Fuzzi Bunz Giveaway!

Have your baby looking just as cute as this in a new fluffy diaper! We are giving away a Fuzzi Bunz Elite and Perfect Size cloth diapers on our Facebook page! If you haven't already, head here and enter to win via the easy Rafflecopter form. This is definitely not the last giveaway, but if you don't play, you don't win! Giveaway ends midnight on Thursday evening, May 24th. 

Fuzzi Bunz Elite One-Size Diaper Review

Pocket diapers were our first experience with the world of cloth diapering three years ago. We have since tried many other types, but there is always something comforting about the simple design of pockets. We loved trying the Fuzzi Bunz Elite pocket diapers and there is certainly even more to love about them than the Fuzzi Bunz one-size pockets we are all used to. Let me first get this off my mind, this incredible color - I love it! Looks great on our blue eyed babe!

The Fuzzi Bunz Elite One Size is very similar to their regular one-size diaper. There are several improvements however. Our favorite one is the new fabric for the inserts, it is silky smooth minky fabric that doesn't hold in the stinkies as much as regular microfiber inserts. It is very absorbent in our experience and the diaper comes with two, yeay! Perfect for our heavy wetter. I use two inserts in every diaper for him, otherwise he pees right through it. This one has held up very well to his spray zone. Honestly, if I could change all of my microfiber inserts to these minky ones, I would, I love them. It also looks like they do not stain as much either. We've had a variety of surprises in this diaper and never a blow-out, it is very good at containing the messiest of messes. 

Another improvement is the hidden elastic. In the previous one-size diapers it would always come out of the little hole that's supposed to hide it. Well now it is on the underside of the interior diaper lining, so it never touches or leaves prints on the baby. The diaper also comes with an extra set of elastics! So that's perfect to really make it last from one baby to another (and another). I still haven't had to replace the elastic on our original Fuzzi Bunz one-size diaper in the almost 4 years we've been using it. So it's great to know this diaper will last for all of our babies. I can't comment on how easy it is to replace the elastic, so if you've done it - let us know. 

I love this one-size system and that it fits most babies without rows upon rows of snaps on the diaper. Although it isn't as easy to adjust as snap sizing, it only take a minute and it stays put. The fit is great on our 6 month old, with a lot of room to grow. I think the rise may be a little small for really tall toddlers who may still be in diapers, but for the average baby I'm sure it will fit until potty training. The three snap design keeps the diaper where it should be, babies can't get it off, and there is no wing droop - it's solid. 

In case you're wondering, I definitely prefer the Elite over the regular one-size diaper and over the perfect size diapers as well. It is very trim, there is no bulk here! At $19.95 each with two inserts and replacement elastic it is a great deal. It's a very simple system and I wouldn't mind having a whole stash of these. Perhaps the only thing I do not like, and this applies to pocket diapers in general, is that you have to take the inserts out by hand before the wash. Not a big deal, but something I can no longer say "I don't mind" about after so many years of cloth diapering. I highly recommend Fuzzi Bunz and especially their Elite diaper, try it, you'll love it!

Take a look at the Fuzzi Bunz One-Size Elite diaper at Thanks Mama

BumGenius Freetime AIO Review

I have a new love, the BumGenius Freetime all-in-one cloth diaper! No joke, this is one of the best diapers we have ever tried (out of about 40!). You know, after three years of diaper laundry I am really warming up to all-in-one diapers. This one pretty much annihilates one of the problems with AIOs - that they take long to dry, not the Freetime! It really does free up some time for mamas, so that your little one can say "Thanks Mama for spending that free time with me!"

Yes, I am in love. So much so that I've contemplated ditching my entire stash for a dozen of these cloth diapers! Perfect, superbly trim fit (on our chubby 6 month old, about 18-20 pounds). Doesn't leak on my heavy wetter. Ever. Dries fast, as we've mentioned. No-gross-poop-touch laundry. No stuffing. Baby's bottom stays dry. Masters blow outs and keeps them captive. Great quality snaps that look like they'll last a lifetime. Ton of cute colors. Most of all it's just simple. We like simple. If I ever had to leave my son with grandma, it would be simple enough for her to figure out!

See, it has fold out inserts that are sewn in... Yes, genius, BumGenius! They even thought it through and stitched up the soakers so that nothing gets trapped in there while they are in the wash. 

There is only one, just one thing I would change about these. This is something that would push me over the edge and would justify buying a few of these despite the fact that I have a huge cloth diaper stash already. You see, I have a love/hate relationship with microfiber. I love the quick absorption and the stay dry aspect. Okay, stay dry is a must for me, if I'm using a diaper that isn't stay dry, I will at least place a stay-dry liner inside. But for the life of me, I can.not.ever figure out what to do to eliminate stink issues, and no - I will not have bleach inside my house. Maybe it's my water. Maybe I'm too lazy to try every possible thing. I am certainly too lazy to separate microfiber inserts and throw them in for a separate sanitize wash in my front loader every time (and for some diapers like this one, separating is impossible). I don't have that time luxury! So, it would be perfect for us if the underside of the soakers was bamboo or hemp, the two fibers we love for not absorbing stinkies. I would leave the top against the baby's skin as a thin layer of stay dry microfiber. While right now it is perfectly stink free, I'm afraid that over time it will stink like my other microfiber diapers. 

That of course doesn't mean these aren't perfect for you! You may never even run into any stink issues. You would at least probably be more proactive about it than I am! I highly recommend the BumGenius Freetime, just a warning, you may fall in love with it just like we did. I find myself saving this diaper for going outside and for any 'special' times. The price is right in my opinion for such a great quality, tailored diaper, $19.95, or even less at Thanks Mama if you buy 6 or more. If you have questions about this particular diaper, ask away!

