Eat. Sleep. Poop. - Change Table Essentials

Do you have all your essentials in hand's reach for when life gives you all sorts of messes? Here are the things that I think you should have set-up in/or or near your station.

Diapers Whether it's prefolds, All-in-Ones, Pockets, Fitteds or whatever your diaper vice may be, you want to make sure to have plenty of diapers on hand. (I even keep 2-3 disposables within reach in case I run out of cloth.) Take them out of the package and prep them (see "Why Did I Decide to Use Cloth".) If you use liners, it may be wise to pre-line them or keep a roll near your diapers and place one in the diaper if you anticipate any bowel movements. Liners are biodegradable and make clean-up a breeze.

Wipes I keep a wipes warmer on the second shelf filled with cotton, fleece and bamboo wipes filled with warm water and a baby-safe essential oil blend. I also keep a box of pre-moistened wipes next to a box of tissues on the top shelf for the dry poops.

Diaper Pail or Diaper Bag I have a MotherEase Pail lined with a laundering bag. You don't need to get all fancy like I did, a simple laundering bag hanging off the door will suffice. Kate has very stinky pees so I like to keep her dirty diapers in a well ventilated area.

Diaper Rash Creams and Bottom Balms Keep rashes at bay by keeping the bum dry. One wet wipe and one dry wipe is key. Adding a very thing layer of balm is a good way to stay on top of redness.

Cradle cap cream, lotion, nose aspirators and nail clippers You probably examine you baby the most when you're at the changing station. Keep creams handy for that unexpected grooming.

Mom Essentials The change table isn't all about Baby... remember to add some hair elastics to keep your hair out of your face and lip balm to help soothe you - you're such a scatterbrain these days that you'll probably forget about your lips the minute you leave the baby room.

And of course,... A CHANGING PAD AND COVER!
A well-equipped changing station will make your life a lot easier!

Join Me at Wabi Sabi Ottawa!

Working as Bibmababy (WEB) (FACEBOOK), I've been running uphill trying to catch up with custom wool dryer ball requests. I've decided to partner up with Wabi Sabi Ottawa and offer a Tutorial Class! Are you in the Ottawa, Canada area? Register for Thursday's Mommy Friendly Class on April 14th 2011 at 10am-12 noon or Saturday's Class offered on May 14th from 10 am to 12 noon!

WHAT are Wool Dryer Balls you ask? Well, they're exactly that. 100% Wool in ball form! They are made from spun wool yarn, batting or roving that’s felted, either by hand or through a washing and drying process.

WHERE can I use these fun Wool Balls? There's a gazillion reasons for them - I use them mainly for the Dryer, but they double up as drawer, closet, gym bag, boot and car fresheners. Leave them unscented and they become House-Friendly Toy balls! As much as the dogs love them, word to the wise… keep them away. Dogs LOVE the smell… and them tear apart, leaving wool bits EVERYWHERE!

HOW do Wool Balls help laundering clothes? When placed in the dryer along with your wet laundry, the dryer balls bounce around like Bingo balls and help to lift and separate the clothes, reducing static as well as leaving clothes feeling soft and fluffy. They also reduce dying time by improving the circulation of heat and air and the balls themselves soak up excess moisture in turn cutting into hydro costs. If you have a fragrance sensitivity, these work great over using fabric softeners. If you don't - add essential oils for a natural non-toxic alternative. It's supposed to reduce static - but I have yet to see proof of that. However, I have noticed a must faster result in drying towels and my cloth diapers - almost 20 minutes! Personally I find that amazing.

The balls are about the size of a tennis ball and tightly felted. I recommend you have about 3-4 of these in your dryer to start. We now have about 8 of these in the dryer. 1oz of wool seems to do the trick, but the heavier the ball the better… to a certain extent of course. We want them to bounce around, not launder a brick. :)

WHY are Wool felted balls better than the commercially available plastic ones?

• They are inexpensive to make since you can use upcycled wool from an old sweater rather than new material.
• Using an all-natural wool means no harsh chemicals!
• The banging sound is a lot quieter!
• Finally, the potential reduction in clothing lifespan is not a problem considering they are a cloth product themselves.

In this course I will be teaching you how to make a regular ball with batting by wet felting and one by machine felting. This will also be used as a core for our fancier balls - a roving ball and a decorated ball by felting on shapes and adding wool webbing.

