Happy Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday Cotton Babies fans! While you are waiting for the mail carrier to deliver your packages from last week's sales, we thought we'd spread a little holiday cheer with some random giveaways.

We have a variety of prizes we're giving away today, including our Cotton Babies 2011 calendar:

Random winners will be selected from comments on this blog post, tweets on Twitter using the #cottonbabies hashtag, or comments on our Facebook page. Eligible entries must be posted today, November 30, 2010. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be announced throughout the day on our Facebook page and through our Twitter account @CottonBabies.

Cloth Diapers 101: Types of Cloth Diapers

One of the things we see a lot from moms who are new to cloth diapers is that the cloth diapering lingo is very confusing and overwhelming. We've all been there, new to cloth diapers and struggling to figure out what each type of diaper really is and what we need to purchase to make it work. We've compiled a basic list to get you started. We won't cover every cloth diaper in existence, but consider it a primer to get you started in the right direction.

Pocket cloth diapers: A pocket diaper is usually made of two layers of fabric sewn together to form a pocket that will hold an absorbent insert. bumGenius 4.0 and Fuzzibunz are pocket style cloth diapers. The advantage of pocket style diapers is that they can be as convenient as disposables to put on baby during diaper changes. Pocket style cloth diapers do require an extra step after laundering of placing (sometimes called "stuffing") the insert back inside the pocket.

All In One (AIO) cloth diapers: AIO style diapers have a waterproof outer fabric and absorbent inner fabric, all sewn together to create one piece. bumGenius 3.0 Deluxe All-In-Ones and bumGenius Elemental are all-in-one style diapers. The advantage of AIO cloth diapers is that they can be more convenient because there is no need to stuff inserts after laundering, although these diapers frequently take longer to dry because of their multiple layers of fabric.

Hybrid diapers: Hybrid diapers are a new class of cloth diapers that are a blend of traditional all cloth diapers and disposable options. Hybrid diapers are usually a two piece system comprised of a waterproof outer cover and an insert that can be a variety of materials ranging from cloth to disposable. Our Flip Diapering System is a great example of a hybrid. I consists of a waterproof, one sized fits most, cover and your choice of stay dry, organic or disposable inserts. The advantage of hybrid diapers is the versatility of changeable inserts to suit your baby's changing needs.

Covers and prefolds: Covers and prefolds are an economical way to cloth diaper. Covers are typically a single layer of waterproof fabric. Prefolds are the classic, original cloth diaper. With modern covers, there are no need for pins to keep your prefolds in place. Prefolds are all cotton, with bleached and unbleached options available. Econobum is an economical cover and prefold system, where you can cloth diaper your baby from birth to potty training for as little as $100.

Another important thing to know when purchasing cloth diapers is about sizing. There are both sized and one-size options in all the categories of cloth diapers mentioned above.

Sized diapers: Each cloth diaper brand has it's own sizing system, so be careful to read the weight suggestions for each size before purchasing. bumGenius 3.0 Deluxe AIO (all-in-one) cloth diapers come in sizes extra small (XS), small (S), medium (M) and large (L). FuzziBunz Perfect Size cloth diapers are available in S, M and L sizes, while Thirsties Diaper Covers are a cover/prefold style with covers available in sizes XS through L.

One-Sized diapers: One sized diapers are a shorter way of saying "one size fits most". These cloth diapers or covers are designed to fit most babies from newborn stage (approx. 8 lbs.) through toddler stages (approx. 35 lbs.). The way these diapers grow with baby is by having rows of snaps in the center of the diaper that create an adjustable rise. These snaps do not have to be changed at each diaper change, only adjusted as babies grow. bumGenius 4.0 is a one-size pocket style diaper; bumGenius Elemental is a one-size, all-in-one clothdiaper and Econobum is a one size cloth diaper cover.

The key to successful cloth diapering is to remember that you must have a waterproof outer fabric or cover in addition to an absorbent inner liner or insert and it needs to be the correct size for your baby.

Are you wondering about other cloth diapering terms? Ask in the comments and we'll add to this post.

Cotton Babies Black Friday Deals!

Black Friday. Simple. Fun. Easy to shop.

