Welcome to the Sunday Surf! Here are some of the best links I've read this past week.

Or, actually, two weeks. Because I took last week off, what with my in-laws visiting and all. (P.S. They're still here.)

Alrik getting in some Grandma time.

You know you are a hippy-mama (or papa) when…

A checklist all in good fun from Loving Earth Mama. I got 16 out of 20 — but only because I still need to buy an amber necklace, hee. How did you score?

Rewriting the baby milestones

I was pleased to welcome a guest post from Charise of I Thought I Knew Mama. Check it out and come enjoy the gentle debate in the comments.

I have mixed views on milestones, because Mikko, while within a normal range for many milestones was rarely average — and sometimes not even normal. I know with many questioners, asking about milestones (is he walking? is she sitting up?) is a benign conversation starter, and for doctors it can be a way to move children into any extra help they need. But I have experience with relatives who ask about milestones only to nitpick and (unfavorably) compare (particularly when it comes to verbal development), and I have experience with doctors fixating on one milestone while ignoring the overall indicators of health.

For instance, Mikko's pediatrician was obsessed with the fact that he didn't crawl — he scooted. He needed to learn to crawl, she told us at every visit, or he would become dyslexic. (This was a misreading, in my opinion, on studies showing a link between dyslexia and having not crawled [a misunderstanding of causality], and on crawling theory potentially helping people with dyslexia.) She ignored the fact that we had hardwood floors (hard on the knees) and he was a very heavy little guy (harder for him to balance himself on hands and knees than sitting). We ignored her and let Mikko bottom-scoot until he walked — and then, wouldn't you know it? — he then learned how to crawl as well. The jury's still out on whether he'll be dyslexic — he seems to be developing well in terms of reading and writing at this age — but I'm not worried either way.

What have your milestone experiences been, and what are your thoughts on people's fixation on them? Join the conversation in the comments over there, and thanks to Charise for sparking it!

Carnival of Natural Parenting

We had a fabulous Carnival of Natural Parenting this week on the topic of parenting philosophies. I really enjoyed hearing our writers' overarching reasons for parenting the way they do. There was a lot of inspiration to go around! Check out the links at the end of the post and click over to the ones that look interesting to you.

I was happy to have Sam guest post for me on the subject of giving Mikko an allowance at four years old. It's been working well so far — read about our little experiment with finances, and feel free to leave your questions and comments for Sam to respond to.

Carnival round-up

I've created a linky page for blog carnivals of relevance to natural parents: Natural parenting blog carnivals

You can enter upcoming carnivals to the list, or take note of the submission deadlines so you can write in community with likeminded parents.

Submissions to the linky are moderated (to make sure carnivals are relevant) and will be removed as the live dates pass so it will keep (mostly) up to date.

Babywearing in Hot Weather

I have a guest post this week on Natural Parents Network on slinging a baby even in the summer. Add your suggestions and experiences in the comments!

From Natural Parents Network this week

• Babywearing in Hot Weather
• Featured Blogger: Luschka
• Peaceful Home
• Wordless Wednesday: Art
• Yama Niyama & the Red Pajama Mama — Part 1: The Yamas
• Intact and Jewish

Giveaways!

I've created a new ongoing linky for natural parenting giveaways to draw attention to relevant giveaways. Instead of being lost in the bigger giveaway linky lists, jumbled in with products that don't speak to our lifestyles or values, your giveaways can shine in this list tailored to attachment parents interested in a natural lifestyle. It will also help highlight the "little-guy" prizes: products from WAHMs and Etsy shops, self-published books, and unique and niche offerings.

If you're a natural parenting blogger and are hosting a giveaway, enter it in the linky! Please note that entries are moderated, so it will take time for your submission to appear.

And if you're a natural parent, go check out the full list of giveaways to see what you can win!

There's also a Facebook page for giveaways by parenting bloggers created by Jennifer of Hybrid Rasta Mama. If you "like" the page, you can promote your own giveaways there as well or find out about new ones.

Here are the current giveaways round these parts:

• 2 Wool Dryer Balls from The Green Belle Shoppe by Shelly Rose Designs $17 {8.8; US/Can} — my new favorite eco-friendly laundry staple! These wool dryer balls will soften clothes and cut drying time — without chemicals or damage to your clothes. And they smell nice, too. Sweet!
• NPN: Lonely Girl, Gracious God book about autism ~ 2 Winners, $12 ARV {8.17; Worldwide}
• NPN: Online Book Discussion: Nonviolent Communication book & workbook $42 ARV {8.22; US/Can}
• NPN: SmartKlean Laundry Ball ~ 3 Winners/$45 ARV {8/13; US/Can}
• NPN: EcaPants from Ecaware Baby for EC $17.95 ARV {8.9; Worldwide}
• NPN: Green Gamboni Jeans for cloth-diapered babies $48 ARV {8.9; US/Can.}
• NPN: Kickin Creations Diaper Safe Laundry Detergent $15 {8.8; US}
• NPN: Wool Prefold Belt $10 ARV {8.6; Worldwide}
• NPN: Linah Sora OS Pocket Diaper {8.5; US}
• NPN: Two Hip Peas in a Pod Pocket Diaper {8.4 US}
• NPN: Reusable Cloth Diaper Liners {8.3; Worldwide}
• NPN: MomsCrafts4U Set of 3 Cloth Pads $15 ARV {8.3; US/Can}
• NPN: Beka Wooden Building Blocks $96 ARV {8.1; Cont. US}
• NPN: Baby K’Tan Baby Carrier $63 ARV {7.24; US}
• NPN: Hoot Owl Hoot! Cooperative Board Game $15 ARV {7.23; US}

You can find more shared items during the week at my public Google Reader recommendations feed.

Check out Authentic Parenting, Baby Dust Diaries, Navelgazing, Momma Jorje, I Thought I Knew Mama, Enjoy Birth, A Domesticated Woman's Adventures (various), Fabulous Mama Chronicles, Kelly Hogaboom (Fridays), The Parent Vortex (weekends), Ichigo Means Strawberry, TouchstoneZ, Hippie Housewife (Saturdays), Multiple Musings, Motherhood Moments, Mama and Baby Love, and A Little Bit of All of It for more Sunday Surfing! (If you also participate in a regular link list, whether on Sunday or not, let me know and I'll add your link.)

Feel free to add your recommendations in the comments. Happy reading!