Change 3 Things / Flip Diapers Giveaway

Last Friday, we hit a new milestone of 5,000 "Likes" on the Change 3 Things Facebook page. That means we now know for sure that every day we are changing at least 15,000 cloth diapers; which may be preventing waste equivalent to more than 8 babies wearing disposable diapers for a year! That's every single day! In three weeks' time, cumulatively, we may have prevented waste equivalent to more than 125 babies in disposable diapers for a year.

As parents, we know how frustrating it is to do those repetitive tasks like dishes, laundry, picking up toys, and changing diapers only to turn around and do it again a short time later. One of our favorite parts of the Change 3 Things challenge is you can take one of those repetitive tasks and turn it into an opportunity to create lasting impact that your two year old can’t undo in five minutes.

To celebrate, today we will be giving away prize packs that will each include a Flip diaper cover with Stay Dry Insert, a Change 3 Things t-shirt, a Change 3 Things silicone band and 25 Change 3 Things Share Cards.

To enter today's contest, visit the Change 3 Things Facebook page (if you haven't already), and leave a comment here on the blog telling us the main reason why you chose to cloth diaper - is it for the cost savings, environmental impact or another reason?

Eligible entries must be posted today, Tuesday, March 29, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. All winners will be drawn Wednesday, March 30, 2011 and notified via e-mail.

Cloth 101: Laundry Detergents

More than a year ago, Jenn wrote a great blog post called Good Detergent / Bad Detergent. We wanted to update that post with some current information, so we are reposting and adding some new information, because a lot has changed with laundry detergent since 2009.

Jenn wrote:

Choosing a good detergent for your cloth diapers is easy. When you purchase from Cotton Babies' detergent selection, anything you pick is fine. Cotton Babies ships all detergents for free using the coupon code GOODWASH. No minimum order. Order as often as you want to... we want you to take care of your diapers well.

The good news for you is that now, free shipping extends to most products carried by Cotton Babies. No coupon code needed! For full details on Cotton Babies free economy shipping, please see our shipping page.

In 2009, Jenn wrote:

Mainstream Detergents - We're often asked if there is a mainstream detergent available that is "safe" for cloth diapers. The answer is no. The least of the evils is Tide Free. Tide Free does not contain any fragrances, optical brighteners or dyes. It does contain enzymes though and will require diligence with rinsing your diapers well or more frequent diaper changes to avoid the mild diaper rash that can be caused by lingering enzymes from the detergent.

There is more good news here as well. There are a few cloth diaper safe detergents that have recently been spotted in stores, although depending on where you live and what stores you have in your area, they still may be difficult to find. Country Save is often available in Whole Foods and other natural life stores and is a highly recommended detergent for cloth diapers. Seventh Generation Delicate Care formula is sometimes available in stores, but be careful - only the Delicate Care formula is safe for cloth diapers, not the other varieties. Some customers have also reported success with Dropps Baby; while it is free of enzymes, brighteners and scents, these are pre-measured packets, so you won't be able to adjust your detergent amount as easily if you have especially soft or hard water conditions.

One of the common mistakes we see is that people sometimes assume laundry detergents marketed for babies (such as Dreft, Ivory Snow, etc.) are safe for their cloth diapers. These detergents often have enzymes, brighteners and scents which can clog the fibers of your cloth diapers and lead to leaks.

The bottom line about detergents was best said by Jenn in her "What To Avoid" list:

• 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.

This Just In: Aden + Anais and GLAMOURMOM

We have two new products this week, one for mom and one for baby.

We've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Aden + Anais issie security blankets since we were first introduced to them a few months back when our Aden + Anais representative visited for our Grand Opening festivities. Perfect for after the swaddling days when your little one still appreciates the comfort of a lovie, but doesn't need a full size blanket. Avoid a Mr. Mom style woobie conversation with this conveniently sized, easy to conceal, 16 inch by 16 inch muslin blanket edged with soft satin trim. The Aden + Anais issie comes in a 2 pack, so there is always one available for snuggling while the other is in the wash. At only $19.95 for the 2 pack and a variety of colors and prints to choose from, this would make a great gift for a newborn or a first birthday.

