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Is Cloth Diapering a Newborn Frugal?

Rachel — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:05:40 +0000

I never started out with plans to cloth diaper my babies. I’d actually never met anyone who used cloth diapers with the exception of older moms who had used them out of necessity rather than choice.

That’s why I was so surprised when I started experimenting with cloth diapers with my 2nd and 3rd sons that I actually enjoyed it.

Cloth diapering started out more as a curiosity for me. I bought a few pocket diapers, because they seemed like they were easy enough for me to handle, and started by cloth diapering very part time. I gradually found that cloth diapering wasn’t really any harder than using disposable diapers and I was glad to wash my diapers rather than deal with a trash can full of stinky diapers that had to sit around until trash day.

With a new baby coming in the next month, I’ve been looking seriously at my diapering options and the truth is, I’m a bit intimidated. I’ve never actually cloth diapered a newborn. I started cloth diapering when my youngest 2 were a bit older and all the diapers I own are Bum Genius one sized diapers that are way too big for a newborn.

Can you Save Money Cloth Diapering a Newborn?

Since I cloth diaper not only for environmental reasons but also because I like to save money, I had to really put some thought into whether or not it was frugal to cloth diaper a newborn.

One one hand, newborns go through A LOT of diapers. If you are going to cloth diaper, it seems like that would be a great time to start.

On the other hand, newborns grow quickly. How affordable is it really to stock up on diapers that a baby may only wear for a month or two?

Newborn Cloth Diapering Options

I had previously used Bum Genius one sized diapers, and while I loved how easy they were, they are way too big for a newborn. I have my stash washed and set aside for use as soon as this baby is ready for them, but in the meantime I needed another solution.

The problem is, most of the other options were a bit overwhelming to someone who had only dabbled in cloth diapering. Bum Genius does make a newborn option but for the amount of time the diapers will be used, they didn’t seem cost effective to me.

In order to make cloth diapering realistic for me, especially while adjusting to having a newborn in the house again, I needed a simple solution.

Prefolds and Covers

The most affordable option to cloth diaper a newborn seemed to be using prefolds and covers. I almost ran at the thought of it. I had images of diaper pins and constant leaks but I was determined to find an option that would worked so I started doing my research.

I went on a bit of a cloth diapering shopping spree, probably not the most frugal option, but I wanted to really explore my options before I bought a complete stash. From what I found, two of the favorites as far as covers for newborns go are the Prowraps and Thirsties Duo Wraps.

I found a Prowrap cover used for fairly cheap and was happy to find that it had a notch in the front to make room for a newborn’s umbilical stump. It included gussets on the legs to contain leaks and seems like a fairly usable option.

The prowrap cover will fit a baby from about 6-10 pounds, which is good for the newborn stage but still a bit of an investment for something that you won’t use for long. I kept looking.

What I discovered was the great duo system that Thirsties uses in their covers and diapers. Thirsties uses a two step “one sized” diaper system that allows you to use two sizes for the entire time you will need to diaper your baby. Their size one fits babies from 6-18 pounds, which is much better in terms of the investment you are making in the diapers. Most of my babies don’t hit 18 pounds until they are nearly a year old so that’s a great amount of use for a diaper cover that you can use from day one.

Like the Prowrap cover, Thirsties has gussets in the legs to prevent leaks and, even though my baby hasn’t arrived yet so I haven’t tested these out personally, the hook and loop closures seem very well made.

I stocked up on several size one Thirsties Duo Wraps and several packs of Bumkins prefolds (in both infant and preemie sizes) and called it good.

Buy Used Cloth Diapers

Now that I had a good stash of prefolds and covers, I wanted to look into a few husband-friendly options and easier choices for nighttime changes. Since saving money was the goal, the all-in-one diapers and fitted diapers I had my eye on were a bit more than I wanted to spend new. Fortunately, some great options were available if was willing to shop used.

DiaperSwappers.com is a great place to buy used cloth diapers at a great price. I didn’t personally have much luck on craigslist or other local classifieds but if cloth diapering is more popular in your area you may want to give that a shot.

