Category: Breast feeding

*for home-use for healthy full term infants (Storing times may differ for premature or sick babies. Please check with us.)

We know new parents have a lot of things to worry about! At Willows, we believe that remembering breastmilk storage times shouldn’t be one of them. Here’s a quick reference for you to bookmark, download or print for easy access. Please keep in mind, these are guidelines – not strict rules. For more detailed information, please see the links in the references below. When in doubt, call one of our lactation consultants, Cathy and Dana, with any questions or concerns.

REFERENCES:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Proper Storage and Handling of Human Milk.

Willows Talks About The Family Bed & Co-Sleeping

Many families spend their days together. Others stay together at night too! The “family bed,” or co-sleeping is a common practice in many societies, and there are advocates for it here in the U.S. too. However, there are child safety concerns related to having adults and children share a bed. So, is it an acceptable practice?

A recent blog posted on CT Now (and written by former local mom Sarah Cody), asked the same question. She’d heard about the possible benefits of co-sleeping—better nursing and enhanced emotional security—but worried about the dangers to newborns and infants, including injury and suffocation.

She turned to Willows Pediatric Group physician Dr. Jeff Owens for his take on the issue. Dr. Owens rightly pointed out that ‘”The American Academy of Pediatrics still doesn’t recommend it.” He also noted that the dangers stem from two major concerns: soft bedding and impaired judgment. A baby should never sleep on a futon, couch or waterbed, and a parent should not drink, smoke or use drugs with the infant nearby.  Moreover, twenty-four hour bonding can challenge a couple’s need for a healthy physical relationship and leave a mother drained and exhausted.

However, Dr. Owens did allow for some wiggle room. “If it’s a stark, firm [bed] and the baby is on his back, the baby is probably safe.” Dr. Owens believes we should also respect different cultures, some of which believe “the family bed” is the answer to peaceful nights and strong attachments.

In other words, “do what works for your family as long as it’s a safe situation.”