This one time...I thought my nipples were going to fall OFF!

Breastfeeding, it's not supposed to be painful but is it?  Considering that most first time mom's aren't used to nursing a baby, practically around the clock, there certainly is a little room for error and some pain, although not "normal" is to be expected.

I'm an only child and my mother was a La Leche League Leader so when I got pregnant I was going to breastfeed, it just was what you do, for me at least.  My mom had some experience, some advice...She said you should sit in the bath, before you deliver, and use a wet washcloth to rough up your nipples. I laughed!

Sure, like that would really work! Ha Ha Ha!  Like I'm really going to sit in the bath and use a washcloth to do that!  An old wives tale I was sure.  Did I do it?  Absolutely not.  Who listens to their mother anyhow?

So baby came and I was nursing!  Yippee, see this was easy, piece of cake.  Until....maybe a few days or so into it.  I started to feel a burning pain when my daughter nursed, it turned into a searing pain, and then into an eye watering excruciating pain, a very bad I am now totally dreading breastfeeding my new baby pain.

I asked my mom in all seriousness "Is my nipple going to fall off?  Can it fall off?"  I was really worried.  It felt like someone was cutting it off with a razor blade every time my daughter nursed.

Turns out that having a baby gnawing and sucking at the breast takes a little getting used to, a lot of getting used to and there is a learning curve.  Sure, baby is getting milk and appears to be nursing just fine but is she latched on properly?  It's hard to know, especially since everyone's breasts and nipples are different.

We figured out that she wasn't latching on quite right, not enough of the areola was in her mouth.  Using my thumb to gently encourage her to open a little wider seemed to help.  It took a couple weeks for the latch to improve and the pain to go away.  I'll never know if I had used the washcloth method to rough up the nippples for a couple weeks before the birth if that would have helped but heck, hindsight is 20/20 and when I was in pain I seriously wished I had given it a try.

My advice is...

• Make sure you have a good nipple cream.  Lansinoh, Earth Mama Angel Baby, Coconut Oil...Something that will help relieve the pain and discomfort you might experience.
• Use cloth breast pads.
• Ask for help.  You may be modest but you just have to get over it.  If you're in pain past about day 10 you need to see a lactation consultant, doula or midwife who can take a look and make sure baby is properly latched on.
• Stay positive.  Once you've got the right latch and you've found your breastfeeding groove, it only takes a little while before you're poor nipples adjust.

Well I hope you're found my post a little helpful.  Don't forget, this too shall pass!

Here's a good couple of links if you need to check out latch-on techniques:
http://www.breastfeeding.com/helpme/helpme_images_latchon.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/latch-resources.html

Julie, Cloth Diaper Geek

Tuesday Giveaway: Flip Trainers!

We're just so excited about the new Flip Trainers, we can't contain ourselves. We thought it would be fun to pass the time before they arrive at the Cotton Babies warehouse (we expect them in late November or early December) with a little giveaway fun!

To enter today's blog giveaway for your chance to win one of our prize packs, share the best (or worst) tips you have for potty training. Not training someone yet? Share your best diaper changing tip. Let's share what we've learned along the way and help other parents out.

Three winners will be selected at random from all eligible comments to receive a Flip Potty Trainer Pack in the color of their choice from Cotton Babies. Prize will be shipped once the Flip Trainers arrive and begin shipping from Cotton Babies.

Eligible entries must be posted no later than midnight Central time, Wednesday, October 26, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be drawn at random on Thursday, October 27, 2011 and notified via e-mail. (Please make sure Cotton Babies staff can see your e-mail in your comment or through your Blogger profile page.)

Cloth 101: Wet Towel Trick

Sometimes finding a good laundry routine for a front loading or high efficiency machine can be a little tricky. Today, we'd like to share with you a couple of our tips specifically for this type of washing machine.

• First, a full load of cloth diapers is 12 - 15 cloth diapers or covers and inserts. Putting more than this in a load can keep your diapers from getting as clean as they need to be. Your diapers need room to move around freely to get as clean as possible.
• We recommend washing every other day, regardless of what type of machine you have. This prevents bacteria growth and stink issues.
• If your little one is eating solid foods or drinking liquids other than water, formula or breast milk, we recommend rinsing your diapers before you put them in your wet bag or pail. This will also help to prevent staining and stink issues.
• If you are still having issues getting your diapers clean and you have a front loading machine, we suggest our "Wet Towel Trick". To 'trick' a high efficiency machine into adding more water to your laundry cycles, try adding a saturated towel (or two if they are small) to the beginning of your wash routine. Let the towel go through all the wash cycles (hot, cold and rinses) to make sure the machine adds the most water possible to every cycle.

Tuesday Giveaway: New bumGenius Colors!

To celebrate the new bumGenius colors that are beginning to leave our warehouse in the bumGenius 4.0 cloth diapers, today we are hosting a giveaway where you can win one of these great new colors!

The new colors are Mirror (turquoise), Dazzle (orchid purple) and Sassy (deep tangerine).

To enter today's blog giveaway for your chance to win one of our prize packs, share with your online friends about which of the new bumGenius colors you like best (Mirror, Dazzle or Sassy) and report back here telling us how you shared! Three winners will be selected at random from all eligible comments to receive a bumGenius 4.0 cloth diaper in the color of their choice from Cotton Babies.

Eligible entries must be posted no later than midnight Central time, Wednesday, October 19, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be drawn at random on Thursday, October 20, 2011 and notified via e-mail. (Please make sure Cotton Babies staff can see your e-mail in your comment or through your Blogger profile page.)

New Product: Charlie's Soap Hardwater Treatment & Laundry Booster!

Did you know that we carry Charlie's Soap Laundry Treatment and Hardwater Booster?  Did you even know that there was such a product?  Well we do, and there is!

What exactly is it and how can you tell if you need it or not?

Charlie's Soap Laundry Booster & Hard Water Treatment uses a biodegradable phosphate that leaves no residue on your clothes while softening your wash water. 

Certain phosphates can safely eliminate these problems and be environmentally friendly. They're only a problem with overuse.

If hard water is an issue, why not use an environmentally-safe product from Charlie's rather than take a chance with other detergents that put bad things into the environment?

The advantage of using Charlie's Soap with our new Laundry Booster & Hard Water Treatment is that you get the benefit of really clean clothes without a lot of chemicals left behind.

The Charlie's Laundry booster and hard water treatment works hand in hand with our Powder or Liquid to give you the best of both worlds. 

How to use it?

Simply add a 1/2 tablespoon per large load with your Charlies Soap detergent!  Your laundry will be whiter, brighter, softer and you can rest assured that they'll be clean, even if you have hard water issues.

MSRP, Just $18.99 for enough to treat 80+ large loads

Cloth 101: Why do I have to wash brights 6 times?

