r/Crunchymom

I EBF my baby for 10 months, but since she was 6 I found out I was pregnant which made my supply drop even more in addition to her beginning eating solids.
As a result she lost so much weight - even tho she eats a loooo-oooot) that her Ped insisted we fed her formula. We resisted this idea for a month but she lost 1 kg in 2 weeks and we decided she must have some formula.

Looking for better options, I’ve heard about of good things about Kendamil and Bobbie formula, since they don’t use palm oil nor corn syrup. Recommendations are much appreciated !

My son is 16 months. He got bit by our dog tonight by the eyebrow. (Please no judgement about this) Very surface bite. We cleaned the area with some water and soap and now all that shows is a small line. Didn’t bleed a lot. My son is unvaccinated. My husband is worried and wants to take him to the dr or urgent care tomorrow. I’m worried that they may offer the tetanus shot. Is this needed? Our dog got the rabies shot within the last 5 years or so. Where we live they give rabies shots that are valid for 3 years. I’ve done research where it says that rabies shots in dogs can last 5-10 years. Given that she is now 11 years old we have stopped giving her rabies shots. She has no other shots. Thanks in advance for any advice

Edit: this is completely our fault but to clarify on the dog bite. My dog was sleeping in her bed and toddler ran and threw himself on her. We heard a small growl and then saw very little blood on toddler eyebrow. I don’t believe she bit him per se more so she got scared, opened her mouth and he made contact with her mouth/teeth. The cut is about 1cm long, the dog is a 60lb+ so a bite would’ve probably been a lot worse. Our toddler usually likes to lay in the bed with her during the day but this was definitely a warning and wake up call to not allow this to continue.

My baby is 15 months old and lately I’ve been feeling really exhausted and overwhelmed. He used to play by himself sometimes, and during that time I could do small personal things around the house. But now he wants me beside him almost all the time and always wants me to play with him continuously.

His dad works from 7 to 7, 5 days a week, so most of the childcare is on me during those days. I love my son so much, but I get tired very quickly when it comes to constant playing and engagement. Sometimes after even 30 minutes of nonstop playing I feel mentally drained.

I also keep wondering if he’s getting bored at home or if I’m not doing enough for him. Some days I feel guilty and think maybe I’m a bad mom because I don’t naturally enjoy playing for long periods and I run out of ideas to keep him engaged.

Did anyone else go through this around 15 months? Is this clingy phase normal? How do you keep your toddler occupied without completely burning yourself out?

Hello I am a FTM and have not vaxed my child yet. She is 16 months and still breastfed. Today my husband was at a neighborhood park with her and there is a big grassy area thats not very busy or high traffic. He let her walk around barefoot for a bit and when he got home with her noticed a small cut on the bottom of her foot. I am of course thinking she could have stepped on something like a rusty nail. He has no idea what she stepped on. I am spiraling about her possibly getting tetanus. Am I overreacting? Do I need to call the pediatrician and give her a Tdap shot? He said he applied active skin repair spray when he noticed it. I washed the area and put antibiotic ointment on it with a band aid. I will reach out to the pediatrician regardless but just don’t know if I am being totally crazy for this. Also we talked about not letting her be barefoot in public areas even if it isn’t very busy before anyone comments that. Thanks!

Hey! My daughter is 6 months old and we have started doing baby led weaning. Our pediatrician is not supportive. He doesn’t know we are doing BLW and ignoring his advice. He has insisted we start with rice cereal since she was 4 months, which we did not do. He brought it up again at her last appointment and said to start rice cereal before we see him again. He said not to be like “those idiots who give their kids grown up food.” Her next appointment is coming up and I’m anxious about it. I’m not sure how to approach this. I don’t want to lie and say we’ve been doing rice, but I don’t feel like dealing with the lecturing. He’s also been pushing feeding her in a bumbo seat and using exersaucer, and when I said we will not be using one, he said don’t listen to “the idiots” who say it’s bad for them. I usually like him, this is the first time we have had this issue! Have any of you dealt with a doctor who is unsupportive and pushy? How did you approach the conversation? He is a more holistic practitioner, and not like this with other topics, just really passionate about rice cereal lol. So I don’t really want to have to find another pediatrician, my midwife even swears by this guy. Just curious as to how you all would approach this

Hello! I’m just asking for personal preference and reasoning on sugar my toddler is almost 2 and we’ve held a really strict no sugar rule for our toddler. Meaning no added sugars, processed foods, or even organic cane. We did eventually introduce high grade local honey as a bit of a sweetener and 100% pure maple syrup. Now that she’s almost two I’m wondering what’s y’all’s take on organic cane sugar? Do you let them how do you navigate birthdays with family that don’t respect this boundary and are just “waiting” for us to “give it up”. This of course makes me more stubborn about it.

