#we tie down babies hips for months if they have hip dysplasia

[sabattoir]

circumcision-is-genital-mutilation ppl getting on my damn nerves

[babythings]

Front Facing Baby Carrier Backpack

Your little one stayed in the womb for 9 long months. Your little one stayed in the womb for 9 long months. Because babies know what they like (and tell you, out loud) some parents choose to take their babies to the fourth trimester (newborn day) at the youngest age (and sometimes beyond).

Although the trend of wearing baby clothes may seem obvious, it has actually been around for thousands of years.

There are countless baby carriers on the market these days - really, it can be overwhelming if you are not familiar with all the styles and rules.

Baby-wearing may be super-trendy right now, but it’s hardly new. For centuries, new moms have relied on papooses, wraps, mei-tais and other contraptions to keep baby close.

Baby-wearing may be super-trendy right now, but it’s hardly new. For centuries, new moms have relied on papooses, wraps, mei-tais and other contraptions to keep baby close.

Types of baby carriers

There are many types of baby carriers, so it's important to find the one that works best for you and your lifestyle. Here are your main options:

Baby carrier wraps:

This is what most new moms imagine when they think of baby-wearing. Essentially, wrap baby carriers are long swaths of fabric that are wrapped around your body and tied in place to hold your baby close. Perfect for puttering with baby at home while you get things done.

Soft-structured baby carriers:

With a clearer feel and lots of straps, these parts of the construction distribute the weight of the baby on your hips while offering you a little help, and a snug and comfortable fit for both of you. Produce feet. Many soft-bodied babies have multiple carrying positions in their careers so you can continue to use them as your toddler becomes a toddler.

Baby carrier backpacks:

For parents who plan to introduce their baby to the great outdoors, these heavier, backpack-style carriers offer additional padding and boning to keep your little one in place while out on adventures. They offer more structure and security, but they’re a little heavier than the other two options. They also are often only for back-carrying, so you usually have to wait until your baby is a little older and can sit up on her own. Baby backpacks usually have rigid frames. You wear them only on your back. They’re suitable for older babies and toddlers who can hold up their heads. It’s a good idea to ask your GP or child and family health nurse whether your baby is old enough for a backpack.

So, in this topic we will talk about a Front Facing Baby Carrier Backpack

     A seat that places baby close:

If you choose a front-facing baby carrier, you should be able to plant a peck on the top of baby’s head without leaning too far down.

A clear, comfortable space for baby:

Make sure there’s no fabric blocking his airways or buckles poking him.

Plenty of support:

If you're using a soft-structured carrier or a backpack, look for sturdy, padded straps and strong buckles that click firmly in place.

A wide, supportive seat for baby:

You'll want to make sure that his legs are appropriately separated to prevent hip dysplasia.

A comfortable base strap:

This takes pressure off your back and distributes weight evenly around your hips as you carry your little one.

Washable fabric:

Blowouts, spit up, the occasional iced coffee spill from above (no judgment!) — It’s the golden rule that almost anything you put near baby should be washing machine-friendly.

Best front-facing baby carrier

Younger children are safer when your Front Facing Baby Carrier Backpack inwards. However, because your baby is a little older, they may not be as adaptable as your body. Moving your child to the outdoors gives them some more motivation and fun.

BabyBjörn Original Carrier

When you think of a child's career, you may think of babies. This style has been around since 1961, which is much longer than the others on this list. This is a good choice for newborns because you do not need to admit any newborns. Reviewers like that this career isn't as heavy as some of the others in the market, and, as a result, may be more comfortable in a face-to-face position.

Best Soft Structured Baby Carrier

The Baby Tula cotton canvas baby carrier has a huge devoted mom following for good reason. This best baby carrier has a wide waistband so it feels secure on your body, a large fabric panel that keeps baby comfortably facing you (or riding on your back) and a ton of stylish patterns, with new ones rolling out all the time.

   Front Facing Baby Carrier Backpack

If you plan on wearing your baby carrier on your back (nice for you and your kiddo!), you’ll want the main piece of fabric to be generous and supportive along baby’s spine. With the Boba 4G Carrier, you can start wearing baby on your back once he hits 20 pounds. Back carrier instructions on the site can walk you through how to easily load in your child.

Best Baby Carrier for Hot Weather

The mesh fabric on LÍLLÉbaby’s Complete Airflow baby carrier allows for ventaliation so baby stays cool and comfy. You can wear it any which way—front, back or hip—depending on what’s best for you and your little passenger.