If you purchased a new bumGenius cloth diaper or Flip cover in Clementine, Moonbeam, Ribbit, Zinnia or the new Dazzle and Sassy colors, you may have noticed a small sticker on your diaper that states:

"IMPORTANT: Prewash dark color diapers 6 times separately before washing with any other products."

This means is that for these brighter, bolder colors, we recommend washing them with like colors for the first 6 washes to avoid any transfer of dye to other lighter colors. These do not have to be 6 consecutive washes before your first use.

We like to use the analogy of a brand new, brightly colored bath towel or pair of dark wash jeans. Much like these products, we suggest washing them separately or with like colors to avoid any possible color transfer.

If you have bumGenius 4.0 cloth diapers or Flip diaper covers, your diapers are fully prepped and ready to use after the first wash. We recommend washing them with like colors until they have been washed at least 6 times.

For bumGenius Elemental cloth diapers, you will need to wash your new diapers 5-7 times before they are fully prepped. Items with natural fibers contain natural oils that need to be removed before they will be fully absorbent. More details on how to prep your natural fiber diapers can be found in our Cloth 101: How to Prep Your Cloth Diapers post.

This Just In: New "Hoot" Print from Thirsties!

New at Cotton Babies this week! Whooo do you know that loves owls? Many customers have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this fun new print from our friends at Thirsties.

Easy to use and easy on the wallet, Thirsties Duo Wraps have an adjustable rise the allows a great fit twice as long. Two sizes will last from birth to potty training!

Completely waterproof yet breathable, pliable and comfortable for even the most delicate skin. Thirsties Duo Wraps' leg gussets provide advanced leak protection and the bindings are soft against baby's skin. Want to have fewer covers in your stash? The inside of Thirsties Duo Wraps can be wiped clean between uses.

Pick up "Hoot" in Thirsties Duo Wraps in both snap and hook & loop closures and also in the Duo Diaper.

Similar in feel and fit as the best selling Duo Wrap, Thirsties Duo Diapers are completely waterproof yet remain breathable, pliable and very comfortable for your baby’s delicate skin. The ultra-soft microfleece liner on the inside protects baby’s skin from wetness and also resists staining. The handy sleeve design features openings on both sides of the diaper between the microfleece and waterproof layer. The duo openings featured in Thirsties® Duo Diaper enable easy insert stuffing from either side of the diaper and also make for easy cleaning. There is no need to remove the soiled inserts when washing -- your hands will remain clean! Simply toss your soiled Thirsties Duo Diaper in the laundry and the inserts will agitate free from the diaper in the washing machine.

For other great new products added to the Cotton Babies catalog, be sure to check out our What's New category.

bumGenius and Change 3 Things Giveaway!

Happy Tuesday! To celebrate our bumGenius Buy 5, Get 1 FREE sale, we're giving away some of our favorite bumGenius items today!

We love hearing about how you spread the news of cloth diapering with other families, especially when you are sharing the vision behind our Change 3 Things campaign! Each prize pack for today's giveaway will include a bumGenius 4.0 cloth diaper, a Change 3 Things t-shirt and a bumGenius 4.0 cloth diaper in Bubble, Sweet or Artist Series to share with a friend interested in cloth diapering!

To enter today's blog giveaway for your chance to win one of our prize packs, share with your friends about Change 3 Things and report back here telling us how you shared! Three winners will be selected at random from all eligible comments to receive a prize pack from Cotton Babies.

Eligible entries must be posted no later than midnight Central time, Wednesday, October 12, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be drawn at random on Thursday, October 13, 2011 and notified via e-mail. (Please make sure Cotton Babies staff can see your e-mail in your comment or through your Blogger profile page.)

How UnderCover Mama Saved My Baby from Chickenpox!

A few weeks ago I noticed 2 itchy spots on my belly and back. I thought it was mosquito bites but had no idea how they got to my belly! Someone suggested it was poison ivy but again, almost impossible. A couple days later it turned into a blistery rash. As we were going out of town the next day, I decided to go to Patient First being that it was quite uncomfortable and I wanted to make sure it wasn't contagious.

The Doctor at Patient First took one look at it and announced, "That is definitely Shingles."  Shingles?! I thought that's for old people! She said that she's seen a few young people with it lately. So am I contagious? Only if someone comes into direct contact with the lesions. But I am nursing a baby! She said my baby was likely already exposed so there's nothing I can do about it anyway. Someone can contract chickenpox from shingles, but they wouldn't contract shingles. But my 8 mo old nursling has not had the chickenpox or the vaccine, and he's the only one who has been in direct contact with my belly!

Her only advice was to keep it covered, wash my hands, and take an antiviral. I was taken off work for a week as I'm a midwife and don't want to expose my patients - just in case. I called my pediatrician who wasn't concerned. It's not dangerous for a baby at 8 months to get chicken pox.

So we went on our trip as planned. And my baby never got the chicken pox!

I attribute it to my Undercover Mama! I LOVE the Undercover Mama and wear one all the time! It is great because it just hooks to your regular nursing bra and is much cheaper than a nursing tank. I like that it keeps my belly covered while I'm nursing as I wear a lot of T-shirts. I also wear it to sleep because nursing in bed makes for a cold tummy! I think because my Undercover Mama kept my belly covered all the time, my baby was never exposed to the shingles lesion.

Another great benefit of the Undercover Mama!

Cloth Diapering Boys vs. Girls, How do they compare?

Guest Post by Bert

You wouldn’t think that there would be that much difference between girls and boys when it comes to cloth diapering. Incorrect. I have learned over the past few weeks that stuffing a nighttime pocket diaper for Lady Bug is completely different than what I had been doing the last two and a half years for Buggie.

You see when little boys pee it fills the front of the diaper. Not rocket science, I know, but I promise you this never occurred to me! That’s the main reason I’m writing this…because I’m thinking that maybe you didn’t realize this either. Anyways, when little girls pee it fills the back of the diaper. And that, my friends, affects how you stuff your pocket diaper if you are using a newborn/doubler sized insert.

With Buggie we stuffed the diaper with the doubler insert in the front. Worked brilliantly with him and as he aged and his bladder grew we simply added more layers. Okay it was only a hemp (I LOVE hemp for a nighttime diaper by the way. It’s not bulky but it holds a lot of urine.) layer but it did the trick for us. So our diaper for Buggie looked like this:

Trust me that did not work for Lady Bug. We’ve had leaky night diapers for about a week and a half. Ben and I could not figure out why this kept happening. We were about ready to contact the diaper manufacturer and ask if other parents had this problem. That’s when it dawned on me. Was the extra insert even getting wet? So I grabbed her sopping wet diaper and pulled out the inserts. Sure enough the back of the diaper was soaked and the front part where the doubler insert was placed was practically dry. No wonder I’ve been changing crib sheets and mattress pads every day this week! It wasn’t the diaper’s fault. It was me! And let me tell you what a relief that was.

