mail bag

Dear Green Parent, Thank you for your Breastfeeding and Bed Sharing feature (Oct/Nov 05) . I co-slept and breast-fed my baby, Indra (now 20 months) from birth which was an extremely positive experience. However this practice was met with negativity and distaste by many a health care professional. Indeed I found myself lying to the midwives and health visitors about our bedsharing as if I were some kind of social deviant! I was advised by a fellow co-sleeper to read Three in a Bed (Deborah Jackson), which I found absolutely fantastic. Parenting is all about making choices, preferably informed ones. If something so natural as co-sleeping is demonised how can parents discuss their options and feel supported? Surely it is more ‘dangerous’ to sleep with your infant if you are not in possession of the facts that allow you to make safe choices about those sleeping arrangements. When Indra was nine months old she began to reject the breast and enjoyed sleeping in her own cot. It is always sensible to seek advice but you won’t go far wrong if you follow your instincts about what feels right for you and baby. Helen, West Yorkshire

Hello, I simply love Green Parent magazine. I discovered it recently in Borders, Swansea and was later delighted when I was able to purchase back copies from the Green Shop in Llandeilo. I’ve told lots of friends about my discovery, but I’m not sure if anyone stocks it in the Coventry area (my former stomping ground). A magazine that caters for the evergrowing population of folk who wish to live and parent closer to nature. Thank you, Susan, Carmarthenshire

Thanks for your letter and we’re glad that you’ve enjoyed the magazine Back copies are available through The Green Parent website at www.thegreenparent.co.uk, via phone on 01273 401012 or by post using the form on page 72. The Green Parent is now on sale through Waitrose supermarkets, Co-op stores, many independent health food and baby shops and can also be ordered from WH Smiths and newsagents. If you have a local shop that you would like to purchase The Green Parent from, please let us know.

Dear Green Parent Thanks for the bag that arrived in the post with my magazine; unfortunately I have been unable to use it as my two year old is using it to carry his toys around in. I have found your magazine a great help as I am new to eco-living and receive little understanding from family. I try to shop locally and ethically where possible but with my nine year old at school, influenced by peer pressure and TV, it is hard. Like Annette (Mailbag Oct/Nov 05) we walk to school enjoying the changing seasons and meeting people. Robert, my two year old wears cloth nappies and organic clothes where possible. I still have some control over what he wears for the moment! I have a long way to go, for example being conscious about not throwing things away and recycling more. But I have your magazine to help and guide me. Thanks, Julie, Cornwall

STAR LETTE R

Dear Green Parent, Thank you for yet another brilliant issue! I loved the special on birthdays, (The Big Day - Oct/Nov 05) particularly the information on how birthdays are celebrated around the world. My son Owen celebrated his birthday earlier this month and it was great to see more ideas for birthdays that do not involve sugar-buzzed children.

My son loves the Green Kids magazine, and is very proud to have a magazine just like his Mum and Dad. He did have a complaint after we read through the last issue together. He was sad to find that the calendar in your last issue left out Jewish/ Noahide holidays. Rosh Hashanah, our New Year, and the High Holidays begin at sundown on October 2nd this year and this is considered the Holiest part of the year for us. Sukkot, which seems to be my son’s favourite holiday, involves camping outside

Dear Green Parent, I just had to write to you to say that I really enjoyed your article on Breastfeeding and Bed-sharing (Oct/ Nov 05) . My daughter, Molly, now two and a half years old still shares my bed as she has done since the day she was born. I breastfed her for sixteen months and found that sharing the same bed helped me keep up the demand feeding routine with comfort. It also definitely gave us both a much better night’s sleep, not to mention the bonding that is so important. I did feel under a certain amount of pressure from well-meaning

friends and family to get my daughter into a ‘sensible’ bed-routine by putting her into her own bed. After trying their advice I found myself more tired, engorged and upset at my daughter’s obvious displeasure at being denied her cuddles and relaxed feeds. I decided and felt that it was much more natural to go back to what suited us. Our cuddles were much more important than conforming to the ‘norm’.

