Many people read books like “What To Expect When You Are Expecting” and such to prepare for pregnancy, but I feel that fails to address the changes that happen on the level of the soul — you are going from a couple to a family with an infant. Your life will be different, and I feel pregnancy should also be about the emotional and spiritual changes that are occurring whilst your body is changing. There is too little of this today. It is almost like wedding; everyone prepares for the wedding but few prepare for the marriage that comes after the wedding.
Breastfeeding is a natural activity and often one of our first parenting decisions: how will I feed my baby? Breast or bottle? However, breastfeeding is also a way to mother, a way to connect to our child. Again, this “feeding method” becomes more of a spiritual activity than just a physical one. That being said, the posts on breastfeeding below have much technical information to offer. You may see my “About” page if you are looking for information about my knowledge of breastfeeding!
Gentle discipline starts at birth, and there are posts below about guiding your baby toward rhythm, there are posts on gentle discipline for the toddler and common toddler behavioral challenges.
So, without further adieu, here are some of the blog posts I have collected regarding these topics:
Pregnancy:
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2008/10/13/pregnancy-is-preparation-of-the-soul-part-1-of-3/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2008/10/14/pregnancy-is-preparation-of-the-soul-part-2-of-3/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2008/10/15/pregnancy-is-preparation-of-the-soul-part-3-of-3/
Protection and Development of The Twelve Senses:
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/08/27/what-happens-if-i-dont-keep-my-child-warm/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/12/06/warmth-strength-and-freedom-by-mary-kelly-sutton/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/07/18/stress-signs-in-infants/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/06/22/the-twelve-senses/
Breastfeeding:
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/01/03/the-importance-of-breastfeeding-in-the-first-few-days/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/06/22/a-breastfeeding-fact-every-parent-should-know/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/03/29/breastfeeding-the-right-brained-way/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/10/21/breastfeeding-fertility-and-sexuality/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/03/16/co-sleeping-and-nighttime-parenting/
Extended Breastfeeding:
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/12/21/breastfeeding-beyond-a-year/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/01/03/extended-breastfeeding-breastfeeding-beyond-a-year/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/12/22/breastfeeding-and-dental-caries/
Solid Foods:
Weaning The Toddler or Preschooler:
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/02/04/weaning-with-love/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/06/25/weaning-a-child-who-is-over-the-age-of-4/
THE WALDORF BABY:
http://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/07/05/the-waldorf-baby-the-first-year/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/07/17/40-days-after-birth-and-beyond/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2010/02/10/beyond-the-forty-days-what-next/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/07/15/a-few-thoughts-about-the-waldorf-baby-and-beyond/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/07/12/bringing-rhythm-to-your-baby/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2010/01/07/the-waldorf-baby-in-january/
THE TODDLER:
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/11/07/an-anthroposophic-view-of-walking/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/11/19/an-anthroposophic-view-of-the-second-year/
GENTLE DISCIPLINE:
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/06/11/common-toddler-challenges-and-how-to-solve-them/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/06/10/tripping-into-the-toddler-years/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/08/17/raising-peaceful-children/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/05/08/creating-a-family-mission-statement/
https://theparentingpassageway.com/2010/01/12/more-about-time-in-for-tinies/
The Parenting Passageway 
Thanks for sharing. It would really help a lot for those soon to be parents out there.
Thanks so much Kimberley!
Blessings,
Carrie
Carrie,
lately I have had a lot if people ask me if I am doing the “your baby can read!” program, or whatever it is called. Apparently it is the neat new thing to start babies on. What are your thoughts on this? My gut reaction is “why does my little girl need to know how to read at age 14 months?”, but maybe I’m missing something?
Laura, You can read what i think a one year old needs in the post “waldorf in the home with your one and two year old.” I also have a post entitled “waldorf and reading.” The bottom line, from a neurophysiological perspective, not just a Waldorf perspective, is that the neural pathways to read are in no way developed at this age for reading. Experience, and protecting and developing the twelve senses, is what matters in the first SEVEN years. This ridiculours emphasis on literacy (which, by the way, where is the emphasis on math and numeral literacy in our country??!) is causing an epidemic of children who are on Ritalin because they “can’t sit still” at age three and four to write and read and do a worksheet…they should be experiencing things, not doing worksheets!
You are not missing anything at all, my dear. I highly recommend you go to the Christopherus website and look at the Waldorf Baby articles here and keep reading on this blog..
Carrie 🙂
And yes, this momma is more literate than the above post would have you believe. I’m just reading and typing from my iPhone, lol!
Hi Carrie – Thank you so much for all the wonderful information you provide on your blog! A few days ago I ran across one of your posts that had a couple books about vaccinations that you recommended, but now I can’t find it anywhere! I thought it was a recent post, but I may have been looking at an older one. I tried searching your blog, but nothing came up. Do you remember what the titles of the books were that you recommended??
THANKS!
Hi, can you advice me on activities I can do with my 15 month old? thanks
Melissa- Did you see the post on Waldorf in the HOme with a one and two year old? If you use the search engine that should come up, I also can suggest the Christopherus website and look at the EArly Years section.
Many blessings, and sorry so late getting back to you!
Carrie
I am surprised there are no links to infant massage sites. Hope you will add them soon the research is growing!
Hi M Kay Keller,
These links are to posts on this blog; no external linking yet.
Hope that helps clarify things a bit!
Blessings,
Carrie
Hi carrie wonderful blog me and my partner are expecting and the information you have provided us is priceless. Thank you