Cheeky Diapers Review and Giveaway- NBNY

Cheeky Diapers is a family run cloth diapering business that brings you a truly one size fits all cloth diapering system. After being talked into trying cloth diapering by her local breastfeeding group, Beth started making her own cloth diapers for her son. After trying many of the cloth diapering options available, she knew that one size pockets, fitteds, and covers made the most sense for her family. The one size option is a very economical way to cloth diaper your little one. It also comes in handy when you have more than one child in diapers.

The Cheeky Diapers line includes a one size cover, a one size pocket fitted, a one size pocket diaper and wetbags. More on the one size cover and the one size pocket fitted in my review below. The wetbags come in two sizes: 14"x 16" (holds 4-6 diapers) and 16"x 28" (holds 20-25 diapers). They come in your choice of zippered or aplix closure. The Cheeky Diapers line is fully customizable. You can choose the fabric that is on the diaper, the PUL color and the edging color.

The Review:

I had the opportunity to review Cheeky Diapers' One Size Diaper Cover and the One Size Pocket Fitted Diaper. I had never used a pocket fitted or a one sized fitted before and was intrigued. One of the things that sets Cheeky Diapers apart is the ability to pick your own fabrics. The "Design Your Own Diapers" features lets you customize the PUL color, the edging and the main fabric pattern. I spent literally all afternoon designing the diaper I wanted. At the time, we didn't know if Baby #3 was going to be a boy or a girl and we wanted something gender neutral. With all the great fabrics that Beth stocks, it was really hard to choose.

The One Size Diaper Covers have a unique closure system. The cover has both snap and Aplix closure. The snaps are attached in the middle of the Aplix strip. The rise is adjusted by folding down the front of the cover when a row of snaps is. This is great because there is no limit to how small it can get (within reason).

The One Size Fitted Pocket Diaper has a side snapping closure. There are 5 adjustments for the rise. The pocket opening is in the front for easy removal. There is also a snap at the back of the diaper on the inside for an additional soaker. If you did not want to stuff the pocket you could simply snap the soaker in and lay it on top. There are also many different insert options. The diaper comes standard with a snap in daytime soaker that has 4 layers of Organic Cotton when folded. There is also a nighttime soaker that has 6 layers of Organic Cotton when folded.

Cheeky Diapers One Size Diaper Cover:
Cost: $15.00 (Click here to purchase)
Ease of Use: Fairly simple. All you have to do is put your desired fitted (try Cheeky Diaper's One Size Fitted Pocket) or prefold on baby and put the cover on. Adjust the rise, if necessary by folding the front down. Adhere the Aplix (snaps optional). It is the easiest one size cover to adjust. There is no snap down rise to deal with, just fold.
Fit: Incredibly trim on James. He has room to grow as well. I even used it over the bulkiest fitted I have and had great results. No red marks on the legs either. The cover worked well for Charlotte too. I liked this for overnights with both of them.
Care: The cover has a wipe down inner which means you can use it again if baby's diaper was wet. Just wipe down and let dry. Washing was a breeze. The cover has laundry tabs for the Aplix which stay down pretty well, I did have a couple of diaper chains. I think an additional snap on the cover near the laundry tabs would be great. That way you could snap the wings to the cover and no more worries about diaper chains.
Material: PUL inner with designer cotton fabric on the outside. To prevent wicking the cover is edged in PUL.
Favorite Feature: The closure system.
Overall Opinion: Beth has really worked hard to build a great one size diaper cover. Her research and development has paid off by producing such a unique product. The fold down rise is easier than it's snap down counter parts. The snap/velcro hybrid closure is sure to please. I do find myself wanting to snap it though.

Cheeky Diapers Fitted Pocket Diaper:
Cost: $20.00 (Click here to purchase)
Ease of Use: The pocket for this fitted is a little narrow. I have small hand so stuffing the pocket wasn't a problem for me but I don't think my husband could do it. The diaper is a basic side snapping design with 5 rise and waist settings so it's easy to navigate. I found that when using the smallest settings (bottom two), the diaper became really bulky and awkward to stuff. Charlotte is chunky so these settings got little use. The diaper seems to be easier to use on the larger settings.
Fit: James (2 years old, 32 lbs) is on the first snap down rise setting and the second waist snap so he has room to grow. I found that I never needed more than one insert (this organic cotton is super absorbent) so the diaper was always very trim. Then again, neither of my kids are super soakers.
Care: I always unstuffed the pocket before washing but I wonder if you leave the insert in the pocket if it will agitate out in the wash. I'll do a test and see. The diaper dries quickly and looks brand new (even with daily use). There is no pilling on the diaper but there is on the cotton fleece insert.
Material: Designer cotton knit outer. Organic cotton fleece inner. Choice of Organic cotton fleece, organic cotton french terry or microfleece topping for liners. Resin snaps.
Favorite Feature: The Organic cotton next to baby! No worry of pesticides against baby's skin!
Overall Opinion: I loved being able to throw this one size fitted pocket diaper in my bag along with the one size cover when going out on short trips. That way whatever kiddo needed a change I had a diaper that would fit them. I do think this fitted would be better for babies not in the newborn stage (maybe 8 weeks +). I love all the absorbency options and the organic fabrics!

