Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 133

kind book club: diaper free by ingrid bauer

Our book for April is Diaper Free: the Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene by Ingrid Bauer. It's sooo good! I love this book and its wisdom. I've started practicing it with Bear and it's been great.

According to the book going diaper free eliminates the need for most potty training. Infants who spend all day in their diapers get out of tune with their bodies and learn to ignore their need to eliminate. They learn to just go without communicating their needs. And they get used to walking around in a toilet so when it's time to take their diaper away it becomes very difficult to relearn how to pay attention to this need and do something about it. They've lost that connection and they get used to thinking cloths are for poo and pee. The diaper free approach takes that away so infants already know how to communicate and end up potty trained by the time they're around nine months old. 

Right now we are trying the diaper free approach part time. I practice watching Bear's cues during and after feeding & naked time. I love the way he looks at me while I hold him over the toilet then goes as I make cueing noises: "pssss" for pee and grunts for poo. The pee and poo noises are ridiculous and funny and cute! Afterward he smiles so deep at me. He's having so much fun communicating his needs and having them met…yahoo! I'm very proud and excited.

Aside from all the happy fun there are lots of benefits to going diaper free namely no diaper rash and fewer diapers used. I save two to three rounds of pee and poo in diapers each time we practice being diaper free. So on a good day when I am 100 available to tune in I'm saving a ton of diapers and keeping my baby dry and fresh and naked!

We're not fully diaper free yet but practicing the diaper free approach has been super fun and empowering. I would love for Bear to be diaper free all the time and maybe we will get there someday. We've been doing this since Bear was 6 months old so almost 3 months now and we use elimination comunication most of the time with cloth diapers by day and one natural brand diaper to last the whole night. I glad to be saving diapers being attuned to my baby's needs and just doing the best I can.  

When we are using diapers I try to do what's most eco-friendly. I've heard some conflicting info about what is the most eco diaper and I've tried a few options. I'll be sharing my research about this in an upcoming blog so stay tuned for more info on that.

Anywho if you have a baby or are thinking of having kids please read Diaper Free. You can download the kindle edition from Amazon so it's totally easy to get. It's not on paperback yet but even if you don't have a kindle you can download a free kindle reader that will let you read the book on your computer. It's a beautiful book that can get you closer to your baby and it's great for baby to get more naked time and to be in tune with elimination needs instead of just sitting in a wet poopy diaper every time he has to go. Plus there's nothing better than breastfeeding and squeezing that little baby butt…I mean come on! And of course cutting down on diaper use is so much better for the environment.

I hope you love this book as much as I do! As you read add your thoughts and questions to the comments below. I'll compile them and post some of your feedback in a month.

 

Happy reading!

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mayim bialik la times article

Check out this very interesting and easy to read LA Times article about Mayim Bialik's new book "Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way." Amen! I thought her response about feminism and parenting was really interesting. I love in her book how she talks about toddlers..how to deal with sharing and saying instead of no….not for baby.

What do you think about what Mayim has to say and her ideas about feminism and parenting?

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Photo Credit: Scribd

kind classics: have an eco easter!

This is a blog I posted last year sharing eco Easter tips. Enjoy!

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Easter is all about renewal and new life so it makes sense to think about how we can help renew the Earth on this holiday!
 
There are many ways to honor Easter without hurting the environment.

Rescue an animal in need
Visit an animal sanctuary
Go for a hike where spring blossoms are blooming. Find out what great trails are near you here.
Give out vegan treats or cook a delicious vegan feast. Veg News has some great suggsestions here.
Plant flowers or vegetables to harvest later in the year. Find out what to plant in spring here.
Take some time to meditate or think about spiritual renewal

For cards and gifts Green Field Paper Company makes tree-free cards and paper products out of hemp. Each card is embedded with wildflower seeds so you can plant it after you've opened it!
 
How do you plan to celebrate Easter this year?