For Lady Bug the doubler needs to be placed towards the back of her diaper for optimum pee absorption. Her nighttime diapers need to look like this:

Noticed how the doubler is not in the front? That’s the key my fluffy fanatic mamas! I also will be using a hemp doubler on top of a regular insert. That diaper will look like this:

And as she grows and her bladder grows her nighttime diaper will probably be the same as Buggie’s was. It’ll look like this but with the doubler in the back:

Happy absorbent diapering my friends! I hope this spares you of many late night sheet changes. Don’t worry; I was happy to be the village idiot on this one!

Elizabeth (aka Bert) Anderson married her college sweetheart in 2005, and started her journey into motherhood in 2008 with the birth of her son.  She started blogging in 2009 as a way to keep track of her thoughts on being a first time mom, especially her struggle with postpartum depression, and as a way of reaching out to other moms who are struggling with the same things.  This June, Bert had another first in her motherhood travels - a little girl!  Even though she's newly a mother of two, Bert maintains that no matter how many children you have you will always be a "first time mom" because there's a first time for everything!  Visit her blog, at FTM. Bert is a contributor for She Thinks Media.

This Just In: Bee All Natural skin care products

New at Cotton Babies: Bee All Natural skin care products. Bee All Natural was founded in 2009 when Rachel Nonis couldn't find the quality skincare products she was searching for. Tired of buying "natural" products that were petroleum based and filled with perfumes, she set-out to develop skincare products that would be safe for every member of the family.

Rachel, daughter of an organic dairy farmer, already believed in the connection between diet and health. She wanted the products she chose for her family's skincare to reflect the same quality and goodness as those that she chose for their nutrition.

The ingredients in Bee All Natural products are certified organic and are all "food grade" quality. Each product is made from scratch and never use pre-made bases. Packaging each batch herself, Rachel even designs and prints her own labels and carries each order to the post office or retail location. We are pleased to bring these fine products to our Cotton Babies stores and warehouse.

Bee All Natural Organic Baby Powder is talc and fragrance free. The Baby Body Butter has no preservatives, mineral oils, or petroleum. The avocado oil and shea butter in the body butter are extremely gentle and easily absorbed by skin. Baby Body Butter comes in both natural and lavender scents. The Intense Hand and Foot Salve is great for healing dry or cracked skin and has a great peppermint scent.

For other great new products at Cotton Babies, be sure to check out our "What's New" category.

Jenn's Thoughts: Cloth diapers are changing things.

Our team is settling back into the office after the excitement of the 2011 ABC Trade Show, one of the largest juvenile trade shows in the industry. This is the show where buyers from retailers worldwide go to see the latest and greatest product innovations. It's always exciting what new things are being brought to the table, we've hand selected some new fun products of all kinds and they will begin arriving at Cotton Babies over the next several months. We were personally thrilled to present the new bumGenius Freetime and Flip Training Pants to retailers as well as giving them a look at our new colors and the Genius Series prints!

The cloth diaper industry has continued to grow over the past several years because as many of you have discovered, cloth diapers are a solution for so many families for a variety of reasons. Jenn Labit has shared her thoughts on where the cloth diaper industry is headed in 2012 on her blog. Jenn's blog is an insightful look at her business, culture, life as a mother, and much more. If you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, please take a look at what she's been thinking about lately!

Last week, Jenn shared her thoughts on where the cloth diaper industry is headed in the coming year.

"The cloth diaper industry has a recent history of being a ‘kitchen table business’ with a strong focus on small, home based businesses and female bread winners. At first, it was fueled by entrepreneurs with a strong focus on waste elimination and reducing our dependence on petroleum. As the cloth diaper industry has grown over the past few years, it has become clear that the population buying reusables was widely varied to include:

• the family who can’t afford disposables

• the every day family living on a budget

• the fashionable mom who wants diapers to match her baby’s wardrobe

• the green family who wants to lower their overall environmental impact

• the family who wants only the best for their new baby."

Read more of this post at JenniferLabit.com

Earlier today, Jenn posted "People who make me smile... Judge Jimmy Edwards" in which she shares about a local St. Louis organization that Cotton Babies will be working with in the future to educate young parents about the benefits of cloth diapering. Read more about Judge Edwards and the beginning stages of this project here .

Genius Gear Giveaway!

For today's Tuesday giveaway, we are continuing the fun from our announcements last week. For those who have been around the cloth diapering industry for a while, you may already know that the All Baby and Child Expo will begin later this week. ABC Kids Expo is a trade show for the juvenile products industry and Cotton Babies is proud to be a part of it. Not only do we demonstrate our bumGenius, Flip and Econobum products to retailers, but our Cotton Babies buyer travels the expo hall to find great new products to bring to you, both online and in our retail stores.

Each year, when we show photos from the show, our customers ask for the gear that our team wears to coordinate with our show theme. This year, we've invited you to participate from home even before the show starts. Be sure to check out our "I'm a genius" cold cups, travel mugs and t-shirts.

This week's winners will each receive a free I'm a Genius t-shirt and their choice of a cold cup or travel mug. To enter, leave a comment below telling us what is the most genius thing you've ever done. We've all had at least one great moment in life, so share with us what you are proud of and what makes you a genius.

Eligible entries must be posted no later than midnight Central time, Wednesday, September 21, 2011. One entry per household, please. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be drawn at random following close of contest and notified via e-mail. (Please make sure Cotton Babies staff can see your e-mail in your comment or through your Blogger profile page. Note: there may be some delay in winner notification and shipping as several of the Cotton Babies team will be at the show.)

Vinegar, The perfect green cleaning solution!

Guest Post by Liz

I love vinegar and it’s not only the yummy salt and vinegar chip kind either.  (Mmmm and cue mouth watering now.)  I love cleaning with vinegar.  Let me tell you, if you haven’t started using vinegar as a cleaning agent in your house you’ll soon want to.

It all started when Buggie began crawling on our laminate kitchen floors.  He was already into eating solids so our kitchen floor was an absolute sticky mess 90% of the time.  I needed to clean it on a weekly basis but the more I thought about it the more anxious I felt about him crawling on the floor that I had just cleaned with store bought solution that was not natural.  Then the thought of him using his hands to put everything that was in sight into his mouth made me do a quick search on the ‘net for natural (and cheap!) cleaning products.  I happened upon vinegar but a lot of my mommy friends had already been raving about it for months before I too became a convert.