The Giveaway:

Beth has offered one of you lucky readers a Cheeky Diapers cover and fitted of your own!

Mandatory Entry:

• Visit Cheeky Diapers and tell me what diaper cover fabric you'd choose. Scroll down on the home page to find the "Design Your Own Diapers" section.
  
• Leave an email address where you can be reached.

Extra Entries:

• Become a fan of Cheeky Diapers on Facebook
  
• Become a fan of Knocked Up and Nursing on Facebook
• Become a follower of Knocked Up and Nursing on Twitter
  
• Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a URL. You can use: "#win a Cheeky Diapers cover and fitted set. Vihttp://bit.ly/h2mtFn to enter @knockedupnursin #clothdiapers" (can be tweeted once a day until the giveaway ends)
• Follow Knocked Up and Nursing via GFC.
• Subscribe to my blog via Email (See "connect" tab on top right)
  
• Blog about this giveaway and link to this page/or my blog.*Plus 5 entries* Leave a URL.
• Share on Facebook (Leave a link)
• Grab my button and leave me a link to find it.*Plus 5 entries*

If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me.

Giveaway will run from Wednesday February 28h, 2011 at 11:30am (CST) until March 14nd, 2011 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org's true random number generator upon the close of the contest. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. I was given the above products for the purpose of this review. It in no way swayed my opinions on the product. Must be 18 year old to enter. Open to US and Canadian residents only. Subject to changes.

______________________________________________________________

Sage Diapers Review and Giveaway-NBNY

Just as disposable diapers peaking in popularity in 1983 and becoming the norm, Rachael Flug and her husband, Abraham, were forming Diaperaps. Convinced that cloth diapers were better for baby and the planet, they wanted to make it more accessible to families by making cloth easy. By creating a diaper cover that made pins obsolete they secured their place in the cloth diapering world.

Since the early 80's the couple has continued to be present in the cloth diapering scene. Over the past couple of years, Rachael has been redesigning Diaperaps. Using all her wisdom and experience from almost 30 years, she brings you a cloth diapering line that combines simplicity, versatility and reliability. Rachael and Abraham renamed their business Sage Diapers. Their products are made in the USA as well! What's not to love?

I was given the opportunity to review two of their great products; The Sure Fit Pocket Diaper and the Diaperaps cover with an Easy Fit Cloth Diaper Insert.



Sure Fit Pocket Diaper:
Cost: $18.50 (inserts sold seperatly)
This diaper is the most versitile diaper in the Sage Diaper line. It can be used as a pocket diaper or an AI2 by using the snaps at the back of the pocket opening to snap in one of two inserts offered and lay it on top. It comes in two sizes, Size 1 for babies 5-20lbs and Size 2 for babies 18-40lbs. It has 2 snap down rise adjustments making the wide weight range possible. The side snapping closure makes it easy to customize the fit of the diaper for your little one. Side snapping diapers allow for the adjustability of the legs and waist. They are ideal if you have a babe with chunky legs and a skinny waist or a little one with skinny legs and a round belly. There are two insert options, a hemp/organic cotton one and a micro terry topped microfleece. They must be purchased seperately. I was sent the hemp/organic cotton one. The natural fibers are very absorbent. I found that this diaper worked best for us as an AI2. Charlotte has very sensitive skin and keeping natural fibers near her skin helps. The elastic at the front of the diaper helps keep a good seal around baby to prevent leaks. We had no leaks with this diaper but did experience one blowout poo. I don't know if it was the diaper or Charlotte as it happened when she hadn't gone #2 in 2+ days (before I was a mother I never thought I'd be excited about another person's bowel movements. Oh how times change). I did run into two problems with the Sure Fit Pocket. One of the snaps on the insert that attaches it to the cover fell off. I contacted Rachael and she said that they had experienced that with a small batch of diapers. The issue seemed to be that the snap pressed used was set to the wrong pressure causing some of the snaps to fall off. The second issue was the elastic at the back of the diaper. I noticed after I took the diaper out of the wash after about the sixth or seventh use that the back elastic was completely slack. Rachael said that they hadn't run into this issue before. Perhaps it was a fluke. She sent me a replacement cover and I haven't had any issues with the new cover.