For mom, we love the GLAMOURMOM® Nursing Bra Tummy Control Long Tank. I wish I would have had one of these for the early days after my twins were born. This is an original and patented design, perfect for discretion and support when nursing in public. The outer layer is extra long for style and superior post-partum coverage, while the inner layer supports and trims the tummy and waist. It pulls excess post-partum skin together to help reduce stretch marks.

The GLAMOURMOM® Nursing Bra Tummy Control Long Tank encourages proper posture and will support your lower back while nursing. The full built-in nursing bra has hook closures for easy, one-handed access. Available in sizes small, medium, large and extra large and at only $54.00 for a nursing bra / shapewear combo, this is a great deal.

These are only two of the new items added to our Cotton Babies website this week. Check out our new products page and let us know what your new favorite item is.

Real Mom Talk: Feelin' fine in just a few minutes time

A while back, we asked for "Real Mom Talk" topics and one mom suggested 'how to look your best when you haven't showered in days.' When I read it aloud to the Cotton Babies offices, a mom immediately answered "Flat Iron!"

While a little tongue-in-cheek, it's a great topic to discuss. It's hard to feel your best when you are sleep deprived and your body is recovering from pregnancy and delivery. Add breastfeeding into the mix and it's easy to feel as if your body is not your own. It's taken some time, but with boldness, I learned to ask moms of multiple children their tips on how to feel "put together" and pretty when you feel flabby and frumpy. Some of these tips can even be used for those final weeks of pregnancy.

My favorite personal discovery was jewelry. Something about wearing a complimentary set with a necklace and earrings made me feel so much prettier and intentional when I left home, even if I was still wearing jeans, a t-shirt and flip flops. I'd pick up pieces in dollar stores, thrift stores and on clearance until I had a rainbow of choices to go with any outfit.

I asked some of the most beautiful women I know to share their tips on how they look and feel their best:

Bekah said, "Belly binding for the newborn days." Cotton Babies has a variety of items including the Belly Bandit to help get your body back in shape after baby. You can see them all in our postpartum section.

"A little lipgloss, blush and mascara go a long way to help you look and feel put together (even if you weren't able to shower that day)," responded Shannon and Jamie agreed.

Libby says, "SMILE!" If you are looking for a reason to smile, she suggests this blog post: Smile.

Heather said, "When I find an everyday a shirt I like, I'll buy it in every color they have that is flattering to my skin tone. I have one go-to pair of sporty flats that can dress up or down. In short: keep it simple. Don't put too much emphasis on how you look unless it effects how you feel."

Feeling confident and put together can mean different things to different people. What do you do to feel your best and put your best foot forward when life leaves you feeling flustered and frazzled? Share your tips, let's learn from each other.

Artist Heist Giveaway

If you haven't heard already, bumGenius is having an Artist Heist sale during the month of March. Now through March 31, 2011 (or while supplies last) you can get a steal of a deal on the bumGenius Artist Series Tiny Socialite Collection in BOTH bumGenius 4.0 and bumGenius Elemental styles when you purchase an Artist Heist package deal.

Choose from one of these four fantastic Artist Heist deals:

* 2 bumGenius 4.0 Tiny Socialites - $33.99

* 5 bumGenius 4.0 Tiny Socialites - $76.99

* 2 bumGenius Elemental Tiny Socialites - $45.99

* 5 bumGenius Elemental Tiny Socialites - $99.99

Today, we're conducting an informal, unscientific poll on our blog. We want to know which of the Tiny Socialite Collection color combination is your favorite? Why?

Color combinations are (from left to right in the photo above):

• Concrete Jungle (red/sweet)
• Jet Setter (dark purple/moonbeam)
• Free Spirit (clementine/nooddle)
• Retail Therapy (teal/bubble)
• Eiffel Tower (black/white)

Don't forget to include which is your favorite closure (snap or hook & loop), because three lucky winners will be randomly selected to receive a free bumGenius 4.0 cloth diaper from the Tiny Socialite Collection.

