Pimp Your Stash #12 - Ends Friday 11-06 (Ecobumz Trial Pack)

In honor of the start of the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt we're offering a great new GiveAway! This week's Pimp Your Stash Winner will receive a Ecobumz Trial Pack! This includes 1 Ecobumz Basic Fleece AIO, 1 Ecobumz Supreme w/ Snaps & 1 Stuffer! Ecobumz is a fabulous new company run by a Canadian mom and Ecobumz are proudly made in Canada!

This weeks mandatory question for your first entry is "What's your favorite feature of either the Basic or Supreme diaper?"

Guidelines for Entry
-In order to participate in our weekly contest and validate all extra entries you must first answer the weekly question.

-Please, be sure to be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you....

-Each contest runs from Sunday 12am to Friday 9pm.

-Winners are chosen using random.org, notified on Saturdays and winners name also posted on Blog.

-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.

-Participation is open to mamas and papas worldwide! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the fun, however we are not responsible for lost packages and prizes that do not reach their destination will not be replaced.

-How to earn extra entries:
* Tell us whether you'd prefer the Ecobumz Basic or the Supreme AIO?
* Become a FAN of Earth Angels Diaper Co. on FaceBook
* Join our Yahoo/Newsletter Group
* Join DD on Flickr & add photos! 1 entry for each photo, up to 5 per week.
* Follow Us on Twitter
* Follow Diaper Discussions Blog
* Place the Diaper Discussions Animated Banner on your site or Blog
* Tweet About the Giveaway (use #clothdiapers in the tweet) comment with a url to the tweet.
* Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, forums or site (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it).
* Contribute an Article, Product Review or relevant story regarding Cloth Diapering. 10 extra entries are given for contributions submitted during the week of the contest. (Please do not contribute articles that were already published elsewhere.)
* Comment to any post on the Diaper Discussions Blog (one entry per each comment)
* Register (or being already registered) in our Affiliate Program (please specify where you placed your affiliate banner).

--- Please post a separate comment for each extra entry and let us know which you've chosen to do in that comment ---

Good Luck!!

Pimp Your Stash Winner #11 - Julia

This week's winner has a private blog so we cant take a peek, however the photo on her profile reveals what a cutie pie she has... Hope she enjoys her new bag! She won with comment #8.


Please, contact us ASAP so we can get your bag out to you ASAP!

Adventures in Cloth Diapering: Big Brother Helps Out!

I wish I'd had my camera handy (or my new FLIP video camera that is coming in the mail this week!) to capture this moment.

I was about to change Ethan's diaper when Brennan comes up.

"Mom, can I do it?"

Me, thinking about it...this could be messy, it could be cute. It is definietly a skill he needs to learn to be a good husband one day.

"Okay Brennan, sure."

I mean...seriously, who says NO to a free diaper change?

Brennan pulls off the snaps of the Blueberry, removes the diaper, wipes Ethan up (with guidance on where to wipe. Bren says, "But he's not dirty!"), and puts the dirty diaper in the wetbag.

Then, Brennan (with me holding Ethan's hinny in the air) gently puts the new diaper (this one a BumGenius with velcro) under his bum. Once he feels it is positioned just so (and just in the knick of time...Ethan was getting restless with his body raised in the air), he covers the front, pulls the velcro tabs and declares himself done.

Not bad for a six year old, I only discreetly tightened one side a tiny bit. Maybe this can become a new hobby for him...

Now, if only I could train Jackson to stuff clean diapers, I'd have it made!

Comments: I write posts from time to time called "Adventures in Cloth Diapering". It's a place for me to share what I am learning as I began CDing my youngest (and last) son at the age of seven months (he's almost one now). This is my latest post about my son changing Ethan's diaper for the first time.

Contributed by
Jessica
http://www.geauxremingtons.blogspot.com/

Sizing Flip...

Sizing the Flip One-Size Cloth Diaper System is simple - just adjust the front of the cover using the 3x3 snap arrangement on the front of the cover.

The bottom row of snaps is for the small setting. The middle row of snaps is for a medium and fully unsnapped, your cover is sized for a large.

