Is it okay to get my hair rebonded while I’m breastfeeding? What detergent do I use for cloth diapers? Am I “wearing” my baby right? Do you know of any events place near our area for my baby’s first birthday?
These are some of the most common questions mothers ask. They often find themselves confused, if not unsure, about doing things right for their children.
Sometimes moms need a safe space where they can ask questions freely without opening themselves to ridicule or censure. Sometimes they just need words of encouragement from other mothers.
The beauty of the digital age is that there are a lot of Facebook groups they can join to learn from other mothers or fathers.
These groups usually specialize in a specific topic—from which straying is not allowed. Members must strictly adhere to a set of rules. Txt speak is not allowed because discussions should be easy to search within the groups.
Here are some Facebook groups that parents might be interested in:
Breastfeeding Pinays— The closed group has over 200,000 members from here and abroad to promote breastfeeding. The online community includes breastfeeding experts, trained breastfeeding peer counselors, doctors, fathers and mothers. Any questions, doubts on breastfeeding can be asked and shared here. Answers usually come quickly.
Moms asking for breast milk for their babies may seek help from the site administration, which will relay it to the group. You can also find recipients of your extra breast milk here.
The community also encourages the Tamang Kain (TK) way of introducing solid food to a child. TK teaches parents to give only fruits and veggies for the baby’s first food on his/her sixth month.
Moms often post their heartwarming stories of successful breastfeeding to encourage new moms to continue with theirs.
On the flip side, there are also tearful confessions of their frustrations over the lack of family support. Both are met with kind words and encouragement.
Medical advice is discouraged. Members would probably just suggest that you meet with your pediatrician if your baby is facing health issues.
The group holds breastfeeding seminars and workshops regularly for parents and
parents-to-be.
It has an annual event, “Hakab Na,” which gathers members for simultaneous breastfeeding sessions.
Babywearing Philippines —The closed group has over 50,000 members. Its goal is to promote safe, responsible and proper babywearing. Information about wearing a baby is readily available in the group.
It also busts myths about wearing a baby. The most common of these is that it leaves the baby bow-legged (sakang)—it does not. Wearing your baby, however, promotes closeness between the baby and you, and can make your baby smarter.
There are plenty of ways to wear a child. Some include soft-structured carriers, ring slings and wraps. The group breaks down the advantages and disadvantages of each.
It is also common for members to upload their photos with the carriers, to ask if they are wearing the child safely and correctly. They also allow the buying, selling and trading (BST) of brand-new and secondhand carriers.
Modern Cloth Nappying Pinays and Cloth Diaper Addicts PH—These two are completely different groups, with over 30,000 members each. But they have similar goals. Both want to encourage the more environment-friendly option of making your baby wear cloth.
Members will answer questions ranging from different types of diapers to what detergent to use.
It is a space to share photos of your child wearing cloth and your collection of diapers. Both have BST to destash your used diapers and where you can buy new ones.
South PiNanays—This is a breastfeeding support group and generally a mommy group. It is small compared to other groups, with just over 6,000 members.
It’s not nationwide. It’s south-centric and caters only to mommies living in Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon.
What’s fun about the group is moms can ask anything under the sun related to motherhood, from summer classes to party ideas.
The nongovernment organization can be a template for other moms in other regions to get together and create their own group.