This Just In: Flip diapers cover now in white!

You asked for it and now it's available! The newest addition to the Flip color selection is white! This color has been available and a standard favorite among bumGenius lovers so we're excited to add it to Flip! Available now in snap and arriving later this summer in hook & loop closures.
To celebrate our new arrival we're hosting the Flip Freedom Sale now through Tuesday, July 5. Get great deals on all your favorite Flip colors. Be sure to check our Flip category for several great deals on Flip products.

Real Mom Talk: Disconnecting from Technology

Unfortunately, today is not so much of an advice blog, but rather a confession and seeking advice from you. I have a confession to make, I LOVE technology. Big surprise, right? I am, after all, the social media coordinator. I've spent years of my life online in some capacity. I've always had a bit of an issue taking the time to disconnect from the online world and focus on the real world. These tendencies are only amplified by each new digital device that fits in the palm of my hand. The truth is, it's not just the internet that is an issue, it's texting and e-mail too.

It's not just me either, my husband works in technology too, so were both available practically 24/7 and could work any hour of the day that is required. The problem is, we are beginning to see how it is affecting our children. It's not unusual for me to find a child on the computer before 7 a.m. at our house, or to have to threaten discipline to get them to save their video game and shut it off at any given time of day. Video games aren't really my thing, but since my husband grew up with them, it's a passion he loves to share with our children. With technology creeping in to so many areas of our life in recent years, how do we carefully draw the boundary lines? Especially when it affects our parenting and our children's future?

Clearly, if you are a blog subscriber or a Facebook follower, you spend a fair amount of your time online too. When your work revolves around technology, it takes it to a whole new level. My question for you today is, how do you disconnect? Do you set up rules for yourself, like you do with your children? Do you limit how many hours a day you are online? Let's chat honestly about what technology means to us and our children today. What's a healthy medium in 2011?

Tuesday Giveaway: bumGenius Threads!

Did you know Cotton Babies has t-shirts for your little one designed to coordinate with your favorite bumGenius brights? They are a great way to keep your little one cool this summer while sharing your love of bumGenius!

Sizes 6 months, 12 months and 18 months come in a snap body suit style; sizes 2T and 3T are a classic t-shirt style to show off the cloth diaper. Choose your favorite design from froggie, dragonfly, hearts and butterfly. Limited styles and quantities remain, so get them while you can.

Today's prize winners will each receive a prize pack that includes a bumGenius Threads short sleeve t-shirt of their choice and a coordinating bumGenius 4.0 solid color cloth diaper in the closure of their choice.

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 your plans for the long Independence Day weekend. Will your little one being be participating in their first cookout or viewing fireworks for the first time?

Eligible entries must be posted today, Tuesday, June 28, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be drawn at random on Wednesday, June 29, 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.)

Contest is now closed. Winners have been selected and notified via e-mail. Noelle R., Sarah S. and ConsumingFire please check your e-mail (including spam folder) for details on how to claim your prize.

Cloth 101: How to store your dirty diapers

Once you decide you are ready to start cloth diapering, another major decision is how you will store those diapers once they are dirty. There are two main types of dirty cloth diaper storage a wetbag or a pail.

Diaper pails designed for cloth diapering are a little different than those designed for disposable diapers. Most disposable diaper pails are designed to keep air (and smells) out. When thinking about storing dirty cloth diapers, one of the key things is to make sure you have air flow. This air flow helps to prevent mold from growing on your damp dirty diapers. Many pails designed for cloth diapers have a filter to prevent any smells from filling the room. The second thing to consider when choosing your diaper pail is size. We recommend washing every other day, so your diaper pail will need to hold those diapers for you until laundry time. If you have more than one little one in cloth diapers, you may need a larger diaper pail. You may also choose to line your diaper pail with a washable fabric liner, to make clean up a little easier.

Wetbags are another option for storing dirty diapers. These bags are also made to allow air flow; they are available in a variety of fabric types, colors and prints and usually have either a drawstring or zipper closure. Wetbags come in a variety of sizes also. Large wetbags can be kept at home instead of a diaper pail; smaller wetbags are designed to fit in your diaper bag to hold just a few dirty cloth diapers for a short outing.

