Top to Bottom Baby Boutique

Robyn's Must Haves

2011-11-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be fun for the Top to Bottom family to share our "must have" lists for cloth diapering. Each of us has a very different selection of things on our lists and I would be shocked if both Jess and I had anything alike. If you don't know us personally, we are essential opposites in a lot of things (which makes for a great pair!) It is almost hilarious to see the differences between us--that is no different when it comes to cloth diaper preferences!

To start us off, I am going to share my must have list. These are in no particular order, just however my pregnant brain thinks of them :)

1. Eco Sprout cloth diaper detergent-- We use it for EVERYTHING at our house from diapers and wipes to kids and adult clothes and towels! We keep the 96 load bag in a two supply at our house, just to make sure we don't get low!

2. Thirsties Fab Wipes-- These things are the softest wipes! We use them for cloth wipes, for face wiping, for bath time--everything. We still have the first wipes we purchased 3 1/2 years ago and they are in fabulous shape still--they are made to last!

3. Thirsties Duo Wrap-- While we are on the topic of Thirsties, I will go ahead and share one of my favorite diaper covers. Again, we bought ours nearly 3 years ago and they are in great shape, ready to use on baby #4 when he fits into them. We never have leaks with them and have no complaints!

4. Weehuggers Laundry Bags-- Newer to the market, these bags are AMAZING. I am a big bag fan so I knew these would be right up my alley and I was not disappointed. The patch inside this bag serves the purpose of eliminating the poo order--essential with a kiddo who poos four times a day like mine always has. This bag is a must have.

5. Diaper Sprayer-- Some moms say they could do without....I could not. As I mentioned, the babies at our house love to poop and, as a result, I like to have something to peel the poop right off the diaper and the diaper sprayer peels it right off--no dunk and swish, no soaking, spray and it's off. Fabulous :)

6. Bummis TotBot Easy Fit diapers-- Holy cow....these diapers were not the first diapers I started with but they have become my stash and my go to diaper of choice. My husband would agree, these diapers are fabulous. They are easy peasy and the most daycare friendly diaper ever!

7. CJ's BUTTer-- If you know me, you know my love of CJ's. We have three sensitive kiddos in the house currently and we use it for EVERYTHING from diaper rash solution to ezcema, hand cream--everything, no joke. It also makes a great solution to those baby chapped cheeks in the winter. We keep a good three or four around the house just for easy access and it comes in a variety of packaging---whatever you prefer :)

8. Rumparooz Pail Liner-- At first, I was not sold on pail liners but Jess changed my mind with the Rumparooz pail liner. I got my first one in Monster print (which scares Jess, hehe) and soon got a second print (Robotronic :) ) for when the first is in the wash. I leave it in a trash can without a lid--yeah--no lid....and guess what? No smell... it's heavenly, I swear.

9. Ju Ju Be diaper bag-- This is a FABULOUS diaper bag for a cloth diapering mama (or dad!). Again, I am a big bag fan so this is my kind of bag. The Ju Ju Be brand holds cloth diapers and the accessories so well--even x2!

10. EcoSprouts Bottom Spray-- This is always in our diaper bag. I used to wet wipes and carry them in a small wet bag when we would leave the house (we don't ever use disposable wipes because I am cheap...and too much of a treehugger---to a fault, actually) but, after a few times of forgetting and having to wet the wipes by dumping water from a water bottle, we opted to carry a pre-made wipe solution. This solution does the trick and we don't leave home without it now!

There you have my top ten must have products. This is just my list of my favorite cloth diapering products (and what we always have on hand). What are YOUR favorites and must haves?

Packing for the Hospital-Green Edition

2011-11-10T16:35:00.000-08:00

Any of you who know me know that I am first and foremost a planner. I like to have things planned out way in advance. I carry a calendar wherever I go and keep my phone calendar up to date. I plan out my daughter's school lunches for the week on Sunday, etc. You get where I am going here, right? I like things figured out in advance.

This is no different when it comes to adding another person to our family. My babies tend to come early (35, 36, and 37 weeks so far) so I like to have my hospital bag packed by 35 weeks just in case. As I am 37 weeks with this little guy tomorrow {he must know my love of order and is shooting for 38....that's my theory anyway}, I packed my bag a few weeks back.

When we had Mara, we planned to cloth diaper from the get go. That didn't happen since she was rushed to the NICU and was there for over two weeks. At the time, I didn't have newborn diapers to fit her as she didn't take to feedings well, etc. I was, in no way, prepared to be a NICU mom with my closest to term baby. This time around, I have been planning on the newborn cloth diaper front for awhile but that is a separate post. Another thing I have planned for is my own green postpartum supplies.

This time around, instead of "paper" pads, full of chemicals, I am using cloth pads. For the hospital, I ordered Pink Daisy size Large pads and am mixing them up with my Weeessentials size Large pads. I find the pads in the hospital to be massive and uncomfortable, especially (and I am about to get a bit TMI here but, come on, we are all mamas and dads...we know how this goes or have at least heard about it) after a c-section when you are not as mobile as you were before pregnancy. After having gone through this three times, I am hoping these work much better and I know they are far more eco friendly.

Another addition to my bag are my Pink Daisy and Itzy Ritzy cloth nursing pads. With Mara, I used cloth nursing pads and loved them. I find the paper alternative to be uncomfortable and, well, they stick to me and I don't dig that when I have to wear those puppies quite often. I refreshed my stash with these two new brands for baby #4 and have heard nothing but fabulous things about them.

Also in the nursing department, Jess has sold me on the Undercover Mama nursing tanks. These things are amazing. Rather than wearing a bazillion layers, I can wear my nursing bra and attach the tank to the bra--keeping my tummy covered and making nursing or pumping discreet. Win-win in my book. I am excited to try the Undercover Mama tanks as I had just the plain nursing tanks in the past. They work fine and all but I feel that they just add to the layers--bra, tank bra, tank, regular shirt....you know? Also, as a bigger chested person, finding a nursing bra without the built in bra part is difficult and lord knows those tanks are not made for the DDD+ mama. This won't be a problem with the Undercover Mama, that thing has already been tried on pregnant and it is heaven to wear.

These are some of the eco-friendly and/or crunchy mama goodies I have packed in my hospital bag for when we head in to welcome our fourth into the world. Obviously cloth diapers, wipes, and my wetbags are in there too but like I said, that is for a later post--full of baby pictures and diapers (and none of me because this mama is likely to be a hot mess after #4 arrives). What do you pack in your hospital bag that fellow crunchy mamas may want to know about?

Rewards Points

2011-10-24T18:01:00.000-07:00

Did you know that T2B Baby gives you 5% back on everything you spend, in store and online? No hoops to jump through, no clubs to join, just 5% back in store credit on everything you spend (ok, well except for rentals, sorry!).

So, first and foremost, what do you have to do to qualify?

Just come shopping at T2B, either online or in store. When you are in the store, make sure you give Justin your name so he can find your account.

Military Moms and Dads: We are grateful for everything you do for our country! As a thank you, we offer our Military parents double points on all purchases.

How are points calculated?

For every $1 you spend, you receive 1 point. When you reach 100 points, your points can be redeemed for a $5 gift card for the store.

Online vs. In-store? Can I use them both places?

Absolutely, but they do not cross over automatically. If you normally shop online and want to use your points in the store, just let Justin know. Oppositely, if you want to shop online and use in-store points, please email Justin at info@toptobottombaby.com and he will create a gift card for you to use.

I'm not seeing some of my points online?

There are two possibilities:

1. A couple of accounts lost points during the moving of sites. If you think this is what happened, please email Justin at info@toptobottombaby.com and he can manually add points.

2. Points have not transferred over from in store purchases so please contact Justin to have him pull your in-store credits. Unfortunately, if your in-store purchases weren't linked to your account we won't be able to pull them up.

Any other benefits to shopping at T2B Baby?

Absolutely!

1. If you are expecting and have created a registry, we will offer your friends and family the option to tag your account with their purchases. This will give you the points towards future purchases AND it will allow us to easily find your receipt if you ever need it.

2. We occasionally offer coupons to our account holders, including bonus purchases, extra points, etc.

I hope this helps everyone understand the rewards points at T2B Baby! Please let me know if you have any questions!

Love and Fluff~Robyn and Jess

Thursday Edition of Fluff Again News

2011-09-15T20:24:00.000-07:00

Thursday Edition of Fluff Again

The winner of Wednesday’s Pre-sale passes is Number 4: Meagan

Please email Jess at Fluffagain@toptobottombaby.com to claim your passes.

As promised, here is a list of the great vendors who will be joining us on Saturday:

For the Love of Bugs: Burp cloths, bibs, hooded towels, baby blankets, rag quilts, and tata tents

FLUFF AGAIN SALE DISCOUNT: $5 off of custom team orders up to $30 or $10 off custom team orders over $30 at Fluff Again (excluding Rag Quilts).

Freckle (aka Freckle's Natural Fibers): Hand Knit and Chocheted products, including diapering products

FLUFF AGAIN SALE DISCOUNT: Stop by her table for Details!

Sparkles and Fluff: Hair Accessories, Tutus, and Jewelery

FLUFF AGAIN SALE DISCOUNT: Stop by her table for Details!

MAK Images Photography

FLUFF AGAIN SALE DISCOUNT: Stop by her table for Details!

Essentials Family Chiropractic and Wellness:

Stop by for a free chair massage during Fluff Again

Catering Angels: Catering, specializing in cakes.

Free samples available at her table!

WildTree Natural Food Products

Free samples available at her table!

