Soft and Cozy Baby

EEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW that smell!!!!

2012-01-15T13:59:00.003-05:00

I am going to drop some truth on you guys here.... cloth diapers sometimes get a case of the smells. How will you know when it strikes? It should be easy to detect... An ammonia smell that takes your breath away or a poo smell that no amount of washing can get rid of. If this happens do you know what to do about it? What about how to prevent it in the future?

The cause of these smells is often buildup on the diapers. The buildup can be caused by a number of things: detergent that did not get rinsed out completely, issues with your wash routine or cycle or even diaper creams that are not safe for cloth. If you believe detergent buildup is the culprit there are a couple of fixes. First is to make sure that you are using a detergent approved for cloth diapers- Country Save, Rockin' Green, Thirsties Super Wash and Planet just to name a few. If you are using a mainstream detergent brand make sure it does not have added scents, whiteners, brighteneners etc that can build up on the diapers. When it comes to washing your stash the more basic the detergent the better. You should also be doing an extra rinse (or even two) at the end of your wash cycle to make sure that all the soap is being rinsed away. Another important element is the way in which you wash your diapers. Most experts recommend doing a cold prewash with or without a soak (I soak mine in BioKleen Bac Out overnight to help combat the smellies), then a hot wash with more than enough water. My average diaper wash load of 10-12 covers and inserts is considered a large load. When it comes to cloth diaper washing- the more water the better!

You may need to "strip" your diapers to get the buildup off. One popular method utilizes Dawn dish soap (just the plain blue kind). Just a little squirt (key word being LITTLE.. the more you add the more you will need to rinse)in a hot wash with clean diapers will help remove any built up detergent. RLR Laundry Treatment is another option for stripping diapers to remove buildup. This economical option is available on our website and in the store: http://www.softandcozybaby.com/item_375/RLR-Laundry-Treatment.htm. After you have stripped the diapers you might consider adding Rockin Green Funk Rock to every load. This "ammonia bouncer" is very popular and seem to do the trick for lots of people: http://www.softandcozybaby.com/item_426/Funk-Rock-Ammonia-Bouncer--30-loads.htm.

Another important factor in keeping your diapers smelling fresh is washing at least every 2 to 3 days. Too often I put off doing diaper wash because I have enough to get through but this inevitably causes issues. Think about it.. the longer the wet and dirty diapers sit the harder they are to get clean. When I wash every other day I find that smell is not even a factor anymore.

Are you fighting the good fight against smelly diapers? What has worked for you??

Spontaneous Product Review: purEcosheet

2012-01-11T16:44:00.000-05:00

Confession: I love fabric softener and/or dryer sheets. I love the smell. I love the feel of fluffy towels. I think part of my adoration stems from warm, fuzzy memories of my mom giving me clothes straight from the dryer that still smelled like Snuggle :)

Sadly, my love affair with "main stream" dryer sheets and fabric softener had to end when I started cloth diapering my son. Part of it was because I knew that they were bad news for the absorption factor of my stash. The bigger issue was my newly gained knowledge of what is actually in those products. Just a few of the ingredients found in fabric softeners like Downy and Snuggle: alpha-terpineol (causes CNS disorders), benzyl acetate(carcinogen-linked to pancreatic cancer), choloroform(neurotoxic, carcinogenic, anesthetic, ethyl acetate (narcotic), linalool (narcotic). Pretty scary, right?

After learning about the potential poisonous side of fabric softener I went cold turkey. I found that using better detergent like Country Save eliminated some of the static automatically but not completely. I've experimented with Ecover's line of fabric softeners but was not overly impressed. Bayla, our fearless leader here at Soft and Cozy Baby, ordered a product called purEcosheet and I was intrigued.

PurEcosheet bills itself as having "all the advantages of a traditional dryer sheet, with none of the chemicals. The perfume, dye and chemical free way to keep your fabrics soft, natural and free of static". I figure it was worth a shot. Two reusable sheets (good for 100s of loads according to the box) is $14.95 so fairly comparable in price to other options out there. The package gives instruction for how to prep (wash in any load of laundry after their first three uses) and maintenance (wash again every 3 months for best performance). After about a month I can tell you that these really do work! My towels and sheets feel softer and my clothes have less static. I cannot think of a single drawback!

Here are some other great things about purEcosheets:
*unscented
*made in North America
*100% hypoallergenic
*safe for use on infant's sleepwear, cloth diapers, technical fabrics, fine linens and towels
*safe for allergy and eczema and allergy sufferers
*great for baby's sensitive skin
* sold at Soft and Cozy Baby!

Hey Target, What's the deal??

2011-12-28T17:46:00.004-05:00

In case you have not heard, a mother was recently harassed in a Target store while she tried to breastfeed her 4 month old baby under the cover of a baby blanket. Initially an employee of the Texas Target informed her that she should nurse in one of the changing rooms. When she declined another employee told her that she could be cited for indecent exposure. Within minutes word must have spread throughout their staff and several other workers walked by to get a peek and shake their head in disapproval. Disapproval of a woman feeding her baby. Apparently these employees were concerned that her public act of breastfeeding would bother her fellow shoppers. How many customers complained? Not one. After this story had garnered national attention (at least among those concerned with breastfeeding and women's right), Target issued a statement saying that “guests who choose to breastfeed in public areas of the store are welcome to do so without being made to feel uncomfortable".

Unfortunately, I did not find this story very shocking. As a mother that breastfed two babies for a total of 35 months between them I had experienced a fair amount of ignorance and ill treatment. A museum employee once approached me while I nursed my son under a nursing cover and told me that I would be more comfortable in the "mom's lounge" in the bathroom? When I walked into the stale air of the restroom I was greeted by a folding chair. I turned right around and assumed my former position and fed my son. I have several stories like this and they all end in me standing my ground and feeding my baby. Many times I was able to nurse my babies while wearing them and no one was the wiser. Who was I hurting??

What disturbed me most about this incident was reading the comments on articles about the story. Grown men and women referring to breastfeeding as "icky" and "inappropriate". That this woman must have wanted to cause a scene because she refused to be relegated to a stall to feed her baby. Others questioned her fitness as a mother for not pumping bottles in anticipation of his hunger. Still more made rude comments about her body (HELLO, she just had a baby four months before!. I was aghast. Do these same people clutch their pearls when they pass a Victoria's Secret? when they watch cable? Can't they understand that this woman was just trying to provide milk to her baby??

Listen, I know that not everyone can or wants to breastfeed. I feel very strongly that "breast is best" but I know that every mother just wants to raise a healthy baby and has to make her own choices. What I do not understand is why all the moms of the world are not enraged at what happened in Target. Why it is okay for corporate America to use images of breasts to sell clothes, beer, cars and so much more but not okay for me to feed my baby? Nursing moms are not trying to expose themselves, to shock people or to cause a commotion- they just want to feed their babies. They do not want to feed them in a dank public restroom or in the broom closet. Why aren't we more concerned with nurturing these moms so that they can feel more comfortable in their role as a mother? Why are breastfeeding moms being harassed in 21st century America??

My sons are 5 and 2. I have no problem with them witnessing a mother nurse their child. I want them to grow up knowing that breasts serve a biological purpose and are not just there to be ogled. If I am ever blessed with a daughter I want her to know the power of her body and all that it is capable of. I want her to breastfeed confidently without feeling as though she is going to be harassed. I want her to feel as though her rights as a woman are upheld.

Review: Nosefrida the Snotsucker

2011-11-01T20:30:00.002-04:00

One of the first things you learn to do as a mother is use a bulb syringe to clear out your baby’s nose. Everyone knows about the battle of the bulb syringe! It’s a rite of passage! Fortunately, one of my friends eventually turned me on to the Nosefrida, a Swedish invention that has been used in Europe by pediatricians, nurses, midwives and parents for over 10 years.

The Nosefrida is a simple tapered plastic tube connected to a hose with a mouthpiece. You bite the mouthpiece, insert the tube into a nostril (it is designed so it doesn’t actually enter the nose, but plugs baby’s nostril to get a good suction) and slowly suck in, providing sustained and gentle suction. To keep the suction tube clean and your mind settled, the Nosefrida incorporates a disposable foam filter that keeps the snot and bacteria in the tube and out of your mouth.

I love and trust all things Swedish, so of course I ordered one! Right on cue, my 1-year-old daughter got another cold, so I was able to give the Nosefrida a good workout right away.

And it was excellent! I was able to begin sucking into the tube before approaching my daughter’s nostrils, so I got a good 3-4 seconds of strong, sustained suck before she swatted it away. The clear tube allowed me to see my prize….a gallon of mucus, at least! I had to get the other nostril, so, I started sucking, aimed, and…she let me stick it in her nose without complaint! She welcomed it, in fact, grinning the whole time. Of course it’s funny! Look at what you are doing! Another gallon of mucus retrieved. It was a very pleasant interaction, and I could tell that my daughter felt much better. She has gotten two or three colds since then, and snotsucking has now become a funny game for us.

With a bulb syringe, you have to squeeze, aim, insert deep into the nose, and then get a ½ second of measly suck action if you managed to get it in the right place…and then you have to somehow clean it!

Cleaning the Nosefrida is simple. You just take the hose and filter off and then flush the tube with soap and water. Good as new, with visual confirmation that there are no boogies left. I’m cheap, so I just rinse the filter and use again, but you are supposed to use a fresh filter for each snotsucking session. I do change mine at the end of each illness.

This, along with the Ergo Baby Carrier, BabyLegs and Aden and Anais Swaddle Blankets, is one of my top items for new moms and old moms alike.

NIKKI!

How UnderCover Mama Saved My Baby from Chickenpox!

2011-10-08T22:06:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I noticed 2 itchy spots on my belly and back. I thought it was mosquito bites but had no idea how they got to my belly! Someone suggested it was poison ivy but again, almost impossible. A couple days later it turned into a blistery rash. As we were going out of town the next day, I decided to go to Patient First being that it was quite uncomfortable and I wanted to make sure it wasn't contagious.

The Doctor at Patient First took one look at it and announced, "That is definitely Shingles." Shingles?! I thought that's for old people! She said that she's seen a few young people with it lately. So am I contagious? Only if someone comes into direct contact with the lesions. But I am nursing a baby! She said my baby was likely already exposed so there's nothing I can do about it anyway. Someone can contract chickenpox from shingles, but they wouldn't contract shingles. But my 8 mo old nursling has not had the chickenpox or the vaccine, and he's the only one who has been in direct contact with my belly!

Her only advice was to keep it covered, wash my hands, and take an antiviral. I was taken off work for a week as I'm a midwife and don't want to expose my patients - just in case. I called my pediatrician who wasn't concerned. It's not dangerous for a baby at 8 months to get chicken pox.

So we went on our trip as planned. And my baby never got the chicken pox!

I attribute it to my Undercover Mama! I LOVE the Undercover Mama and wear one all the time! It is great because it just hooks to your regular nursing bra and is much cheaper than a nursing tank. I like that it keeps my belly covered while I'm nursing as I wear a lot of T-shirts. I also wear it to sleep because nursing in bed makes for a cold tummy! I think because my Undercover Mama kept my belly covered all the time, my baby was never exposed to the shingles lesion.

Another great benefit of the Undercover Mama!

Lollidoo Overnight EcoPocket to the Rescue!

2011-08-28T22:02:00.002-04:00

All moms suffer from lack of sleep and look forward to a time when their little one will sleep through the night without waking. We dream about it, well actually moms who don't get good sleep don't actually get to dream, but we daydream about dreaming...lol

The heartbreak happens when the time comes, baby sleeps through the whole night, the problem? Well the problem is that your cloth diapers can't make it through the whole night without wicking or leaking and there's nothing like a soaked cloth diaper, sheets and onesie to wake a sleeping babe! I know, it's a sad thing, all you want to do is sleep and finally baby wants to sleep, but you need to find an overnight cloth diapering system that works!

That's where the Lollidoo Overnight Ecopocket comes in! Fleece is a really awesome cloth diapering solution for heavy wetter and overnight and that's why Lollidoo has created a pocket diaper for overnight using it! Fleece repels moisture which keeps the wetness inside the diaper, in the inserts where it belongs.

About Lollidoo:
Made in the USA with recycled and organic fibers, LolliDoo cloth diapers are available in a whole host of styles, beginning with our versatile eco-pocket pocket-style cloth diaper with recycled fleece outer and your choice of certified organic cotton skin liner or recycled StayDry skin liner. eco-pocket diapers are available in Classic or Overnight styles in an array of vibrant colors.

The Overnight Ecopocket comes with THREE absorbent innies/inserts.

Visit Soft and Cozy Baby today and check out the Ecopocket by Lollidoo! We promise, you won't regret it!

Guest Author: Julie, the "Cloth Diaper Geek"

You use what kind of diapers??!!

2011-08-10T18:43:00.001-04:00

One of the things I love most about cloth diapering (and working at a cloth diaper store) is getting to share my knowledge and passion with others. I love when a fellow mom expresses interest in learning more and gives cloth diapering a try. I get a thrill when a fellow mom notices my son's adorable diaper in the Nordstrom ladies lounge. What better way to spread the word?