Cotton Babies Black Friday deals are cloth diaper grab bags with guaranteed savings of 30-35% over regular retail prices. We can't disclose brands, but we can guarantee a really good deal. These limited availability offers end Sunday at midnight or while supplies last. Please shop early to guarantee your deal.

Five fun cloth diaper grab bags at amazing prices.

Starting at only $9.95 .Guaranteed savings of 30-35%. No limit. While supplies last.

MilkDaze Camis are 60% off - only $11.60!

No limit. While supplies last.

Other deals available here and here. Have fun shopping!

Kindest regards,

Jenn

P.S. Cyber-Monday has a whole new set of offers that will go live on Monday at 12:01am.

From Jenn: Christmas with Econobum (and thanksgiving day deals too)

(thanksgiving day deals included at the bottom of this blog post)

With the money saved by not purchasing disposable diapers, cloth diapers can help provide a family you know with better food. This year, our theme for Christmas is "Trim a Tree. Trim a Budget. Give Cloth Diapers." You can change a family's life (and how well they are able to feed their children) by giving them cloth diapers.

Kimberly Clark has been airing commercials recently about their "Every Little Bottom" campaign. They now know what we already knew... many families are choosing between diapers and groceries. While I'm glad to see Kimberly Clark responding to that family's need, it would have been more appropriate to focus their investment in a reusable product like Econobum. Reusable diapers would enable that family to continue feeding their children... long after the diaper banks dry up and the promotion is over. At it's best, the "Every Little Bottom" campaign is promoting and reinforcing a cultural dependence on disposable diapers, at the basest, most inexcusable level... in families who are choosing between diapers and food. How does this make you feel?

When my husband and I started Cotton Babies eight years ago, we already realized we could not afford to buy both diapers and groceries. Our baby was wearing prefolds and diaper covers given to us by a friend. Every week, our grocery budget was $30 plus the WIC check bought our milk, beans, tuna, carrots, baby cereal and a few other essentials. We chose to use cloth diapers simply because we couldn't afford to use disposables.

A few years later, we went to our first JPMA trade show with the bumGenius 1.0 One-Size Cloth Diapers pictured at the right. (Babies who wore those diapers are now starting kindergarten!) We showed up with five folding tables, hundreds of diapers, business cards and a really big sign. We always had a crowd around our tables, but I'll never forget the afternoon that I looked up and saw "Proctor & Gamble" nametags. Two men in suits were standing there listening to my presentation. When I finished, I watched them walk away laughing. One said, loudly enough for me to overhear, "You've got to be kidding!"

I wasn't kidding. Today, based on retailer reports, bumGenius is the #1 selling cloth diaper in North America. We have manufactured and sold many millions of diapers. Together, our brands may have single-handedly prevented the use and disposal of nearly 1 billion disposable diapers.

While bumGenius is one of my proudest accomplishments, I've always been acutely aware it was very difficult for many families to make the investment necessary to purchase bumGenius One-Size Cloth Diapers. So, last year, we developed Econobum, a brand designed to reach out to lower income families who couldn't afford to buy our more expensive brands. We made sure the products were high quality and packaged them in an affordable manner. For $11.95, you can purchase three one-size prefolds and a one-size diaper cover. For $48.95, you can purchasetwelve one-size prefolds, 3 one-size diaper covers and a reusable wet bag. You'll be doing laundry every day or every other day... but it's enough. If you do your wash in a laundromat, four of the Econobum Full Kit boxes would provide your family with enough cloth diapers to make it through an entire week of diapering... for under $200. In other cloth diaper brands, the same number of reusable diaper changes could cost upwards of $800-$1500. Econobum actually enables families to diaper a baby for much less than disposable diapers and significantly less than any other cloth diaper brand on the market.

This summer, we had the opportunity to distribute 800 Econobum Kits to a needy neighborhood in north St. Louis. Those Econobum Kits could save that neighborhood over $1.6 million in diaper expenditures over the next two years. Our diapers were a tiny part of a major event called "Love The Neighborhood" coordinated by Service International and Pastor Jeff Perry from St. Louis Family Church. "Love the Neighborhood" impacted many, many St. Louis families by providing school supplies, backpacks, clothing and shoes to thousands of neighborhood children.

