After nearly 40 weeks of being pregnant, it’s not uncommon for women to want to try to induce labor on their own. While most of these fun tactics are simply that, it can’t hurt to put them to the test! Remember that you should only try to naturally induce labor after 38 weeks when your baby is considered full term. So get to work and see if one of these will work for you!

Balsamic Vinegar. Add a splash to your evening salad!

Acupressure. Pressure points in your back and shoulder well can be stimulated using your thumb and forefinger.

Massage. Work only with someone who is trained in pregnancy massages. He or she will know the right pressure points that can induce labor.

Nipple Stimulation. This really does work, as the hormones produced can cause contractions! However, it needs to be done for an hour at a time, which may lead little time for other things.

Spices. Licorice, basil, oregano and motherwort are all spices that have been linked to inducing labor.

Foods. Juicy pineapple, eggplant, spicy foods and Chinese foods have all been said to induce labor. Fortunately, these foods will be tasty during your final weeks of pregnancy whether they induce labor or not!

Sex. The sperm help to soften the cervix and also have prostaglandins, which induce contractions. And, orgasms cause contractions, which may set you off into labor after having a bit of fun.

Castor Oil. There is some debate over this, so be sure to use with caution. While castor oil is known to stimulate contractions, it can also cause diarrhea and vomiting. However, it is these cramps in the bowels that often set off contractions.

Exercise. Whether it’s swimming, taking a long stroll or swinging on a swing, all of these exercises have been known to stimulate contractions.

Bouncing on an Exercise Ball. Consider it great practice for the real thing. This bouncing causes the baby to move up and down, hopefully getting him or her ready to make the grand exit.  Luna Lullaby offers a great Bounce-a-Bye Baby Ball that is helpful before birth during your pregnancy, during birth to ease any pressure or discomfort and after you give birth as a workout for mommy and a great way to soothe a fussy baby.

Tea. Raspberry leaf or thyme tea are great ones to try. With raspberry leaf, it should be incorporated into the diet around 34 weeks. Not only can it lead to a natural induction, but it can shorten labor, a real win-win situation.

While the medical community is mixed on whether or not these natural induction methods actually work, they are safe to try after 38 weeks. Has one of them worked for you? Share your story with us!

Image c/o squidoo.com

I know how hard it is to find time to exercise when you’re a new mom. The first twelve weeks, you don’t need to be going full force anyways because you could severely injure yourself.

Start with some squats. You can hold your baby anyway you’d like. Keep your back straight and your legs parallel to your shoulders. Inhale as you squat down, exhale as you come up. Make it fun by counting with your baby or singing as you squat. This helps the baby have a good time too. Start with maybe five or ten if you’re just getting started.

Back lunges are a great way to tone your legs. Bend your right knee and step out on your right foot, keeping your upper body straight. Your left leg should be extended behind you, foot forward and knee straight. Again, hold your baby in whichever position is most comfortable for you.

After being stretched out for nine months, you definitely want to focus on your core. Lie your baby on the floor on a blanket. Get in the push up (or pike) position, with your elbows and lower arms are on each side of the baby, with your legs straight out and on your toes. Make sure not to drop your back down low. Hold yourself in this position for about 90 seconds. Repeat five times. While in the pike position, try some push ups, kissing your baby every time you drop down.

Fresh take on our bouncy ball

Our Bounce A Bye Baby Ball is an interesting product.  Originally designed as a birthing ball, it also serves double duty as an exercise ball for mothers post-partum as it includes a safety stand for extra stability.

However, one of the things we love with blogger reviews is the new perspective they give on the products after they test them out on their own.  And this week, we had some new ideas from Holly at Mommies with Cents.

After the baby is born, the ball is still quite useful. Bouncing the baby on the ball is soothing and once they are ready to practice “tummy time”, the ball is an excellent tool.  Now there is a product made specifically for these uses that is not only cuter, but safer as well.

> Read the Mommies with Cents Review of Luna’s products

Enter to win a FREE Bounce A Bye Baby

OK so on to the real reason you’re reading more – the giveaway mentioned in the headline!  As part of their review, Mommies with Cents is sponsoring a giveaway of a FREE Bounce A Bye Baby to one lucky winner.  Hop on over to their site and checkout the simple contest rules where you can enter to win today:

> Enter to win FREE stuff from the Mommies with Cents

Luna Lullaby Earns “Bragging Rights”

A few weeks ago, we sent our “New Mommy Package” to the popular parenting blog site Bragging Mommy so they could get a close up look at the products for themselves and tell everyone what they think.  And this week, they released their review of our 3 product lines and the good news is they didn’t just like they, they LOVED them!

