Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Come to Dr. Jenn Berman's Book Signing!

Join us for a book signing party in Santa Monica and Westlake for Dr. Jenn Berman’s new book SuperBaby: 12 Ways to Give Your Child a Head Start in the First 3 Years. Join us for drinks and get your SuperBaby swag bag!

Monday, September 13th at 7 PM
The Pump Station Westlake
2879 Agoura Rd. Westlake Village, CA 91361

Thursday, September 16th at 7 PM
The Pump Station Santa Monica
2415 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90403

The first 50 people to buy two or more books at each of the signings will get a gift bag valued at $200 filled with Dr. Jenn’s favorite products from companies such as: Signing Time!, Hanna Andersson, Baby Legs, Seventh Generation, Uncle Goose, Putumayo, Parents Magazine, EcoSystem, Zoli Baby, Born Free, Naturepedic, SuperGoop, Retail Therapy, Gdiapers, CleanWell, Eat Cleaner, Farm Fresh to You, Earth Mama, Angel Baby, Happy Baby Foods, Homemade Harvey, Herban Essentials, Nature’s Paradise, Baggu Bags, EIO Cups, Sensible Foods, The Pump Station, The Little Seed, Healthy Child Healthy World, The Environmental Working Group, PETA and many more…

To RSVP to the events email SuperBaby@SterlingPublishing.com and indicate which signings you will attending.

Click here to read Dr. Jenn’s blog:
Tantrum Avoidance: 8 Simple Scripts for Real Life Moments with Babies and Toddlers

Dr. Jenn Berman is a Marriage, Family and Child Therapist. She has appeared as a psychological expert on hundreds of television shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show and is a regular on The Today Show, The Early Show, and CNN. She hosts a call-in advice show on Sirius/XM’s Cosmo Radio. In addition to being the author of SuperBaby, Dr. Jenn is also the author of LA Times best selling book The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy Confident Kids. She writes an award winning “Dr. Jenn” parenting column for Los Angeles Family Magazine and five other magazines and is on the Board of Advisors for Parents Magazine. She also has an eco-friendly clothing line for adults and children called Retail Therapy. Dr. Jenn lives in Los Angeles with her husband and twin daughters.
*****
“SuperBaby shares easy, everyday ways to nurture and encourage your baby’s development.”—Diane Debrovner, deputy editor, Parents magazine
SUPERBABY
12 Ways to Give Your Child a Head Start in the First 3 Years
By Dr. Jenn Berman

Foreword by Alan Greene, MD, author of Raising Baby Green Raising a superbaby is not about creating an überbaby: a perfect, genius who will get into all the right preschools and colleges. Instead, it is about raising a child who is empathetic, resilient, and is emotionally intelligent. It is about nurturing a baby to help her reach her full potential. The first three years of life are the most important in a child’s development: babies start forming attachments, developing a sense of self, and learning to trust. During this time, there are critical windows of opportunity that parents can take advantage of—if they know how. In SuperBaby: 12 Ways to Give Your Child a Head Start in the First 3 Years (Sterling / September 7, 2010 / $24.95) Dr. Jenn Berman gives parents the knowledge they need to make the most of these windows for their child’s optimal mental and emotional growth. In each chapter of SuperBaby, Dr. Jenn focuses on one of twelve areas that greatly impact a baby’s development. These include respectful communication, responding to cues, creating security and predictability, the importance of touch, promoting language development, sign language, foreign language, the importance of play, reading, screen (tv) time, reducing exposure to toxic chemicals, and eating & nutrition.