Buying used and through discount sites like BabySteals.com allowed me to stock up on a few Grovia newborn diapers (since they had a lower price-point than many of the other all-in-one options, and I just couldn’t resist the new peacock design shown below) and Kissaluvs fitted diapers to simplify things when I need to.

Rent Cloth Diapers

I was a bit late to the party on this one but after I had stocked up on a stash of newborn diapers that I think will get me through the first few months, I discovered that several places will actually rent cloth diaper packages to get you through the newborn stage. I found one place locally that would rent me everything I need for 3 months for $100 and give me a $25 refund when I returned the diapers making the total investment only $75. You’d spend far more than that buying disposable diapers for 3 months so that is a great deal.

You can rent diapers online from Modern Cloth, Dream Diapers, Kissed by the Moon, and Nell’s Natural Baby just to name a few.

Resell Cloth Diapers

Since I had already purchased my stash of newborn diapers, renting didn’t make much sense, even though it is a fairly frugal option. If this was my first baby, investing in newborn diapers, despite the initial cost, would be a no brainer. Given that this is my 5th baby, I’m not likely to get as much use out of these as I would have if I’d bought them several years ago. With that being the case, I’m opting to sell my cloth diapers when my baby outgrows them.

DiaperSwappers or Ebay are great options for reselling cloth diapers and with resell values being as good as they are, I expect to get back quite a bit of my investment that I can then use to buy bigger diapers if I need to.

The Verdict

I was worried about the start up cost of cloth diapering a newborn but the cost of prefolds and covers by itself was minimal. Since I wanted a few easier options like all-in-one diapers and prefolds, that upped my cost a bit. I bought diapers slowly throughout my pregnancy so I didn’t get sticker shock and I still ended up spending less than $150 on diapers that will get me through what I’m hoping will be at least the first 3 months. That puts my cost at only $50 a month, which is much cheaper than buying disposable diapers when they can average $10 a package without coupons. I do know people who could beat that with some extreme couponing, but frankly, with a newborn in the house after a nearly 5 year break, I simply don’t have the energy for that.

I’ll turn around and sell my newborn diapers when I’m done with them, which will drastically reduce my overall investment and monthly cost.

I’ll be sure and update you once I determine whether I made the right cloth diaper choices for a newborn but at the moment my opinion is that you CAN cloth diaper a newborn on a budget if you are willing to shop around and stick to some of the more basic options.

photo credit: simplyla via photo pin cc

Blogger Opportunity: Cinch it. Blog it. Win it.

Rachel — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:29:03 +0000

Weight loss is clearly an emotional issue. I’m sitting here, at 35 weeks pregnant, heavier than I’ve ever been in my life, and one of my biggest concerns for the postpartum period is weight loss.

In a perfect world, I’d ignore the issue and allow myself to completely focus on my new baby, but weight is so directly tied to how we feel about ourselves as women that the issue is there, whether I choose to admit that or not. And let’s face it, the squishy postpartum period does little for the self esteem. If only belly fat was as cute on me as it is on a newborn.

I used to think that weight loss was about pant size.

Before I got pregnant, I was having success in my weight loss for the first time in a long time. I was finally losing baby weight that I’d been hanging onto from my last pregnancy – the one where my son didn’t survive – and the weight loss felt like an emotional release. The more weight I lost, the more I found that I didn’t care about pant size because I felt so much better about myself. I had more energy. I was more willing to do small things to take care of myself. I felt fully healthy.

As I gear up for making some healthy changes in my life, I love hearing about others who have successfully walked the path before me. Sommer, from Green and Clean Mom has been through an amazing transformation using the Cinch program from Shaklee.

I’ve tried many things in the past and I know that I always have more success when I stick with an established plan. Apparently I need to be told what to do sometimes. At least when it comes to weight loss. Cinch is a breakthrough program that helps you lose weight and inches without losing muscle, which is a good thing, because we need all the extra muscle we can get trying to keep up with kids.

CINCH® IT TO WIN IT!