Eligible entries must be posted today, Tuesday, March 22, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. All winners will be drawn Wednesday, March 23, 2011 and notified via e-mail.

This Just In: California Baby Conditioners

New this week at Cotton Babies: California Baby conditioners and detanglers!

A few weeks ago, Jenn asked our Facebook fans what products they would like us to bring in. Several customers suggested we expand our California Baby product line. We're pleased to announce we now have several new products to compliment your favorite California Baby shampoos.

California Baby Tea Tree & Lavender Conditioner perfectly compliments the Tea Tree & Lavender Shampoo & Bodywash. It is a hit with dads who like the vibrant and functional blend of oils. The no tears formula contains no numbing agents, and is safe and gentle, yet effective, for the whole family. The Tea Tree & Lavender shampoo & body wash is recommended for those battling cradle cap or eczema. Julianne, a Cotton Babies customer, shared in her review:

"I love the California Baby line. My son has excema and thus his skin breaks out if we use certain baby washes or detergents. This smells wonderful and doesn't aggravate his sensitive skin."

Also new to Cotton Babies is the California Baby Super Sensitive Hair Conditioner. The non-irratating and non-chemical formula is perfect for people with allergies and those who cannot tolerate fragrances. It is also hypoallergenic and pH balanced. Pair it with the Super Sensitive Shampoo & Bodywash for best results.

As a mom of a toddler girl, I can't tell you how important it is to have detangler in your house! California Baby's Calming Hair Detangler is a wonderful blend of herbal emollients and light and refreshing aromatherapy essential oils. The willow and pansy naturally protect baby's hair from harmful sun's rays. It may be used on wet or dry hair and works great on mom's hair too to reduce split ends and is safe for chemically treated hair. The calming detangler will be a great addition to the calming shampoo and conditioner.

All these California Baby products and many more are available online at CottonBabies.com or in any of our three retail stores in St. Louis, MO and Vancouver, WA.

Have you used any California Baby products? What are your favorites and why?

bumGenius Spring Sale - 4 days only!

Save some green with the bumGenius Spring Sale!

We're celebrating the beginning of Spring with a great deal at Cotton Babies. You can add a little bumGenius color to your life and save yourself some green in honor of St. Patrick's day ;)

Four days only, Thursday, March 17 through Sunday, March 20, 2011

bumGenius 4.0 solid color cloth diapers are on sale for $15.25* each!

Additional discounts apply to bumGenius 4.0 3, 6, and 12 packs.

One of our customers, Trisha, wrote this in her March 2, 2011 review:

"The BG 4.0's are an amazing product, and I can't begin to describe how happy I am to have something this good to put on my baby... I decided to invest in one BG 4.0 just to see how it worked, and the first night she slept 2 hours longer than normal (I think because she was finally dry and comfortable) and even with a full palm pat down of the diaper when I took it off, it felt barely damp, even though the insert was soaked!"

Don't forget these other great offers that are currently available: the bumGenius Artist Heist and the Britax Free Ride event

*Limited time offer 3/17-3/20/2011, valid while supplies last or through March 20, 2011. Only applies to bumGenius 4.0 stay dry cloth diapers in solid colors.

Breastfeeding Necessities

My son is now 8 weeks old and I am LOVING breastfeeding my second time around! Breastfeeding should be simple, right. Just you and the baby. No bits and pieces to take along or wash. You're ready to go whenever baby needs with no cleanup required (except for the milk mouth)!

That is true and makes breastfeeding so much nicer than bottle feeding with all its included preparation and clean-up. But I want to share some of the gadgets that I've been using which is turning breastfeeding into almost as much of an obsession as cloth diapering! I just love all these things that I've found to make the experience that much more exciting!

The first is the Undercover Mama. This awesome invention keeps your belly covered while you nurse. Instead of buying an expensive nursing tank or forfeiting your favorite bra, you can keep your bra and save money with this product. It attaches to your own bra and drops down when you release the clasp on your bra! I am living in it these days! I wear it to bed too because my belly always gets cold when I'm nursing in bed at night!