How you choose to store your diapers is a personal decision for your family.

Things to consider when choosing your storage:

• Where you will change your little one's diapers
• How much space you have in your home
• How many children are currently wearing cloth diapers in your home
• How far you have to carry the dirty diapers from the changing area to the laundry room

The key to dirty diaper storage is to make sure your dirty diapers are not completely sealed up; so air can flow around your diapers to help prevent mold. How do you store your dirty diapers until it's time to wash them? Do you prefer a diaper pail or wetbag? What is your favorite brand of pail or wetbag?

Test the cloth diapering waters with Econobum!

Have you checked out the various packages offered by Econobum?  They're perfect for those who are on the fence about cloth diapering or using prefolds and want to give it a try without a huge investment.

Prefolds and covers are the most economical and forgiving method of cloth diapering.  You don't have to worry about ruining an expensive pocket diaper and you can purchase a kit that will allow you to cloth diaper for a full day for the same cost as purchasing just 2-3 pocket diapers.

Another great perk about the Econobum system is that their covers are a a one-size fits all.  Generally speaking, you should be able to use the same covers from birth through potty training.

You can purchase a Single Econobum prefold and cover for $9.95,  an Econobum 3-Pack for $11.95 which includes three prefolds and one cover, or a Full Econobum Kit for $49.95 which contains twelve prefolds and three covers.

Econobums are also great for use as gifts.  You might want to give the gift of cloth diapers to an expecting mom and Econobum has three choices, one for anyone's budget.

Visit Earth Angels Diaper Co. today and check out our great selection of cloth diapers and accessories plus Flat Rate Shipping of $5.00 on any size order.

Buy a Moonstone Chaperone Stroller and Get a Chaperone Infant Seat FREE!

Now while supplies last get a free Moonstone Chaperone Infant Carseat with the purchase of a Moonstone Chaperone Stroller!Get the ultimate in convenience, comfort and style, with the Britax Chaperone Stroller. With this special offer, it's perfectly paired with the safest infant car seat on the market today, the Britax Chaperone.

The simple one-hand fold with automatic chassis lock positions the Britax Chaperone Stroller for the next logical step: placing in a vehicle or standing upright. This stroller is designed with smart features like a large underseat storage basket, functional child and parent trays, and a single brake pedal that engages and disengages both rear wheels. The all-wheel suspension, adjustable backrest and calf-rest, and a large canopy provide the perfect environment for your child's first five years.

This video demonstrates how easy it is to use the Britax Chaperone Travel System. A longer video with even more details about the Moonstone Chaperone Stroller is available.

The Chaperone stroller is appropriate from 6 months (or from birth when used with an infant carrier) up to 55 lbs. The stroller is compatible with the Britax Chaperone Infant Carrier, as well as other major carrier brands* when used with the Britax adapter strap (strap included with stroller).

Get the set for only $299.99 with Cotton Babies' free economy shipping. While supplies last.

*Britax Companion, Chicco Key Fit, Peg Perego Primo Viaggio, Graco Safe Seat and others with included adapter strap.

Tuesday Giveaway: Father's Day Photo Contest

Instead of our usual Tuesday giveaway this week, we'd like to remind you about our special Father's Day photo contest that runs through this Sunday, June 26, 2011. We're giving away several prizes including $100, $50, $25 and $10 gift certificates to CottonBabies.com

For full details on how to enter, please visit the Celebrating Fathers Cotton Babies Style post from last Friday. Be sure to leave your links to enter the contest on that blog post.

We'll see you next week for our regularly scheduled Tuesday giveaways!

Cloth Diapering 101: What do I need to start cloth diapering?

Everyone has to start cloth diapering somewhere. With all the information available online at your fingertips, it can be very overwhelming. The great thing about cloth diapering is that it only takes a little bit to get started. A question we are frequently asked is

"What do I need to begin cloth diapering?"