Children change in shape as they grow. You'll probably find yourself unsnapping to either accommodate your baby's higher rise or enlarging thighs. So your six-month-old may need to be fully unsnapped to accommodate chunky thighs. But your eighteen-month-old may be back on the medium setting because he has thinned out after learning how to walk (run)!

When adjusting Flip cloth diaper covers to fit your baby, you may need to use one snap setting smaller than you would normally use on your bumGenius branded products.

There isn't a lining to add bulk, so Flip cloth diaper covers will accommodate more stuffing and larger children! This also means that you may prefer to snap your covers down by one snap setting to get that good, snug fit around your baby that you enjoy in bumGenius branded products. This will be especially true using ultra-trim inserts like Hemp Babies or the Flip Disposable Inserts.

Let us know if there is anything we can do to help!

Just Julie: Sweet n' Spooky Treats!

As the boys turn 3yrs old my husband and I realize that the time for having plan our families traditions around them is over. They can now pretty much attempt everything that we intend to do. I never said it wouldn't be messy but at least now they can participate in our pumpkin carving, cookie decorating, gingerbread house making, etc.

This year so far has been fun. My daughter Guinn came home from school Friday and was convinced we should have our own Halloween party this past weekend. She wrote a list of supplies, delegated tasks and made us promise we'd follow through. Trust me, there's no arguing with a 6yr old party plannner!

We headed out to the craft store and bought the supplies we'd need to make decorations and some spooky treats for our party. My husband and daughter spent quite some time working on their spooky cakes "Frankenstein" & "Skeleton Man." I think they turned out fabulous, they did a really great job.
We also made our sugar cookies with royal icing and decorated them to the max! Some were so drenched in icing by the time the kids were done that I couldn't even find the cookie on the tray. But they had fun and that's all that matters. Believe it or not we didn't have any crazy accidents with the food coloring.
It's times like these that I get a glimpse at what our future holds as a family and I really look forward to it. While I did love the baby years, I look forward to all the new ways we can share our lives together and all the memories we can create now that the kids are getting old enough to really get out and experience life with us. Gosh I love my little freckly family!

Miracle Diapers needs our help!

If you're not familiar with Miracle Diapers, they are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. They are dedicated to helping families who might not otherwise be able to afford it, get a jump-start on cloth diapering. You can read more about their history and Mission Statement HERE.

You might think that as long as Miracle Diapers is flooded with donations of cloth diapers to lend out to families in need that they'd be all set, but that is not the case. Since Miracle Diapers is a non-profit organization, they need a constant flow of monetary donations and support to help keep them afloat. They have bills to pay, supplies to purchase among other expenses that are all a part of running and organizing a non-profit.

While their "diaper cave" is fully stocked, they are in desperate need of donations in order to stay in business. Besides making a monetary donation, there are several ways you can help support Miracle Diapers and help them raise the funds they need.

• Purchase a Business Membership
• Purchase Advertising on the MD website
• Purchase a Family Membership
• Donate an item to be auctioned off at their Hyena Cart
• Donate items to be sold in their Retail Store
  
• Host a fundraiser on your site where you donate the proceeds or a percentage of your proceeds to Miracle Diapers
• Host a local fundraiser like a bake sale, car wash or yard sale
• Donate your used diapers or sell your used diapers and donate the funds to Miracle Diapers

The possibilities are endless. Get creative and lets make this Holiday Season a blessing for Miracle Diapers and their recipients!

Fluff in the Spotlight: Wahmies Diaper Service Quality Pail Liner

This week Diaper Discussions is proud to put Wahmies DSQ Pail Liners in the Spotlight! Wahmies original design and quality construction make this pail liner a must have for all cloth diapering families!

Wahmies DSQ Pail Liner fits most large diaper pails. It is approximately 29 inches tall and will fit the typical 54qt pail, or a 13 gallon trash can with a 53" circumference. Yes! You can now use a typical kitchen trash can for your dry pail.

Attached in the seam is a patch of fabric on which you can put a few drops of tea tree oil, or other fragrance or essential oil to keep the diaper pail odors at bay. On wash day, remove the liner from the pail, dump the diapers in the washer (with this liner, there's no risk of touching dirty diapers) then toss the liner in the washer right along with the diapers!

Featuring a custom elastic closure that hides from view when liner is in your pail but can be used to close your liner when transporting diapers, or for use to keep little hands out of dirty diapers when not using a pail.