Here are the ways I use vinegar to clean in my house:

• Floor washing solution – I’ve already mentioned this but I use it to wash my floors.  I simply mix 1 part warm water and 1 part white distilled vinegar into a large spray bottle.  Then I simply spray it on the floor and wipe it up with a reusable Swiffer pad and my Swiffer.
• Cleaning my dishwasher – I don’t know if this has happened to you or not but sometimes after I’ve run my dishwasher there’s this nasty white chalky film on my dishes.  It’s disgusting.  Bleh!  Even thinking about it makes me want to wash my hands.  Well, apparently it’s a calcium build up or something like that (really it doesn’t matter THAT much what it is – it’s gross) and guess what can get rid of it?  White distilled vinegar!  That’s right.  Simply fill a bowl full of white distilled vinegar and place it upright into the dishwasher.  Then run your dishwasher for a full cycle.  You can do this monthly to help clean your dishwasher of soap buildup and calcium deposits. This can be done with either an empty machine or full of the filmy dishes.
• Cleaning my garbage disposal – They get yucky with all that stuff we shove down them.  So…I simply pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain and then I add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to that.  It makes this lovely bubbling sound.  I like to imagine the guck and grime fizzing off. Let it sit for five minutes and then rinse it down with hot water.
• Cleaning toys – It’s a safe and non-toxic way to clean toys.  Fill the sink with soapy water and add the white distilled vinegar to it.  Soak, rinse and that’s it!
• Cleaning my beloved coffee maker – The instructions in the manual say to do it!  Duh!
• Cleaning mirrors, windows and any other kind of glass – I don’t know why but my vinegar solution consisting of water and vinegar is an awesome glass cleaner!  No waxy streaks left behind.
• Cleaning my stove – I have a smooth top electric range and my little spray bottle does a great job making it sparkling clean!
• Cleaning the counters in my kitchen – We eat off of them…enough said there.
• Cleaning the funk out of my diapers – Because of its acidity vinegar is a great neutralizing odor eliminator for cloth diapers.  I use it in my cold rinse cycle.
• Cleaning the microwave and refrigerator – Again, if you eat stuff that touches it why would you not use something natural to clean it?

I hope this sparks the inner June Cleaver in you and you become a vinegar cleaning fool!  Do you use vinegar when you clean?  If so, what are your uses for it?

Elizabeth (aka Bert) Anderson married her college sweetheart in 2005, and started her journey into motherhood in 2008 with the birth of her son.  She started blogging in 2009 as a way to keep track of her thoughts on being a first time mom, especially her struggle with postpartum depression, and as a way of reaching out to other moms who are struggling with the same things.  This July, Bert had another first in her motherhood travels - a little girl!  Even though she's newly a mother of two, Bert maintains that no matter how many children you have you will always be a "first time mom" because there's a first time for everything!  Visit her blog, at FTM. Bert is a contributor for She Thinks Media.

Cloth 201: Diet changes can mean laundry changes

As your child grows and their diet changes, their output changes as well. For a cloth diapering parent, this sometimes means that you have to adjust your laundry routine as well.

We often hear from parents that are confused because their laundry routine that has worked well for many months suddenly is not working, and they are battling with issues like stains or smell.

If your little one has recently started trying new, solid foods after being exclusively breastfed or formula fed, the diet change could be the cause. You may need to adjust your laundry routine using one or more of the following troubleshooting tips:

• Rinse your diapers well right after use, before placing in your pail or wet bag.
• Instead of using a pre-wash cycle at the beginning of your washing routine, use a full cold wash with detergent to eliminate all the yuck before the hot wash cycle also with detergent.
• Add bumGenius Odor Remover to your routine. For best results, spray bumGenius Odor Remover after rinsing your dirty or overnight cloth diapers before placing in your pail or wet bag. bumGenius Odor Remover quickly eliminates the source of odor-causing bacteria in cloth diapers.

New Product Coming Soon: BumGenius FreeTime Cloth Diaper!

BumGenius, one of the most innovative cloth diaper manufacturers is a leader in the industry.  Constantly innovating and reinventing, they aim to please!  Now they're releasing a new product, the BumGenius FreeTime Cloth Diaper!

• One step cloth diaper - no stuffing!
• Semi-attached inserts dry faster.
• 3×3 snap down design* adjusts the sizing to fit small, medium and large sizes (approximately 8-35+ pounds).
• Trim, snug and comfortable stretchy tabs* provide a custom fit.Available in both snap and hook & loop closure.

Best of all, it takes less time to diaper a baby... we don't think you should have to give up any time in your day.

That's why Freetime has all the features of an all-in-one diaper, with a carefully designed interior that makes one-size diapering simple and fast.

MSRP: $19.95

New Product Giveaway!

To celebrate the launch of our new bumGenius Freetime and Flip Training Pants, as well as our new colors and Genius Series prints, we're hosting a giveaway!

It's easy to enter this contest. Just share about your favorite new product, print or color with your friends through your favorite online social media venue. If you share as a tweet or status, feel free to tag @CottonBabies, @bumGenius or @FlipDiapers. Then come back here and leave a comment telling us what you said and where you said it! One entry per household, please.

Each randomly chosen winner will receive their choice of a free bumGenius Freetime or a Flip Potty Trainer Introductory Pack. These products will begin shipping in late November and December. (Please note: prizes will not be shipped immediately, they will ship when these new products arrive at our warehouse.)

Did you miss the announcement? Here's our video with more details:

Eligible entries must be posted no later than midnight Central time, Thursday, September 15, 2011. One entry per household, please. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be drawn at random on Friday, September 16, 2011 and notified via e-mail. (Please make sure Cotton Babies staff can see your e-mail in your comment or through your Blogger profile page.)

Announcing the NEW bumGenius Freetime!

Maximize your freetime with the NEW, all-in-one, one-size cloth diaper from bumGenius. Two semi-attached stay dry inserts inside allow for adjustable absorbency. Diaper your baby in one easy step!

Features:

• 3×3 snap down design* adjusts the sizing to fit small, medium and large sizes (approximately 8-35+ pounds).
• Trim, snug and comfortable stretchy tabs* provide a custom fit.
• One step cloth diaper - no stuffing!
• Two rows of snaps ensure a trim, bumGenius fit every time!
• Gentle leg elastic contains the mess!
• Semi-attached inserts dry faster and allow for customized absorbency where your child needs it most.

Cloth diapering made even easier!

bumGenius Freetime All-In-One One-Size Cloth Diapers feature our patent pending butterfly closure system to provide a comfortable, trim fit. This simple design makes cloth diapering as easy as using disposables. Our "no-stuff" system with semi-attached inserts is an ideal solution for families with a child in day-care or family members resistant to cloth diapers! Using the snaps on the front of the diaper, adjust the size if needed, put the diaper on your baby, wash, dry and re-use. No extra steps. No stuffing. No cover required. Our one-size diapers are designed to fit most babies weighing between 8 and 35 pounds.

The soft, waterproof outer fabric keeps the diaper trim on your newborn and toddler. Soft, sueded inner fabric gently wicks moisture away from your baby's skin. Super stretchy, gentle leg and back elastic with rolled out casings keeps the yuk in and help to keep red marks away.

