New Daily Deal Feature!

I'm really excited about the new site.  Although I still have hundreds of products to add it is coming around.  One of my favorite features is the new Deal of the Day option.  Each day a new deal will be available.  You can save anywhere from 10 to 60% off a product.  Happy shopping!

My Journey Back Home

When I began the Flat Diaper and Hand Washing Challenge I never could have imagined the path it would lead me on.  It became an emotional journey back home.  Not the literal home, but the figurative home.  The place you go to feel safe, the place you go to be happy, the place you can be yourself, the place that feels like home.  Like Grandma's house, snuggling in her lap for stories, learning how to be a homemaker and for me learning how to care for cloth diapers.

Jungle Love

My cloth journey began four years ago.  I can recall showing my GG the new modern cloth diaper I had bought for my son. I new she would be happy that I had begun my cloth diapering journey.  Just a few months before she had encouraged me to use cloth. I of course had brushed it off as difficult, envisioning old fashioned flat diapers and pins. She taught me about dunking and line drying. I did dunk for well over a year before I finally got a diaper sprayer. Line drying just seemed difficult and as much as I love my memories of GG I also had memories of stiff clothes as a child that never smelled fresh, but of dog. So for me line drying wasn't an option. Funny now I am enjoying those very diapers GG once used and seeing stains fade in the morning sun. There is something to be said for the classics. They are after all classics for a reason, they work. They work for the hurried, the poor, the stay at home mom and the wealthy. They work for night, they work for play, they work for exotic travels and roughing it at campsites. They work for the newborn and the toddler, the wiggler and the patient baby. Mostly for me they work because they are a bridge to my past. They helped me finally grieve for my GG when I had been too busy with new babies and too stressed with unemployment to allow myself to say goodbye. They have brought GG back to our lives. Silly I know, but I feel she is with me while I diaper, wash and hang out the laundry. Her hand guides me as I fold the flat diaper to fit Sophia and then fold it even smaller to fit Adalyn. She steadies my hand as I finally try a diaper pin.

Sophia in a Swaddlebees with diaper pin

I feel blessed to have experienced a different life. A life many live everyday without modern conveniences like a washer and dryer. It has always been my goal as a Real Diaper Association Leader in Training to work with low income families. To help educate others that cloth diapering is possible even without a washer and dryer. I knew it was possible with little money. Diapers like the Econobum system allow you to diaper full time for less than $100! Most spend that in the first month or two of a child's life when using disposables. I must admit though I admired those that lugged their diapers to a laundry mat. I felt I would have given up if that were my life. This challenge has taught me that I can wash at home. I only need a sink, or bath tub or a fancy camp style washer. I still admire that mama I saw on You Tube hand washing her diapers. It is a chore, but like any other of our motherly chores, it gets done. A mother's day is long and washing diapers by hand does add to it, but really it isn't that much more time consuming. I even dare to say I spend less time caring for my diapers now that I don't have inserts to sort and stuff.

Sunning on the garden fence

 

Cloth diapering isn't a passing for me during my children's diaper age, it is a passion. It is personal. I watched a child suffer from disposable diapers. I was a helpless guilt ridden mom. My goal as a Circle Leader is to educate parents that they have options. While I knew a little of flats, I really could not help a parent looking for more information on the diaper other than to say they are good for traveling. Now though I can speak from experience that flats are a workable diaper even in this time of modern cloth diapers and hybrid systems. I can appreciate the difficulties of diapering even in inconvenient times.  I already could understand some of the struggles low income families experience as I am one, but I am not the average. I have many conveniences in life and a fancy washer and dryer is one. I have fancy diapers for my children, a diaper sprayer and flushable liners. I never had to find items to use for diapering, like old shirts or towels. I am able to think out of the box now.

Wahsing diapers in tub with Rockin' Green

Boiling unbleached flats to remove natural oils

Even if you were unable to participate or thought those that did were crazy I encourage you to find your own challenge. It could be something as simple as switching from a hybrid system to full cloth or taking the lunge and using that pin. Perhaps you have a young woman's shelter in your town or live near a disaster area and can collect "found" diapers and teach a class on flats. You may just find like me this challenge can lead you right where you need to be, home.

