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A Candy Free Easter Basket!

Our Candy Free Easter Basket- Think Spring!

I have wonderful childhood memories of the Easter bunny, searching for eggs and Easter baskets, and fighting with my brothers over the items they received that I really wanted for myself. (My parents might not have such great fond memories of that part.) Although we always received some chocolates and jelly beans, we also always had some great practical items in our baskets. Items that lasted much longer than the sugar binge we went on.

This is my first Easter with our toddler. Last year I was barely clinging to my sanity with a newborn, I don't remember Easter even occurring. Whether you celebrate Easter in the traditional sense or just want to bring in the spring with a happy celebration, I've come up with a candy free set of items I'm excited to include for our little chick.

1) Green Toys

Have you tried out the Green Toys before? Baby Z received the Green Toys Ferry Boat for a birthday gift and it has immediately become a bath tub favorite. I plan on moving it outside into her water table when things warm up a bit. Green Toys are made from 100% recycled plastic and are so sturdy. I'm excited to snag the construction trucks, dump truck, and tractor to add to her Easter basket so that she can move dirt around the yard soon.

2) Planet Wise Lunch/Snack Bags

Spring time means more time outdoors and more time enjoying picnics at the park. The Planet Wise Sandwich Wraps are going to make an Easter basket appearance this year because they are perfect for the park. Wrap your sandwich in the wrap to keep it fresh and sand free while you play, and then lay the wrap out flat to use it as a place mat while you eat.

The Reusable Zipper Bags are also perfect for small snacks for little hands. We have several bags in cute prints and let Baby Z pick out her bag and her snack for the day. Putting that small amount of choice in her hands has made a big difference and I'm excited to include a few more in her Easter basket this year.

3) Baby Leggings

These are loved by both mom and baby in our house! For mom, they make diaper changes so simple. You don't have to remove them to change the diaper and they keep her warm when there's a cool spring breeze outside. Baby Z loves to pick out a cute pair to match her diapers and prefers them to pants (let's be honest, who really wants to wear pants!). We've also found they are awesome to use under pants if  it's a chilly morning and you take a trip outside. When we wear Baby Z in a carrier her pants ride up, but the leggings underneath keep her lower legs and ankles warm.

4) Nicki's Doll Diapers

With Baby #2 on the way, we spend a lot of time talking about babies and baby care in our house. Baby Z has started dragging her baby doll around by the leg, so it seems like we're off to a good start. The new Nicki's Doll Diapers are the perfect way to continue the baby conversation and help her learn to care for a baby. They match her adorable Nicki's Diapers prints and she loves to look just like her baby.

5) My Swim Baby Swimwear

I'm so excited to get outside more as the weather warms up and Easter just makes me think of spring time and sunshine. Baby Z loves water and instead of just playing in the dog's water bowl, we plan on letting her enjoy her water table, sprinkler, and baby pool this summer. While a naked baby running around the backyard will probably happen on occasion, a My Swim Baby swim diaper is a more neighbor friendly option. Pair the swim diaper with a matching sun hat and rash guard top and Baby Z will be protected from the sun while she runs in the sprinkler. We used a reversible sun hat for every walk last summer as well, both to keep her face protected and keep the sun out of her eyes.

**Giveaway!!** Want to win your own My Swim Baby swimwear for your little one's Easter basket? Leave a comment on what non-candy item you're excited to include in your baby's Easter basket this year or just your favorite item that makes you think spring and you'll be entered to win a My Swim Baby swimwear set. Comment by 3/15/16 to be entered to win.

Prepping for Baby #2- Lessons Learned

As the weeks creep closer to the arrival of Baby #2, and it becomes more of a reality that the precarious routine we've settled into as a family of three is about to be thrown on its head, I've actually started to think about what we'll need to keep everyone from baby to big sister, and mama sane.

Some of the items are obvious and simple, while others involve me second guessing everything we did the first time around. Let's be honest, there are also things I don't even remember about the first time around, so I'm reaching way back in my sleep deprived brain to try and make this list .

1) Mama Cloth- Yes, I'm starting with mama on this one. Forget that new screaming infant for a minute. I had no idea what to prepare for after birth last time around. Nobody warned me. Well here I am warning you. I will not endure the surfboard sized disposable pads and itchy disposable underwear again. I even ended up using some of my husband's old boxer shorts after my first delivery because I was out of hospital supplied mesh panties, but not ready to open my own underwear drawer yet.

Pink Lemonade makes a variety of reusable cloth pads in minky, bamboo velour, and cotton velour. They even have a 13 inch postpartum pad that I'm going for along with a few overnights and smaller pads for when things eventually taper off (and I promise they will...eventually).

Party In My Pants also makes an awesome queen sized option in flannel and cotton although I have no interest in "partying in my pants" at that point in time, the soft material will be very welcome.