Care Instructions are the same as the bumGenius 4.0 cloth diapers you know and love:

• Fasten hook tabs to laundry tabs on slot cover.
• Pre-wash cold. Wash hot (100F/40C) with bumGenius detergent.
• Extra rinse. Line Dry.
• No laundry additives. No fabric softeners.
• Use 1/4 cup or 60 mL bleach in the hot wash once per month.

You can pre-order your bumGenius Freetime cloth diapers for $19.95 each. Quantity discounts are available. bumGenius Freetime cloth diapers will begin shipping in December 2011.

Flip Training Pants and New BumGenius Prints are coming soon!

Have you heard about the new Flip Training Pants?  They are adorable, they look super functional, highly adjustable and comfortable too.  Cottonbabies also announced they'll be coming out with some new BumGenius prints as well!

Watch the Youtube Video below for a sneak peek at the new trainers and a glimpse of the new prints!

Announcing NEW Flip Training Pants!

Flip Training Pants are training pants done right. Our one-size waterproof shell with replaceable organic cotton pads let your little one learn by feeling wetness. Now your child can pull them up and down when it's time to go, or you can unsnap the side, making messy changes less messy.
Flip Potty Trainers are a unique pull-up, pull-down, snap-off, one-size potty training system made with replaceable one-size pads. The outer shell is made of PUL and has detachable tabs made of the same stretchy material we use for the tabs on all Flip and bumGenius products. The tabs attach with snaps. The replaceable one-size soakers are made of six layers of organic cotton jersey (the same fabric used to make Flip organic cotton inserts). The soakers attach to the shell using ultra-soft loop fabric.

Each introductory Flip Potty Training Pack includes a one-size cover, your choice of color,
and five one-size organic inserts for just $24.95! That's 5 changes for less than $25!

Flip Features:

• A waterproof shell, so no extra cover is needed.
• Wipe the inside of the cover out and use it over and over again!
• Form fitting elastic to prevent leaks.
• Stay put, feel wet pad for easier learning.
• Disposable inserts are also available for use while traveling.
• Patent pending 3 x 3 adjustable snap system to fit most 18 months - 4T (approximately 20 -50 lbs.)
•Colorful interchangeable tabs allow for almost 200 potential looks.

The replaceable, removable Flip™ inner pad made with ultra-absorbent organic cotton allows wet accidents to be changed without a whole new trainer, this feature is unique to Flip Trainers and translates into significant savings.

We recommend using a Flip disposable insert with the Flip organic cotton potty training pad for overnight. Disposable inserts sold separately. Pre-order your Flip Training Pants, they begin shipping in November/December 2011.

Is your baby a lazy pooper?

Guest post by Liz

There are definitely things I thought I would have to do once I had a baby such as: Getting up in the middle of the night multiple times. Doing anything to make the baby happy - singing, bouncing, rocking...Those were the many things I anticipated. I didn't, however, anticipate having to help my baby poop nor did I ever guess that it would become a habit for him. Now, my son is a pooping machine, however that wasn’t the case when he was a baby. The things we do for a kids, right?

Two years ago, my boy went five days (count 'em...FIVE DAYS) without pooping. Now this wouldn’t be of any concern if he hadn’t started solids and was still exclusively breastfed. He wasn't in pain and his stomach wasn't hard. I called my friend, who is a pediatric nurse practioner, for advice on what to do. I tried a myriad of the tricks - juice, movement, massaging his stomach. I was willing to try anything but what would really end up working - The thermometer or worse (da da DA!!!) my finger.

Finally it got down to the wire and I got desperate. So I put on a pair of gloves, Vaselined my pinky up and in it went. Like a little gopher finally escaping its underground home, out it came. I held Buggie's legs up to his chest so he would have a better pushing advantage. Out it all came, gobs and gobs of it. Yuck.

They say that mother's don't mind the smell of their own child's poo. I would have to agree with that. I didn't even notice the smell. I did notice how disgusting the whole event was. When my hubby and I decided we'd get pregnant in2008, I didn't think helping my child go #2 would be one of my caretaking activities.

After that first time, it seemed that Buggie only pooed when I was changing him or taking his temp. He'd be sitting in his Baby Einstein's jumper, grabbing onto the bars, face red and grunting. I would look at him and chuckle thinking, "Finally he's going to do it", only to find that nope, that wasn't the case. This happen many times and then I had an epiphany.

He was lazy. Now don't get me wrong, Buggie was not a lazy baby in other areas of his life. He's always on the go, very social and seemed to press ahead in his development. Except that is when it comes to pushing out his bowels. Yeah, it was not pretty and you bet I'm going to tell him about this later on his life. Perhaps there's a part of him that enjoyed the time spent on his changing table with me. It's a very comfy changing pad, he had a brightly painted fish mobile hanging above him and I'm there talking to him holding his legs up. Who wouldn't want a little help with that?

We talked to Buggie's pediatrician about it at his six month appointment. He agreed with our assessment. Buggie was a lazy pooper. So we were instructed to just let him be. Five days with no pooping? No worries. I mean let's be honest here; I can't go to pre-school or kindergarten holding his legs up in the air so he can relieve himself.

Ah, the joys of parenting.

Elizabeth (aka Bert) Anderson married her college sweetheart in 2005, and started her journey into motherhood in 2008 with the birth of her son.  She started blogging in 2009 as a way to keep track of her thoughts on being a first time mom, especially her struggle with postpartum depression, and as a way of reaching out to other moms who are struggling with the same things.  This July, Bert had another first in her motherhood travels - a little girl!  Even though she's newly a mother of two, Bert maintains that no matter how many children you have you will always be a "first time mom" because there's a first time for everything!  Visit her blog, at FTM.  Bert is a contributor for She Thinks Media.

Tuesday Giveaway: Flip Travel Pack for Labor Day!

Labor Day is next Monday which marks the end of summer for many. For one last summer hurrah, today's giveaway will be our favorite Flip Travel Pack. Each Flip Travel Pack includes 2 Flip diaper covers and a pack of 18 Flip disposable inserts.



One of the reasons we love the Flip Travel pack is because it gives mom and dad a vacation from laundry, if only for a day or two! Each prize pack for today's giveaway will include a Flip Travel pack and a pair of bumGenius Baby Legs to complete the ensemble.

To enter today's blog giveaway for your chance to win one of our prize packs, leave a comment on this blog post and tell us your must have product for traveling with a baby or toddler. No baby yet? Tell us your must have product for a traveling expectant mama. Three winners will be selected at random from all eligible comments to receive a prize pack from Cotton Babies.

Eligible entries must be posted no later than midnight Central time, Wednesday, August 31, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be drawn at random on Thursday, September 1, 2011 and notified via e-mail. (Please make sure Cotton Babies staff can see your e-mail in your comment or through your Blogger profile page.)

Cloth 101: Rise setting for One-Size diapers and covers

At Cotton Babies, we believe that there are no dumb questions. Sometimes it is difficult for those who are new to cloth diapers to understand exactly how our bumGenius, Flip and Econobum cloth diapers and covers can fit a growing baby from birth through potty training.