Rita Jo Lathrop aka GG

Fail Blog

Today was just bad all around.  For starters Sophia woke up at 6ish needing a diaper change and the diapers were still soaking wet.  I had no choice but to put her in a "fancy" diaper.  When we woke up for the day around 9 the diapers were still soaking wet.  Thankfully Adalyn slept late because I broke down and threw them in the dryer (Sophie was fine naked and even pooped in the potty!).  Even with that it took a full 50 minutes to dry them.  When I said they were soaking wet I wasn't lying!  Lesson learned I can not wash diapers really late at night and expect them to be ready in the morning. 

But there is good news....

Wait, oh yes wait a minute mister postman                                           
Wait, wait mister postman
Mister postman look and see
If there's a package in your bag for me
I been waiting such a long time
Since I heard the flat challenge is on
There must be some word today
From Swaddlebees so far away
Please mister postman look and see
If there's a package, a package for me
I been standing here waiting mister postman
So patiently
For just a cover or a flat diaper
Practicin' the oragami, kite to pad
Please Mr. Postman, look and see
If there's a package, oh yeh for me,
I've been waiting, a long long time
Since I've heard the flat challenge is on
So many days you passed me by
See the tear standing in my eye
You didn't stop to make me feel better
By delivering diapers or those covers
You gotta wait a minute, wait a minute
You gotta check it and see, one more time for me
Wait
Deliver the diapers, the sooner the better
Wait

*lyrics to Mr. Postman with a diaper twist

somewhere in this box of Swaddlebees, Blueberry and WeeHugger goodness are flat diapers!

I'm loving these cute prints!

So my next adventure in this challenge will be boiling diapers to remove the natural oils.  I've never done this before and not sure how long to boil and what I should be looking for.  Is there a tell tall sign that they are ready?

boiling my Swaddlebees unbleached flat diapers



If there is then I FAILED!  Sophia was leaking so bad today in these flats.  I know it was from a lack of priming.  These diapers feel thick and very absorbent.  I'm hoping after tonight's washing they will work better.  I plan on making these my diaper bag diapers.  Have I mentioned yet how much I like flats for the diaper bag?  It is so lite now. 

Complications

My issues today all boiled down to yesterdays late night of washing and use of all my flats and covers.  All I really needed to avoid my fail of using 1 "fancy" diaper and the dryer would have been 2 or 3 more flats, which I now have (thanks to the postman!).  I might have been able to find something to diaper with, but we are half packed up with the move this weekend so cheating it was. 

I never tried the kite fold.  Well, that isn't entirely true.  I attempted it this morning, but couldn't find a Snappi and the pins were still in the car.  I was too lazy to get dressed to go get them.  I now have them and will be using them tomorrow with my cool new fold.  And I promise no more cheating!



Where Oh Where Is The UPS Man?

Well, I made it threw day one without any issues.  Honestly, it was cake I could actually see myself hand washing more.  I know you must think I'm crazy (and in a few days I most likely will agree), but it really wasn't time consuming.  Most of my flats dried over night.  The few that didn't I just laid over a chair outside.  I decided today to try a new fold, the origami.  I did the fold the first day, but decided I wanted to stick to the pad fold.  I really liked the way the fold worked with my receiving blanket, but not as much with the Imse Vimse.  I think it would have worked better with pins.  I bought some for this challenge, but left them in my car and couldn't find my keys.  So Snappi it was (honestly I'm a little glad because pins scare me). 

Jungle Love

Adalyn in a receiving blanket and Sophia in an Imse Vimse flat

secured with a Snappi fastener

Complications

I don't have enough diapers!  I ran out of diapers today.  Thankfully we made it until bedtime, but if someone needs a diaper change tonight they are going to have to use a burp cloth.  Tristan did wet his night time diaper with the flat so he is in a regular night time diaper.  Now that I think of it he might have done that on purpose because he had a pink receiving blanket stuffed in his pull up and was not happy about that.  He kept saying he didn't want a girl diaper.  My only other issue was running out of covers.  I know I technically have enough, but Adalyn only has 3 that fit her and Sophia only has two that will stay secured.  All the others are hand-me-downs from Tristan and the Velcro barely stays put.  I had to use a Snappi to keep the cover in place at one point!  I think I will prefer to use diaper pins with the flats.  I didn't like the way Sophia's diaper closed.  It never felt tight enough.  I'm scared, but tomorrow's challenge will be pins and the kite fold.

What I Liked

I was VERY pleased with the Hemp Babies Flat Weed diaper.  Sophia is a heavy wetter.  I usually only can put her in a Berry Plush hemp or Blueberry Bamboo overnight.  She was completely dry this morning!  I also really like how trim the flat diapers are.  We went out today and my diaper bag felt and looked empty, but I had four or five diapers in it. 