That being said, I often run into those that are super skeptical of the whole cloth diaper concept. I hear questions like "You wash that in your washing machine?", "You have to rinse them out?", "You know disposables are so much easier, right??". I wish I knew the perfect way to respond but I am usually at a loss. I generally revert to smiling and conceding that cloth diapering might not be the best choice for everyone... I wish I could express to them how cloth diapering changed the way I look at consumerism, the environment, my budget, my baby's health and so much more!

Have you encountered many nay-sayers?? How do you respond?

cloth wipes: all the cool people are using them

2011-04-04T15:23:00.011-04:00

When I first ventured into the world of cloth diapering I was hesitant about a lot of factors: washing, leakage, practicality etc. I was ultimately won over by the environmental impact of disposables AND their impact on my wallet. Why then was I not as excited to jump on the cloth wipe band wagon? For some reason I held onto that last vestige of disposable diapering. I was happy to ditch the paper diapers but I felt like the wipes practical and inexpensive enough to keep using them. I was so wrong!

After about a month of cloth diapering I realized the disposable wipes were cramping my style. First, I discovered how flimsy they were and just how many I needed to clean up an atomic #2 diaper. Second, I could no longer just wrap them up in the disposable diaper and throw them out (ohhhhhhhhh the landfills........). It actually ended up being MORE work to separate them out without making a mess. I ended up banishing disposable wipes from my house (I do keep them in the car for emergencies!) and making an effort to use the cloth option.

For those that are skeptical (or scared) here is "Cloth Wipes 101".
Lots of cloth diaper makers have gotten in on the cloth wipe action: BumGenius, Fuzzi Bunz, Kissaluvs, the list goes on and on. You can also use washcloths (baby or otherwise- the baby ones tend to be a little softer on the bum), pieces of old textiles- you get the picture. You can use them dry with a spray bottle, wet with plain ol' water, or wet with a diaper wipe solution. There is no wrong way- just what you find that works best for you.

Here is how I "get my wipe on":

I use Thirsties Fab Wipes (and let me tell you, they ARE fab!

For a solution I use Punkin Butt Organic Wipe Concentrate:

I love that one little bottle makes 50 batches!!!

I use a plastic wipes container but any tupperware (or even a wipe warmer) will do. I use an old Huggies tub because I like the opening better for "pop-up-ability". I won't include a picture of that because I bet our readers are super smart and know what one looks like ;)

Now here is where I get kind of fancy. I like my wipes to pop out of the tub like a disposable wipe would. Here is how I make that happen:

Step 1: Lay out the first wipe and put the second wipe halfway over it.

Step 2: Fold one wipe over the other.

Step 3: Lay another wipe over the side you just folded over.

Step 4: Fold the opposite side over the cloth you just laid down.

Continue folding this away until you have used the desired number of wipes and place them in your wipe container. Next, add your wipe solution to one cup of boiled water and pour over the wipes. You're done!! Once you get the hang of folding the wipes this will go a lot faster :) If the folding is not your think you can skip this step. Other mamas prefer to wet wipes as needed or just keep a spray bottle with water or wipe solution on hand to spray dirty bottoms. No matter which way you do it cloth wipes saves you money AND benefits the earth!

Breastfeeding Necessities

2011-03-16T23:00:00.002-04:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Breastfeeding!

Cat Wearing

2011-03-04T08:28:00.005-05:00

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

Ah! Considering that I am no stranger to wearing cats, I indulged her request. I told her to go to any thrift store and pick up a Baby Bjorn or Infantino, as it would be perfect for her to wear her invalid cat. I printed out some examples of a “crotch dangler” and sent her on her way. I love Baltimore!

A few weeks later, Cat Lady stopped by again…with the little black cat strapped to her chest facing out in an old blue and plaid Baby Bjorn, cost $5! She was elated, and the cat was either quite comfortable and happy, or half dead. Another satisfied customer!

And that is the only time I will ever recommend a Baby Bjorn! Why? Because there are hundreds of more supportive and more versatile-not to mention more stylish-baby carriers on the market, for about the same price.

The Baby Bjorn only allows parents to wear their babies on the front, to a maximum weight of about 20 pounds. Many folks won’t even make it to that weight limit before giving up on babywearing because of the Bjorn’s design, which does not distribute baby’s weight comfortably for parent OR baby.

Let’s compare the Bjorn with one of our most popular (and my favorite) soft structured carriers, the Ergo Baby.

The Ergo has a wide, padded waist strap that effectively spreads almost all of baby’s weight onto the hips, which as all mothers know, are designed to bear lots of weight. The Bjorn “hangs” all of baby’s weight on the adult’s trapezius muscles, which are not designed to bear any weight at all.

Furthermore, the Ergo places baby in a comfortable “seated” position, spreading their legs in an ergonomic position (hence, “Ergo”) that also helps distribute baby’s weight evenly onto your hips. The Bjorn concentrates all of baby’s weight on a small strip of fabric between baby's legs, which hang straight down instead of curling around the wearer's body. This allows baby's weight to press on baby's small, delicate crotch area, which is thought to cause spine and genital issues.

The third feature that makes the Ergo and other similar soft structured carriers a much more practical choice than the Bjorn is the ability to wear your child on your back. This allows you to carry heavier children (up to 45 lbs!) for much longer periods of time, as well as be able to do housework or other tasks that require your arms. I have carried a 40-lb five-year-old on my back for several hours in my Ergo with no difficulty or pain at all!

The only thing that the Ergo cannot do that a Baby Bjorn does is allow baby to face outward, but this is not a design flaw. The “facing out” position does not distribute baby’s weight or position baby’s spine ergonomically, so the “facing out” position is not optimal for long periods of comfortable babywearing. Furthermore, it is thought that babies can get stressed and overstimulated if facing out for long periods of time- they can’t see their caregiver or turn away from the stimulating outside world if they need to. But for those who have babies who do like to see what’s going on, there are carriers like the Beco Gemini, FreeHand, and Pikkolo. These carriers are a great cross between the Bjorn and a standard soft structured carrier like the Ergo- they have a supportive waist strap AND allow baby to be worn facing in, facing out, and on your back!

Newborn Picks

2011-02-16T22:57:00.003-05:00

So I am LOVING cloth diapering a newborn. He is now 4 weeks old. I have a lot of my first son's diapers saved but we started with a diaper service so the diapers I had are still too big on my newbie! Plus there are so many fun diapers out there that I needed to try! I consider him a business expense - to try out all my new products!

So Netanel was born Jan 17 weighing in at 7 lb 4 oz - perfect size! But he was also too small for some of the diapers that should fit a newborn. Plus we had the umbilical cord issue - what would fold down and not rub on it. So I'll share my faves!

Lil Joeys are awesome for newborns! They're a bit pricey, I agree. But they really fit perfectly. They're designed for 5-12 lb. We used them from the beginning, as they have a fold down for the umbilical cord. Plus they still fit great a month later, and I except to get at least another month or so use out of them. To top it all off, my 2 year old's favorite diaper is Rumparooz Ladder 6 - so now he has matching diapers with his little brother!

Tini Fits are also designed to fit 5-12 lb. They don't have the umbilical cut out and they were a bit big initially, but we love them now, at 4 weeks. Plus they're stuffable like a pocket!

FuzziBunz Perfect Size in XSmall is another great fit. I love pocket diapers in general as you can stuff them with extra absorbancy, which I've needed to do. Plus if you snap them all the way to the center, at the smallest setting, it pulls down the middle to clear the umbilical cord.

Kissaluvs fitteds in a Size 0 are a well-known favorite for newborns. They fit great, snap down in front and are trim. To go over it I used a Thirsties XSmall cover which fits great. I started with a Bummis Newborn Super Brite but he's basically outgrown that by now - except for very trim diapers. But it doesn't work over prefolds anymore.

Prefolds are also a great newborn option. They're economical, absorbant, and you can customize the fit. They are a bit bulky but fit fine under a onesie or stretchie. Babies look cute with a bubble butt! For overnight diaper changes I like Bummis Whisper Pants - you dont have to deal with pinching and tucking the prefold into a cover. They're not cute, but when you're bleary-eyed in the middle of the night, you just pull it up and you're done!

bumGenius XS All-In-One are also a great, easy newborn diaper option.

And coming soon are GroVia's newborn organic All-In-Ones! Can't wait to try it!

What's your favorite newborn diaper??
Check out our Newborn Diaper page!

Snow makes me love cloth even more...

2011-01-27T11:53:00.004-05:00

Everyone that knows me knows of my love for cloth diapers. As much as I love CDing I sometimes forget the everyday benefits.

For example, this is what I woke up to this morning:

The Baltimore area received around 10 inches of snow between yesterday afternoon and this morning. My car is covered, my sidewalk is covered and the snowplows did only a mediocre job on my street.

The good news is that I have plenty of food and DIAPERS! I never have to worry about being snowed in and running out of diapers or wipes! If I were to run out (which is highly doubtful!) I could just throw them in the wash and be set! I forgot how AWESOME that is! I was scrolling through Facebook this morning and noticed that a number of fellow moms were worried about how they would get to the store to buy more disposable diapers and wipes. Not me! I have a nice fresh stack of fluff waiting for us.

What do you love most about cloth diapering? Is it convenience? cuteness? money savings? environmental friendliness?

New Baby! New Reviews!

2011-01-19T12:00:00.007-05:00

We just had our second baby Monday morning! No name yet! He weighed 7 lb 4 oz and was born in the water, assisted by my midwife partner (I'm also a midwife). Beginning this new journey with new knowledge of fun baby and mama products is super exciting! I hope to share some of my experiences with you. Postings are going to be sporatic with a new baby but I think I'll actually have more time during my babymoon than I normally do! He sleeps a lot right now, and I know, I should be too!

The first thing you need after giving birth is Mama Pads! I've been using Glad Rags for years now, but after taking off 10 months for a pregnancy and using the paper ones in the hospital, I'm glad to be back to cloth pads!

When your bottom is sore and needs extra TLC, I can't imagine using the paper, itchy, sticky pads. Cloth pads are much gentler and softer. And prettier! Think of it as pampering yourself too! You've got these adorable diapers for your baby's bottom; why not have fun stuff for yourself! http://www.softandcozybaby.com/category_29/Mama-Cloth.htm

Glad Rags come in fun patterns and prints. Plus they're stuffable so you can add extra absorbancy or decrease how thick they are, depending on your flow. They come in Pantiliners, Day Pads, and Night Pads. The Night Pads are extra long and wide and allow for more absorbancy - perfect for postpartum! The pads also come in 1 packs or 3 packs.

We also carry FuzziBunz Comfort Pads. They have a PUL daisy-print backing and a soft fleece liner.

And then, think of all the money you'll save! These aren't newborn diapers that you'll grow out of and never need again! You will likely use these (and love them!) for years to come! Never send someone to the store in the middle of the night to buy you more pads or tampons!

How to wash: Well now, I just throw them in with my diapers! Pre-husband and child, I used them too and would wash them separately. They recommend soaking them to prevent staining. But since I got married, I didnt think my husband wanted to walk into the bathroom and see a bowl of soaking pads! So I stopped soaking them. They might be a little stained, but they're dark and it doesn't bother me anyway! You can either wash them separately or with your dark laundry. Never had anything get ruined because of it.

Post here if you use cloth pads and what you like about them!

Upcoming posts - newborn cloth diapers, breastfeeding, newborn support group!

Thirsties NEW Duo Fab Fitted

2011-01-05T21:55:00.008-05:00

We've been waiting a LONG time for these diapers to make their debut and now they're here!

Thirsties has developed the Duo - 2 size system which I love! Most one-size diapers truly don't fit a newborn or a potty-trainer. So Thirsties developed a 2 size system; Size One starts at 6 pounds - truly a newborn, unlike One-Size diapers which start around 8 pounds. Size Two is 18-40 lbs. Most children are potty-trained by then!

So, introducing the Duo Fab Fitted! A 2 size fitted that works superbly with the 2 size Duo Wrap, or Thirsties original cover. Plus the colors coordinate with the Duo Wraps and are adorable! Don't even want to cover those up!

Super Absorbancy! These fitteds hold up to 18 oz of fluid! That's 7 times their weight! Great for even a heavy wetter.

The Duo Fitted has a sleeve design for extra stuffing if necessary and faster drying.

And it's available in 6 adorable colors and Velcro or Snaps!

Check here for more info! http://www.softandcozybaby.com/item_533/Thirsties-Duo-Fab-Fitted.htm

Snaps vs. Velcro

2010-06-15T21:33:00.003-04:00

This is an article I just wrote for the Cloth Diaper Retailer Coop - check it out! There's lots of great information and resources there!

When you first get started in the exciting world of cloth diapers, there are some basics that take some getting used to. The single option sticky tabs that come with disposables aren't the only option anymore. Most cloth diapers close with either Velcro (brand name - but also known as aplix or hooks/loops) or Snaps. Some close with hooks or other fancy options as well.

So why choose one over the other? And does it really matter? For most people it's a personal preference. They just like one better. But there really is a few factors to take into consideration.

