The Breastfeeding Agenda- Target

I am going to preface this post with a disclaimer. This may not be popular opinion. I feel everyone is entitled to expressing themselves in their own way and I say to each their own. This is my opinion and my opinion alone. Take it or leave it.

Unless you have been living under a rock you have probably heard about Target "discriminating" against a women for breastfeeding in their store. From the woman's account, her child was fussy and needed to be fed so she pushed her cart next to a display and sat down on the floor to breastfeed her baby. You can read the full story at Best for Babies here.

Now, there are so many things I have to say about this issue. First, I support public breastfeeding . I fed my daughter in public numerous times (even in a Target store) and feel any woman should have a right to feed her baby in public; however, I hate reading stories like this one.

This once happened here at a local coffee shop. A woman said that she and a group of her friends were told to move to a back room because they were breastfeeding. This outraged everyone and so a nurse-in was scheduled. After a big hoopla and a nurse-in at the establishment, another non-bias patron with no affiliation to the coffee shop came forward and said "the women were not asked to move because they were breastfeeding. They were asked to move because a couple women were changing poopy diapers on the couch where other patrons could see and it was making other guests leave the shop". So the issue was not breastfeeding, it was a poopy diaper. The shop then acknowledged that they need to put a diaper changing station in the restroom. The did this and everyone lived happily every after. So what does this have to do with Target?  

First, this is one person's account of the incident. We have no other means to back the story up other than this one woman's account. I am not saying this woman is lying. She could very well be telling the complete truth. However, when a person gets mad, things can get exaggerated especially in situations like this. We could very well see more information at a later date. The woman also claims to have called Target's customer service line and that she got this response when she said that as a woman she had the legal right to feed her baby wherever she saw fit.

The lady (I wish I would have gotten her name) told me that she and Target were aware of our legal rights as nursing mothers, but that Target has different policies because they are a family friendly public place.

I can not for one second believe this. I just can't. I can not imagine ANY company telling a person we know what we are doing is illegal but we are going to keep on doing it. Not likely.

One issue is the woman was sitting in the floor. This can be a hazard to others around her and to herself and her baby. She could easily have been hit by a cart or stepped on by someone not seeing her. Now if the Target employees just had said "this is not safe please move to another location" that would have been great and dandy. The issue comes because according to this woman's account they told her she had to go to the dressing room and that they would cite her for indecent exposure if she didn't.

If the story is completely true and the woman was treated this way, that is very unfortunate. However, I do not think it is an issue with Target. This is an issue with a couple stupid employees. Yes, unfortunately, Target is responsible for its employees, but given the timing of this issue it could have been holiday help or temp help. No excuse for their poor behavior, but Target has a policy that states women can not be discriminated against for breastfeeding. Employees are supposed to follow this policy, but if they don't all Target can do is reprimand or fire the employee. It does not mean that Target is an anti-breastfeeding company. It means that these two silly employees where ignorant to breastfeeding.

So who is to blame? Society! We have groups like Best for Babies who are outraged over this incident saying that women should have the right to breastfeed anywhere anytime (I agree). They scheduled "nurse-ins" across the nation at various Targets to make a stand for these moms and their babies. However, I feel they are really off target (haha no pun intended) with this one. Nurse-ins are when a group of women get together and simultaneously feed their babies at the designated location showing that they have a right to do so. They are peaceful protests.

But what do they really do? Target is already having to do damage control because of the issue and with blogs and women online things like this travel at lightening speed, so Target is suffering. The nurse-in, in my opinion, will do nothing but add to our society's already messed up opinion of breastfeeding mothers. They can view this type of protest as a "cliche" of "crazy" women or it can just be seen as something to laugh off. Target's corporate office is already feeling the heat, so what good does this do?

If someone is ignorant enough to do this to a woman (like these employees) they are not going to be moved by a protest of a large group of breastfeeding women. It just isn't going to happen. Instead of being outraged over Target being unable to control a couple of its thousands of employees to follow a policy they have on breastfeeding, we would be better to focus our energy on why a large corporation like this NEEDS a policy on breastfeeding? Last time I checked, when I started lactating I did not become medically inept, or unhuman. Why do I as a breastfeeding mother need a "special" policy?? This is what should outrage us!!