Diaperaps Diaper Cover:
Cost: $10.75
We were sent the Diaperaps cover in white in the infant size (5-9lbs). This cover is a newer version of first product offered by Sage Diapers. Charlotte weighed 8lbs 12oz at birth and this over still had room for her to grow. She was, and is, a chunker and used the cover until about 10.5 or 11lbs. The great thing about the infant size is that it has a cutout for the umbilical cord stump. It is made of a soft knit fabric on the outside and a waterproof material on the inside. The cover is extremely lightweight and breathable. The leg gussets held everything very well! Even the newborn poos which tend to be watery were contained by the gussets. Charlotte never came away from this diaper with red marks on her legs. The velcro closure has held well. There aren't any laundry tabs on this cover. When washing, fasten the cover inside out. I did find that the corner of the wings started to curl up slightly after having been used for awhile. We used this cover with the Easy Fold Cloth Diaper (a prefold made out of natural unbleached cotton). The prefold is so soft and lofty! I primarily used a snappi with this setup and it worked great. You can always lay it in the cover as well. On a newborn, it was a little bulky but Charlotte grew into it. The infant size fits up to 16lbs. One of the great things about buying infant sized prefolds is that you can use them as inserts with other diapers. I have been using this prefold as an insert for one of James' pocket diapers. I've been really impressed by the absorbency of the prefold. It's held up great overnight as well.

Connect with Sage Diapers:
Facebook
Twitter
Blog
Website

The Giveaway:

Rachael at Sage Diapers has offered a Sure Fit Pocket diaper in winners choice of color!

Mandatory Entry:

• Visit Sage Diaper and tell me what color Sure Fit Pocket Diaper you would choose.
  
• Leave an email address where you can be reached.

Extra Entries:

• Become a fan of Sage Diaper on Facebook
  
• Become a fan of Knocked Up and Nursing on Facebook
• Become a follower of Sage Diaper on Twitter
• Become a follower of Knocked Up and Nursing on Twitter
  
• Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a URL. You can use: "#win a Sure Fit Pocket Diaper from Sage Diaper. Visit http://knockedupandnursing.blogspot.com to enter @knockedupnursin @SageMamas" (can be tweeted once a day until the giveaway ends)
• Follow Knocked Up and Nursing via GFC.
• Follow the Sage Diaper Blog
  
• Subscribe to my blog via Email (See "connect" tab on top right)
  
• Blog about this giveaway.*Plus 5 entries* Leave a URL.
• Share on Facebook (Leave a link)
• Grab my button and leave me a link to find it.*Plus 5 entries*

If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me.

Giveaway will run from Wednesday February 16th, 2011 at 7:00pm (CST) until March 2nd, 2011 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org's true random number generator upon the close of the contest. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. I was given the above products for the purpose of this review. It in no way swayed my opinions on the product. Must be 18 year old to enter. Open to US and Canadian residents only. Subject to changes.

______________________________________________________________

The Little One Said Giveaway (Changing Mat)-NBNY

I'm so excited to bring this next giveaway to you! All the way from Australia, The Little One Said is a lovely Etsy shop. Bronwyn has filled her shop with simple, beautiful items with everyday practicality. There are bibs, tote bags, bloomers, and t-shirts with hand embroidered detail.
The Little One Said also carries beautiful quilts in designer fabric! I'm gushing over these! So beautiful.

To read my Sponsorship Spotlight on The Little One Said click here.

The Giveaway:

Bronwyn has offered one of her changing mats that can double as a burp cloth to one lucky winner.

This is the mat that you will be getting!

Mandatory Entry:

• Where is your favorite place that you have traveled?
  
• Leave an email address where you can be reached.

Extra Entries:

• Become a fan of Knocked Up and Nursing on Facebook
• Become a follower of Knocked Up and Nursing on Twitter
  
• Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a URL. You can use: "#win a changing mat from The Little One Said. Visit http://knockedupandnursing.blogspot.com to enter @knockedupnursin " (can be tweeted once a day until the giveaway ends)
• Follow Knocked Up and Nursing via GFC
  
• Subscribe to my blog via Email (See "connect" tab on top right)
  
• Blog about this giveaway.*Plus 5 entries* Leave a URL.
• Share on Facebook (Leave a link)
• Grab my button and leave me a link to find it.*Plus 5 entries*
• You can do additional extra entries on The Little One Said Sponsorship Spotlight Post. I will be compiling them so only Comment on the Sponsorship Spotlight post for those entries

If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me.

Giveaway will run from Monday February 14th, 2011 at 11:00am (CST) until February 28th, 2011 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org's true random number generator upon the close of the contest. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Must be 18 year old to enter. Open to US and Canadian residents only. Subject to changes.