This experience is really making me think of my Grandma.  She wanted me to use cloth diapers before I decided to.  I know she would be proud of me for diapering my three children as she diapered her three.  It is so easy to forget our loved ones that aren't with us anymore as we go about our busy lives.  This has been a nice way to feel a bond with her again.  Silly as it sounds I feel like my GG is here with me again.  If only washing dirty diapers really could bring her back. 

Kickin' It Old School

This challenge is taking me back to when I first began using cloth diapers.  I didn't choose cloth because of the environment or money, but because my son had terrible rash issues.  I still remember the first diaper I bought, a FuzziBunz train print size medium pocket diaper.  I took a trip to visit my grandparents that same weekend.  My grandma, Rita had cloth diapered her three children and taught me a few things about using cloth not directly, but indirectly that weekend.  It took me back to when I dunked my diapers, washed everything before I washed everything so my diapers would be bright white and had few diapers to choose from. 

my day

I prepped my diapers last night before I went to bed.  I was shocked at how much the Gerber flats shrunk.  Before washing they were smaller than my already prepped Imse Vimse and after, well I don't think I could use any fold other than the pad fold for Sophia (my 22 month old).  I was really worried I wouldn't make it through the day with the flats I had, however my little one wasn't wanting to eat so she used less diapers and Sophia is beginning to potty train. 

After a diaper change I rinsed the diapers in the sink and hung them in the shower.  I plan on only washing once a day after the kids go to bed.  I actually like this method.  It sure is better then a stinky diaper pail in the bathroom.  What I don't like about it is I have to use a Clorox wipe to sanitize my sink.  What my husband likes about it is I don't leave dirty diapers lying around.  Shhh don't tell anyone I'm not always perfect at getting my diaper in the pail right away. 

Tub soaking in 1 Tbls Rockin' Green

"line drying"

Hopefully these will be dry in the morning or we are in trouble!

Complications

My oldest daughter has a new habit.  She likes to poop at nap time and stick her hand in her diaper....  I forgot for a minute I couldn't use my diaper sprayer.  I turned the valve on and almost sprayed when I remembered so I dunked and began hand washing the diaper.  It went easier then I thought, perhaps because this is the method I used when I first began cloth diapering.  My only other hang up was when I forgot how to do the origami fold.  I was trying to fold my already tiny Gerber flat and could not figure it out.  I pulled out my Imse Vimse (the flat I learned this on) and did it with no problem.  The shape of the Gerber is slightly different then the IV so it threw me off. 

Preparing for the Flat Diaper and Hand Washing Seven Day Challenge

I forget now how I learned about the flat diaper and hand washing challenge.  I knew as soon as I read it I was going to participate.  I had used flats a few times before, but never really liked them.  They just didn't seem to work well enough for me and I preferred my "fancy" pocket diapers.  The rules seemed fairly easy, only use flat diapers, no more than 5 covers per child and you must hand wash them.  Oddly enough it seems I have been preparing for this challenge without even knowing it.  I have been watching several videos on hand washing diapers lately, how to do different flat folds, I ordered a lot of flats for the store and I decided I was going to incorporate a few into my stash.  The problem was those flats I ordered were not here yet and others were back ordered.  So it looks like a trip to Target will be in my future.  I only had two flat diapers in my stash, a flat weeds hemp flat and an Imse Vimse flat in a jungle print.  I had a few receiving blankets I planned on incorporating too.  From Target I purchased a dozen Gerber flat diapers.  The problem with this challenge; I am moving this week.  Not only will I be busy preparing for my move, but now I will be hand washing diapers for a 10 week old, 22 month old and a 4 year old who wears a cloth pull up at night. 

 

my flat diaper stash (so far)

 

• 1 Imse Vimse Flat
• 1 Hemp Babies Flat Weed
• 12 Gerber Birdseye Flats
• 4 receiving blankets
• 1 Flip cover
• 1 Thirsties cover
• 2 Thirsties Duo Wrap
• 1 Imse Vimse Velour cover
• 1 Bummis Super Whisper Wrap
• 1 Bummis Super Brite
• 1 Happy Heiny Trainer (stuffed with a flat)
• 2 Snappi fasteners
• 6 diaper pins
• Rockin' Green Remix in Hard Water formula

 

I do confess that I only plan on washing my covers and flats by hand, my wipes will go into my pail with my pre-challenge diapers to be washed in the machine.  I just think it will be too much poop for me and I feel better about the wipes getting sanitized.  I am not using my diaper sprayer nor will I be using any flushable liners. 