A few months later, I flew to Michigan to be part of another event coordinated by Molly Ging atThe Little Seedling. There, we distributed Econobum Kits to grateful WIC families.

These are two relatively small events. When you think through what this could mean on a larger scale, a reusable product like Econobum has the potential to have a major impact on low income families... at a micro-level like they did for my own family eight years ago, at a neighborhood level like we saw in North St. Louis and at a community and state level, reaching across the nation and saving our country billions each year. The first savings is realized at the family level, but later, your community actually sees a savings too because you're throwing away less trash. One family doesn't make a huge difference... but what if every low income family in your community switched to Econobum?

Mahatma Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Buy Econobum for someone you know. If you don't already know a family that needs cloth diapers, starting today, whenever you purchase Econobum from Cotton Babies, you can now select to have the product donated on your behalf to a needy family. We will be working with our local food banks, pregnancy clinics and shelters to provide education and ensure the diapers get in the hands of the right people. Every box of donated Econobum Full Kits could conservatively provide a family with an additional $10, $20 or even $30 in their weekly grocery budget.

Trim a tree. Trim a budget. Buy diapers to give today.... and thank you for participating in change that can have such an important impact on our country.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jennifer Labit, Owner

Cotton Babies, Inc.

P.S. As our way of saying thank you for being a Cotton Babies customer, every purchase over $30 on Thanksgiving Day qualifies for a free package of bumGenius Flannel Baby Wipes (an $11.95 value) or a free pair of bumGenius Baby Legs (an $11.95) value. One code per order. You must add the product to your cart and use the code "FREEBABYLEGS" or "FREEBABYWIPES to get the discount during checkout. As always, every single order ships free.

Additionally, we have some fun Thanksgiving Day Giveaways!! Three random people willbe chosen from comments on this blog post, tweets on Twitter using the #cottonbabies hashtag,or comments on our Facebook page to receive a free Ergo Baby Carrier (valued at $105). Eligible entries must be posted on Thanksgiving Day. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be announced on Black Friday.

P.P.S. We have some great Black Friday Deals coming on Friday! Those deals will be posted on the blog at 12:01am on Friday. See links on the right side of this page for how to follow our blog so you're first to hear!

Please share the deals with your friends through Facebook by "liking" this post. Thanks!

How To: Turkey Dinner for the Holidays

As we were discussing what to post on the blog around Thanksgiving, we started laughing in the office about how many of us have completely failed at trying to have a turkey dinner. Most of us have had at least one spectacular failure... many of the others had just never tried.

My assistant, Rita, has previously offered to share her mother's recipe for a successful Thanksgiving Day with me and I'd foolishly declined... thinking I'd be just fine. Unfortunately, last year's Thanksgiving was a total train wreck. At 4pm (lunch was supposed to be at 2), I was near tears on the living room couch while my husband and father-in-law sorted out the lumpy, gross gravy disaster.

Rita has graciously shared her mother's recipe with everyone. I hope that it helps you prepare a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner. I'm certainly going to try it!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Kindest regards,

Jenn

P.S. If you have ideas for how to make Thanksgiving Day go better, please share your ideas in the comments. If you're like me and struggle in the kitchen, feel free to tell us your Thanksgiving Day disaster stories. I'll be watching, reading and hopefully learning something new from every comment!

Turkey Recipe

by Rosalie Bira, courtesy Rita Sciaroni

First defrost your turkey starting two days prior to the Big Day by setting the turkey in your refrigerator. Place the turkey on a dish towel.

The night (or day) before, take it out and remove the gizzard, liver and neck. Place the turkey in cold salt water. (Just pour salt in the water and put the turkey in it.) A good pan to use is your dishpan. This assures you the turkey is thoroughly defrosted and it will be thoroughly clean. While turkey is soaking:

Take the (heart), liver, gizzard and neck; rinse in cold water. Place in saucepan and add boiling water to cover.