Additional features:

• Top elastic stretches to fit a wide variety of pails
• Custom elastic for child safe closure when needed. No dangerous elastic bungee cords to entangle children.
• Only 2 tight, durable, heat bonded, and water resistant seams keep moisture inside.
• Durable Waterproof Polyurethane Laminated Polyester (PUL)
• Made in the USA
• Wahmies Products have always been PVC, Pthalate, and Lead Free.
• MSRP $17.95each
• Available in a variety of prints and solid colors to match your nursery!

Pimp Your Stash #11 - Ends Friday 10-30 (Wahmies DSQ Pail Liner) *** CLOSED ***

This weeks Pimp Your Stash winner will receive a Wahmies Diaper Service Quality Pail Liner! This weeks question is "What do you use as a diaper pail? And do you use a pail liner?"

Guidelines for Entry
-In order to participate in our weekly contest and validate all extra entries you must first answer the weekly question.

-Please, be sure to be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you....

-Each contest runs from Sunday 12am to Friday 9pm.

-Winners are chosen using random.org, notified on Saturdays and winners name also posted on Blog.

-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.

-Participation is open to mamas and papas worldwide! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the fun, however we are not responsible for lost packages and prizes that do not reach their destination will not be replaced.

-How to earn extra entries:
* Tell us why you'd like to win a Wahmies DSQ Pail Liner?
* Become a FAN of Earth Angels Diaper Co. on FaceBook
* Join our Yahoo/Newsletter Group
* Join DD on Flickr & add photos! 1 entry for each photo, up to 5 per week.
* Follow Us on Twitter
* Follow Diaper Discussions Blog
* Place the Diaper Discussions Animated Banner on your site or Blog
* Tweet About the Giveaway (use #clothdiapers in the tweet) comment with a url to the tweet.
* Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, forums or site (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it).
* Contribute an Article, Product Review or relevant story regarding Cloth Diapering. 10 extra entries are given for contributions submitted during the week of the contest. (Please do not contribute articles that were already published elsewhere.)
* Comment to any post on the Diaper Discussions Blog (one entry per each comment)
* Register (or being already registered) in our Affiliate Program (please specify where you placed your affiliate banner).

--- Please post a separate comment for each extra entry and let us know which you've chosen to do in that comment ---

Good Luck!!

More about Flip disposable inserts...

We've had a lot of requests for more information about the ingredients of Flip disposable inserts.

We'd requested some very specific information from the factory and late last week, finally received everything you were asking for. As most parents know, many companies that manufacture disposable products do not disclose the exact composition of those products. We know that you care about what goes on your baby's bottom though (so do we)!

Flip One-Size Disposable Inserts are easy to use, dye free, fragrance free and the only disposable insert that has achieved Oeko-Tex certification. Perfect for travel, daycare and those moments when practical life demands something disposable. Each package contains 18 inserts, perfect for a weekend away.

Each Flip disposable insert contains the following ingredients:

• Non-woven bamboo viscose, 5g
  
• Filler
  • Wood pulp, 14-15g
    
  • SAP, 3g
• Starch-based glue, 1g

Flip disposable inserts are very simple and very basic. No plastic, no latex, no adhesives, nothing extra. Just an absorbent pad that meets the ultra high standards demanded by Oeko-Tex. Flip disposable pads can be used in Flip, bumGenius (even in the pocket!) or Econobum.

Created for when life just demands an alternative...

Pimp Your Stash Winner #10 - DieselMonkey

There is not much on this family's blog but enough to see how nice they seem to be... I do hope they are posting more very soon, especially about their brand new diapers!!!!

Monkey Diesel's mom: Congratulations, and please contact us ASAP so we can get your winnings out to you ASAP! :)

New! Blog Contribution incentives, get rewarded for your submissions.

Well you know how much I love receiving your Blog Submissions and I know how much you all love earning prizes and rewards, so what better thought than to reward you for your contributions to the Diaper Discussions Blog!

How will it work? Each month one contributor from that month will be chosen to receive a $20.00 Gift Certificate to Earth Angels Diaper Co. Contributions will be evaluated on content, creativity, inclusion of photos, unique topics covered, and more!

Have writers block? Here are some ideas to help inspire possible contributions.

