Safe Bed, Safe Baby

Did you hear the story of the eight-month-old baby who died because of her bed? This is just so so sad.

In this case, the parents really thought they were doing things right and they had the advice of a social worker. It's really just tragic!

I am a huge proponent of both bed sharing and co-sleeping. I really believe babies need to be near their parents. I understand wanting an adult life back, but to be honest, babyhood is so short; it's not really that long in the grand scheme of things. It's not like they'll be teenagers and still hanging out in your bed.

I think the lesson here is to make beds as safe as possible and to check on your baby regularly. Even when so small, they sure can move around a lot! Don't underestimate the power of a little one!

I feel sorry for this family and I hope they find peace.

Alone Too Long

Alternate title: Come Take A Ride on The Sh*T Train


WARNING: Post contains graphic pics, but it's probably nothing any parent hasn't seen before.

Call us bad parents, but my hubby and I hesitated in teaching the boy how to pull down his pants because we knew it could would lead to one of those awkward moments where he takes his clothes off in public or paints the house in poo. But you can't keep them in diapers forever. That would seriously make dating difficult. So we taught him and keeping positive, I'm proud to see he learned very quickly.

Now normally he's been very good and signing and alerting me when he needs to do a number 2 and we run to the bathroom. He did not do that yesterday.

Now I take full responsibility since I should not have gotten sucked into the black hole that is the Internet and I should have been keeping a closer eye on him. But The Wiggles were on and I still heard noises from him - you know it's only REALLY bad when they go completely quiet. Either that or they've passed out on the floor. I mean in terms of the amount of trouble they get into. All the best trouble is done in complete concentration and silence.

So I'm in the kitchen on the computer and I smell something. It does not smell right. It does not smell good. I follow the smell to the living room where I see pants and a diaper strewn off. The odor is horrendous. I see poo pellets. I say, "oh no!" and my son smiles, holds up his poo hands and starts laughing. He gets up to come closer to me. "Oh no no no, don't come near me with those hands! Don't touch anything!" I run for the camera because I know one day this will be comedy gold for a potential high school date night where I embarrass him horribly.

I shoved him in the bath (yes, I did eventually have to touch him).

That poor black train. He took it and ran it through his poo so many times, well let's just say he gave new meaning to "pulling a load." The train could take no more. Even the strongest stomached person should not attempt cleaning out all the nooks and crannies of that thing. It's electronic, or at least it was - in a former happy life where it could chug away, light up and choo-choo in a poo-free fashion. Now those days are gone and I had to trash it.

I am also grateful for those washable playmats, because if poo had gotten squished into the cracks of my hardwood floors, I think I would have died.

The lingering poo smell has left us, but the memory of that day will always live on as a reminder to pay better attention to what the kids are up to. May it be so for you also! :)