WHEN can I take this class? For more information on this course or to take any of Wabi Sabi's fun creative courses, visit Wabi Sabi Ottawa (WEB) or Call: (613) 725-KNIT. Wool Dryer Balls Classes are offered Thursday, April 14th from 10 am - 12 noon and Saturday, May 14th 10am - 12 noon.

Twig Studio Dollhouse Giveaway at 3 Little Monkeys!

Someone is going to win a free Twig Studio Dollhouse!

I've been dying to find a great dollhouse for Kate, yes, she's still a bit young, but I'd like to get a leg up on this. I this every little girl should have her very own dollhouse. I've looked at Fisher Price ones, but I don't know how I feel about that plasticky, "every kid on the block owns one of these" playhouses. I love it when Kate gets something she an call her own, and that she can be proud that I just didn't go to Zellers to pick one up for her. I visited a local woodworker to see how much he would charge me for a simple dollhouse... and the price? OUCH!!! I've been eying one at 3 Little Monkeys (WEB) (FACEBOOK) . I fell in love with this gem, it has an original style and at $99-$199 in price... can't complain! The Twig Studio Dollhouses (WEB) are simply adorable!!! This is a Waldorf Style Wooden Dollhouse made with Laminated Birch finished with Natural non-toxic paints and beeswax. All the little doors are fully functional with real little leather hinges and door pulls.

This beauty is not only fun for the kidding but super easy to put together. So no headaches for mom and dad! Made of a slotted construction, which means no tools needed! Assembles like a puzzle. It's features 2 main floors, a half floor loft, and 2 balconies - oh la la! With little hands in mind, the house also has many reach through points. People and accessories are not included and you also need to buy the grassy/pebbly base separately - but this is sure to make any little boy or girl happy!

Please see the Giveaway Rules on 3 Little Monkeys' Facebook Page. They will ship to anywhere in North America (see details for shipping).

The winner will be drawn randomly - you can have up to 9 entries in the draw! Good Luck!

Chiquita Baby presents: How to wash your diapers using a front loader!

This is similar to my washing routine, however, I take my diapers out of the bag and I don't add water. I soak a towel and throw that in the machine too. Every 2 weeks, I run a second rinse without soap to reduce the risk of residue or ammonia build up. You also don't want to run the machine with too little diapers... you want them to rub together! This helps get rid of any cling-ons.

AppleCheeks Review: Update

I wrote up a quick review about AppleCheeks a few months back. Here's a video on how to get the best out of your AppleCheeks diapers.

Buy 2 Get 1 Free at Rachelle Anne Miller's Shop!

(WEB) (FACEBOOK) (BLOG) (ETSY)

I've talked about Rachelle Anne Miller before and ranted about how fantastic I find her art. Well she is expecting baby number 2 very soon and thought she's do a big sale before she becomes MIA for a while...

Take advantage of this sale! I bought the 3 prints shown here for Kate's room and absolutely love them. Bonus? She's fantastic to work with and very accommodating! A very sweet woman. :) Sale ends February 27, 2011.

Charlie Banana nana nana vs FuzziBunz

(WEB) (FACEBOOK) - 4 out of 5

I am in LOVE. Move over Fuzzibunz I found Charlie Banana. I find the PUL on this diaper exceeds in quality, I love that you get the 2 microfiber inserts (much like the new One-Size Fuzzibunz and elastics on the legs for a custom fit). I love the colour options for this diaper. It's is MUCH like the Fuzzibunz. I just like the fact that I have the option of buying a great pocket diaper from someone else... I've made it known that I'm not buying the new Fuzzibunz being manufactured in China, I find their PUL to be "cheap" and sticky feeling. I find them difficult to stuff. (Look the label, it will tell you where the diaper was made - I prefer the USA and Mexico versions - apparently they will be producing them in Turkey now.)


Charlie Bananas are hard to come by in Canada, but luckily Double K Boutique is selling off the rest of her lot at a discounted price.