Add:
1 tsp. salt
2 whole peppercorns
2 whole cloves
1/2 bay leaf
2 thin slices onions
1 stalk celery - cut up
1 carrot - cut up

Cover and cook over moderately low heat for about 15 minutes. Remove liver. Continue to cook until gizzard is tender - about 2 to 3 hours. Strain and reserve. (Remove some of the meat from the neck and put it back in the broth). You can chop up giblets coarsely and return to broth too. You will use this when you make your gravy. You can also add this to your dressing, especially the cut up meat and giblets.

Then make your dressing. NEVER stuff your turkey the day before with dressing. This promotes bacteria. Put dressing in refrigerator and keep it for the time you are ready to stuff your turkey.

STUFFING FOR 18 LB. BIRD:

This is Grandma Bira's stuffing. We use it because Dad likes it. Maybe in the years to come you'll try something else you like better.

2 or 3 packages Croutons (instructions on package will tell you how much you need for the weight of the turkey you have.
2 eggs
1 1/4 tsp. thyme
2 tsp. sage
2 cups onions
2 cups celery
2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. poultry seasoning
2 beef bouillon cubes
5 cups water
1 cup butter

Put butter in big skillet and melt slowly. Put onions and celery in butter and cook, stirring till celery and onions are transparent not brown.

Put croutons in big bowl. Pour the onion, celery and butter mixture over croutons and mix thoroughly.

In a saucepan, combine the water and bouillon cubes and cook until cubes dissolve. Put in the seasonings and pour this over your bread crumbs. Slightly beat eggs and put this in mixture -- blending thoroughly. At stuffing time you can put the meat from the neck and gizzard in the dressing. Put in refrigerator and cover. DO NOT STUFF TURKEY UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO BAKE IT.

Now your turkey should be clean and thoroughly defrosted and ready to dry it off. Pat it dry with dish towel. Be sure you get the water out of the neck cavity too.

Rub your turkey with some white vinegar, then rub the outside with Crisco (as best as you can - it's a little difficult with the vinegar on it.)

Then figuring 1/8 teaspoon for each pound, rub the cavities with salt.

Place it back in the refrigerator. I usually cover it with a big dish towel and place it on a large meat platter.

Next day, when you get ready to bake it:

Take the turkey and dressing out of the refrigerator and stuff according to your cookbook. It will also have the time table in it for baking your turkey by weight.

However you cookbook might say "don't cover and don't add water." I have (and my mother too) have always added water (1/4 cup) and a big tablespoon Crisco and I cover the turkey with my roaster top.

BASTE OFTEN BASTE OFTEN

After your turkey is done:

Your cookbook will give good hints on this. You should use meat thermometer. (I can usually tell by appearances because the legs pull away and it looks done). Also, it's best to allow the turkey to stand out (after it's done) for about 1/2 hour - this is the time you make the gravy in the same pan that the turkey was baked in.

When ready to make gravy, here is a good gravy recipe I found years ago in my Redbook Magazine.

GIBLET GRAVY

1/2 cup fat from turkey drippings
1/2 cup unsifted all purpose flour
5 cups liquid (including reserved giblet broth)
Salt and pepper to taste
cooked giblets (optional)

After turkey is removed from roasting pan, pour drippings from pan into a bowl (I use a large measuring cup) leave most of the brown particles in the pan. Let the fat rise to the top of the drippings. Skim off 1/2 cup fat and pour into a large skillet. Skim off remaining fat and discard (When I have a very large crowd of people I never throw away the remaining fat just in case I have to make more gravy). Add rest of the drippings to reserve giblet broth, pour into the roasting pan. Place over moderate heat and stir scraping to remove brown particles from the bottom. Measure liquid from roasting pan and add enough water to make 5 cups.

Heat the 1/2 cup turkey fat in the skillet over low heat; gradually blend in flour. Cook until mixture bubbles. Remove skillet from heat and add the 5 cups liquid gradually, stirring constantly.

Cook over moderate heat stirring constantly, until thick and smooth. Add salt and pepper. Add chopped giblets (optional).

Makes 5 cups gravy

Rosalie Bira was mother to three Cotton Babies employees, Rita, Kathy and Jeanne. Cumulatively, these sisters have raised 9 children, 8 grandchildren (with another on the way) and served at Cotton Babies for more than 13 years. We're thankful that Rosalie raised such amazing women and that they shared their secret family recipe with us.

