Baby-led feeding is an approach to solid food introduction that allows baby to explore and discover whole food on their own with parental supervision.

With baby-led feeding you give baby whole foods or foods cut into hand size spears or slices so that baby learns what is a comfortable and manageable bit size for them. This helps develop baby’s taste and texture sensations to natural food, and helps create their independence at the dinner table as well. Read More…

I, Leigh Anne DuChene, have researched, taught, and coached on holistic or natural baby-led weaning or baby-led feeding for 3 years now; through classes, online support, and one-on-one coaching.

I now offer my services through DuChene Natural Health Center’s Nourishing Origins. Our February Baby-Led Feeding classes are now scheduled, with more to come. Special offer when you register early, see below for details!

Join us on:

Baby-Led Feeding Class – Thursday, February 18, 2010 – 6:30 PM

Baby-Led Feeding Class – Saturday, February 27, 2010 – 1:00 PM

For more details and to register go to www.BabyLedFeeding.com

by: Ethan Huff

From NaturalNews.com

For years, baby formula manufacturers have been fortifying and reformulating their blends in an effort to poise their products as equal or superior to natural breast milk. Beginning in 2002, many producers began supplementing their mixtures with synthetic forms of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA), the long-chain fatty acids naturally present in breast milk. Evidence is now showing that the synthetic versions are detrimental to the health of children, despite their continued usage in almost every available brand of infant formula.

Read MORE…

Baby Bond (a brand new, updated version of Baby Matters: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Caring for Your Baby) author Dr. Linda Folden Palmer will be speaking to Houston residents at a book signing at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. Want to organize a presentation for your group right here in Dallas/Fort Worth? Read more about how to bring Dr. Palmer to a meeting of your group, later in this article.

Dr. Palmer’s book exhaustively lists the scientific evidence behind attachment parenting, breastfeeding and the reality of food allergies … Dr. Palmer shows how the establishment of science-conquering-nature has caused unnecessary suffering and heartache to parents and babies alike. — Vegetarian Baby and Child

Dr. Linda Palmer’s rebuttals of current mainstream child-rearing trends (artificial infant food, cow’s milk consumption) do not stop at their negative impact on infants but rather create a compelling and well-cited argument for their links with lifelong negative complications. — Journal of Human Lactation

Read more of Dr. Palmer’s articles on healthy, natural parenting online at her web site.

Organize your own program with Dr. Palmer

Dr. Palmer is available to speak to groups of 25 or more, so coordinate with several playgroups or parenting groups and bring Dr. Palmer to your own Houston event. Presentations may be tailored to parent groups or health professionals. Dr. Palmer may also be available in Dallas/Fort Worth. Contact Dr. Palmer directly to learn more about possible speaking dates for your group of 25 or more in Texas on Oct. 9-11.

See Dr. Palmer at Barnes and Noble in Houston:

2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10
Barnes & Noble
12850 Memorial Drive, Houston 77024
(713) 465-5616

By LaToya S. Watkins, North Dallas Gazette

Since Project Single Moms DFW launched its supportive arms to the single parents of Dallas/Fort Worth in January of 2009, a membership count of 74 single parents has been reported to the North Dallas Gazette. The organization, founded by CEO and director Stephanie Clark, was put into place after Clark’s My Daughter’s Keeper Inc. was founded in New Jersey in 2007. The stories of 47 single moms were told in a book titled Life As A Single Mom: It Isn’t Easy, Or Is It? Project Single Moms is a nonprofit, national advocacy and empowerment program, aimed at inspiring single mothers to be the change that they desire to see in their situations.

Project Single Moms offers support to the single parenting community ranging from financial literacy to homeownership information and personal and self-development. The program, which requires a membership that is free before July 30, also offers support such as parents’ night out for the mothers and activities for the single parent families as whole units as well. The group provides a 24-hour support telephone line for parents who need someone to call on anytime for support. There is even publishing information and services for parents who have written their stories down and feel that they are ready to share them with the world.

Project Single Moms has a few events coming up within the next few months that parents could benefit from greatly. The DFW chapter of the organization had its first meet and greet in early June and were quite please with the turnout. The group is planning a back to school event that will take place in August. There will be food, fun, and school supplies! Taylor explained, “We are even trying to get a few barbers and hair stylists to come out and offer services to help parents prepare for school as well.”

The coordinators are even planning as far ahead to an October kids night out — Boo at the Zoo. The group plans to meet up once a month for mixing and mingling, as well as hold a phone conference for all members once monthly to touch base and give parents a chance to reach more than once monthly. “We just want to have fun and support each other while doing so,” Belo stated enthusiastically.

Membership criteria for the organization are loose and lenient. “Two of our single parents are actually single fathers,” Taylor revealed right before Belo inserted, “There are actually now three single fathers in the group.”

