Cloth diapering options have never been more plentiful – all-in-ones, prefolds, pockets, covers with Velcro closures, covers with snaps, inserts, liners – the list goes on and on. My first experience with cloth diapering was more than a dozen years ago and the options were limited to plastic pants with elastic leg openings and pins.  Back then I thought it was great when I could coordinate the colored pins with my daughter’s outfit, how things have changed!

When I was expecting my second child I knew I was going to use cloth, but which ”system”? After much trial and error (and lots of laundry!) I finally settled on prefolds with waterproof, Velcro covers, which has served us well for the last 10 months but is not without a few annoyances such as the bulkiness of the prefolds – especially when you have to double up like we often do.

Despite having combed every corner of the internet to research and compare the endless array of options, I seem to have missed contour diapers or assumed they had to be used with specific covers or would only fit for a short amount of time.  Turns out, I should have tested them long ago. The Bumkins Contour Diaper is much more versatile than I expected – these diapers work with most covers (I tried it with two types and it worked perfectly), are incredibly slim but absorbent and very soft. I tested the diaper overnight without doubling up and to my surprise, no leaks or wetness.  Another plus for me is the Bumkins diaper line-dried in the same amount of time as the prefolds.  The only downside I noticed is the Contour Diaper is only available in one size so they might not work for smaller babies.

While the Bumkins Contour Diapers are not cheap  - $10.95/cotton, $12.95/bamboo - I think having a few on hand is definitely a worthwhile investment, especially for those of us that stubbornly insist on using cloth diapers outside of the home but don’t want the extra weight in the diaper bag.

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Something I had forgotten from long-ago diaper changes with my daughter was the inevitable and often nose-pinching experience of disposing of solid waste, or dare I say poop. It’s a subject most of us try to avoid – poopy diaper changes after the introduction of solid food is downright unpleasant. Given my dislike for this aspect of babyhood I was excited to try Bumkins new Flushable Diaper Liners with my son. These handy liners come in packs of 100 and are biodegradable, which makes me feel better about using them.  When it’s time for clean up just dispose of the mess, including the liner, in the toilet and flush away. An added bonus is the liner offers a bit of stain protection to keep your diapers in top shape.

Unfortunately these are not recommended for homes with septic systems but you can throw them in the trash after flushing the poop if necessary.

Bumkins Flushable Liners are priced competitively at $9.95 for a pack of 100.

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Frequent Flyer – World Dance For Kids

(Ages 5-9, younger children and parents welcome, Dorise)

10-week session -

Mondays, 5:00-6:00pm

Frequent Flyer – World Dance For Pre-Teens & teens

(Pre-teens & Teens, ages 10 & up, Dorise)

10-week session -

Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00am

Movement & Music Class for Toddlers & Parents

(Parents, toddlers and siblings welcome, Alina)

8-week session -

Thursdays, 11:00-11:45am

pre-Ballet to World Dance For Kids

(Ages 3-5, parents welcome, Dorise)

10-week session -

Introduction to dance and movement to a soundtrack from around the world. Learn to listen to and move to rhythm in a creative fashion. Session culminates in a final performance for family and friends with guest performers. Comfortable attire w/ barefeet or soft dance shoes. Ages 3-5 (parents and younger kids welcome). 10-week session

Further exploration of rhythm and movement as a means of self expression. Simple floor exercises, patterns, and counting skills learned. No experience necessary. Session culminates in a final performance for family and friends with guest performers. Comfortable attire w/ barefeet or soft dance shoes. 10 week session

Fridays, 10:00-11:00am

Movement & Music Class (Homeschooling Families)

(Homeschooling parents and their children of all ages, Alina)

8-week session -

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It is sometimes a little tricky to think of things to do with the whole family that won’t cost an arm and a leg,  isn’t it?  I know we are so lucky to have nearby access to all of the wonderful free museums in DC.  But, when I think of events and shows I am not so sure I want to fork over so much for our family of four.  Here is a chance to save some cash, you can go see Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey at First Mariner Arena for a pretty good deal!  Get four tickets for $44.oo to see the circus (children under two do not require a ticket).  Tickets are regularly priced anywhere from $14-$70.  Here is a description of what this year’s circus will bring:

A wacky and whimsical circus spectacular featuring the ultimate tug of war between Ringmaster Chuck Wagner and clown eccentric Tom Dougherty over a magical top hat that controls the circus. Watch dogs fly, Asian Elephants skip, hop, and groove and one courageous man stand eye to eye with a pack of powerful Bengal tigers. Circus celebrities help rev-up the motorcycle madness featuring one cycle on a high wire and seven speeding riders in a Globe of Steel. Extraordinary aerial acts fill the arena sky with a rare double-decker trapeze and Chinese acrobats propelling through the air. This show really goes OVER THE TOP!

Baltimore show dates: March 25 through April 5
Baltimore location: 1st Mariner Arena

Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code “MOM” at select ticketing channels**. Offer good on all performances, minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Gold Circle Seating, Circus Celebrity Seating, Front Row and VIP seating or combinable with other offers.  Other Restrictions May Apply.
The tickets can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.com and by entering the MOM code in the “MC promotional box” when purchasing tickets.

Filed under: Events, Getting Out, Local Stuff | 1 Comment »

One of my favorite baby and kid accessories ever are BabyLegs.  I am sure you are familiar with these super adorable and handy little leg and arm warmers.  You can use them in lieu of tights, or to add extra warmth in the winter months, they make potty training a little easier with not having to worry about changing pants and tights so often, as well as protect little knees when crawling around.  Now, your child can be kept cool and covered this summer beause BabyLegs are coming out with a brand new line of lightweight single layer, mesh design that have UV protection.  So, your cool kid will actually be…well, cool.  Expect to see these in lots of whites with rainbow prints and in late May/early June.