Ease of Use
Velcro closure is easier to use generally. There's no learning curve. When I used to send snap Fuzzi Bunz to my elderly babysitter, it was often difficult for her to figure out how to get a snug fit. She might snap the top row but forget the bottom row, resulting in wing droop. Snaps can also be harder for weak or arthritic fingers to maneuver, adjust, or open. With velcro you just attach and you're done. No mathematical equations to figure out which setting to put the snaps on. +1 for velcro!

Fit
With snaps, you have to use their pre-settings. The diaper's not as adjustable. Velcro allows you to angle in order to get a tighter or looser fit whether in the legs or the waist. Most people who use snap diapers remember the settings they use for their baby to get a good fit, which you don't have to do with velcro. If your baby fits well in the settings the snaps are arranged in, that's a bonus for you. But if the snaps can't create a snug enough fit, velcro might be a better option. +1 for velcro!

Longevity
Snaps are going to last longer, hands down. Velcro eventually loses it's "stickiness," gets full of lint, or may separate from the fabric. Even velcro that stays sticky for a long time, sometimes is TOO sticky, and it's hard to detach from the laundry tabs without pulling them off the diaper. In most cases you can replace the velcro or replace it for snaps. bumGenius even provides replacement kits as they know their velcro is not long-lasting. Some ways to make your velcro last longer includes hang-drying the diaper as much as possible, as the dryer will speed up the wear and tear; using a seam ripper, safety pin, or other small object to remove the lint; use care when opening and closing the velcro; have a few days worth of diapers as the less you use each diaper, the longer it will last. Snaps, on the other hand, don't have any of these issues. They will almost always work just as well as when you bought them. And in the instance a snap becomes dislodged or broken, most of them are under warranty for at least a year. +1 for snaps!

Laundering
Velcro diapers come with laundry tabs that are used to attach the velcro to when washing. This is so all the diapers don't stick together in the wash and you end up with a chain of diapers! Most laundry tabs stick very well to their velcro. Some don't. There will always be some brands whose velcro is just not sticky enough to remain adhered to the laundry tabs and come apart in the wash. This velcro will stick to your other diapers and often causes pilling or slight running depending on the material. Snaps don't have this issue as they don't stick to anything! But in general, most laundry tabs do their job well! +1 for snaps!

Toddlers
Aren't they fun!? So this one has both sides to it. My son went through a stage, and still does sometimes, when he would rather run around without a diaper. Changing time became increasingly difficult as I would attempt to put on a clean diaper while running after him. It's much harder to close snaps on the go than velcro! +1 for velcro!
On the other hand, many toddlers LOVE taking off their diapers! A snap diaper is harder for little fingers to pull off than a velcro one! +1 for snaps!

So, as you can see, there's argument going both ways. It just depends what concerns you the most. Snaps will hold up better in the long run while velcro is easier and creates a better fit. But this is just my opinion! I'm sure you probably have your own benefits and downsides to each one - depending on which is your favorite diaper. Which is why it's so fun that there are so many options of diapers out there - to satisfy everyone's preferences!

Some of my favorites:
Snaps
FuzziBunz- FuzziBunz prides themselves on their long lasting snaps-only diapers. Their one-size even comes with replacement elastic; between that and the snaps, these diapers could last forever!

Happy Heinys- Happy Heinys has lots of snap options. Their one-size comes with a great placket of snaps that offers lots of adjustability options. The Stacinator Deluxe Fleece cover is my favorite nighttime option over a Happy Hempy with a Superdo. The Heiny Huggers are a cozy sherpa fitted option - great for newborns. Their pocket trainers have the option of side snaps on both sides, one side or without snaps - great for toddlers to pull up and down. Plus the pocket makes them adjustable for absorbancy.

Knickernappies - Knickernappies makes a great One-Sized or Sized pocket diaper. The side-snap closure is great for chunky legs, big bellies, and easy to transition to a trainer.

Berry Plush - This amazing minkee cover has a snap-in soaker made of hemp with a minkee lining. You just can't stop touching it! Plus if the cover doesnt get dirty, you can just snap a new soaker in!

Velcro
Thirsties Duo Diaper - This is my current favorite diaper. As opposed to one-size diapers, which don't fit newborns well and don't always last until potty training, the Duo Diaper is a 2 size system. Size One is 6-18 lb - really will fit a newborn- and Size Two is 18-40 lb- fits bigger than most one-size diapers. The diaper also has a sleeve which is open on both ends, so the insert agitates itself out in the wash. No need to stick your hand in the dirty diaper to pull out the insert! Plus the insert is 2 parts - microfiber and hemp - a very absorbant insert that is still trim.

Thirsties Duo Wrap - Same benefits as the diaper in terms of sizing. Trimmer with a higher rise than Thirsties original cover for those long babies that the cover's always a bit too short on!

Bummis Super Brite - Has been one of my favorite covers since my son was a newborn. They have gussets which hold in extra material around the legs and super velcro that still works for me!

Easy Fit - This is a pretty new diaper on the market. Made by TotBots in Scotland, distributed by Bummis. It's got a super-soft rayon (made from bamboo) lining and a tongue that you stick in the pocket for extra absorbancy where you need it, which is attached and doesnt get lost in the wash! The Easy Fit is a one-size diaper. The Tini Fit is a super newborn option for 5-12 lb.

So now you have lots of options, regardless of your closure preference. Choose your favorite and enjoy the journey!

Happy Cloth Diapering!

Bayla
Soft and Cozy Baby
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Twitter Cloth Diaper Chat

2009-12-21T22:22:00.006-05:00

Join parents from around the country (globe?) on Twitter every Monday night from 8-10pm for a Cloth Diaper chat! Discuss your passion (obsession?!) with like-minded folk!

Use #clothdiapers to join in on the chat.

See you there!

Detergents Update

2009-12-13T14:41:00.004-05:00

Wow! We have gone a little crazy with detergents since I last wrote about them on the blog (ok, so I havent been that good about keeping up with this blog!).

Here's an overview:

Country Save - I've talked about it before. It's a great powder for a very reasonable price. A huge box will last you for a long time! The box says 80 loads for a top loader and 160 for a front loader. You can probably get 2-4x as much! You only use 1/4 scoop for your diapers and 1/2 scoop for your clothes. It'll last forever!

bumGenius Diaper Detergent - Based on the Country Save formula. That's all they'll say - they wont give out any details! It's a smaller box so not as cumbersome or scary looking as the big Country Save! And it's bumGenius endorsed - what could be better!

Planet - for those that prefer liquid this is a great option. You still only use 1/4 scoop (1 oz) for your diapers so this 100 oz jug will last months! Seasoned CD'ers swear by the powers of Planet! And, like Country Save, if you develop a love affair with Planet, you can buy it by the case on Amazon!

Thirsties Super Wash - Another great, BRAND NEW, liquid option is Thirsties Super Wash system. There are 2 parts - the Pre-Wash uses antimicrobial properties to fight stains from setting and bacteria which is the cause of rash and residual ordors. The Super Wash has a probiotic element which introduces GOOD bacteria to fight odor and rash! They come separately or in a vacuum pack and even have a built in chamber so you always measure the perfect amount of detergent and never end up wasting!

Rockin' Green - New to Soft and Cozy Baby is the hottest detergent on the market! It is a powder that comes in adorable bags in a range of yummy scents. There is an option of Soft Rock (sensitive) or Classic. Soon they will be introducing Hard Rock for those fighting hard water.

Happy Washing!

Thirsties new Duo Diaper - Reviewed!

2009-12-13T14:16:00.006-05:00

I love the new Duo Diaper that Thirsties just came out with. It is probably to replace their All-In-One (AIO) which is being discontinued and is currently on clearance.

Well the Duo Diaper is almost as good as the AIO - maybe better! It's based on the Duo Wrap which is a 2 size system. Thirsties said they tried to make a One-Size diaper but it just didnt work. And I totally agree that there are very few babies who are able to wear one diaper from birth to potty training. I never recommend a One-Size for a newborn - they just dont fit well and leak. Plus most One-Sizes say they go up to 35 lb, but for Dovy, my 26 lb - 18 month old, some of these diapers are at their largest setting and will definitely not last until potty training.

So Thirsties came out with this great Duo system. Size 1 is 6-18 lb and size 2 is 18-40 lb. And on my little guy the Size 2 is just on the middle set of snaps so he definitely has plenty of room to grow.

How would the Duo Diaper be just as good or even better than Thirsties AIO? The big benefit of the AIO is it's a one piece system - just as simple as a disposable. A perfect option for babysitters, daycares, CD reluctant relatives, etc. But the Duo Diaper can be just as simple. Like any pocket, you can pre-stuff it straight out of the dryer (or off the line) and it's just as easy as an AIO. Thirsties still makes great velcro closures which are simpler than snaps.

The benefits of a pocket is that it dries quicker and it's more customizable. Most AIO's take FOREVER to dry. I started with AIO for Dovy as a newborn and after 2 dry cycles and hanging overnight sometimes they were still damp! I switched to pockets as I needed the diapers in the morning. Even just hanging overnight most inserts and pockets dry quickly. Thirsties AIO do have a pocket which makes it faster to dry - especially if you turn it inside out - and you can add stuffing, but AIO usually are not as absorbant as pockets. It's fine for a newborn, but not for my baby who sleeps 12-13 hours overnight! I still do use AIO for running out shopping or if I need a quick easy diaper or for the babysitter.

The Duo Diaper is made with a sleeve. This is awesome because you dont have to pull out the insert like you do with most pockets. There's an opening on both ends so it agitates out in the wash! The insert that comes with the diaper is 2 parts - a 2 layer microfiber terry PLUS a 5 layer hemp jersey. The 2 pieces snap together so you can use one or both without the bunching. And there's still more room to add more! There are some other diapers on the market with sleeves but they dont all allow enough room for additional inserts.

What I love about the Duo Diaper inserts is the hemp part - I think it's ingenious and can't believe no one else has come up with it yet (or at least that I know of). I almost always add hemp to my baby's diaper to increase absorbancy, as hemp is one of the most absorbant materials in the CD market. If you put the microfiber closer to the baby, that catches the moisture and then allows it to soak into the hemp which holds a TON! And it's a lot trimmer than adding a bunch more microfiber inserts.

Thirsties still comes with their great gussets to hold in big messes and make a quality Made In the USA product!

All Nursing Covers 25% off!

2009-12-12T23:57:00.001-05:00

Great gift idea!

bumGenius Bamboo Clearance!

2009-11-21T23:32:00.004-05:00

Ok, now this makes me sad. I LOVE the Bamboo fitteds put out by bumGenius. It's my #1 recommendation for newborns. I think it makes a great fit for the little tiny baby and is so silky soft and absorbant too.

I'm not 100% sure why they're clearancing them, but it probably has to do with all the new regulations surrouding Bamboo. I havent done the research but I think if a product is not 100% Bamboo, you're not allowed to call it bamboo, or something like that. Plus, to say it's antibacterial you have to actually test it, which is probably very expensive.

So I am trying to stock up on Bamboo fitteds so I dont run out! I am encouraging everyone to buy at this phenomenal price. I am hoping to stock up for my future children as well! I'd hate to not have this diaper for my newborns!

The link for the Bamboo Fitteds is here. I have a bunch on order, but if you want more, I will get them for you. Preorders are encouraged.

Tiny Tush - 15 day guarantee!

2009-11-12T22:07:00.003-05:00

Tiny Tush has announced that they are willing to offer a 15 day trial period on their Elite One-Size Pocket Diaper!

These great diapers come in snaps or velcro. They create a nice, trim fit and work very well. Try it! And if you don't love them, you can return one diaper within 15 days! This only applies for one diaper.

So, there's nothing to lose! Give Tiny Tush a try! They are a family-owned company and their products are made in the USA!

Kids' Doll Carriers!

2009-11-12T13:20:00.006-05:00

We now have in stock or en-route doll carriers for your little mama or daddy! Perfect for a holiday gift. And the prices can't be beat!

Teach your child about the benefits of babywearing and let him or her mimic you by carrying around a doll, toy or anything really in his or her own carrier!

Ergos in Heartrose or Galaxy!
Mini Mobys in a range of colors! Mini Becos!

The Great Cloth Diaper Hunt

2009-10-16T15:55:00.003-04:00

Hunter Registration is open! The Great Cloth Diaper Hunt runs twice a year - and is coming up in November.

There are 174 naturally-minded websites participating. As a hunter, you search for the diaper icon on each site. There are daily, weekly and grand prizes! Plus you get to see a lot of great new innovative products and learn a ton about natural living!

As a bonus, most websites (including ours!), offer a 10% discount for the month of November, and some for December. We are offering a discount for both months for hunters.

Per manufacturer guidelines, bumGenius, Ergo and Natural Baby Co. (GroBaby and Dream Eze) products cannot be included in the discount.

So sign up here: http://www.diaperdecisions.com/pages/greatclothdiaperhunt.php to hunt! Make sure to mention Soft and Cozy Baby as your referrer. See you in the hunt!

I'm Back!

2009-10-16T12:13:00.006-04:00

So sorry it's been so long since I've posted! I went to Las Vegas mid September for the ABC expo - it's this humongous event with every single baby manufacturer! It is absolutely amazing! I'm so glad I have a small store so I didnt have to even think about most products! Just the number of stroller manufacturers is overwhelming!