Are you ready to lose weight and transform your life? Do you want to be healthier and to have more energy to enjoy life? Take the Team #Cinchspiration Challenge and turn your dreams into reality. Apply today for the opportunity to positively transform your life and to win prizes including a $2,500 gift card to Macy’s, an all-expense paid trip to the social media conference of your choice, and the opportunity to be the #Cinchspiration Bloggers Spokesperson for a one-year contract of $10,000.

If selected to Team #Cinchspiration Blogger, you will receive a formal agreement, along with products and resources to help you in your journey, including:

• A 3-month supply of delicious Cinch products

• A year-long subscription to CinchWellness.com

• An additional 3-month supply of one Cinch product a day and Vitalizer™-the ultimate nutritional foundation for a longer, healthier life.*

• Free Shaklee membership

Applications need to be submitted by May 25, 2012 at 11:59 pm EST

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, however, all opinions are my own.

U-Haul Coloring Contest

Rachel — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:05:30 +0000

This time last year we were preparing for an out of state move. It seems as though we like to stay busy every spring because this year we’re preparing for a new baby . . . and sadly, still have boxes left to unpack from our move.

While I’m glad to not be dealing with a move this year, our move was simplified quite a bit by moving with U-Haul and we’re still using our moving boxes for long-term storage.

U-Haul has a fun coloring contest going on right now that kids can enter for the chance to win some great prizes. You have probably seen the fun U-Haul Supergraphics on the sides of U-Haul trucks. My kids love spotting different states as they see U-Haul trucks driving around town.

Entering the coloring contest is simple:

All you have to do is download the coloring page, color it, photograph it, then upload it.

You can win some great prizes including a monthly prize of a SuperGraphics prize pack that includes a personalized item with your colored graphic and a $50 Visa gift card. Each month’s winner will be entered to win a grand prize of having your image appear on an In-Town U-Haul truck honoring your community.

Check out details on the U-Haul coloring contest here.

Expect Greatness Tour With Britax

Rachel — Thu, 03 May 2012 07:10:50 +0000

I’m well into my third trimester so a sense of humor is a hot commodity at the moment. Mine seems to be wavering.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting is due in theatres May 18th and since I’m sure I’ll be at my wits end by that point, I’m looking forward to one last pre-baby movie.

Some of your favorite brands will be featured in the movie, including Britax. We’ll be reviewing the new 2012 Britax B-Ready that you can see in the movie soon so keep an eye out for that. The original B-Ready remains one of my all-time favorite strollers and with a new baby set to make her appearance in the next month or so, the new one was at the top of my wish list.

To celebrate the release of the movie, Britax is hosting the Expect Greatness Tour with stops all over the country. They’ll have some great events and giveaways going on so be sure and check to see if your city is on the list.

You can see a list of cities and dates for the tour here.

#MomStorm Twitter Party – Safe Summer Travel with Diono

Rachel — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:02:33 +0000

Summer is just around the corner and hopefully that means some summer travel plans are in your future. Unfortunately, many summer travel plans can end in tragedy if proper safety precautions are not taken.

Diono, formerly Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products, is a world leader in car seat safety and they are joining us to share some great tips to help you have a safe summer travel season. From how to ensure your car seat is installed correctly to when should you move your child from a 5-point harness to a booster, Diono’s car seat safety experts have the answers for you.

Before heading out on a road trip, one of the most important things you can do is to be sure your kids are riding in the right car seat or booster for their size and weight and be sure that those seats are installed correctly.

Diono makes the well-known Radian car seat, a steel-reinforced folding car seat that is one of the narrowest on the market. If you need to fit 3 car seats across in your car, the Radian is the one to do it with. We shocked our friends and family by putting 3 Sunshine Kids Radians in the back seat of the 100% Electric Nissan LEAF in December 2010 and our kids have been riding comfortable that way ever since.

With the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommending that kids stay rear facing until age 2 (or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat) the Radian is a great choice. With the ability to keep kids rear facing until 45 pounds, it’s the highest rear facing capacity available.

