As anyone who reads through TheNewParentsGuide.com website knows (since I contribute to several of the sites articles), I’m more of a fan of cloth diapering than I am of disposables. In all the reading and studying that I’ve done on the subject, I simply feel the benefits of cloth diapering far outweigh any type of “so-called” benefit of disposables. Better for the earth, better for baby and usually better on the pocket if you look at the big picture.
When I received an email from a company called Bumkins and looked into their products I was really excited to see the products they offer. Most companies will usually cover one area of cloth diapering, but not Bumkins. They’ve covered them all.
They offer an all-in-one diaper that has 6 layers of absorbent 100% cotton flannel on the inside, a waterproof shell, an airflow panel for easy laundering and quicker drying, Velcro closures and best of all they’re PVC, Phthalate and vinyl free. Their two piece system (insert with outer cover) has all the same benefits as the all in one. They even have bamboo diapers, flats and pull on pants and you’ll find a huge selection of prints to choose from too. If you want to see all the benefits of their diapers check out their very nicely done “Cloth Diapering Guide”.
Belly Cravings is a really creative company conceived in 2006 by Kim Kean. She was talking with her then pregnant sister about her latest food conquests. The idea came to mind that it’s every pregnant woman’s privilege to discover and share her unique pregnancy related cravings. Kim, having experienced two pregnancies herself knew how compelling a pregnancy craving can be. “What the belly wants, the belly gets” was her pregnancy mantra.
Belly Cravings offers really cute custom cut maternity tank tops and t-shirts for the hip mom-to-be as well as bibs and onesies for your newborn. Belly Cravings tops are designed to showcase your belly from the barely there to the soon to deliver stage of pregnancy. The garments feature the phrase “I crave” with a range of expressions that let you showcase both your belly and your wit.
The two that stood out to me are the “I crave to meet you” and the “I crave a Mocktail” tanks…now you can look stylish as you sip on your doctor approved beverage
I’ve been reading through the book “Cradle to Cradle” lately…it’s a really eye opening book that everyone should read. It makes you look at everything you do and use in a completely different way. A few days ago I had come across a blog post by a mother that was interested in being more eco-friendly. She was having trouble with this because the financial aspects of being eco-friendly are difficult for her. In particular she was discussing diapers. Before now there have really been just two options; cloth and disposable. She knows there are disadvantages and advantages to both of these options, but she was settling on disposables simply because of the cheap cost. I decided to look around a little and see if there was something new that was not only eco-friendly, but also cost effective. And to my surprises there is!
gDiapers is a flushable diaper system that is good for babies, parents and the planet. gDiapers have no elemental chlorine, no perfumes, no smell, no garbage and no guilt. gDiaper flushable with super absorber keep bottoms feeling dry. Washable ‘little g’ pants, with snap in liners, are made of water resistant breathable material to keep wetness away. Best of all gDiapers are Cradle to Cradle certified. I’m only ¾ of the way through this book and I can tell this is not an easy certification to get. gDiapers may be slightly more expensive than disposables, but when you look at the overall picture you’re much better off (for you, baby and the earth) to go with gDiapers. Starter kits contain 2 washable pants, 10 flushables, and 1 swishstick for $24.99. Refill packs are $13.99 and contain 40 small flushables or 32 medium/large flushables. Check out the video below and see how the gDiaper flushable becomes one with the earth again compared to other plastic disposables.
There’s nothing more frustrating than wanting to take the family someplace new and beautiful but not knowing a thing about the area since you’ve never been. If you’ve wanted to take the family to New York but you’re not familiar with the state, then Greene County needs to be at the top of your list. Greene County is located in southeast central New York State, just west of the Hudson River and south of Albany and two hours north of New York City.
To find out what’s offered in the area visit Greene County Tourism. This website has everything you need for planning your trip. You’ll find lists of outdoor activities, things to see & do; lodging and dining information and event calendars. Each one of the main categories is then broken down into detailed sections. So considering what my family likes…I was able to go directly to a section for swimming, hiking and horseback riding. Head over to the “Sights & Activities” category and I was able to look up attractions, family fun and places to shop. Looking around even more, I found a really helpful suggested itinerary for kids/families. This itinerary is the perfect 2 day trip for families with a detailed list of the best things to do and places to stay with kids.
Want to find the best family lodging? Greene County Tourism has that covered too with a list of all the lodgings that cater to families.