I'm really excited to see how this week goes.  I have some very heavy night time wetters so I am nervous about that.  I think the experience will help me to better serve my customers and become a better cloth diaper circle leader (I am in training with the Real Diaper Association now).  Fingers crossed all goes well!

 

 

Each month Eden's Baby will be giving away an item.  Anyone can enter and there is no limit to the number of times you can enter.

• Join our Facebook fanpage.  Not only will this get you an entry into the monthly contest, but as we reach fan milestones you will have a chance to win another prize!
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• Get a friend to become a Facebook fan or follow us on Twitter.
• Post a comment on Twitter or Facebook about Eden's Baby.
• Post a comment on Facebook or Twitter about our Bummis giveaway.
• Write about Bummis in a blog and link back to our Bummis brand page.
• Sign up to receive specials and news from Eden's Baby
  

Email us a link to your post or let us know you joined our Facebook, Twitter or newsletter and we will add your name to the list.  Remember there is no limit to the number of times you can enter!

June Giveaway

The Infant size (8-15 lbs) contains: •    6 infant size Organic Cotton Prefold diapers(4 x 8 x 4 layers thick) •    1 Super Whisper Wrap – small •    1 Super Brite – small •    1 roll Bio-Soft liners – small •    Fabulous Wet Bag – Medium •    User Guide

 Thank you to Bummis for donating a half diaper kit to Eden's Baby!

Introducing the ORGANIC COTTON DIAPER KIT, a value packed box of cloth diapering essentials with everything you need to start using cloth diapers now! You don’t need to be cloth diaper savvy in order to appreciate it - but if you are, you will REALLY love our beautiful new boxed kit!
We have put together an economical, easy and environmentally friendly starter kit that completely removes the guesswork from choosing a cloth diaper system.
Our luxurious Organic Cotton Prefolds are such a truly economical cloth diaper system that you can start cloth diapering right away without a big outlay of cash.
Flushable liners and our step-by-step guide to no-fuss cloth diapering make it easy for you. No rinsing, no pins, no stuffing and no big deal to wash this cloth diaper system! AND you can call our toll free help line any time with questions. After 20 years of selling reusable cloth diaper systems, we are very good at helping parents succeed at and enjoy cloth diapering.
And the bottom line is that organic cotton diapers are truly the greenest choice in diapering. From the growing and harvesting of the cotton itself to what actually touches baby’s skin, organic cotton is simply the best! Safer for growers, workers and baby and …. this beautiful planet earth.
This deluxe cloth diapering system in its bright and pretty box is so tempting and so practical too that you will not be able to resist taking it home – for your own baby, your grandchild, or as a shower gift!
Besides the gorgeous organic cotton diapers, included in the box are some sturdy and great looking waterproof covers, flushable AND reusable liners, and our FABULOUS WET BAG (doubles as a diaper pail!). Plus, our kind friends at Dimpleskins have collaborated with us and enclosed a sample of their great Bum Bum Balm in every box! A great added value!

Gardening with Children

Gardening with Children

We have been experimenting with our first organic vegetable garden at Eden's Baby.  For myself it has been a desire since my early twenties, but living in New York City I never had the opportunity to garden.  We found a wonderful sunny patch right outside our kitchen door and began tilling.  Or I should say my husband began tilling.  Our garden is 13 x 14 feet and while not overly large I think (or hope!) it will provide us with fresh fruit and vegetables all summer long. 

An organic vegetable garden has been a wonderful at home "classroom" for our children.  They were able to see seeds in a variety of shapes and sizes, plant them and watch them grow.  All a little different looking.  Everyday we venture out to see what else has sprouted.  I have been amazed how quickly things grow.  For myself I am learning tricks to keep pest away without using chemicals.  Today, I discovered that cornmeal and sugar will deter ants.  Another option is cinnamon.  We also began a compost pile.  Not only is this an excellent way to nourish your garden naturally and economically, but it has been a great teaching lesson for our children.  My son quickly has learned that vegetable peels, egg shells and garden scraps go into the pile.  In a few weeks he will see these scraps turned into compost. 