2) Nursing Pads- I already started with mama, might as well stick with it right? Again, naive first time mama version of me didn't know what to expect in this category either. I had a pack of disposable nursing pads that a friend had passed on to me, but I also endured several nights of waking up to a wet pool of sour smelling breastmilk on the bed. Reusable nursing pads are so much more absorbent, comfortable, and cost effective. The Nicki's Diapers Stay Dry Nursing Pads are my favorite and come in a set of three pairs.

3) Newborn Cloth Diapers- Like many new cloth families, we didn't get brave with the cloth right away. We waited until the umbilical cord stump fell off and she had grown a bit to dive into the cloth world. Little did we know how addicted we'd be and never want to touch a disposable diaper again.

We're excited to try the Imagine Newborn Stay-Dry All in One since we know the fleece will keep baby feeling dry so that they hopefully sleep a bit longer (please baby sleep!). While we are snap lovers with our older daughter, hook and loop is a perfect option for quick changes with a squirmy newborn.

The Nicki's Diapers Bamboo newborn diapers are also making heir way into our stash. Bamboo is so absorbent so that when baby starts to sleep a few longer stretches at night, we know they'll keep her dry.

4) Diaper Bag - Yes, we already have one (or thirteen) of these, but two children in cloth diapers means we need more space! I tend to be an over packer, planning for the worst even when we're making a quick trip to the grocery store. 

The Ju-Ju-Be Prepared is the ultimate over packers dream! The inner pockets are even color coded for multiple children, which feeds right into my obsessive organizational needs. I also love that they come in cute prints so that I can pretend I'm a stylish millennial rather than an overtired mama. 

5) Baby Carrier- Baby carriers are another item that we only came to appreciate a few months after our first was born. There were days when she needed the close touch of mama and the only way anyone else in the house was going to eat dinner was if I was wearing her. With baby #2 on the way, we know that walks for a while will consist of wearing one child while the other is in the stroller and many play dates with our firstborn will include the newborn snuggled on my chest. 

For the tiniest of babies, a wrap is the perfect option for keeping baby securely snuggled in so you can be hands free. The Boba wrap is a great example of this since its designed for babies 7-35 pounds and there are no buckles, straps, or buttons to mess with. The learning curve of tying it on is easy and you'll become a pro quickly. 

Once the baby is a little older and has a little more head control, a soft structured carrier is perfect for baby wearing. Most options like the Tula or Lillebaby can be used for both front and back carry. Some brands also have an infant insert so you can start using them even younger. They distribute the weight evenly over the parents shoulders and hips enabling you to wear them for long periods of time with no discomfort. 

 

6) Bamboo Swaddling Blanket- Yes, we already have lots of blankets and could probably get away without a new one. But have you felt these?! They've all already been claimed in our house because they are so soft and snuggly. Just like I think every new baby deserves a special coming home outfit, Imagine Bamboo Swaddling blankets have been added to my list of new baby must haves. They are light, breathable, adorable, and did I mention soft? Whether you use it to actually swaddle baby or not, cuddling with this blanket will keep everyone happy.

7) Cozy Plush- Remember, I still have an older child that needs love and attention during the transition, so this one is for her. I now cringe when I think of the times I went to friend's houses to visit a new baby, gift in hand for the new little, completely forgetting the older child. A cozy plush is a stuffed animal that can be warmed up in the microwave for extra comfort on these cold winter nights and smells like soothing lavender. We plan on giving this as a gift from our new baby to our older one when she comes to the hospital to meet her. 

What else am I forgetting? I'm sure there's plenty that I've forgotten about those first few sleep deprived weeks and many of you have already gone through this transition. Help a mama out and leave us a comment with your tips and advice!

Product Review: Nicki's Diapers Ultimate All-In-One

With the release of the new Nicki's Diapers Ultimate All-In-One I had to try one out myself. The Ultimate is a departure from the traditional Nicki's Bamboo All-In-One that has been a staple in our house and we found that we love them just as much!

What I first noticed about the Ultimate was its buttery soft inside! With the softness of a fleece blanket, I was sure my daughter would find it comfortable. The stay dry top of the insert matches the fleece interior of the cover and coordinates with the shell colors, making it eye popping and attractive (because who can resist a cute diaper!). We went with a Candy Cane Chevron, since it seemed only fitting with the holiday outfits we have planned in the next few weeks.

 

The insert itself is a microfiber base to absorb the wetness, with a fleece top so that baby feels dry. While we love our natural fibers as well, our daughter seems to be sensitive to wetness, both in terms of her comfort level and her sensitive skin. The microfiber absorbs the wetness so well that the first time I changed her I actually had to do a quick double take. When I initially removed the Ultimate, the top felt completely dry to the point that I wasn't sure whether she had actually peed or not. However, when I checked the microfiber bottom, sure enough it was damp and had clearly absorbed the liquids quickly. The real test in our book was going to be nap time. Sure it could handle a regular playtime change, but would it feel as dry after a long nap on our super sleeper?