______________________________________________________________

Great Breastfeeding Tips for Dads from Bravado

I got the Bravado newsletter in my inbox this morning and really appreciated the article the included. (PS, $5 off Bliss Nursing bra with code HEART-216). I think support from your partner is so beneficial when establishing breastfeeding. Here are some tips from Bravado. (See full article here)

1) Step up
Don't presume your wife needs her mother's support more than yours. Nearly 57% of BBIC survey respondents cited husbands/partners as the most important influence in their lives as nursing moms. Just over 21% chose their mothers. So don't be shy; be an active participant in nursing.

2) Encourage her
Don't forget to compliment her on her dedication to breast feed. It'll help keep her motivated – during good times, as well as through sore nipples, mastitis, 3am feedings and other breastfeeding challenges.

"My husband was super-supportive every step of the way. Without his support, I would have given up in the first week," said one BBIC survey respondent.

3) Support her with family and friends
Although research supports breastfeeding as the best choice for the majority of babies, society can exert pressure on women to abandon it, particularly when nursing challenges arise. If loved ones question your wife's decision to breastfeed, gently but firmly remind them that – although you know they're just trying to help – their comments are counterproductive.

4) Don't suggest formula
Survey respondents said new dads should avoid raising formula as an option. She knows it's an option, and chose breastfeeding instead. So avoid the F word unless she brings it up first.

5) Listen
Breastfeeding is natural.... but it doesn't always come naturally. Many new moms need help establishing milk flow, and many infants need help learning to latch on. If your wife wants to borrow your ear – or shoulder to cry on – be there. It goes a long way in promoting successful breastfeeding. "His support has been ESSENTIAL to our success," said another BBIC survey respondent.

6) Do more chores
She's sleep deprived and exhausted, so do what you can to help create a harmonious nest for baby and mom to bond in. Tackle some laundry or wrangle some messes – she'll notice and appreciate it!

7) Get up with her at night
Although your work schedule may make it impossible to do every night, try getting up with your wife for some nighttime feedings. See if she wants anything to drink or eat, a blanket, or just some company. (Or consider taking turns with nighttime feeds: let her sleep while you bottle feed baby expressed milk.)

8) Take her cues when it comes to her breasts and sex
"He thought it was going to be fun and sexy – boy was he wrong! When the prenatal class handed out a pamphlet on sore nipple cream, he panicked," reported one BBIC survey respondent.

The truth is, some women don't like their breasts handled during sex, either because they're sore or it doesn't feel "right," given the new role her breasts fill. Another concern new moms cite is fear they'll leak milk during foreplay or sex. So, ask her how she wants to be touched first.

9) Get "Hands On" with Breastfeeding
One respondent said her husband would sometimes sit and support her in his arms while she held and nursed their baby. "Baby would look up and see us there together. It was such a feeling of love and great bonding for the three of us," she reported.

Another respondent who had a "very difficult time" establishing breastfeeding said "My husband would help get baby latched for the minute she would. Then he'd [bottle] feed her so I could pump." Eventually, the family found breastfeeding success: "When she finally caught on, he was dancing all over the room!"

10) Take a Breastfeeding Class Together
Go with your wife so you can offer her your support when the time comes, just as with prenatal classes. Take notes. "My husband asked the instructor more questions than anyone else in the class by far! I was happy he wanted to be fully informed and prepared" said a BBIC survey respondent.

11) Become her Research Partner
Be proactive and read up about breastfeeding in books, magazine articles and online. Your wife is likely researching as well, but when issues come up and she's juggling baby, you can check your resources for high-priority info she needs ASAP. Looking for a great place to start? Check out our Breastfeeding Resource Library.

12) Provide moral support (even in the form of comic relief!)
Women often feel more comfortable nursing in public when their husbands/partners are with them – and studies have shown they encounter less hostility (compared to nursing alone or in the company of a female friend). So be there to lend moral support if she needs it.

One respondent said her husband sometimes took his own shirt off in solidarity when she nursed. "There's never a dull moment when he's around" she said.

13) Get help for her if she needs it
The shirtless dad mentioned above hired a post-partum doula when his wife experienced breastfeeding difficulties. If your wife's having trouble, use your time to research and book a home visit from a post-partum doula, nurse, or lactation consultant. Looking for some help? Check out our list of Resources for Breastfeeding.

14) Act as gatekeeper
Take it upon yourself to screen calls and guard the door during the first couple weeks at home when your wife's tired, healing from childbirth, establishing breastfeeding, and most importantly, the three of you are bonding as a family. Keep interruptions to a minimum and heed her wishes about whom she wants to see – and who needs to be politely but firmly kept at bay.

15) Finally, ask her what she needs
You won't know unless you ask!

______________________________________________________________

Moody Mamas $35 Gift Certificate Valentine's Day Celebration

When Moody Mamas contacted me to do this giveaway, I was so excited. I have tried some of their clothes and they were my favorite maternity items. My favorite shirt, especially at the end of my pregnancy with Charlotte was a cute ruffled v-neck with rouching on the sides. It looked similar to the one below. The shirt is made out of possibly the softest material EVER! Even 9 weeks after Charlotte's birth, I'm wearing the shirt. The rouching on the side helps hide my post baby tummy and it makes me feel cute!