Madaline Jane: Custom handmade boutique clothing for kids and adults

Norwex Consultant: Personal and cleaning products without chemicals

Evie’s Slings: Beautiful ring slings, custom slings available for order

Snuggabugz Diapers: Cloth Diapers and Children’s Overnight Diapers

The Upper Room: Pillowcase dresses, bedding, and appliqued shirts

Omaha Placenta Encapsulation

Omaha Doulas Association

Check back tomorrow for a Fluff Again FAQ, a list of Door Prizes, and some general fun!

oh...and in case you are keeping track, we are currently over 1450 diapers! Here is a picture of the totes that are loaded and ready to go.

Fluff Again Wednesday Edition

2011-09-14T19:15:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Wednesday Edition of Fluff Again!

Okay, first I have to apologize for missing Tuesday’s edition of Fluff Again news...I went to play Bunco with my moms’ group (enough said, right??)

So, to start off the night, we’ve decided to give away 2 (Yes, 2!) pre-sale passes from Monday’s comments. The winners must email me at fluffagain@toptobottombaby.com by Friday at 5 pm to claim their prizes. The winners of pre-sale passes are:

Leah
April D.

Next on the list, we are going to give away another set of presale passes tomorrow. To enter, answer this question:

What is your biggest question about Fluff Again (how it work, what to buy, etc) that we haven’t already answered???

Thursday’s edition of Fluff Again news is going to be all about vendors, so make sure you check back for a full listing of our fabulous vendors!

Monday Fluff Again!

2011-09-12T18:24:00.000-07:00

Monday Edition of Fluff Again

Whether you are new to Fluff Again, or an old pro, there is always a lot of curiosity of how this event works. Here is our outlook on Fluff Again.

The doors to Fluff Again open at 9 am. Our usual recommendation is that you are there right at 9 am, though this year we will be offering a discount hour between Noon and 1 pm on certain products (These products will be marked). At 11:45 am, we will require that all shoppers check out with their current products. After everyone is checked out, we will open up the shopping for discount products.

Another new addition this year will be the hospitality table at the entrance to the event. This table will have maps of the event, plus will be the registration table for the door prizes (check back Wednesday for a complete list!). The map is going to be a very important addition because it will allow you easily to figure out which tables to begin with. It will also give you details of the available vendors and where they are located.

One of most exciting additions this year is our new check out system. The system allows staff to scan your purchases using during check out, which should significantly decrease the check out time. On the consigner’s side, the new system has made tagging products easier. We hope these changes make Fluff Again even more enjoyable for everyone.

Finally, one of the last changes we have made is to change our check out methods to begin accepting credit cards. This year we will accept Cash, Checks, and all Major Credit Cards.

We hope you enjoy Fluff Again as much as we do! Oh and we are now over 1100 diapers! To celebrate this many diapers, we will giveaway a pair of Pre-Sale Passes (opens shopping to the holder at 8:30 am). In order to win these passes, comment on this post. In this comment, list the product you are looking for during Fluff Again!

Love and Fluff~Robyn and Jess

Sunday Edition of Fluff Again

2011-09-11T19:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Sunday Edition of Fluff Again!

For those of you who don’t know, Fluff Again was the brain child of Jess. The first sale in Spring 2010 boasted almost 500 diapers. She always says that Fluff Again is her favorite season because it is a nice time for the cloth diapering and natural parenting community to come together.

As of this weekend, we already topped 1000 diapers, baby wearing, and other natural products that are going to be available on Saturday. I expect this number to keep growing this week as the final tagging occurs. Additionally this year, we have over 15 vendors that will be attending. In the days to come, we will be giving you a glimpse of the products and services that these vendors offer and maybe even some discount coupons to use during Fluff Again. Finally, we have had some generous donations for door prizes. A complete list of these prizes will be available later in the week.

Though the diapers are important to Fluff Again, the most important aspect to Fluff Again is the volunteers. These moms and dads not only help organize the products prior to and during the sale, but they are also available to help answer questions for Fluffy newbies. We would be lost without them. To thank our wonderful volunteers, we will be having a drawing for one lucky person who will win one of the NEW Fluff Again T-shirts and lunch! All volunteers will be entered to win (1 entry for every hour you volunteer, and double entries if you volunteer to help cleanup). We still have spots available, so head over to Fluff Again and register if you are interested in helping out!

Finally, check back this week for more introductions to our vendors! Plus, we maybe giving away a couple pre-sale passes (hint).

Introduction to Vendors for Fall 2011 Sale:

For the Love of Bugs

www.facebook.com/4theloveofbugs

Email: 4theloveofbugs@gmail.com

What she offers:

Burp Cloths - made of high quality birdseye diapers and cleaning service quality prefolds...assorted sizes and colors
Bibs - designed to coordinate with our burp cloths and blankets
Hooded Towels - a larger version of the standard hooded towel...great for kids of all ages
Baby Blankets - larger and more snuggly than standard receiving blankets, but still small enough for everyday use
Rag Quilts - available in a wide variety of sizes (from crib quilt to man size)...by order only...2 week minimum...please e-mail us for a quote
Tata Tents - nursing covers for the Mom and/or baby that prefers discrete feeding, our covers are longer and wider, providing full coverage, a comfortable and fully adjustable neck strap to help keep it in place and delicate boning to make it easier to keep an eye on your little bug...fabrics can coordinate with burp rags, blankets and/or bibs or be something that is special just for Mom
Cards - in sets of 10...congratulations, new arrival, baby shower, etc
Custom Gift Sets - you tell us what you'd like to spend and we'll put together a variety of gift set options for you to choose from...a perfect way to make your custom gift even more perfect!

FLUFF AGAIN SALE DISCOUNT: $5 off of custom team orders up to $30 or $10 off custom team orders over $30 at Fluff Again (excluding Rag Quilts).

Freckle (aka Freckle's Natural Fibers)

www.hyenacart.com/freckle

www.hyenacart.com/tinyladycooperative

www.hyenacart.com/bittyfluff

http://frecklesfibers.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freckles-Natural-Fibers/270225665064

What she offers:

Hand Knit and Crocheted Diapering items
Other Hand Knit items
Hand Woven scarves and shawls
Custom Knitting and Weaving
Some Hand Dyed Yarn and Yarn Resale
Hand Spun Yarns

FLUFF AGAIN SALE DISCOUNT: Stop by her table for Details!

Fluff Again Fun

2011-09-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

The count down has begun! Fluff Again is one week from today. In celebration of Fluff Again, we are going to spend the next week telling you about the vendors who are going to be attending, giving some sneak peaks on the super cute diapers that are arriving, and having some giveaways to celebrate.

Just a reminder, tonight is the last night to vote for your favorite t-shirt on the blog. And stay tune for more fun!

Love and Fluff~Robyn and Jess

T-Shirt Time

2011-08-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

I am probably the least creative person ever, especially when it comes to designing things. Sadly, we are in need of new t-shirts for the store and for Fluff Again. I was discussing with Justin what the best t-shirt would be and he suggested a contest--which is totally unlike him because normally he rolls his eyes at us and tells us to do whatever we want. So, in honor of Justin's new found contest love, we are going to be hosting a t-shirt design contest.

Here are the details:

Contest dates: now until August 31st at midnight

What: Design new t-shirts for T2B and for Fluff Again

The most important thing, what do you win? The winning designers will receive a t-shirt sporting their design AND a $25 gift card to the store.

EDITED TO ADD: Vilate from Nifty Nappy has offered to turn the t-shirt into a diaper for the lucky winner. So, you can chose whether you want the t-shirt or a diaper!

The best part, we will let you guys pick the t-shirts through votes from now until September 10th. But, we won't be revealing the winning design until Fluff Again (just another reason to come visit us that day!)

How to enter: Create your design, post it to your blog, and then link the design here using a link back to your blog. If you can't link, or don't have a blog, have no fear, just email jess@toptobottombaby.com and I will add it to the links.

I'm STOKED to see the designs that everyone has in store :)

Just a couple more details (so you know what you are designing for!):

Fluff Again is our semi-annual consignment sale. We have lots and lots of used diapers and lots of fun playing with them. You can check out more details on our facebook page.

T2B Baby, well we are fun. Our last shirts were adorable and designed by Amanda last year. We just know we need some more. Check out our website and our facebook page for details on the store.

Have fun with the designs and don't feel like you have to incorporate the labels or anything specific. The more fun you have the better.

Finally, here are the logos for both if you are interested in using them:

~Love and Fluff, Jess and Robyn

Perfecting your washing from Kim at Rockin Green

2011-08-06T10:09:00.000-07:00

Below is an article I wrote about a year ago discussing the 5 different variables of washing diapers. Hopefully this will help some of you troubleshoot your wash routines, to find just the right routine for your situation. There are so many advantages to using cloth diapers, and once you find what works for you- it's all smooth sailing from there!

How to Wash Cloth Diapers

Over the past year, I have answered several thousand questions about washing cloth diapers. The funny thing is a portion of those emails aren’t even about our cloth diaper detergent. Many moms come to us asking for help with the detergent that they have on hand, and we are more than happy to help whenever possible. More babies in cloth is good for everyone! The most common question I get asked is about the “perfect” cloth diaper wash routine.

It seems like everyone has a “perfect” routine. They have a “tried and true” method on what works for them, and they are eager to share it with others. Unfortunately, as many of you have found out, what works for one person won’t work for another. This can make a seemingly simple process very complicated!

But here at Rockin’ Green, we think of washing diapers as a math problem: 1 + 1 + 1+ 1+ 1 =5.
There are 5 variables that come into play in the wash cycle, and once you understand these variables, you can adjust accordingly to get the best results possible. Sometimes there are things that you just can’t change, so you have to work around them.

Variable #1: Your water.
This is something that we talk about A LOT at Rockin’ Green, and for good reason. Water is the first and the most important thing that goes into your washing machine. It dilutes and carries away soils, and allows the detergent to do its job. But tap water is never pure. It contains impurities like minerals that can bind with detergent, and actually make it more difficult to get a good clean. This is one of those variables that you don’t have much control over (unless you invest money in a water softener), so your best plan of attack is to know what you are working with and compensate for it with the other variables like detergent.