Real Mom Talk: Is motherhood a prison?

The Wall Street Journal just published an opinion piece on attachment parenting & cloth diapers in their Saturday edition. The headline - "Spend every moment with your child? Make your own baby food and use cloth diapers? Erica Jong wonders how motherhood became such a prison for modern women."

The author is clearly talented. Her article was deftly written to stab a knife in the heart of those who have wielded other equally venomous attacks in her direction. She eloquently attacked the parenting style, but I wish she had identified the real issue before writing a sadly misdirected article to be published on a platform like The Wall Street Journal. Her knife doesn't belong in the heart of the parenting style. Her knife belongs squarely between the eyes of the culture and attitude behind the parenting style.

Jong is described as a feminist activist. How did we reach the day that a feminist activist is speaking out against a woman's choices in parenting? Feminism involves political, cultural and sociological theories, as well as philosophies concerned with issues of gender difference. Did I really just read an article written by a feminist that advocated against choices that women should be allowed to make without fear of criticism or rebuff? Is she really attacking the right issue? Or could she just be saying, "Shut up world! I am ME and YOU don't get to decide if I was a good mom"?

Jong's words were just given a pedestal in one of the most well respected newspapers in our country. I think it's time that we, as a community, choose to raise the standard. This article shouldn't have been about a parenting style. The only reason she sees life through those lenses is because someone left her feeling like a bad mom. Someone shaped an influencer. Was it you?

It isn't the first time it's happened either. We saw it last week. And the week before...

The real issue is a lack of cultural civility between mothers. I've watched women rip each other apart online seemingly without consequence for years. Then they come into my store scared to ask questions because they are afraid that their method of parenting won't meet my standard. If I had a $1 for each apologetic look I've had from a woman, I could pay off my house and yours too. It's sad! Women should not be eating each other alive. Imagine how the world would be if we encouraged each other the way we hope to be encouraged. Dare I say it? We would all be better mothers. Most women really don't want anyone telling them what to do... because, as we all know, there aren't any hard and fast rules other than to do the best you can.

Natali Del Conte called for an "internet time out" last week in her blog post after the cloth diapering community viciously attacked her (CBS was kind enough to remove the worst comments). Her report about "Diaper Wars" on CBS certainly wasn't a fair representation of cloth diapers. Frustration was justified. Coordinated education and protest was justified. However, even righteous anger isn't justification for ripping apart someone's mothering skills or criticizing her personal integrity.

Del Conte chose to take the cloth diapering challenge and cloth diaper her baby for one month. I'm proud of Del Conte for standing up to the cloth diapering community and offering to try cloth diapers while also drawing a line in the sand around her parenting choices.

I wish I was as proud of the cloth diapering community for the manner in which the challenge was posed. Yes, we want cloth diapers to be fairly represented in the media... but frankly, if Del Conte actually discusses the character of the cloth diaper community in her followup report on CBS, we're likely to hear something more like what Jong just wrote for the Wall Street Journal.

Our customers tell us that they want cloth diapers to be mainstream. They want to be able to walk into a store in their hometown and pick up whatever they need. If this is ever going to happen, it is important that the cloth diapering community stops using words and attitudes to alienate the very people who can help make that dream a reality.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." - St. Ambrose (A.D. 537)

I rarely write posts that so clearly state my opinion, but I've seen enough in the last week to last the rest of my career. I'm calling on all of the industry leaders to stand up and draw a line in the sand. Raise the standard. Stop hosting drama. Stop generating hatred. Stop hating. We should be respectful, friendly advocates for mothers who are learning. Research. Speak carefully. You never know who you are talking to or who is going to read what you have written. It's time to realize that the influencers in our culture are watching you and start behaving like something and someone that should be watched.

When treated professionally and with respect, authors like Erica Jong, reporters like Natali del Conte and even buyers from big box stores could freely advocate for your product and parenting choices... rather than rail against the emotional prison imposed by rude, unfettered tongues.

West St. Louis County Store Opens Tomorrow!