If you want to start cloth diapering an infant we recommend:

• 24 cloth diapers in the style of your choice. If you are choosing a two-piece system such as Flip or Econobum, we recommend 24 inserts and 6 covers. This number is based on changing an infant 8-10 times a day and washing your diapers every other day. We recommend washing every other day to prevent mold and other issues.
• A diaper pail or wet bag to store dirty diapers until laundry day. For a diaper pail, we recommend a vented pail. The air flow also helps to prevent mold. Wet bags come in a variety of sizes, fabrics and styles to suit the needs of any family. If you are not using a diaper pail, you will want a wet bag large enough to hold 2 days worth of dirty laundry. You may also consider a wet bag that is a smaller size to hold a few dirty diapers for your daycare provider or those times you are out and about with your little one.
• A cloth diaper safe laundry detergent- Safe detergents are those without enzymes, brighteners, dyes, scents or fabric softeners. More information on why to avoid these ingredients can be found in our detergent blog post. Make things even easier on yourself by checking out the natural laundry section on CottonBabies.com where we sell only cloth diaper safe detergents and offer free economy shipping.

If you are beginning to cloth diaper an older child, you may not need a full 24 cloth diapers. Many people even begin their cloth diapering journey with just a few cloth diapers for each day. Our Change 3 Things campaign encourages any parent to change just 3 cloth diapers a day. We chose 3 cloth diapers because we feel it's a manageable goal for any parent, whether all of baby's caregivers will change cloth diapers or not.

For a gradual start like this, we recommend checking out our Change 3 Things packs. Don't forget to add a wet bag and detergent to your Cotton Babies order as well. These 3 things are all you really need to begin your cloth diapering journey.

As you grow confident in cloth diapers, you may find you want to branch out to try new styles of cloth diapers, use cloth baby wipes, or try new accessories. As always, we are glad to answer any questions you may have if you give us a call at 1-888-332-2243 or live chat with us at www.cottonbabies.com

How to use and store cloth wipes!

Guest Post by Laura

I made the choice to start using cloth wipes about 6 weeks after I started cloth diapering. I was sick of sorting the disposable wipes out from the diaper pail before throwing them into the wash, and I just didn’t want a small wastebasket sitting next to our diaper pail with dirty wipes in it.

When you’re choosing to start out using cloth wipes, you should consider buying a couple packs of baby washcloths at your local grocery store. They cost about $4-6 a dozen, and cloth wipes are usually around $2 a piece. It’s worth trying the washcloths because if you don’t like it in the end, you’re not out a lot of money. I purchased 20 washcloths. For us, that’s almost enough for 2 days with 2 of our girls wearing diapers.  *Some find that the cotton terry washcloths are too rough, in this case you can purchase cloth wipes made of flannel, cotton or velour from a cloth diaper retailer.

There are 2 methods of using cloth wipes: the dry method and the wet method. With the dry method, your wipe solution (or water) is placed inside a spray bottle and you spray your baby’s bottom and wipe it up with a dry wipe.

With the wet method, you mix your wipe solution in a bowl or pitcher, submerge your cloth wipes and wring them out and store them, wet, in a wipes container until use.

You can buy a pre-made cloth wipe solution, or you can make your own at home. I have tried several homemade wipes solutions and I will share with you my favorite. I don’t like to put any soaps in my wipe solutions because I am terrified that it will cause buildup on my cloth diapers and they will start to have leaking issues. So this one is my favorite:

~2 cups hot water

~1/4 cup Aloe Vera Gel

~2 Drops Tea tree oil

~1-2 drops lavender oil

To store my cloth wipes, I use a plastic Huggies brand wipes container. It holds about 16-18 of my cloth wipes.

I also use an accordion style fold. (see photos above) To achieve the accordion fold, place one wipe on top of a flat surface, place a second wipe on top of the first wipe, but only covering half of the first wipe. Next, fold the other half of the first wipe (that is not covered by the second wipe) over top of the first wipe. Place a wipe on top of the top portion of the first wipe and continue on until you’ve used up all of your wipes. Using this method ensures that when I pull one wipe out, another one pops up. It’s much easier to use that way. You can also store them folded or stored flat until use.

It takes a little bit of trial and error to find what works best for you, but once you start you’ll find using cloth wipes is much easier than disposable if you’re already cloth diapering!