Variable # 2 The Swish.
I recently had a customer who was battling the dreaded stink, and couldn’t for the life of her figure out why she had such trouble getting her diapers clean. Her wash routine sounded fine, she washed a small load every night, but still the stink endured. Then one day she got backed up on laundry and ended up doing 2 days worth of diapers instead of her usual one. And the diapers came out much better. She learned an important lesson about the power of the “swish”. Swish or agitation is a very important component of any good wash routine. The diapers need to not only move around in the wash tub, but they also need to rub up against one another. Think of how you wash your hands- do you run them under water to get lather, or do you rub your hands together?

With too many diapers in a load, they just rotate around the tub in a bunch. Not enough diapers and they swim around the wash basin blissfully (and dirtily) unaware of their neighbors. So if you have a top loader, load the machine to about the halfway point. For a front loader, you want to have enough items in the drum to where you can put a hands width between the top of the drum and the clothing.

Variable # 3 Temperature
Most machines have 3 settings. Cold, warm or hot….and as cloth diapering guru’s you should be pretty familiar with the basic cloth diaper wash routine. Do a rinse on cold, a wash on hot, and then another rinse on cold, but there are some variables even in that. First off, what is your water heater set at? This can have a direct effect on how clean your diapers are. Most bacteria die when the water reaches a temp of 130-140 degrees (and many detergent ingredients react faster in this temp range), so an adjustment in your water heater can make a big difference. Most diaper manufacturers warn against temps of 150 and over when PUL is involved, so keep your water heater set at around 130 for day to day washings. Note: It will usually come out of the tap about 10 degrees cooler

Disclaimer: Always check with your diaper manufacturer regarding recommended wash procedure and temperature thresholds, especially when PUL is involved.

Temperature can also play a part when it comes to stains. Did you know that the best way to treat a stain is by rinsing it out at the same temperature that the stain was created? So leave the cold rinsing for ice cream stains, and move the dial to warm for poop stains. They were created at 98.6 after all!

Variable #4 Time fixes all
“Rock a Soak” has become a common cloth diapering term, and there is some science behind it. The amount of time that your diapers are in the wash will also help determine your outcome. The chemicals in your detergent have different reaction times that can be affected by things like temperature and water quality, so you may find that a longer wash cycle in some cases gets you better results, because it allows the detergent to actually do its job as opposed to being flushed down the drain. If you have really hard water, or a water heater that isn’t up to par….you can lengthen your wash cycle to compensate. Note: this is why front loader cycles take FOREVE) because they have to make up for the lack of swish.

Variable #5 Detergent (You didn’t think we would forget that did you?)
As a detergent manufacturer you would think that we would place this at the top of the list, but that just isn’t the case. Don’t get me wrong, I think that Rockin’ Green cloth diaper detergent rocks – but it's one piece of the puzzle. Within that black and green bag, you have the tools to overcome things like poor water quality and hardness (which is why we have 3 different formulas based on your water type), but you have to find the sweet spot there too. Generally speaking you want to start off with 1-3 tbs, but you may adjust up or down depending on the other 4 variables.

Another tip: when it comes time to add the soap, try dropping down the water level in your machine. This will increase the concentration of soap and the swish! So in your initial and post rinses, you want to keep the water level high but in your hot wash with the soap try dropping it down to a medium water level. This should give you a better clean!

Ok….so seriously, just tell me what a “perfect” routine is already Kim!
By now, you probably know that there is no perfect routine. The key to finding the sweet spot is to look at every piece of the puzzle, and then adjust as needed. You may need to add a little more soap to make up for an overstuffed washer, crank up your water heater to make up for a lack of swish in your front loader, or lengthen the time your diapers spend in the washer to make up for hard water. And the list goes on and on….

I hope this helps some of you struggling with finding the “perfect” wash routine! Check us out at www.RockinGreenSoap.com for more wash tips and tools.

Guest post is from Kim Webb, the Owner of Rockin' Green Detergent.

Public Service Announcement

2011-07-13T20:16:00.001-07:00

So much for a fun post! Actually, I am having a lot of fun with it, so I can't complain too much.

We wanted to let everyone know that in the next 1-2 weeks you may see changes in the website and we may experience unexpected down times. We are currently in the process of upgrading the site to a new cart, but we hope to make the transition as smooth as possible. Unfortunately, we will not be adding any new products to the old cart so if you aren't seeing a product you know we carry feel free to email Justin at info@toptobottombaby.com. He will be able to make place orders via email.

Also, if you aren't a fan, we recommend you head over and "like" FLUFF AGAIN on Facebook. Fluff Again has become Omaha's Largest Diaper Consignment Sale. We are frantically working to finish the final details and will be announcing everything hopefully in the next couple of days. We look forward to another wonderful sale!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Love and Fluff~Jess and Robyn

Getting Started With Homemade Baby Food - Supplies

2011-07-11T18:24:00.000-07:00

Before I became a mom, homemade baby food seemed like a crazy idea. Who has time for that? What’s easier than popping open a jar?

Turns out, thawing an ice cube of homemade baby food is just as easy as opening a jar, with an added benefit of being cheaper and made to the consistency that your baby prefers.

To get started, you’ll need some supplies. Nothing crazy, so don’t worry. You don’t need to buy a special baby food maker. The market is full of baby food makers that go for more than $100. Save your money.

The food processor or blender you already have will suffice. Your house is already overrun with baby stuff – do you really want the baby stuff to take over your kitchen, too?

If you’re planning on making food on-the-go (say, while on vacation), you may want to get a stick mixer, as well. I never used one, but you might.

The second thing you’ll need is a pot or to cook your vegetables and fruit. I’ll just assume you already have one.

Here are some other cheap cooking supplies you may want: A strainer or colander to hold the cooked food and drain it; a mesh strainer (used to separating green bean or pea skins); a steam basket; and a potato masher. And, you already have a fork, which you’ll use to mash small things like a banana or avocado.

If you’re planning on storing food you’ll also need plastic ice cube trays (And no, you don’t need those cute heart-shaped ice cube trays); large freezer bags and a sharpie to date and label the bags. I found that most recipes I made filled nearly two ice cube trays – that’s about 24 servings/meals. So, you’ll want at least two ice cube trays, but probably more if the cooking bug gets you.

Kim Reiner from www.bodymindstomach.wordpress.com will be joining us in the weeks to come with a series on Baby Food Making! Stay tuned for more!

Vendor Spotlight: Sparkles and Fluff

2011-06-29T20:14:00.000-07:00

As you all know, we loooooove our local creative and crafty mamas Incorporating locally made products into the store inventory has been a central focus since early on in the store's formation and the fabulous experience we have had with our vendors has only solidified that this is a cause we want to stick with. Since opening the store in its new location at the end of April, we have added several vendors to our awesome lineup of local products and we now carry local products from babywearing wraps to spy bags, wool, baby blankets and hair bows. The last of these products, hair bows, is one of our newest additions. With the opening of the store, Sparkles and Fluff came on board. This week, Sparkles and Fluff is our vendor spotlight, our attempt to share with you who our vendors are and how fabulous their products are.

Sparkles and Fluff is a WAHM business owned by Amy Pugh. Amy started Sparkles and Fluff while pregnant with her {newly two year old} daughter Audrey. For anyone who knows Amy, she is quite a girly girl and wanted nothing less for Audrey. As a result, Amy experimented with making tutus for her soon to be born daughter and had soon perfected her skills. After Audrey's birth, Amy began making them for other little girls (mine included...Peyton has gone to many a dance class in her Sparkles and Fluff tutu and Mara has had S&F tutus as part of her 1^st and 2^nd birthday outfits) and she soon expanded into making other products for little girls.

Amy now makes everything and anything from tutus, hair bows, necklaces, pins, earrings, rings, wreaths---you name it. They are all wonderful. I must admit, we have quite the collection between the three girls with her zebra print themed bows as our favorite!! Top to Bottom Baby carries her hair bows, headbands, and tutus in store. You can also find them at the online store. Be sure to stop in and check them out and while you are at it, go like her on Facebook and tell her where you heard about her fabulous products!