Booster seats are recommended until a child is 4 feet 9 inches tall and between the ages of 8-12. I’ve heard many parents complain that this is excessive. I have an almost 9 year old who still happily rides in a booster and he has no plans of stopping anytime soon. Seat belts are designed to protect adults, and my son does not pass the 5-point test to move out of a booster. Diono has a great option for older kids who still need a booster but want something that looks a bit more grown up. The Monterey can be used for kids up to 120 pounds and 63 inches tall. Keep an eye out for my son’s review (and his tips for older kids riding in boosters) coming up soon.

Join us on Thursday, May 10, 2012 for a #MomStorm Twitter party to talk about safe summer travel with Diono!

#MomStorm Twitter Party

Date: Thursday, May 10, 2012

Time: 6:00-7:00 pm PDT

Hashtag: #MomStorm

How to Attend #MomStorm

1. Follow @MomStorm, @BusyMommyMedia , and @DionoUSA to follow the party hosts.

2. RSVP on the Mr. Linky below using your twitter id so that party participants can follow you on Twitter before the party starts and you can be entered to win party prizes.

3. Share this post with your friends by clicking on the share link at the bottom of the page or hit tweet below.

4. A few minutes before the party, click here to load our custom Tweet Grid to make it easier for you to follow the party tweets.

If you haven’t attended a Twitter party before and need some help getting started, contact me before the party starts and I can help you with any questions you have.

Twitter Party Prizes

Sunshine Kids is offering over $800 in amazing prizes to some VERY lucky Twitter party go-ers.

1 Radian RXT Car Seat in Daytona color ($339.99 value)
1 Radian RXT Car Seat in Shadow color ($339.99 value)
1 Monterey Booster Seat in Shadow color ($149.99 value)
Ultra Mat Car Seat Accessories (2 Winners valued at $26.99 each)
Buggy Buddy Stroller Accessories (2 Winners valued at $10.99 each)

RSVP

To be entered to win, RSVP below and Tweet with the #MomStorm hashtag between 6:00-7:00 pm PDT on Thursday, May 10, 2012. Open to residents of the USA and Canada.

Need a reminder on the day of the party? Join our mailing list and we’ll send out a reminder before the party starts so you don’t miss out on your chance to win.

So Good, So Sweet

Rachel — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:45:55 +0000

As parents, we’re always looking for signs that we are raising kind, smart little people who will grow up and make a difference in the world. We look for signs in the little things that our kids to prove to ourselves that we are on the right track.

This week, my family celebrated a birthday that came with all kinds of mixed emotions. Three years ago, our 4th son was born prematurely. Ten minutes after his birth, he passed away. The events surrounding his birth and death have been fresh on my mind over the last few days and it reminded me of a sweet moment with my oldest son that I’m sure I will treasure for the rest of my life.

The night I came home from the hospital after delivering my son I was hit with unbelievable insomnia. This was not your typical, stare at the clock unable to fall asleep kind of insomnia. A combination of heavy medication from a difficult birth, a lingering uterine infection, and grief made sleep impossible and left me with nothing but long, quiet hours to reflect on the blow that had been delivered to our family.

The tears finally came in the middle of the night. My then 6 year old son has always been a gentle soul. He had been having trouble sleeping too and hearing that I was up, he came into my room and climbed in my bed. He spent that night rubbing my back and telling me that it would be okay.

For a while I felt guilty that I had been comforted by my child rather than the other way around but as I’ve watched my son grow over the last few years I’ve realized that he’s learned a depth of empathy that is unique in children his age — boys especially.

He’s constantly surprised me with his ability to comfort others when they are down and every time I see him in action, it warms my heart because I know that I am sending a sweet soul out into the world.

Share Your Sweet Moment and Win

Win one of five great prizes, such as chef services, house cleaning, Flip Video UltraHDcamera and more from KFC! Vote for my sweet unexpected moment below! You can vote once per day, check out mine and other sweet moments at www.sogoodsosweet.com!