The removable insert has two snaps in the back, making it easier to wash and faster drying. One of my favorite parts of the Ultimate is the extra long, foldable panel on the front of the insert. The pre-sewn fold line makes it simple to fold under in front and automatically adds an extra layer of absorbency without adding much bulk. We have a tummy sleeper who occasionally leaks out the front during nap time so the extra absorbency is exactly what we needed. We've tested it through several long nap times and have come out dry each time. I'm certain the foldable panel is to thank for that and is a unique and welcome addition.

            


Foldable front panel for added absorbency

                         

The cover itself comes in many of the Nicki's Diapers prints we love and is made of a waterproof exterior with a coordinating fleece interior. The PUL guards on the front and back of the cover keep any wetness from wicking, so we've had no issues with any wetness on the cover itself. The encased leg elastics make putting the Ultimate on a breeze (daddy was excited for this!) and kept all solid waste from escaping, even in one of our "oh my!" changes we experienced during a rough week. We tried the Ultimate out on both our 10 mo daughter and 2 year old nephew and were able to get a perfect fit on both. They are generously sized and the back elastics have a ton of stretch, which enabled us to get a snug, yet comfy looking, fit for both body types. There are three rise options and we were on the first rise with our 20 pounder and had the rise all of the way open at 32 lbs. Its so nice to know that the generous sizing allows for a leak-proof fit from now until potty training, which truly makes it an economical choice. The Ultimate is also available in Newborn for those bitty babies.

 

 

 

 Now that we've tested the Ultimate, we'll be adding several more to our stash. We have to agree, the flexible fit with lots of stretch, foldable panel to add extra absorbency, and stay dry feel that is so important for our baby, really do make it Ultimate in our book. Visit Nicki's Diapers to learn more about the Ultimate and view all of the adorable print options.

 

 

Have you seen Tinkering and Toolin' Around, the newest Limited Edition Nicki's Diapers prints available for pre-order only? What baby doesn't love to watch over Mom or Dad's shoulder while they use that screwdriver to replace the batteries in their favorite toy? Tinkering is available in an adorable purple while Toolin' Around features the perfect construction cone orange for your handy baby.

These Limited Edition prints are only available for pre-order until 11/16/15 and will ship approximately three months from the close of pre-order.

Product Reviews: Nicki's Diapers Pocket Diaper and Bamboo All-In-One

When it comes to cloth diapering, my family has tried it all. That means two things: first, I know exactly what works for us and what doesn’t; second, I’m always interested in trying new stuff to augment or improve our diapering regimen.  So, when I saw that Nicki’s Diapers had released a signature line of diapers, I figured I’d give them a try. We’ve used a number of similar all-in-one and pocket diapers, so it was pretty easy to judge the diapers not only on their own merit, but how they compare to similar products.

The first diaper we tried was the Nicki’s all-in-one diaper, which features a bamboo lining and snap in liner. My first impression was that the bamboo lining extended too far to the exterior of the diaper, and that leakage would be a concern.  However, the roll in legs were easy to adjust and upon using the diaper, I found the opposite to be the case. After a month of using this diaper I’ve had not a single leak, neither from my skinny 2 ½ year old (who wets like it’s a competitive sport) nor from my more Buddha-esque 1 year old. Almost as importantly, the dyed bamboo has been good to both of my girls’ sensitive skin, and the diapers are slim and easy to put on (tantrums notwithstanding, naturally).  The snap out liner makes the diaper easier to dry than some all-in-one competitors, which is nice now that winter is coming and the clothesline is going to become less usable. Bottom line: these diapers are now fully in the rotation, and are a go-to for a last-second diaper bag stuffing. Whether you’re just starting cloth or a vet, these are a good buy.

We’re not a family that uses a lot of pocket diapers. They tend to require more labor on a use-by-use basis

than either my husband or myself are interested in investing. One of the nice improvements in the Nicki’s pocket is the presence of openings in the front and the rear of the diaper. Once you stuff the insert, you can forget about it, as the agitation of your washing machine will pull the insert out while it’s washing (of course if you don’t use a washer, your mileage will vary some). The microfiber insert is fantastically absorbent, and allows the fleece lining to stay dry against bottoms, even for our competitive tinkler. In the fit department, these diapers seemed to fit our on our Buddha baby’s legs better than the beanpole, but again there was no leaking to speak of. While this diaper did not make pocket converts out of the family, it is still a solid product, priced and designed as good or better than the competition.

Overall, the Nicki’s signature brand is off to a great start.  The diapers are available in a number of vibrant shell colors (as well as a couple of prints), and are a good value, as they are competitively priced and are easily adjustable, meaning that your kids can wear them from birth to potty training.