Foibles in Choosing A Carrier: One Mom’s Suggestions

2011-06-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

Before our first little one arrives, we excitedly register for (or order) what we think our bouncing baby will need. Many parents, looking toward natural parenting and bonding with their infant, consider different types of baby wearing options such as slings, wrap carriers, and soft carriers. They may choose one and register for it (because that’s part of the fun of “about to be a new parent”) or they order it for themselves. They wash it and prepare it and get excited to use it. Then someone disagrees; that someone’s opinion is way more important than your thoughts that the carrier is cute or looks easy to use.
When we registered, I didn’t know much of anything about baby wearing, so I registered for a sling carrier that they sold in Target. I washed it, and it shrank. I was forlorn. My sister bought me another one. When my son arrived I had a cute (line-dried) sling waiting for him. My husband and I struggled to put him into it, and he fell asleep after some crying. I figured he would get used to it and it would all work out. Sadly, newborns just do that – they sleep anywhere. But when he got bigger, the sling was just not for him. He flat out refused to hang out in it. Plus it wasn’t padded, and it cut into my shoulders. So I sold it on eBay and went on a hunt.
I found a mei tai type wrap at a used baby store, and wrestled my son into it. He was ok with it for a few days, but it seemed to cut into his chunky monkey legs. I didn’t like that it left red marks on his thighs, so I sold it to fund my next purchase.
Next up, the Moby wrap. The yards of fabric looked daunting, but it was pretty easy to figure out. My husband watched me put it on in wonder (“How will THAT hold him?”), but for a while it worked for us. He preferred sitting facing forward in the “lotus” position, but eventually he didn’t like having his feet and legs all scrunched up. And he wanted to be on my hip rather than facing forward.
We went to a friend’s house and my son was cranky, so she pulled out a larger (and padded!) ring sing carrier and put him in it. He calmed quickly. I wanted it. I borrowed her sling until I found one used on eBay (for $9.99). He enjoyed that one until he could crawl – then any sort of carrier was not his friend because he just wanted to move. I let a friend borrow it and told her it didn’t need to come back. By this point I almost gave up. Heck, he didn’t take a pacifier so maybe he didn’t like carriers either.
Finally I tried the carrier I wanted to try originally (but balked at the price) – an Ergo Baby Carrier. He enjoyed chewing on the straps (made me wish I had bought the sucking pads which I had thought were a silly idea), seemed comfortable, and it didn’t leave marks on his legs. When he got a little bigger he enjoyed the hip and back carrys, both of which the Ergo can do. Now that he’s walking, he prefers to be on his own, but the Ergo is still what I use if I want him to be able to check out what I’m doing but can’t hold him and he can’t walk it.
There are multiple lessons learned here. First, while your comfort (and fashion) are factors in choosing a carrier, your little one’s preference is what’s going to keep them in it (or let them allow you to keep putting them in it). My advice – don’t pre-buy. I know it’s hard. I know. I’ve been there. But the best advice I can give anyone when choosing a carrier is to try it out with your little one before you buy. Go to a store that sells multiple types (if you can) and let your little one’s comfort be the deciding factor. Second lesson learned – your kiddo’s preference for carriers may change based on their age and abilities. Once they start moving on their own, it’s a completely different world and they may not be into a carrier even. It may be a good idea to go in with some friends and rotate around the carriers that are working for your different age groups. Third – some kiddos really just don’t want the carrier. Just as some don’t like to be swaddled, some want to sleep on their bellies from day 1, and some don’t take a pacifier, some simply want the freedom to move and thus don’t want to be confined to your carrier. Don’t feel badly; it’s nothing that you did! And don’t let other “natural mommas” make you feel badly. Fourth – padding is your friend. The more padding something has around the points that it touches your skin, the more comfortable it will be for you.
Each kid’s an individual. They have their own preferences for comfort. That is the main lesson I learned. The choice is their choice, not your choice. Let them show you what works for them.

Liz Wright is a Momma to Silas (14 months), wife to Mike, psychology professor, and doctoral candidate. She lives in San Antonio with her family and their two dogs. She writes about parenting and household issues in her blog Mama Around The House (http://mamaaroundthehouse.blogspot.com/)

Upcoming attractions!

2011-06-26T06:34:00.001-07:00

I am hoping to interrupt the program for a brief update!

We realized with our post last week that we didn't tell you about our plans for the upcoming months. We have decided that we will be hosting a guest blogger every Monday on a Natural Parenting Topic. We have had some great submissions already and hope you enjoy them. If you are interested in Guest Blogging, please don't hesitate to email Jess (jess@toptobottombaby.com) with your ideas.

Also, on Wednesdays we will be discussing products. We are hoping this will be a great way to learn about new products that are available and there may even be some giveaways.

We are super excited to share our newest addition, the Affiliate Program, with you. We hope that you have loved our services and share us with friends and family, so we decided that we would love to give back to you when you do. If you visit Top to Bottom Baby, you will see a "Become an Affiliate" link at the bottom of the page (or click HERE). When you sign up, you will receive an Affiliate Program link in your My Account area at the bottom of the page. This will link you to the stats for who has clicked on your link. Additionally, you will receive 5% of all sales that were generated by your link in store credit. The "Helpful Link" is your affiliate link. You are welcome to use this banner to link to your blog or other pages. We've found it works best to embed your specific link into the icon.

Finally, the winner of our $20 Gift Card to T2B is #43: My Life with Boys! Thanks to everyone for such great ideas!

With Love and Fluff~Jess and Robyn

All new T2B Baby

2011-06-20T15:27:00.000-07:00

Wow, there have been a lot of changes around Top to Bottom in the last couple of months. Unfortunately, our blog has been a little neglected during the transition, and for that, we are truly sorry.

Change is never easy, but it can be great in the end. In February, we were lucky enough to have Robyn join us as a co-owner of Top to Bottom Baby. We also began working on the pieces to open the new bricks and mortar store. With the new store, came a little bit easier of a name: T2B Baby. Don't worry, we are still Top to Bottom at heart! And finally, Justin took over as the Store Manager on a permanent basis! Don't worry ladies, he has lots of good answers for the really juicy mom questions. Several of our friends love to stop in just to see what questions they can stump him with!

April 30th we were lucky enough to celebrate our grand opening at the New Omaha Location (2928 S 132nd St, Omaha). As you can see, it was quite a success. In addition to the new store, we have added tons of new products and had a lot of fun meeting our customers. If you are in Omaha, don't hesitate to stop by and say hi. And feel free to bring the kids, because there are tons of toys to play with!

Over the next couple of months we hope to get the blog running in full swing with some great product giveaways, guest bloggers, and all around fun! So, stay tuned and feel free to share us with your friends.

And, just because you stayed (and actually kept reading) I would love to share some of the T2B love! We are going to giveaway a $20 gift card to Top to Bottom, good online or in store. All you have to do to enter is post below. We'd love to hear ideas for blog posts you would like to see, products we should carry (please check to make sure we don't already carry it), or random fun you think we should have! Only one entry please! Ends June 25th at midnight cst.

Finally, we'd love to hear from you. If you have an idea for a blog, would like to guest blog, or just have a diaper question feel free to email Jess@toptobottombaby.com or Robyn@toptobottombaby.com! We absolutely can't wait to spend the next months working on making natural parenting a little more fun!

With Love and Fluff~Jess and Robyn

The Great Debate

2011-02-28T06:57:00.001-08:00

So you’re probably thinking I’m talking Cloth or Disposable. But really we know you’re here because you’ve made that choice, and now your just trying to decide Wet Bag or Pail Liner. At some point you have to decide how you’re going to store those dirty diapers until wash day. Let’s face it, leaving them lie around on the floor isn’t really an option.

So let’s get some basic facts about each.

Wet Bags are a convenient on-the-go solution for storing diapers. They come in a variety of sizes from small (for your diaper bag) to large bag (for extended daily or daycare use).

Pail Liners are generally intended for at-home use, and have been designed to fit most 13 gallon sized trash cans.

But why would you choose one over the other?

Wet Bag : Many are now with hanging styles and some people prefer them because they don’t have the space for a 13 gallon trash can in their changing area. Also they are easy to just grab if you’re headed on a small day trip, and don’t want to soil two bags.

Pail Liners: Many people prefer them for every day use because then they don’t have to zip/unzip when putting soiled diapers in them. Also some people find they have less stink if they leave the lid off the trash can.

Whichever you choose, you’ll find a routine that works best for your family and household. Like starting out diapering it all takes a little practice and trial and error.

Cloth Diapering a Newborn – Final Chapter

2011-02-24T17:28:00.001-08:00

Violet is two months old. I think I have to admit that the newborn stage is over. She is officially an infant. *sniff sniff*

At her two month check she weighed in at a healthy 11 lbs 7 oz. Sooooooo...the Rumparooz Lil' Joeys don't quite fit the best anymore. Technically, they say they will fit up to twelve pounds. I still use them, but only when she won't be in them long. They are just a little too snug. The bummer is that the very last setting of snaps is too large for her, but the other setting is too tight. That's just one of the cons of using snaps, I guess. Anyway, I do feel like I got my money's worth. By my calculation, if I used them for only six weeks, they would've paid for themselves. (In comparison to the cost of disposables.) Since they fit for eight weeks, and I can still use them in a pinch, I feel really good about the purchase. Overall, they were awesome.

Here's the sum up of what I really ended up using during the newborn stage: An easy all-in-one cloth diaper and disposable wipes. I never got the hang of using cloth wipes. I'm sure it's a cinch, I just never got a good system down, and in the middle of recovery and sleep depravity it was just too much for me. But it doesn't really matter if you have a newborn or a two year old, cloth wipes are cloth wipes. So I won't go into my lack of cloth wipe commitment in this post. :)

I'm not sure I would've stayed the course with newborn cloth if I hadn't used the awesome all-in-one diapers. Even as a cloth veteran, I still get overwhelmed with snappis, prefolds, and covers. Maybe it's the layers that make me feel cluttered. The simplicity of an all-in-one is more my cup of tea. Although, I will say that I had a couple of fitted diapers that I used occasionally with a cover and that seemed pretty easy. A fitted size 0 Kissaluvs fits great under the size 1 Thirsties duo wrap. My only problem is that my babies seem to have slightly sensitive skin. Both girls have trouble without a stay dry layer between their tiny bunzies and the absorbent diaper.

The Rumparooz Lil' Joeys that I used do have a stay dry layer on top. But around the four week mark, I did notice that if I left them on Violet too long she would get a rash. I was able to leave her in them overnight the first few weeks, but then I noticed she was waking up with a very red bottom. At first, I just had to make sure I changed her halfway through the night. But then that wasn't even enough anymore. I noticed that if I didn't change her as soon as she pooped, or if I left her in a wet diaper more than a couple hours, her bottom was very irritated. I decided to pull out the BumGenius one size diapers. Voila! A couple of days using those exclusively and her bottom cleared right up. I started using these as her overnight diaper. They fit her well on the smallest setting when she was about four weeks old, and probably 8 or 9 pounds.

