Beat the Winter Doldrums at Lamaze...

We've had a tough winter in Michigan so far, and spending too much time inside the house leads to exhausted parents and bored toddlers. Never fear, at Lamaze we are here to help you out of the winter doldrums!
This past weekend we hosted our first Beach Party. We cranked up the heat, dragged out a swimming pool, hula hoops, beach balls, bubbles, and sand toys and pretended for a couple of hours that we were in the tropics. Both the kids and adults seemed to enjoy the brief warm-up!

On February 8th, we look forward to having even more fun at our Valentine's Day Ball. I'm already in the process of assembling some fun Valentine's themed music to dance, twirl and jump to. We'll also have a Valentine's scavenger hunt and other fun activities. The little ones will get the opportunity to make a valentine and we'll read a book about the holiday. A Valentine's snack is also in the works! Space is limited, so if you know someone who might enjoy this activity, encourage them to register soon. Our Valentine's Day Ball and other seasonal toddler events are perfect for little ones from 6 months to 3 years!
And if your little one is home during the week, we now have Drop In Play every Monday from 10-11:30am and Drop In Arts and Crafts every Friday from 10-11:30 am. This is a great opportunity to get out of the house, socialize with other parents and caregivers, and burn some of that endless toddler energy.
While we can't promise that winter will end soon, we can provide you with some fun activities to make it go just a little faster. We hope to see you soon!
In the meantime, please enjoy some photos from our Beach Party:

More support for breastfeeding moms...

Any mom who has ever breastfed knows that breastfeeding in public can be a daunting experience. On the one hand, breastfeeding is super convenient and it is great to be able to feed your baby anytime, without much planning. On the other hand, it can be nerve-wracking to breastfeed in a new location, and many moms may worry about how they will be seen by others.

Two recent developments lend more support to moms who want to breastfeed in public. In December, a bill protecting the right of mothers to breastfeed in public in Michigan unanimously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and now moves to the whole Senate for confirmation. Passage of the bill would ensure that no breastfeeding mom could be asked to leave a restaurant or other venue because of breastfeeding.

Just in the past week, Pope Francis told mothers that he supports mothers who breastfeed in public, and even encouraged them to breastfeed in holy sites such as churches and the Sistine Chapel. Stated the pope, "If they are hungry, mothers, let them eat, no worries, because here, they are the main focus."

We hope that this news gives all the mamas out there the courage to breastfeed when it is convenient for them and their little ones, not just when it is convenient for others. And remember, you are always welcome to feed your little ones at our office!