Evenflo Breathable Carrier

Key features:

At around $25, the Evenflo is great for the price. A few reviewers were even surprised at how well it fit different members of the family, ranging from petite to plus size.

Considerations: 

Since this carrier only works with infants up to 26 pounds, if you want something that will last longer, you may want to go with a different option. A few reviewers say that baby’s weight is too focused on the upper back and neck to be comfortable for long wears.

Best Mei Tai Baby Carrier

This old-school style of baby carrier uses a strap-tie system to secure baby, so no buckles are required, allowing for a simple and personalized fit every time. As for versatility, the Infantino Sash Mei Tai can be worn front-, back- or hip-facing.

Best Affordable Baby Carrier

Evenflo has been making easy front carriers that buckle on the sides for years now. For quick errands, this breathable, lightweight and affordable baby carrier is all you need!

Best Baby Carrier for Toddlers

A baby carrier isn’t just for a tiny infant, it’s a genius way to keep your active toddler by your side. Kindercarry makes models sized especially for ages 18 months to 4, with thicker fabric and straps all around.

Breathable Front Facing Carrier Backpack

4 carrying position modes: Chest way, kangaroo style, back carry, cross arm carry,.High quality durable material, safe and exquisite design. Adjustable shoulder belt, double-protection safety buckle, 3D ventilating back pad. Adjustable durable waistbelt for safer carrying.

 Easy to operate and adjust, flexible carrying position. Suitable for carrying 2-30 months old baby kid. Weight-load: Maximum 18kg.

Best Baby Carrier for Newborns

Some baby carriers require a certain expertise that can only be perfected over time, but the BabyBjörn is easy to use from day one. All you need to do to get yourself and baby in and out is unbuckle one side buckle, and you’re good to go. The carrier doesn’t have a waist support band, so baby’s weight is distributed across your back and shoulders with X-shaped straps.

This carrier can be used without an infant insert from 7 pounds up to 24 — so it doesn't have as long a lifespan as some of the more complicated carriers, but it should last through baby's first year. There’s also no back carry option, so this option works for parents looking for a front carrier only.

 https://babythingsonline.com.au/

[emmahastwomoms]

I am still processing everything that comes with Emma’s new diagnosis and looking into everything and anything we can get our hands on about it. She now has a list of specialists longer than my own, therapies, and even more testing to be done. We were finally able to get in and talk with the geneticist about the details of Emma’s diagnosis. We found out that she has a nonsense mutation on the binding protein of the NR2F1 gene. The way I had to describe it so I understood what the heck was happening is that she has a pair of genes; one of the pairs is totally normal working great, the other gene is the villain and all it does is sabotage its counterpart. Ultimately we understand that out of all the types of mutations she could have, she got the worst and we now have to prepare ourselves for the new symptoms that will more than likely come up because of it. These symptoms can show up tomorrow or when she is 73 years old, we have no road map of when to expect these speed bumps and road closures but we know if we keep our maintenance up yearly and work on the things we can now we have a chance to help her get as far as she can.

We have recently started Emma on more therapies so as it stands now she has 5 different therapies every week: physical therapy, speech therapy, feeding therapy, vision therapy, and occupational therapy. She is doing PT, OT, feeding therapy, and group therapy at FBC weekly and speech and vision biweekly. After months of arguing and appealing, we have been denied for OT through Emma’s state services so we have had to go to a clinic to get her these services. They are denying her because they claim OT is not medically necessary for her diagnosis, the only issue anyone sees with this is that with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) the only “treatment” is occupational therapy. We decided that due to Emma going to feeding therapy at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, it was best to have her start OT there so that the two therapists can work together because we know that the SPD is causing many issues with her eating (or lack thereof). With all of these new therapies and upcoming specialists, Emma has appointments anywhere from 3-5 days a week, sometimes two a day. Getting her used to her new normal has been a bit of a struggle at times, especially if she has to wake up early for an appointment, but she has been a trooper and works at each of her appointments. In the past 7 days, she has already had ear tube replacement with a frenectomy for her lip-tie under anesthesia, feeding therapy, vision therapy, physical therapy, group therapy and had to get up early today for her flu shot.