The rash issue is not necessarily a flaw in the Lil' Joeys diaper. It could be that I needed to give them a super good rinse to get left over soap out (although I do use Rockin' Green exclusively and it's pretty awesome) or it could be that she was simply out growing them and the absorbency wasn't enough to keep the wetness away from the top of the diaper. I still use them when I know she will be in them less than an hour. This is usually while I nurse her because I know I'll be taking her potty when she's finished. (I'm a freak and take my babies potty. I take Violet right when she wakes up, and then again a few minutes after nursing. Believe it or not, she frequently pees and occasionally poops at this time. You can read about this crazy process on my blog.)

So is cloth diapering a newborn with all-in-one diapers worth the expense? Yes! I feel so good about the amount of disposable diapers that are NOT in a landfill because of my decision to use cloth. Evidently, I don't love the planet enough to fold and pin and cover. But I do love it enough to spend a little money on a convenient way to cloth diaper my newborns. I'm a lazy earth mama.

Check out Charity’s other posts on Newborn Diapering.
Part 1
Part 2

Why Mama Cloth

2011-02-21T16:43:00.000-08:00

We know mamas don't often think of cloth for themselves and can often be intimidated by the concept. Despite this, we really wanted to get some mama cloth into our store. We are so excited to add WeeEssentials mama cloth to our lineup and, to kick things off, we wanted Candice--the brains behind WeeEssentials--to tell you why YOU should consider cloth for yourself--not just for your babies bums, help ease your fears, and show you why so many mamas love it!

By Guest Blogger Candice from WeeEssentials:

So you love cloth – diapers, that is. Maybe you’ve switched to cloth kitchen towels, and cloth wipes, too. And now you’ve been thinking: if it’s good enough for my baby, maybe it’s good enough for me?

I’ve been asked a lot of questions about cloth pads since I started selling Wee Essentials cloth menstrual pads on Etsy in 2008. Women worry a lot about how well they work, if they smell, and how to wash them. Many remember their grandmothers talking about wearing “rags” that leaked and were difficult and embarrassing to wash. And a surprising number confide in me that when their periods are over, they are left raw, red, and irritated in their most sensitive areas.

But there is a reason why most women who try cloth pads never go back: cloth is comfortable, easy, and actually a little fun! (Hey, you need something that will cheer you up when Aunt Flo comes!)

I’d like to answer some of the questions women have asked me, and explain some of the best benefits to using mama cloth!

· It’s comfortable. Disposable pads are made of paper and dehydrated cellulose (ie. Wood fibers!) That’s why they chafe and itch. It’s like wearing cardboard! Cloth pads are generally topped with natural fibers like cotton – just like your underwear.

· It’s pretty – okay, this probably isn’t the best reason, but I like it! It sounds silly, but it makes me smile a little when I choose a pretty pad. I need that when I get my period. It’s a whole lot better than bleached white paper!

· Yes, they are absorbent. And, yes, they will leak – only if you wear them too long. Just like any pad. But I can tell you this – in my memory, I’ve only had a cloth menstrual pad leak on me once, and it was because I didn’t want to get up to change.

Look for pads that contain a bamboo or hemp core – they are some of the most absorbent natural fibers available. Bamboo and hemp hold a great deal more than a cotton core, so they are worth the additional cost. You can also buy menstrual pads with or without a waterproof layer. Wee Essentials pads typically use PUL, which is the same waterproof barrier used in many cloth diapers. I’ve also made my pads with polyester fleece or with no waterproof barrier at all for customers.

· No, they don’t usually smell. That menstrual blood smell comes from bacteria from your body multiplying in your pad. I don’t honestly know why cloth pads smell less, but I do theorize that the plastic in the disposable pads raises the temperature of the blood more than cloth pads does and allows the germs to multiply faster.

· They are easy to care for: if you don’t like stains, rinse them after you use them with cold water. (Hot water will set the stain – it literally cooks the proteins in your blood and removing that is kind of like removing last night’s burned lasagna from the pan…)

If you are like me and don’t care too much about stains, you can throw them in a dry pail until you are ready to wash. They wash best when you wash them like diapers – a cold rinse, a hot wash, and another rinse. If you don’t use cloth diapers, just throw them in with your towels and add a cold rinse beforehand. Most washers allow you to preset that now, so you don’t even have to come back after the rinse! You can tumble dry them on low in the dryer.

· They are designed by women, for women. Granted, the disposable pad companies have figured this out, too. Things like wings and easy-to-place designs help make your period a little easier. I also like that I don’t feel like I’m wearing a huge diaper!

· They save you money. Yes, the initial cost is much higher. $8 for a pack of disposables sounds a lot better than $8 for one cloth pad! But when you start to think about the cost per disposable, you’ll begin to see what I’m saying.

I went to drugstore.com today and looked at the cost-per-unit for Always and Kotex brand regular maxi pads with wings. I found that prices ranged from 17 cents to 26 cents a pad. (For reference, that’s about what a brand-name disposable diaper costs!)

When you realize that you can use the same cloth pad several times during a cycle, you can see how quickly the cloth pads will begin to pay for themselves. And that doesn’t even include the costs spent on medications…

· Anecdotal evidence suggests that cloth pads may actually reduce or stop yeast infections, vaginitis, and other irritations of your private areas. On several occasions I’ve had new customers complain of redness, soreness, or even raw skin after a week of using disposable menstrual pads. When they switched to cloth, they no longer had those symptoms – the disposables irritated their sensitive skin. Many people have told me they have had fewer yeast infections since changing to cloth (myself included – I don’t think I’ve had one since I switched, and I used to have one nearly every month!)

· Oh, and the most obvious one: Cloth pads are more environmentally friendly than disposables. All but the waterproof or water resistant layer and any plastic snaps can be composted or burned, rather than wrapped in a plastic wrapper, thrown into a plastic trash bag, and then into a landfill. Also, cloth pads don’t require a separate wash, and they are small, so they can be thrown in with any load of laundry – no extra water or soap is required!

I would love to answer any other questions you may have about cloth pads. Please feel free to post questions or comments here, or to email me at Candice@weeessentials.com with your questions if you aren’t comfortable asking them here. Don’t worry – I am not easily embarrassed!

Although I am a cloth pad maker and seller, my main goal is to introduce women to cloth – even if you buy elsewhere! (Though, of course, I do hope you will buy the Wee Essentials brand!) I’m delighted to be able to work with Top to Bottom Baby Boutique to pamper the mamas with cloth just as much as the babies!

Types of Diapers

2011-02-11T17:59:00.001-08:00

Here is just a quick run down of the different types of diapers out there. We thought it might be helpful for those out there just starting out, and for those who would like to try a different type of diapering. Let us know if there is anything we missed or need to add. We’re all learning together!

Flats: Your cheapest option. Not waterproof (requires a cover). Flats are a large, single-ply sheets of cotton that you fold up into different configurations to diaper your baby with. Secure them with a Snappi or pins.
Pros: Easy to clean and they dry very quickly.
Cons: Require a tiny bit more effort than some other options. Can be bulky.
Suggested Brands: OsoCozy Flats

Prefolds: Next-cheapest option. Not waterproof. Probably what your mom thinks of when she hears "cloth diaper." They are rectangular diapers with more layers in the middle and fewer on the sides. Typically folded around your baby and secured with a Snappi or pins, though you can lay them into a wrap style cover and use that way.
Pros and cons: About the same as flats, except they don't require as much folding as flats.
Suggested Brands: Green Earth Prefolds, Bummis Organic Prefolds

Fitteds: The next step up in the world of cloth. Usually having elastic gatherings in the legs and waist. This makes them the perfect fit for any baby. Looking like a disposable diaper, they usually have velcro or snaps to close, but sometimes require pins or a snappi. Not waterproof. Excellent nighttime option when paired with a wool cover (more about that below). Usually made predominantly from natural fibers; sometimes have microfiber or something else sewn into the core for absorbency.
Pros: Less work than flats or prefolds.
Cons: Still requires a cover, can sometimes take a long time to dry, bulky.
Suggested Brands: Monkey Snuggles, Bunky Fluff, Kissaluvs, Tiny Tush, Thirsties Duo Fitted

Pockets: Looks like a sposie, comes in two pieces: A shell, which has a waterproof outer layer and usually a synthetic stay-dry inner layer; and the insert, which can be made of microfiber, cotton, bamboo, hemp, etc. The insert is stuffed into an opening in the shell (the pocket, hence the name) for absorbency.
Pros: Dries quickly because the shell and insert come apart. Waterproof. Customizable - you can add inserts if you need more absorbency. Trimmer than other options.
Cons: Some people report wicking around the legs and waist. More expensive than other options. Synthetic fabrics.
Suggested Brands: Thirsties Duo, Fuzzi Bunz One Size, Rump-a-Rooz, Knickernappies OS, Bum Genius 4.0, Apple Cheeks

All-in-Ones (AIOs): The most akin to disposables, these diapers have a waterproof outer layer and are all one piece. Just slap it on and go.
Pros: Easy, trimmer than other options.
Cons: Takes a long time to dry, not customizable, more expensive than other options.
Suggested Brands: Bummis AIO Easy Fit, Bum Genius AIO

Hybrids: These are diapers that consist of two pieces - an outer, waterproof shell, and an insert for the inside. They're kind of like pockets except there usually isn't a pocket to put the insert in - you just lay it in. The idea is that you just change the inserts and don't have to change the covers except once a day. They can also include disposable inserts for those who do not want to fully use cloth.
Pros: Easy.
Cons: I've not used them myself, but I understand that the way they work, poop will still get on the cover, so you generally use several covers a day. They're also on the pricey side.
Suggested Brands: Flip, Grovia

COVERS

PUL: These are waterproof, usually have snaps or velcro, and are pretty trim. Mainly close with Velcro or Snaps.
Suggested Brands: Thirsties Duo Wraps, Bummis Super Whisper Wrap, Flip Cover

Wool: Popular for use at night with fitteds, though many also use it during the day. Natural fiber, breathable. Expensive, though, if you don't know how to knit your own. If properly lanolized, they don't require frequent washing.
Suggested Brands: Monkey Snuggles Wool Longies

Fleece: A cheaper alternative to wool and be easily sewn yourself. They have to be washed after every use, though and can be washed with normal laundry.
Suggested Brands: You can find many WAHM brands on Etsy.

