As a mother of five and advocate for informed consent, intuitive and attachment parenting, and empowered parenting, I would never recommend a book or resource I have not personally read completely, used myself, or didn’t absolutely LOVE. You can count on me for resources and product recommendations that are tried and true.
Conception & Natural Birth Control:
Taking Charge of Your Fertility
TempDrop Wearable Thermometer for Fertility Charting – $15 off coupon
It Starts with the Egg by Rebecca Fett
Brain Health From Birth by Rebecca Fett
Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols
Real Food for Gestational Diabetes by Lily Nichols
Awakening Fertility by Heng Ou
How to Chose the Sex of Your Baby: The Shettles Method
Books on Pregnancy, Labor, Birth:
The Mama Natural by Genevieve Howland
The Birth Partner by Penny Simpkin
Brain Health From Birth by Rebecca Fett
The Business of Being Born Documentary
Child Circumcision: an Elephant in the Hospital Video Presentation
Books on Postpartum:
The First 40 Days – The Essential Art of Nourishing The New Mother
This Isn’t What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers
Books on Breastfeeding:
Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding by Jack Newman
Breastfeeding: Empowering Parents by Jack Newman
Sweet Sleep: Nighttime and Naptime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family
The Breastfeeding Book by Dr. Sears
Books on Biologically Normal Infant Sleep:
Sweet Sleep: Nighttime and Naptime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family
Sleeping with Your Baby: A Parent’s Guide to Cosleeping by Dr. James J. McKenna
Safe Infant Sleep by Dr. James McKenna
Books on Raising babies and children:
Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids by Dr. Laura Markham
The Attachment Parenting Book by Dr. Sears
Brain Health From Birth by Rebecca Fett
Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child
Now Say This: The Right Words to Solve Every Parenting Dilemma
Detox Baths
Ancient Minerals Magnesium Flakes
Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
Aztec Secret Natural Bentonite Clay
Pregnancy Essentials
Mama Bird AM/PM Prenatal with Methylfolate
One Fish Two Fish Prenatal DHA, Superior Triglyceride Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements
Garden of Life – Prenatal Probiotics
Souper Cube Freezer Storage Solution for Meal Prep – 2 Cup Cubes
Souper Cube Freezer Storage Solution for Meal Prep – 1 Cup Cubes
Souper Cube Freezer Storage Solution for herbs, snacks, breastmilk, baby food – 2 Tbsp Cubes
Postpartum Essentials
After Ease Tincture – Organic Tincture for Postpartum Cramping
Happy Ducts – Organic Tincture for Engorgement Relief and Clogged Milk Ducts
Natural Herbal Supplement: Emotional and Hormonal Support for New Moms
Depends Fit-Flex Disposable Postpartum Underwear (Size Large)
Depends Fit-Flex Disposable Postpartum Underwear (Size Medium)
Inverted Peri Bottle for Postpartum Care
Adult Disposable Chucks Pads for Bed Mattresses
Epsom Salt Soaking Magnesium Sulfate for Epsom Salt Bath
Ancient Minerals Magnesium Flakes
Postpartum Witch Hazel Pads for Soreness, Swelling, Stitches
Baby Products I Love
Hatch Rest+ – The greatest sound machine you’ll ever own!
Baby Bjorn Bouncer for Infants
BioGaia Protectis Probiotics Drops with Vitamin D for Baby
Non-Toxic Wipeable Baby Play Mat – Black/White Montessori
Non-Toxic Keekaroo Diaper Changing Pad
Non-Toxic Stokke Baby Bath Tub
Babo Botanicals Fragrance Free Baby Shampoo & Wash
Babo Botanicals Soothing Diaper Cream (Cloth Diaper Safe)
Moby Wrap Baby Carrier for Newborns & Infants
Ergobaby Omni 360 All-Position Carrier Newborn to Toddler
Osprey Poco Baby/Toddler Hiking Carrier
My Breast Friend Nursing Pillow with Organic Cotton Cover
Nose Frida – Baby Nasal Aspirator Snotsucker
Windi Gas and Colic Reliver for Babies by Frida Baby
Infant Optics DXR-8 Baby Monitor – my FAVORITE baby Monitor out there!
Breastfeeding Essentials
Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump with Cap
THE BEST BREAST PUMP you’ll ever own! The Medela Harmony Hand pump
Cooling Ice Packs for engorgement and mastitis
Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottle
Silverettes – what you need to protect your nips!