We’ve noticed some very big improvements since some of the therapies she does have started. She is now willing to touch purees or similar consistencies and then put her hand in her mouth. This is a big improvement from barely eating an ounce of food a day to eating at least 3 ounces of food solely with her hands. Baths, both in the tub and sponge, have become even more frequent in this house and I have no issue with it whatsoever because who doesn’t love a clean baby out of the bath smell. We have been dealing with her aversion to spoons by trying out new and random items to use as a tool to get food into her mouth whether it be a pretzel rod, tongue depressor, or even a sponge. Until she decides she wants to eat, we will continue her diet of pediasure, vanilla only, daily so that she takes in some calories because one cannot get by on 1-4 ounces of puree or yogurt a day.

In physical therapy she is working so hard on her standing and learning the general idea of how to take steps. She still hates her AFOs, but like her glasses, after a while she forgets that she has them on. She has been able to stand for 3 seconds unassisted and hangs out in her AFOs and gait trainer for about an hour a day to help strengthen her leg muscles and her hips. Now that she is standing her hip dysplasia on the left side is much more pronounced so we are trying to work with her to correct how she stands.  She is really working on standing without leaning against something or someone so it’s been a struggle to get her to stand unassisted because she is constantly trying to lean over. In the mix of standing we are teaching her how to walk, not the whole picture, just the first baby steps and the fact that if she moves her leg, she can move herself. It’s a lot of the therapist on the floor behind the gait trainer and me in front of her holding her iPad playing her favorite video. Teaching a concept like walking is one of those things that I and many others take for granted, my nephew could understand how walking worked by watching, that is something Emma doesn’t do, she is not a visual learner. It’s a lot of repetitions and manipulating her body to do what we want because she can’t/won’t watch us and then try to copy our movements. 

I can see her internal struggle during therapy or when I’m working with her throughout the day of wanting that reward of watching a video on the iPad when she does what we want, but she knows how hard it is and sometimes that will not do it is stronger. We do everything we can to encourage her with her favorite songs and praise even when she just can’t stand it any longer. I know how far we can push her to work before she breaks down out of frustration and we work very closely with her therapists so they are aware of that too. Mixing terrible twos with a sensory outburst is just not a good time for anyone, at all. We know we are a long while out until she is ready to have less appointments but it is all one *literal* step at a time. 

New day, new appointment I am still processing everything that comes with Emma's new diagnosis and looking into everything and anything we can get our hands on about it.

[growingupguidepup]

Summer Solstice Litter Turns 2

Puppies from left to right: Pixie, Edison, Paddington, Carmin, Trudy, Tango, Ollie, Scarlett, and Hampton

Pixie turns two this month. How did that happen?! It seems like it was just yesterday that we were doing the flight of the bumblebee to clear out one of our bedrooms and prep it for a soon to arrive litter of puppies. Now here we are two years later.

Pixie sure has grown a lot this last year and I’m sure all her siblings have too. All nine of the puppies from the litter are now in their permanent placements and we couldn’t be more proud of how they have turned out. We were told by the women who bred the litter that she has had multiple service dogs come from her line of poodles so I guess that we shouldn’t be surprised that seven of the nine had what it took for service dog work.

So where is everyone now? Scarlett (Ms. Red) was released from training this past winter because of car sickness and some fear issues and was adopted by a loving family. Tango ( Mr. Green) was matched with a person with Multiple sclerosis (MS). Gurtrude, aka Trudy (Ms, Purple) was released as a puppy and adopted by a loving family. Unfortunately she never really had a chance to train and it is unknown what her full potential really could have been. Hampton (Mr. Blue) was placed with a handler and appears to be doing well, but we’ve not been informed about what types of tasks he is trained to do. Carmin (Ms. Orange) was matched with a veteran through a organization called 4 Paws 4 Patriots. Oliver, aka Ollie, ( Mr. Pink) was matched with a teen who uses a wheelchair. Paddington. Aka Paddy, (Mr. Yellow) was the last of the litter to be matched. He was matched by Brigadoon Service Dogs and went to a veteran. Last but not least there is Edison ( Mr. Gray) who has been matched with a teenager with POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and doing fantastic.

