However, once we started this blog I thought I would contact the company that publishes the book about doing a review/giveaway since it fit the ideals of our blog so well. I was ecstatic when they said yes!
The day the book arrived I showed it to my kids who immediately wanted to read it. I read it 5 times within the first hour of it arriving.
One of the first things out of my DS's (age 5) mouth was "Does this mean I am getting a baby brother?!" Poor kid, he's way outnumbered with 3 little sisters and desperately wants a little brother. He talks about "when my baby brother comes..." all the time as if its a definite that is going to happen. So I guess he thought this book meant it was coming.
DS really loved the story, the girls loved the pictures. Even DD2, Miss anit-book herself sat quietly and listened to the story. She typically tries to rip the book out of my hands and run away with it when we attempt to read. It was quite refreshing to have her sit and listen to the story for a change.
DD1 (age 2.5 yrs) and DD2 (age 22 months) both loved finding and point to the baby on each page. They would point and say "baby! baby!"
Without giving away the entire story the book follows a little girl named Jenna as she adjusts to the birth and feeding needs of her new baby brother. It covers a lot of breastfeeding situations, explains the facts and benefits of breastmilk on an age appropriate level and even included pumping and daddy feeding with a bottle.
The book gives some great tips and ideas to help make the older kids feel special while you are nursing the new baby. I really wish I had known about these before as I could have them. If/When we have another baby I will definitely put these into practice! My favorite was having special "Feeding Time Toys", quiet toys that only get brought out when the baby is being fed. I think this would have saved my family a whole lot of tears and headaches had we tried it. Anyone with older kids knows that literally as soon as you sit down to nurse they all "need" something! They need a drink, they need a snack, they need your attention. It never fails. Having these special toys would help keep the older kids occupied.
I also love the suggestion about having "Special Time" with the older kids while the baby is sleeping. I tried to do this with our kids, with some babies it worked (DD1 and DD2) but with others it didn't (DD3). It depended upon the baby's sleeping habits. DD1&2 were both great sleepers and would nap a lot. DD3 is like DS and only cat naps while being held, as soon as you lay her down she's awake.
I asked the older kids what their favorite parts of the book are....
DS said:
"When the little girl wanted to feed the baby with her boobie" then he blushed and giggled. The girls always laugh at this part too. I ask them "can you feed the baby with your boobies" and they will giggle and say "noooooooo".
DD1 said:
"The Mommy!"
DD2 said:
"BABY! BABY!" while clapping her hands.
Our entire family enjoyed this book, even daddy thought it was cute and read through it a few times. The kids request it constantly. I kept it put up to keep it safe from DD2 and her book destroying ways. DS calls it the "little brother book" and the girls call it the "baby" book.
I have read this book a lot in the last 2 weeks or so that I have had it. So much so that I made up my own condensed version (don't we all do that with books eventually). The girls don't care, they are happy to hear the story in any form but DS always point out to me if I am not reading it right or skipping things. He's too smart for mommy. The only thing negative I have to say about it is that its so long, but there is a lot of information condensed into the book and all of my kids (even the baby) sat through and listened to it each time without loosing interest. So I guess its just too long for this mommy, sometimes you just want to read a short book.
This book would make the perfect gift for any mom expecting her 2nd (or 3rd, 4th, etc) baby. Its a great way to help the older kids understand breastfeeding and its full of tips to help make the transition easy for everyone.
"Mommy Breastfeeds My Baby Brother" is available for purchase on Amazon, Facebook, La Leche League and through http://www.mommybreastfeeds.com-which/ currently has a 10% off promo code posted on the main page.
But wait, there's more....
You can enter here to try and win your very own copy of the book! As a part of the review I agreed to giveaway the book I was given, which is why I was extra paranoid about keeping it away from DD2 and in such good shape.
Wanna Win?
Giveaway open to U.S and Canada only..
Rules: Please Read carefully.. Mandatory entry must be done before doing additional entries..
YOU MUST LEAVE A COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY! you tweet 1 comment, you like on facebook another comment. LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL in EACH COMMENT, comments without an e-mail will be void and deleted. Leave a link to each tweet, So they can be verified.. no link not a valid entry. I know it takes some work but It assures that the people following all the directions correctly, get a fair chance.
Mandatory Entry.
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Giveaway is open now (03/20/2011) through Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 11pm PST (Pacific time). Winner will be announced within 2 business days.
*The publisher provided this book free of charge for the review/giveaway. The opinions of the book are my opionons and others may not feel the same.
And the winner is......
Theresa said...
tlbolanos@gmail.com
Winner will be contacted shortly.