The day you (and we) have been waiting for has finally arrived! We're pleased to announce our third Cotton Babies retail location will open it's doors at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, Tuesday, November 16.

You can find our West County (St. Louis) location near the intersection of Highway 141 and Clayton Roads, near Whole Foods, in the Town and Country Crossing Shopping Center.

To celebrate the opening of our West County and Vancouver stores, we're working hard to bring you some fantastic grand opening festivities in early 2011. More details will be posted here on the blog and on our Facebook page closer to those dates.

The West County store can be reached by phone at (636) 220-7720 or by e-mail: stl-westcounty@cottonbabies.com Their address is 1200 Town and Country Crossing Drive, Town and Country, MO 63017.

Real Mom Talk: What Happened to my Body?

As many of you have already commented, one of the biggest changes that no one shares with you during the nine glorious months of pregnancy is how many different parts of your body will never be the same after carrying a child.

My body changed slowly each day for nine months to adjust to carry my child and yet I somehow was disappointed when two days after delivery my body still looked six months pregnant. My stomach was saggy, spongy and deflated and my hips were wider than my shoulders. I expected it all to magically snap back into place like a pair of elastic pants as soon as the baby popped out. When it didn't, I felt like a failure.

Equally difficult to accept was the scar that accompanied my c-section. Thankfully, a dear friend pointed out that ugly scar represented a procedure that saved my life and my child's as well. Without that incision, we might neither have survived.

I don't even want to talk about the changes from nursing four children, it's not pretty. Let's just say I'm thankful to live in a day where push-up bras and shape wear are readily available. I just wish I'd known about the Belly Bandit in the early months after my twins were born!

With my children being born so close together, it took years for me to begin to accept what was the new norm for my body. Honestly, I still struggle with my body image. On the inside, I'm still the energetic, athletic high school girl that wore short skirts, knee high socks and fitted shirts. She's now hidden somewhere behind the mask of my new mom body. Adjectives like hot, cute and sexy have been replaced in my mind with strong, powerful and healthy. They are certainly not my favorite adjectives, but they are better than the negative ones that used to fill my mind.

It's taken a lot of work to reach any sort of contentment with this body, most of it battling in my own mind, some of it through diet and exercise. I sometimes wonder if someone had taken the time to share with me how long it takes your body to fully recover from a pregnancy if it might have made it easier, if it would have helped me form more realistic expectations? Maybe not, I don't think there is a magic solution to keep other women from the same struggles and insecurities that come with the changes that occur during pregnancy.

How do you feel about your body, post pregnancy? What was the most shocking change you experienced? Have you accepted your new mom body? What helped you learn to appreciate it?

The BUY 5, GET 1 FREE SALE just got even better!

BUY 5, GET 1 FREE - now also available on bumGenius 3.0 DELUXE All-In-Ones!

Thinking of giving cloth diapering a try or need to build your stash? The #1 selling cloth diaper brand in North America, bumGenius, rarely goes on sale. Due to popular demand, we're now extending this offer to both our bumGenius 4.0 One-Size Cloth Diapers AND to our bumGenius 3.0 DELUXE All-In-Ones too! This is one deal you don't want to miss! (Offer expires 12/31/10 or while supplies last. No limit. May not be combined with any other offers. P.S. We know you want a sale on bumGenius Elementals too... but due to low inventory, we can't apply the coupon to those at this time.)

HUGE NEWS! Flip Diaper Covers, now available with hook & loop closures!
A special air pallet of Flip Diaper Covers made with hook & loop closures just arrived at our warehouses in St. Louis! In my opinion, this is the perfect diaper cover. The fit of this cover is crazy trim and the closure options are ideal for little ones who won't lay still during diaper changes! Now you have options in closures AND options in inserts.

Are you looking for a way to introduce cloth diapers to a friend?
Econobum One-Size Cloth Diapers make the PERFECT gift for that new mom you know. At just $9.95 (and free shipping too!) they are just the right price.

Real Mom Talk: Nitty Gritty on Nursing

Today in Real Mom Talk, we move north to talk about our two best girl friends. Nothing can truly prepare you for what it feels like to nurse a baby. Maybe you used that breast pump on your shelf to try to induce labor at week 40, so you think you have an idea of what it will be like, but not even that compares to a real, live, hungry baby. Sure, it's a wonderful, natural thing women have done for centuries, but that doesn't mean it is always easy or feels nice.