So the reason I havent written in a while is because I had big plans to write all about the ABC expo but never got around to it. And now, a month later, I figure I should just throw in the towel and keep going. As FlyLady (http://www.flylady.net/) says, just keep going - dont try to catch up! So we're going to keep going!

The ABC expo was amazing - I went to Vegas for 3 days by myself - and left Dovy home with hubby! Sounds great, right? =) Actually I was so busy I was absolutely exhausted at the end of every day, not to mention the 3 hour time change. And I kept waking up early - my only chance to sleep in!

I went to see a lot of new products and have added a ton to the store. The ABC expo is when most companies showcase their new products. I'll be describing new products that I have in stock in upcoming posts.

Here's a selection of what's new!

**Ergo has a lot of new patterns and colors - no more boring black as your only choice!
**Hotslings came out with their new AP (Adjustable Pouch) sling! It adjusts between sizes 2-5, which makes it easier to figure out what size you need.
**Moby Wraps are now in stock!
**We now have a full stock of Tinokis colors.
**Coming end of Oct or November - Beco Butterfly 2(yay!), the pikkolo, winter covers for babywearing, Baby KTan.

In the diaper arena:
**We now carry Knickernappies - a One-Size side-snapping diaper. KN also makes the LoopyDo and SuperDo - great heavy duty inserts made of hemp and microfiber, especially for those overnight heavy wetters.
**Gro Baby has new adorable colors coming in November.
**bumGenius introduced their new Econobum (November) and Flip (January) systems!
**We carry Bummis Cloth Diaper Kits (everything you need to CD in a box!) and the silk soft Bamboozle Fitted!

Accessories:
We now carry the baby line from Earth Mama Angel Baby. Great natural products! They also have great gift packages.
BumBumBalm - a diaper rash cream, recommended by Bummis
bumGenius Odor Remover - great for spraying on your diapers before throwing them in the wetbag.
Bummis Fabulous Wet Bags - in small and medium with zippers! Made of the same material as the SuperBrites!

For Mom:
We are getting in DivaCups! The tampon alternative - very easy to use, no more tampons to add to landfills, no more odor!
Bebe Au Lait has introduced a gorgeous new line of Hooter Hiders - new patterns with ruffles or pockets! Comes with its own carry bag!

For Baby:
We now have My Little Seat in stock! Just like the Totseat but with shoulder straps!
We will be getting wooden toys in before the holidays!

Whew! So that's a taste of what's here and coming!

Preorders and special requests are being accepted as we expect some of these great new products to move quickly!

bumGenius Display

2009-09-07T11:42:00.004-04:00

Here's our submission for the bumGenius contest! Read below for more details about the contest.

We had a lot of fun creating it. The idea was my mother's! (So, Mom, you won 6 diapers!)

Come stop by the store to see our Tree with falling bumGenius leaves -- just in time for fall!

Blue and White diapers make up the sky. Green diapers are the leaves and grass. Golden leaves are falling off the tree. Pink flowers. Even birds made out of diapers!

The Ergo hip carry

2009-09-07T00:24:00.006-04:00

Ok, I know I've poo-pooed the Ergo hip carry for those who asked. But actually it's not really that bad at all.

We went to the Maryland State Fair today. My baby needs to see what's going on. I LOVE my Ergo, but the one fault I have with it is the baby can only face you. So he sits in the stroller most of the time and when he gets antsy and wants to get out, I put him in a carrier. But I felt bad that he had to keep turning his head to see what was happening. So I tried the hip carry.

It actually worked pretty well. I was happy with it. It's not as great and supportive as a front and back carry, but no one-shoulder carry is going to be. So I take it back. The Ergo is great for hip-carrying too!

Actually, here's what the Ergo website says about the hip-carry: Parents have expressed a great deal of interest in wearing their baby in the hip position. During the younger stages of your baby's growth, this is a nice alternative position between front and back, before your baby gets too heavy.

So anyway you roll it, a one-shouldered hip carry is still inferior to a fully supported 2-shoulder carry. But for those who need it (like me!) it works!

Happy Anniversary Soft and Cozy Baby!

2009-09-07T00:22:00.002-04:00

Wow! Can you believe it?! We've been open a year now!

I'm looking for creative ideas of how we can celebrate with our loyal customers.

Our current promotion is buy any 12 diapers and get a FREE box of BRAND NEW bumGenius detergent!

If you have any ideas of other anniversary specials, please let us know!

New Showroom

2009-09-07T00:20:00.003-04:00

Come check out our beautiful new showroom! I love not being in the dining room anymore!

Actually, there was nothing really wrong with the dining room - except for a 15 month old who believes that everything looks much better on the floor... And he still believes that! We just dont spend as much time in the store anymore so that things can stay where they belong!

Designers are still welcome to make comments and adjustments -- it's always a work in progress! (Says the uncreative store owner...)

Hope to see you soon!

BRAND NEW - bumGenius Diaper Detergent!

2009-09-07T00:15:00.002-04:00

It's here! bumGenius has developed its own laundry detergent, in conjunction with Country Save. And we have it!

In celebration of our 1 year anniversary (wow!), buy 12 of any combination of diapers and get a FREE box of bumGenius Diaper Detergent!

bumGenius Contest!

2009-08-07T16:21:00.003-04:00

bumGenius has announced a retailer contest and we need your help!

There are 2 parts to the contest.

The first is to create a unique, fun display of bumGenius products.

The Second part is to create the coolest bumGenius homepage featuring bumGenius products on our website.

Sooo, for all those creative people out there -- help us with ideas for a creative physical display or an awesome homepage feature.

If your idea is chosen to be used as our entry into the contest, you will win 6 bumGenius 3.0 OS diapers, or a similarly priced alternative if you prefer. If our store is chosen as the winner of the bumGenius contest, you will win 12 bumGenius 3.0 OS diapers!

We look forward to your submissions!!

RULES:
All entries are due by Sept 1.
Soft and Cozy Baby or its designees has the exclusive right to judge and choose a winner based on entries submitted.
By submitting an entry you are allowing Soft and Cozy Baby to use your idea without any compensation, unless you win the contest.
Soft and Cozy Baby reserves the right to not choose a winner if none of the entries are used to enter the bumGenius contest.
Entries to create a homepage feature must include complete HTML to allow it to be uploaded onto the website.
Soft and Cozy Baby will have sole rights to all entries submitted.
The creator, designer or source of the idea gives up all rights to the design upon submission to Soft and Cozy Baby.
Odds of winning are dependent on number of entries submitted and creativity of entries.
Soft and Cozy Baby reserves the right to choose the colors of the diapers included in the prize or to substitute a similarly valued alternative.
Soft and Cozy Baby reserves the right to cancel, modify, or restructure this contest and its details at any time.

FREE bumGenius Diaper!

2009-08-07T16:16:00.002-04:00

Now through the end of August...

BUY 6 bumGenius 3.0 One-Size Diapers and get 1 FREE!

Simply specify the color you would prefer for your free diaper in the comments box, if ordering online. If that color is not available or a color is not specified, a color similar to your order will be added!

While supplies last.

Real Diaper Association photo CONTEST!

2009-08-03T21:42:00.002-04:00

Do you have a great, enticing, creative and well-shot photograph of your baby in a cloth diaper? The Real Diaper Association is launching the Real Diapers, Real Babies Photo Contest this week. Winning photos, as selected by RDA members*, will grace the pages of our first annual RDA Calendar, with the top three winners to receive special prizes.

Keep up-to-date with the contest status on the RDA blog. Contest ends August 24, 2009 so get your photos in soon.

For more information, visit the Real Diaper Association at www.realdiaperassociation.org

Support the Cloth Diapering industry by becoming a member of the RDA!

Swap Success!

2009-08-03T19:55:00.002-04:00

We had an amazing Cloth Diaper Swap yesterday. There were about 12 women there, some with their men and kids. People traded and bought/sold their used diapers. The best part was the networking and discussing different diapers and diapering strategies.

I think we all had a nice time and can't wait for the next CD Swap!

Cloth Diaper Swap

2009-07-26T15:13:00.001-04:00

Save the date for a CD swap next Sunday Aug 2! Bring your outgrown diapers to sell or trade.
It'll be so much fun to network with other CD mamas!

CD and Babywearing workshops this Monday July 27 at Mothering Mommies in Towson at 7 pm. Contact them for more info!

The Miracle Blanket

2009-07-21T20:00:00.003-04:00

The Miracle Blanket has arrived at Soft and Cozy Baby!

This is for those moms who keep trying to get that "burrito-wrap" right and their active newborn overpowers the blanket! For those of you who wrap and rewrap and end up with an arm or toe sticking out of the swaddle, this blanket is for you! It is made with special flaps and pockets to tuck in arms and legs. Then it has an extra long tail to wrap around the baby and holds tight!

Newborns are used to being enclosed in a dark, warm, tightly confining womb. Being out in the bright light without boundaries can be scary. Wrapping a newborn up in a swaddle gives them something to push against and the tight confines provides a sense of comfort and security. Newborns have no control over their arms and legs and therefore are usually flailing wildly. Wrapping them help to calm the baby and allows her to fall asleep and not wake herself up!
Try one of these great colors today! Best suited for newborns to 14 weeks.

Open House Today!

2009-07-16T13:42:00.002-04:00

I love having customers come back and watching their babies grow up! And Dovy has fun playing with (or knocking over) other kids! (Don't worry - I try to keep him away from the babies...)

Come by and see the new diapers and fun products we have! I dont know why I get so excited about new diapers that aren't even for me... :)

bumGenius Organic

2009-07-15T13:09:00.004-04:00

bumGenius Organic One-Size with Snaps are here!

Let us know what you think about this great ORGANIC cotton diaper.

Sick of velcro pulling and not sticking? Try out the Snaps!

Thirsties Duo Wrap

2009-07-10T17:27:00.005-04:00

Thirsties has done it again! They've come out with a superior, makes-sense product. I love Thirsties products, as you can see in a previous post.

Thirsties tried to make a One-Size diaper cover, but as many of you know from my soapbox, One-Size is really a misnomer. I don't believe that a One-Size diaper will really fit any child well from 8-35 pounds. It will be too big on a newborn and getting snug on an older toddler.

Well, Thirsties realized this and instead came up with a two-size diaper system. It's still much more economical than their original 4-size diaper covers that are available.

Thirsties says the Duo Wraps are more trim than their original cover - great for a trifolded prefold or over the Fab Fitted.

What is really nice about the Duo Wrap is for those babies that are no longer fit in one size but the next size is too big. The Duo Wrap is great because it has a higher rise with it's snap down system. So you get a snug fit for babies of various shapes and proportions.

And Thirsties has introduced a whole new line of adorable colors with the new Duo Wrap!

The Tinokis is Back!

2009-07-10T16:45:00.006-04:00

It took me a while but I finally found a way to bring back the Tinokis. They were going to charge me $300 just for shipping! The Tinokis is a beautiful, great wrap that is very versatile. It is made of a thin jersey material and has a great pocket in the front that I store my cell phone or keys in when I'm moving around.

I lived in it for the first 3-4 months of my baby's life. I wore it one evening when I did a boutique show. He nursed in it and then fell asleep. I wore him for probably 3-4 hours and no back pain! The new colors we just got in are perfect for summer - light and breezy.

You can do things with a wrap that you can't do with other carriers. The main one I love is the front carry facing out. Even the Mei Tai and Ergo don't allow for the baby to face out due to the way the baby's hips are positioned. And my baby needs to see what's going on!

You can use the cradle hold for an infant and then a back or hip carry for a toddler. In between, there's the upright position either facing in or out.

I love the Gro Baby!

2009-07-10T15:54:00.003-04:00

Wow - it's been a while since I wrote - and I do apologize. Life gets busy it seems. And now I have Facebook and Twitter to keep up with too. Was life simpler before computers?? I'm not so sure.

Anyway, on to the important stuff.

I started using the Gro Baby 2 weeks ago and I love it! It has a shell and a snap in organic cotton soaker. The shell set also comes with an extra booster. I used the soaker and booster overnight and no leaks!

Here's what I love about it:

** It's organic cotton - very absorbant and not synthetic directly on my baby's skin

**The cotton soaker and booster are both so soft

**It's very compact - you just switch out the soaker for each diaper change

** The whole top of the front and both wings are all velcro - no little tabs to stick to

** It's One-Size!

We're going on vacation next week and I'm thinking of ordering more so I can just use the Gro Baby. I can probably bring 4 shells and 10-12 soakers to wash every other day for my 14 month old. Unlike most cloth diapers that are so bulky that you need a whole suitcase just for them, a bunch of Gro Baby soakers probably take up no more room than a bunch of disposables.

What a great, practical, cost-effective diaper!

Don't have your own Washer?

2009-05-02T21:53:00.004-04:00

I just heard of this amazing invention for those who want to Cloth Diaper but don't have their own washing machine.

It's called the Wonder Wash!

It's a portable washing machine for use if you have to pay for laundry, are going camping, have a small load to do (like diapers!).

Seems really amazing and cost-effective.

If you try it, let us know how it works!