You’ll learn:
*Easy steps to reduce resistance and avoid tantrums
*The two “Qs” parents need to know about to promote language development
*The truth about learning toys and videos
*How to use play to develop key social, intellectual, and emotional skills
*When and how to start reading to your child
*The three ASL signs that will make your baby’s life easier
*The seven most important ingredients to avoid in your child’s food
*How to teach good sleep habits from the start
*Simple ways to reduce toxic chemical exposure at home

Dr. Jenn shares important research, her clinical experience, and her personal stories as a mother of twins. She has also included “From the Experts” sidebars from leading experts such as Dr. Harvey Karp, Dr. Bob Sears, Dr. Jane Nelson, Jim & Charles Fay, Dr. Tanya Remer-Altmann, Dr. Scott Cohen, Ruth Yaron, The Campaign for Commercial-free Childhood, The Alliance for Childhood, Healthy Child Healthy World, the Environmental Working Group, and many others. Filled with tables, lists, helpful scripts, recommended books, and resources, SuperBaby is a book you’ll refer to again and again for common sense and research-based advice on successful, real-world parenting.

This Weeks' Specials

Still haven't, noticed?? Every week The Pump Station offers new items on sale. In August we've taken 20-25% OFF Simple Wishes Hands Free Bustier, Glamourmom Nursing Tanks, Elle Macpherson Nursing Bras and more. Don't miss another Sale.


Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads

25% OFF


Skip Hop Backpack Diaper Bag

25% OFF


Bella Materna Nursing Bra

25% OFF

Check the web site every Monday around 5:00pm EST/ 2:00pm PST to get in on the latest sales. If it was a rough weekend, we promise the sales will be updated by Tuesday.

Pediped Flex - Jake Light BrownThis week we are offering 25% OFF the popular The Baby Pouch - Cotton Sling, the functional Skip Hop Diaper Bags, and one of my favorite toys, the Classic PlanToys Stacking Ring and more!

The fun doesn't end there. We still have tons of Pedipeds on Sale at 20% OFF. Who doesn't want a pair of new kicks for back to school! Sorry we don't carry any Chuckies.

Wait for it...
Yes, we still have some KidCo saftey products on SALE at 25% OFF


And it's still Breastfeeding Awareness Month: See our »Letting Down Prices. Many Items have been marked down.

» see all Weekly Specials

And Don't leave home without your Monkey! . Sorry not on sale. You know how monkeys are

Free Music Demo Class

Join us for a Free Music Together Demo class at our Westlake Village store
September 7th @ 12:30pm
Seats are limited so please call to RSVP: (805)777-7179

www.musictogetheragoura.com

Ta Ta Tuesday TODAY 1-3PM EST / 10am-12pm PST


Join us at 1-3PM EST (10am-Noon Pacific Time) on the Bump's Breastfeeding Board to chat live with our Certified Lactation Consultant, Corky Harvey MS, RN, IBCLC - will post link here when it starts

Post questions once the chat goes live -Corky is reading your posts and will respond! You'll need to refresh the page to see the posts bu...t it's a good Time and LOTS of info.

NOTE: To post quesions... If you haven't already, register with The Bump, only takes a few seconds

STARTED -
http://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/41942032/ShowThread.aspx#41942032

Monday, August 23, 2010

Casting Call!

The Doctors featuring The Pump Station & Nurtury's™ very own
Jesse Zilbertstein, MPA, CLE

Filming will happen Thursday, August 26th at 11am- 4pm

We're looking for a couple of fun, outgoing, personable and cute pregnant women between the ages of 20-40 who would like to learn about breastfeeding . They would need to be available Thursday 8/26 from 11-4p to come to our studio in Hollywood. We will be shooting one segment about tips for breastfeeding, and it will essentially be a small class of 4-5 women learning from a lactation consultant in a small room off of our stage.

If interested please call Santa Monica and ask for Carol at 310-998-1981

Take an additional 25% off all Clearance Items!






















Offer good in store only while supplies last. No rain checks or special orders. All purchases on previously marked down merchandise are final. Discount will be taken at register.

Visit us at www.PumpStation.com and don't forget to check out our weekly online specials!

Click here for a location near you!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Find the Right Nanny for Your Family

Hey Mom, going back to work?

Come to this Hot Topic Lecture and learn what you need to know when searching for the right person to watch your little ones.