For more information on starting a Project Single Moms chapter in your area contact one of the DFW coordinators at contactdfw@projectsinglemoms.com. For more information on national and local chapters or to join chapters of Project Single Moms, please visit www.projectsinglemoms.com.

(via Moonlady News)

Texas shoppers get a break from state and local sales taxes on August 21, 22 and 23, the state’s annual tax holiday. Layaway plans can be used again this year to take advantage of the sales tax holiday.

As in previous years, the law exempts most clothing and footwear priced under $100 from sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. Backpacks under $100 and used by elementary and secondary students are also exempt. A backpack is a pack with straps one wears on the back. The exemption during the sales tax holiday includes backpacks with wheels, provided they can also be worn on the back like a traditional backpack, and messenger bags. The exemption does not include items that are reasonably defined as luggage, briefcases, athletic/duffle/gym bags, computer bags, purses or framed backpacks. Ten or fewer backpacks can be purchased tax-free at one time without providing an exemption certificate to the seller.

The 81st Texas Legislature recently passed HB 1801 (2009) expanding the list of items qualifying for exemption from Texas state and local sales and use taxes during the annual sales tax holiday in August. Effective this year, in addition to clothes, footwear and some backpacks, Texas families also get a sales tax break on most school supplies priced at less than $100 purchased for use by a student in an elementary or secondary school.

Review the state’s official list of qualifying school supplies and other goods.

Mid-July in Dallas/Fort Worth? Piece of cake! You’ve got things covered with these free summer activities and events for the whole family. The best part: they’re half-price or even free!

• Free movie tickets for Children’s Place shoppers Free tickets to Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs for the first 50 customers to spend $40 or more at all six new Children’s Place locations in Texas on Friday July 10 (or while supplies last). Locations include Alliance Town Center (9409 Sage Meadow Trail, Fort Worth), The Plaza at Rockwall (1019 East 1-30, Rockwall) and Gateway Station II (1185 N. Burleson, Burleson).
• Free Family Fridays at the Fort Worth Museum of Science & Natural History 3-7 p.m. Friday, July 31 and Friday, Aug. 28. Free Family Fridays continue throughout the summer while some of the museum’s exhibits are on display at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Enjoy the new children’s exhibit, Tales from the Land of Gullah, plus KIDSPACE and all National Cowgirl Museum exhibits for FREE. Free Family Friday does not include free admission to the Omni Theater.
• Half-Price Days at The Dallas Zoo Half-price admission for all guests Aug. 1 – 9 at The Dallas Zoo.
• Free Wednesdays at the Dallas Museum of Art Free Wednesdays during the month of July at the Dallas Museum of Art.

(Thanks to Christine at For My Kids Online for the tips!)

Give your child the essential tools for conscious and creative living with Conscious Kids Camp, from the North Texas Peace Learning Center in collaboration with Pure Wellness Intl. Conscious Kids Camp is designed to celebrate heart-centered creativity, consciousness and presence natural to childhood.

This camp, held in Uptown Dallas for children ages 3 through 12, run Monday/Wednesday/Friday mornings for four weeks, offering fun and meaningful activities designed to help children thrive and adapt appropriately to their environment. 

Throughout the summer, children learn and practice a different focus each week:

Week One—June 8, 10, 12
Being Here, Now
The art of Zen for children
Body awareness and healing touch

Week Two—June 29, July 1, 3
My Heart is My Home
HeartMath techniques for children
Vibrational scale of food and mood

Week Three—July 20, 22, 24
Speaking Consciously to My Self
Conscious Language and Imagination Activation by Robert Tennyson Stevens

Week Four—August 10, 12, 14
Speaking Consciously to Others
Nonviolent communication

Ages 3-6 9–10 a.m.; $10/class, $25/week, $95/all summer
Ages 7-12 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; $20/class, $50/week, $190/all summer
Attend one day, one week, all four weeks, or any combination of days/weeks.

Space is limited; register today! Contact Laura Seipp: e-mail or 214.663.8976.

Believing that it is vital that the leaders of tomorrow develop peaceful problem solving skills today, the North Texas Peace Learning Center is offering not one but five different peace camps this summer.

Peacemaker Day Camp sessions are five mornings of fun, creative and meaningful activities, immersed in nature and designed to help children develop the skills necessary to live a peaceful life. Throughout the week, children learn and practice peaceful problem-solving with a different focus each day.

• Monday: Peace for me The importance of inner peace
• Tuesday: Peace for us Daily relationships, cooperation, communication
• Wednesday: Peace for everyone Justice and peace among communities
• Thursday: Peace for the planet Planetary care and appreciation
• Friday: Peace among nations Raising interpersonal peacemaking skills to the international level

Also Friday: a Peace Party!