Do they Make a Difference???

2011-01-19T20:07:00.001-08:00

A while back we got talking about dryer balls on our Facebook Page. There were quite a few moms who didn’t have any ideas about them, and there were others who wanted to know: Do they really make a difference??

There are many answers to this, but the simplest answer is: YES!

When I asked around on our Facebook page what other moms’ experiences were with their dryer balls here’s what I got back. It’s fun to see the love that dryerballs give!

Barbara Jean Henning: Love our Buddha Bunz! Not only did they cut down on the dry time for all of our clothes but they removed the need for fabric softener. I've found that the combination of using our diaper detergent on our clothes and our balls have made them softer now than when we were actually using fabric softener!

Crystal Biehl : Yes! I have 6total … by using these, I can dry an entire large load of clothes in under an hour ... I estimate it cuts off about 20 minutes of my drying time. It dries diaper covers/shells in 30 minutes!

Melanie Kelsay : I have 5 and love them.

Courtney Luebben Peeler : I love mine... I made 2 from scrap wool yarn... need to make more. felting was easy and they've cut 15 minutes off of my diaper drying... I leave them in for all loads (unless darling husband takes them out).

But want my honest opinion??? I may be a bit biased but these things ROCK your socks off!!!! Okay so I don’t think I’m biased, I think I’m addicted.

I first got 8 dryer balls from a mom on Etsy, and sadly had a few unravel from her. After looking further for another maker to carry in the store Jess came across Michelle Cook, owner of Green Belle Designs on Etsy. I immediately knew I had to have more!

I’d already seen a difference. Things were coming out softer and fluffier without the use of harsh “softeners”. I also noticed we were having shorter dry times. I was now able to run a load of laundry and not have to wait very long for the dryer before I could put the next load in there.

Like most Cloth Diaper moms do, I became addicted. Only not with fluff, with dryer balls! I HAD to get my hands on more. I was able to purchase 6 more through the store, putting my total up to 17 balls. Now are all of them in there at once? Not always. We average 10-15 balls at any given time.

I’ve been asked how if they’ll unravel and how long they last. Sometimes you’ll get one that will unravel, but not very often. With my first few balls, I realized they weren't wrapped very tightly, and they did unravel. My ones from Michelle, are wrapped so tightly, that I have NO worries of them unraveling.

As far as how long they’ll last? Forever as far as I’m concerned. I’ve had these (pictured above) for 3 months now, and they look as new as the day I put them into my dryer.

Here is another example. These are Michelle’s own personal dryerball stash. Some of them have been in rotation for over 2 years.

All in all I LOVE LOVE LOVE our dryer balls, they cut down on my dry time, and things are so much softer! I’m admittedly an addict. And shh…..don’t tell my wallet that I want to buy more.

Meet & Greet TONIGHT with Kelly Wels

2011-01-17T13:35:00.001-08:00

Founder of Diapershops.com and Kellyscloset.com, Kelly Wels is in Omaha and has decided to have a meet and greet tonight.

Come meet Kelly Wels, former owner of DiaperShops.com and current cloth diaper advocate, at the Omaha Marriot this evening. (The room # will be posted in the lobby.)

When: Tonight: 6:00- 8:00 pm
Where: Omaha Marriot
10220 Regency Circle
Omaha, NE

Please come with your family! The more kiddos the better!
Food and beverages provided. (Kid food friendly!!)

Door prizes to win: bumGenius, Itti Bitti, & Happy Heiny's diapers. Come meet with other cloth diaper mom's and dad's!

We hope to see you there!!!!

*If you plan to come on out, could you go RSVP on their FB page! :) They’d like to get a count as far as food and such goes! :)

In The Middle of It: Newborn Cloth Diapering

2011-01-05T15:10:00.001-08:00

Let me begin this post by summing it up: I LOVE THE RUMPAROOZ LIL' JOEYS!!!! I bought them for three reasons: Convenience, Fit, and Umbilical Cord friendliness. They fit the bill perfectly. I am so, so happy I took the plunge and bought them before the baby was born. And since I already had them, I was able to get some super cute pics of my baby in them before we even left the hospital.

This is Violet. She was 7lbs 14oz at birth, and the Lil' Joeys fit her perfectly on the smallest setting. I didn't end up putting her in cloth for the drive home from the hospital. Fail. I don't know why I didn't. It was just a lost detail in the very long nightmare that is getting dismissed from a hospital. But she did wear them as soon as we got home. I love how well they fit underneath her newborn size clothing. No cloth bubble butt.

She wore them on the smallest setting until her cord fell off at two weeks old. After that I was able to undo the snap down feature which gave her a lot more wiggle room, while still on the smallest setting for the waist. I did put fleece liners in the Lil' Joeys while I waited for Violet to get rid of all the dark meconium poo. That was a tight squeeze. Maybe the biodegradable liners would have been better? I never tried. But her poo turned a lovely shade of yellow within a day or two, so I didn't have to squeeze the liners in for long.

I have 14 Lil' Joey diapers. This stash is enough when washing every night. I hardly use my tiny prefolds and covers that I got for laundry day. But I LOVE the newborn sized Bummis Super Brite. It is a little tricky to get the prefold under the flap in front, but once you get it in it has a super trim fit. I never leave Violet in it for long. So although it has never leaked on me, I haven't give it a good chance to prove it's leak proofness. The Thirsties Duo Wrap in size one fits snugly around her legs, and has more room for stuffing a prefold, but is just generally bulkier than the Bummis so I don't use it as much. But it is a good cover economically speaking because it will still fit Violet for a few months, I think, while the newborn Super Brite is nearing the end of it's usefulness already.

Violet wears her Lil' Joeys even at night. They have only leaked maybe once or twice when she has slept longer than four hours at a stretch (isn't that delightful?!). She has gone over four hours other times without them leaking, though. Maybe I didn't have them snapped just right those other times.

I have been using cloth wipes. My favorite is actually the cheap Gerber wash cloths. I got some in plain white so I could designate them specifically for diapering, and not wash Violet's pretty little face with a pooped on wash cloth. I bought other cloth wipes to try, but haven't liked any of them.

I haven't tried my Wee Essentials wipes cubes yet. Simply because I haven't had the time in these busy first weeks with baby. I've just been wetting the wipes down with plain water as I need them. That's been a little bit of a pain. I need a better system. At bedtime, I put about four wet wash cloths in a ziplock baggie for middle of the night changes. That has worked well so far.

And Rockin' Green laundry soap. Should you get some? Yes, you should. It is simply delightful. After a few washes with the Rockin' Green I did notice my Lil' Joeys smelling a little bit funky. But after an extra long soak in that magic stuff, I could shove 'em straight up to my nose and sniff nothing but cleanliness. The Lil' Joeys do have slight yellow staining. But I don't think it's anything a good long soak and some sun bathing (I guess I'll have to wait till Spring) can't take out.

So far, so good. I was worried that using cloth at the newborn stage would be overwhelming, but it really isn't. I'm really glad I decided to go for it. Give it a go! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Rump-a-Rooz YELLOW sale!

2010-12-29T18:46:00.001-08:00

It’s the annual yellow sale!!

Today through 11:59pm on 12/31/10 all Sunshine Yellow Rump-a-Rooz are 25% off!

Get them while they last!!!! We’ve got them in Snaps and in Aplix! At this price they won’t last long!!!!

Boy, do we have a SALE for you!!!

2010-12-23T20:39:00.001-08:00

It’s been almost a year since we opened our website for business, and you all have made it such a wonderful experience. We couldn’t do half the things we do without all of our great loyal customers.

As a Thank you, from December 26th to December 31st, we’ve decided we’re going to offer up some great deals for all of you, and we hope you take advantage of them!

Sale #1: Monkeysnuggles and Cover
Buy any Thirsties regular cover or any Bummis cover at regular price and then you can buy up to 2 (two) Monkeysnuggles regular fitteds for $15 each (so, 26.50 for a Thirsties cover and Monkeysnuggles fitted)

Sale #2: Buckets of Fluff
For Buckets of Fluff, there will be several "buckets" of products that have some great discounts on them. If everything from the bucket is purchased before December 31, everyone who purchased something out of that bucket will receive a $0.50 store credit per item. If all Buckets of Fluff items sell, then anyone who purchased items will receive $1.00 in store credit per item.

Sale #3: Grab Bags
$15.00 "Pink"
$15.00 "Prefolds & Snappi's Oh My"
$15.00 "Blue"
$20.00 "$20.00 Diapers" (5 available)
$25.00 "Small"
$25.00 "Large"
$30.00 "Green"
$35.00 "Got Milk?"
$50.00 Girl Diaper Set
$50.00 Boy Diaper Set
$50.00 Girl Diaper Set
$50.00 Gender Neutral Diaper Set
$50.00 Gender Neutral Diaper Set

#4 Wool
Buy a Monkeysnuggles wool and a Monkeysnuggles fitted and receive a free wool wash bar from WeeEssentials!

#5 Hidden Coupons
Every day there will be hidden "deals" on products. When you check out you will receive additional discounts on those products!

Featuring: CJ’s BUTTer

2010-12-17T05:55:00.001-08:00

We just got this email the other day and I totally had to share! We love it when our customers find the same love that we have for all of our WAHM’s.

I Have a new favorite diaper rash and dry skin solution! It happened like this:

I got my son up in the morning and changed his diaper to find a VERY red, VERY swollen penis in that diaper. The poor boy screamed in pain any time I so much as touched him, which made diaper changes interesting. I immediately reached for the CJ's Tube o' BUTTer, only to discover that we were nearly out! What to do?! I called Jess: "I have a horrible diaper rash on my hands and I'm almost out of CJ's! Help!" Then I headed out to Top to Bottom.