The reason is that society views breastfeeding mothers as people who need to be tiptoed around. It is because society looks at breastfeeding like some foreign unnecessary practice. It is because society sees breasts as purely sexual. We need to take our energy and focus it on all the positives of breastfeeding. If breastfeeding became the "norm" then there would be no need for "special" policies for a breastfeeding mother.

That is my opinion on the subject and I welcome any disagreements. What is your take on these situations?


Added after a few messages:
Yes this is getting media coverage, but is that good? Even if it gets media coverage and even if every business in the United States made a stringent policy stating women can breastfeed in any manner, place, time they wish irregardless of circumstance, would that be enough? The answer is simply NO!! I could care less what "corporate policies" are on breastfeeding. All the corporate policy under the sun doesn't change public opinion or stigma. The bigger issue is why a person (these employees or people in general public) feel it is okay to treat a breastfeeding mother this way. Until that is addressed all the policy in the world will make no difference. Things will be right when there are no policies because the majority of employees would never dream of treating a breastfeeding mother differently than anyone else.

1000 @WhyClothDiaper Facebook Fan #Giveaway!

1000 @WhyClothDiaper Facebook Fan #Giveaway!

The Good Cook - review

I recently came across and interesting little cookbook club called The Good Cook. I love to cook and have really been wanting some quality cookbooks, but the price has kept me away from the Rachel Ray and Martha Stewart books. I have skimmed through them and really wanted them, but couldn't justify spending $19+ a book. This is where The Good Cook program saved my day. 

The Good Cook is a club of sorts. On your initial purchase you only pay $4 for 4 cookbooks of your choice. That is ANY four book. I purchased The Pioneer Woman Cooks, Rachel Rays' Look+Cook, Martha Stewarts Cakes and Tarts, and The Food Network Magazine recipe book. At checkout it was only $4 for all four books. Each of these books retails for $19.99+. So I was saving almost $80 over retail price.

The "catch" is that you have to purchase 2 more books are regular club price within 12 months. However, you can purchase one of your books at half price if you purchase it with your initial order (which I did). I purchased a tiny cakes book and it only cost me approx. $7 (retailed for $14) and it counted towards my first "commitment" purchase. Now I am only obligated to purchase one more book at club price. Each book is discounted a couple dollars off retail price and they run fantastic "extras" all the time. I purchased my second commitment for $14 and received a free book from a promo they were running. So basically I got 7 high quality cookbooks for about $25 plus shipping. That is the price of just the Rachel Ray book on its own.

I received my shipment in lightening speed (approx. 7 days) and the books are in fantastic, high-quality condition. I was skeptical about the program so sent a request to cancel my membership since I had fulfilled my commitment and they obliged. I promptly told them I was just testing them and got my membership reinstated. I love the program and wanted to share with you. If you love to cook (or want to start) this is a great program.

You will have to respond to cookbook of the month listings or they send them automatically. The great thing is you get an email direct to your inbox (or you can log-in to your account anytime) to respond. It literally takes 2 seconds and if you decline they do not send the book. If you ever forget and they send you the book you can return it for full refund.

They have thousands of books to choose from so head over and check them out.

Shame on Medela

I am very disappointed with the Medela company. They have stolen a recipe word-for-word from the blog I write for WhyClothDiaper.com. 

The recipe was originally posted on the website here- http://www.whyclothdiaper.com/2011/09/04/pumpkin-nut-oatmeal-chocolate-chip-lactation-cookies/ . Now Medela has posted the EXACT recipe on their Facebook page in their notes section here- http://www.facebook.com/notes/medela/pumpkin-nut-oatmeal-chocolate-chip-lactation-cookies/10150360539159668 

NOWHERE do they give credit to Christina Stainbrook as the true author and nowhere do they give credit to Whyclothdiaper. It is sad and I personally will not be purchasing any products from them and would really appreciate if you would do the same. Large companies like this think it is okay to walk on the little people like Christina and it isn't.