Yours truthfully, A contented mother and daughter, still enjoying cuddles.

under the stars from October 18th to 26th, getting in touch with nature and remembering all the blessings in our lives.

As a religious minority, my son is slowly learning how different and special he is. Like most children, he wants to be included but often feels left out by being vegan and part of a religious minority. I’m writing this letter with my son by my side and he would like to tell you that Channukah begins at sundown on the 25th of December and goes through to January 2nd. He also wants me to mention our favourite site which has lots of information on our special holiday, including fun recipes and games: www.aish.com/holidays/.

Thank you again for another excellent issue. May you Be Written Well in the New Year, Diana and Owen Garrett, Derby

Thank you for sharing your customs and beliefs with us. We would not wish our readers to feel excluded by The Green Parent or Green Kids and you will find

that we have included more multicultural holidays in the Special Days Calendar in Green Kids magazine this issue. Let us know what you think.

The star letter writer will receive a gorgeous set of goodies from Neal’s yard Remedies. The Life box is full of treats including, Seaweed and Arnica Foaming bath, Frankincense body lotion, Rosewater, Rose and Mallow moisturizer, Elderflower hand softener, Comfrey and Mallow footbalm, Honey and Orange scrub and an organic flannel. £35 from www.nealsyardremedies.com or tel: 020 7627 1949.

4 the green parent contents December / January 2005 issue 8

8 53 11

main features 8Where’s the Christmas spirit? Ways to recapture the magic of the festive season

11Loving Touch Baby massage benefits and techniques by Katie Whitehouse

14Teaching right from wrong Discipline and the alternatives to punishment

17You can change your life Make 2006 your most inspiring ever and read about these holistic courses for adults

20The Magic of the Moon Esbats and family rituals for the Full Moon

24Witch in Mayor’s Clothing Amy Schofield talks to Marina Pepper

26Ethical Gift Guide Christmas sorted

with present ideas for everyone from glamourous grannies to bonnie bairns

64Green Travel Holidaying in Devon for all the family, the best rock-pools, beaches and eco attractions

learning

38Green Schooling Gareth Lewis looks at how to make school a holistic experience for your child

39Music for the soul How singing to your baby brings peace and aids development

food and drink

49Seasonal Food and Drink What’s in season this issue

50Christmas Crackers Your 24 hour guide to festive eats and drinks

53The Soul of the Earth Biodynamic wines unearthed

bumps birth and beyond

35The Early Days Jo Middleton answers new mothers questions about breastfeeding

37Birth corner Imogen Makepeace looks at pain relief in labour

74Baby Massage Directory Find a class or instructor in your area

health and beauty

45Your child’s health Yoga pose of the month, first organic nursery and more

47Your health Party-lover’s checklist and all in a lather: foam baths tried and tested

family life 13Holistic Health How to enhance family relations over the festive period

23Shoreline News Life without electricity encourages a return to the simpler things in life

34Sunday Selection Where to go, what to eat and more, reclaim family sundays

bookmark 41Sound advice Latest music reviews

42Great little reads Favourite bedtime stories

43Adult bookshelf The latest big reads

house and garden 57House and garden news What to do in your garden this month

58Energy Efficiency How to save money and protect the planet

63Secret life of plants The composting benefits of comfrey

61Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Nicky Scott gets creative with waste.

67Ethical money Best eco-homes on the market

ethical fashion

68Party party! Gorgeous ethical party frocks

70Nighty nighty Funky organic pjs for kids

regulars

3 welcome 4 our mailbag 6 out and about – don’t miss out with our guide to what’s on 62 next issue and useful numbers directory 72 subscribe 82 the best: calendars for 2006

competitions

49Win an organic Christmas hamper

72Natural beauty organic gift sets For all new subscribers

26

Turn to the ethical Christmas gift guide for beautiful, natural presents for the whole family

GREEN KIDS

is a separate magazine free inside every issue of The Green Parent. This issue is about winter wildlife, and there’s lots to keep children busy while parents enjoy their own magazine.

the green parent 5