Rosette T-Shirt in Heather Grey

Moody Mamas has some new, super cute dresses to make any expecting mommy look and feel special this Valentines Day or any day for that matter! Every girl needs a little black dress. Moody Mamas has you and your new baby bump covered! Whether it be loungewear, everyday items or out on the town dresses, Moody Mamas has hip and trendy maternity clothes that are comfortable to wear.

Ezme Chiffon Puff Sleeve Dress and Freya PJ Set

A Little About Moody Mamas: (Taken from website)

In 2007, Marta and Elise embarked on a quest to create a clothing line that would make women feel empowered, vivacious and sexy…but they weren’t thinking maternity. No, no… Newbies to Los Angeles and recent college grads, Marta and Elise were living the single life and were far from thinking about having children. Nevertheless, after researching niche markets and discovering the perils of maternity fashion, Marta and Elise decided it was their mission to “take the frump out of the bump” and give the mom’s of their generation something “cool” to wear during pregnancy.

Moody Mamas is also having a sale. Take 20% off any order over $75! Use code VDAY2011

The Giveaway:

Moody Mamas Would like to offer one lucky reader a $35 Gift Certificate to use on anything in the Moody Mamas online store.

Mandatory Entry:

• Visit Moody Mamas and tell me a favorite item.
  
• Leave an email address where you can be reached.

Extra Entries:

• Become a fan of Moody Mamas on Facebook
  
• Become a fan of Knocked Up and Nursing on Facebook
• Become a follower of Moody Mamas on Twitter
• Become a follower of Knocked Up and Nursing on Twitter
  
• Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a URL. You can use: "#win a $35 GC to @MoodyMamas. Visit http://knockedupandnursing.blogspot.com to enter @knockedupnursin " (can be tweeted once a day until the giveaway ends)
• Follow Knocked Up and Nursing via GFC.
• Follow the Moody Mamas Blog
  
• Subscribe to my blog via Email (See "connect" tab on top right)
  
• Blog about this giveaway.*Plus 5 entries* Leave a URL.
• Share on Facebook (Leave a link)
• Grab my button and leave me a link to find it.*Plus 5 entries*

If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me.

Giveaway will run from Thursday February 10th, 2011 at 12:00pm (CST) until February 24th, 2011 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org's true random number generator upon the close of the contest. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Must be 18 year old to enter. Open to US and Canadian residents only. Subject to changes.

______________________________________________________________

GoGo Natural Dinkledooz Diaper Giveaway- NBNY

Once a small cloth diapering business, GoGo Natural carries many natural baby products. From cloth diapers and cloth diapering accessories to nursing supplies to baby carriers and natural laundry care, GoGo natural has become a favorite go-to online retailer of mine. The customer service is top notch and very friendly not to mention the great products offered.

GoGo Natural has some great resources for cloth diaper information. There is an article on the most popular natural fabrics used in cloth diapering and a great chart on cloth diaper safe laundry detergents. GoGo Natural has a diaper calcuator that can show you what kind of savings you would be making if you used cloth diapers.

Connect with GoGo Natural:

Facebook
Twitter
Website
Blog
Dinkledooz

The Giveaway:



Meredith from GoGo Natural is sponsoring this giveaway for a Dinkledooz OS Pocket diaper like the one I reviewed here.

Mandatory Entry:

• Visit GoGo Natural and tell me a favorite item.
  
• Leave an email address where you can be reached.

Extra Entries:

• Become a fan of GoGo Natural on Facebook.
  
• Become a fan of Knocked Up and Nursing on Facebook
• Become a follower of GoGo Natural on Twitter
  
• Become a follower of Knocked Up and Nursing on Twitter
  
• Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a URL. You can use: "#win a Dinkledooz OS pocket #clothdiaper from @gogonaturals. Visit http://knockedupandnursing.blogspot.com to enter @knockedupnursin " (can be tweeted once a day until the giveaway ends)
• Follow Knocked Up and Nursing via GFC.
  
• Subscribe to my blog via Email (See "connect" tab on top right)
  
• Blog about this giveaway.*Plus 5 entries* Leave a URL.
• Share on Facebook (Leave a link)
• Grab my button and leave me a link to find it.*Plus 5 entries*
• Tell me how much you could save by cloth diapering your Little One using this Cloth Diaper Calculator
• Tell me something that you learned at the Dinkledooz website
  

If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me.

I'd like to say thanks to Meredith an GoGo Natural for being a sponsor for Newborn in the New Year Event!