Click Here for more info!

Contest! Enter the Sling and Swaddle Journey!

2009-04-28T19:01:00.003-04:00

Hotslings and Miracle Blankets announce the Sling and Swaddle Journey!

Read more:

Enter today! We're looking for 30 moms to tweet about their daily adventures on Twitter. Each of the 30 moms will receive 2 free Miracle Blankets & a Hotslings Baby Carrier to aide them in their 30 day journey.
Once you're in... our 30 moms will be competing throughout June for a grand prize valued at more than $2000 worth of all the best mom & baby necessities! Read more at SlingandSwaddleJourney.com.

1) Visit the SnS site from May 1st - May 15th and click the “submit” link.
2) Fill out the survey and email us a photo of you and baby.
3) Check the site May 25th to find out if you’ve become one of our 30 moms.

Grand Prizes from:
**Hotslings
**Miracle Blankets
**Medela
**The Happiest Baby
**Babies R Us
**Avon
**Pregnancy and Newborn
**Patricia Ann Designs

http://mail.hotslings.com/c.646607/site/downloads/SnSFlyer.pdf

Covers for Toddlers

2009-04-28T18:39:00.005-04:00

So tonight my baby, 11.5 months, just about pulled off his Thirsties cover! I started putting him to bed in just a diaper as it is so hot out now! But tonight I put a onesie on over his mega-diaper (Happy Hempy with 2 inserts and the Thirsties cover).

So what to do with a Toddler, especially in the summer, when it's nice to run around in just a diaper? Especially since they're so cute, you just want to show them off!

First, there's the Prorap Color cover that comes with a buckle. That's great for the child who has figured out how velcro works!

Or, a more breathable option for summer, as described below, is the Happy Heinys Fleece cover. It has snaps which also makes it a bit trickier for little fingers.

Fleece Diaper Covers

2009-04-27T20:47:00.003-04:00

We are now carrying the Stacinator Deluxe Fleece Diaper Cover by Happy Heinys!

Get Ready for the hot days of Summer with natural, breathable diaper covers!

All covers are made from luxurious, 200 weight shearling fleece made by Malden Mills. This is a no-pill, tightly woven fabric. It is the same weight and type that many upscale mail-order and retail stores use for their serious outerwear.

Many moms who have used fleece of all kinds, swear by this brand of fleece for superior wetness protection and prevention of leaks.

Single layer covers are made with just 1 layer of heavy weight Malden Mills fleece. These single layer solid covers have proven to work as well as the two layer solid covers without the bulk. These are a good choice for heavy wetters and longer times between changes.

There are four snaps on each side of the waist and four snaps at the legs for maximum adjustments.

Shearling Fleece covers work great with all types of diapers.

The Great Cloth Diaper Hunt

2009-04-27T20:31:00.002-04:00

The Great Cloth Diaper Hunt is coming in May! Join 150 online retailers and hundreds of hunters to win great prizes!

How this works is that every participating retailer hides on icon on its website. The participants get to find the icons and win prizes!

It's really a lot of fun. Come join us!

In the News!

2009-04-27T20:16:00.002-04:00

Check us out in the Examiner! Read about the 5 Myths of Cloth Diapers...

Now Here!

2009-04-27T20:02:00.003-04:00

We Now Carry the FreeHand Mei Tai Baby Carrier! This Mei Tai comes in great prints and is one of the most affordable Mei Tai's on the market! Come see how beneficial a Mei Tai can be! You can use it for a newborn or a 3 year old, for a front carry or back carry!
What will you do with your Free Hands?

Welcome Dream-Eze Organic Cotton Diapers! Dream-Eze makes ultra-absorbant Fitted and All-In-One Diapers out of organic cotton. These snap diapers come in great, original colors!

Also by Dream-Eze... the Wonder Wrap! This One-Sized diaper cover will fit your baby from 10-35 pounds! There are very few One-Sized Diaper Covers on the market and this is one of the most loved!

Coming Soon!

2009-04-27T19:54:00.001-04:00

We are excited to announce our upcoming arrivals!

Expected in May...

The Ergo Baby Carrier!

Expected in June...

The Gro Baby diaper system!

This revolutionary system features a One-Size waterproof cover, snap-in organic cotton soaker pads, and a very simple velcro system so that the tabs can fasten anywhere on the front of the cover!

Both of these exciting additions are available for preorder now!

For the Gro Baby, you can order here

For the Ergo, we will be making a custom order, so please email us and let us know what you would like to see!

We're in Urbanite!

2009-04-02T01:22:00.001-04:00

Check out Urbanite's new April issue!

They have created "The Baltimore Green Guide" and we're in it!

Just go down to "Clothing, New" on their website.
Or pick up a copy at a newstand near you!

Swim Diapers

2009-03-26T21:22:00.007-04:00

Cloth Swim Diapers are just a no-brainer, in my not-so-humble opinion.

According to diapers.com, Pampers sells a 10-pack of size 6 Splashers Swim Pants for $7.99. If you go to the pool every day, that's less than a week of swimming that goes straight into the trash! 79 cents per swimming episode! Let's say your child swims daily - whether in a wading pool in your backyard, the local pool, or the beach for June, July and August. 3 months of approximately 30 days each = 90 days. 90 x $0.79 = $71.91! And that's just for one kid who only uses one swim diaper a day. If your kid poops in his diaper, you still have to change it. That's one expensive summer of swimming!

OR.... you could buy 2 or 3 swim diapers for $14 each = $28-42 for the WHOLE SUMMER and maybe NEXT SUMMER!

So here's the thing with swim diapers. They're not supposed to be absorbant. If they were absorbant, they'd soak up the whole pool! So while some brands do have a small absorbant layer, it's really not necessary. The point of a swim diaper is to catch solid waste.

The only problem with the lack of absorbancy is if your baby is sitting on your lap waiting for swim lessons... Then you might have a problem. So my advice is if this is your situation, is to put a doubler or liner in until your child gets into the pool. But if you're in a bathing suit also, or you're at the beach, it really doesnt make a difference!

So these are the great swim diapers I've found:

Bummis makes these great Swimmis that look basically like a diaper cover (and basically are). They have a mesh lining and close with velcro. They come in adorable prints including: Sea Lions, Turtles, Fishies and Yellow Pizzazz.

Diaperaps are new to Soft and Cozy Baby this month! They make 2 great types of Swim diapers.

The first is a basic pull-on pant - great for older kids who want to pull on and off their own pants. And great for those babies who like to open the velcro and pull off their diapers! Choose from Kites, Butterfly, or Watermelon.

Diaperaps also makes adorable swim trunks! When I saw these I just had to get them! They are why I opened an account with Diaperaps at all! You all know how much I love the Training pants we carry, and these are just as good! You can't even tell there's a diaper inside! Choose from Blue Hawaii, Playful Fish, Blue Dolphin or Parrot.

With all these great choices, how can you pass this up? So it's not Elmo, but these are some adorable diapers!

TotSwap

2009-03-15T22:46:00.002-04:00

I was a vendor at the Totswap in Gaithersburg this past weekend.
I think the Totswap idea is ingenious. It is a huge consignment sale. Hundreds of people bring their used baby and household products and offer it for sale. I mean this sale was huge. Thousands of clothes, hundreds of toys, bedding, nursing supplies, carseats, pack-n-plays, strollers, swings. You name it.

You get to choose your price and hope it sells. If it doesn't sell during the regular sale, you have the option of offering it half off on Sunday or then donating it to charity. Or you can come pick it up if it doesnt sell.

The first afternoon is for volunteers. Anyone who volunteers to help out during the sale, gets first dibs on the products offered. And there are some nice products and great bargains.

Then the first evening is for new moms. You have to have a ticket to get in. But there were hundreds of new moms there. (Some even came with kids - not sure how that worked...)

The rest of the sale is open to the public.

So I packed up my whole store and shlepped down to Gaithersburg and set up a table. It was a lot of fun. I did end up spending money buying stuff for my baby... Other vendors included booksellers, jewelry, tupperware, kids toys, Pampered chef, dinner services, you name it.

I got the word out about my store down there in Gaithersburg and even met a couple of familiar names and faces.

I will also be doing the Totswap in Timonium at the beginning of April. There's a new, 3rd Totswap this year in Howard County - but I won't be there.

For more info about Totswap, visit www.totswap.net. Pack up your old baby stuff and make some money! Come visit me in Timonium!

Computers and Passwords

2009-03-15T22:30:00.003-04:00

Please don't mind me ranting and raving for a bit.
But I have a personal hatred for computers and passwords.

I'll start with passwords.
First of all - every website requires a password, usually with different specifications. Some need a capital letter or a number, a certain number of digits, or all of the above. Then there are those that require you to change your password every 90 days. How is one supposed to keep track of all these passwords?! So you end up writing them down. How is that safe??

Then, if you can't access a site because you forgot your password, you have to remember the clues you answered when you first signed up for access. How do I know what my favorite TV show was back then?

Plus, I recently tried to access a website and couldn't remember my password of course. So they said they'll send it to my email address. Well this is an email address that I used in college and of course don't remember the password to! So now I have to contact the IT desk at the college I used to go to in order to reactivate my email account and create a new password just so I can access the original website. Whew!

There's got to be an easier way.

And now for computers.
I think my computer is the slowest thing on the planet. I mean what is it doing exactly? Computers don't need to think or contemplate so they should be able to act on the commands you type into the keyboard. Or am I wrong? But my computer seems to have a vendeta against me. (Maybe it's because I can't remember my passwords. Or maybe it's because I let my baby bang on the keyboard and put it crazy commands it can't follow.) Regardless, the work I need to get done take 3-4 times the amount of time just because I am waiting for my computer to load the page.

There's got to be an easier way...

All comments and suggestions for curing my frustration are much appreciated.

We are Swimming in NEW PRODUCTS!

2009-02-28T21:50:00.006-05:00

~~~ Fuzzi Bunz One-Size!

~~~ Fuzzi Bunz Accessory Line!

~~~Great NEW Hotslings patterns!

~~~NEW Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover patterns!

~~~FULL selection of Cuddlebabe Carseat Covers! Great for Spring!

~~~MORE Babylegs patterns!

~~~ ARBONNE Baby Line!

~~~ Chico Reusable Bags!

FREE Diaper Tester!

2009-02-26T12:27:00.002-05:00

Purely Nurtured is looking for Diaper Testers.

Here's the info:

This is a one-size diaper meant for babies up to 35 lbs or so. For this reason we would like to get as many different babies to test as we can. Please feel free to let anyone you know that would like to test a diaper at no cost that we are still accepting testers. They can see the info at www.purelynurtured.com/blog or they can email me at bellissimamommy@yahoo.com ! The more feedback we get the better the product will be.

These diapers and inserts are made in the USA . There is a big emphasis on quality with this product and building a design that is truly going to last you several years and multiple babies.

We will send simple washing instructions and more information on the diaper at the time the testers are shipping. We will also provide more info on our blog so you can always check there.

All testers will be emailed a code to use for credit in our store at www.purelynurtured.com so you will be receiving this diaper for free and a credit toward the purchase of any products in our store. Our grand re-opening is March 21st and we are giving away tons of prizes, having games and really celebrating. I do hope you will join us at this event. More info on that is available at our blog as well.

The diapers are expected to be ready to ship in 2-3 weeks. The diaper and the shipping are both provided free of charge.
Please be prepared to provide feedback on the fit, whether the diaper functions properly and the overall satisfaction with the product. This diaper is meant to be economical and easy-to-use. It is a new style and should provide a few unique and convenient features you may not have seen in other brands

Feel free to spread the word, we are excited to have so many wonderful gifts to give away and offering moms a chance to really try something new.

----------------------------------

I would be interested in hearing feedback as well from anyone who tests this diaper to see if we should carry it at Soft and Cozy Baby!

Enjoy!

Fuzzi Bunz One-Size!

2009-02-24T20:12:00.004-05:00

Fuzzi Bunz One-Size are now in stock!

They have arrived! Get them while they're hot!

We now have a limited selection of the NEW Fuzzi Bunz OS pocket diapers. They have a revolutionary design - no more snap-downs on the front of the diaper! These diapers are fully adjustable with a button-adjusted elastic in the legs.

And these diapers will NEVER wear out. Besides the ever-durable snaps, you can easily replace the elastic if it should start to break down. The elastic is encased in such a way that it can be taken out without difficulty and Fuzzi Bunz will offer an elastic replacement kit.

Truly a Cloth Diaper that will last forever!

The FuzziBunz One-Size Diapers are the most adjustable and innovative one-size cloth diapers on the market today! Adjust the diapers to fit babies 7-35 pounds and get a snug fit every time with the button-adjusted waist and leg casings. The leg casings adjust to 8+ settings and the waist adjusts to 4+ settings. Never before has a pocket-style cloth diaper been SO adjustable!
And the great thing about FuzziBunz is that they always use sturdy snap closures which will withstand 3+ years of use and elastic that is easily replaceable if it ever fails making it a long standing and dependable diapering system for years to come.

Click here to see these great diapers!

Thirsties Sale!

2009-02-24T20:10:00.001-05:00

Now through Feb 28 - 10% off all Thirsties products!

