Motherhood & Parenting Articles, Tutorials, & Info | Wellness Mama

My Unconventional Approach to Parenting (and Education)

Katie Wells — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 08:27:28 +0000

As with most things in life, I approach parenting 6 kids with a bit of a different style. I’ve been known to wash my hair with mud, and brush my teeth with charcoal, and I’m just as unconventional in raising my kids. Today I’m sharing what this approach looks like, how it’s evolved over the […]

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2025 Valentine’s Day Gifts Ideas (That Beat Chocolate and Flowers!)

Katie Wells — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:00:09 +0000

I know I might sound unromantic, but something in me rebels against commercialized holidays (like Valentine’s Day). You won’t find me buying heart-shaped boxes of candy or flowers that will die in a couple of days. But I do have a few other ideas that have been a hit in the past or that caught […]

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100+ Useful (& Healthy!) Christmas Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Katie Wells — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 17:12:12 +0000

What is it about a Christmas stocking? Old or young, waking up on Christmas morning to a stocking lumpy with little surprises has its own special joy. These healthy stocking stuffer ideas have the perfect gift for everyone on your list! It’s always fun pulling the hidden items out to reveal the small gifts inside. […]

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53+ Ways to Give Experience Gifts Instead of Stuff This Year (Even Last Minute)

Katie Wells — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 06:08:13 +0000

With 6 kids and multiple business ventures (and an indoor plant obsession!), it’s easy for things to pile up around the house. Amidst the holiday season gift-giving these gifts can lead to more stress for both the giver and receiver. Over the years we’ve embraced a minimalist lifestyle, including giving experience gifts whenever we could. […]

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Healthy Candy for Halloween Trick-or-Treating

Katie Wells — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 14:14:15 +0000

In case you’re wondering if you’ve got the right blog, never fear… no, I don’t think there’s such a thing as healthy candy! By “healthy” I mean “better than the alternatives.” This means they’re made from real food ingredients, without artificial dyes, additives, artificial sweeteners, and all the other junk found in typical candy. Plus […]

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Postpartum Essentials for the Crunchy Mama

Katie Wells — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 13:00:00 +0000

The postpartum period can bring both highs and lows as you adapt to having a long-anticipated new baby join the family. As an experienced mom and doula, I have a list of postpartum essentials to make this time easier for both mom and baby. You likely won’t need everything on this list, but these are […]

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Home Remedies for Mastitis That Really Work

Katie Wells — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:05:00 +0000

Breastfeeding comes with its fair share of challenges. From sore nipples to late-night feeds (and plenty of baby cuddles!). If you notice breast pain, flu-like symptoms, and blocked milk ducts then it could be mastitis. Here’s what mastitis is and the home remedies I successfully used to treat my breast infection. Years ago after an […]

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DIY Nipple Cream for Breastfeeding

Katie Wells — Thu, 30 May 2024 16:47:39 +0000

With my first child, I was prepared for pregnancy to be uncomfortable at times. I expected labor and delivery to be intense. I figured I’d be emotional after having a baby. What I didn’t expect (or really prepare for) is that breastfeeding can be difficult the first few days as well! Don’t get me wrong. It […]

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Natural Diaper Rash Cream Recipe

Katie Wells — Thu, 16 May 2024 15:21:19 +0000

I’ve shared my homemade baby care recipes before but I get a lot of questions about natural diaper rash cream variations. After playing around with some recipes I’ve found one that’s far more effective! This homemade diaper rash cream is gentle and nourishing on baby’s skin. How to Make a Natural Diaper Rash Cream I […]

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Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Mom (She Will Use and Love!)

Katie Wells — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 15:03:32 +0000

As Mother’s Day approaches, I’ve gotten several requests from the husbands of a few readers for gift ideas for Mom. Sometimes regular chocolate doesn’t cut it anymore! I’ve compiled a list of some things I’d want to get myself or gift my own mom. Feel free to add your favorite unique Mother’s Day gifts in […]

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How to Sleep When Pregnant

Katie Wells — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Whether you’re a first-time mother or are expecting your third (or tenth!) sleeping when pregnant can be a challenge. Not only is it difficult to get comfortable, but other things accompanying pregnancy can make it difficult to get restful sleep. And at the back of your mind, there’s always that concern about what’s best for […]

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DIY Sitz Bath For Postpartum Mamas

Katie Wells — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 16:53:20 +0000

I’ve always thought that after labor, women should be able to look forward to a nice quiet vacation and recovery time. Instead, we get a precious baby and the lack of sleep that often accompanies them. This DIY sitz bath recipe is at least a little healing and pampering to look forward to during postpartum […]

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Teaching Christmas Joy to Children

Katie Wells — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 15:45:29 +0000

If we aren’t careful, Christmas can quickly become a time of worrying about what we get and losing sight of what’s important. Spending time with loved ones, sharing gratitude, giving thoughtful gifts, and sharing with those who are less fortunate—these are some of the things I want my family to focus on during the holidays. […]

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How to Avoid Morning Sickness

Katie Wells — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 15:19:19 +0000

Pregnancy is a time of our lives when we ask a lot from our bodies. Not only are we supporting ourselves but we’re growing a baby! (Never mind the energy we need to take care of our other kids if we have them too!) It can take a toll on our bodies if we aren’t […]

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How to Turn a Breech Baby

Katie Wells — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 14:59:10 +0000

When I was expecting my third baby I found out my little one was breech. I was planning a natural home birth, so it became a high priority to get baby to rotate. Even though I was at 32 weeks, I technically still had plenty of time for baby to flip. I thought I might be done with […]

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Easy Ways to Use Montessori At Home

Katie Wells — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 13:41:44 +0000

While homeschooling looks a little different these days for our family, the Montessori approach still influences our home. Maybe you’re looking into a Montessori school or you just want to include some Montessori principles in your day. You can create a welcoming, child-friendly home environment no matter your teaching style. I received so many requests […]

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35+ Christmas Activities for Kids to Do This Season

Katie Wells — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 16:04:26 +0000

For many of us, Christmas time means a little more time with family or even a break from school. We do an adventure points system over school breaks, but I wanted to brainstorm some more Christmas ideas. Here are some fun Christmas activities for kids that encourage creativity, imagination, and movement during this holiday season. […]

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How Hypnobirthing Can Give You a Better Birth Experience

Katie Wells — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 16:00:00 +0000

Natural birth has gotten a lot more popular in recent years. And hypnobirthing is something that women (even celebrities and Duchesses) have used during labor. No, it’s not the same thing as the hypnosis you see on TV. But it can help you have a better birth experience. As a mom of 6, natural birth […]

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Easy Valentine’s Crafts for Kids

Katie Wells — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 16:45:00 +0000

Valentine’s is a day for showing others how much we love them, and that often involves Valentine’s Day cards and crafts. This is a great time to pull out the crafts station for art projects and let the kids have fun. Here are some ideas for Valentine’s Day crafts for your little ones to make […]

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How to Keep Kids Active With Adventure Points

Katie Wells — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 14:33:59 +0000

Imagine a world where kids happily keep themselves busy and learning while doing activities that they love and learning math at the same time. A place where kids compete in a friendly way by doing athletic activities, creative games, and reading books. Sounds too good to be true, right? I’ve always heard that necessity is the […]

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