INSTRUCTOR NAME:
Lindsay Heller, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist


CLASS DESCRIPTION:

This class will provide you with attachment-sensitive strategies for finding a nanny as well as maintaining your nanny long-term. Discussion will address fears, concerns, and questions regarding hiring a nanny to care for your children as well as provide you with helpful take-home handouts including a comprehensive list of questions to ask at every phase of interviewing, reference checking and a step-by-step road map to ensure you take the right steps to find the right nanny for your family! If you are currently looking for child care, don't miss this essential class!

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY:
Lindsay Heller, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist and former nanny of 10 years. In addition to her private practice in Beverly Hills, she consults with families and nannies across the country as The Nanny Doctor.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:
Friday August 20 at 1:00pm at our Santa Monica Location
To register call 310-998-1981, $25 per class, per person
Space is limited. Register today! For complete class descriptions, please visit us at www.PumpStation.com and don’t forget to check out our online weekly specials!

TaTa Tuesday Review

For those of you who missed the Live Chat don't worry, the chat log is still available at the Bump. Here is a sampling of a few questions . Also see the links to articles she referenced below.

The Pump Station isn't just about to selling products, but Wendy and Corky want the stores and PumpStation.com to be a resource for information and events like yesterday's Live Chat, the upcoming Free Baby Skin Care Class, New Mothers Breastfeeding Support Groups. And who doesn't like our Weekly Specials?


Q: How much should a 3 month be taking per feeding?

A: ...Babies require different amounts depending on many factors. In general, if you are away from the baby for 10 hours, four, 4-ounce bottles is what many moms report as necessary.

Q:My hair is all falling out.

A: ...it is common/normal for women to experience hair loss around 4 months pp. Apparently, pregnant women don't loose much hair while pregnant and then what would normally have fallen out over the 9 months does so pp.

Q: Lately she has been very fussy ...clamp down on the nipple and twist her head. She'll also knead the breast with her hand. At the same time, she's kicking ... and squirming and squealing...

A: ...take her off for a minute and try again. ...Many of our moms have found that after 4 months, they need to nurse on both breasts at each feeding. ...I also think your baby may be teething. A favorite in Santa Monica is Hyland's teething tablets. You can pop one under the baby's tongue just prior to feeding and the biting may be reduced. Good luck and know that with so many things in breastfeeding, this too shall pass.

TaTa Tuesday Chat Log


See all questions and their complete answers at Aug 17th Tata Tuesday Thread

Helpful Articles from PumpStation.com
OverActive Letdown: Too Much Milk Too Fast/Overfeeding

How To Tell Your Baby Is Getting Enough to Eat

Low Milk Supply

Offering a Breastfed Baby a Bottle

» See Full Breastfeeding Resource Library

See you next Tuesday! 1-3PM EST / 10am-12pm Pacific Time

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Tata Tuesday in NOW

The Live Chat with Wendy Start in 10 minutes (10am PST - 1pm EST), make sure you are registered with The Bump to join in.

JOIN NOW!

All participants will automatically be entered to win a Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover!



Join us on Tuesday, August 17th from 1-3PM EST (10am-Noon Pacific Time) on the Bump's Breastfeeding Board to chat live with our Certified Lactation Consultant, Wendy Haldeman, MN, RN, IBCLC.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Do you have neck, back, shoulder or arm pain from caring for your baby? We'd like to speak to you!

Dear moms,

I am a columnist and freelance journalist, and I'm looking for moms to profile for a story for a national parenting magazine. The story is about the physical toll of childcare on the body. I'm looking for moms who have neck, back, shoulder or arm pain (usually in the elbow or wrist) from the physical demands of taking care of children. I need moms with kids under the age of 2. Do you fit this description or know anyone who does? Please contact me at cwoods@miamiherald.com.

Thanks!

Casey Woods

Tata Tuesday!

Join us on Tuesday, August 17th from 1-3PM EST (10am-Noon Pacific Time) on the Bump's Breastfeeding Board to chat live with our Certified Lactation Consultant, Wendy Haldeman, MN, RN, IBCLC.

Check back on Tuesday to start your live chat!