Laura’s Bio:  Laura is a wife and stay-at-home mother to her 3 daughters. She enjoys cloth diapering, bike riding, reading, walking, and arts & crafts.  You can read more about Laura on her blog www.ChaloobyBaby.blogspot.com

Celebrating Fathers Cotton Babies Style

Admitably, I’m a bit of a daddy’s girl, as my bio shares I’m the oldest of four, and no kids of my own yet. This is a fun picture of my family from years… and years… AND years ago. I’m the one in red with the slightly mischievous look on my face. By the way, I was a cloth diapered baby, when I was growing up we didn’t have much money but my parents made us feel like we had something special and rich every day.

Pictures like this one are so valuable because they captured one of those moments where life – no matter how hard it was – still felt joyful, it’s clear from the expressions and the bed-head that there was lots of love in that moment.

Dads have a special place in our hearts at Cotton Babies. Of course, there are the obvious reasons why fathers are wonderful, but we have special admiration for the “Cotton Babies dads” when we see awesome, HILARIOUS comments like this….

"My husband is gonna FLIP just like the new bubble cover I got! HAHA!...I know I know not a seconds but I wanted it!"

And trust us, we see comments like this frequently, so let us first say – thanks for the entertainment – we get a kick out of your passion. Many a Cotton Babies dad has been the (perhaps unknowing) subsidizer of the latest and greatest cloth diaper, amazing seconds sale stash, or even that newest color gracing your finger tips as you click way on Facebook. So how could we pay proper homage to the man in your life this Father’s Day? We thought we’d give you a chance to give dad's wallet a little break. We know the word dad has many different meanings for many different people. We know your children are so blessed to have a parent such as yourself to love and care for them no matter how conventional or unconventional the person holding the title of “dad” is. We’re hosting a special Father's Day photo contest with the top prize a $100 gift certificate to CottonBabies.com

Here’s how to enter the Cotton Babies Father’s day photo contest.

Post pictures of a special “dad” moment for you or your little one on your favorite social media website and post the link here on the Cotton Babies blog. One entry per family, please.

Entries must be received by Sunday, June 26th. The winners will be announced by Friday, July 1st. It may be sooner, but we're anticipating quite a few entries to sort through. We want enough time available to give each entry a fair review. Please be sure your e-mail address is visible to our Cotton Babies staff, winners will be notified via e-mail only.

Winnings:
• 1 grand prize winner ($100 gift certificate to Cotton Babies)
• 1 second place winner ($50 gift certificate to Cotton Babies)
• 1 third place winner ($25 gift certificate to Cotton Babies)
• 3 additional runners up per 100 contest entries ($10 gift certificate to Cotton Babies)
Gift certificates will be e-mailed to the winners and can only be redeemed online through the Cotton Babies website. You must either live in the United States or have a shipping address in the United States to be eligible to win. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.

Free Diaper Cover; FuzziBunz and more great June deals!

We are in the final hours of the FuzziBunz Bonus Bunz days. Buy 5 FuzziBunz one size cloth diapers and get one FREE! This deal only lasts through Wednesday, June 15, 2011. Catch this great deal by using this special Bonus Bunz days page on CottonBabies.com

Use the drop down menus to select your favorite FuzziBunz colors, then add them to your cart. No coupon code required!

Do you prefer prefolds or an all-in-two system? No worries, Cotton Babies has you covered. Now through the end of June, with a Cotton Babies purchase of $50 or more, you can receive a free one-size diaper cover. To activate this deal, add the one-size diaper cover shown here to your cart and enter coupon code CVR611 during checkout. Cotton Babies will select a diaper cover for you based on your choice of boy, girl or gender neutral on the drop down menu and include it in your shipment. It's that easy!

But wait, there's more! Be sure to keep an eye on the Used Diapers and Clearance sections at Cotton Babies for some great deals that are available while supplies last. You never know what items may appear, so check back often.

Cloth 101: Cloth diapers double as swim diapers!

You don't need to buy swim diapers this year! With the insert removed, your bumGenius 4.0 One-Size cloth diapers will work as a swim diaper. Just be sure to rinse thoroughly after use, whether in a pool or at the beach.

This is another way that cloth diapers can save you money. Have you used a bumGenius pocket diaper for a swim diaper? Share your story and tips with us.

