quick clicks

babies today articles

babies today q&a

toddlers today articles

toddlers today q&a

breastfeed.com articles

breastfeed.com q&a

message boards

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Ketherine's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 11/15/00 -------------------- 10/31/00 9/26/00 9/6/00 8/30/00 8/15/00 8/10/00 8/3/00 7/26/00 7/19/00 6/22/00 6/14/00 6/8/00 5/31/00 5/24/00 5/17/00 5/11/00 5/2/00 4/26/00 4/20/00 4/13/00 3/29/00 3/22/00 3/15/00 3/8/00 3/1/00 2/23/00 2/16/00 2/9/00 2/2/00 1/27/00 1/26/00 1/19/00 1/12/00 1/5/00 -------------------- Ketherine's Introduction

September 26, 2000

It has been a very stressful few weeks in this household. Sebastian started preschool last week and has enjoyed it. However, he cries inconsolably when I drop him off. His teachers say it is just for show because he stops after I am gone. As well, we have started potty training. Sebastian is doing very well and enjoys being a "Big Boy." He even stayed dry last night! He is very proud of himself. I am soooo glad that he will be trained soon because I have been spending way too much on diapers and wipes lately. Now I just have to get him to poop in the potty instead of holding it until I put a diaper on him ...

Bartholomew has no problems nursing, and is on a more regular schedule. He is sleeping for about 8 --10 hours at night, too -- which is great. I actually get some sleep! I am thinking of weaning Sebastian soon. I want to wait until the potty training is done, though, because I think that doing everything at once would be way too stressful. Just a thought though ... I am not sure if I want to give it up yet either!

When I was at the YMCA Family Resource Center today with Sebastian and Bartholomew, I met a woman who was breastfeeding a three-year-old boy. I struck up a conversation with her because I have never seen (besides myself) a women so openly breastfeeding an older child. She proceeded to tell me her son was autistic and that breastfeeding really helped to soothe him when he got frustrated. I have been thinking about her all day. What a wonderful way for a mother to bond and connect with an autistic child. I wonder if anyone in the health care field has ever promoted this, or would even consider this, as a way for such a mom to bond with her child. Autistic children need to have some way of expressing their love for others and feeling this love reciprocated. Breastfeeding just seems like an obviously easy way to do so for a mother. It is too bad that so many doctors tell women to stop breastfeeding older children. I wonder if they ever consider the mental state of the child. Just a thought. What a beautiful mother she is ...

Love,
Ketherine