Friday, August 13, 2010

Space Invaders, Star Wars and Macaroons

Pump Station may not carry any Star Wars toys, action figures or LEGOs, but this cool post from Be Different...Act Normal is worth sharing. Lorie has cute boys who love Star Wars and she found some real fun Star Wars ideas. Is your little one already talking like Yoda or walking like C3PO? Is Dad, are you? Star Wars fan or not, who doesn't want to taste a Yoda Macaroon?

It may not be LEGOs but a new take on an old favorite the Shape and Sort by PlanToys® is a good start. Your little one can progress from matching the shapes to building blocks to engineering. Ok, be patient but we all started some where.


   » read more... Random Star Wars Finds

  » find more... Star Wars Crafts from StarWars.com

Select pedipeds 20% OFF Now through Sunday

We have pediped® Original™ and Flex™ shoes on Sale Now! Your little one's feet have to last past those first few baby steps. Who knows maybe they'll run the Boston Marathon, ride in Tour de France or simply walk to the store. Whatever they decide to do, its' important to use footwear that promotes healthy foot development, now.


Pediped Original - Olivia White
Pediped Original - Olivia White

20% OFF
Pediped Flex - Jake Light BrownPediped Flex - Jake
20% OFF

Baby Proofing Basics: How to Keep Your Child Safe
Baby Proofing Basics: How to Keep Your Child Safe




Did you know pediped was awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance or both its Originals™ and Flex™ lines? Podiatrists recommend pedipeds because they protect the feet while allowing the "foot to grow normally and to develop its musculature and strength as well as the grasping action of the toes."

Everyone knows they need to baby-proof the home from wandering, crawling and walking babies, just don't forget to protect their little feet too. It's not always safe to walk barefoot and until they can get real kicks, try out pedipeds. Double bonus, they look way cool.


See All 20% OFF select pedipeds. Hurry they're Selling out Fast!

See More information on Pediped from pediped.com

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Episencial... healthy skin for life!

Caring for the Developing Skin Type
to Support Immunity
with
Episencial's Founder and CEO, Kim Walls

Did you know that babies and kids have a unique skin type? Its called developing skin.

We, at Episencial, are proud to be the first and only professional skincare system for developing skin. As the largest organ of the body, new skin – like baby – is growing and developing into a protective barrier and way to sense and experience the world.

And, just like baby, developing skin needs special loving care to grow healthy and strong.

Episencial’s all natural formulas feature an exclusive actively healthy immune complex™ to specifically care for the developing skin type™ of babies and kids, and they are perfect for sensitive adults too.

Learn about the complete skincare system for developing skin with 3 simple steps:

Step 1. Bathe: Gently cleanse and hydrate the delicate skin of babies and kids.

Step 2. Nurture: Moisturize and massage to build immunity and enhance parent-baby bonding.

Step 3. Care: Treat, relieve and protect bothered or sun-exposed skin.

Understanding the critical function skin plays in the immune system, Episencial used advanced skincare technology to formulate its products to first lay the basis for maintaining healthy skin and then infused those base formulas with exclusive blends of natural ingredients known to protect, support and promote immunity.

If you'd like to attend this class for FREE please RSVP to Carri at carriz@episencial.com by Friday the 27th at 5pm.
This Class will be filmed on
Saturday August 28th at 3:30pm
in the Santa Monica Location.

Babies are always welcome, but due to the nature of the fact that this will be filmed, we need moms to step out of the room if their baby's get fussy. See you then!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

You're Not a Bad Mom if You Use Polycarbonate Plastic

by Jennifer Taggart, Attorney Specializing in Environmental Litigation & Compliance

You're not a bad mom if you use polycarbonate plastic. It seems that way sometimes, doesn't it? Often, we think that we are bad moms if we use polycarbonate plastic, that our kids wear pajamas containing flame retardants or have vinyl lunch-boxes. Of course, you are not a bad mom if you haven't gone green and non toxic. Or even started.

Trust me, I get it. It is overwhelming. Formaldehyde donors, phthalates, mercury, lead, flame retardants. The toxic alphabet soup of chemicals is paralyzing. Where do you start? How do you start? What the heck are phthalates and why should I care about them? How do you even pronounce that word?

