Holiday Shopping Series- Week 2... Babies

Christmas time is fast approaching my friends… and it is time to knock out that shopping.

I am going to take the next few weeks to tell you about my favorite Christmas presents from 

eLeMeNo-Pee!

Each week I will cover a different category on your shopping list…

Children

Babies 

Moms 

Teachers/Neighbors/Other 

So stick around and I think you will find some great gift options!

_____________

This week is all things baby!
Here are my favorite picks…

Aden + Anais

These are Muslin baby blankets, swaddles, towels, and bibs are favorites of moms and babies!

Classic Swaddles

Burpy Bibs

Classic Snap Bib

Hooded Towel Set

Furniture

When my husband and I were pregnant we got our crib for Christmas and it was the biggest blessing!  We did not have to worry about the the largest furniture purchase.  The pieces eLeMeNO-Pee carries are high quality and have a low price.  This would be a great gift and would certainly make a hem mom's day!

Athena Amy 3-1 Crib

Aloe Tree Shirts and Bodysuits

These are made with organic cotton and have a stitched felt appliqué.  They are preshrunk, soft and ready to go!

Bodysuits

Shirts

Diapers

I mean, of course who does not need a few more diapers?  Maybe a few cute patterns of covers? Or maybe there is a style or brand that you have been wanting to try, this is a great time to do it!

Elemental- Albert by Bum Genius

All in One- Sweet Grass by Grovia

One Size Pocket- Blackbird by Thirsties

Trainers

If your little one is potty training soon it would be a good idea to give them some trainers for Christmas.  This helps you to cover a necessity and gets your little one excited about potty training!

Bummis Potty Pants

Grovia MyChoice Trainers

Under the Nile Baby Clothes

Super soft and made with Egyptian organic cotton these are a great go to gift.  They have classic pieces that are comfortable for any baby.

Under the Nile Convertible 

Under the Nile Kimono 

Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces

Moms are always looking for teething remedies, especially natural ones!  This is a great pick and looks cute on any baby.

Mama Goose Infant Amber Necklace- Cognac 

So those are my picks!  Which are you going to get this year?

About the author…

I am Stasia- wife, mom, blogger over at Our Life on a Budget, part-time preschool teacher and local cloth diaper 

Holiday Shopping Series- Week 1: Toys

Christmas time is fast approaching my friends… and it is time to knock out that shopping.

I am going to take the next few weeks to tell you about my favorite Christmas presents from 

eLeMeNo-Pee!

Each week I will cover a different category on your shopping list…

Children

Babies 

Moms 

Teachers/Neighbors/Other 

So stick around and I think you will find some great gift options!

_____________

This week is all things toys!
Here are my favorite picks...

Green Toys

Lately these have been my go to lower cost gift for the children in my life.  There are lots of options, they are high quality, ethically made in the USA and made from recycled materials.  You just cannot beat that!  Here are some of my personal favorites…

Turtle on Wheels

Stacker

Train Set

Chalk Mat

This is great for the creative child! This portable chalk mat comes with 12 piece box of colored chalk.  This could be used at home, in the car or out at a restaurant.  Plus it is made in the US and the patterns are cute.

Play Tent

Let me just say this would have been my dream as a child!  This is a great option to decorate your child's room or play room.  It is also a great option if you are not looking for more toys, but rather would like a place for reading and imagination!

Haba Teepee Playtent

Haba Blossom Sky Hanging Tent

Shadow Puppets

Trying to encourage imaginative play?  These are great simple shadow puppets for children to enjoy.

Dinosaur Puppets 

Castle Puppets

Baby Toys

Even the itty-bittys need some toys.  Here are my favorite picks for the really little ones…

Sophie Giraffe

Apple Park Crawling Critter Teething Toy

Haba Grabbing Ball

So those are my picks!  Which are you going to get this year?

About the author…

I am Stasia- wife, mom, blogger over at Our Life on a Budget, part-time preschool teacher and local cloth diaper 

Cloth Diapering Storage Options

So... you have 24 cloth diapers(maybe more if you are enjoying the new Bum Genius prints), wipes, wipe solution and maybe a Grovia Magic Stick around your changing table.  You have a lot of baby stuff and limited space.  This begs the question…

What are some of the best cloth diaper storage solutions?

Now y'all, I am all about some real life, so I do not have any beautiful stock photos to show you… just pictures out of real people's houses! :)

Just a Laundry Basket

Not a lot of money?  This is a great and easy option.  Stack them and store the laundry basket under a table or close to where ever you change your baby!