Jess had just got in a bunch of new products and one of them was CJ's Spray BUTTer. Perfect! I can spray it on to take care of the diaper rash and I don't have to rub or wipe it on.

Turns out, it was no regular diaper rash. My little man has extremely dry skin. So dry that it cracks and bleeds. Not fun... The doctor suggested we put Vaseline on it EVERY time we change his diaper. That's all fine and dandy, but Vaseline is heavy and messy and somehow, my son always gets his feet in it before I can cover him up with the diaper. Not to mention I would have to use a liner with his cloth diapers all the time. So, I tried the CJ's Spray Butter.

It works wonders! Three sprays with every diaper change, and no more dry skin. Plus, it smells fantastic! When I'm out and I change a diaper, someone almost always asks "did someone spray air freshener?" They're amazed when I tell them it's my diaper cream. I also love how easy it is to keep in my diaper bag. It makes less mess on my hands when we're out and it's much faster than a tube. I'm officially hooked!

-Amanda Kloke, local mom

Baby Greek

2010-12-07T19:30:00.001-08:00

Hi. My name is Megan and I want to use cloth diapers.

Jess: You have to buy Rumparooz® wet bags and pail liners Me: What exactly are wet bags for?
Jess: Wet clothes
Me: Right. And…?

Extent of my cloth knowledge: Disposables bad, Cloth good.

There you go. That’s it. Even though I’ve listened to Jess talk about everything cloth diaper for the last year it didn’t sink in, because well I was NEVER going to have another baby.

Surprise my daughter hit 3 and I want another baby. I’m lucky enough that my wants have aligned with possibility, so now we’re trying. Now before my daughter was born, I was type A. After surviving her infancy and toddlerhood, I’m uber type-A. Like relentless. My Nook, has bookshelves organized by subject then by author. I’m probably crazy, but that’s how I keep My-Bee (my daughter) alive.

A little bit of back story- My husband is a writer, and shortly after My-Bee was born we moved from Kansas, to Brooklyn, NY. Cloth was not an option for us. We lived in an apartment that didn’t have a washer and dryer, in fact the washer and dryer were 3 blocks away in a horrible neighborhood called “East NY.” We lived at the corner of Pitkin and Schenk, pronounced Skank. What? Yeah Skank, well I suppose it could be shank, but that’s not much better.

Did I mention prostitutes worked out of the bathrooms in this Laundromat? Yeah there was NO way I was walking down there every two to three days to wash diapers. Instead I was OBSESSIVE about changing My-Bee, which means Nate became obsessive about how much diapers cost.

Well 3 years later we are living in Los Angeles (for the most part) the Mecca of all things hippie, including the environment, and why not? Have you see what the human species has done to LA?

When we started talking about a new baby, I started dropping hints like “what do you think about cloth diapering” and “do you really want to go back to buying diapers?” and “diapers are so expensive. I guess we could do cloth” in order to appeal to my husband’s inner cheap-o. It worked. It got him to agree to cloth. I just needed time for him to come around “by himself.”

Ok now what? Google of course. I’m an intelligent woman I can research this shiz right? The first Google search got me confused. My follow up call to Jess had me more confused.

Ok so I was going to try the newborn rental package and she uses the pail system (what? No diaper genie?) and only fitteds (ok… ) and huh?

This is like Baby Greek to me people. I have no idea what I’m doing, or looking at. I don’t yet understand the difference between fitteds, and all in ones, and inserts, and why I can’t use my All Free and Clear soap, and, and, and… The real problem for me is that I learn by seeing, and I don’t understand things if I can’t see them.

So in addition to my twice daily calls to Jess, I’m looking for a physical store in LA or NYC. But until I find one, or several, I’ll be looking at Top to Bottom Baby Boutique’s website and trying to figure out the differences between the products.

Oh, and keeping you updated on my progress, or just the panicky calls to Jess whichever happens more often.

Megan Mascorro-Jackson is wife, sister, daughter, a stay at home mom to one sweet little girl. Just relocated from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, but she tends to be a bit bicoastal. After deciding to try for another child, Megan convinced her husband that cloth was the way to go. Come along on her journey though the rabbit hole of cloth diapers.

Cloth Diapering a Newborn – Preparation

2010-11-20T09:43:00.001-08:00

When my daughter Nola came along, I knew I wanted to use cloth diapers. For me, it was largely an economical decision. Everyone thought I was crazy. Without much support, I doubted myself a little, but once I started researching the cute factor pushed me over the edge! I really had no idea what would really work or not work with her, so I had a mish mosh of options. I tried a few things when she was a newborn, but they didn't work well and I got discouraged. When she was about three months old, I finally knew what I wanted and stocked up on easy to use BumGenius 3.0 all-in-ones. With all the experience I got with Nola, I feel confident to dive into cloth with my second baby right from the get go.

Here's my plan...

Supplies

I stocked up with 14 Lil' Joey all in one diapers from Rumparooz. I chose these diapers for three reasons.

Number 1: Convenience. With Nola, I realized that what worked for me was for the diaper to be as convenient as possible. I didn't do well with covers, or liners, or pre-folds. They overwhelmed me and made me feel like a little bit of a failure. Once I got my 12 BumGenius 3.0 with Nola I felt so successful! I used them exclusively, even when we were out. I felt such gratitude from the planet. :)

Number 2: Sizing is important to me. My husband was a little hesitant to invest in the Lil' Joeys because they won't fit very long. But I'm a little bit vain, and I like my babies to look cute in their diapers. When Nola was a newborn, all the diapers I had looked just HUGE on her, and it made me not want to use them, especially when friends and family came to meet her. Yep. Forget the earth. My baby was going to look cute! These diapers should be just right for a newborn tushie to look it's best. In the picture, the diapers are laying beside a newborn size onesie.

Number 3: Umbilical cord. You just never know how long that thing will hold on. And it just looks so tender, I never wanted anything to touch it, if possible. The Lil' Joeys have a snap down in front for just that reason.

To round out my stash, I also bought two covers, a Thirsties Duo Wrap in size 1, and a Bummis Super Brite in newborn size. These are both very, very small. With these, I bought some tiny pre-folds. I got a steal of a deal on some used ones at Top To Bottom's Fluff Again event in October. Since I have experience now, I don't think it will overwhelm me to use these occasionally when all my Lil' Joeys are in the wash.

Expectations

I am going to take a couple of Lil' Joeys with me to the hospital. I don't plan on using them during my hospital stay, but I would love to take my new baby home wearing one. (And have an extra in case we don't make it all the way home without a blow out. :) I may use some liners the first few days, as well. Just until I know for sure that the meconium stage is over, and I'll only have easy peasy breast-fed poo to deal with. I would hate to stain my beautiful new diapers, and I really hope we'll be blessed enough to use them again someday.

I am taking a little bit of a gamble by investing in so many diapers without trying them. Experienced cloth mamas will advise against this. My problem is, my nesting urges have really overtaken me and I want to be READY the minute this baby comes. I want to be fully stocked, and not have to do any diaper shopping during those first few weeks. It's such a short stage anyway, I'm afraid if I don't get stocked ahead of time, my baby will outgrow them before I get around to ordering more.

Aside from stocking up on diapers I know I'll use for a newborn, this time around I'm going to use cloth wipes. I thought it sounded too hard last time. But really, it's pretty annoying to have to find a trashcan to throw your disposable wipes in when changing a cloth diaper. With cloth wipes, they can just get thrown in your dirty pail or wet bag with your diapers. And you're already washing diapers, why not add a few measly wipes? I got some wipes and wipes solution at the Fluff Again event to give it a whirl. I also got some Rockin' Green laundry soap while I was at the Fluff Again event (I really stocked up there! I grabbed a new wet bag, too!). Last time I used Tide for washing. I've heard such rave reviews for Rockin' Green I decided to try it out this time around.

So that's my plan...I'll let you know how it all pans out...:)

By: Charity
Watch for the next installments of this diapering a newborn series.

Bummis Trainer review.

2010-11-09T05:48:00.001-08:00

Recently we chose a few of our fellow bloggers to help us out on some reviews. Read what Jenny thought of the Bummis Training Pants:

I was lucky to be able to try a Bummis trainer on Audrianna. It is really difficult to find the right training pants for her because she has cerebral palsy and is working very hard on potty training but isn’t 100% there yet. So sometimes she forgets and has accidents and sometimes there major accidents. We’re always on the lookout for a trainer that might be more absorbent.

When we got the Bummis Trainer in the mail I was a bit shocked at the size, it looked so big. Audrianna was close to 40lbs so I wanted to make sure we had one that would fit her. I went ahead and prepped the trainer anyways. I figured why not give it a shot it, it never hurts to try right?????

Although the gals of Top to Bottom Baby had warned me they ran a little big, I have to admit the trainer didn’t work and I was a little upset. The trainer was a little loose around the legs and when Audrianna would have a little accident it would leak. We decided to put them away for a while, and try again later.

Now that she has gained some weight back we decided to give the trainer another shot. The trainer worked great, and didn’t leave any marks on Audrianna’s legs.

Pros:

They were easy to put on and take off all by herself! Anything that is easy for Audrianna to do is a plus in my book. She loves to be independent.

Cozy flannel lining is so soft against skin, which encourages your little one to potty train faster!

Cons:

The sizing was not what I expected. I got a large which should fit 40lbs & up, but I felt it fit more like 45lbs and up.

I wasn’t a fan of the prints to choose from. I kind of wish they had more of a selection of prints. Other then just white, jungle, or the frogs. Maybe making them more appealing to kids to use would be helpful.