I have been using the Internet a lot while I learn about companion planting, natural pest control and garden layouts.  Some of my favorite sites are Kids Gardening, Garden Guides, and Vegetable Gardening Guru. 

I hope that you can be inspired to grow herbs or vegetables with your family.  There is no need to have a large patch of ground you can grow a few herbs or vegetables in pots and hanging containers.  Some cities even have community garden plots you may be able to use.  Enjoy spring time with your family and happy gardening!

Myths and Facts about Sustainable Cloth Diapers

This post is part of the Real Diaper Facts carnival hosted by Real Diaper Events, the official blog of the Real Diaper Association. Participants were asked to write about diaper lies and real diaper facts. See the list at the bottom of this post to read the rest of the carnival entries.

I have to admit my journey to cloth was not my first choice.  When my Grandmother told me I should use cloth diapers I turned my nose up.  I was proud to buy the most expensive disposable diaper on the market, Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers.  After all I would give my children only the best!  Things went fine for a while.  We had rashes, but nothing out of the ordinary.  Then seven months into diapering my son he developed a rash.  This one was different; it would not go away.  I called Pampers and asked if something had changed and was told nothing had.  In fact they sent me coupons for being a loyal customer.  Of course that made me happy; diapers are expensive!  After a couple of weeks with out any let up I took him to the doctor.  I was given some creams to try.  None worked.  We made trips to the doctor every week for two months and still nothing helped.  In the end he had huge bleeding blisters all over his diaper area.  I felt like a horrible mom, my son was suffering and I didn't know what to do.  Then I met Christina.  She showed me a cloth diaper she used on her son.  It was really cute! It was a Bumkins vented cover.

That night I went home and began looking into cloth diapers.  I was overwhelmed.  There were so many options and it seemed really expensive.  Most of the diapers I liked were about $18 each.  That seemed crazy to me.  Now that I see how long they last and how much use you get out of them I would happily pay more.  I started with prefolds and covers that I had borrowed from a friend.  Within one week his rash was gone!  I was hooked and knew I needed to let others know about cloth diapers.  Gone were the days of pins and dunking, cloth too had become modern.



Cloth Diaper Myths and Facts

Myth:  Disposable diapers were developed to offer babies benefits that cloth diapers could not meet.

Fact: Cloth diapers come in many different forms.  There are flat diapers that wash easily and travel well.  Prefolds, fitteds and contours that fit nicely inside a diaper cover.  All in one diapers, pocket cloth diapers and one size diapers that go on like a disposable diaper.  Pocket diapers have a super soft fleece or micro suede that keeps baby's skin dry by wicking moisture away.  There is a study that claims that cloth diapered babies have a 7% incidence of diaper rash while disposable diapered babies have a 78% incidence of diaper rash.  The elastic at the back and legs of a cloth diaper hold in leaks far better than a disposable diaper can.  This prevents blow outs and leaks from occurring.
My Facts: As mentioned above once we switched to cloth diapers our children became virtually rash free.  On occasion they may have an out break.  This is typically caused by an allergy and is cleared up within a day without the use of creams.  Other times they may develop a rash from a detergent I am testing.  Once we get back to our normal wash routine their bottoms are clear.  Having used disposable diapers I know first hand about blow outs.  They happened a lot with my son.  Since making the switch to cloth diapers we have been blow out free, even during a diarrhea episode!

You can see the leg gussets and elastic used to contain messes in this Thirsties Diaper Cover.

Myth: Cloth diapers and disposable diapers have the same environmental impact.

Fact: The fact is the energy, water and resources it takes to make disposable diapers far out weighs the impact of using sustainable cloth diapers; even if you take into consideration the washing and drying of cloth diapers over a two to three year period.  Disposable diapers generate sixty times more solid waste and use twenty times more raw materials, like crude oil and wood pulp.  The manufacture and use of disposable diapers amounts to 2.3 times more water wasted than cloth.  Over 300 pounds of wood, 50 pounds of petroleum feedstocks and 20 pounds of chlorine are used to produce disposable diapers for one baby EACH YEAR.  Disposable diapers are the third largest single consumer item in landfills, and represent about 4% of solid waste. In a house with a child in diapers, disposables make up 50% of household waste.  In 1988, over 18 billion diapers were sold and consumed in the United States that year. Based on our calculations, we estimate that 27.4 billion disposable diapers are consumed every year in the U.S.  In 1988, nearly $300 million dollars were spent annually just to discard disposable diapers, whereas cotton diapers are reused 50 to 200 times before being turned into rags.