Read below for how awesome the Thirsties line is.

Use code FebSale

The Secret of Thirsties

2009-02-20T10:31:00.011-05:00

I love Thirsties. I am surprised they're not more popular. They really do make great products which come in adorable colors. And unlike some other diapers, I have never had a problem with the velcro fasteners.

Thirsties Pocket All-In-One

Thirsties' AIO is a very durable diaper with a very absorbant microterry core that holds up to 7 times its weight in liquid! In the Version2 of the AIO, they removed the microfiber from the leg gusset to prevent wicking and leaking. The microfleece also acts as a stay-dry barrier to keep your baby as dry as possible. Speaking of leg gussets, Thirsties diapers have a great extra piece of material, called a gusset which effectively contains messes no matter the chunk of your baby's legs!

The pocket in the AIO is great for 2 (and maybe more!) reasons. First it allows the diaper to be stuffed with extra inserts for added absorbancy. Second, it allows for faster drying time. Just turn the diaper inside out while drying! Oh, and 3rd (I told you there are more!) is that the pocket is in the front. You dont have to stick your hand in the poop to get out the inserts like with many other diapers!

Thirsties Diaper Covers

Thirsties Diaper Covers are made of one layer of polyester laminate (PUL) for optimal breathing and cleaning. You can simply wipe clean the diaper cover in between uses. If it gets dirty, you can hand-wash or throw it in the washing machine with the rest of your diapers. These covers dry very quickly. For a wet diaper, you can just let the cover air-dry until your next diaper change.

These covers also have a double-leg gusset to hold all of the material of the diaper inside. No more pushing and poking to keep your prefold contained!

Thirsties Fab Fitted

I have gone back and forth on whether I like fitteds in general. Right now I love them! I think fitteds are a simple, cost-effective and very effective method of cloth diapering. They go on and off easily. Fitteds plus covers offer an extra layer of elastic to hold in messes. They fit very well. To maintain the fit and increase absorbancy, I put the fitted on my baby, put a doubler over it, and the cover over it all! The fitted works as it should and the absorbancy is at its max! And Thirsties fitteds come in the greatest colors!

Inserts

Thirsties makes a few types of inserts:

The Fab Doublers are made from 3 layers of super soft cotton velour. They come in a pack of 3 matching Thirsties colors and come in Small and Large.

The Hemp Inserts provide the best absorbancy with the least amount of bulk. Hemp is one of the most absorbant fabrics on the market. These inserts are made from 6 layers of soft hemp an cotton blend knit jersey. 55% hemp/45% cotton. Small and Large sizes.

Microterry Inserts are made of 3 layers on contoured microterry. I find these fit the best in pockets and have great absorbancy.

Fab Wipes

Thirsties wipes will save you hundreds of dollars when you don't need to buy disposable wipes anymore. They can also be used to wipe noses, faces, hands, and messes. Thirsties Fab Wipes measure 8x8 and are 2-ply. One side is a textured cotton velour to assist with bigger wipe-ups and the other side has a delicate microfleece for drying or for lighter messes. These wipes will fold and fit perfectly in a recycled wipes container or warmer or can be used dry with a spray bottle of warm water or wipes solution. They come in a pack of 6 in Thirsties great colors.

Plus, all Thirsties products are Made in the USA!

For more information on Thirsties products, visit http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/

http://www.softandcozybaby.com/thirsties.html

Arbonne

2009-02-17T15:07:00.003-05:00

We are now carrying Arbonne! Arbonne is Safe, Pure, Beneficial. Arbonne products are all-natural, vegan-certified, pH balanced, and don't contain mineral oil.

How can you get involved?

1. Find out about the products Arbonne offers that you use every day! Arbonne has a skin-care line, a spa line, a men's line, a baby line, and more! And all at every day prices.

2. Host a Pamper Night for your friends or clients. Makeovers, pamper night, baby massages, mom's night out, or whatever else you can dream up! What's more fun that getting together with friends for a relaxing evening - and you benefit with a hostess gift and discount!

3. Join Us! Do you have contacts? Everyone needs makeup or skin products. Find out how you can build an easy, profitable business from home with very little investment!

For more information on the Arbonne Baby Line, visit http://www.softandcozybaby.com/arbonne.html

Looking forward to helping you start a healthy, fresh chapter in your skin health!

Considering gDiapers?

2009-02-17T09:14:00.003-05:00

Have you thought about compromising and using gDiapers? Maybe it's the best of both worlds? You have the cloth cover with disposable, flushable or compostable liners.

Actually, read the article below to understand why it's more like the worst of both worlds. It is somewhat environmentally better than disposables as there is less waste. If you are really composting your liners, that's even better. But many a sewage worker (and plumber!) highly discourage attempting to flush the liners. They still contain the chemicals that are in disposables.

And they are a fortune in the long run! This article says the liners are about 41 cents each and the covers are $19 each! You can get a nice All-In-One or pocket for $19! And even disposables only average 25 cents/diaper.

I can understand using gDiapers temporarily - like if you're traveling or on vacation. But to make that your primary diaper doesn't make much sense to me.

Here's a great, thought-out article on Cloth Diaper News. http://clothdiapernews.com/?p=205

I'd love to hear your comments!

Cuddlebabe Car Seat Covers

2009-02-13T14:36:00.005-05:00

These are the most adorable car seat covers. When I first saw them advertised I knew I had to have one - and start carrying them in my store. They are especially perfect for Spring and Fall as they're lighter and open in the back. But the owner of the company also says she's selling them in Iceland. And it's COLD in Iceland! So really they're ideal for all weather.

They fit nicely in the carseat with a large hole in the back so no need to maneuver the seatbelts. The open back also helps prevent the baby from getting too overheated.

They have leg compartments which are separated - great for older babies who like to wiggle and kick - so they're not as tied down. An adorable hat with a pom-pom is attached. Everyone who saw my baby in that hat said "Awww!" The front has 3 flaps to cover up - one that folds up from the legs and 2 that cross over from the sides. There's a big button on the front to keep it secure.

The original fits up to 22 pounds/12 months. They have a new, larger version appropriate for 9-18 months. With all the great patterns available, there's something for everyone!

http://www.softandcozybaby.com/cuddlebabe.html

Upcoming Workshops

2009-02-10T09:12:00.002-05:00

Upcoming Workshops!
Bring or refer a friend and save $5 on your order!

THIS Thursday Feb 12 at 11 am - Cloth Diapering
Sunday Feb 22 at 1 pm - Cloth Diapering
Sunday Feb 22 at 3 pm - Babywearing

CD- Learn the whys and hows, the benefits, the different types, which type is best for your lifestyle, how to care for your diapers, and best of all detergents!

Babywearing - Does your baby always want to be held? Learn how you can be comfortable, hold your baby and still get things done! No more shoulder or back pain. Increase bonding and your baby's sense of security and development. Try on the different slings! Lots of new colors and patterns for Spring!

Big Fuzzi Bunz Sale!

2009-02-10T09:10:00.002-05:00

Fuzzi Bunz Sale!

I am overflowing in my FB stock!

Big sale on sized Fuzzi Bunz starting now through Sunday Feb 15.

6% off your bulk order! That makes your order tax-free!

**Buy 3 diapers for only $16.68/ diaper!

**Buy 6 for only $16.45/ diaper!

**Buy 12 for only $15.93/ diaper!

Use discount code FB3.

If you have questions about inventory levels, feel free to email. http://www.softandcozybaby.com/pesidi.html1

My Love-Hate Relationship with my Diaper Sprayer

2009-02-09T18:05:00.007-05:00

Ok, so I'll admit that I didn't love my Diaper Sprayer. There, I said it. I do love my cloth diapers, but just didn't think the sprayer was necessary. Plus it added an extra step. I couldnt just toss the diaper into the pail. Instead, I had to put it on the side, finish the diaper change, and get Dovy settled in a safe environment (which is getting harder and harder now that he's crawling...). And then take the diaper and pail to the bathroom, spray the diaper and get it into the pail before it drips on the floor. Plus the water sprayed in places besides just on the diaper. So I'll admit, I was a little skeptical about my diaper sprayer.

But then I went out and Dovy pooped. And I didn't have my diaper sprayer. So I tried using toilet paper and scraping the poop into the toilet. It's just not that easy anymore. First of all he likes carrots. A lot. So without being too graphic, his poop was a nice carrot shade. Plus you know how things come out when things arent always chewed up so well. And if you only have 2 teeth, things just dont get chewed up so well. So you get the idea of what his big poop looked like. (Sorry, hope you didnt get sick.)

So the point is that I started appreciating the sprayer. I don't have to manually remove poop! The sprayer does it for me - and a lot more effectively.

Plus, I heard a good tip. Someone told me she hooked her sprayer up in her laundry room so she took the whole diaper pail to the washer, sprayed the diapers that needed it, and then dumped it straight into the washing machine. Brilliant! Except our laundry room is dark and spooky. So I try not to spend too much time down there..

The moral of the story is "If at first you hate the sprayer, try try again."

http://www.softandcozybaby.com/sidisp.html

Saturday Night Live Pampers Video

2009-02-02T20:21:00.000-05:00

This is a riot. Enjoy!
http://www.hulu.com/watch/55587/saturday-night-live-pampers

Facebook

2009-02-02T18:09:00.002-05:00

Ok, so I am sooo not into these things. Just like I was sooo not into blogging. But here I am with a blog - ok, I like to blab... And, yes, I now have a Facebook page. Why in the world do I need a Facebook page? But it is kind of neat. I have found a lot of people from my "past life" that I haven't thought about in years. I haven't added them to my Friends. But it is cool to think about them again. I guess I could add them to my friends. One of my friends has like 450 friends!! I dont even know that many people...

On a more relevant note, I have also created a Soft and Cozy Baby Facebook page. Right now it's in its infantile stages as I dont really understand Facebook or what to do with it. But it does have an event section and so I have listed the upcoming workshops.

So if you're on Facebook, become my friend!

The Chico Bag

2009-01-29T12:25:00.009-05:00

I am so excited about the newest addition to our family! Ok, it's not that type of addition. But I have been looking for a reusable bag instead of the plastic grocery bags. And the ones available at Giant, Target, Walgreens, etc. just didn't do it for me. First of all they're pretty ugly, you're advertising for their store, and the material just feels cheap.

And now I've found my bag!

The Chico Bag is stylish, comes in great colors and is very durable. It is made of durable woven polyester and can carry 25 pounds!! Plus it has an attached little sack to tuck the bag into to store in your purse or glove compartment. It even has a little carabiner key chain to attach it to your keys or a million other places.

What makes this even nicer is that the ChicBag company is very eco-conscious. You can send them your used reusable bags and they'll turn them into rugs! This winter they're coming out wit a bag called rePete which is made of almost 100% recycled materials. "This bag is made from 7 plastic bottles!"

You can find them here: http://www.softandcozybaby.com/chicobag.html

Plus, we'll have some kind of reward where you'll save on your purchase when you bring back your Chico Bag.

I had looked carefully when I started my store to have a bag that was made of recycled materials and not plastic! And I found the paper bags I currently use. But this is so much better! So when you buy a Chico Bag you'll save money by not using a paper bag. Plus you'll save every time you bring it back to Soft and Cozy Baby and reuse it! Not to mention all the plastic bags you won't use for your everyday shopping!

Cloth Wipes

2009-01-24T22:08:00.010-05:00

I feel like cloth wipes are one of those things that new CD mamas work there way into. At first glance they seem a little more overwhelming that Cloth Diapers.

Ok, I'm doing the right thing for my baby, environment, my bank account by using Cloth Diapers... Cloth Wipes will be the next step. Maybe.

At least that's what I thought initially. I'll work my way up to cloth wipes. Disposable wipes seem so much simpler; they don't make that much garbage; and how bad can they really be? Plus, I could ask my babysitter to use cloth diapers, but cloth wipes too?

So we were using just disposable wipes for a while. But the cloth wipes seemed so much softer and they didn't provide that cold shock effect upon contact with my baby's soft, warm bottom. So I gradually worked my way into them.

Your natural reflex when changing a diaper is to wipe, drop the wipe into the diaper, wrap up the diaper and dump it. When you get your first shredded wipe in your dryer, you might think twice about switching to cloth.

According to Thirsties, you can spend up to $800 on disposable wipes during one child's diapering career. They're basing this number on using 3 boxes of wipes a week, at $2.50/box. That sounds a little excessive. I don't think we've ever gone through 3 boxes of wipes and you can get them cheaper in bulk. Punkin Butt figures 1.5 boxes/month at $4.50/box. That's $203 if your baby's in diapers for 2.5 years! But calculate for yourself - how many times a month do you buy wipes at what price? And then see how much money you can save switching to cloth. And think about it - no more late night trips to the store to buy more wipes!

Plus cloth wipes can be reused with your next child and can be used for hands, dishes, you name it, if you're currently going diaperless!
http://www.punkinbutt.com/cloth-wipes-dollars-sense-a-25.html
http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/wipes.htm

Another reason people switch to cloth wipes is the ingredients factor. I can't even pronounce half of the ingredients in disposable wipes, let alone know what they are! I mean, why is there Xantham Gum in my wipes? And what is Sodium Hydroxmethylglycinate?? Even the "natural" brands of wipes have weird things in them. If your baby has sensitive skin or even if she doesn't, you may sleep better just knowing what's going on her most sensitive area.

