Tuesday Giveaway: Flip Trainers!

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

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

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

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

New Product Giveaway!

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

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

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

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

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

Announcing NEW Flip Training Pants!

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

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

Flip Features:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cloth Diapers 101: What detergent to choose?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Britax B-Agile Stroller Parade Contest!

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

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

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

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

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

Win a FREE Britax B-Agile in the Cotton Babies Stroller Parade!

Maybe you've already heard about the Cotton Babies Britax Stroller Parade event coming to Cotton Babies stores this weekend. Don't live near a Cotton Babies store? Don't worry! We have a Britax B-Agile reserved for a special online version of the stroller parade!

For our local store customers:

We are welcoming the newest stroller in the Britax line, the B-Agile, to the Cotton Babies store at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30, 2011. Of course we like to celebrate in style, so why not have a parade! Come out to our stores to get a peek at the brand new Britax B-Agile stroller and B-Safe car seat. No matter what stroller you own, convert your family and your stroller into a parade-worthy float and we'll cruise down the sidewalk. The "Most Genius" grand-prize winner will take home a brand new Britax B-Agile and a bumGenius 4.0 stay dry cloth diaper 3 pack.

One-day sales, specials and fun activities will be happening in our stores throughout the day! The special events begin at 10 a.m. with the Britax Stroller Parade. We have three categories to inspire your stroller creations:

Most Genius: Be creative. Think Best in Show. Judged on creativity, uniqueness and effort; the winner of the Most Genius award will receive a bumGenius 4.0 3 pack and a new Britax B-Agile stroller!*

Glorious Green: Create a cloth diaper or earth-friendly themed stroller. Winner of this category will receive a Flip Stay Dry cloth diaper Day Pack .*

Go Wild! Animals are the inspiration for this category. Let your imagination run WILD! Winner will receive a $50 Cotton Babies gift card.*

We will have other special in store events immediately following the parade from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. including car seat safety checks, face painting, special deals and more. Events vary by location, please call your local store for more details.

To be eligible to win prizes in the Britax Stroller Parade store event, you must register for this event at: http://bit.ly/CBParade

For our online customers:

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

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

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

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

* Prizes for the winner of each category will be determined by an independent panel of judges (non-Cotton Babies employees). Each registrant is eligible for a maximum of one prize. Judges decisions on the day of the store event are final. You must be present to claim your prize for the in store parade.

Tuesday Giveaway: White Flip Diaper Covers!

Last week we announced the arrival of WHITE Flip diaper covers and our Flip Freedom Sale. Today is the last day to catch those great deals on some of your favorite Flip products; the sale ends at midnight tonight, July 5, 2011.

We're continuing the celebration today by giving away prize packs that include a brand new White Flip diaper cover with snap closures and a Flip stay dry insert.

To enter today's blog giveaway for your chance to win one of our prize packs, leave a comment on this blog post and tell us your favorite dish to take to summer time parties. Do you have a go-to recipe that friends and family rely on you to bring? Do you try new things each time? What dish means summer to you?

Eligible entries must be posted today, Tuesday, July 5, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be drawn at random on Wednesday, July 6, 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.)

Entries are now closed. Congratulations to Amanda C., VagabondBride and BashamAdventure this week's winners! Check your e-mail for details on how to claim your prize.

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.

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.)

May Day Giveaway!

Happy (belated) May Day! I'm not sure about you, but May is a busy month for our family. We have lots of events, travel and days away from home planned. May brings Mother's Day, weddings, graduations, birthdays, end of school events and more!

For today's blog giveaway, we're giving Mom (or Dad) the gift of convenience. If you haven't already seen it online, the newest addition to our Flip product lineup is the Flip Travel Pack. This pack includes two Flip covers and 18 Flip disposable inserts. At Cotton Babies, we know that life gets busy, sometimes you are away from home and sometimes a disposable option can alleviate a bit of stress. Most of us keep at least one package of Flip disposable inserts at home, just in case.

Whether you'll be traveling in May or all you really want for Mother's Day is a day off laundry duty, we have the prize for you! Today's winners will each receive a Flip Travel Pack and a Cotton Babies Cold Cup.

To enter today's blog giveaway for your chance to win one of our prize packs, leave a comment on this blog post sharing what May event you are looking forward to most. Would a Flip Travel Pack or Cotton Babies Cold Cup make that day even better? Tell us.

Eligible entries must be posted today, Tuesday, May 3, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be drawn at random on Wednesday, May 4, 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.)