My Facts: We have had anywhere between 13 and 34 cloth diapers at a time.  These diapers are used for over two years before some become so thread bare they needed to be thrown out or used as rags.  My daughter, Sophia has diapers that have been used by her brother, three of her cousins and some are back in our baby box for the next child.  We wash our diapers in a front loader using much less water than a top loader does.  I do typically dry diapers in my dryer, but do hang dry on occasion saving even more energy.  I am proud of the fact that our store, Eden's Baby uses as little packaging as possible to display our diapers.  We do not have diapers wrapped in plastic. Most cloth diapering families will make two or three trips to our store to purchase their cloth diaper stash that will last them over two years compared with disposable diaper families who have to make weekly trips to buy diapers.  This reduces the use of gas and cuts down on air pollution.

Myth:  Sustainable cloth diapers can not be used if my baby sleeps 8-12 hours at night.

Fact:  While it is true that cloth can only absorb a given amount, their are many excellent options available for diapering a child at night.  One of the most common is to use a wool cover.  Wool makes an excellent diaper cover because it is very breathable, antibacterial and waterproof.  Wool of course is made with renewable resources. 

This is a work in progress please check back soon for more myths and facts about cloth diapers.

Cloth Diapering on the Road

Cloth Diapering on the Road

By Brooke Matherne

When I was asked to write about traveling and cloth diapering it occurred to me, my cloth diaper adventure began while traveling.  My husband was deployed so my 7 month old son, two 95 pound German Shepherds and I set off for a cross country adventure.  It was in my first stop that I met some Moms who introduced me to cloth diapering.  After months of horrible diaper rash and countless doctor visits I decided to give it a try.  Happily for me and for Tristan's poor heiny within one week of our switch his rash had cleared.  

   

I have learned a lot in these past few years of cloth diapering at home and on the road.  We typically travel by car, but have made half a dozen plane trips as well.  If you are planning a trip this summer or anytime there are a few important steps to take to ensure that your vacation and cloth diapering goes easily.  First, you really need to study your child's diaper routine for a few days.  Right everything down.  You will want to figure out how often you change your child, how many wipes you use and what type of diapering accessories you can't live without.  Once you figure out your daily needs you will need to decide if you want to wash while on vacation or wait until you return home.  Now is the time you need to decide if you will cloth diaper full time or use a hybrid system like g Diapers or Flip. 

   

I don't have set diapers I take while traveling.  I plan my diapers around our travel plans.  If we are going to be visiting friends or family then I would take my normal home diapers (for me an assortment of pocket and all-in-one diapers).  You may want to make sure who ever you are visiting is OK with you using their washing machine or that your hotel has access to a machine.  However, if we will be traveling by air and paying ridiculous fees per bag, then I would opt for a flat diaper and covers.  Flat diapers take up very little room and can be folded differently to fit both a newborn and a toddler.  Another good option is a one size diaper.  I really like these diapers for families that have more than one child in cloth at a time.  If your vacation plans call for a lot of activities you may prefer to use one of the hybrid systems during the day and your usual night time diaper.  In general you will want 2-3 days worth of diapers, a dozen or so wipes, a wet bag for day use and a pail liner or large wet bag for the hotel.  Plus, your detergent, any diaper creams or ointments and a wipe solution and perhaps the most important, a flushable liner to aid in clean-up. 

   

My favorite tips:

• Wash out your diapers and air dry until you are able to wash.  This will prevent any unwanted smells lingering in your hotel room.
• Pack a separate suitcase for all your diaper needs.  It helps keeping them all together.  If traveling by car you may prefer to use a basket for easy access.
• Don't try a new system on the road.  My first plane trip in cloth ended with both of us being soaked because I didn't know the new diaper I bought required a cover.
• Check to see if there is a diaper service in the area.  For a nominal fee you will have everything you need without any extra work.

Whatever you decide don't be afraid to try cloth on vacation.  It is surprisingly easier than you would think.  Your baby will feel better and you will be helping the environment.  For more inspiring travel diapering tips (including one mom's rain forest adventure) visit the Real Diaper Association for stories and advice from Real Moms using Real Diapers on Real Babies.  

Brooke Matherne is the co-owner and founder of Eden's Baby in San Antonio, TX.  She has been full time cloth diapering her two children since August of 2007.  She is currently training to become a RDA Diaper Circle Leader.  She teaches monthly cloth diaper classes in San Antonio and around Texas. 