When you know the dates you’ll be traveling to Greene County, be sure to check out the events section for a detailed list of all the activities and events that will be happening while you’re there.
Thinking about traveling to Los Cabos with the family? Then the Hilton Los Cabos Beach and Golf Resort is the place to be. This resort has everything you and the family needs. Mom can visit the Spa Oasis for all the pampering she deserves. Dad can play golf at one of the several world renowned courses that are available. And best of all mom and dad can relax knowing that the kids are having fun at Vacation Station Kids Club.
Vacation Station which is provided free of charge for quests is specially designed, equipped and decorated to provide the best family resort vacation possible. Professionally operated for children ages 4 through 12. The Vacation Station offers children TV, table games and artwork materials and scheduled daily activities. Teens will discover a myriad of activities, amusements and adventures daily without ever even leaving the property. When the family’s ready to spend time together there’s a great selection of activities to choose from both on and off the resort property. Swimming, scuba diving, fishing, shopping, rent Hobie-cats or Wave Runners, take the whole family on an once-in-a-lifetime swim with the dolphin’s excursion or ride the waves with the elite surfing at Playa Barco Varado and Playa Cabo Bello.
The resort offers 375 quest rooms and suites so you’re sure to find one that will fit your families’ needs. Book any room from June 29th to October 19, 2008 and you’ll get a great selection of money saving add ons. Check out this page for details. Ready to book your families’ trip now? …be sure to click on the link/button near the top of the page and save an additional 40% from now through May 8th.
Do you want to give your child a boost at the dinner table without a highchair or portable booster seat? If so, check out KABOOST. KABOOST is a compact and portable chair booster that raises the height of kitchen and dining room chairs so your child can sit at the table just like a grown up. With KABOOST, the entire dining experience is enhanced for both child and family. The KABOOST snaps-on to chair in seconds, is engineered to improve chair stability, holds up to 300 lbs, and stays attached even when chair is moved. The KABOOST sells for just under $40 and comes in lime, chocolate and two shades of gray. It’s available at the KABOOST website and retailers throughout the US, Canada and several other international locations.
Finally a stuffed animal that won’t end up at the bottom of the toy box! Zoobies is a fairly new company that was recently awarded our “Seal of Approval”. Once you take a look at their site and product you’ll see why.
Zoobies are plush animals that transform into pillows and blankets. Now children can have a favorite stuffed animal that they can also lie around with and use as a pillow or transform it into a blanket for nap time. Taking a car ride and your little ones starting to nod off…transform it into a pillow. Too cold in the car …transform your Zoobie into a blanket.
The Zoobie pictured is called Jafaru. Jafaru is the Zoobie that stood out to me because my youngest daughter loves giraffes. Zoobies currently have both a zoo and safari collection in a wide variety of animals, so you’re sure to find your child’s favorite. The animal itself is microbead stuffed for ultimate squishability. They have a large, super soft fleece blanket inside and the blanket zips off/on for easy washing. There are bottom Velcro tabs that gather your Zoobie into the animal shape.
I think this is just a wonderful product. The Zoobie site is well laid out and easy to navigate. While I’m usually not a fan of sites having music, the jungle theme song that plays on the Zoobie site is the perfect fit. I found myself leaving the music on while I was looking around. Zoobies sell for around $34 USD and you can purchase them online or at over 900+ US stores and in 19 countries. Check the Zoobie site for a retailer near you.
Tweak’ms Sunglasses area a new line of mom-created, toddler inspired sunglasses in mod-styles and hip designs for newborns to young children. With over a dozen styles of sunglasses (including Flashback Retros, Little Diva Slims, Girly Groovies and Chillin Peeps), a variety of cases and a rainbow of straps to choose from, this spring and summer families can continue to enjoy Tweak’ms Sunglasses’ flexible nature while tots step out in sun-sational style.
Motherhood Later….Than Sooner is a resource/community for those parenting later in life. If you became a mom for the first time, or again, at age 35+, they welcome your participation. Visit their site to read their blog, news or to join up with them to find a chapter near you. Benefits include online networking and support with other moms 35+, face to face meetings and events in your local area (with and without kids), and discounts on products and services.
Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner Greener Safer Home is a new book that’s a great resource for natural solutions and practical ways to reduce the toxicity within the home. It provides information and simple steps on how to kick the chemical habit in everything from your spring cleaning, beauty regime, pet care, gardening and more – filled with positive information and easy how-to guides.