Next is the Milkies Milk Saver. This thing is ingenious. All you can think about when you take off your soaking breast pads is how much milk was wasted that is now going to be washed out. Especially when you need to pump and every drop counts! It is a little large and I would love one that I could wear all day long, but it's got a great design. You put it in your bra on the other side than you're nursing on. And it catches all the milk with let-down. I once collected 2 oz using this! It even comes with a heavy-duty case that acts as a stand to hold it upright.

My last ingenious invention is Milk Trays. With my first child, I couldn't believe how expensive those bags are to freeze breastmilk in. Were they really necessary? What's wrong with plain old freezer bags? Of course no one had an answer so I used them - protecting my precious breastmilk for my baby. I'd hate for it to get ruined or freezer burned. Then I saw Milk Trays. They are specially designed, made of medical grade plastic, with 1 oz compartments. You pour the milk into the compartments from the bottle that you pump into. Then you freeze it. When they're frozen, you pop out the one-ounce sticks and store them in a regular freezer bag. Date the bag by the week so you use up old milk first. To defrost just put as many sticks as needed into a bottle and defrost in warm water like you normally would. This way you save every drop and don't defrost more than you need and have to throw it away. Then just rinse out the trays and reuse!

Of course, I would be remiss if I failed to mention My Brest Friend as a true nursing necessity. It provides unbelievable support and comfort, even for the new breastfeeding mama with a tiny newborn. At that early stage you truly don't have enough hands and support to keep everything in place. This pillow wraps around your body and is very adjustable both in how high or low you set it and in how snug it fits around your belly. It has a flat surface so the baby doesn't roll in to you and supports your arms and back. The great thing I've found, even with nursing an older (relatively-speaking) baby, is that it comes in very handy when I'm nursing on one side and pumping on the other. I do that to maximize my pumping, which I need to do for work. The pillow completely supports the baby, so I don't need to use 2 hands to hold him, and I can hold the pump and usually still read a book or type on my laptop. For the modern woman!
My Brest Friend comes in super pattern choices, offers a plush deluxe cover option, has slipcovers that can be switched out, and even has a Twin Pillow!

Speaking of the modern breastfeeding mama, check out the Easy Expression by Medela. It comes as a halter or bustier and holds your pump in place so you're hands-free and can get things done! Truly vital if you're pumping at work. I have even heard first-hand of some women who pump in the car on their long commute. Have to be hands-free for that!


Happy Breastfeeding!

bumGenius Cloth Wipes Giveaway

In yesterday's blog post, we talked about cloth baby wipes, so today we're giving away some Cotton Babies prize packs that include bumGenius flannel baby wipes and bumGenius Bottom Cleaner. Just to make sure you have a reason to use cloth wipes, we'll also include a bumGenius 4.0 cloth diaper.

To enter today's blog giveaway, please leave a comment sharing how you store your cloth diapers when they are clean and how you organize your changing area. We'll swap some ideas and three random commenters will each receive a prize pack.

Eligible entries must be posted today, Tuesday, March 15, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. All winners will be drawn Wednesday, March 16, 2011 and notified via e-mail.

Cloth 201: Cloth Baby Wipes

As you progress along your cloth diapering journey, you may find yourself looking for other ways to 'green' your home. A next logical step for many families is to use cloth baby wipes.

The first question many customers ask is "What kind of cloth wipes should I use?" Just like cloth diapers, there are many different kinds and styles of cloth wipes, so you should be able to find a cloth wipe that works best for you and your little one.

At Cotton Babies, we carry a variety of cloth wipes. bumGenius cloth wipes are 100% unbleached cotton flannel. Kissaluvs wipes are also unbleached, but have a 'loopy' terry side to handle messes. If you prefer organic fibers, Kissluvs Organic wipes may be for you. Want to add a little color to your diaper change? Try Thirsties Fab wipes or Kissaluvs Premium Designer wipes.