Celebrate the little things! For a limited time, get a free Double Chocolate Chip Cake with the purchase of a 10-piece meal or larger at KFC.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of KFC. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules

Happy April Fool’s Day

Rachel — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:50:59 +0000

I have never pulled an April Fool’s prank on my kids before so I figured this year was the year to do it. When I saw a great idea for making “grilled cheese sandwiches” with pound cake and frosting from Family Fun, I had to try it.

My kids are apparently pretty hard to fool. They figured things out almost immediately, although my younger two were really confused about why I was feeding them dessert for lunch so they went off and found a piece of fruit as soon as they were done.

Did you pull any April Fool’s pranks today?

Here’s my kids’ reactions. Ignore the bad video. I was trying to be sneaky with my phone.

Giveaway: Britax B-Agile Stroller and NEW Stroller Organizer

Rachel — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:05:38 +0000

Britax is well known for their reputation for quality and safety and the Britax B-Agile is no exception! This lightweight stroller is perfect if you are shopping on a budget but don’t want to sacrifice quality and features.

At an MSRP of $249.99 (and frequent sales prices of under $200 on Amazon) the Britax B-Agile is a great fit for nearly any budget. With a top weight limit of 55 pounds it will last you for years to come.

I tested the B-Agile out with my 4 year old who is near the top of the weight limit and was amazed at how maneuverable the B-Agile really was. Even with the extra weight, I was easily able to push the stroller with one hand and my son was very comfortable in the deep seat and using the supportive foot rest.

The canopy offers great coverage and a peek-a-boo window so you can keep an eye on your little one. The mid-sized basket should fit just about anything you need. On our trip to the Children’s Museum this week I managed to fit a large bag of snacks, my camera bag, and my purse so it isn’t stingy by any means. Accessibility is easy with the seat up but gets a bit trickier with the seat reclined, as is common with most strollers. With the B-Agile, you do still have decent access from the sides of the basket as well.

The three-wheel design took some getting used to for me, simply because I have used more 4-wheel strollers in the past, but the stroller is extremely maneuverable and the option to lock the front wheel allows you to get over most terrain.

The ease of folding is where Britax has always excelled in the past. The B-Agile is only 16.5 pounds so it’s already easy to transport. The fold will really amaze you though. It’s truly a one-handed fold. With the quick switch of the safety button and a pull on a handle you can have the stroller completely folded in seconds. Once folded, the B-Agile is nice and compact too. You won’t have any trouble fitting the B-Agile into most trunk spaces.

The B-Agile has been compared to the City Mini, however in comparison, my tall husband much preferred the B-Agile with it’s curved bar at the back that allows for better foot clearance. I prefer the B-Agile’s fabric for cleanability. Babies are messy. We may as well make our lives easier. The ride of the B-Agile is extremely smooth and it can easily be pushed with one hand when needed.

The B-Agile as a Travel System

We’re getting ready to have a newborn in our house after a nearly 5 year gap so I find that I’m looking for different things in a stroller than I did when I was looking for a toddler or preschooler.

When my oldest was born, I was convinced I had to have a travel system but I found that I sacrificed a lot in order to go that route. Most travel systems are either over priced, lack the features of higher end strollers, or both. Fortunately, the Britax B-AGILE fits the Britax B-Safe car seat giving you the ease of a travel system and the nicer features that come standard in a Britax stroller.

The B-Agile comes standard with BRITAX CLICK & GO infant car seat receivers so you can fit the Britax B-Safe or Britax Chaperone infant car seats in without purchasing anything additional. The Britax Infant Car Seat Adaptor is sold separately and will allow you to use the B-Agile with the Graco, Chicco, or Peg Perego infant seats.

Britax Stroller Organizer

The one downside of the B-Agile (and I’m seeing this with most strollers these days) is it doesn’t come standard with any cup holders. Britax does have a great assortment of stroller accessories available though, including their brand new stroller organizer that features two deep cup holders and a center compartment with a magnetic closure. A great storage basket is, of course, essential, but I really like having a few odds and ends close at hand.