A while back I received an email from a retired insurance adjuster. She mentioned that there were several claims she handled in the past where children fell from open windows that were only secured by a screen. Unfortunately each time the child was either seriously injured or died. She went on to explain how more recently she visited two households where she considered the parents to have above average intelligence and capable of common sense only to find common sense that was dormant. In one case the parents had a large ottoman under a second story window and the second case a toy box was under a very high first story window. When she brought the dangers of this to the parents, the safety problem was met with a ho-hum reaction. She concluded that the parents probably didn’t think much of it simply because they don’t hear about it more frequently.
In my opinion the problem of parents not caring about safety problems like this is caused by several things. First of all I agree that a small part of the problem is that some people have to hear things over and over in the news before they begin to believe it. Or they have to experience first hand, which by then is usually too late. The second problem in my opinion is that some parents just lack common sense about safety. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but it’s my opinion. I personally have always thought about this potential safety problem with both of my daughters. I go a step further and I worry about them leaning against closed windows. You never know when a window may break or come out of its frame which could lead to a potentially serious injury. So I never let my girls lean on or sit against an open or closed window.
So for any parents who come across this blog…Think about the windows in your home. They’re a serious potential safety problem. Don’t put items in front of them that your children can crawl up on. Don’t trust a child near an open window; it’s like a magnet to them. And most of all don’t think for a minute that a screen is going to keep your child from falling out.
Take some time to think ahead with placing furniture and securing your windows. Consider putting up a window guard like the one pictured. Or a stopper to keep the window from opening.
With a little planning on safety you could save your child’s life.
Do you know of a good article on this subject? Submit a comment with the link or any other information you think parents for would helpful.
I’ve never been much of a camping type person growing up. When I was young my parents took us around the country in a motor home. Sleeping in the motor home in an RV park was about as close to camping as I got. When I was in college there was one night a bunch of my friends and I went to a state park for a camp out. But as most people can relate to who went to college, there wasn’t much camping or sleeping going on. It was more about partying all night.
Now that I have a family, my two daughters have been showing an interest in camping. My wife camped a lot growing up, but the problem is we have absolutely no camping gear. This has been one of the things keeping us from going camping as a family. I would love to do it, but the hassle of going to buy all the gear and then pack it in the car and then having to set everything up doesn’t sound like much fun. We still plan on going because I think it will be a lot of fun especially with my daughters’ along. I especially have a renewed interest after I received an email from a California based company called Custom Camps. While not anywhere near me, I’m hoping to find a company just like Custom Camps located near me.
Customs Camps is a family camping service in northern California that caters to people and families just like mine. You make the reservation with them and they take care of everything. All you do is arrive at camp and you’ll find it fully setup and waiting for you with everything from large roomy tents with cozy beds, complete camp kitchen, propane stove, BBQ, lanterns, ice chest, fire wood ready to burn and a chair for everyone. And you don’t have to worry about setting up the tent or for that matter anything but stretching out on that cozy bed and taking a nap. All you have to bring is your family, food, clothes, sleeping bag/pillow, entertainment and your favorite book. But the best part is, when its time to go home they come back and clean up camp and you go home and tell everybody how much fun you had.
What a fantastic idea!
If you’ve been interested in taking your family camping in northern California, I suggest you give Customs Camps a call.
When I received an email from a company called Bumkins and looked into their products I was really excited to see the products they offer. Most companies will usually cover one area of cloth diapering, but not Bumkins. They’ve covered them all.
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I’ve been reading through the book “
To find out what’s offered in the area visit 
Thinking about traveling to Los Cabos with the family? Then the 
Do you want to give your child a boost at the dinner table without a highchair or portable booster seat? If so, check out 
Finally a stuffed animal that won’t end up at the bottom of the toy box! 
In my opinion the problem of parents not caring about safety problems like this is caused by several things. First of all I agree that a small part of the problem is that some people have to hear things over and over in the news before they begin to believe it. Or they have to experience first hand, which by then is usually too late. The second problem in my opinion is that some parents just lack common sense about safety. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but it’s my opinion. I personally have always thought about this potential safety problem with both of my daughters. I go a step further and I worry about them leaning against closed windows. You never know when a window may break or come out of its frame which could lead to a potentially serious injury. So I never let my girls lean on or sit against an open or closed window.
While not anywhere near me, I’m hoping to find a company just like Custom Camps located near me.
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