Giveaway will run from Thursday February 10th, 2011 at 11:00am (CST) until February 24th, 2011 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org's true random number generator upon the close of the contest. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. I was sent the above products for review and the opinions within are my own. Must be 18 year old to enter. Open to US and Canadian residents only. Subject to changes.

______________________________________________________________

Ahmelie Swaddler Giveaway- NBNY

A true crafter at heart, Ahmelie wants to inspire you to create. She carries designer fabrics and crafting supplies in her online store. Her hooded towels, clutches, swaddlers and burp cloths are whimsical and bold. Her handmade items have such a vibrancy and energy about them. It's almost like you can feel Ahmelie's zest for life when you see what kind of handicrafts she creates.
You can read more about Ahmelie and her shop here.

Connect with Ahmelie:

Facebook
Twitter
Blog
Etsy
Website

Coupon Code:

Ahmelie has offered a coupon code for Knocked Up and Nursing Readers! Use code KNOCKEDUP10 for 10% off her Etsy store or website.

The Giveaway:
Ahmelie has offered one lucky reader their choice of a swaddler.

Mandatory Entry:

• Visit Ahmelie's Etsy store or website and tell me what swaddler you would choose.
  
• Leave an email address where you can be reached.
  

Extra Entries:

• Become a fan of Knocked Up and Nursing on Facebook
• Become a follower of Knocked Up and Nursing on Twitter
• Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a URL. You can use: "#win your choice of swaddler blanket from @Ahmelie. Visit http://knockedupandnursing.blogspot.com & enter @knockedupnursin" (can be tweeted once a day until the giveaway ends)
• Subscribe to my blog via Email (See "connect" tab on top right)
• Blog about this giveaway.*Plus 5 entries* Leave a URL.
• Share on Facebook (Leave a link)
• Grab my button and leave me a link to find it.*Plus 5 entries*
• You can do additional extra entries on Ahmelie Sponsorship Spotlight Post. I will be compiling them so only Comment on the Sponsorship Spotlight post for those entries
  

If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me.

Giveaway will run from Thursday February 10th, 2011 at 10:00am (CST) until February 24rd, 2011 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org's true random number generator upon the close of the contest. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The opinions within are my own. I was given a product for review in exchange for my thoughts. Must be 18 year old to enter. Open to US and Canadian residents only. Subject to changes.

______________________________________________________________

Mama Natures Designs Review and Giveaway- NBNY

Looking for organic cloth diapers? Wanting to support work at home moms? You want affordable prices, you say? Then Mama Natures Designs is the Etsy shop for you. Mama Natures Designs features wool wrap covers, embellished prefolds, one size fitted diapers and hemp nursing pads; all organic! Andrea, the shop owner, hand dyes the wool used for her wraps. She achieves beautiful, bright colors that would be perfect for a boy or girl.

Wool is a great diapering fabric choice. It is antibacterial, naturally resistant to mildew and can regulate body temperature. Not to mention that it is a truly renewable resource! Wool is a wonderful natural alternative to plastics such as PUL (polyurethane laminate).

You can read more about Mama Natures Designs here.

The Review:

I had the opportunity to review a small wool diaper cover. Andrea sent me a lovely hand dyed yellow cover with a light green inner. The color is not always even, showing that endearing, warm handmade quality. You can see the time and care that went into making this cover. There is a single row of snaps with 6 snap options in the front of the cover. The wings have 2 snaps each. The front has a small bit of elastic for a good fit and leak prevention. The cover has a sewn in soaker for extra leak protection. The wool isn't as soft as some big name brands that I've tried but, my very sensitive skinned baby has not complained one bit. It's by no means scratchy.

One of the things I love about wool is that it never feels wet, only damp. My husband and I were out to dinner (the older kids were with my mom and dad) and the time came to change Charlotte. Well, guess who was so excited about a date with the hubby that she left the diaper bag at her parents house?! Oh, that would be me! The cover was just started to feel damp on the outside. Rather than go to the store to pick up a pack of disposables that we would only use once (and how would I know what size to get?), my husband went to the car and tried to find something to use as a soaker. He found a towel that I had thrown in the car for some strange reason. I folded it like a prefold, laid it in the cover and wraped it up. Guess what?! It worked great! This cover held up even under the "emergency" conditions. When we picked up the kids, Charlotte's pants were damp but her skin was pretty dry.

Ease of Use: The Mama Natures Designs wool cover was very easy to use. The snaps are strong and work well. I do think that wrap covers are easier to use with little babies than pull on covers. After changing Charlotte's diaper, if the cover is wet, I just lay it over a chair to dry out and use again.

Fit: It was a little bulkier than other wool covers but I think that's because of the extra soaker in the middle. It's well worth the extra bulk. We never had any red marks on Charlotte's legs.

Materials: Wool outer and inner, snaps.