Cute Cloth Diaper Storage Solutions!

Recently we asked our FaceBook Fans to share photos of their cloth diaper stashes and storage.  We had so much fun checking out what everyone had and how they stored their diapers.  One fans photos stuck out in particular.

April G shared this adorable photo of her child's room and where she stores her cloth diapers.  Her photo serves as proof that you don't need an extra large closet or bulky dresser, diapers don't have to be labeled or sorted perfectly.  Cube storage like April's with cubbies and pull out totes work perfectly for cloth diaper storage, toys and other miscellaneous baby items.

So what do you think?  Isn't April's stash storage super cute?  And how do you store your diapers?  We'd love to read your comments. 

Why shouldn't I buy cheap cloth diapers?

A retailer wrote me an email today asking why our cloth diaper brands weren't selling for $10, like the Chinese-made knock-offs sold on eBay. I drafted a response to her question, but after I re-read what I'd written, I decided to go ahead and share my answer with you here on our blog because it contains valuable information that you, as the consumer, deserve to know. Keep in mind that this was written to a retailer with my "manufacturer hat" solidly in place. Onward....

Dear Retailer:

Thank you for your question. While most companies move to off-shore manufacturing to increase profitability, our goal in opening an international facility was to bring our brands to the rest of the world (like Europe, India, China and Africa) in an affordable way. Due to the high cost of domestic labor, duty and international shipping, this is nearly impossible to do this using domestic manufacturing. Knowing that our customers valued products made in the United States and wanting to preserve all of our U.S. based jobs, we took the step into limited off-shore manufacturing while also maintaining a full-time manufacturing facility in North America that still produces most of the products we sell in the United States. This resulted in overall higher costs as compared to brands made exclusively off-shore.

The factory is clean, large, well-lit, safe, equipped with plenty of restrooms, safe drinking water, a cafe, and a place away from the sewing floor where workers can take their breaks. They are provided with positive leadership, on-the-job training and transportation to and from work. The management cares about each individual and ensures that they are trained with their future in mind. The factory operates based on 5-day, 40 hour work-weeks and workers are paid over-time if it becomes necessary. We meet or exceed all of the requirements of international law. I have been in other garment factories all over the world and can honestly say that our factory is the only place that I have ever seen like it. It is a place that I would like to work.

In spite of higher costs, we maintain very fair price points relative to competing brands while also being recognized by consumers as offering the best customer service in the industry. Our products are tested heavily and made with quality materials primarily sourced in the United States. Each brand is backed by a one-year warranty and maintains it's value nicely, supporting eventual resale by the purchaser. We spend a great deal on advertising and promoting the concept of cloth diapers - a project we're in the process of expanding with the goal of increasing the visibility of the product category. We invest heavily in product development and industry growth. We care about the less-fortunate and are deeply involved in giving-oriented projects to help low-income families cloth diaper their babies. We make decisions knowing that we are affecting people and businesses all over the world... while the bottom-line plays a role in our business decisions, it isn't the most important consideration.

We've reflected our values as we've grown our brand portfolio. Knowing that bumGenius was an option that wasn't reachable for many low-income families, we also created Flip & Econobum two years ago with the goal of bringing more affordable, quality diapering solutions to the marketplace. We felt like low and middle-income families deserved options that were consistently well-made, backed by a recognizable company, a warranty and good customer service. I wasn't willing to accomplish that goal by compromising quality or customer service.... so we created a concept and a product set to meet that consumer segment's needs while being consistent in our commitments to all consumers. We were successful in our efforts. Using data from a recent LCA study conducted in Europe, we recently made some interesting calculations. If a family has a stash of 24 total bumGenius Stay-Dry one-size diapers and assuming use from birth, each cloth diaper is likely to be used approximately 138 times putting the cost per use before laundry at approximately $0.12. With a stash of 24 Flip Stay-Dry Cloth Diapers, the cost per use before laundry is approximately $0.06. With a stash of 24 Econobum Cloth Diapers, the cost per use before laundry is approximately $0.03.