Pros:

• Absorbency - great for regular flow
• Fit - Trim and sleek under clothes, custom fit with elastics and snaps, perfect fit on my little girl
• Leaks - no leaks, even with nighttime use
  
• Softness - SUPER soft microfleece
  
• Drying time - covers take an hour or so
• Retail price - competitive!!! Can get them on sale for as little as $15 CAD if you're willing to do the hunt. - Can go as high as $24.95 CAD for prints (which are adorable)
  
• Insert - you get 2 microfleece inserts, a short and a long
• Ease of Use - Snaps! and pocket stuffing
  

Cons:

• Absorbency - not sure if can withstand a heavy wetter
  
• Leaks -no leaks yet - but I'm not using this as a main diaper yet
  
• Drying time - new liners take an overnight dry or 15 minutes in the dryer
  
• Ease of use - tricky if you have a fidgety baby like mine, but I bribe her with a toy

NOTE: I did not receive any compensation for this review. These opinions are my own. I have purchased these diapers at full price for this review.

Blueberry AI2 and Minky Pocket

(WEB) (FACEBOOK)
Retails: $19.99-$34.99

I've been lagging a bit in the diaper review department lately - it's not that I've lost the want to try new diapers, but more like I'm lost all my free time!

Anyway, onto the Blueberry. From the makers of Swaddlebees, I really liked the look of the diaper and fell in love with the Minky. I even shelled out the ridiculous $30 to pay for a cover cause I liked it so much - unfortunately, it didn't fit Kate very well, and I finally gave up and put it up for sale at half the price. I bought the cow print AI2 for $10 in a gently used condition. It needed a little sunning and then it was as good as new.

Blueberry All-in-Two - 3.5 out of 5
- Kate is modeling it in the picture above in cow print

I been using this AI2 for at least a month now with the Blueberry One-size Hemp and Microfiber insert. Although it's one of my favourite, I was speaking with a woman at Extraordinary Baby Shoppe and she was telling me how much she hating this diaper because it was so hard to keep it clean and un-stinky. I thought she was exaggerating and dismissed it - til a week later, I understood what she meant,... I have to wash this diaper twice to keep the stinkies at bay. Once just the way it is, and a second time flipped inside out to ensure it really cleans the microfiber. I don't really mind since I have a huge stash, so I wash once, flip it inside out and throw it in the wetbag for wash number 2. It's a really trim diaper and works fantastically for an overnight diaper.

Pros:

• Absorbency - VERY absorbent - insert has 3 layers of hemp and microfiber and diaper has a thick layer of microfiber sewn right in.
  
• Fit - trim and cute!
  
• Leaks - none at all - even with a "blowout"
  
• Softness - soft with a satin finish on the outside
• Insert - has a built in microfiber insert and an open pocket to allow for your favourite doubler.
  
• Ease of Use - easy side snaps
  
• Style - Comes in cute patterns!
  

Cons:

• Retail price - a little steep for my taste
  
• Drying time - takes a long time to dry - at least a full day
  
• Insert - difficult to keep the built in insert clean

Blueberry Pocket Minky - 3 out of 5

I used this pocket diaper for about a month with a Blueberry Microfiber insert. I adored the look of this diaper... until I put it on Kate. It's actually so bulky that it made her legs look awkward, almost like she was getting ready to ride a horse. I never used it as a daytime diaper since it didn't allow us to put pants on her - and I wasn't overly impressed as a nighttime diaper. Probably because I'm so used to how well my Dreameze and Little Beetle have worked, that this one fails in comparaison.

Pros:

• Drying time - fast drying time
  
• Leaks - none
  
• Softness - soft inside and out
  
• Insert - easy pocket diaper
  
• Ease of Use - snaps
  
• Style - Comes in cute patterns!
  

Cons:

• Retail price - a little steep for my taste
• Absorbency - mediocre
  
• Fit - very bulky

NOTE: I did not receive any compensation for this review. These opinions are my own. I purchased these diapers at my own cost.

Me.Read.Good.

I don't read books very often, unless they're a little satirical. Books tend to lead me to a snore and some books can take from months to years for me to finish (enter I am America and So Can You by Stephen Colbert). I can't pinpoint the types of books I like, but sometimes I find one that's an amazing read and I just can't put it down. My favourite book through high school was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I must have read it a dozen times. The movie stinks, but then again, I hate black and white oldies.

A few years ago, someone suggested I read a book called The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. This is an autobiography that focuses mostly on the author's mother and her "loose" thoughts on life and parenting. I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN. I sought out other books by the same author and found the prequel to The Glass Castle titled Broken Horses - this one features her Grandmother. Seems there's a long line of distorted morals in this family. Not the same impact, but it shed new light on The Glass Castle. Easy and quick read - and you can't believe sometimes that people live nomadic lives like these.