Just a Storage Bin

This is another inexpensive and portable option.  Find a cute storage bin that matches your home's decor and you are ready to go.  Many moms use this when they change most of the diapers in the living room.

Drawer in the Dresser/Changing Table

Make the first drawer in the changing table devoted to all things cloth diapering.  This also makes it easy to rotate your stash. Keep a basket with wipes and wipe solution on the top of the table to complete the organization.

Changing Table with Storage

Do you have a classic changing table with open storage? Add some baskets or old drawers to make for more structured organization. You can stack diapers for easy rotation and accessibility.

Closet Hanger

Are you feeling especially Pinteresty? Use closet storage hanger or baskets, and hang them above the changing table.  This basically uses your diapers as decor, while keeping them close!

Which storage method do you use?

Are you in need of some cloth diapering expertise?  Whether you are interested in cloth diaper, trying to build your stash or just need a few more diapers, we have a cloth diaper consultant that can answer all your questions!  Please be in touch!

About the author…

I am Stasia- wife, mom, blogger over at Our Life on a Budget, part-time preschool teacher and local cloth diaper 

New Diapers by Bummis

eLeMeNO-Pee has been introducing some awesome new products lately… and today I get to introduce two more by Bummis!

The Dimple Diaper

Have you ever struggled with your baby waking up wet each morning?  Most parents have and it can be quite frustrating.  This diaper is seriously the perfect nighttime solution! Dry baby every time! It fits 10-30 plus pounds and is made from soft organic cotton interior and exterior and comes with a custom booster that is double-sided with a stay-dry polyester on one side and organic cotton on the other.  If you want to use the diaper during the day too, no problem, just take out the booster! The Dimple Diaper is a great investment for any family.  

The Flannel Fitted

This product is 100% organic cotton interior and made in the good old USA.  The flannel exterior prints are to die for… so cute you may not be able to choose just one. Works great for daytime or nighttime with booster. Another great addition to your stash!

Want to grab a couple of new diapers?  Get in touch with your local consultant, stop by eLeMeNO-Pee or head on over to the website.

About the author…

I am Stasia- wife, mom, blogger over at Our Life on a Budget, part-time preschool teacher and local cloth diaper consultant.

Travel Options for the Cloth Diapering Family

Now that fall is in full swing, Thanksgiving and dare I say Christmas will be here before we know it!  Bring on the pumpkins and the candy canes please :)
Getting prepared for the holidays is exciting, but also can bring about some stress. Especially when travel is involved.  Seeing in-laws, parents, relatives.  Car rides, planes and more.
How does the cloth diapering parent handle traveling?  What options do they have?

Just Keep Using Cloth Diapers…

Bum Genius Elementals Albert Print

You would be surprised, but more often than not it will probably be easiest (and definitely cheapest) to continue using cloth.  Think about it this way, you are used to it and so is your baby's bum.  You don't have to figure out a new system or choose a new system.  You will not run the risk of getting diaper rash from disposables.  Just use and wash your diapers like normal!
What about washing?  Especially during the holidays you tend to stay with family.  There you will have access to a washer and dryer no problem.  Our family drove from Georgia to Ohio to Maryland and back to Georgia again and used cloth the whole time.  I just washed them at each stop along the way.  If you are not staying with family, many condos have laundry and hotels either have a laundromat or will be able to point out some laundry options that are close by!

Use a Hybrid…

Grovia Biosoakers can be used in your favorite diaper cover!

Did you know that many diaper brands come can be used with disposable inserts?  This is a great in-between option for cloth and disposables.  You bring your cloth covers and use the disposable inserts while you are traveling.  Covers would still need to be washed like normal, but disposable inserts would seriously cut down on the laundry and allow you to dispose of the waste (just make sure you don't flush the insert down the toilet, that could cause some problems).  Some of the brands that carry hybrid options include Grovia, Flip and Soft Bums.

Use an Ecosposable...

Honest Company "Ecosposables" ABCs Print

I would be lying to say we have never left the cloth behind.  This past year we our family was blessed with the opportunity to go to Orlando and spend some time at the parks there.  We planned on spending all day at the park leaving little time at the hotel.  I thought that it would feel like too much to have to wash the diapers while we were there, so I went with the best disposable option there is: Honest Company Diapers.  They are the most earth friendly disposables that I have found using natural, plant-based and sustainable materials.  There is no chlorine in the processing and the diapers contain no latex,  lotions or fragrances. They are super absorbent and feel the most"cloth-like" in my opinion. AND they are so cute- strawberries, anchors, flowers and more you get to choose the cutest patterns!  This might be a good option if you are traveling somewhere with out a washer or dryer or will legitimately not have the time to wash the diapers!