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kind lifers discuss your vegetarian pregnancy

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Our latest book club selection was Your Vegetarian Pregnancy. It's such a great resource for anyone who is pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant! Here's what you had to say about the book:

From Kind Lifer Gretchen:
"I have heard that this is a great book.  Although I am done having babies I would still love to read this as I am sure it is filled with valuable information. I wished I knew then what I know now...I would have had a vegan pregnancy.  At least I had a dairy-free pregnancy!  That was 11 years ago...I have learned A LOT since then :-"

From Kind Lifer Monica:
"I read this book too recently on Kindle i loved it! great information on what food groups to get specific vitamins and nutrients I appreciated that info. Very beautifully written very gentle and calming I loved the poems at the beginning of chapters.  I'd recommend it to anyone pregnant or hoping to be pregnant. Thanks for the suggestion Alicia!"
 
From Kind Lifer Janine:
"I've been itching badly to have a baby.  I'm so glad that books like this exist.  Thank you for sharing Alicia."
 
FromKind Lifer Tiffany:
"This book was very informative during my recent pregnancy. Two of my friends who were meat eaters ended up getting low iron during their pregnancies but I as a vegetarian maintained a healthy level. This book is a must have for any vegetarian or vegan who is planning on becoming pregnant or is already pregnant."
 
FromKind Lifer Lisa:
"I wish I would have had this when I was pregnant this last time it probably would have helped me so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
 
I'll be announcing our next book this week so stay tuned!

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mama's love is the best

Newborn horse cuddling with his mama. Lovely.

It doesn't get more beautiful than that. Have you seen any animal photos you loved recently? Share links in the comments below!

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kind org: fix nation

FixNation is an organization that is working to end reproduction in the homeless cat population of Los Angeles. Over 40000 kittens and cats are euthanized in Los Angeles shelters each year because there are no good homes for them not to mention the countless others who are suffering on the streets.

FixNation is working to bring an end to this suffering and senseless killing with their "TNR" program Trap-Neuter-Return. They spay and neuter over 17000 homeless cats per year. To date they have sterilized over 60000 cats.

Please visit their website FixNation make a donation get involved or adopt a cat or kitten from your local shelter. With your help FixNation can bring an end to the unnecessary suffering of so many homeless cats.
 
You can also share this letter from the POV of a cat in need:
 

 
Is there an organization like this in your hometown? Tell me about it in the comments below.

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bath time!

Pin It

Looks like it's dad's turn to give the baths tonight! Usually the female lions take care of the cubs but it's nice to see that this guy is a progressive thinker.

What's the cutest animal picture you've seen recently? Share links in the comments below!

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vamps screening in nyc

For all of you New Yorkers or anybody who's going to be in the area you're all invited to the big screen debut of Vamps the film I did with Amy Heckerling from Fast Times At Ridgemont High and Clueless. I really love Amy and the movie and Krysten Ritter is in it. Also I'm going to be there!

 
 
The screening is at BAM Saturday April 7th at 6:50pm with a Q&A with Amy following. You can buy tickets HERE. This is a festival not the official release of the film – that comes next!
 
What's your favorite Amy Heckerling film?

PS - I love that my EcoTools bag made a cameo is in that first photo!

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announcing this month's winner of a signed copy of the kind diet

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This year I'm giving away a signed copy of The Kind Diet each month. In January I asked how you discovered The Kind Life. Our randomly-chosen winner Raya wrote:  

"I heard about your book and website from your Twitter. I was always constantly wondering what you were linking to and I finally came and checked it out! I was already a vegetarian but your website and book I borrowed from a friend just really hit home for me. I had seen all the documentaries you mentioned and when you just laid it out there for people to get it all clicked. I absolutely thank you for helping me make the transition to vegan and an over all kind lifer! My boyfriend has even given up meat and dairy because of it! Next up? Composting!"

Congrats Raya!

This month I'm giving away two signed copies of The Kind Diet one for February and one for March. To enter to win tell me what has been your most surprising discovery during your kind journey. Share your answers in the comments below and I'll announce two winners next month!

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strawberries in season and YUM!

Strawberries are so perfect right now; you've got to get some! Pick up a batch at your local farmers market. I don't know if it's just in California or what but the organic strawberries at my local farmers market were on fire!

It's just that first batch of blushing delicious juicy spring strawberries. I highly recommend getting some.

What foods are in season where you are this spring?

Photo Credit: Aero Garden  

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