Each of our one size cloth diapers have three rows of snaps, three snaps in each row. This 3×3 snap down design gives each diaper a small, medium and large size setting. We have some weight guidelines to help you know which size should fit your little one.

• To use the small rise setting, snap the rise snaps to the top of the three rows of snaps. This small size setting is used from approximately 8 to 16 pounds.
• To use the medium rise setting, snap the rise snaps to the middle of the three rows of snaps. This medium size setting is used from approximately 17 to 22 pounds.
• To use the large rise setting, unsnap the rise snaps to expose all three rows of snaps. This large size setting is used from approximately 23 to 40 pounds.

Sometimes there are signs that indicate that you need to adjust the rise. These can happen outside of the suggested weight guidelines.

If you are experiencing leaks, you may need to go down a rise setting. This sometimes happens once babies become mobile (i.e. learning to crawl or walk) and slim down a bit.

If you are adding several extra doublers to your pocket style diapers for nap time or overnight and are experiencing leaks only during these times, try going up a rise setting. Adding extra inserts to your pocket style diapers changes the fit of the diaper and sometimes the rise setting needs to be adjusted to allow for the extra bulk.

As your baby grows and changes, it is common to have to decrease your waist setting (especially for snaps) when you increase your rise setting to get a great fit.

The Cotton Babies customer service team is always glad to assist you in getting the right fit for your one-size cloth diapers on your little one. For a personalized fit troubleshooting session, please give us a call at 1-888-332-2243 or live chat with us at www.cottonbabies.com We'll ask a few questions about your baby to give you personalized suggestions for your cloth diapers.

Lollidoo Overnight Ecopocket to the rescue!

All moms suffer from lack of sleep and look forward to a time when their little one will sleep through the night without waking.  We dream about it, well actually moms who don't get good sleep don't actually get to dream, but we daydream about dreaming...lol

The heartbreak happens when the time comes, baby sleeps through the whole night, the problem?  Well the problem is that you cloth diapers can't make it through the whole night without wicking or leaking and there's nothing like a soaked cloth diaper, sheets and onesie to wake a sleeping babe!  I know, it's a sad thing, all you want to do is sleep and finally baby wants to sleep, but you need to find an overnight cloth diapering system that works!

That's where the Lollidoo Overnight Ecopocket comes in!  Fleece is a really awesome cloth diapering solution for heavy wetter and overnight and that's why Lollidoo has created a pocket diaper for overnight using it!  Fleece repels moisture which keeps the wetness inside the diaper, in the inserts where it belongs.

About Lollidoo:
Made in the USA with recycled and organic fibers, LolliDoo cloth diapers are available in a whole host of styles, beginning with our versatile eco-pocket pocket-style cloth diaper with recycled fleece outer and your choice of certified organic cotton skin liner or recycled StayDry skin liner. eco-pocket diapers are available in Classic or Overnight styles in an array of vibrant colors.

The Overnight Ecopocket comes with THREE absorbent innies/inserts.

Visit Earth Angels Diaper Company today and check out the Ecopocket by Lollidoo!  We promise, you won't regret it!

Have your reasons for cloth diapering changed?

Do you continue to use cloth diapers for the same reason you started?

Families cloth diaper their babies for all sorts of reasons.  In the past cloth diapers were the only option, then disposables became the preferred method, and now cloth diapers are making a comeback due to improved design, modern conveniences and the importance now placed on being green.

Depending on your influences, friends, family and online connections cloth diapering may not have even been on your radar.  Some look into it because they saw a cute cloth diapered baby on a website or magazine page, perhaps a celebrity used cloth or you've decided you want to save money.  Other's consider cloth because they care about the environmental impact and health risks involved in using disposable diapers.

So, we're curious...Do you continue to cloth diaper now for the same reasons as when you first started?  Did you start cloth diapering to save money but now you continue because you've become more eco-conscious?  Are you addicted to cloth diapers because of the cute factor and the online communities you may have become a part of?

What are your thoughts?

Tuesday Giveaway: I'm a bumGenius Baby!

Do you have a bumGenius baby? To celebrate bumGenius and the fantastic Buy 5, Get 1 FREE sale (hurry, offer ends August 31, 2011), we're giving away some of our favorite bumGenius items today!



We love hearing stories about how you share your love of bumGenius when out in public and people notice your baby sporting something other than a standard disposable diaper. Each prize pack for today's giveaway will include a bumGenius Threads short sleeve t-shirt, a coordinating bumGenius 4.0 cloth diaper and a pair of bumGenius Baby Legs to complete the ensemble!

To enter today's blog giveaway for your chance to win one of our prize packs, leave a comment on this blog post and tell us about a time you shared your love of cloth diapers with a friend, family member or even a stranger! Three winners will be selected at random from all eligible comments to receive a prize pack from Cotton Babies.

This contest is now closed. Randomly selected winners are Brooke G. of IN, Jenna G. of IL and Catherine of VA.

Eligible entries must be posted no later than midnight Central time, Wednesday, August 24, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be drawn at random on Thursday, August 25, 2011 and notified via e-mail. (Please make sure Cotton Babies staff can see your e-mail in your comment or through your Blogger profile page.)

Cotton Babies Britax Online Stroller Parade Winners!

Announcing the winners of our Britax / Cotton Babies Virtual Stroller Parade!

First place: Waiting for the stork

by Kelly E. in Ohio

(We are pleased to announce Baby O arrived

a few days after this photo was taken!)

Congrats, Kelly!

Second place: Batman

by Meghan S. in Iowa

Third place: Go Wild!

by Jodie N. in Illinois

Be sure to check out the entire Flickr group to see all the amazing entries in our stroller parade. Thanks to all who took time to decorate their photos, snap photos and share them online with us!

BumGenius, one of the world's most popular cloth diapers, is on SALE!

If you haven't tried BumGenius One Size pocket diapers then you haven't experienced just how easy cloth diapering can be!

Regularly $17.95each, throughout August you can take advantage of great savings and buy 5 get 1 FREE! 

Features:

• NEW! Durable snap closures if you prefer snaps over aplix, help keep diapers on older babies.
• NEW! Generous sizing accommodates larger babies.
• NEW! Easily replaceable elastic keeps your diapers fresh.
• 3x3 snap down design* adjusts the sizing to fit small, medium and large sizes (approximately 7-35+ pounds).
• Trim, snug and comfortable stretchy tabs* provide a custom fit.
• Waterproof insert stopper* prevents leaking at the tummy.
• Diapers are bundled with two inserts: a newborn insert for newborns and a one-size insert for your older baby.
• Wide slot opening makes it easy to stuff and remove insert.
• Slot cover* protects your baby from wetness.