• Photo Tutorials of your favorite folding technique
• How to Video's or Slideshows
• Washing Tips or Techniques
• Product Reviews
• Tips and Tricks for Cloth Diapering
• Cloth vs. Disposables
• How you got started with cloth
• Cloth Diapers in Daycare
• Traveling with cloth
• Cloth Wipes
• Stripping Diapers
• Funny cloth related stories & bloopers
• Storing your stash
• Wet Pail or Dry Pail
• & more!

Have any questions? Feel free to contact me. Have a contribution? Use our nifty Blog Contribution form and submit your articles today!

Do you want the chance to show off this cute award on your blog?? Start writing and send your contribution(s) TODAY for a chance to win!! The more contributions you send, the more chances you have to win!!

Why You Should Use Cloth

I have recently been helping one of my friends get started with cloth diapers. It has been a lot of fun and reminded me why I started using cloth diapers in the first place. It also reminded me why getting fluffy mail is so much fun. :)

Cloth diapers are cute. There is nothing sweeter than a little bum in a cloth diaper.

Cloth diapers are expensive . . . up front. I have not had to purchase any more diapers since and have saved a lot of money that way. Not having to purchase diapers means being able to spend that money somewhere else. Maybe something for mommy?!

Cloth diapers are better for the environment. I feel better about cloth because I don't have that extra garbage to throw out everyday & I know that I am not contributing soiled diapers to an already overflowing landfill.

There are a lot of people who love cloth diapers and I have met many new friends this way! I haven't met anyone crazy about disposables. :)

My baby hasn't had a rash since we switched to cloth. This was a great positive for cloth diapers for me because my little guy - in the short time we used disposables - had a terrible rash that wouldn't go away.

So, between, saving money, the environment, having fewer or no rash problems, meeting new people, and seeing such cute fluff every day, who wouldn't want to do cloth?!

Reader Contribution by
Andrea

The Flip One-Size Cloth Diaper System

Elsie wasn't feeling very well today, but she had a few minutes where she was a little more chipper so we went outside and snapped a few photos of her wearing her Flip One-Size Cloth Diapers. In the photo above, she is still wearing her overnight diaper. It was stuffed with a Flip: Stay Dry Insert and a Flip: Disposable Insert.

Elsie is learning to crawl... she was kind enough to start exploring a crack in the concrete so I could take this shot of her little bottom showing off the design of Flip's leg casings.

We worked with several materials until we could be sure that the Flip leg casings would provide a good seal (keeping everything inside) while still being easy on your baby's leg. We settled on a soft, flexible knit fabric. Elsie has been wearing Flip most of the time lately and I've been really pleased with the results. The leg casings do their job while still being gentle.

We have long known that we needed a diaper cover, but have gone back and forth over

what we thought was most important in a diaper cover.

Our first few prototypes looked a lot like bumGenius and didn't have a wipeable inside. We nearly went to production with that design, but I called a halt to it before we went too far. When Andrew was little, we used diaper covers and prefolds. We lived in an apartment and I was hand-washing all of my diaper covers every night. We used certain diaper covers over and over again because they could be wiped out. Hand washing was hard enough... it was so helpful when I could just wipe out the inside and reuse the cover. So, relying on my spidey senses, we went back to the drawing board to design a wipeable cover and, months later, emerged with what you see here. The inside has optional flaps... use them or don't. I use them all the time because it keeps the insert inside the diaper and the top edge of the diaper covered with waterproof material (no wicking) front and back. I love it. I can wipe out the cover (if needed), lay in the next insert and keep going...

So let's talk Flip inserts. Flip is available with a Flip: Stay Dry option, a Flip: Organic option and a Flip: Disposable option.

Flip: Stay Dry inserts are made of three layers of microfiber and one layer of suedecloth. Fold lines have been sewn on one end so the insert naturally folds to the right size when you're putting it in the cover. We eliminated the extra step of snapping the insert so you could do this one-handed. The sizing is embroidered on the microfiber side so you don't have to guess which line to use.

Flip: Organic Inserts are made of 100% certified organic cotton. The cotton is also Oeko-Tex 100 certified. The insert is designed to fold one direction for a large / medium setting and the other for a small setting. Before washing, it looks much larger than the cover. After washing 3-5 times in hot water with detergent (drying in the dryer between each wash), the insert will become absorbent and shrink down to it's proper size.