Additionally and unrelated what are some nice ways to ask that SILs stop letting kids w screen type (holding phone on YouTube in hand) around my child as it makes her very disregulated. Without sounding like I’m parent shaming or judging.

TIA!

Just hit 41 weeks today. Second baby. Had a lot of strong sharp pressure with some pain all day yesterday and then kind of painful but manageable irregularly timed contractions last night lasting just under a minute each. Woke up today and not really feeling any of that today other than some mild pressure. I have an appointment today and I’m considering a getting a membrane sweep if I’m 3+ cm dilated. I’ve never had one before so I’m on the fence. I went to a different office last pregnancy and they induced me at 40+6 so I wouldn’t hit 41 weeks. I remember that day I woke up with the same type of feelings I had all day yesterday and went in for my induction at 3 cm dilated. This office will let me go until 41+6 but as the days go by I’m just really really hoping I don’t have to be induced again which is the only reason I am considering a membrane sweep if I’m 3cm +. Also because I know risks go up as pregnancies pass 41 weeks. I just need thoughts, advice or experiences please!! 🙏🏻

So, my husband and I decided from the beginning that we would not post our child’s face online. Not even with emojis covering, only the back of her head or her face cropped out. Idk if I’m just anxious but I’m second guessing having her online at all now. Are there still privacy risks if her face isn’t visible? I’ve never posted her name either. What are you all doing to protect your LO’s privacy?

Currently going through a divorce and my daughter is 3. One of the biggest disagreements right now is vaccines. My ex knows this is a sensitive topic for me and is pushing hard for her to get vaccinated, while I don’t.

I recently had blood work done for my daughter and found out she tested positive for an MTHFR variant. I’ve been trying to research whether kids with MTHFR mutations can be more sensitive to vaccines or certain ingredients, but I’m finding a lot of conflicting information online.

Has anyone here dealt with this situation before or have any reputable resources/studies I can look into regarding MTHFR and vaccine reactions/sensitivity in children? I would appreciate respectful advice or experiences.

Hi.

I’m expecting my first baby this upcoming summer and I’ve been doing well in my pregnancy.

My goal is to have as minimal to no interventions as possible but I’m too nervous to do a home birth so I’m choosing to give birth at a hospital.

I have a birth plan but I worry it won’t be fully respected at the hospital where I see so many interventions done (I work there too). Women are put on this time crunch of getting them in & out with IV Pitocin started to augment labor and make it “easier” or predictable for providers. Especially if natural labor is prolonged…which isn’t uncommon in first time mothers.

I have a lovely doula and my partner to advocate for me but I still worry.

I’d love to know your experiences with navigating how to decline all interventions at a hospital and have an unmedicated natural birth.

Also I’d love some tips and mindset and overall advice going through the intensity of labor. I tell myself that the pain is purposeful, that it’s not a malignant, to trust what the body is designed to do and surrender. But I’m still scared and afraid I’ll crumble, tense up, lose focus, and ultimately succumb to interventions.

Thanks!! 😊

I am just curious. When I met my stepkids, at ages 3/4, they each had a kid's tablet, which shocked me. I have a baby and am thinking about the future.

What are your top crunchy do’s or dont’s that are second nature to you now but might be new to other moms here?Let’s all give eachother some inspo. Feel free to share details for each one. And happy Mother’s Day to us - we are amazing.

Here are mine just off the top of my head:

- no microwave

- no synthetic fragrance in anything in the house

- no shoes in the house

- no dishwasher pods (as plastic will then coat the dishes)

- hand wash any plastic pieces in cold water versus putting in the dishwasher

- no bright lights at night

- switching over to organic underwear and bras and avoid polyester and synthetic fabrics when possible

- no oats or soy or corn that are not organic

- make my coffee in a glass pour over with unbleached filters

Trying to make a few changes at home and reduce how much synthetic stuff we use especially in the bedroom since that’s where we spend most of our time. HOWEVER, replacing our mattress isn’t really in the budget right now so I was thinking of getting a latex mattress topper (preferably organic or natural) as a smaller upgrade first.

A friend suggested the BB Latex Topper to me but I’m unsure if it’s actually worth the price. I’m looking for something supportive, comfortable, and made with fewer synthetic materials. I also tend to sleep warm so heat retention is a concern for me too. If anyone here has tried a latex topper, especially the BB one, I’d really appreciate hearing your honest thoughts before I spend the money.

I am 3 months pregnant and have only been drinking water, coconut water, and juice. Before being pregnant I always drank water at room temperature but quickly despised it. Now it has to be ice cold but I’m even getting tired of that!

Anyone have recommendations for healthy drink alternatives / packets I could add to water?

TIA!

My doctor tested my urine last appointment and it just came back positive for gbs, they haven’t called yet but I have a feeling they’re going to start me on antibiotics, I’m pretty opposed to taking things while pregnant and was wondering if anyone else has had to do that