As frustrating as off-brands can be to retailers, it is important to recognize that, they do serve a purpose within the expanding cloth diaper market. Unlike other product categories where off-brands are typically consumed and disposed of, consumers are investing in cloth diapers as a way of saving money and because they want to provide better care for their baby. Unlike most other garments, cloth diapers are subjected to rigorous, continual use and cleaning practices. Off-brands are usually poor quality and can fail quickly with little follow-up support available from the retailer or the importer of record (IOR). Even though U.S. law requires the IOR to have proof of component testing at the batch level, these diapers are being imported and sold primarily by very small, home-based businesses who may be unaware of or simply unable to complete the required testing. The IOR is likely to have a very limited understanding of component ingredients and manufacturing practices. While this may seem of little initial relevance, it can become extremely important when a child develops a latex allergy and the consumer discovers that their off-brand diapers were made using elastomeric components containing natural rubber (our products are latex-free) or when low-volume consolidated international shipments are fumigated during import (we only ship full containers to avoid fumigation). Additionally, off-brand cloth diapers are unlikely to have a resale value beyond "free for shipping". We've repeatedly seen that consumers who learn this the "hard way" are more likely to make a second investment later in a good quality cloth diapering product with maintainable resale value knowing that this will save their family additional money. Additionally, parents have expressed their desire to purchase good quality, safe, baby-care products that meet the requirements of US and international product safety laws.

As the economy has taken steps towards improvement over the last six months, we've seen an overall corresponding trend up both in sales growth and consumer reports of satisfaction with their purchases. Our customers are clearly demonstrating their commitment to their baby's overall well-being and a clear understanding of how their investment in cloth diapers will affect their family's bottom line, both now and when their baby potty trains.

I hope this information is informative and helps you educate your customers towards better product choices.

Kindest regards,

Jenn

Travel Tuesday Giveaway

It's June! Which means many families are beginning to think of summer vacations. Whether it's a trip to grandma's house, a cruise or a two week beach vacation, chances are you'll be adapting your cloth diapering routine.

One of our favorite ways to adapt a cloth diaper routine is the Flip Travel Pack. Each pack has two Flip diaper covers and a pack of disposable inserts. Even if you pack your regular cloth inserts, it's always nice to have a few disposables on hand for the car trip or just in case your fun lasts a diaper change longer than you expected.

To enter today's blog giveaway for your chance to win a Flip Travel Pack, leave a comment on this blog post telling us how you alter your diapering routine when away from home. Share your tips with others and maybe learn a new tip from another Cotton Babies customer.

Still packing for your getaway? Be sure to check out our Vacation Essentials section for natural sunscreen, insect repellent, swim wear and more!

Eligible entries must be posted today, Tuesday, June 7, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be drawn at random on Wednesday, June 8, 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, please.)

Cloth Diapers 101: How To Prep Your Cloth Diapers

Once you decide which style of cloth diapers is right for you, the next major question is how to prepare those new cloth diapers you purchased.

The first step to preparing your cloth diapers is to make sure you have a laundry detergent that is free of enzymes, scents and brighteners that is safe for cloth diapers. For more information on cloth diaper safe detergents, we have a PDF file of recommended detergents or you can read our previous blog post about detergents to learn more about what ingredients to avoid.

The next step in preparing your cloth diapers is to determine whether they are made of natural or synthetic fibers. Stay dry, fleece, polyester, suedecloth and microfiber are all synthetic fabrics. Hemp, cotton and wool are natural fibers.

bumGenius 4.0 cloth diapers, Flip Stay Dry inserts and all Flip and Econobum covers are made from synthetic fibers. For these covers and inserts you only need to wash your covers and inserts once before the first use. Line dry the covers. bumGenius and Flip inserts can be tumbled dry on a medium heat setting.

bumGenius Elemental diapers, Flip Organic inserts, Econobum inserts and all Hemp Babies products are natural fibers. Items with natural fibers contain natural oils that need to be removed before they will be fully absorbent. This is why we recommend washing natural fibers 5 to 7 times in hot water with a little bit of detergent, drying between each wash cycle. If you do not fully prep these diapers, you may experience leaks, as they will not be fully absorbent.

For any wool products, we recommend hand washing in lukewarm water with wool wash and line drying.