For some moms, breastfeeding is easy, completely pain free and they never give it a second thought. For others, it isn't quite that simple. A poll here in our office found exactly one mom who never experienced any pain during the early days of breastfeeding. If you're having trouble with breastfeeding, always seek the assistance of an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Calling your doula, midwife, obstetrician, birthing center or the post-partum department at the hospital will help you connect with the right resource.

Anecdotally speaking, these are some of the things that our staff has found helpful during the early days of nursing a baby:

• Nursing bras and cloth nursing pads are helpful in giving you the support and security you need in those early days.
• Gel breast soothers and lanolin can be very helpful to have ready to go, should you begin to get irritated as you find your nursing groove.
• Feeling like you are about to burst? Sometimes it can be helpful to relieve some of the pressure when things are feeling most uncomfortable. The most beneficial milk is the hindmilk, so expressing a bit of foremilk shouldn't adversely affect your baby. You can either manually express breastmilk or use a breastpump to relieve a bit of pressure.
• If your breast pump doesn't fit quite right, your IBCLC may recommend Medela PersonalFit Breastshields for a better fit.
• If your pediatrician recommends supplementing, ask if Medela's Supplemental Nursing System is right for you and your baby.

It's also important to remember that each mom, baby and situation are different. Sometimes despite great effort, nursing is just not an option and that's okay. Don't mentally beat yourself up over other people's experiences or judgements, they haven't walked in your shoes. Remember no matter your situation, no matter your choice, you are a good mom because you are doing the best you possibly can for your baby.
Did you breastfeed or bottle feed? Did you overcome obstacles or struggles to feed your child? Tell us about your infant feeding journey.

Are you participating in the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt?

The 11th Annual Great Cloth Diaper Hunt is going on right now!

The 11th Annual Great Cloth Diaper Hunt has started and is going on now through Nov 30th.  Hundreds of stores have hidden the coveted "diaper icon" and only by solving their riddles and finding the clues will you be led to the prize!

Earth Angels Diaper Co. is sponsoring as well.  Don't forget that you can also save 10% at EADC with the GCDH Discount Code, take advantage of FREE USA SHIPPING OVER $25 and much more!

What do you need to know about the hunt?

• Hunting is open between Nov 1-30, 2010
• It is a virtual scavenger hunt where you explore sponsors site to find a hidden icon and then click on them to record your progress.
• You must REGISTER to hunt.
• Registrants receive a Discount Code that is worth valuable discounts at hundreds of retailers.
• There are 71 random prize drawings!
• One Ultimate Grand Prize worth over $500.00!
• There are Hint Forums where you can look for help if you're having trouble solving the clues and can't find the hidden icon.

So what are you waiting for?  Let the hunt begin!

Real Mom Talk: Oh the Ooze!

The moment your child emerges from the womb is amazing. It's a rush of emotion, excitement and fluids. As you bask in the glow of the moment, it's easy to forget what's happening below.

Thankfully medical professionals assist with the initial cleanup, but after those early hours, it becomes a relentless task that only a sleep deprived, mother of a newborn can care for.

Very few women truly understand what postpartum bleeding is like until after they've had their first child. Which leaves many first time mothers unprepared, both emotionally and with inadequate supplies.

Most resources state that average postpartum bleeding lasts about six weeks. It's easy to forget that this is an average, rather than a magic predictor of when it will stop. Since it's an average, it means some women will bleed for a few weeks, while others will exceed the average and bleed for 2 months or more. It's really frustrating when six weeks pass and you are still changing pads day after day.

Another surprise that few moms talk about is how irregular the flow can be. After a few weeks, it can begin to lighten, leaving you with hope that you might be one of the lucky ones to beat the average. Life feels good, you begin to feel like a real person again and WHAM! It comes back with a vengeance. With all the sleep deprivation and focus on your new baby, it's difficult to remember that the flow is affected by how your uterus is shrinking, which is not necessarily consistent or even. Breastfeeding, hormones and other things can affect the rate at which your uterus returns to normal. This means your bleeding can vary from light to heavy multiple times before it completely stops.