Flip: Disposable Inserts are next... these inserts provide about the same absorbency as a size 3 or a size 4 disposable diaper. They are trim, absorbent and get the job done when life demands something disposable. I've used these on business trips and have used them overnight when all of our extra inserts were dirty. They work amazingly well to boost a microfiber insert for overnight (a trimmer option than double-stuffing) or by themselves overnight. You can stack, fold, layer... whatever you need to do with them. Flip: Disposable Inserts were tested to meet Oeko-Tex 100 standards. They are unbleached, dye-free, lead-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free, fragrance-free and latex-free. No plastic. No adhesives.

One last photo showing all of the inserts together... please excuse my kitchen table. :)

Right to left:

Flip: Organic Insert (unwashed),

Flip: Stay Dry Insert,

Flip: Disposable Insert

Flip: Diaper Cover stuffed with a washed Flip: Organic Insert. This cover was snapped down to the smallest setting.

If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments or email the Cotton Babies customer service department at contactus@cottonbabies.com. You can also call customer service at 1-888-332-2243. If you post a comment on the blog, you'll get a response directly from me (Jenn). I own Cotton Babies and created Flip, bumGenius & Econobum. I am always glad to help.

Caution: Bright bumGenius & Flip colors may bleed initially.

We've found that sometimes the stretchy tab fabric on the brighter bumGenius and Flip colors (Zinnia, Clementine, Moonbeam & Ribbit) is bleeding for a few washes. After those first few initial washes, they are fine. We are still researching why this is happening. The issue is inconsistent so we've gone back to the fabric manufacturer to see if they can give us some answers. This does not affect the functionality of the diaper at all.

To be on the cautious side, we're recommending that you wash the bright colors (especially zinnia) by themselves at least six times before you mix them with your other diapers. We've added a "heads up!" sticker to the packaging, but wanted to mention this on the blog as well so we can catch the eyes of those of you who don't read the package first!

If you do happen to have a bright colored diaper bleed onto your other diapers, don't panic. It will fade over time!

This caution applies to bumGenius Organic One-Size All-In-Ones, bumGenius 3.0 One-Size Cloth Diapers and to the Flip One-Size Cloth Diaper System in the Zinnia, Clementine, Ribbit and Moonbeam colors.

If you have any questions, email contactus@cottonbabies.com or give us a call at 1-888-332-2243. We're always here to help.

Be a good neighbor and help us spread the word! Thanks. :)

Flip & Econobum Now Shipping!

Did you pre-order Flip or Econobum? If so, we are shipping them out now...so be watching your mail!! They are also available at the Cotton Babies retail location in St. Louis.

If you didn't pre-order, now is the time!

Once you try them out, come back and post in the comments...we can't wait to hear what you think!

Just Julie: Homemade Halloween costumes! UPDATE

Whew! We're done. After a last minute decision to attend our local zoo's Boo at the Zoo event last Friday, I realized I had exactly 2 days to purchase the fabric and sew 1 Lava Girl & 2 Shark Boy costumes. I still had no real idea how I was going to do it but the fabric did lend itself to a little inspiration.

For Lava Girl I was most drawn to the pink vinyl and sparkly fabrics, sequins, etc. For the Shark Boys I found a snakeskin that I thought might double as sharkskin. All in all I ruined one whole pink skirt, that's not uncommon when you try and cut a skirt pattern out of your head without taking any measurements or anything. It was way too small and was totally not cut right. Even the skirt that I ended up using still didn't quite fit right, but the Lava Girl belt covers up the imperfections.

For the Shark Boys I was at a loss, I couldn't for the life of me figure out how I was going to make them look like sharks. I made the shorts first, then the arm cuffs, then the vests. It was at the last minute that I realized I had some super strength aplix that I had bought to make diapers and it worked perfectly for attaching the shark fins to their backs. Although, after having worn them to one event the shark fins already need to be replaced with new ones, they took quite a beating...

Maybe I just work best under pressure, who knows!? Just thought I'd update you all on how they turned out. Anyone else working on their costumes yet?