Care: Wool care is so easy. You can read more about wool care here. It can be intimidating at first though. This cover did not come lanolized. As I was browsing over the Mama Natures Designs Etsy store I read a comment of a customer who used her covers un-lanolized and had great results. I figured I'd give it a try. To my surprise, the cover worked great.

Cost: $12.00- $16.00. Click here to purchase.

Favorite Feature: The extra wet zone protection


Overall Opinion: I really enjoyed this cover. The hand dyed colors are bold and vivid. Wool is such a great choice for diapering! Care is easier than you think too. Wash when soiled or every two to three weeks. If it's damp just throw it over a chair to dry and reuse. Talk about eco-friendly! The wool used for this cover isn't as soft as some others I've seen but that hasn't effected my little one at all. This would be a great cover for night time use!

Connect with Andrea:

Mama Natures Designs is a branch of Snugs Boutique.
Shops: Snugs Boutique, Mama Natures Designs
Twitter
Blog
Facebook

The Giveaway:
Andrea has offered a $15 gift code to Mama Natures Designs to one lucky winner.

Mandatory Entry:

• Visit Mama Natures Designs and tell me a favorite product.
• Leave an email address where you can be reached.
  

Extra Entries:

• Become a fan of Knocked Up and Nursing on Facebook
• Become a fan of Snugs Boutique on Facebook
  
• Become a follower of Knocked Up and Nursing on Twitter
• Become a follower of Snugs Boutique on Twitter
  
• Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a URL. You can use: "#win $15GC to Mama Natures Designs. Visit http://knockedupandnursing.blogspot.com & enter @knockedupnursin @SnugsBoutique" (can be tweeted once a day until the giveaway ends)
• Subscribe to my blog via Email (See "connect" tab on top right)
• Follow the Snugs Boutique blog publicly
• Visit Snugs Boutique and tell me your favorite item.
  
• Blog about this giveaway.*Plus 5 entries* Leave a URL.
• Share on Facebook (Leave a link)
• Grab my button and leave me a link to find it.*Plus 5 entries*
• You can do additional extra entries on Mama Natures Designs Sponsorship Spotlight Post. I will be compiling them so only Comment on the Sponsorship Spotlight post for those entries
  

If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me.

Giveaway will run from Wednesday February 9th, 2011 at 10:30pm (CST) until February 23rd, 2011 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org's true random number generator upon the close of the contest. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The opinions within are my own. I was given a product for review in exchange for my thoughts. Must be 18 year old to enter. Open to US and Canadian residents only. Subject to changes.

______________________________________________________________

Green Mama Blog Hop

Jessica from And Then There Were 4 has started a blog hop for green mamas. This is a fairly new blog (this is week 5) so lets get the word out about it! Jessica also has some great giveaways going on right now including one for Prairie Tales Cloth Diapers and Babylegs.

________________________________________________________________

Flourish Giveaway (Blanket, changing station and Coffee Cozy)-NBNY

MariQ from Flourish has contributed a truly lovely prize package for Newborn in the New Year Event! One lucky winner will win a Boutique Blankie and Changing Station PLUS a wonderful Coffee Cuff for mom! These Coffee Cuffs will keep your drink warm and your hand cool.

Check out my Sponsorship Spotlight of Flourish Here.

Boutique Blankie: "The Boutique Blankie measures 28x28", which is the perfect size for the car seat, wagon or just hanging around the house. All goods are made with the finest designer materials."

Changing Station: "The changing station is ideal for parents who want to lighten up the baby accessories when they are on the go while still being fabulous. Item doubles as a diaper and travel size wipey case holder AND a plush changing pad! The pocket can hold 2-3 diapers and a wipe case. Made with the finest cotton fabric with coordinating super soft white minky for baby's delicate skin. Just throw it in the wash when soiled...no wiping up messes. "

Coffee Cuff: "Be green and be fabulous with the Original Coffee Cuff. Made with designer fabrics."

(All descriptions taken from Flourish's Etsy page)

Mandatory Entry:

• Visit Flourish and tell me a favorite product.
• Leave an email address where you can be reached.
  

Extra Entries:

• Become a fan of Knocked Up and Nursing on Facebook
• Become a follower of Knocked Up and Nursing on Twitter
  
• Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a URL. You can use: "#win a beautiful boutique blankie and Changing station from Flourish. Visit http://knockedupandnursing.blogspot.com & enter @knockedupnursin " (can be tweeted once a day until the giveaway ends)
• Subscribe to my blog via Email (See "connect" tab on top right)
  
• Blog about this giveaway.*Plus 3 entries* Leave a URL.
• Share on Facebook (Leave a link)
• Grab my button and leave me a link to find it.*Plus 2 entries*
• You can do additional extra entries on Flourish's Sponsorship Spotlight Post. I will be compiling them so only Comment on the Sponsorship Spotlight post for those entries
  

If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me.