And aren't the products we buy safe? Do I really need to worry? Don't the FDA, CPSC, DOT, EPA and all the other government agencies monitor and test consumer products for safety?

The truth is, however, that for some products, government agencies have no ability or authority to require pre-market testing. Take cosmetics, which includes baby bath products. The FDA has authority over cosmetics, but that authority is limited. As the FDA readily admits on its website, cosmetic manufacturers can use virtually any ingredient in their products without testing for safety, and the FDA does not conduct any premarket testing. The FDA has banned 9 ingredients in cosmetics. In comparison, the EU has banned over 1,100. That's a little scary. Actually, it is a lot scary.

But who has time to do figure out what is safe or not? Especially when you are trying to get the shopping done. Or just make it through the day.

Come and learn how easy it can be. Truly. With just a few simple steps, you can reduce or eliminate toxic chemical exposures. At the “Navigating in a Toxic World: How to Steer Clear of Toxic Baby Toys and More” class, we'll talk about potential exposures and how to reduce them. We will talk about whether you really need to avoid polycarbonate plastic, whether you need to buy organic or not, how you can reduce exposure to lead in the home, and more. We will talk about how you can save money while going green and more.

Trust me - I get it. I've got 2 kids, a husband, 2 dogs, a guinea pig and a job. I know it seems like just one more thing, and something that changes daily. But we will break down the issues together, and talk about easy solutions. You can hug that tree without getting dirty.

********************************

Join Jennifer Taggart in The Pump Station & Nurtury’s™ Hot Topic Lecture "Navigating in a Toxic World: How to Steer Clear of Toxic Baby Toys and More"

Monday, August 9, 2010

KidCo Sale

Is your little one starting to walk and crawl to places unknown? Do you find them getting into places where no baby should go, boldly go or otherwise? Safety is a big concern for parents, grandparents or anyone that welcomes a child into their home regularly. Cabinets, drawers, outlets, knobs an even toilets are all new and exciting things to pull, tug, flush and turn. Let Pump Station and Kidco help make your home a safe place.

You may have seen KidCo products on HGTV, Martha Steward, TLC and CBS News. To help baby-safe your place, Pump Station has number of KidCo safety items at 25% OFF.

KidCo Cabinet Lock
Cabinet Lock


KidCo Toilet Lock
Toilet Lock


KidCo Stove Know Stop
Stove Knob Stop


»  See More KidCo Items on Sale

We also have Gate extensions and the KidCo Angle-Mount Safeway Gate at 50% OFF!

»  See All Our KidCo Products

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Breast Milk Sugars Give Infants a Protective Coat

by NICHOLAS WADE
Published: August 2, 2010

A large part of human milk cannot be digested by babies and seems to have a purpose quite different from infant nutrition that of influencing the composition of the bacteria in the infants gut.

The details of this three-way relationship between mother, child and gut microbes are being worked out by three researchers at the University of California, Davis Bruce German, Carlito Lebrilla and David Mills. They and colleagues have found that a particular strain of bacterium, a subspecies of Bifidobacterium longum, possesses a special suite of genes that enable it to thrive on the indigestible component of milk.

This subspecies is commonly found in the feces of breast-fed infants. It coats the lining of the infants intestine, protecting it from noxious bacteria.

Infants presumably acquire the special strain of bifido from their mothers, but strangely, it has not yet been detected in adults. Were all wondering where it hides out, Dr. Mills said.
The indigestible substance that favors the bifido bacterium is a slew of complex sugars derived from lactose, the principal component of milk. The complex sugars consist of a lactose molecule on to which chains of other sugar units have been added. The human genome does not contain the necessary genes to break down the complex sugars, but the bifido subspecies does, the researchers say in a review of their progress in today's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The complex sugars were long thought to have no biological significance, even though they constitute up to 21 percent of milk. Besides promoting growth of the bifido strain, they also serve as decoys for noxious bacteria that might attack the infants intestines. The sugars are very similar to those found on the surface of human cells, and are constructed in the breast by the same enzymes. Many toxic bacteria and viruses bind to human cells by docking with the surface sugars. But they will bind to the complex sugars in milk instead. We think mothers have evolved to let this stuff flush through the infant, Dr. Mills said.