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My personal Etsy shopping philosophy that I would love to impart to you, dear readers, is “shop early & shop often”.  And why not?  Especially if there is a good cause to support like Cora’s Playground.

There are too many too cute things at such great prices, all hand made with love.  I love knowing I am supporting an artist, not a machine.  I know lately I have been thinking about Easter baskets for my girls and looking forward to finding some goodies and spring accessories that they will adore.  Here are some that I am going to snag…

This green tee from cddureksen

These crayon rolls are so cheap and I love the fabrics:

There is so much more to see.  You must go see, shop, and support this young family that has experienced such an unthinkable loss.

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from The Baltimore Sun

You are invited to join families from all across Baltimore City for a
Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser to benefit the Playground at Stadium
Place.

Friday, March 13th at 5:30pm at New Waverly Methodist Church.
644 East 33rd Street across from the entrance to the Giant.
$5 for Adults
$3 for children under 12
Includes children activities and entertainment.

We will rise from the ashes! As many of you know, Our Playground at
Stadium Place was destroyed by an arsonist in September.
Unfortunately, the arsonist has not been caught; police and fire
detectives are still actively investigating.

The Y of Central Maryland and Friends of Our Playground are mutually
focused on improving the lives of the children and youth by providing
safe and enriching opportunities for play and recreation. These
organizations have joined together to rebuild Our Playground at
Stadium Place after the tragic fire in September of 2008. We invite,
and thank you for, your participation and support.

www.StadiumPlayground.org
FriendsOfOurPlayground@gmail.com
443.756.6198

Filed under: Eating Out, Events, Getting Out, Local Stuff, Neighborhoods | No Comments »

Marie Rinkowski-Spangler is Baltimore’s babywearing expert and is certified through Babywearing International.  In this entry she puts the My Baby Nest baby sling to the test:

I totally get it.  The idea is to have the comfort, support, safety, and cuddliness of a wrap, but easier to learn and faster to put on.  I think this carrier successfully does all of these things, though it does lose a few wrap-qualities along the way.

The Baby Nest allows you to do a very well-supported and comfortable carry, with 2-3 layers of fabric over the baby, but it is not quite as intimidating as one huge 15-foot length of fabric…as they say, it’s a wrap-less wrap.  Instead, it consists of 3 loops, two of which are already crossed together and the third, which is adjustable.

Advantages:
–the material!!  This is the softest, greatest-feeling carrier, so very delicious to wear!  It’s got just the right amount of stretch, less stretch than a Moby or a Sleepywrap.
–stays off the floor.  One of the annoying things about wrapping is getting set up without dragging the ends of the fabric on the floor–or worse, adirty/wet/slushy parking lot.  No such problem with the Baby Nest.
–The adjustable belt layer also has a pocket!  Slip a diaper and some wipes in there, maybe your wallet, and that’s all you need to carry for a quick trip into a store.
–All the advantages of babywearing are here.  Baby gets physical comfort and mental stimulation, while parent gets the use of both hands while still cuddling baby, plus easy exercise.

Disadvantages:
–Though it is easier to learn than a wrap, it is less adjustable than a wrap and you need to get the right size for you–and this can change as the mama loses baby weight and the baby grows.  But because this is a stretchy fabric, that might not be too big of a deal.
–The number of carries you can do is limited.  The carrier must be put on first, and then the baby put in it.  I can’t imagine doing a back carry on my own withthis carrier; it would definitely take two people.  The package also shows a forward-facing-out front carry, which is not something I recommend.
–The packaging claims the carrier is good for birth-35 lbs.  I would disagree.  In general, a stretchy fabric is less comfortable/useful as the carried one gets bigger. I tried it with my 30-lb 2 year old, and it was not supportive enough for me.  But I can’t wait to use it with this next baby in May!

You can purchase the My Baby Nest baby sling at The Wardrobe in Hunt Valley.

Filed under: Babywearing, Hip Gear, Mama, Online Shopping | No Comments »

Are you looking for hip baby products at great prices?  Check out Baby Steals- a deal of the day site.  Basically, every weekday they post one product (sometimes in various styles, sizes, and colors) that is reduced by 50% at least (sometimes more).  They are usually overstocks from past seasons, but, It is always trendy baby gear that “in the know” moms want like BabyLegs, Bical Grippers, Peanut Shell baby slings, various brands of cloth diapers, diaper bags, etc.  One more reason why we love shopping with Baby Steals is the great shipping prices.  Go read their FAQ section for more details.

Filed under: Babywearing, Fashion, Hip Gear, Mama, Online Shopping, deals, sales | 2 Comments »

If you are looking for a new kind of birth preparation class then check out Heather Brown’s YogaBirth!

“There’s no better way to prepare for a gentle, natural birth than by tapping into your inner awareness and fearlessness through the ancient practices of yoga. This innovative workshop for couples combines the practice of yoga asana, breathing, meditation and mantra with information and self-discovery exercises that together prepare you to meet the transformative intensity of birth with excitement and openness.

As I too am expecting, this will be the last session before a break to welcome my own tiny miracle.  If you are pregnant or know a mom-to-be or dad-to-be who you think might be interested in a yoga-based approach to learning and exploring childbirth, you can read more at YogaBirth Baltimore, email Heather with questions, or register by contacting Charm City Yoga.

The class is held for six consecutive Wednesday nights at Charm City Yoga in Mt. Vernon from 6-8:30 pm.  Hope you can join us!”

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