Author Archives: Rebecca Wilkens

About Rebecca Wilkens

BabyLed is the married mother of one beautiful daughter. She and her family live in the Midwest of the United States. BabyLed loves learning new ways for her family to be healthy and happy. She is a strong believer in attachment parenting, cooking from scratch, and alternative medicine (but is very thankful for conventional medicine when it is needed.). She would much rather avoid illness by living a healthy lifestyle than treat an illness after it has arrived. BabyLed loves reading, cooking, nature, and good old celebrity gossip. BabyLed graduated from college with a degree in Elementary Education. After teaching preschool for two years, she quit her job to be a fulltime mommy to her infant daughter. Being one of those "paranoid, first-time mothers" has led to her reading many books and articles on parenting and children. Although she has been around children her entire life, the birth of her daughter gave her a whole new perspective on what children are all about.

A Pick-Me-Up For Parents

I love being a mom. I thank God every day that I can stay at home with my daughter and be the person who spends every day with her during these very impressionable years. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing. And yet, the fact that I love being a mom doesn’t mean I always feel happy and fulfilled. Although my daughter is only 11 months old, there are some stages where I’m not quite sure what to do with her. When she was a newborn, it was easy; all I did was feed her, hold her, and change her diaper, … Continue reading →

Differences Between Mothers And Fathers

As a mother, I often catch myself telling my husband what to do with our baby. Of course, the decisions I make concerning parenting are the best possible choices, and he could only benefit from hearing my advice, right? Most women are born with a strong motherly instinct. To many of us, caring for children comes naturally. As youngsters, many girls gravitate toward playing with dolls, caring for stuffed animals, and preparing meals for toys. As young teenagers, many become interested in babysitting. As mothers, especially breastfeeding mothers, we are often the primary caregivers for our infants. There’s no doubt … Continue reading →

Do You Put Pictures of Your Baby on Facebook?

It’s hard to believe Facebook didn’t even exist ten years ago. It seems everyone has a profile these days. Whether you’re a 13-year-old chatting with her friends about homework, a businessman doing networking, or a grandma oohing and ahhing over the latest pictures of her grandchildren, Facebook has something for everyone. I use Facebook as a means to keep in instant contact with my family and friends. When your closest immediate family member lives states away, easy communication is a must. Uploading pictures is simple, and everyone can easily see new and updated pictures of my daughter. Facebook is a … Continue reading →

Underwire Bras are NOT a Breastfeeding Mother’s Friend

A brand-new breastfeeding mother becomes familiar with pain the first weeks following her baby’s birth. Nipples not used to breastfeeding can become excruciatingly tender, especially during the first minute after the baby latches. Before the mother’s body adjusts to the needs and appetite of the new baby, her breasts can become painfully full of milk. Breastfeeding should not, however, begin to hurt when your child is 9 months old. If breastfeeding has been pain-free for quite some time and the pain returns, something is probably wrong. The culprit could be thrush, which causes a burning or itching sensation in the … Continue reading →

Is She a Baby or a Puppy?

If you walked into my living room without knowing anything about me, you’d think I was the proud owner of a little puppy. I’m not sure that quite sums it up. Let’s put it this way: If you walked into my living room without knowing anything about me, you’d think I was the proud owner of a rambunctious, mischievious, downright naughty little puppy. You’d be lucky if you caught a glimpse of the carpet. Instead, our floor is blanketed with a fine layer of pieces of paper, toilet paper, and tissues. Yep, our baby is a bonafide paper shredder. Why … Continue reading →

Gardening: Baby-Friendly Pest Control

Summertime is here, and with it comes gardening season. If you’re like me, you love the idea of eating organic without having to pay the hefty grocery bill. Planting a garden allows you to do just that. Eating healthy is important for people of all ages, but it is especially important for babies. What could be better than feeding your baby steamed green beans, broccoli, or carrots straight from the garden? When you plant your own food, you control exactly what goes into growing it: the soil, the fertilizer, and the pest control. I’m able to plant a garden for … Continue reading →

Bust A Move

In recent headlines, a video has taken the nation, possibly the world, by storm. Boasting over 13 million views, this video has affected the lives of more people that the total populations of Minnesota and Wisconsin combined. After seeing this video, people may never again view children, music, or dancing the same. What video am I talking about? Yep, you guessed it: “Baby Dancing to Beyonce – ORIGINAL!” (Click here to view the video.) If you haven’t already seen this YouTube gem, my first question is, “What rock have you been living under?” Secondly, I urge you to check it … Continue reading →

Precautions to Take when Flying with a Young Child with a Peanut Allergy

You’re a parent of a young child with a severe peanut allergy. You are planning a vacation that makes it necessary to get on an airplane. The thought of being on an enclosed, peanut-ridden vehicle that circulates recycled air makes you nearly go into anaphylactic shock. What can you do to keep your child safe? First of all, you are not alone. Millions of Americans suffer from a peanut allergy. Although there is no miracle solution to the stress and anxiety you might feel, there are precautions you can take that will likely make your trip safe. To begin, make … Continue reading →

Flying with a Child with a Peanut Allergy

During each of our flights on our last vacation, Southwest Airlines provided us with complimentary snacks. It was a welcome surprise, as flying with a baby left me with a hefty appetite. I tore into the small bags of peanuts, cheese crackers, and pretzels. As I carelessly wiped my salty hands on my pants and seat, I thought of my nephew. My nephew is one of the unfortunate millions of children with a severe peanut allergy. When my brother and family come to visit, we remove any food that may have come into contact with peanuts. My nephew goes nowhere … Continue reading →

Flying with a Baby? Choose Southwest.

Flying around the country is nothing new in my book. Going to college out of state meant I flew at least twice a year to go back home, sometimes more. I never had loyalty to a particular airline; whichever was cheapest was the one I chose. Things have changed a bit since my college days. Bags often no longer fly free, and I’ve added a baby to the items I have to carry on the plane. I’ve flown three times with our daughter, and I have to say that the most recent, with Southwest Airlines, was by far the most … Continue reading →