This was a very successful litter and what a wide variety of disabilities they are helping to assist. As baby puppies they were an absolute joy to raise, but also kept us on our toes. I will never forget when the puppies were about 6 weeks old and we put everyone to bed for the night. I was in bed ready to drift off to sleep and heard the quietest whine. I went downstairs and saw Edison sitting outside the puppy pen. That was the first time he figured out how to climb out of their enclosure. The next week I was woken up to over half the puppies having an adventure outside the enclosure. It took me almost two hours to clean up the mess they left behind and figure out how to contain them. They ended up having multiple escapes. Let me tell you nine puppies can make a BIG mess.  But other than them being curious puppies who wanted to explore their environment, they were a very quiet, calm, and easy litter to have around. 

Most people don’t know this, but Matt and I actually discussed a different type of operational program for Growing Up Guide Pup. We were on a ferry in Washington State with Penny while on a short vacation and we talked about producing puppies and giving them to smaller service dog organizations who need help. Our ideal organization to give puppies to would be an organization that couldn’t afford to breed their own puppies or wasn’t in a position to have a big group of puppies/ dogs that were all the same age.

Some organizations are so small that they can not accommodate a large litter. They might not have enough raisers available at the same time, or they may not have the means to train the dogs as they get older when they are ready for formal training. Sometimes organizations need to spread out the age of their dogs to be able to maintain the different needs of their dog population properly. In this case an organization may only be able to handle a few dogs the same age or stage at a time.

And then there is the cost of breeding and raising a litter of puppies, it isn’t a cheap endeavor. There are the costs of medical screening of the parents. It is important to make sure there are no obvious possible inherited medical issues that could be passed down to the puppies. There are stud fees if you don’t have the stud or an arrangement with the owner of the stud. There are supply costs to set up a safe environment for the mom and puppies for the different stages of development during the first eight weeks of life. There are feeding costs. Pixie’s mom was eating up to twelve cups of dog food a day when she was nursing, and she still wasn’t able to produce enough milk to feed her puppies and we had to purchase formula to supplement them. Weaning the puppies, followed by feeding them from five weeks to eight to ten weeks of age adds up. Then there is the veterinary costs. Prenatal care for the dam, which usually includes x-rays and ultrasounds. Vaccinations and check up for the puppies were needed as well. This all adds up to a huge cost that many small organizations just can’t afford into their annual budget, and these organizations often rely on donated puppies from private breeders.

So how does this all tie together with Pixie’s 2nd Birthday? Well after seeing that her litter was so successful, we are considering using Pixie to get this program started. Pixie is now officially old enough to start the health pre screening process to see if she has good enough health traits to pass down to another generation. This would include testing genes for possible conditions common for her breed to make sure she is not a carrier. Hips and elbows x-rayed and scored for dysplasia clearance. Heart ultrasounded by a cardiologist to check for any heart issues that can be passed down. And an ophthalmologist for any underlying eye issues.

If Pixie passes all her pre screening tests have a potential stud candidate for her that has a history of producing successful service dogs. But this isn’t a program that we can do on our own. We have found the cost of producing and caring for a litter of puppies is very expensive depending on the number of puppies and we have already found a couple of service dog organizations interested once we implement the Service Dog Litter Project plan.

Another part of The Service Dog Litter Project is to bring back our web series. We would love to be able to document the very beginning stages of what goes into creating a service dog. This would require some new equipment and a lot of time and energy to get our footage out in real time. Most people don’t fully understand the amount of time it requires to obtain and edit footage to create our series. Depending on how much support we get, that will determine how long our series will go. We hope at a minimum document the first 8-10 weeks until the puppies are dropped off to the organizations receiving them. But being able to follow all the puppies progress as they grow until they are placed would be our ultimate goal. Just like Pixie’s litter, it would be amazing to see the different types of disabilities dogs can help mitigate. 

Our series can not only open the door to better understanding of these types of disabilities, but also open the door for lesser known organizations that help place these dogs.These will be organizations that could really benefit from us sharing their stories as well. We can’t do what we want to by ourselves anymore, we need help. We will need to travel more than before. Bring on volunteers, get all the supplies we need and create jobs to help make this program the best it can be. 

The Service Dog Litter Project is just one of five new outreach programs we are implementing with your support. Matt is in the process of designing two new websites that we will use for operations. We are going to offer new programs and provide a donation boutique that people can use to help us get the programs operational. We are constantly working on new ideas on how to bring support to the service dog community. We just hope that we can get the funds we require to bring these outreach programs to life.

For more details on our products and services, please feel free to visit us at: service dog in training, sdit, service dog in training acronym, service dog, service dog law.