All bumGenius One-Size Cloth Diapers include a small, lightweight insert for newborns and a larger one-size insert for your growing baby. When your baby outgrows the newborn insert, it works as an overnight booster or as extra absorbency for heavy wetters.

Benefits of Babywearing for moms and dads!

Babywearing has been practiced for centuries worldwide.  There huge emotional and physical bonds created through babywearing, and the practice of babywearing allows a parent or nurturer to provide for their own needs, the needs of their family, and more while caring for their baby at the same time.

Babywearing is great for daddies too!  Often dads are left wondering how they can help and bond with baby, especially when baby is breastfed.  Once baby is accustomed to being "worn" you'll find that since daddies who  may not have had an active role in feeding baby, if their breastfed, he can now create a close bond with the baby through babywearing.

Here are some other great benefits of babywearing:

• The closeness and secure feeling provided by babywearing and keeping your baby close is great for those fussy, hard to console babies who seem like they never want to be put down.
• Also perfect for babies or toddlers with special needs.
• Great for when your little one is sick and needs constant affection and attention. 
• Keeps them cozy and allows them to sleep while being worn.
• Perfect for breastfeeding.  You can often nurse while wearing your baby, depending on the wrap or carrier used.
• Ideal for when you have more than one baby, like twins, or when you have other children in the household that require your attention.
• Eliminates the need for those bulky baby carseats that you'd otherwise need to place in your shopping cart, stroller, etc.
• Many can be used through toddlerhood.
• Each provide a variety of styles and methods for use.  Different wrap styles, techniques, front carry, back carry, hip carry and more!

The list of benefits to babywearing is endless.  It creates and builds a bond with your child while allowing you the freedom and mobility you need to take care of any other day to day activities and family needs.

Earth Angels Diaper Company has a great selection of babywraps, carriers, slings and more!  Shop online or visit our store, Soft and Cozy Baby in Baltimore, MD.  Not sure which one is right for you?  At Soft and Cozy Baby can teach you the different techniques and help you choose the perfect baby carrier to suit your needs! 

Gifts for Twin Babies!

As a mom of twins, friends frequently ask me what are great baby shower gifts for moms expecting two bundles of joy. I took a recent stroll through the Cotton Babies warehouse to share a few of my favorite items and a few fun things I would have enjoyed as gifts for my twins.

One of my favorite baby gifts to give and to receive are aden + anais swaddling blankets. When shopping for twins, grab a 4 pack of coordinating blankets. With two for each baby, you'll always have one available to use, even when one is in the laundry.

I'm a big fan of coordinating twins rather than matching, probably due to the fact that my twins are identical. Coordinating outfits helped family members know which little one they were snuggling. Zutano has some really great separates in bright color solids and coordinating prints. Choose a solid color t-shirt and print pants for one child and reverse the style for the other. Zutano is also a great choice for boy/girl twins with adorable print dresses that coordinate with the pants. Reversible items are also great clothing gifts for twins, like this sweet reversible hoodie from BabySoy.

Anything packaged in pairs is fair game for twin gifting, especially when it arrives in clever packaging! MooMee has two great bib pairs you'll want to eat up. Choose from the veggie bib set that features peas and carrots or the fruit bib set with one lemon and one strawberry bib. Each set arrives in plastic baby food style jars, ready to give.

Don't forget mom when picking out twin gifts. Any new mom needs a little something special for those early newborn days. I love the Lifefactory bottles. As all expectant moms know, it's important to stay hydrated during pregnancy and the 22 ounce size makes it easy and stylish. The glass bottle doesn't alter the taste of your beverage either.

My final 'must have' item for a mom of twins is the Belly Bandit Bamboo. This belly wrap helps tighten and shrink your tummy after pregnancy. The bamboo version of this mom-favorite is great due to bamboo's inherently antimicrobial, moisture wicking properties. If you add this to your baby shower gift you'll quickly rise to be mom's new best friend.

For more great baby shower gift ideas for twins or a single baby, check out the Gift Ideas category of CottonBabies.com. What was your favorite baby shower gift that you received?

You use what kind of diapers??!!

One of the things I love most about cloth diapering (and working at a cloth diaper store) is getting to share my knowledge and passion with others. I love when a fellow mom expresses interest in learning more and gives cloth diapering a try. I get a thrill when a fellow mom notices my son's adorable diaper in the Nordstrom ladies lounge. What better way to spread the word?



That being said, I often run into those that are super skeptical of the whole cloth diaper concept. I hear questions like "You wash that in your washing machine?", "You have to rinse them out?", "You know disposables are so much easier, right??". I wish I knew the perfect way to respond but I am usually at a loss. I generally revert to smiling and conceding that cloth diapering might not be the best choice for everyone... I wish I could express to them how cloth diapering changed the way I look at consumerism, the environment, my budget, my baby's health and so much more!



Have you encountered many nay-sayers?? How do you respond?

Cloth Diapers 101: What detergent to choose?

What detergent to use with cloth diapers can be a hot topic with some and is a very personal decision based on many factors.

What works best for you may not work well for your friend who lives across town for a variety of reasons: how old your child is, what types of food they eat, whether you have hard or soft water, what type of washing machine you use and many more variables.

We often are asked what is the best detergent to use. Unfortunately, there is no one answer that suits everyone. To help you on your search to find the perfect laundry detergent for your cloth diapers, we'd like to introduce you to a great tool developed by the Real Diaper Industry Association. The Real Diaper Industry Association is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit advancing, networking and promoting the cloth diaper industry. Many cloth diaper manufacturers and retailers work together to try to provide the best information possible to help everyone be successful in their cloth diapering. That is why they provide the Detergent Determinator, a searchable database that lists a wide variety of laundry detergents with details about the type of ingredients they contain.

When you check the brand you are using, be sure to keep in mind that as manufacturer of bumGenius, Flip and Econobum cloth diapers, we suggest that you avoid the following ingredients:

• Optical brighteners - if the box mentions anything about making your colors brighter or your whites whiter, don't buy it. Optical brighteners remain in your clothing and are designed to "bend the light" so you see the colors brighter or whiter. They do nothing to extend the life of your clothing. Optical brighteners caused buildup.
• Enzymes - if the box talks about removing certain kinds of stains easily, don't buy it. Enzymes attack protein-based stains. Those same enzymes can react with your baby's skin and cause a mild rash.
• Perfumes/Fragrances - that mountain breeze is best left on the mountain where it came from. Really, perfumes and fragrances are oil based. Oils are left in fabrics when rinsed. Again, this can cause a diaper rash and buildup.
• Dyes - dyes can remain in your fabrics when rinsed, potentially causing diaper rash and buildup.

For best results, we recommend only using detergents that are free of all these ingredients. These will be noted by 5 green symbols on the RDIA Detergent Determinator chart. If you have further questions about your laundry routine, detergents or additives, give us a call at 1-888-332-2243, e-mail us at contactus@cottonbabies.com or live chat with us through the link on the bottom of the left hand column of www.cottonbabies.com

Cloth Diapers 201: What is a bumGenius Refresher Kit?