If you have further questions about preparing your cloth diapers or need assistance in determining what type of fabric your cloth diapers are made from, give us a call at 1-888-332-2243 and we'd be glad to help.

Save BIG with GroVia's Gro-To-Go Summer Kit! June 1-30, 2011

If you love GroVia cloth diapers then you don't want to pass up this great summer sale event!  From June 1-30 you can purchase the GroVia Gro-To-Go Summer Kit!

• (3) GroVia Hybrid Shells
• (50) BioSoakers
• (3) Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent Samples

Just $49.99 at Earth Angels Diaper Company!

GroVia's One Size Cloth Diaper shells are a super versatile cloth diapering system that works with either reusable cloth Boosters/Soaker pads or GroVia's BioSoakers.

Perfect for traveling, for caregivers, as a backup for cloth diapering emergencies or just when you wont have easy access to laundry facilities.

This Just In: Simplisse Nursing Products

We've recently added Simplisse nursing products to our Cotton Babies catalog. The Simplisse line was developed through a partnership between industry-leading lactation consultants and moms. Every product in the Simplisse collection of breastfeeding products was carefully designed with the optimum health of mom and baby in mind. Simplisse has two goals, to make expressing milk a more comfortable, natural experience for moms and to collect breastmilk as efficiently and effectively as possible.

The Simplisse Manual Breast Pump is designed to accurately mimic natural breastfeeding. The super-soft BabyFace™ flexible breast-cup conforms to mom’s breast and naturally move with mom while expressing. The gentle compression technology gently elicits milk expression to help minimize tugging and pinching. Continuous Comfort™ valves regulate the pump's pressure so the suction levels are similar to baby at the breast. No high suction or painful pumping, only the utmost in comfort.

The Simplisse Manual Breast Pump is $39.99.

The Gia Nursing Pillow by Simplisse has a patented non-flat design that positions your baby at an incline, to aid in digestion and reduce reflux and other feeding problems. Its wide, flat surface prevents baby from rolling down. This nursing pillow can also be used to for tummy time. The quilted 100% cotton shell is anti-bacterial and stain resistant. Easy to care for, can be machine washed and dried. Easy on, easy off covers are available in 3 colors to protect your Gia Nursing Pillow.

The Gia Nursing Pillow is only $39.99 at Cotton Babies. Colorful covers Beco, Chase and Mia are available for $19.99 with your nursing pillow purchase or can be purchased individually.

All Simplisse products are available online at CottonBabies.com or in any of our retail stores in St. Louis, MO or Vancouver, WA. Do you own a Simplisse Manual Breastpump or Gia Nursing Pillow? Be sure to share your thoughts with other Cotton Babies customers in a review on the product page.

Live Chat with Cotton Babies Customer Service

Did you know Cotton Babies now has a live chat feature on our main webpage? You can chat live with one of our customer service team members to ask questions about your order, receive cloth diapering tips or troubleshooting assistance for your cloth diapers.

To start the live chat process, visit www.cottonbabies.com and scroll to the bottom of the left hand column under the "Connect With Us" heading. Click on the "Click to Chat" button.

A new window opens when you connect with our customer service team. Type your question or request in the middle box. Hit return or click the "send" button to send your message to our team. Share your name with us by adding it in the field at the very bottom of the window. We really like to know who we are chatting with.

When you finish your chat, be sure to click on the button with the door image that says "close" near the send button. This takes you to a page that offers you an e-mail transcript of your chat. This feature is especially helpful if you have had a troubleshooting session with our customer service team that includes laundry or other detailed instructions you may need to refer to later.

If you attempt to use our live chat feature and our team is assisting another customer or otherwise unavailable, live chat will offer you a form to fill out with your question and an e-mail address for Cotton Babies to reply to you. We try to respond to these questions promptly, but it may take a few hours.

Live chat is another option we offer our customers. We're moms and we understand that the house frequently gets noisy just when you pick up the telephone.

As always, if you need a prompt response, a phone call is the fastest way to get the most up to date information about your order or any other issue you may have. You can reach us by phone at 1-888-332-2243 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time. You can ask us a question anytime by e-mail at contactus@cottonbabies.com although it may take up to 24 hours for an e-mail response in high volume times.