> Read the Bragging Mommy Review of Luna’s products

Enter to win a FREE pillow or blanket

OK so on to the real reason you’re reading more – the giveaway mentioned in the headline!  As part of their review, Bragging Mommy is sponsoring a giveaway of  either of a blanket or pillow to one lucky winner.  Hop on over to their site and checkout the simple contest rules and enter to win today:

> Enter to win FREE stuff from the Bragging Mommy

About the Bragging Mommy

The Bragging Mommy is a popular parenting blog written by a group of 5 moms with 8 kids.  They work hard to provide “mom and kid tested” reviews of products that parents can and should be using by testing each product on their own and offernig their reviews to readers.

They also do great giveaways from time to time where readers can win a product they’ve reviewed.

Infant swings versus baby bouncers

For many parents deciding between what they actually need and what they simply want be a challenge, especially when it comes to products for their baby. One great example of this can be seen when comparing an infant swing to an infant bouncer.

The truth is, there is absolutely no need to purchase both of these products.  They have a limited lifespan of usefulness and they serve the same purpose. But with a little research, you can easily decide which one make more sense for your home, your needs, and your infant.

The Case for the Infant Swing

Pros: Often have more features than baby bouncers, great for infants who are soothed by the motion of a rocking chair, larger and more stable than a traditional baby bouncer

Cons: More expensive than baby bouncers, not as portable, take up more space

The Case for the Baby Bouncer:

Pros: Portability – take it with you on short trips or even just to go outside, less expensive than baby swings, smaller than a swing so easier to fit into apartments

Cons: Can have stability concerns because it is smaller and lighter, not as many features on the inexpensive models, limited range of motion

More factors to consider

Both baby bouncers and infant swings have height, weight, and sometimes even age restrictions. They are generally not meant for use by babies who are too young to support their own head, so there is a limited window of time when a baby can use these products. If you still are not sure which one is right for your baby, talk to other moms to see if you can try their swing or bouncer. If your infant loves their swing or bouncer, you will have a clear indication of which will work best.

Alternatives to boring baby bouncers

While baby bouncers are a popular soothing aid that many parents rely on, not everyone is sold on the idea of a traditional baby bouncer.

Luckily, the market for baby products is one that consistently evolves to meet the needs and desires of parents, so there are several alternative available to traditional baby bouncers that you can use to help soothe your infant, including other baby bouncer models, infant swings, and exercise or bouncing balls.

3 alternatives to baby bouncers:

- Mobile baby centers. The traditional baby bouncer model is a stationary one that is portable and can sit on the floor. However, for some parents, there are concerns about the sturdiness or stability of this model, or they simply do not find it to be effective for soothing their child. For these parents, there are different types of mobile baby centers that allow the baby to push him or herself around a room for added stimulation, or mounted on a door for greater stability.

- Infant swings. A great alterative to a bouncer, some infants prefer the motion of swinging over bouncing. These are larger, bulkier, and heavier than bouncers, but it sure is nice to simply wind it up and let baby swing.

- Bouncing or exercise ball. For parents who are tired of purchasing products that their child will not be able to use in only a few months, an exercise or bouncing ball much like the ones you can find at the gym might be the bouncing solution for your baby. Products like the Bounce a Bye Baby are useful before, during, and after pregnancy, making them a better investment than a bouncer that will be quickly outgrown. Mother and fathers can sit on the ball and use it to bounce the baby, giving the same sensation as a traditional bouncer.

Bouncing for all the right reasons

With all the products on the market aimed at parents and promising to be the best soothing product available, it can be hard to discern what works and what doesn’t, or what you really want versus products that end up being a waste of time and money.

One product that many parents are interested in is the infant bouncer. There are a variety of models available, but overall this seems to be a pretty effective soothing method for many infants.

Soothing with a bouncer

Babies enjoy repetitive motion. This may be due to the fact that they were often in motion while in their mother’s womb, or because it is simply enjoyable to be bounced. Whatever the explanation, it can be hard on tired parents to bounce their infant constantly, which is where the infant bouncer is very useful.

When your baby is in the bouncer, he or she can be stimulated or soothed, and your hands are free to attend to other tasks. Bouncers come with a variety of features, including some that have multiple motion settings, so your baby will be entertained while he or she is awake and a more gentle setting can be used to lull the little one to sleep.

Remember, safety first

While there are a variety of infant bouncer models to choose from, make sure that any bouncer you use is sturdy, has a wide frame to avoid tipping issues, has a three or five point safety harness like the one on a car seat, and that your child is within the height and weight limitations for that particular model. This will ensure that your baby is safe while being soothed.