany B. that Lansinoh nipple cream and nursing pads are a “gift from God” for sore and leaking nipples (Medela creams are popular too). The Hooter Hider nursing covers also get cheers—Karen S. calls it “an absolute essential for nursing” while Kelly M. says she won’t leave the house without it! And best pump? While it’s not cheap, the Medela Pump In Style was highly recommended by moms in the forums.

Looking for more advice on great baby gear? Got a great tip we missed?

Of course the list doesn’t stop here. From Mylicon for gassy babies to baby monitors for watching the little one sleep, we’re thankful for dozens of great baby products. Check out Circle of Moms conversations on can’t-live-without baby items and must-have baby gear for new moms to find more tips and share your own favorites!

Image Source: Michael Bentley via Flickr/Creative Commons

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From formula fans to "breast is best" proponents, the majority of moms eventually introduce their children to cow's milk. To help make your bub's transition smooth and safe, we've gathered Circle of Moms members' top tips on incorporating cow's milk into a baby's diet—from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations on age and type of milk, to advice about allergy symptoms, to tricks for babies who refuse cow's milk. Drink up!

1. When to Start...and What to Buy

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies over 12 months old with a healthy diet can receive up to 32 oz. per day of whole cow's milk. The AAP recommends full fat milk instead of low-fat (1%) or nonfat/skim milk until the age of 2.

When exactly beyond the one-year mark you actually start your baby on cow's milk is a personal choice to make with the help of your pediatrician. Some Circle of Moms members, like Virginian mother Jennifer B., introduce cow's milk as early as possible: "I started my son on whole milk…on his first birthday. He loved it and thankfully it was an easy transition." Others wait several more months, or even longer into the child's second year if they've decided to breastfeed.

2. Start Cow's Milk Gradually

You've heard of "baby steps" - in this case, it's "baby sips." Introducing milk gradually to a child who's used to breast milk or formula can help her tummy and taste buds become accustomed to the new beverage. "Introduce it slowly," advises Callie R., a mom in Kansas. "Try replacing one cup of formula with a cup of milk. Or cut it half and half. Just remember that any sudden drastic change (all formula to all milk) in a kid's diet can cause an upset tummy." Jodi A., a mother of four, agreed, also noting that the gradual introduction "helps them adjust to the difference in taste and texture."

3. What To Do If Your Baby Refuses Cow's Milk

Uh oh...the milk's fresh but your baby's face is decidedly sour! If your baby doesn't initially like cow's milk, try these tips from Circle of Mom members for making the milk more palatable or interesting: Kayla O., a mom in Wisconsin, found warming the milk was the trick for her son: "I had to put the milk in the microwave for 30 seconds then give it to him. It always helped." Making the cow's milk taste more similar to the formula or breast milk can also help, as Rebekah F., a mother of one in Washington, shared: "I had a friend who used sugar-free syrups to sweeten it (breastmilk being sweeter than cow's) and then tapered it off slowly." Other moms suggested using straws and different kinds of sippy cups to make drinking the milk more fun.

4. Watch for a Milk Allergy

Keep a careful lookout for symptoms of lactose or dairy intolerance. Rashes, gastrointestinal or stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea can all indicate a milk allergy. Karen A., whose daughter and son both had a dairy intolerance, cautioned that it's important to be ready for that possibility: "Be prepared - know what the symptoms are for lactose or dairy intolerance and have a back-up plan ready!" If your child does have a milk allergy, your pediatrician can recommend alternatives to cow's milk.

Looking for more information on feeding your child? Got a great tip we missed?

With everything from conversations on breastfeeding and when to start milk or solid foods to communities focused on swapping favorite recipes and sharing advice on raising kids with food allergies, Circle of Moms is a friendly, helpful place for discussing all kinds of food topics with fellow moms.

Image Source: nerissa's ring via Flickr/Creative Commons

A mother's milk has numerous benefits for her baby, but is that also true for any woman's breast milk? Mothers are buying and selling the liquid gold on the Internet for various reasons. We asked our Facebook fans and Twitter followers if the FDA should stop this practice. Here's what they had to say.

• "Maybe just put a regulation on what should be done first. As long as it comes from the boob it is usually fine, but when it is put into something else and out for a while it is not always ideal. Milk Banks are here to help. We should really be supporting their efforts." — Christy H.
• "Yes. Who in their right mind would buy/take it from a stranger?" — Darlene C.
• "Eww! I didn't know this was happening. There's a reason why you don't buy a used pump even if it's thoroughly cleaned. It's a bodily fluid. You don't share that." — Luz S.
• "Ummm...definitely, HIV can be transmitted through breast milk. I'm all for donating breast milk to preemies and babies whose mothers can't bf but it needs to be regulated." — Amanda K.
• "It should be regulated." — Keisha W.
• "Should it stop it from happening. Heck no! Should it put some rules in place... sure but its not really going to stop Sally from going to her neighbor and giving her milk. Parents need to be careful themselves about what they feed their kids. Eats on Feets has continually been brought up in discussions and it really ticks me off. People have Eats on Feets completely wrong. Eats on Feets is in place to help parents feed their children the best way they can. It is known that breast is best. That is a fact that can not be disputed. Eats on Feets recommends that recipients have their donors tested. I'm sure that most donors are asked to be tested... I was. And yes, milk is a bodily fluid but given the choice, I'd rather my child have human milk (or bodily fluid) than that from another animal." — Katie M.

If good workout gear can inspire a new gym routine, can new nursing clothes encourage a breastfeeding mom to keep her commitment? Larrivo, Italian for "the arrival," brings nursing gear out of the bedroom and onto the streets with dresses and camisoles ($62-$80) that can be worn as either sleep or outerwear. The silky designs feature lace detailing and ruched ribbon trims like the styles found in major department stores, but hidden snaps reveal drop-down cups so mom can easily nourish her tot. A built-in bra provides the support engorged moms need.