Cloth Diaper Safe Creams

1. California Baby Calming Diaper Rash Cream - Mama warning: may burn baby's bum
2. CJ's BUTTer
3. Coconut Oil - Mama tip: blend in mixer to fluff, will stay fluffed for weeks
4. Delish Yum Bum Butter
5. Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm
6. Grandma El's Diaper Rash Remedy & Prevention
7. GroVia Magic Stick
8. LuSa Organics Booty Balm
9. Scarlet's Hiney Honey Cream
10. Thirsties Booty Love

Our favorites are CJ's BUTTer and all there yummy smells. We love our free samples from Kissed by the Moon. (More on them later) and Coconut Oil. Coconut Oil is easy to by at the grocery stores and can be used for a quick fix.

Tell us what your favorites are!

Shannon

Milly & Tilly Designs

Milly and Tilly Designs is owned by an amazing WAHM. She is going to be releasing a new line of jewlery later this yrear that will knock your socks off. I can't wait to be able to write a review on here new products. Make sure to enter the giveway. Follow her facebook page for up to dates on her new line.

Milly & Tilly Designs Bio

I am an Army Wife, I have been married to my highschool sweetheart for 3 years and we just welcomed our first son into the world Sept 2012. Inspiration for my pieces comes from our lifestyle which I describe as gypsy since we have moved to a new post every year 3 years in a row.

 I first started making jewelry because I could not find anything that fit my style. I love making pieces that tell a part of my life story and I think other people like to have a keepsake piece that says something about their life journey too. I started making paracord bracelets after having my son because I am able to start a new design during nap time and if he wakes up I can easily take a break to play with him. I have always loved doing friendship bracelets so this is just an extension of this love, paracord is very prominent in the military life so it is a way for me to show support for the troops, something near and dear to my heart.

 Custom pieces are some of my favorite to do because I feel connected to the client, I am making a memory for them. I can be contacted via my store facebook page or my etsy store.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/MillyTilly-Designs/314999241863546

Etsy:http://www.etsy.com/shop/MillyTillyDesigns
*I will be offering a 10% off cupon code when the blog runs and for 2 weeks afterwards "Cupcake10"

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Trouble Shooting: Leaking Cloth Diapers

1. Seal the PUL. When you receive new diapers you want to wash them to prep them. Most new mama's do that step but skip the dryer. You MUST place the diaper in the drying for 20-30 minutes on high to seal the PUL. When the diaper is made the ball point needle will leave small holes around the diaper that can only be sealed by heat.

2. Do you have the correct fit on the diaper? Do you have the rise set at the correct setting (when using OS diapers). Another common mistake. No biggie! Size down to make it a little smaller and fit around the legs. If using a sized diaper you may want to try a different size.

3. How l long did you go between changes? With cloth diapers you should only go 2-3 hours between changes.

4. Do you have enough soaker material? If your child is a heavy wetter you may want to double stuff. Add 2 inserts so you can go 2-3 hours between changes. Or trying an insert made with bamboo or hemp.

5. Detergent build up! If you are not using a "cloth diaper safe" detergent such as Rockin' Green you may have detergent build up. The soaker won't be able to absorb properly if this is the case. So "stripping" the diaper with several hot washes/rinse until all the suds are gone is what you need to do.

6. Your baby's diaper is leaking and only half the insert is wet. If its a natural fiber such as bamboo or hemp your baby/toddler may be a "fast wetter" bamboo and hemp absorb a little slower than microfiber. Try adding a layer of microfiber on top of the insert, this will absorb fast but it will also allow the use of the natural fiber.

Shannon

Pros and Cons to Cloth Diapering

Pro’s
1. Saving tons of money. Did you know the average family spends OVER $2,000.00 in disposable diapers a year. (Not including wipes)

2. No more emergency trips to the store to always buy diapers.

3. You get to reuse them. I plan to use the same diapers I used on baby number 1 for baby number 2.

4. Selling them when you are done. Diapers hold there retail value really well depending on the condition when you go to sell them. (I.e. staining, relaxed elastic, etc.)

5. Saving the environment/landfills. The disposable diapers will outlive your child in the landfill.

6. You start learning about other "cool" products like trainers, reusable swim diapers, unpaper towels, mama cloth, amber necklaces and all the other eco friendly products.

7. You NEVER run out of diapers. (Unless you forget to do laundry.)

8. You gain a new "hobby"- cloth diapers!

9. Your baby will be stylish from head to bum, oh, I mean feet!

10. You gain instant mama friends! You find other people who cloth diaper and love it. You chat and share tips and tricks. Everyone is helpful and friendly and more than willing to answer questions.