This was originally written for the blog My Tot Travels

12 Days of Christmas Sale!

We are having a great 12 days of Christmas sale. Each day we will add a new item to the list.  Here is your sneek peek at what's to come.  The sale endds December 24th.

On the first day of Christmas save $40 off all rocking horses. These unique handcrafted rocking horses are a perfect gift from Santa. They are heirloom quality. Free shipping does not apply with this item.

On the second day of Christmas buy a Born Free 3 pack of bottles and get a soft spout set for FREE! Triple-Pack 9oz. BornFree Bisphenol-A Free plastic bottles, featuring the innovative BornFree venting that helps eliminate colic symptoms. Pack contains 1 BornFree venting system for use with all three bottles and voucher for 2 free BornFree venting systems redeemable from July 15th 2008 until December 31, 2009. Each bottle comes with handy non-spill travel cover. Pack contents include: 3x 9oz bottles, 3x Level 1 nipples, 1x BornFree venting system, 1x Voucher for 2 venting systems. Retail value of 34.98 for just 27.99

On the third day of Christmas save 10% off Valco Baby and Micralite brand strollers. Try the Valco Baby Runabout, the perfect all around stroller that grows with your family. Or try the Micralite Toro, Consumer Reports #1 rated luxery stroller. Other models are also included in this sale. All strollers will ship directly from the manufacturer.

On the fourth day of Christmas save 10% off all miYim™ plush animals. miYim™ organic cotton toys are made with safety and sustainability in mind. Colored by nature and 100% certified Non-Toxic, our toys help to make your home a safe and chemical free environment for you and your child. The PureWaterWash™ process is the secret to creating our charming colors. Untreated cotton thread is woven into gently flowing fabric and brightened with nature's own plants and minerals. The fabric is then hand dyed repeatedly in soy-water to set the color. As a result, each miYim™ toy has its own unique appearance and color variance.

On the fifth day of Christmas save $5 off a Baby Bunch. Combining practicality with presentation, Baby Bunch gifts delight new moms and dads with super soft, 100% cotton baby clothes craftily rolled into blooming baby bouquets and other creative shapes. Unique newborn baby presents, the Baby Bunch is safe for hospital delivery where ordinary flowers may not be permitted and makes an extraordinary baby shower gift basket.

On the sixth day of Christmas save $6.99 off a g diaper starter kit. This is an amazing diaper. It truly is the best of both worlds. It has a water proof cloth cover and a FLUSHABLE and truly biodegradable inner. Each kit contains 2 'little g' pants, 10 plastic-free, flushable refills, a swishstick and a H.U.G (handy user's guide). Retails for 26.99 on sale for $20!

On the seventh day of Christmas save $19.95 off pouch slings. Leave that baby carrier in the car. Our slings have no buckles, metal rings or adjustments to be made. Our slings can be worn five different ways to carry a baby or a toddler up to 36 lbs. Our sling is so compact that you can easily toss it into a diaper bag when you're on the go. The sling features sleek leg padding to increase your baby's comfort without added bulk. We use a non bunch fiber fill so that the padding will never bunch. Retails for $69.95 on sale for $50

On the eighth day of Christmas save $20 off all instock lillebaby Eurototes. Traveling just got easier with the lillebaby EuroTote. Ideal for parents on the go, the EuroTote does far more than any single function baby carrier or bunting bag on the market. Specially designed to fit the American parent's lifestyle, the EuroTote marries stylish Scandinavian design with easy-to-use American functionality and safety requirements. The versatile intelligent design provides the functionality of five products in the convenience of one system, all for the price of many single function products. Ideal for parents on the go, the EuroTote starts out as a Moses Carrier and morphs into a bunting and stroller bag as well as a play blanket and travel bed. The EuroTote easily fits into most car seats and strollers making travel with baby a breeze. The interchangeable outer-shell allows for this product to be used in any climate all four seasons of the year! The lillebaby EuroTote also allows mom and dad to switch effortlessly between carrying baby without the need for the tedious adjustment of straps and buckles.

On the ninth day of Christmas save 10% off Fuzzi Bunz products. Choose from Perfect Size or One Size diapers, tote bags and hanging pails. This is a great way to take advantage of the One Size Reward program ending December 31st. With the $40 voucher from Fuzzi Bunz it's like getting your diapers for just $12! Discount can be used for in stock or special order items.