The next thing to consider is how you will store your wipes. You can store your wipes dry and wet them at each change or you can store them wet.

Wet wipes should not be stored longer than 2 days. That means you should use a wet wipe within 48 hours of when you moisten it to prevent mold. For a quick and easy wipe solution, mix a squirt or two of Kissaluvs Diaper Lotion Potion concentrate with distilled water. We recommend using the Prince Lionheart wipe warmer to keep your cloth wipes moist and ready to go.

If you prefer a dry method, you can stack your dry cloth wipes and keep bumGenius Bottom Cleaner or Kissaluvs Diaper Lotion potion right beside your changing area. These sprays can be sprayed directly on a cloth wipe and are even safe enough to spray right onto baby's bottom if you choose. After using, just toss your cloth wipes right into your pail or wet bag.

While cloth wipes can be washed with your cloth diapers, be cautious when washing wipes with cloth diapers that have hook and loop closures. The natural fibers of the cloth wipes are more likely to stick in the closure tabs of these diapers.

If you use a homemade cloth wipe solution that contains oils, we do not recommend washing your wipes with the cloth diapers. The oils from the solution may clog the fibers of your cloth diapers, which can lead to leaking.

If you have further questions about using cloth wipes, give us a call at 1-888-332-2243 and we'd be glad to assist you.

This Just In: phil&ted's Wriggle Wrapper and more

New at Cotton Babies this week is the phil&ted's Wriggle Wrapper. We know how our Cotton Babies customers like items that make life on-the-go with baby even easier. We know how much you love phil&ted's products (those Lobsters went fast!). So today we're introducing you to another product to make life outside your home a little easier for you and your little one.
phil&teds brings you the world's first and only 3-in-1 portable wrapper. The wriggle wrapper can be used for safe sitting, feeding, and sleeping on the go. Suitable for use with newborns to 24 months in the sleep position and 6-24 months in the sitting position. The durable fabric is easy to wipe clean and it is machine washable.
Just fit it onto your little one like a diaper and strap it to any chair or adult waist for easy and secure place to sit, eat and play. The included 8-foot extension strap easily fastens to most single beds making nap time secure no matter where you are. The wriggle wrapper comes with it's own tote bag for easy care and storage.

phil&ted's wriggle wrapper is available in the red color option at Cotton Babies for only $49.99 and is eligible for Cotton Babies' free economy shipping.

Another new addition at Cotton Babies this week are new Lifefactory lids.

The 4 colored cap set is great to take your favorite Lifefactory 4 oz or 9 oz baby bottles and convert them to a water bottle style for your growing little one. The beverage caps are a great replacement for your 16 oz or 22 oz Lifefactory beverage bottle or use them as an accessory to change the look of your bottle. Four colored cap set is comes with one each of orange, spring green, blue and purple only $4.99. Beverage caps are available in midnight, orange, pearl white, spring green and sky blue and are only $3.99 each.

For more great new products, check out the "What's New" tab on the left hand side of CottonBabies.com

Real Mom Talk: International Women's Day

Today, March 8, 2011 is the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. You can read more about the history of International Women's Day, the theme and events at the official website. The theme for 2011 is "Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women".

If you hadn't already noticed, the natural parenting and cloth diapering communities are filled with amazing women that work hard to improve the lives of their own family, as well as families around them. These women invent products to fill a need and then ensure the products are created in a environmentally friendly and ethical way. What is interesting about many of these entrepeneurs is that if you ask, they often say they were inspired by women around them: their mothers, aunts and friends.

Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post, published a beautiful article today about her mother, "the woman who had the greatest impact on my life". Ms. Huffington shares advice and stories from her mother, including a story about when her mother was working with the Red Cross in Greece. It reminded me that, as women, much of our "work" isn't always a traditional, or even paid, job.

Many great women put forth great effort in organizations that improve the lives of others, regardless of whether they are paid staff or volunteers. We, as women, inherently understand that payoff isn't always financial or personal gain. Many of us long to leave the world a better place for future generations. The women who marched, rallied and pushed governments 100 years ago set the foundation for the liberties we have today. Today, there remain many areas, both in the U.S. and internationally, where women need significant change to improve their lives.