11. No more yucky diaper crystals.

12. Easy to use.

13. Little to know blow outs. Especially in newborns and babies ebf.

14. No more rashes.

15. Coordinating outfits with diapers.

16. Your diaper becomes an outfit.

17. Babies/toddlers that have worn cloth diapers usually potty train faster.

18. Dogs don't get into the diaper and rip up dirty/stinky diapers.

19. Fluff mail! It's the best!!!

20. Making your own diapers.

21. Buying from WHAM's to help keep them at home with their little one(s).


Con's
Lets be honest there are a few down sides to cloth diapering. (Most aren’t really reasons not to start or continue cloth diapering though.)

1. Front loaders don't work well with diaper laundry. Even though they are beautiful and everyone I know has one or wants one… they really don’t work as week top loaders.

2. Some family members refuse to learn how to change cloth diapers.

3. It's hard to tell if a baby is wet or not. Cloth diapers are more "squishy".

4. Sometimes it's hard to find jeans that fit. We usually put my daughter in leggings.

5. You have to change every 2-3 hours for most cloth diapers.


Hope you enjoyed. Feel free to add your own pro's and con's in the comments.

Shannon

 

 

Cloth Diaper Converstion Story: Guest Blogger

Why I Chose To Cloth Diaper

"Even when I was pregnant I wanted to cloth diaper....but I was talked out of it. Why I allowed people to do so is beyond me, but I did. Fast forward about 10 months. When Mason was about 10 months old, I started thinking of cloth diapering him again. I wanted to for several reasons. I wish I could say that one of them was an altruistic reason like helping the environment, but no.

     One, it's cheaper (after all who doesn't like to save money?). Two, his bedroom would smell better with the waste removed immediately. Three, fewer trips to the dumpster. Living in a third floor apartment sometimes stinks.....having to drag trash down the stairs and to the dumpster is one of these times. This is usually Doug's responsibility, BUT Mason and me are the ones that have to tolerate the smell until he decides to."

 

Shared by Kim B.

 

You can follow her blog at: http://adventuresinclothdiapers.blogspot.com/

 

 

Customer Testimonial

 A customer from www.facebook.com/cupcakecovers and www.etsy.com/shop/cupcakecovers recently wrote the following statement about Cupcake Covers and the products that are offered. Here is a wonderful testimonial for a few mama's that has used several of our products.

Bea Writes:


 " I have purchases many items from Cupcake covers including wetbags, wipes and wipe clutches. I also have a set of unpaper towels made by Cupcake covers. These products are made to last! My large wetbag holds up to 30 diapers (OS Pockets) and a lot of my diapers are double stuffed with very thick micro-bamboo inserts (Night Time). I know that even if I dont get around to washing my diapers every other day that I will have plenty of room with comfort. The wipes - Incredible! I have washed these wipes so many times and they are still strong, durable and so so worth it. Cupcake Covers owner, Shannon, is so polite and answered every single one of my questions promptly and she is very very professional. I would recommend cupcake covers for anyone...even those without children. My unpaper towels are amazing! They clean up so nice and I am probably a little bit obsessed with them. Well worth the money! Her prices are so fantastic - its a win win!"

Annonomus: "I won a snack bag, and it is still serving me well. It holds up great. I use it to carry medicine in my son's diaper bag. It is big enough to hold everything I need, but small enough to be tucked anywhere. My son loves to play with it, and it isn't even showing the slightest signs of wear."

Mary: "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PqnOXen3zg&feature=plcp I love her product's and have made a video review!"

Annonomus: "Very happy with my customized diaper wet bag!! Not only was I excited I had so many different fabric choices to chose from, the size was custom made for me and I couldn't have found a better price anywhere! I received my order quickly & the bag is durable and has held up through all the washing! Thanks again, I'm a happy customer & fan!"

Lactation Cookies

Lets discuss! Did you know less than 5% of woman cannot produce enough milk for their baby. I have heard time and time again. "I have to bottle feed/supplement with formula because I am just not producing enough."

If you don't feel like you are producing enough try some homeopathic remedies to help with milk productions. My favorites are lactation cookies. You get to each a cookie and it helps you increase your milk supply. Chocolate chip nonetheless.

Lactation Cookies:
1 cup butter (can use coconut oil)
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons flaxseed (no substitutes)
2 tablespoons brewers yeast ( no substitutes)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups thin cut oats
3 cups chocolate chip
Optional: peanut butter, cranberries anything, really!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix flaxseed an water together. Set aside for 3-5 minutes.

Cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs. Stir flaxseed mix into the butter mixture. Stir in vanilla. Beat until well blended.

Sift dry ingredients. Except oats and chocolate chips. Add butter mixture to dry mixture. Add the oats and then the chocolate chips.

Drop on parchment paper on baking sheet. Bake 8-12 minutes.

IMPORTANT: eat them all! Do not share. No substitutes. You can find oatmeal, flaxseed and brewer’s yeast at whole foods/ sprouts.