So how do you use cloth wipes?
There are myriad options available and I will present just a smattering for your consideration.
1. Put them in a wipes warmer with a solution. This is nice because you have warm, wet wipes available at any time. The downside is that you shouldnt leave them in a warm, wet solution for an extended period of time as that may allow for bacteria growth and mildew.

2. You can put a solution in a spray bottle and either spray the wipe or spray the bottom and use a dry wipe.

3. You can use warm water from the sink or in a spray bottle.

What can I use as wipes?
I carry 2 types: Thirsties and Punkin Butt. But you can really use anything. You can cut up a receiving blanket, a piece of fleece or other material, or use baby washcloths (though not as soft).

I love Thirsties Fab Wipes. They are 8x8 inches and 2 ply. One side is a textured cotton velour for the big messes. The other side is a microfleece for drying or lighter messes. They are so soft and colorful. They just make me feel good to get to use them! They come in a package of 6 in assorted colors. http://www.softandcozybaby.com/thirsties-fab-wipes.html

Punkin Butt makes a great flannel wipe. It is one ply which makes it a thin, easy to maneuver material. They come in great patterns and are available in boy, girl or neutral. http://www.softandcozybaby.com/punkin-butt-flannel-wipes.html

What kind of solutions should I use?
1. Plain old-fashioned tap water works great. When my baby has a huge blow-out that no wipe will clean -- you know, the up the back type -- I either put him straight into the tub or under the faucet.

2. You can make a solution of baby shampoo, baby oil and water.

3. Punkin Butt makes an Organic Wipes Solution which I carry in my store. A 0.5 oz bottle of concentrate makes over 3 gallons of solution. You just put 10 drops into 1 cup of boiled or distilled water. Ingredients: Organic Vitis Vinifera (Grapeseed) Oil, Organic Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Organic Lavadula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Organic Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil. http://www.softandcozybaby.com/pubuorwisoco.html

4. Here's another recipe from Punkin Butt:
3/4 cup distilled or boiled water
1/4 cup aloe vera juice
3 drops Tea Tree oil [do not use full strength - will irritate - must be diluted]
1 drop lavender essential oil or apricot kernal oil (optional)
1 pump baby shampoo or wash
The aloe vera is soothing and healing. The tea tree oil kills bacteria, viruses and fungus that can lead to diaper rash or infection.

5. A simpler recipe by Punkin Butt:
1 cup distilled or boiled water
3 drops Tea Tree Oil
http://www.punkinbutt.com/wipes-recipes-a-16.html

Ditto Daddy Trainers

2009-01-22T13:07:00.017-05:00

I want to introduce you to this amazing creation. I will be so sad if I have to stop selling them due to the Big Bad Law (see below). It took me a while to find a trainer that didn't look like a diaper. My sister's son was in underwear during the day and she hated to put him back into diaper at night. It's like regressing and the child doesn't feel as much of a need to not have an accident - because it looks and feels like a diaper.

Why would you go from a Cloth Diaper to paper trainers?!

So after some searching I found Brandy at Ditto Daddy. Brandy is a WAHM (work at home mom) who does an incredible job. They are high-quality and expertly sewn. Ditto Daddy is an adorable boxer-type underwear that comes with a snap-in insert. They come in great patterns for boys and girls and look just like underwear. You can custom order sizes and fabric. Plus you can choose a premium insert for those heavy wetters. And when your big boy or girl is not having night accidents, you can unsnap the insert and use them for real underwear!

This is what the insert looks like from the inside of the trainer -->

(except the inserts are white)

If your child only has "wet accidents," you probably only need 1 or 2 trainers. You can change just the inserts if the boxer isn't wet. Or have one to wear and one to wash.

If you need something custom, I'm sure Brandy can accomodate. I can't wait until Dovy is old enough for these!

You can find these great Trainers here: http://www.softandcozybaby.com/clothtrainers.html

Babyproofing - HELP!

2009-01-22T13:02:00.003-05:00

So he's at that "swimming" mode... He can get anywhere but isn't quite using his knees yet. And sometimes I hand gets stuck under him. It's adorable and I know, we were waiting for him to crawl. But I am constantly moving stuff out of the way! He picks up the minutest fuzz off the floor and it goes straight into his mouth. I feel like I dont have enough toys to keep him occupied!
His latest thrill is eating Cheerios. It's unbelievable. We can seat him in his highchair with a handful of Cheerios and keep him busy for a half hour! And he loves his exersaucer. He doesnt really even play with the toys anymore - just jumps.

So I'm looking for ideas for occupying an 8 month old so I can actually accomplish things. I have been wearing him some, but he loves being able to move around. Any babyproofing tips?

Diaper Sprayers

2009-01-19T21:32:00.006-05:00

We are now carrying the Sigma Diaper Sprayer!
I wasn't at first sure about the whole diaper sprayer concept. Until my baby started eating solids...

Plenty of people do without a sprayer and do just fine. And then there are those who swear by diaper sprayers. They say they wouldn't cloth diaper if not for their sprayer. It's like their second best friend (well they didn't exactly say that...)

And I am starting to appreciate the diaper sprayer. As long as your baby is just drinking breastmilk, his poop is water-soluble and the diaper can be thrown straight into the washing machine. One cold rinse later, and there's little remembrance of that explosive diaper.

Once solids come into the picture, the colors change a little (no pun intended). When my baby had his first solid poop, I was so excited. Now I can do this whole "dump in the toilet thing." So I put the diaper on top of the pail instead of inside while I put a new diaper on him. Then, holding him in one arm (I wanted to share the exciting experience), I picked up the diaper with my other hand. And the poop fell on the floor. Yes, it was that hard. Ewww. Ok, sorry if I'm getting too graphic. Now I had to pick it up with the diaper and try to get it to the toilet. I did succeed, but some toys had to be sanitized as well... That was one of the easy solid poops - there was almost no residue on his diaper at all.

It's those peanut buttery poops that you just dont know what to do with. It's too much to go in the wash so you kind of scrape it off and try to dump it into the toilet. But it doesnt always come off cleanly.

This is where the diaper sprayer comes in handy. You can spray off all the excess that you don't want to touch. It goes cleanly (is that a word?) into the toilet and your diaper is ready for the wash.

Plus they are very simple to install. They can be installed in 5-10 min. All you need is a pair of pliers or a crescent wrench. We attached our nozzle to the side of the cabinet next to the toilet so you can't even see it when you walk into the bathroom.

You can find them here: http://www.softandcozybaby.com/sidisp.html

Happy Spraying!

If Breast is Best...

2009-01-17T22:29:00.003-05:00

...Why are women bottling their milk?

This is a great article from the New Yorker. I highly recommend reading it.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/01/19/090119fa_fact_lepore

It's something you never think about. It actually condemns pumping! The author, Jill Lepore, gives a great history on the evolution of how women feed their babies. We've gone from poor women eating dark bread and nursing while rich women eat white bread and feed formula - and now it's the opposite!

The point of her article is that pumping and feeding breast milk from a bottle is NOT the same as breastfeeding. Many of the benefits of nursing are not available with bottle feeding, including the closeness, bonding, and love a baby feels while nursing.

She condemns American society by saying that instead of making it easier for women to physically nurse their babies, its actually making it harder by promoting pumping. Women only legally have 12 week of maternity leave but it is recommended to breastfeed for a year. Instead of bringing the baby to the mother or allowing the mother to stay home longer with her baby, the laws are promoting pumping stations in the workplace. In fact one pumping room has a sign that says "This room is not intended for mothers who need a space to nurse their babies."
Are we no longer nursing mothers but milk pumps?

Big Bad Law Sale!

2009-01-13T16:37:00.014-05:00

To celebrate the upcoming BIG BAD LAW that is going to hurt the American economy and small businesses (listen to me rant...), we are having a sale!!

Save big money now before prices go up all over the country due to the mandatory expensive testing of all childrens' products! The details of the law still haven't been finalized, so contact you congressperson NOW!

We are clearancing up to 40-50% off!!!
All Maya Wrap products! Reduced to as low as $30!

All Doll Slings! Now only $10!

The wonderful Tinokis wrap! Now only $50! Why would a foreign company want to deal with our crazy laws? Some quality foreign toy companies are pulling their stuff off American shelves across the country.

Our adorable Ditto Daddy trainers! Now only $12! Custom made by a work-at-home mom who obviously can't afford to have them tested. She hasn't had a sale since Christmas. ;( In stock merchandise only.

Wool Soakers - Now only $18!

Get them NOW before they're gone! Remember, if this law goes into effect as is, you may not be able to buy this stuff again!

Detergents -- HELP!!

2009-01-12T20:59:00.009-05:00

If there's one thing that can be considered the "BIG DEBATE" among Cloth Diaper addicts, it's detergents and washing routines.

I believe to be a CDer in general, you have to be obsessed about it. It's just one of those things that if you really didn't care either way, you probably wouldn't stick with it. Most of the CD mamas I've met are all out CD addicts and will make a stink about their obsession. Am I right? ;)
Similarly with detergents: If you've found the detergent and wash routine that works perfectly for you and your diapers, you want to tell the whole world. And you'll become so obsessed with your find that you'll insist that it is the only way to go.

Well I haven't become addicted to one detergent yet. I thought I had a couple times but then I would find a new one and be excited to try that out. I have a friend who's the same way. Every time I get in a new detergent, she says "oh no, now I have to try a new one!"

So here's my detergent story:
When I first started CDing, I started with All Free & Clear 3x. I used that anyway for the rest of my laundry and when some CD sites said it was good for CD's I was excited. I wouldn't have to change detergents. We went to my mom's house for a couple weeks and I washed my dipes in her machine with All. My mother commented that the used dipes smelled like ammonia. And I said nonchalantly, "Yea, cloth diapers smell like urine. They're not like disposables that soak up all the urine and smell like baby powder anyway." I thought cloth diapers were supposed to smell! It wasn't overwhelming or awful, just a fact that there was a little urine smell that came with the package.

As I got more into the CD cyberworld I read about how Free & Clears make diapers smell! Oh, so they're NOT supposed to smell! But I really wasnt going to spend money on some fancy detergent that I had to pay for shipping and could only use on my diapers.

Next I read about Tide. That sounded easy enough. But only Tide Original powder. Ok, ok. I can find it. So I went to Target. They had Tide with this and Tide with that, but no Original powder. How can Target not carry Tide Original?? Tide must not make it anymore... I asked one of the friendly Target team members but he looked at me like I was crazy. There are a million detergents, why would you need that one?? Finally I found a small box of Tide Original powder at a small grocery store near my house. It was like $5 for a small box, which seemed like a lot at the time... But I knew you only use 1/4 of the recommended amount for diapers. So when I got home I told my husband, "this is only for the diapers!" Now I realize $5 is nothing to pay for a CD detergent! (have you noticed I just found and am having fun with the italics??)

So Tide it is. I started using it with a vengance. It was easy. The only thing was I had to make sure to rinse until there were no more bubbles in the rinse water. Simple enough. Except when you have a baby and have to time it to run down to the washer every time you think you're mid-rinse. And then you get there and the cycle is done. So should I do another rinse or assume there are no more bubbles?? It depended on my mood. In general I would do usually 2-3 extra rinses after the rinse that automatically followed the wash.

When I started selling detergents, of course I had to try them out for myself. I first used Sensi Clean. Initially I was only using it for stripping but when I ran out of Tide I started using it as a detergent. However there are some warnings of severe rashes with Sensi Clean so I would always do an extra hot wash and sometimes an extra rinse afterwards. But the Sensi Clean got boring and it's only 34 washes in a bottle! (Plus there was a new one to try!)

Fuzzi Bunz joined up with Vaska to produce the first detergent that a CD manufacturer put its name on. Fuzzi Bunz and many others were really excited about it. So was I - I had to try it! The FB detergent was even easier! There was no extra rinse or wash required. Plus, since you only need a 1/2 ounce per load of diapers, one bottle can do 96 loads! That's an awful lot of diapers! So I used that for a while. Until...

Then I read about Country Save. Happy Heinys recommends it as their top choice for a natural detergent. A huge box of powder that can be used for all your clothes and diapers. I box washes 80 loads for top loaders and 160 loads for front loaders! And you only use 1/2 or less of that for a load of diapers! So that's up to 320 loads of diapers for front load washers! Plus, the bonus for me was that I could order a case of Country Save off of Amazon for free while I had to pay a fortune to order a case of the Fuzzi Bunz detergent. The Country Save people are brilliant!

So that's where I am right now. I have 5 open containers of laundry detergent in my laundry room. I try to stick with one at a time, but when I get bored I switch to a different one! I know what you're thinking -- my husband thinks I'm crazy too! But like I told you at the beginning, CDing and your wash routine become an addiction!

Happy washing!

2009-01-11T23:41:00.003-05:00

Please consider signing the petition below. It is to redefine a law that goes into effect Feb 11 that requires lead and pthalate testing of all children's products. While in theory this is a great idea, it will be very expensive and likely prohibitive to many small businesses.