Did you know we offer bumGenius Refresher kits to help you get a little extra life out of your cloth diaper investment?

If you or someone you know has some basic sewing skills, for just $1 you can replace the elastic and hook & loop tabs for your beloved bumGenius cloth diapers.

Each bumGenius refresher kit includes three new pieces of elastic (back elastic and two legs), new tab closures and new laundry tabs. Each kit also includes instructions for sewing your diaper refresh kits into your bumGenius cloth diapers.

The tools you will need to provide to refresh your cloth diapers are needle, thread, scissors, seam ripper, a safety pin and an optional sewing machine. These can be replaced by hand sewing, although it is a bit more time consuming.

If you have further questions about our bumGenius refresher kits, give us a call at 1-888-332-2243 or live chat with us through the button at the bottom of the left hand column on www.cottonbabies.com

Recently Restocked: bumGenius Laundry Detergent

It's back! The detergent you love has arrived in our warehouse this week and orders will begin shipping in the order they are received. Over the last few weeks we've heard from so many who love the bumGenius laundry detergent and we thank you for your patience while this shipment made it's way to our warehouse.

Also recently restocked are 3 packs of Aden + Anais Bamboo Muslin Swaddles, a customer favorite and a great gift for a baby shower. Order one today, these items don't like to sit on our shelves very long!

Cloth trainers make sense and save cents over disposables!

Seems like common sense to me, if you want to potty train your little one and get them used to wearing underwear wouldn't you want them to be wearing training pants that look and feel as much like real underwear as possible?

Disposable trainers make no sense at all.  Just because of the faux underwear print do they think the child will understand that they're supposed to be "big kid" underwear?  No!  If your little one is used to disposable diapers then they're going to think disposable trainers are one and the same, after all they look about the same, feel about the same and they can see you getting them in the same plastic packaging from the store, just like baby diapers.

Luckily cloth diaper companies have come to your rescue and provide you with some cloth alternatives to disposable trainers.  Trainers that are made to look and feel like real underwear.

One of our favorite brands of cloth trainers is Little Beetle Learners!


Little Beetle Learners provide a wonderful way to welcome your little one into the world of potty learning! 

Pull on, snap off. What could be easier? 

Two layers of our favorite fair trade organic velour cotton, with a third layer tucked into the wet zone and hidden by some very sporty stitching! Our Learners are 100% natural fibers, that means no PUL or other waterproofing layer. (couple with a wool soaker short for heavy duty needs). Designed to catch an small accident or miss while headed to the potty, the fit is trim yet contemporary. Surprisingly enough, we find these to be almost as absorbent as our diapers and thus can serve double duty if you like (for use as a diaper, add a doubler and wool soaker short)  

Not only are cloth trainers much more comfortable for your little one, they save you a ton of money, they're better for the planet and they can be saved and used when your next child is of potty training age!

Britax B-Agile Stroller Parade Contest!

Only two days remain to get your entry in for our Cotton Babies Britax Virtual Stroller Parade. You may have seen the photos we've posted from our in-store stroller parade last weekend, so now is your chance to play along!

To participate in the Cotton Babies Virtual Stroller Parade, create your own stroller float, take some photos and submit up to 3 photos to our special Cotton Babies Stroller Parade Flickr album. You can use a Yahoo or Google account to log into Flickr or create a Flickr account for yourself, but no worries, it's free and just takes a few minutes to set up. You'll need to join our group to submit your photos. Only photos submitted to THIS Flickr group will be eligible for the prizes in each of the three categories. Please tag "Cotton Babies" in your photos as well. Make sure your photos are public so our judges can view your entry.

Once you've uploaded your photos to your account, visit our Cotton Babies Britax Virtual Stroller Parade group. Click "Add Photos" just below the group name. Select the photos you want to enter. Keep in mind, you can only upload 3 photos, so choose your favorites! Click "Add to Group" and you are entered!

First place for our online stroller parade will receive a bumGenius 4.0 3 pack and a new Britax B-Agile stroller. Second place will receive a Flip Stay Dry cloth diaper Day Pack. Third place will receive a $50 Cotton Babies gift card. There are no categories for our online stroller parade, but feel free to use the in-store categories as inspiration for your float.

Entries must be posted into the Flickr group no later than 11:59 p.m. PST Wednesday, August 3, 2011. Winners will be notified via Flickr messaging system or by e-mail no later than Wednesday, August 10, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.

Cloth 201: What is a Stay Dry Liner?

We are often asked to clarify the differences between these three cloth diaper accessories: diaper doublers, stay dry liners and stay dry doublers.

Diaper Doublers (AKA Newborn Insert):

These are the smaller insert that comes with your bumGenius 4.0 cloth diapers. This smaller insert is less absorbent than a standard bumGenius insert, but is ideal for newborns because it creates a trimmer fit for those early days. Once your little one needs the standard insert, these are great to add to your pockets for nap-time or overnight when extra absorbency is needed.

Keep in mind: these DO NOT have a stay dry side, so they are only recommended for use inside a pocket diaper, not directly touching baby's bottom.

Stay Dry Liners:

These are a thin fleece liner with no absorbency. These are great for wicking moisture away from your little one's bottom if you are using a natural fiber, like cotton prefolds or bumGenius Elementals. They are especially helpful to keep moisture away from tender skin during nap-times and overnights for those who love cotton or hemp inserts. These are also useful if you have to use a diaper cream to protect your cloth diapers, as mentioned in our previous post.

Keep in mind: these have NO absorbency. They are intended to go on top of an absorbent insert to wick moisture away from delicate baby skin.

Stay Dry Doublers:

These doublers are the best of the two previous products rolled into one. They are the same size as the diaper doubler/newborn insert. They have a stay dry layer on one side and have some microfiber for absorbency. These are another great option if you use cotton prefolds or Flip organic inserts for overnight.

Keep in mind: These doublers have fleece, they DO NOT work well inside a pocket style diaper. They are best used directly against baby's skin with another absorbent insert underneath in a cover.

Artist Series: We want to know what YOU think!

We have posted an album on the bumGenius Facebook page of the prints we are considering for the next round of the bumGenius Artist Series. These are all prints designed by artists, created independently and submitted to our Marketing department.

To help us better understand what our fans think, we've created a Question on our Wall so you can tell us! After answering that question, please click the "like" icon under the diapers that you would buy for sure! Thanks for your help!

bumGenius Buy 5, Get 1 FREE is BACK!

One of our customers' favorite sales is back for a limited time. From now through August 31, 2011* you can buy 5 bumGenius 4.0 cloth diapers in solid colors or Artist Series and get 1 of equal or lesser value FREE! To redeem this great offer, be sure to use this special sale page.

*Offer good from July 29, 2011 through August 31, 2011 or while supplies last.