The Britax stroller organizer fits so seamlessly with the B-Agile that you’d never know that it was a separate accessory. I love that the center compartment closes up to keep smaller items, like your keys and cell phone, out of sight and the magnetic closure makes it super easy to get into.

Priced at $29.99, you’re sure to get plenty of use out of this accessory during the life of the stroller.

Enter to Win

Britax has generously offered to give one Busy Mommy Media reader a B-Agile stroller AND one of their brand new stroller organizers. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.

Want to be notified when we post a new giveaway? Be sure and join our mailing list or subscribe to our RSS Feed so you don’t miss out on anything.

Disclosure: I received a Britax B-Agile stroller and stroller organizer to facilitate my review, however all opinions are my own.

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Win a 1 Month Subscription to The BabyTV Mobile App! (20 Winners)

Rachel — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:07:25 +0000

My kids are digital natives. While we do try and limit the mindless TV and video games out there, technology is a huge part of our day. My iPad has been a great tool for turning time that would otherwise be wasted (like waiting in a dr. office or long drives) into educational opportunities.

BabyTV, the world’s leading Baby and Toddler network from Fox International, is available on DISH channel 126. Now the same great programming is available on your iPad or phone with the launch of the BabyTV Mobile App!

The App. itself is free and it comes with 3 free episodes. To access hundreds of BabyTV episodes you can subscribe for $4.99 a month.

We’ve spent a long day visiting the Children’s Museum and running errands today so I came home absolutely exhausted. My kids, unfortunately, have the infuriating ability to become more energized by constant activity so while I was ready to call it a night at 7:00, they were bouncing off the walls. I downloaded the App to test it out and as soon as my kids heard the upbeat music coming from my iPad they came running. There’s really something to be said for TV calming kids down when they are overstimulated and the BabyTV app seemed to do the same trick.

My youngest (at least for the next few months) is 4 so he’s slightly above the target range of the BabyTV app. That made absolutely no difference to him though because he was mesmerized by the brightly colored cartoons and catchy songs. I can see how BabyTV could be a real hit on a trip or, what’s more likely around our house lately — an unexpected NST test at the hospital that I have to drag my kids to.

The best part is, each video offers developmentally appropriate content that is educationally enriching for your kids. I’ve done my share of hunting for apps for younger kids and while there are TONS out there, not all of them offer great educational benefits.

Enter to Win – A FREE 1 Month Subscription to the BabyTV Mobile App

BabyTV is giving 20 lucky Busy Mommy Media readers a FREE 1 month subscription to the BabyTV mobile app!

The app is free to download and you have access to 3 free episodes – then you have to subscribe at $4.99 a month to have access to hundreds of BabyTV episodes that you can watch and download onto your mobile device and watch for the length of the subscription.

For more information about BabyTV please visit: www.babytv.com or join them on facebook: www.facebook.com/babytvchannel

Want to be notified when we post a new giveaway? Be sure and join our mailing list or subscribe to our RSS Feed so you don’t miss out on anything.

Disclosure: This was a compensated post, however all opinions are my own.

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Giveaway – $50 Educational Insights Gift Card

Rachel — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:05:32 +0000

Whether you are homeschooling or simply want to supplement your child’s education at home, Educational Insights has some great products that really make learning exciting.

My 4 year old loves their Alphabet Bean Bag Set and the Alpha Catch game, while my 8 year old has big plans for using the GeoSafari Vega 360 Telescope to explore the night sky during the warm summer nights we hopefully have coming up in the not too distant future.

Whatever your kids are into, Educational Insights has a great selection of educational toys that they are sure to love — which is great, because we have a $50 Educational Insights gift card to give away to one of you!

This will be a super fast and easy giveaway so don’t miss out on your chance to enter.

Enter to Win

Educational Insights is giving one Busy Mommy Media reader a $50 gift card to spend at EducationalInsights.com!

Want to be notified when we post a new giveaway? Be sure and join our mailing list or subscribe to our RSS Feed so you don’t miss out on anything.

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Disclosure: I was compensated with an Educational Insights gift card for this post, however all opinions are my own.