I'm in a Funk

There is nothing cuter than a cloth diapered baby bottom; however, sometimes you get in a cloth diapering funk. Well that is what I am calling it. You may have noticed my lack of helpful and nice cloth diapering talk as of late. There is a reason for this. I have been in a cloth diapering funk.

Literally we have been dealing with funk to the extreme. I was having some MAJOR repelling issues with my cloth and was getting incredibly frustrated. I ended up switching to ::GASP:: disposable diapers for a little while. I typically only write things that I feel passionately about and don't try to sugar coat everything in terms of diapers. There are bad days and there are good days. So I have been in a month long diaper funk; therefore, was at a lack of positive words to say. However, glorious changes have come about.

I finally buckled down and beat the funk. Here is an overview of my trials, errors, and victories.

First, my diapers started off just leaking at night. I would do the same routine I had done for months and it wasn't working. It eventually progressed to leaking during the day. Then finally full blown repelling and was not holding anything. I was extremely frustrated and tried stripping them by washing them on hot 5 times and drying. I thought the problem was fixed, but then a couple days later it was back.

I tried stripping again, doubling up on absorbency, and everything I could think of. Nothing seemed to work, so I went and bought a box of disposables and gave up. I just cleaned and folded the diapers and let them be for 2 weeks. I didn't even want the think about dealing with them with Christmas and the holidays approaching.

This all changed when I got my Black Friday Ruby Moon detergent order in the mail from Everything Birth. I had ordered 9 bags (basically a year's supply) of Ruby Moon in the Peppermint Wonderland scent for my cloth diapers. I got my package and it gave me the get-up-and-go to give my cloth another shot.

I split my diapers into three loads (I have A LOT of diapers since I have two in cloth) then I put the first batch in the washer with about 4 tablespoons of Ruby Moon. I soaked them in hot overnight and drained. Then I washed them on hot once and did a double rinse. I dried them and was ready to give them a shot again. They were like brand new. I used that batch for about a week and had no issues so fixed up the next two the same way.

I realized that typically when I wash I usually put all the diapers in the wash at once. I was overloading!! I had recently purchased more diapers to add to my stash. This way I would only have to wash every other day. Before the diapers had enough room because there was only a day and a half worth of diapers per load. When I added to the diapers were not getting clean enough because the machine was too full. Now that I have my diapers back in order I couldn't be happier. My baby's now have chemical free and cute booties yet again!

Sometimes you just have to step back (or take a break for a bit) to regroup.

Have you had any cloth diaper trials that you have had to overcome? If so, what and how did you deal?

Healthy Holiday Snacks

The holidays are notorious for encouraging over-eating and indulging. In fact, the holidays can be downright unhealthy. So what is a mom to do? You don’t want to skip the snacking and holiday munchies all together, but you also don’t want your children consuming a million grams of sugar in a two day span of time either. Lucky for you there is an alternative to traditionally sugary and fat-filled snacks.

Here is a list of my favorite healthy holiday snack options.

Chococonut Bananas

This is a simple and easy snack that will cater to your sweet tooth without using sugar. Simply take 2 bananas and slice them width wise. You will be left with numerous little round banana circles. Now take two small dishes and fill one with cocoa powder and the other with coconut flakes (unsweetened). You will take each banana slice and dip it in the cocoa, shake off excess, then dip in the coconut. You will be left with a super tasty (and sweet!) bite-size snack.

Rainbow Fruit Tray

Most children love fruit so why not capitalize on it this holiday season. Create a pretty fruit tray with as many different colored fruit items as possible. Alternating between different colored fruits will create visual appeal and it will taste great. 

Roasted Chestnuts

Do you have chestnuts roasting on an open fire? If not, you should. Shoot, you can skip the fire altogether if you like and bake them in the oven. Simple take the chestnuts and cut slits in the shells. Place them on a baking sheet in the oven and cook them for approximately 20 minutes on 425 degrees. You will have a surprisingly sweet surprise waiting for your family. Who knows, you may even start a new family tradition.

Candy Cane Hot Chocolate

This is a fabulous idea I found on 3 fat chicks on a diet. Warm a cup of skim chocolate milk and stir with a candy cane. You will have a yummy holiday treat the family is sure to love.