My new read? A book my mom highly suggested. She's into dark books as much as I am, difference being she reads a book a month. I'm not competitive with her, so I let her win the bookworm contest. Anyway, she suggested I read a book titled The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne a fictional tale about two boys - the son of a Nazi commandant and a Jewish concentration camp inmate becoming the best of friends. Spoiler alert... it doesn't have a happy ending. Available for $5.99 at Winners/Home Sense. A steal for a good read!

Happy 5 months Kate!

As a new mom, you find any reason to celebrate... every milestone seems so important. Even though Kate is driving me bonkers these days, and I'm wearing thin on no-sleep. It's the little giggles and chatter than keep me going.

I stumbled on this recipe and I can't wait til I can make these for Kate big 1st birthday bash. Then again, I wish she'd stay little forever. You see Kate has figured out that, she can't crawl yet, and back frog jumping often bumps her head first into wall. Her mobility of choice is now rolling to get somewhere which means, I can't just leave her on the floor with a couple of toys and run off to do laundry anymore. She requires a lot of attention and is too stubborn to take a mid-afternoon nap. This equates to no downtime for mom. You would think in this case that she sleeps through the night, wrong! She still gets up for 2 feeds and a diaper change. However, we have hit a major milestone. Kate gave up signing for 'milk' and is now actually requesting "lait lait". Of course,... she doesn't do it when you ask her to,... she resorts to yelling this when I'm not fast enough with her milk. We've also heard "mamamama" when she can't see me and is upset. I thought it was a fluke and that she was just playing with her m's, but she seems to have associated me to "mamamama", thanks do Dad who's been really pressing this on her since birth. He's determined to raise a genius. I would rather she veg out once in a while. ;)

If you haven't visited Skip to My Lou's blog yet, you should. There's a lot of entertaining posts and great recipe and gift ideas.
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/05/18/how-to-make-rainbow-colored-cupcakes/

MYO - Fancy Diaper and Wipes Case

I tried this and failed miserably. I will try it again... I think I just need practice with a glue gun? Silly me. I had the peanut shaped case from Huggies. I think a plain square one would have made my life a lot easier. Try it out and share with us on Bibmababy!

http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2009/03/diaperwipes-case.html?spref=fb

Snacktime! Barenaked Ladies Review

Snacktime! is a fantastic children's album performed by Canadian band Barenaked Ladies. I ADORE this CD. It had me giggling, and singing along. I highly recommend it to anyone with littles. My favourite song is Pollywog in a Bog (see video). Eraser makes me sing out loud. Take some time and watch a few of their videos. You'll see what I mean about singing along... it's pretty catchy.

This CD sells between $13-$16 dollars. Some version even come with an illustrated book but I wasn't able to find one - and from what I've read online, it seems they are pretty hard to come by.



When I was looking into getting a video for this post, I stumbled upon a Ziggy Marley CD for kids. I'm running out to buy it today. I'll give you my thoughts once I've listened to it a few times. My mother in law says Raffi is still her favourite... I haven't had a listen yet - nor had I ever heard of Raffi before. Guess that's what you get for growing up to Marie Soleil! :)

Bibmababy Hit 100 FANS!!!

Which means another item added to the giveaway! Made by my very own hooker, Grandma Bibmababy herself. Don't forget to enter to win all the exciting prizes on the left by visiting Bibmababy on Facebook!

Thank you Totally Temberton!

As posted previously a few bloggers are trying to raise funds for Coupon Mommy of 3's daughter Emily. Read post here. Thank you Totally Temberton for renting a little piece of our blog to help a brave little girl!
Go read her blog! She has great giveaways!



And...

Remember to chip in for Emily. :)

My Warming Heart

Thank you to everyone who donated to my hamper this month. I got such an amazing response and I am so happy that there are still genuinely great people out there. I thought I would share a picture of everything that is going to the new mama in 2 weeks. Playpens, mobiles, a humidifier, a crib set, diapers, bottles, bibs, blankets, toys, books, a diaper bag and lots of clothes!!!

I found a potty!

Thanks Extraordinary Baby Shoppe - you suggested the right amount of little when it comes to the BecoPotty by BecoThings. It's neat since it's biodegradable! It starts off as bamboo and rice husks leftovers from farming, squished and ground into a powder, add some biodegradable resin, pressing into a hot mould and voilà! A Becopotty!
It's a teeny tiny toilet designed for newborns and EC training. (See past post "So You Think You Can Pee" for explanation). Now to muster up the courage to get Kate to use it... I think I can I think I can...

