Change 3 Things / Flip Diapers Giveaway

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

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

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

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

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

Cloth 101: Laundry Detergents

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

Jenn wrote:

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

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

In 2009, Jenn wrote:

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

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

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

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

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

This Just In: Aden + Anais and GLAMOURMOM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Artist Heist Giveaway

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

Choose from one of these four fantastic Artist Heist deals:

* 2 bumGenius 4.0 Tiny Socialites - $33.99

* 5 bumGenius 4.0 Tiny Socialites - $76.99

* 2 bumGenius Elemental Tiny Socialites - $45.99

* 5 bumGenius Elemental Tiny Socialites - $99.99

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

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

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

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

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