To celebrate International Women's Day, please tell us what organizations you support that work to improve lives of women. Share with us why this organization is significant to you. Let's celebrate together how far we've come and how, together, we can impact future generations.

Change 3 Things Update

For those who may not have heard already, our Change 3 Things project encountered a little hiccup. We had to begin again with a fresh Facebook page, which you can find here: Facebook.com/changethreethings

Unfortunately, we lost all of our 6,000+ commitments from those of you who had "Liked" the page. If you are willing to make the commitment to change at least 3 cloth diapers a day, help us count by clicking "Like" on the Facebook page.

Our goals are:

• 100,000 parents committed to change 3 cloth diapers per day.*
• 30-50 million pounds of prevented landfill waste*
• 100 million disposable diapers not purchased.*
• $24 million of combined savings for participating families**

It's truly amazing to see how a small commitment by each of us quickly adds up to significant change with lasting impact.

We know many of you are eager to help spread the word about the benefits of cloth diapering to your friends and family. Today, we'll be giving away some Change 3 Things packs to help you spread the word. Three winners will be randomly drawn from all eligible entries left as comments here on the blog.

Prize pack #1 includes:

• For you: Change 3 Things shirt, reminder band and one Econobum trial pack
• For a friend: one Econobum trial pack and bumGenius Detergent samples

Prize pack #2 includes:

• For you: Change 3 Things shirt, reminder band, one Flip diaper cover and 3 Flip Stay Dry inserts
• For a friend: one Econobum trial pack and bumGenius Detergent samples

Prize pack #3 includes:

• For you: Change 3 Things shirt, reminder band and three bumGenius 4.0 cloth diapers
• For a friend: one Econobum trial pack and bumGenius Detergent samples

To enter, please share who you would share your prize with and how you would share. Would you give them a demonstration? What about going to their house for a cup of coffee and a cloth diaper tutorial? What would you do to give your friend a great start on their cloth diapering journey?

Eligible entries must be posted today, Tuesday, March 8, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. All winners will be drawn Wednesday, March 9, 2011 and notified via e-mail.

* Numbers are approximate and based on information published in the Environmental Agency's Science Report SC010018/SR2.
** Based on approximately $0.25 per disposable diaper NOT purchased by participants because they chose to change a cloth diaper instead.

Cat Wearing

Cat Wearing

One day I was doing my helpful thing at our retail store when an older local lady came in, looking bewildered. She was all the stereotypes of “crazy cat lady” that one can think of, so I was ready for an interesting conversation. She was looking for a baby carrier- a cheap one to wear on the chest, she stressed. I showed her our Moby Wrap and she was instantly overwhelmed. So I showed her the Baby K’tan as the easier alternative, and she said “I’m just worried that her claws will snag that fabric.” Claws, you say? It turned out that she had an ailing cat at home that she would like to wear, because kitty didn’t like to be away from her and could not go up and down stairs anymore.

Ah! Considering that I am no stranger to wearing cats, I indulged her request. I told her to go to any thrift store and pick up a Baby Bjorn or Infantino, as it would be perfect for her to wear her invalid cat. I printed out some examples of a “crotch dangler” and sent her on her way. I love Baltimore!
A few weeks later, Cat Lady stopped by again…with the little black cat strapped to her chest facing out in an old blue and plaid Baby Bjorn, cost $5! She was elated, and the cat was either quite comfortable and happy, or half dead. Another satisfied customer!
And that is the only time I will ever recommend a Baby Bjorn! Why? Because there are hundreds of more supportive and more versatile-not to mention more stylish-baby carriers on the market, for about the same price.
The Baby Bjorn only allows parents to wear their babies on the front, to a maximum weight of about 20 pounds. Many folks won’t even make it to that weight limit before giving up on babywearing because of the Bjorn’s design, which does not distribute baby’s weight comfortably for parent OR baby.
Let’s compare the Bjorn with one of our most popular (and my favorite) soft structured carriers, the Ergo Baby.