The Cloth Diaper Geek Explains it all! All about Tea Tree Oil

Welcome to another edition of The Cloth Diaper Geek Explains it all! Each week we focus on frequently asked questions and issues concerning all things cloth diaper related. If you've got a question for the Geek, simply use our Blog Contribution form and we'll be happy to troubleshoot for you and answer your questions.

This week the Geek will focus on your questions regarding the use of Tea Tree oil.

Question: What is Tea Tree oil?

The Geeks Answer: Tea Tree oil, aka Melaleuca oil, is an essential oil taken from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia tree, native to Australia. This oil has naturally occurring antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial properties. It is most commonly used diluted. It can cause skin irritation even after dilution. Testing for allergies or skin sensitivities is recommended before use.

Tea Tree is also commonly used to treat acne, skin infection, athlete's foot and head lice among many other things.

Question: Does Tea Tree work for washing diapers and killing bacteria? If so, how?

The Geeks Answer: Honestly, in my research I've found that the recommended amount needed to definitevley kill bacteria in laundry would be more than I would recommend using on cloth diapers. Unlike regular laundry, it is important that the oil does not build up on your diapers and cause them to repel. For this reason it is not recommended that you use more than 1-2 drops of Tea Tree oil in your wash or in your wet pail.

Also, due to the fact that Tea Tree oil is naturally a very potent oil, even when diluted, adding more than 1-2 drops to you diaper laundry could very well cause skin sensitivies and rash issues with your baby.

Even though you may not be able to rely on 1-2 drops of the oil to rid you of your bacterial problems, you can count on it to help mask and neutralize odors and keep them smelling fresh and soft.

My best advice is to experiement with the use of Tea Tree for your diapers. Start with 1-2 drops and increase if needed making sure that your diapers aren't getting oil build up and that your babe's bum is still rash free.

*Another important note...In researching this topic I did come across those who beleive that the use of Tea Tree, due to it's antibacterial properties, could contribute to the evolution of "superbugs," antibacterial resistant microorganisms. They belive that the use of low-dose Tea Tree that is not stong enough to kill bad microbes acutally toughen their defenses making them stronger and more resistant.

Likewise, I found information disputing the above claims.

Breastfeeding in Public - my experience in Ann Taylor

Last week, we had to go to the Apple store to take care of a problem with my iPhone. While we were there, I had to back up the old iPhone to my laptop, which, if you own an iPhone, you'll know can take quite a while. For 45 minutes, I held Elsie. She made it for a while, but eventually she got squirmy and fussy. It was time to eat. We hadn't planned for a long stay and I was without a diaper bag. The Apple Store is bright and cheery and, by design, doesn't offer even a corner of seclusion. The lack of a diaper bag meant that I didn't have a blanket to cover up with.

I could have just fed her. Some people are comfortable openly breastfeeding in public. I'm not opposed to the idea and have certainly nursed my baby in public many times, but never without a cover-up and certainly never in the middle of a well-lit Apple store full of very young, unmarried men. My baby was already drawing attention to herself. She is eight months old and her idea of nursing is ten seconds of nursing, pop off, look around, see if she missed anything and then she goes back to nursing for a few seconds. We do that until she gets full enough to not want to go back to nursing. Her current style of nursing certainly isn't the most modest approach. A distracted eight month old and full-on breast exposure seem to go hand-in-hand. My breast being someone else's eye candy is just not my cup of tea. It seemed even less ideal in that particular crowd.

So, for the first time in my nearly six year nursing career, she and I left and headed for a dressing room. Ann Taylor next door was very kind and accommodating. After the debacle a few years ago with Victoria's Secret not allowing a mom to breastfeed in their changing room, I've intentionally never asked to use a dressing room to nurse. I didn't want to be told no (I'm quiet & would find that terribly embarrassing) and have always anticipated at least a strange look from the usually single girl who has no idea what it means to nurse a baby. I'm also usually well equipped with a sling!

Going into Ann Taylor, I wasn't sure to who to ask, so I just talked with the first person I saw setting product out in the front of the store. She seemed educated on the topic and politely said, "Of course!" and led me straight back to their dressing rooms.