Check out the BumGenius Freetime AIO at Thank Mama!

Learning and Educational Toys

I can hardly believe my toddler turned three this year! She is becoming one smart little girl and curious about the world. A year ago it was easy to give her something challenging to do, now she is asking for more and more. As a 'homeschooling from birth' family we love educational toys that not only entertain our kids but teach them through play. Learning has become part of our everyday life and the kids are naturally exploring the world through everything they do. 

You don't necessarily need a toy to teach kids certain things, but sometimes it helps. Baby E learned to count first with her abacus, it was attractive and interactive to her and I liked that it is contained and creates no mess! Then we proceeded to count everything in sight throughout the day. Wheels on a car, crackers in her snack cup, how many hair accessories she has, fingers, plush toys, forks, etc. 

Right now she is very curious about geography, she realizes that people live in various places and not just where we live. We are planning some travels through the summer and it is the perfect opportunity to teach her some geography. She can show you where she lives and where all her cousins live throughout the United States. Next up I would love to teach her about simple finances with coin and paper bill denominations, the wooden cash register would come in handy with that, though I would fill it with real coins (and hide it far from our 6 month old!). 

We have also been learning about time, the concept of which still escapes my 3 year old's mind! She sometimes says 'tomorrow' when she really means to say 'yesterday'. It's too cute! I almost don't want her to learn the 'right' way! I always point out the time to her on the clock  when we need to be somewhere at a certain time or when it is time for bed, lunch, dinner. The Plan Toys wooden clock is perfect for teaching time, it comes with little activity cards that you can place on top of the clock and the movable clock arms can be pointed at a particular time. It's colorful and engaging, it gives an interactive dimension you can't have with a regular clock unless you wouldn't mind the kids breaking it! 

Moving on in terms of basic physics and math, the balancing monkeys game from Plan Toys is a great way to learn how to balance quantities in a fun, engaging way. Aside from mathematical skills it also teaches perseverance, something my toddler could definitely use more of!  It is made of natural, Eco friendly, recycled rubber wood. It also teaches coordination for younger toddlers (above 3) that need to master that skill. 

When learning takes place as part of everyday life and not just a block of time, kids don't get tired of it or burnt out. Learning remains fun, something that is easy in the early years but may get harder as they mature and especially if they attend public school where learning tends to be forced - not led by their curiosity. So in the early years, take every opportunity to keep educational moments spontaneous, voluntary, and hands on through every day play!

Explore learning toys at Thanks Mama!

Why You Should Consider a Parent Facing Stroller

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I decided I must have a parent facing stroller. It was an instinctive desire, how could I let my tiny little newborn face away from me? It made no sense. So I gave in, bought an inexpensive reversible seat stroller, and loved every moment despite the fact it took three hands to fold and it weighed more than me. Eventually I gave up on it because my husband and I would argue about it more than enjoy the parent facing function. Not to mention it just didn't work for travel or putting it in the car.

"Please, fold it."

"Okay, but you pick it up."

"You wanted it, you can fold it and pick it up!"

I miss it, terribly. Not the stroller, but the baby facing me. Every time I put our 5 month old son in his lightweight, super easy folding stroller I think to myself "Wish I could have him face me!" Perhaps not all babies are like this, but both of mine absolutely love people and faces. He sees my face, he is content and happy. He doesn't want to face out, he wants little to do with toys, he just wants to see me! Here is why I think all strollers should have the parent facing option, or at least a bassinet that can be used up to 6 months:

Convenience: It's just plain convenient to see what your baby is doing, and no, a peekaboo window doesn't suffice. You'll either wake the baby with the velcro or you'll drive yourself crazy trying to get a peek every.three.minutes. Personally, I like to see the baby with a simple glance in their direction!

Common sense: When you see the baby you can gently rock the stroller before they actually have time to wake up or fuss, you can respond to their needs without delay, and the baby will be less fussy with eye contact. There is a reason why orphan infants do not thrive, it is because they have limited to no contact with caring people. Of course, I'm not saying we treat them as such by putting them in a regular stroller, but imagine what positive effect your simple presence and care has on the baby.  

Learning and Communication: One of the ways the baby learns about the world is by watching your reaction to things and people. What does a baby learn when they cannot see you? They need to see you to learn. They need to hear you talking while looking at them. Learning for mom is just as important, especially the first few months, a parent facing stroller is a great way to learn your baby's cues for things such as hunger/thirst. It makes for a smoother day to know what and when your baby needs something. 

Closeness: I think having a baby in a stroller instead of a baby carrier is far away enough during the first year. Not seeing them altogether puts them even further, even if not in proximity. I need to have the baby in a stroller for walks because I need a break from babywearing, I'm certainly not as strong as the indigenous people of many cultures that practice babywearing. But I would love to actually see him without having to stop the stroller and walk up to the front. Eye contact is key to being close. 

If we ever decide on baby #3, I would love to get a reversible seat stroller. Out of all the baby gear, it would probably get the most use after a baby carrier. If you are newly pregnant and you're not sold, just wait until your baby arrives, you'll see what I mean about wanting to see and communicate with the baby in the stroller. They grow up so incredibly fast, before you know it you will wish they would just sit in front of you, smiling and cooing. Have you ever tried a reversible seat stroller?

Check out the pricey but super stylish reversible strollers at Thanks Mama:

iCandy Peach

iCandy Pear (double)

iCandy Apple

iCandy Cherry