On the tenth day of Christmas save 15% off all Earth Mama Angel Baby kits and gift sets. These products are organic and vegan. Plus, (my favorite) they smell great!

On the eleventh day of Christmas buy one piece of clothing get the second half off. Choose from brands like Sage Creek, Sweet Peanut, Earth Tots, Bella Materna and much more. Excludes special order items. Please note that the discount will not appear online, but you will receive half off the lower priced item before we hand ring in your order.

On the twelfth day of Christmas save 10% off all furniture. Choose from brands like, Caraboo, Anka, Kaloo*, and Svan. All furniture ships directly from the manufacturer. *Kaloo shipping charges are not included in the total and are charged separately.

Christmas PJ Photo Contest

Every Christmas Eve our GG gives each of the girls in the family matching pj's. This will be our first Christmas without her, but we want to keep the tradition going so we are having a photo contest. Send in your cutest Christmas pj photo and the winner will receive a special gift from us. Please submit photos by 12/27. Voting takes place 12/28 - 31. The winner will be announced January 1st.  You can upload your photos to our Facebook Fan Page.

2009 Parents' Pick Winner

For Kids Clothing Store
in San Antonio

It's official, we have the window decal to prove it! Thanks to your votes we have won our first Parents' Pick Award. You can find other winners at http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/parents-picks

Earth Mama Angel Baby's Toxin Scavenger Hunt

The Hunt Continues! Quaternium-15

This month ’s scary toxin is Quaternium-15, a common formaldehyde-releasing preservative used in products like body washes, lotions, baby shampoo and floor polish. The big concern is that Quaternium-15 causes irritation, from mild rashes to open oozing sores. What, in baby products? Are they crazy?? It is “a known skin irritant believed to be responsible for increased rates of allergic contact dermatitis, an inflammation of the skin that varies from mild irritation to rashes and open sores.” If that isn’t enough for you, it also has a whopping 6 toxicity rating on the Skin Deep database, for organ system toxicity, developmental toxicity and even cancer. Check out the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics’ Quaternium-15 news release, and then get set to find Quaternium-15 in your “natural” or “organic” products. Mama wants you to know what’s in your products, so go forth and find some Quaternium-15!
Email us by October 26, 2009, a list of at least three “organic,” “natural” or “green” pregnancy or baby care products (like pregnancy body washes, cleansers or baby shampoo) that contain Quaternium-15. Feel free to make comments, we’d love to hear what you have to say. If you want to dig deeper to find out more, check out the products’ toxicity rating on the Skin Deep database, or take our eye opening What‘s Your Score? Challenge.
Prizes!
1. One A Little Something for Baby
2. One 5.3 oz. Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash
3. One 4 oz. Angel Baby Lotion
Good sleuthing, mamas!

Halloween Safety

I love this time of year.  There is something special about the crisp autumn air, the smell of pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg wafting through a house.  My favorite is Halloween. I just love being able to dress up.  I tend to go as a set.  This year I plan on being a butterfly and my little 3 month old Sophia as a caterpillar.  Tristan finally decided to be a lion, he loves to ROAR!  Making your own costume is a fun family activity and you can recycle items you already have!  Mahalo has a great selection of costumes and even ideas for making your own Halloween make-up and mask.  Of course as a parent we must think of the safety for a big event like this and not just about all the goodies you will get.  Below you will find guidelines from the AAP on Halloween safety. 

Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). 
 
ALL DRESSED UP:

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
• Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.
• Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives.  Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
• When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
• If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child's costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
• Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.

CARVING A NICHE:

• Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers.  Then parents can do the cutting.
• Votive candles are safest for candle-lit pumpkins.
• Candlelit pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects, and should never be left unattended.

HOME SAFE HOME:

• To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
• Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
• Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

ON THE TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL:

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
• If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
• Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
• Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or Treaters:
• Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
• Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
• Never cut across yards or use alleys.
• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.
• Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will!
• Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN:

• A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
• Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
• Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween.

© 10/09 American Academy of Pediatrics

Welcome

We have been wanting to create a place for our customers to visit online. A mix between our monthly newsletter and Brooke's Blog. Check in for store specials, stock updates and how our team of mama's are doing living the green life. You can also find our fun section, "Did you know?" giving you some interesting facts on the green life. Have a question or need help with something? Email us at blog@edensbaby.com and you may find your q&a posted.