As she let me in the dressing room, she mentioned that I could use the space for as long as I wanted. They kept it quiet in the back. Nobody knocked on the door to see if I was "finished" yet. The staff treated me just like any other customer as I headed back to the Apple store fifteen minutes later with a now-happy baby.

Thank you, Ann Taylor, for training your staff well. I was in your location on the second level of West County Mall in St. Louis, Missouri. I'll remember that your store is there next time I forget my blanket in the Apple store!

Have you had a good experience nursing your baby in a public location? Tell me about it. How well are other companies educating their employees about proper accommodations for breastfeeding women?

Fluff in the Spotlight: Tweedle Bugs OneSize Diapers

Bzz Bzz! This week we're featuring Tweedle Bugs One-Size Pocket Diapers! Tweedle Bugs are one of the most affordable one-size cloth diapers on the market. Each diaper is only $12.95 and comes with one insert and one doubler!

Like most one-size diapers, Tweedle Bugs fit babies and toddlers from approximately 7-35lbs.

They also feature:

• Insert opening in front & rear of diaper (Minky Moo only has back opening)
• Exterior is waterproof PUL
• Interior is soft microfleece (Minky Moo interior is suedecloth)
• Double row of adjustable snaps
• Newborn, Crawler & Toddler settings
• Available in one minky print Minky Moo

Try one today and see just how affordable cloth diapering can be!

Pimp Your Stash #10 - Ends Friday 10-23 (2 Tweedle Bugs OneSize Diapers) *** CLOSED ***

This weeks Pimp Your Stash winner will receive a TWO Tweedle Bugs OneSize Diapers! This weeks question is "What size setting would you need to use the Tweedle Bug diapers?"

Guidelines for Entry
-In order to participate in our weekly contest and validate all extra entries you must first answer the weekly question.

-Please, be sure to be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you....

-Each contest runs from Sunday 12am to Friday 9pm.

-Winners are chosen using random.org, notified on Saturdays and winners name also posted on Blog.

-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.

-Participation is open to mamas and papas worldwide! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the fun, however we are not responsible for lost packages and prizes that do not reach their destination will not be replaced.

-How to earn extra entries:
* Tell us which color or print of Tweedle Bugs is your favorite?
* Become a FAN of Earth Angels Diaper Co. on FaceBook
* Join our Yahoo/Newsletter Group
* Join DD on Flickr & add photos! 1 entry for each photo, up to 5 per week.
* Follow Us on Twitter
* Follow Diaper Discussions Blog
* Place the Diaper Discussions Animated Banner on your site or Blog
* Tweet About the Giveaway (use #clothdiapers in the tweet) comment with a url to the tweet.
* Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, forums or site (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it).
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Pimp Your Stash Winner #9 - Tamara

This week's winner is commenter #2!!! They are Attila and Tamara from Szögedi Home, and I gotta say that Im sure that new Rocky Mountain is going to look great on that gorgeous baby!!!

Please, contact us ASAP so we can get your winnings out to you right away!

The Great Cloth Diaper Hunt is coming! Register today!

It's that time of year! Time for the 10th Annual Great Cloth Diaper Hunt. And this year Diaper Discussions is a Sponsor!

What is the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt? It's an internet scavenger hunt from Nov 1-30, 2009. You visit participating sites and search high and low for the GCDH Diaper Icon. Once you find it you click through and Diaper Decisions tracks your progress. There are 35 random prize drawings, 1 Grand Prize worth over $600.00, and one daily prize for each day of the hunt.

Register Today! Click HERE to register and tell them you were referred by Diaper Discussions.

Back to the Bag

I've had a nice break this summer - from the constant presence of the diaper bag anyway, if not from anything else.

Lily went to full time panties in June and I carried around a bag for a couple weeks after that.  As she became more reliable I left a change of clothes in the car and resurrected my long forgotten purse.  It was great!  I felt like I had lost about 20 pounds!  I only brought the diaper bag with me if we were going to be stuck in one place for very long, like a waiting room, to carry some extra activities.  But even that became less and less after I realized that our mini magna-doodle fit in my purse.

Now I find myself waddling about, preparing for the new baby's arrival, and contemplating adding the extra baggage back in.