This is our little sporting the Strawberry print in our hotel room.

So what about you?  What is your travel solution? Any recommendations I missed?

About the author…
I am Stasia- wife, mom, blogger over at Our Life on a Budget, part-time preschool teacher and local cloth diaper consultant.

An Inexpensive Way to Take the Plunge into Cloth Diapering : Econobums

While cloth diapering is definitely less expensive in the long run (most families save $1,000-$2,500 for just one child), the upfront cost can scare people silly when it comes to deciding to cloth diaper.  In fact, one of the main reasons some decide not to do it is the up-front investment and fear that they will not want to stick with it.

Maybe you are this boat.  Or maybe you have a friend that is interested in cloth diapering, but is still unsure.

Well… there is an option that is even less expensive and gives you a chance to "try out" cloth diapering before you fully commit.  That option is Econobum!

 Econobum has a one size option that fits 8-35 pounds that includes a cover and three cotton prefolds. The price is right in that you get three diaper changes for less than the cost of one cloth diaper!

They also have a newborn starter kit that comes with a wet bag, three covers, six organic cotton flats, six stay dry liners, a detergent sample and some simple instructions.  It is also a super inexpensive option!

The other great thing about Econobum (and all the Cotton Baby products) is if you don't like them, up to 30 days after your purchase you can return them!  So you can try them out without risk :).

Have you been just waiting to take the plunge? Have you needed to supplement your stash without spending a lot? Do you need newborn diapers on a budget? Econobum might just be the way to go!

About the author…

I am Stasia- wife, mom, blogger over at Our Life on a Budget, part-time preschool teacher and local cloth diaper consultant.

Cloth Diapers and the Non-Cloth-Diapering Care Giver

I remember it still.  The first time I dropped my little one in the church nursery in cloth diapers.

I nervously (and probably very quickly) said "My daughter wears cloth diapers.  They are really easy I promise."
My unsureness probably made them unsure about the situation as well.

Then again, my daughter started a Mother's Day Out program.
Cautiously I asked, "She cloth diapers, is that okay?"

But as I have gotten more confident in my cloth diapering, so have my responses to church nurseries, daycares, baby-sitters, grandparents and the like.

So how do you introduce cloth diapers to the Non-cloth Diapering Caregiver?
Here are some quick tips…

Be confident

Your confidence in cloth diapering is key.  My nervousness in introducing cloth the first two times did not help.  This might sound harsh, but I don't even ask any more.  When signing up for our daughter's childcare this year, I just simply stated we cloth diaper, then at open house showed them how it worked.  When I go the church nursery I tell them that she cloth diapers and give them a quick tutorial.

Show the easy, cutest diaper first

eLeMeNO-Pee has some awesome all-in-one options.  I also recommend using a velcro closure for a first showing to a caregiver- snaps can be really intimdating. Showing them a all-in-one velcro diaper and commenting about "how it is as easy as a disposable"  usually is a good start.  This is a gateway that gets them open and comfortable.  I have found in the past as they get more comfortable they are, the more open they are to other things.  For example after using velcro for a while our caregiver was completely open to snaps.

Know your rights

You have rights.  Seriously, this is your baby and you get to make these kind of choices.  This site has some great information listed by state about your rights.  Even if you are in a "restricted" place, you could most likely get an exemption from the doctor for something like sensitive skin.

Be Prepared

Diapers, wipes, wet bag- all prepped and ready to go. Make this easy on them, so they have a positive experience cloth diapering!

Work with them

Maybe they prefer you use liners.  Maybe disposable wipes would make it easier on them.  Be willing and open to work with them!

Don't pack another option

If you pack disposables, they will use them… I almost guarantee it.  If you want your child using cloth, pack cloth and they will learn to use it.

The great thing about exposing our caregivers to cloth is that it makes a dent in making cloth mainstream.  One care giver last year even said that she grew to like it so much that she planned on cloth diapering her own children!

Did these things ring true for you? Do you have any other suggestions? 

About the author…
I am Stasia- wife, mom, blogger over at Our Life on a Budget, part-time preschool teacher and local cloth diaper consultant.