Healthy Gingerbread Men
Use a gingerbread shaped cookie cutter to cut pieces of whole wheat bread into little gingerbread men.  Now spread some peanut butter or cream cheese over the top of the bread. You can then let your kiddos decorate their gingerbread men with raisins, dried fruit, or nuts for a healthy and fun holiday inspired snack.

As you can see, maintaining healthy eating habits doesn’t have to be boring or bland. You can still have a tasty and fun holiday snack without sacrificing your health.  What healthy snacks do you plan on serving this holiday season?  

Real Moms Love to Eat - VIDEO!

Real Moms (REALLY DO) Love to Eat!

I am a real mom and I love to eat. For many moms like myself, finding the time, energy, and motivation to eat healthier can be difficult. I have three small children and try to eat as healthy as possible, but there are periods of time that I just get in a slump.

I received an e-copy of Beth Aldrich's book Real Moms Love to Eat and immediately began reading. The book is phenomenal. It touches on all of the "issues" that mothers (or people in general) can encounter when attempting to regain their health. Though I am not going to give away all her secrets, I will give you a brief overview of some of the things you can expect to learn in her book.

• It's okay to eat! Yes you heard me right. It is okay to eat. In fact, she can show you how you can not only eat, but eat foods that taste great and that you already love.
• Chocolate and sweets don't have to be our enemy. In fact, week 6 is "find your sweet spot", and trying new desserts is encouraged.

Eating a Cupcake is not a crime! -Beth Aldrich

• She will give you tasty recipes. There are lots of tasty recipes in Beth's book that you will love. My favorite is the Baked Chicken with Honey and Apples! She will provide recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, and even power snacks. 
• Beth breaks down the common "problems" with dieting and helps you overcome them by taking your through a 10-week eating plan. You don't have to start out hard-core like many diets instead you gradually adjust your whole lifestyle. This makes it incredibly easy to transition into better overall health.
• Not your typical "diet" book. This is by no means your typical diet book. In fact, I wouldn't even call it is diet book. It is a lifestyle make-over. Beth shows you easy steps to create a better and healthier you.

Real Moms Love to Eat  was an incredibly easy read and so much fun. You will find humor and encouragement to really take the program and run with it. From "flirting with food" to "getting serious" you will love Beth's take on food. 

Just in case you don't believe me on how amazing Beth's recipes are, here is a sample recipe of her no-bake brownies.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. You can pre-order Beth's book now on her website- Real Moms Love to Eat. Pre-order your copy today and make your New Year's resolution a great one- a healthier and better you.

Holiday Greeting Cards!

Now that Thanksgiving has passed it’s time for one of my favorite holiday traditions...sending Holiday cards to family and friends! I always browse numerous shops and websites before choosing the perfect set of cards, but for the second year in a row I have chosen Tiny Prints. I wish I had found them sooner!

A new twist on the Holiday card is Tiny Print's Ornament cards, which are great for family and friends because the card doubles as a Christmas ornament! Not only can you browse through a variety of unique cards, but Laura Ching the founder of Tiny Prints and design guru joins in on the Holiday cheer and chooses her favorite seasonal cards with Laura’s Picks. Tiny Prints is even perfect for families on a budget because you can find adorable and personal Holiday Cards with the Studio Basic Line starting at $.79. Do you already know exactly what you want your holiday card to look? Use Tiny Prints’ new DIY Holiday Card tool to build your card and customize to your heart’s content. Want something unique, but not quite DIY? Check out Rounded Corner Cards, Cards with Back Designs and Cards with Unique Formats for a custom look without starting from scratch. Don't forget that this year gray, gold, and neutral are the trending Colors. Here’s one of my favorites.

What makes Tiny Prints different and so amazing is that before each order is shipped it is hand reviewed (by a human!) for any issues, so you’re guaranteed to receive high-quality cards. Shop Tiny Prints Holiday cards today. These cards are sure to amaze family and friends. Make sure to check out all of the latest coupons from Tiny Prints. Happy shopping!