Next up is finding this book as a helpful tool. Ah man, you mean I have to read too? Thanks LC for the suggestion.

Kael & Kaed Wetbag

Kael & Kaed (FACEBOOK) (ETSY)
DoubleK Boutique (FACEBOOK) (HYENA CART)

I recently posted a wetbag review (read here) without even thinking that I'd be getting anything better than my Jamtots liner. After dealing with Kael & Kaed - for other fun Canadian-made baby items, I decided to purchase a little something for myself when a jumbo wetbag she had on her etsy site caught my eye. This BEAUTIFUL designer fabric coupled with a great choice in contrasting zipper and snap colours made me cave. Out came the credit card.

I got my bag 1 week later through snail-mail and I was astounded by the excellent craftsmanship! I usually expect a WAHM to have WAHM type work. I support the moms but do expect slight flaws. After all, it's hand-made and we can't always expect perfection! I couldn't believe it. I started showing everyone... It's STRAIGHT!! NO LOOSE THREADS!! I CAN'T FIND THE SEAM???? Excellent craftsmanship - better than other Brand Names out there. I am definitely going to need to put in a custom order for a diaper pail liner. My only issue with this bag is the slight wicking problem with a diaper that's been soaked and left in the bag for too long. (days not hours). I found it useful at a swim bag for our web swimsuits after the pool, but you need to take your clothes out of the bags as soon as you get home... moisture can seep through the bag if it is left in there too long.

Since this purchase, I've bought a sammy bag and a snack bag. My relationship with Kael & Kaed began with a contest winning - I bought a key fob and pacifier holders. My friends and I have developed a cult following. We love her stuff and hope nothing but the best for this hard working momma!

PS. Pay the extra $0.50 for the loop. You won't be sorry. :)

NOTE: I did not receive any compensation for this review. These opinions are my own. I purchased these items at my own FULL cost.

**********

Like what you see? You could win a Sophie Leash or your very own OR 20% off your next purchase at Kael & Kaed.
Visit www.facebook.com/Bibmababy to find out how!

Help Emily Fight Cancer!

It's a scary thought when really anyone could wake up one morning and find out their kid has cancer. It's a fear no one should ever experience, however a fellow blogger - someone I've been following since Kate was a bean - is struggling through this right now. Coupon Mommy of 3 is fighting her daughter's cancer. To help, Diaper Style is hosting the 2011 Blogger Auction for Coupon Mommy of 3 funds. Anyone who would like to rent space (see side bar) to advertise on my site, will see 100% of the proceeds go to this family. BID NOW!!! There are many other bloggers donating ad space as well. Check it out! Help yourself to great advertising at competitive rates and feel good about helping a family in need.

Read Emily's Story Here.

Prefolds! Schmefolds!

I'm not the biggest fan of prefolds... you can read my post about them here, but some people are braver than I am. I'll never forget when I saw Vicky from Ottawa Cloth Diapers, and she was showing me how to properly use a prefold, my reaction was... "I'm not good at origami.". She laughed and said, "It's not for everyone."

Here are some great links to the Prefold Gurus!



More like this video!

Blogs

Call Me Old Fashioned: Why Prefolds Are Better Than You Think by the Cloth Diaper Whisperer

Prefolds 101: Understanding the Differences by Diaper Pin

How to Use a Prefold Diaper? by the Baby Loft

Make your own Wool Wash!

I LOVE the Ewe Need It Wool Wash - smells great and works (Lovespell is my favourite, it's the same smell that you find on all the Woolly Bottoms covers). However it is a little expensive. Here's a quick recipe to make your own! I use this recipe to clean all my wool diaper covers.

1. Add a pea size of Lanolin to a cup of HOT water.
2. Let it melt.
3. Add a few drops of baby shampoo.
4. Stir!
   

and there's your lanolizing soap!

To wash:

1. Put about a teaspoon of your concoction into a tub of water.
2. Swish the water to ensure even distribution of lanolin wash.
3. Turn all your wool items inside out - careful colours may run!
4. Soak for about an hour.
5. Remove your wool and roll into a towel to remove moisture.
6. Reshape and lay flat to dry. Hanging can distort the shape of your wool.

and you're done!