Dr. German sees milk as an astonishing product of evolution, one which has been vigorously shaped by natural selection because it is so critical to the survival of both mother and child. Everything in milk costs the mother she is literally dissolving her own tissues to make it, he said. From the infants perspective, it is born into a world full of hostile microbes, with an untrained immune system and lacking the caustic stomach acid which in adults kills most bacteria. Any element in milk that protects the infant will be heavily favored by natural selection.
We were astonished that milk had so much material that the infant couldn't digest, Dr. German said. Finding that it selectively stimulates the growth of specific bacteria, which are in turn protective of the infant, let us see the genius of the strategy mothers are recruiting another life-form to baby-sit their baby.

Dr. German and his colleagues are trying to deconstruct milk, on the theory that the fluid has been shaped by 200 million years of mammalian evolution and holds a wealth of information about how best to feed and defend the human body. Though milk itself is designed for infants, its lessons may apply to adults.

The complex sugars, for instance, are evidently a way of influencing the gut microflora, so they might in principle be used to help premature babies, or those born by caesarean, who do not immediately acquire the bifido strain. It has long been thought there was no source of the sugars other than human milk, but they have recently been detected in whey, a waste byproduct of cheesemaking. The three researchers plan to test the complex sugars for benefit in premature infants and in the elderly.

The proteins in milk also have special roles. One, called Alpha-lactalbumin, can attack tumor cells and those infected by viruses by restoring their lost ability to commit cell suicide. The protein, which accumulates when an infant is weaned, is also the signal for the breast to remodel itself back to normal state.

Such findings have made the three researchers keenly aware that every component of milk probably has a special role. Its all there for a purpose, though were still figuring out what that purpose is, Dr. Mills said. So for Gods sake, please breast-feed.


A version of this article appeared in print on August 3, 2010, on page D4 of the New York edition.
Inside NYTimes.com

Friday, August 6, 2010

Join the Boob-olution!



Hey, mamas! Did you know August is National Breastfeeding Month? For such a great cause, we've whipped up a fabulous PSA video packed with celebs and real moms who all have one thing in common: they breastfed their babies and are proud of it! So check out the clip, share it with friends, and help us spread the word that breastfeeding doesn't suck!


To Celebrate we've lowered our price on the Medela Swing Breastpump

For orders or questions please contact us at 1-877-842-7867

The only single electric, personal-use pump with the breakthrough 2-Phase Expression® technology, proven to reduce pumping time. First researched and developed for hospital breastpumps, 2-Phase Expression is an advanced pumping pattern that mimics a baby's natural nursing rhythm, and it is proven to reduce pumping time.
  • Designed for faster let-down and milk flow
  • Massaging SoftFit™breastshield
  • Adjustable vacuum and speed for customized compfort
  • Portable, use on table top, belt clip, or shoulder/neck strap
  • Safe for the collection, storage and feeding of breastmilk


Chosen for you and your baby - All parts that come into contact with breastmilk are BPA/DEHP Free.

What's Included — 2 collection containers & lids, 1 container stand, 1 valve, 3 membranes, SoftFit breastshield, Carry Bag, Breastfeeding Information Guide, Tubing, AC Adapter, Battery Power Option (4AA batteries not included), Neck/Shoulder strap, Instruction Manual

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Precious Prints in Westlake Village!




Come create a unique and priceless keepsake of your newborn or child's hand/foot for yourself, your spouse or the grandparents! How long do clay prints actually last?
Forever! Many colors and designs are available to make the print special for you and your little one.

We are at the Pump Station this weekend. Get more than one and get a jump start on Holiday gifts too!


Precious Prints will be at the

Pump Station

in Westlake Village this

Sunday, August 8th from

10:00am-2:00pm

The clay used is non-toxic and completely safe for children of all ages. Precious Prints offers over 40 designs - check out the website at www.clayprints.com for a sneak preview. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are always welcome.
Call Kristan today at
(310) 802-8013
to create your keepsake!