Giveaway will run from Monday February 7th, 2011 at 12:30pm (CST) until February 21st, 2011 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org's true random number generator upon the close of the contest. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The opinions within are my own. Must be 18 year old to enter. Open to US and Canadian residents only. Subject to changes.

______________________________________________________________

BabyEtte Ring Sling Review

As a mother of 4, with one on the way (congrats!!!!), Beth is a seasoned babywearer. She has been wearing her children for ten years and sewing her own slings almost as long. After having negative experiences with narrow ring slings, Beth and her husband wanted wider ones. BabyEtte now carries wider than usual ring slings for more protection and longevity of use. With a wider sling you can wear your toddler longer and in a variety of positions.

Look at the many uses of the poncho!

BabyEtte also carries a very ingenious selection of babywearing ponchos for cold weather. Here in Texas, we're having a cold front. Right now there is actually snow on the ground! My daughter woke up and exclaimed, "Mama, it doesn't snow in Texas!". She's right. Cold weather where you need more than a heavy sweater or light coat is unusual. But it's been in the teens and twenties for almost a week now and I find myself with the conundrum of trying to wear my baby and a coat at the same time. Do I put the coat on first then the sling? Sling under the coat? The first option seems uncomfortable if we are going in a store as I will likely want to take my coat off. The second option alters the fit of my postpartum body in my VERY pre-baby coat. I think the babywearing poncho may just be the perfect accessory!

I had the opportunity to review a ring sling from Baby Ette's "Mad about Plaid" line. I've been a fan of babywearing since I was introduced to it when Sally was 3 months old by a friend in a playgroup. She was a fussy infant and one of the only things that calmed her was the tummy to tummy hold in a sling. My husband and I got quite proficient at using the sling and have touted the art of babywearing ever since. The same friend who introduced me to babywearing also introduced me to Attachment Parenting. I can't thank her enough! It has been one of the greatest things that has happened to me as a parent.

The sling arrived about a week after Charlotte was born. I was feeling pretty good and we were ready to get out of the house! I was super excited to get the sling, not only because BabyEtte is a wonderful company that supports babywearing but because one of my previous slings had bite the dust. I had given my other sling to a friend who was expecting. Shortly after I had done that we found out that we were pregnant! Being slingless with a newborn and 2 little kids was hard. Luckily my husband was able to stay home that first week! Anyways, as we were leaving for the bookstore, we checked the mail and there it was! It was all I could do to snap the above picture before I opened it up and got my baby in it!

Beth's impeccable craftsmanship is similar to what I've seem from high end garments. Beth lines up the pattern on the fabric to make it appear seamless. The pleating near the rings is amazing!!! She took the fabric pattern into consideration when making these pleats; something I've never seen before in a sling. Beth has thought out this design and it's so wonderful to see such attention to detail!

The brushed cotton fabric is incredibly soft and cozy. It the perfect weight; sturdy yet breathable. I've had sooo many comments on this sling, more than any other I've ever had, from all ages. I've had grown men come up and say what a neat contraption it is and I've had young hipsters say they love the fabric. We went to the Children's Museum and I got so many compliments on the sling. I swear it should have a little pocket to keep business cards in so you can hand them out!

Ease of Use: I will say that there is a slight learning curve with ring slings and wraps. Beth includes great detailed instructions with all her slings. Plus YouTube has great videos for ring sling usage. Beth recommends practicing with a stuffed animal so if something goes awry, no one is hurt. Once you have used the sling for a short time, you'll be a pro.

Materials: This sling is made from brushed cotton and aluminum rings. BabyEtte offers slings in different fabrics such as dupioni silk, cotton, linen and minky.

Care: No worries if something should spill on your new accessory. Just machine wash on cold and tumble dry. You can also spot clean the sling.

Measurements: The sling is 34" wide and 84" long. It's one size fits most. Beth does allow for customization of the length.

Cost: $60.00 Visit here to purchase.

Overall Opinion: I love BabyEtte's slings! The craftsmanship is amazing and you can tell that Beth really does have a passion for what she does. The sling is really comfortable because the width of the sling helps distribute the weight of your baby. The cotton is cozy for mama and baby and is great for fall or winter weather. My only worry is that the fabric might be hot in the summer here in Texas. The rolled edge hem makes adjusting the rails or edges so easy! I've had other slings that don't adjusted as well because of the type of hem they have. Overall, I am really impressed by this sling and Beth's work. I'd highly recommend these slings to every parent. A must have accessory!

Connect with BabyEtte:
Etsy Shop
Website

Facebook
Blog

_____________________________________________________________

I'm on Nicki's Diapers Blog!-Let's Talk Cloth Wipes

A while back Nicki's Diapers Blog was looking for guest bloggers. I volunteered and decided to write about using cloth wipes as an alternative to disposables. Go check out the post here.