The Ergo has a wide, padded waist strap that effectively spreads almost all of baby’s weight onto the hips, which as all mothers know, are designed to bear lots of weight. The Bjorn “hangs” all of baby’s weight on the adult’s trapezius muscles, which are not designed to bear any weight at all.
Furthermore, the Ergo places baby in a comfortable “seated” position, spreading their legs in an ergonomic position (hence, “Ergo”) that also helps distribute baby’s weight evenly onto your hips. The Bjorn causes all of baby’s weight to “hang” from a small strip of fabric between baby’s legs, causing all of baby’s weight to press down on the wearer’s tender shoulder muscles. The small seat on the Bjorn also concentrates all of baby’s weight in that small, delicate crotch area, which is thought to cause spine and genital issues.
The third feature that makes the Ergo and other similar soft structured carriers a much more practical choice than the Bjorn is the ability to wear your child on your back. This allows you to carry heavier children (up to 45 lbs!) for much longer periods of time, as well as be able to do housework or other tasks that require your arms. I have carried a 40-lb five-year-old on my back for several hours in my Ergo with no difficulty or pain at all!
The only thing that the Ergo cannot do that a Baby Bjorn does is allow baby to face outward, but this is not a design flaw. The “facing out” position does not distribute baby’s weight or position baby’s spine ergonomically, so the “facing out” position is not optimal for long periods of comfortable babywearing. Furthermore, it is thought that babies can get stressed and overstimulated if facing out for long periods of time- they can’t see their caregiver or turn away from the stimulating outside world if they need to. But for those who have babies who do like to see what’s going on, there are carriers like the Beco Gemini, FreeHand, and Pikkolo. These carriers are a great cross between the Bjorn and a standard soft structured carrier like the Ergo- they have a supportive waist strap AND allow baby to be worn facing in, facing out, and on your back!

The Artist Heist - bumGenius Artist Series

The Artist Heist is a steal of a deal!

Have you been casing Cotton Babies, waiting to make your move on the Tiny Socialite Collection? The Tiny Socialite Collection just received full-page editorial coverage from American Baby Magazine. The entire collection is on sale at Cotton Babies (while supplies last) during the month of March! Now is your chance to grab some of these tiny masterpieces for your very own collection.

Add a little bumGenius artistry to your life.

Save up to 20%!

* 2 bumGenius 4.0 Tiny Socialites - $33.99

* 5 bumGenius 4.0 Tiny Socialites - $76.99

* 2 bumGenius Elemental Tiny Socialites - $45.99

* 5 bumGenius Elemental Tiny Socialites - $99.99

One of our customers, Nichole, wrote this in her review posted on October 25, 2010:

"...our package arrived on Saturday with our GORGEOUS diapers... we really, really love these diapers. The prints are gorgeous and work for both boys and girls. We have two boys and they look wonderful in these dipes! I would highly recommend these as a stunning addition to your BG collection!"

*Limited time only, offer valid while supplies last or through March 31, 2011.

Spoils for Spring

Happy first day of March! I don't know about you, but I am definitely ready for spring this year. On Sunday, we had mild weather and my family had a lovely afternoon. We played outdoors, basked in the sunshine and let our creative juices flow all over the sidewalk in chalk.

To celebrate the first day of March, today we'll be helping you prepare for the warmer weather when you get to put your love of cloth diapers on display for everyone to see. Before we know it, the weather will be warm enough for most of us to let our little ones out and about in our favorite cloth diaper and favorite BabyLegs.

To enter today's blog giveaway, please leave a comment with your favorite springtime activity. What are you most looking forward to this spring?

Five random blog commenters will be selected as winners. Each will receive a prize pack with a bumGenius Artist Series Tiny Socialite Collection cloth diaper and a coordinating pair of BabyLegs from the newest additions to our bumGenius BabyLegs collection.

Eligible entries must be posted today, Tuesday, March 1, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be notified via e-mail.