Homeopathic and Wellness Products I Love
Boiron Cold Calm Baby Cold Relief Drops (Sneezing, Runny Nose, Nasal Congestion)
Boiron Colic Calm Baby Colic Relief Drops
Hyland’s Natural Teething Tablets for Infants
Boiron Camilia Homeopathic Treatment for Teething Relief
Boiron Arnica Montana Homeopathic Treatment for Pain Relief
Boiron Phytolacca Decandra Homeopathic for mastitis, sore throat, flu symptoms
Herb Pharm Super Echinacea Immune Support
Wishgarden Herbs Homeopathic Treatments – Military, Law Enforcement, Student, Teacher Discounts Here
Young Living Essential Oils
When we got married in 2019, we knew we wanted to have a baby soon. As I looked towards coming off of hormonal birth control (something I will never go back to!), I started reading more about conception and achieving conception after recurrent miscarriage. I learned that one of the most common factors of unexplained infertility and recurrent miscarriage was environmental toxins, which are also endocrine disruptors. (If you are reading this thinking, “what, Lauren?” I encourage you to scroll up to the “Books for Conception” and read It Starts with The Egg by Rebecca Fett followed by Brain Health from Birth, also by Rebecca Fett. These books straight up changed my life – they changed how I viewed conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and childrearing. I immediately started swapping out my beloved bleach, Clorox, Windex, perfume… I mean, I was in the Navy for almost 11 years; you know how it is! “If it smells clean, it is clean!” and man, did I live by that! I grew up in a house where Comet was used the clean the bathtub, Pine Sol cleaned the floors, and Pledge covered the rest. I was using it in our home with our four children and I had no idea the impact it was having and had the potential to have on all of our longterm health.
I’ll leave it to Rebecca to educate you on what this all means for your health, but the long-story-short is that I had to make changes. I began the “switch and ditch” process – one product at a time – to living a more low-toxin lifestyle with plant-based products that feature therapeutic-grade essential oils. These products not only keep your house clean, but they keep the air you breathe clean! And that matters.
When you purchase Young Living Essential Oils and other household cleaners through my website, you support my family and the opportunities I have to bring you great content that educates and empowers you to make great health choices for your family, and I am so happy to play a part in that. Thank you for your support!
Cloth Diapering at Home
My choice to cloth diaper was an easy one. The environmental impact of disposable diapers is polluting our air and overwhelming our landfills in America. As human waste breaks down, methane and toxic gases are released into the air and our water systems. Not only are disposable diapers expensive, they are full of fragrances that are endocrine disruptors to our babies’ immature organ systems. Disposable diapers are notorious for poopy blowouts and are the enemy of every parent’s day – the cause of ruined outfits and having to wash the entire car seat! Disposable diapers often cause rashes in the genital area and are a great source of discomfort for little bodies.
I have tried nine brands of cloth diapers and all different levels of absorbency and finally found my math with Esembly. What started as a cloth diaper laundering service in NYC, is now a full-blown cloth diaper company, producing high quality cloth diapers in the fitted+cover style. That means that the “inner” is a tightly woven fiber cotton diaper and the “outter” is a waterproof cover that can be reused for multiple diaper changes. I use my outter for 4-6 diaper changes unless there is poop on it! I started using the Esembly diapers when my youngest son was about 9 pounds and I haven’t looked back. I still have several other brands in my stash, but I am always reaching for Esembly. They don’t leak, they are comfortable, and my son never gets a rash. We are now at 23 pounds and in size 2, and these will last quite a while! They also have an excellent resale rate so in the event you are done having kids, there is a large market for purchasing second-hand.
To see if this system is right for you, get the “try-it out kit” – 3 inners and 1 outter with a sample of the Esembly laundry detergent – the only detergent I use on my cloth diapers!
Whether you’re getting the Try-It Kit or a full stash, use this link, or the code LR15 for 15% of ALL of your purchases! And please let me know how cloth is working for you, I love to chat and troubleshoot with other cloth diapering families!
Lovevery Subscription
Are you looking for high quality, wooden toys that are safe for mouthing and non toxic? Look no further. Following a Montessori and Waldorf model of learning, Lovevery has set up the perfect quarterly subscription service. A box of your baby’s new favorite toys, delivered right to your door with directions of how to play and connect with your baby in meaningful ways. Use this link to get $20 off your first box!