For example, Work-At-Home moms who make cloth diapers or other baby products will likely go out of business as they do not have the volume nor the funds necessary to do the mandatory testing on every minute detail of the products they produce. Every part of the products - snaps, elastic, velcro, zippers, each individual color and type of fabric, etc. -must be tested.

If this law passes as is it will be destructive to much of the "mom & pop" type businesses that make up the backbone of America. It will be illegal to sell on the free market any baby products that you may have made at home unless you spend a large amount of money having that product tested.

Some of the products I carry as well are made by small businesses out of their homes. As they likely will not pay for testing, I will not be able to sell those products.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/reform-cpsia-hr4040.html

You can also contact your lawmakers directly. The American Apparel Associate has made this very easy if you followthis link:
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/issues/alert/?alertid=12274476
It will automatically send an email (or allow you print a letter) to your Senators & Congressman based on your address and allow you to modify the text.

Please feel free to do your own research or contact me directly.
Thank you for your consideration!

Diaper Covers 101

2009-01-11T21:47:00.008-05:00

It's amazing how when I first considered a blog, I thought I would never have anything to write about. But I keep coming up with more and more ideas! And lucky you get to read about them! Well, really you can just close this page whenever you want. You don't HAVE to listen to my ranting.

So we had a really nice workshop today. A few very sweet mamas-to-be joined us and we shmoozed about CDing and babywearing. It was nice, intimate and informal.

Some things we touched on were the differences between the diaper covers - such as Bummis Super Whisper Wraps (SWW) vs. Super Brites (SB) vs. Originals vs. Whisper Pants. The differences between Bummis, Thirsties and Prorap covers.

SWW - the classic, ever-popular Bummis cover. If you read reviews online, people swear by them! I started CDing I guess at the tail end of their popularity - though those who loved them still love them - so I don't get their greatness. But they are a nice, simple cover. They are made of a PUL coating with a polyester inner lining.

SB - then Bummi came out with these newer covers. I LOVE these. Better than the SWW. They are made of PUL but don't have that polyester lining. So there is a shiny, sleek inner surface that's very easy to wipe or rinse clean. Plus they have the double leg gusset - which is that extra piece of fabric and elastic along the leg which just holds everything in better! Especially when you're using a prefold and you have to make sure all the fabric is tucked in perfectly because if it's not, anything it touches will get wet. The SB makes it easier to contain that fabric.

Bummis Original - they have a mesh-type of fabric on the inner surface so that provides better airflow. Plus they're cheaper for some reason!

Whisper Pants - So here's my thing about the WP. They're obviously not cute. But they come in sooo handy! When my baby was a newborn and I was using prefolds from the diaper service, instead of pinching and poking to get the fabric into the diaper cover, I used the WP and they just pull up over the diaper and everything is contained. Especially in the middle of the night, they're just easier to use! Yea, they're not cute - so only use them at night! Plus, contrary to popular belief, they're not "plastic pants" like they used in the olden-days. They're made out of nylon, which basically feels the same (I'm assuming...) but is actually much nicer. And they're so cheap!

Thirsties makes a great, adorable cover that comes in lots of fun colors. They also have that double leg gusset and I have never had a problem with leaking.

Proraps are the workhorse of diaper covers - they're Diaper Service Quality (DSQ), which means they'll never wear out. They're heavy duty and durable. Plus now proraps makes color diaper covers in blue or pink. The Medium and Large sizes even have a buckle in addition to the velcro closure so that your baby won't pull off his/her diaper! Ingenius, I think.

And of course I would be remiss if I failed to mention Wool Covers. In the "CD Glossary" I explained the different types of wool covers - soakers, shorties, skirties, and longies. These can be made of wool or fleece, crocheted, knitted, or interlock material. They are super because they are very absorbant. They only need to be washed when they get dirty; if they're wet you can let them air dry. They are naturally anti-bacterial and they'll keep your baby warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Wool can only be hand washed and must be "lanolized" to become absorbant. This is done by using some type of lanolin and soaking the wool in it. It's scary at first (at least for me!) but once you get the hang of it, it's soo easy and super fun! Plus they're adorable!

URRRGHHH!

2009-01-11T09:22:00.000-05:00

Don't you hate it...

I went to check on my baby last night right before I was (supposed to be...) going to bed. To make sure he was covered and not smashed into the side rails. And the second I opened his door, he woke up! Then he cried and cried. Finally I just went in and nursed him back to sleep.

I hate leaving him to cry and respect those who don't let their babies "cry it out." But I feel like he'll keep expecting to eat in the middle of the night. And while animals never let their babies cry it out, they don't have to go to work in the morning!

Recently, though, we're getting on a better schedule. And the few days that we've managed to stick to the schedule, he's been sleeping great. 2 hour naps and sleeping through the night. I guess more sleep helps them sleep better after all.

A New Way to Snappi Prefolds

2009-01-11T09:21:00.003-05:00

Autumn Beck has this great blog http://www.allaboutclothdiapers.com/

She recently posted a video of how to put a prefold on a baby who's tummy-down! It's great for those kids who won't sit still long enough to diaper!

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/do-you-snappi-like-this/

Enjoy!!

Why I started Soft and Cozy Baby

2009-01-10T23:46:00.003-05:00

So you read about my journey into CD'ing. Now why'd I start my store?

Well, as I mentioned, when I was researching CDing online, it was SOOO overwhelming! There were so many sites and so many types of diapers! I just didnt know where to start or what was best. All I had to go on was a small icon on a website and feedback from other mamas.

I looked around for a local CD store and only found one store who carried a couple types of diapers. She has a great store with lots of fun products and is a great resource for classes, but Cloth Diapering was only a small section. I wanted more options!

So I did some research (I spend WAAAY too much time online) and the great entrepeneur I am, I realized that it was just way too easy to start my own little store. I chose some top quality diaper manufacturers with good reputations to start with. I told my husband I was only going to have a few brands of diapers and that was it...

I also decided I would have a Babywearing section as they go so well together! My sister-in-law introduced me to the Tinokis wrap - a long piece of fabric that can be wrapped in versatile ways, made in Israel. Dovy absolutely loved it. At first he wouldnt calm down long enough for me to put it on. But later on as he soon as he saw me pulling it out, he would calm down and get excited (at least I thought so!), knowing I would be wearing him soon! I also decided to carry the Maya Wrap and Hotsling - popular slings with varying benefits.

As I've expanded (but I thought you were only carrying a couple types of diapers...) I've found other fun and related (or random) baby-related and eco-friendly items to carry.

My little boutique is outgrowing my dining room!

Save $10 at Diapers.com

2009-01-10T23:39:00.001-05:00

Save $10 on your first order at Diapers.com with code BAYL6355.

What?!?
A Cloth Diapering Mama is advertising for diapers.com???

Well, I was surprised as well to see the vast selection they offer. They even have a tab on the top labeled "Green Baby" with their eco-friendly products.

Besides regular sposies and wipes, they also have baby food (organic too!), bottles (BPA free!), clothing, toys, breastfeeding supplies, skin care, detergents, and more!

They carry eco-friendly sposies for those who need something to fall back on and eco-friendly disposable wipes. They even carry Cloth Diapers - including Kushies, Bumkins, bumGenius, Happy Heinys and gDiapers.

So, go ahead, save $10 off your first order of CD's at diapers.com and then come back to my store for the rest of your stash! No shipping charges with in-store pickup! Plus you can see and feel the diapers at my store. Leading to my next post...

CD Glossary

2009-01-10T23:10:00.004-05:00

I realize that not everyone reading my blog is familiar with the Cloth Diaper lingo, so here are some CD terms:

First of all, the basics of CD'ing. Every diaper needs 2 parts - the absorbant part and the waterproof part. Some diapers come as one or both parts.

CD = Cloth Diaper

AIO = All In One - these are diapers that are one piece, and have the absorbant and the waterproof parts. They are shaped like and as easy to use as disposable diapers. They are the most dad and babysitter friendly! They have elastic in the legs and close with snaps or velcro.

Aplix = the generic name for velcro

Contour = This is the absorbant part of the diaper. It is shaped like a diaper but doesnt have elastic, velcro or snaps. It needs a diaper cover.

Diaper Cover = this is the waterproof part of the diaper. This can go over a fitted, prefold, flat or contour. They come in PUL, nylon or wool.

Fitted = These are the absorbant part of the diaper. They are shaped like a diaper, have elastic in the legs and close with velcro or snaps. These need a cover to be waterproof.

Flat = this is the original cloth diaper. It is a long thin piece of fabric that has to be folded in various ways to make it absorbant and fit your baby. It requires a cover.

Longies = these are wool or fleece diaper covers that also serve as pants. The absorbant material

One-Size = these diapers are meant to be used by your baby throughout his/her diapering career. They are made to be adjustable to get bigger as the baby grows.

Pockets = these diapers have a (usually) PUL outer and a material (such as fleece) inner. They have one edge open which creates a pocket to add an insert. The pocket is the waterproof part. You have to add an insert or doubler to make it absorbant. You can add more inserts the more absorbant you want the diaper to be, such as for night-time use.

Prefold = these are what you might orginially think of when you think of your grandmother's cloth diapers. They're called prefolds, because unlike Flats, they're sewn with layers to make them absorbant. Most prefolds are 4x8x4 or 4x6x4. This is the ply or layers of fabric. 4x8x4 means the outer sections have 4 layers of fabric and the middle section is 8 ply. Prefolds can be folded in various ways and put in a diaper cover.

PUL = polyurethane laminate - usually a polyester or cotton fabric laminated with polyurethane film = NOT plastic!! - This material is used to make many types of diapers waterproof. This can be used for diaper covers, AIO, and pockets.

Shorties = these are wool or fleece diaper covers that look like shorts. The natural material is absorbant and makes the diaper waterproof. An absorbant material, such as a prefold or fitted, is needed underneath.

Skirties = these are like shorties but have little skirts over the shorts

Snappi = this invention is the next best thing since sliced bread! It replaces the diaper pin so now dad has no excuse to not change a diaper! It is T-shaped and has little teeth on the edges which grab the fabric to hold it together. The teeth are sharp, so keep it away from your baby when not in use. It can be used with prefolds, flats and contours.

Soakers = these are diaper covers made out of wool or fleece that resemble underwear or shorts. The natural material is absorbant and makes the diaper waterproof. An absorbant material, such as a prefold or fitted, is needed underneath the soaker.

Sposies = disposables

Let me know if I'm missing something!

My Cloth Diapering Journey (so far)

2009-01-10T23:01:00.003-05:00

I started researching cloth diapers when I was pregnant with my now 7.5 month old son, Dovy. I was really looking for a diaper service. Why would I ever want to wash them myself? I don't even think I knew that was an option. But I knew that my mother had used a diaper service with one of my siblings. And I knew there were health risks and chemicals in disposable diapers. So I started looking for a diaper service for when my baby was born.

After much searching, I finally found a diaper service located in Virginia which delivers to Baltimore. I was surprised there wasn't a local diaper service available. But also, during my searches, I discovered the wealth of information on Cloth Diapering in general. I didn't realize this was a fairly new phenomenon. The diapers available were so cute and versatile. I was prepared for diaper pins! But there was almost TOO much information out there. I didn't know where to start.

After Dovy was born, I signed up with the Diaper Service. I pre-registered for 4 weeks of delivery. We went out of town for one of those weeks, so it ended up being over a 5 week span. When the diapers first arrived, I was surprised that they were prefolds. I'm not sure why I was surprised -- that's what I initialy expected when I first started looking for a diaper service. But I guess that after seeing all the fun options out there, I was disappointed that I had prefolds and boring white covers. Plus, I later found out, there ARE diaper services that offer a variety of types of diapers.

Anyway, by week 3 of diaper service, I was itching to go out on my own and try the fun diapers. So I went online and ordered some diapers. I got a few All-In-Ones and a few Fitteds. By week 4, I was using the diaper service prefolds as burp cloths and alternating when I had to wash my small new diaper stash. But my new diapers were so fun and easy to take care of that I cancelled the service all together. And I've never looked back! (except on those days/nights that I ran out of diapers and forgot to do laundry!)

Welcome

2009-01-10T22:55:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my blog!
I never thought I'd write a blog before. The same as I swore I wouldn't read Harry Potter or Twilight. Or have a Facebook page... There are just some things that turn out to be a better idea than when you first thought about it.
So how did I get here? Well I started reading Harry Potter after my high school English teacher, who I really liked, recommended it. I figure if she's read it, it might actually be good. I started reading Twilight when my friend said she didnt think she'd find anything as good as Harry Potter ever again... until she read Twilight. And then I realized the entire world (well at least part of my small world) was also reading it! And I created a Facebook page when I realized how many people are on Facebook. I still dont really know how to use it, but almost all the Cloth Diaper (CD) companies have pages. And bumGenius even had a photo contest. But I'm still not obsessed with it... yet.
Oh, and my blog. Well I've always liked writing. I used to write all the time in school. I never considered writing a blog but have noticed that many do have them. So I thought I'd give it a shot. All the musings in my head (well, some of them) I will now share with you!
Be forewarned!