Fairview—The Robert Muller Center for Living Ethics
The original home of Peacemaker Day Camp. Enjoy a fun-filled week in the country exploring the treehouses and alcoves of Peace Town, all within the beautiful and tranquil seven-acre grounds of the Robert Muller Center for Living Ethics.
9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.  June 15 – 19
340 Country Club Road, Fairview 75065
Ages 7-12
Cost: $100

Dallas—White Rock Lake
Enjoy a mini-peace camp under the trees at the beautiful White Rock Lake urban oasis.
9-11 a.m. June 22 – 26
Stone Tables Picnic Area, White Rock Lake, Dallas
Ages 5-12
Cost: $60

Pilot Point— In collaboration with Horses Heart and Soul
The way of peace through the way of the horse.  Groups will focus on communication, building relationships, cooperation and understanding emotions through experiential activities with horses.  Horses help us to reconnect to our hearts and souls.
9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. July 13 – 17
Wolf Tree Ranch, Pilot Point
Ages 9-12
Cost: $175

Arlington— Unity Church of Arlington
Peacemaker Day Camp
9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July 6 – 10
3525 S. Bowen Rd., Arlington 76016-4004
Ages 7–12
Cost: $100

Family Peace Camp is built upon the same ideas and principles as Peacemaker Day Camp, with additional material from “From the Heart: A Relationship-Centered Approach For Happier Families” by Vicki Diane Johnston, founding director of the Robert Muller School and author of “Education for True Culture.”

• Workshop 1: Nurturing the Roots of a Strong Relationship
• Workshop 2: The Mentor: Creating a Blueprint
• Workshop 3: From Healthy Roots, Growing a Strong Relationship According to the Blueprint
• Workshop 4: Principle-Centered Family Leadership

Fort Worth— Unity Church of Fort Worth
Family Peace Camp
7-9 p.m. August 11, 13, 18, 20 (Tuesday & Thursday)
5051 Trail Lake Drive, Fort Worth 76133
Cost: $60 per Family

For more information about Peacemaker Day Camp or Family Peace Camp, contact Laura Seipp.

Do failing grandparents and kids mix? Some 20 million Americans today fall into the category of the Sandwich Generation –- families caring for both elderly parents and young children. In these multigenerational households, grandparents and children joust for priority. Parents who assumed their households would expand to accommodate their parents as easily as their hearts swelled to accommodate second and third babies discover a different world.

Camp Building Bridges is an Oklahoma camp seeking to support teens who are growing up in the middle of the sandwich. North Texas Natural Family heard from Linda Ross at the Dallas chapter of that Alzheimer’s Association with news of a young boy who needs community help to get him to camp this summer.

“I am working with a family comprised of a 64-year-old early onset grandmother who is the primary breadwinner for her 41-year-old disabled daughter and her 13-year-old son, who is an honor student, animal lover and a great kid,” she writes. “He is having a really hard time with both the women in his life being in need of so much help.  He needs help!

“We are trying to raise funds to send him to Camp Building Bridges in Oklahoma this summer.  It is a camp for children with Alzheimer’s disease in their families, a place where they can be with other kids struggling with the same issues and also just be kids for a week.  We are seeking to raise the $600 camp fee for this young man to attend. Any ideas?”

Of course we have some ideas — we’ll help spread the word!

You can help send this young man to Camp Building Bridge by making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association’s Camp Building Bridges Scholarship Fund.

• Give online at the Greater Dallas Chapter website; specify that your donation go toward the Camp Building Bridges Scholarship Fund.
• Donate by phone by calling 214.540.2405
• Mail donations to (specify Camp Building Bridges Scholarship Fund):

Bryant Martin, Director of Development
Alzheimer’s Association
4144 N. Central Expressway, Suite 750
Dallas, Texas 75204

New parents-to-be alert: Join local lactation consultant Sharon Mattes of Natural Beginnings for an in-depth, research-based class on breastfeeding tools and techniques, designed especially for parents. This personalized small-group experience on June 20 in Garland is the perfect prenatal introduction for expectant mothers and fathers.

You’ll learn about today’s best, freshest tools and techniques to make breastfeeding easy, including DVDs, videos, baby dolls for siblings, pillows and accessories and breast pump demonstrations.

• The how-to’s of comfortable nursing
• Ways to ensure an ample milk supply
• Pitfalls that sabotage your breastfeeding success
• New products that make life easier

Breastfeeding tools and techniques
Saturday, June 20
1-3 p.m.
$50 per couple
1526 Archery Lane, Garland 75044

Class size is limited; register now to save your place!
Call (972) 495-2805,  e-mail Sharon Mattes or use the registration form online at Natural Beginnings