hopealso

Recently, I received a comment on an article I wrote detailing natural teething tips and solutions by moms. The question asked was essentially, "What's wrong with baby Orajel?" I hadn't included Orajel and similar anesthetics like Anbusol in my list of teething remedies, but the question was a good one -- What to do when you need relief, either for your baby or yourself!  Read more >

Fear of strangers is a very real aspect of “growing up” for babies and children, but coping with stranger anxiety means learning to avoid hurt feelings while also respecting a child’s needs. When a relative, especially a grandparent, comes to visit hoping to find open arms, it can be difficult for them to understand that at a certain age almost all babies begin to fear strangers, related or not. How can you help your family members to cooperate with this very real fear?  Read more >

Couldn't resist crossposting my tale of Earth Day angst: Having just written a well-researched piece on “The Three R’s” of green living, I was of course beholden to my mantra to avoid buying new wherever possible. This means not rushing off to a big box store every time you have an idea for a new gadget.  Read more >

Natural products based on plant-based ingredients attempt to circumvent the use of synthetic preservatives, but there is a limit to what they can accomplish effectively. In Part 1 of this guide, I provide an overview of “what you need to know” about preservatives in personal care products, as well as methods for “do-it-yourselfers”. Is there a such thing as a personal care preservative that is not bad for you? read more...  Read more >