I know some people cloth diaper and manage to travel lightly.  I'm not one of those people.  If I bring with me everything I could possibly need (and then some) on an outing, I won't need to touch any of it, or at least very little.  But if I bring the very basics, then baby will spit up, have an explosive diaper, and decide that now is the time we must have that extra blanket.  It just seems to be one of those Murphy's Laws of Parenting.

Older babies are a little more dependable than newborns as to what they need in a diaper bag.  So I do tend to downsize later on. But in a few weeks here I will be traveling along with a newborn and two year old almost everywhere I go.  (Adding in the older children many other times too.)  So I need to start with well prepared and work down from there.

So I sat down with my bag this morning and started to pack it and realized - I'm a little out of practice here.

I started with:

• Diapers - generally 3 in the bag, more to be added for a long outing
• Extra cover
• Wipes/squirt bottle - need to get a new squirt bottle, my 4 year old absconded with the old one
• Receiving blanket - big enough to swaddle in (or mop up a giant spit up)
• Wet bag - better not forget that!
• Outfit - onesie and feeties
• Nursing pads - I always have extras since I seem to be distantly related to Old Faithful.
• Mommy stuff - wallet, phone, and lip gloss

So what am I forgetting?  What do you mommies pack in your newborn diaper bag?

Just Julie: My baby boys turned 3yrs old!

October 11 we celebrated my twins' 3rd Birthday! We rented a pavilion at a local park and invited tons of friends and family. Although it was super hot and we were all covered in sweat, the kids didn't seem to mind and they played all day.

It's hard to believe how big they've gotten, how fast they're growing, how much they're talking, and how their twin bond is growing. I so much look forward to the future and what it might hold but at the same time wish that I could go back and cherish them as little babies a little longer. Their first year of life was a blur, if I knew then what I know now I would have done so much differently.

Never the less, I love my babies and feel truly blessed. Just thought I'd share some pics. :)

Some of my favorite baby shower gifts...

I am not a mom, but I am a very proud "aunt" many, many times over. As such, I find myself constantly going to baby showers - all the time lately. I love going and celebrating the life that is coming into the world. It is so important and significant to me to honor the women in my life and watch, love and support them as they have cared for the life growing inside them before they even met them...face to face that is.

Now, every time I am invited to a shower, I want to take something really great, but also something practical. So, I thought I'd share some of my favorite baby shower gifts with you all.

First and foremost, I must introduce you to Sophie the Giraffe. Sure, she looks like your average squeaky toy, but let me tell you, Sophie is far from average. I have never met a child that doesn't fall head over heels in love with her. She is made from 100% natural rubber and food paint - so she is totally safe for your baby - she squeaks, she is chewable, she is easy to hold...she is just about perfect!

I have given Sophie as a gift more times than I can count...and each time the mom says thank you politely at the shower and puts Sophie with the rest of the gifts. About 3 months after their baby arrives, I get a phone call from my friend, it always goes something like this: "Thank you SOOOOOOOOOO much for Sophie, I don't know what I would do without her. I just ordered 2 more because if this giraffe gets lost, I am going to be in trouble!"

My next "go to" baby shower gift is a baby carrier of some sort. More often than not, I go for the Moby Wrap. Why? Well, I constantly hear such great things about this wrap from my friends...and I have used it myself with their babies. It is so much easier to use than you think. I promise! They come in fantastic colors, and they are really affordable. The design of this wrap makes carrying baby so easy, and truly comfortable. And the baby looks so snug as a bug, while mom can have 2 free hands!

Another favorite is the Peekaru. I think this is just one of the coolest baby items ever...and if you are looking for a gift that will the "ooohs" and "ahhhs" - this is it. This vest is used in combo with any baby carrier, and goes over mom & baby to keep everyone warm in cold weather - with a hole for the baby's head to poke through...keeping everything covered and warm against the cold winter weather. If I am going shopping with a girlfriend and their baby and I know they are going to be wearing their Peekaru, we ALWAYS schedule an extra hour because so many people stop and ask about it - and everyone loves what an amazing invention the Peekaru is!

Finally, if you are looking for clothes to give, let me introduce you to Kicky Pants Coveralls. I want them to be made in an adult size because they are seriously the softest clothes ever! I love giving them - they are so cute and come in fantastic colors. Kicky Pants are a great "go to" outfit.



So these are just a few of my favorite baby shower gifts...what do you like to give?