Product Review: Lansinoh Affinity Double Electric Breast Pump

Today's review is not from one of The Dad, it's from a mom for obvious reasons.

Since there is limited trialability, buying a breast pump usually requires a leap of faith. For something so important and costly, there’s no way to know if the one you want will work for you since you can’t try it out in the store or return it if you don’t like it. Hopefully this review of the Lansinoh Affinity  Double Electric Breast Pump will help you make this important decision.

So far, my experience with this pump has been positive. The main reason why I bought this electric double pump was because I wanted to continue breastfeeding when I returned to work but couldn’t fathom spending a minimum of $275 for a pump. This pump is well-priced at $150 or so; some places have it for even less.

The Lansinoh Affinity Breast Pump is small, lightweight and easy to carry. It has an AC adapter and can also operate on 6 AA batteries. It does not come with its own tote bag though, so you’ll have to find one that’s right for you. Remember to get an insulated bag (with or without an ice pack) for your expressed milk as well.

Has It Been A Year Already?!

Yes it has… it has actually been 14 months, which brings me to my first observation on how we communicate ‘baby age’.

I used to be and maybe still am of the opinion that once a baby turns 1, she is 1… until she’s 2. Most, however, represent their kid’s age in number of umpteen months. This especially drives me crazy when the kid is approaching 36months! It’s not a car lease! I have learned that the reason we continue to ‘count months’ has to do with developmental milestones. It sort of matters if a baby is just over 1 year old or 1.5 or closer to 2 as far as hitting certain milestones like crawling, walking, teething, forming ‘Play-Doh ’ poops etc…

I digress… In what appears to be a blink of an eye, with the exceptions of many sleepless nights and my new ability to hear the crackle of a baby monitor within 50ft, my baby turned 1 year old. Let me say that again, because some of you reading this may be just beginning your journey and 1 year may seem like a long time…. it’s not. In 1 year Alejandra went from being a defenseless, dependent, relatively still human bundle of joy to an opinionated, mobile, sweet and demanding little person. How did it happen?! Purposefully.

See… kids pick up on everything. Let me say that again: kids pick up on everything. This is both amazing and scary at the same time.

Let me explain:

In Alejandra’s box of squares, triangles and stars, which she is supposed to learn the shapes and fit them through the lid, there lies a wine cork. Yes, it is a necessity around my house, and she loves playing with it (under supervision, of course.) So, she’s playing with this wine cork, and I see that she’s putting it close to her mouth, but not quite biting it like she does most other things. I didn’t think much of it the first few times… Then it hit me. I’m always putting on lip balm, and she was too! This is what I am talking about, Willis! (80's pop-culture reference: look it up).

Thumb: to suck or not to suck (As told in Three Acts)

Article first published as Thumb Sucking: Good or Bad (as Told in 3 Acts) on Technorati.

 

Thumbs up for thumb sucking! 

Is thumb sucking good or bad? The answer is not "bad". Recent research has shown no residual negative effects (dental or emotional) in those children who stop by age five. According to Heidi Murkoff author of What to Expect the First Year, 95% of children abandon the habit on their own before entering school. Any parent who finds that thumb sucking allows for a few moments of peace and quiet or the ability for a baby to fall back to sleep on her own would say it was more than good. Others might consider it neutral.

In my family, thumb sucking has come to represent a three generation Greek tragedy with irony and plot twists, like Oedipus and Antigone.

My mom was the second of eight children and the oldest girl. She and her older brother sucked their thumbs, not just as babies but into their school years. For my mom, at least, it led to teasing and pushed out her front teeth. As a young adult, she went to an oral surgeon to have her teeth fixed. Unfortunately, the inexperienced surgeon did a poor job and dental problems have plagued her for over forty years. Subsequent problems have required more surgery, braces and additional periodontal work. After four decades of problems, the shoddy work eventually led to some tooth loss and replacement.

After her experience with thumb sucking, my mother was committed to the idea that her son would never suck his thumb. She vowed to do everything in her power to prevent that. I believe she used the baby socks on thumb method. This would not work on my son, who continually takes his socks of and puts them in his own mouth.  It must have worked on me, because I have no memories or pictures of me sucking my thumb. I was led to believe that anyone who sucked their thumb would mess up their teeth and need braces. Whew, dodged that bullet. However, around the age of 15, it was decided (not by me) that I needed braces for of all things an under-bite (the irony). So after several years and thousands of dollars, eh.

Growing out of Baby Memories

At eight months old and 18 lbs my son is growing out of memories.  I'll explain.

Since Clark is almost nine months, I've been rummaging through his collection of clothes that he doesn't fit into yet, taking out the long sleeves (it's winter here) and 12 mos and 9-12 mos clothes.  Then I packed away the 6 mos and 3-6 mos that don't fit or he hasn't worn in a while.  The last part was the sad one for me.  The majority of Clark's 3-6 mos clothes are onesies with cute cute animals or saying on them, like "Mommy's Alarm Clock," "Daddy's Fishing Buddy," and "My Dad is King of the Grill."  He's worn them most of his life, they are emblematic of his childhood so far (at least to me).

Most children's clothing manufacturers have seasonal runs.  They print designs or patterns for one season  or shorter.  So I probably couldn't find those same onesies in his size now if i tried.  So memories in those clothes are set and done. On to his next stage of life.

Recently, Clark learned to stand up and hold on to his crib, which is fine.  However, he extended that to the ability to stand in his crib, reach up and pull down his mobile.  That being a hazard means I had to take down the mobile. That mobile was hanging from his crib before he was even born.  He's loved those turtles that hang from his mobile since he came home from the hospital.  It's always been how we put him to sleep.  Those days are officially a wrap.  So little time, so many memories.