Tuesday, August 3, 2010

This Week's Specials

If you haven't, noticed every week The Pump Station offers new items on sale. In the past we've taken 20-25% OFF our entire stock of PlanToys, C-Panty, Mustela and Edushape. Prices have been cut on everything from receiving blankets and WubbaNubs to Sign Language Books and Flash Cards.

Check the web site every Monday around 3:00pm EST/ 12:00pm PST to get in on the latest sales.

This week we are offering 25% OFF Motherlove More Milk Special Blend Caps, Kirby Inflatable Tub, Glamourmom Long Nursing Tank Tops (see below) and more and MORE!


Glamourmom Nursing Bra Long Top
Glamourmom Nursing Bra Long Top


Glamourmom Full Bust Long Top
Glamourmom Full Bust Long Top


Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bustier
Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bustier



JL Childress MaxiCOOL 4 Bottle Cooler, Black
That's not all. The love doesn't end there. Also this week in celebration of Breastfeeding Awareness Month we are Letting Down prices on your favorite products. Check out our new low prices on the Sophie Teether, MAXiCool Cooler bags and Aden + Anais Swaddling Blankets.

» see all Weekly Specials
»Letting Down Prices

And Don't leave home without your Hippo! .

Monday, August 2, 2010

Is Your Relationship Ready for Baby?

by Alyssa Berlin, PsyD, CGE
After a one minute mini-meditation to clear my head I am sitting down to type (with one hand) my first blog entry since birthing our fourth child, Jude, who is currently falling asleep on my lap (supported by my other hand). That reminds me, its time to update my bio again.

It seems like only yesterday that I revised my bio to include the birth of our firstborn. Over the past six years we have had four beautiful children and they have added a tremendous amount of happiness, playing, discovery, excitement, laughter, screaming, hair pulling, tantruming, crying and every kind of bodily fluid imaginable to our lives. Hang on a sec….

…Ok. I just put sleeping Jude in his swing, which gives me ten solid two-handed blogging minutes before the round of camp carpool pickups begins.
Since the 1970’s mental health researchers have been studying the impact that various life events have on our physical and emotional health. It’s no surprise that while being among the happiest of events, marriage, pregnancy, and gaining a new family member are also ranked among the most stressful. (Holmes and Rahe stress scale). As a result, up to 70% of couples experience profound yet avoidable stress, conflict and a decline in marital satisfaction during this time. This is so critical, because we know that the cornerstone of our baby’s development; be it emotional, social, cognitive and physical, is the quality of our relationship with our partner. (Dr. John Gottman, Ph.D. 2007).

Dr. John Gottman, one of the world’s leading research scientists on marriage, relationships, and families, and the creator of the Bringing Baby Home™ Workshop for new and expectant parents said “the greatest gift you can give your child is a strong relationship between the two of you”. As I present this workshop each month, I help healthy couples prepare for the parenthood challenge by strengthening their bond with each other, increasing the quality of their friendship and overall intimacy, using a unique series of hands-on relationship building exercises and discussions. I also point out the common pitfalls that new parents often fall into and how to avoid them.

Bottom line: we can’t control what curve balls or challenges we are going to experience as parents, but it is within our control to decide how we will address these challenges and clear the hurdles. Preferably as a team.

Having a strong relationship with your partner is the key to effective parenting and a less stressful more enjoyable transition to parenthood, and the addition of each new precious child. Speaking of which, it’s time to pick mine up from camp.

Workshops are forming now. See you at the Pump Station.

*******************************************
Is your Relationship Ready for Baby?
If you didn’t immediately shout "YES" than keep reading.


Fact: Nearly 70% of new parents experience a significant drop in relationship satisfaction following the birth of their baby.

This becomes obvious to most couples after the baby is born. But what if there was a way to help you and your partner prepare for the transition before the baby is born?

Learn Parenting and Relationship Skills that will Last a Lifetime!

Including how to:
  1. Stay connected with your partner
  2. Strengthen your friendship
  3. Interact with your baby in a positive way
  4. Be the best parenting team possible