We fill our bag for the hospital with items to use during labor and cute outfits for baby, but we often forget to care for ourselves in those early days. A few of our favorite items for in the hospital and the first few days after birth are part of the Mom's First Day kit from Smart Choices.

Some tips from Cotton Babies staff:

• Avoid wearing ruining your favorite pair of undies or having to wear ugly granny panties in the hospital with single-use waterproof panties.
• If the super pads aren't doing the job, our Flip Disposable Inserts work well inside the waterproof panties.
• Sometimes labor doesn't go exactly as planned, so we recommend the fem'e Pad, a cooling pad that can be used to relieve pain from tears, episiotomies, hemorrhoids or other irritations.
• We also recommend the Sitz Bath from Motherlove and the cooling New Mama Bottom Spray from Earth Mama Angel Baby.
• For those mamas who've had a c-section, we recommend the C-Mama Healing Salve from Earth Mama Angel Baby as your scar heals.

For moms who've already experienced childbirth, what was the biggest surprise to you about postpartum bleeding or pain? What was one thing you wished you'd packed in your hospital bag for yourself for after birth?

Stay tuned for more Real Mom Talk about the early days after childbirth later this week.

Buy 5, Get 1 Free - bumGenius 4.0s!

BUY 5 bumGenius 4.0 One-Size Cloth Diapers, GET 1 FREE!

Thinking of giving cloth diapering a try or need to build your stash? The #1 selling cloth diaper brand in North America, bumGenius, rarely goes on sale. This is one deal you don't want to miss!

SPECIAL OFFERS
We also have a great deal on our Flip Hybrid Diapering System, exclusive to Cotton Babies. Now when you purchase Flip Day Packs, you get a free package of Flip Disposable Inserts!

DID YOU KNOW?
Qualifying bumGenius, Flip and Econobum purchases are backed by a 30 day satisfaction guarantee only when you buy from Cotton Babies.

CLEARANCE DEALS:
We have some white 3.0s that are on clearance ($12). Econobum seconds (cover only: $4.95) are also still available. Flip seconds (cover only: $9.95).

Have fun shopping the sale!

Kindest regards,


Jennifer Labit, Owner
Cotton Babies Inc.
http://www.cottonbabies.com

Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat Recall

Cotton Babies is dedicated to the safety and well being of you and your baby. We have been notified by Britax of a voluntary recall of the Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat. These car seats were sold on CottonBabies.com and in our St. Louis retail store. We are currently working to notify all customers who purchased the Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat from our website.

According to Britax, the potential problem is:

The Chest Clip supplied with the Chaperone Infant Car Seat was incorrectly produced by the manufacturer which resulted in a more brittle chest clip than was intended. As a result, the chest clip which positions the harness straps across the infant’s shoulders may break when the chest clip is engaged as the infant is secured into the infant car seat. The sharp edges of the broken chest clip create a risk of a skin laceration and the fractured components of the chest clip may present a small parts/choking hazard. If the chest clip breaks, the broken chest clip should be removed from the harness along with any fragments. The Chaperone Infant Car Seat can continue to be used until the replacement chest clip is installed.

The recall includes all Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seats manufactured between April 2009 and May 2010 for model numbers E9L69N9, E9L69P2, E9L69P3 and EL969P5.

To check your Chaperone Infant Car Seat to see if it is affected:

1. Remove Chaperone Infant Car Seat from base.
2. Turn Infant Car Seat over and locate the white sticker on underside of Car Seat
3. Look for model numbers: E9L69N9, E9L69P2, E9L69P3, E9L69P5;
4. Look for Manufactured dates between April 2009 through May 2010.

If you registered your car seat with Britax, you will be sent a remedy kit to the address you registered. The remedy kits from Britax will include replacement chest clips and detailed instructions on how to change out the chest clips on your seat.

If you have not registered your car seat with Britax, need to verify your registration or address, or have any questions about the safety of your Britax car seat, please contact the Britax Information line at 1-888-427-4289 or visit www.ChaperoneSeatRecall.com