Amanda from Top to Bottom Baby was great to work with and the trainer was shipped fast. All my questions were answered very well. I was not compensated anyway for my review and the opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone.

Let’s give something away!!!!
We’ve decided we’re going to give away a $20.00 gift card to the store!

Mandatory Entry:
Tell us what training pants you’ve used, or tricks that you have heard help potty train faster!

Extra Entries:
(see complete list of all rules for extra entries here) Please leave one comment per entry unless noted

Follow our blog via Google Friend Connect
Grab our button and let us know where you have it!
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on twitter @toptobottombaby
Tweet about this giveaway: “What #pottytraining trainers do you love? Tell us your tips. http://bit.ly/b57VCf @toptobottombaby is giving away a $20 gc. #clothdiapers” (up to 4x/day)
Make a purchase from our store (5 entries per item)

**Giveaway is open to US residents only. Ends November 20th at 9pm CST.**

Great Cloth Diaper Hunt (GCDH)

2010-10-31T12:05:00.001-07:00

As we told you all earlier last month, we’re going to be a sponsor for Diaper Decisions, Great Cloth Diaper Hunt. So I thought I would share some useful tips as well as links to help you through the hunt.

(This is the icon you’ll be looking for)

What is the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt??
It is a virtual scavenger hunt dedicated to introducing customers to the wonderful world of WAHM’s, as well as all of the many new products in the baby and children industry.

What do I do?

First thing you want to do is register to hunt: Click on the link to be taken to the official page where you will need to enter your name, address and email address.
When the Hunt starts ( 10am CST, November 1st, 2010) you will simply look through each website listed on the Sponsor Page and then locate the Diaper Decisions Icon. Once you find the icon, simply click on the icon. It will then take you to the official verification page where you will have to enter your email address.
Find as many as you can, and do them in whichever way is easiest for you to remember.

Help?! I cannot find an Icon.
Each sponsor was asked to only put the icon 4 clicks away from the home page. But sometimes they’ve got clues that can trick you. If you ever get stuck on a clue head over to the Diaper Decisions Forum, where you will find a Fourm dedicated to giving clues! Or if you’d rather email the sponsor go ahead and do that too!

How do I check my progress?
Click on the Check your Progress Link!

There are so many. How long do I have to find them all??
The hunt runs through November 30th. You have until then to find all the icons, click on the icon, and hit sumbit.

These are just a few questions that are helpful for you along your journey of the Hunt! We hope that we can be of assistance to you along the way.

Top to Bottom Baby Boutique will also be offering up a discount code to all hunters who register. You will be given the code when you register for the Hunt. It will be valid through December 31st, 2010. Also be watching our Facebook Page as we will be sponsoring a daily giveaway to go along with the hunt!

If you get stuck on any of our clues please feel free to email Amanda or Jess, and we’ll respond as soon as we can. You can also find our Hint Forum here.

10 Days of WAHM Giveaways Winners

2010-10-19T20:43:00.001-07:00

First of all let me say a HUGE thank you to all of you who participated in our giveaways. We had so much fun getting everything together and sharing more info on all our WAHM’s!

Lets get this started! Winners have 48 hours to email me (toptobottombaby@cox.net) with their mailing address and which giveaway they won. All claims made after that will be forfeited, and a new winner will be chosen!

Winner of the Buddha Bunz Giveaway:
A pair of undyed dryer balls in your choice.

Winner of the Alioop Giveaway:
1oz package of my Wool Wash Wondercubes in any scent.

Winner of the Nifty Nappy Giveaway:
A fitted diaper and a pair of custom longies

Winner of the Ella Belly Giveaway:
A kid-sized baby carrier.

Winner CJ’s All Natural Giveaway:
A Spritz o' BUTTer a large stick and a create-your-own sampler in your choice of scents

Winner Bunky Fluff Giveaway:
A fleece soaker and some Halloween baby legs

Winner Bee By Me Couture Giveaway:
A minky burp cloth and pacifier clip.

Winner Wee Essentials Giveaway:
A medium jar of soap bits with a set of 10 of new surged 6" by 6" flannel/terry wipes.

Winner Monkey Snuggles Giveaway:
A Monkey Snuggles Overnight Fitted

Winner of the Green Bell Giveaway:
Pair of 10” Dryer Balls in Green & Purple

Pair of Dryer Balls with scented ball

WAHM Day 10 Buddha Bunz

2010-10-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the final day of our 10 day long spotlight on all our great WAHM’s. Here at Top to Bottom Baby Boutique we pride ourselves on working with WAHM’s and helping them to spread the love for their products. What better way to spread the love than to give something away! We’re also going to have a 5% discount on each of our WAHM products through October 10th. (no code necessary)
Meet our Tenth WAHM run business:

The Mom behind it all: Melinda Allen
Tell us about yourself: Hi, I'm Melinda, Mama behind Buddha Bunz. I am Mommy to Kya, Ryan and Jake,future wife to Chris and firefighter in Lincoln County Tennessee. Buddha Bunz was started after I left my corporate job behind when I was 36 weeks pregnant with Jake. I loved being a SAHM, I loved when all I had to do was go on playdates, take Jake to the park or hang out with our friends, but I felt another calling. We were using cloth diapers and loving all of the new things that the world of cloth diapering was opening up to us. All of the wonderful respected WAHM's with their cute businesses and products that made me feel so much better about the products that were in our home. All of the handmade wonderful stuff that was made with love by a WAHM. I had a local friend that owned a cloth diaper business where I first bought my diapers in New Braunfels TX and when I would come over I would see a few packages sitting at the door of her house and think to myself.. WOW.. I would love to have a business like that.. sending packages out every few days, how awesome!
I started making Jake's wipe solution at home, I never bought any, never tried any other's before. I let a friend use it and she suggested I start selling it, another friend had just asked if I would join a congo with her on Hyena Cart and I did.. and Buddha Bunz began! I really didn't know where Buddha Bunz would go.. I can't sew so I can't make diapers.. I didn't have the start up cash to buy a bunch of diapers.. I could paint.. I could make candles.. but paintings and candles are just too expensive to ship.. I didn't know where we were going, but I joined the congo.. I thought what the hey.. if I sell a few wipe solutions I can buy a diaper or two. Then I added wool wash. Then lanolin spray. Then boo boo spray.. and a year later wool dryer balls.. and I have never looked back. Dryer balls are perfect, they are eco-friendly, something everyone can use and I can needle felt and do my art! I had hoped that I would find my 'thing' one day and I can't believe I had finally found it!
That was 3 years ago this past July. Never in my dreams would I imagine that my little goal of sending out a few packages a week would turn into sending out 100's of orders.. having over 40 retailers, dryer balls being sold and distributed in 5 countries and a band of Mama's behind me or that my products would be sold in the stores that I looked up to and shopped from just a few years ago. I NEVER thought that this would be me.. that I would be a 'brand'.. that I would be able to send out a product that is so eco-friendly that actually HELPS people and that I would be so amazingly blessed. I am so honored to have so many wonderful customers and friends. When you become a WAHM you naturally think of money that you want (or need) to make, but you don't think about all of the friends and amazing people you will get to meet and in the cloth diaper world I have met some of the most wonderful and inspiring people ever!

Products Top to Bottom Baby Boutique Carries:

Budda Bunz Dryer Balls

_________________________
Melinda was nice enough to offer up a pair of undyed dryer balls in the scent of your choice.

MANDATORY ENTRY:
Tell us: What is your favorite way to dry your diapers?

Extra Entries:
(see complete list of all rules for extra entries here)

Please leave one comment per entry unless noted

Follow our blog via Google Friend Connect
Grab our button and let us know where you have it!
If you grabbed our special event button be sure to post 10 comments
Follow us on Facebook
Follow Buddha Bunz on Facebook
Follow us on twitter @toptobottombaby
Make a purchase from our store (5 entries per item) Purchase any Buddha Bunz dryer ball (10 entries per ) Tweet about this giveaway. “10 days of #WAHM #clothdiapers giveaways from @toptobottombaby . Last day is Buddha Bunz enter now! http://bit.ly/9uXmv5”
Up to 4 times per day!

Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only. Ends October 17th at 9pm CST.

WAHM Day 9 - Alioop

2010-10-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to day 9 of our 10 day long spotlight on all our great WAHM’s. Here at Top to Bottom Baby Boutique we pride ourselves on working with WAHM’s and helping them to spread the love for their products. What better way to spread the love than to give something away! We’re also going to have a 5% discount on each of our WAHM products through October 10th. (no code necessary)
Meet our Nineth WAHM run business:

The Mom behind it all: Cheri Gould
Tell us about yourself: “I love kids clothes! I love cloth diapers! I have also taken my love for natural bath and body products, and created a line of soaps, lotions and perfumes that are safe, and natural....with as few ingredients as possible to limit sensitivities.
All of my products are tested and used in my home and have my sensitive skin stamp of approval! I have a complete line of wool care products that are loaded with Lanolin including my revolutionary Wool Wash Wondercubes!
And, I love sewing, knitting, crochet and creating. I search for fun fabrics, organic when possible, and craft up the cutest kids clothing; cute fleece longies with matching T-shirts, unique fleece overalls and snuggley stay-put soft sole shoes.”

Products Top to Bottom Baby Boutique Carries:

Wool Wash Wondercubes
______________________________
Cheri would like to giveaway a 1oz package of my Wool Wash Wondercubes in any scent.

MANDATORY ENTRY:
Tell us:
How do you wash your woolies?

Extra Entries:
(see complete list of all rules for extra entries here)
Please leave one comment per entry unless noted

Make a purchase from our store (5 entries per item)
Purchase any Alioop Product (10 entries per )
Tweet about this giveaway. “10 days of #WAHM #clothdiapers giveaways from @toptobottombaby . Day 9 is Alioop enter now! http://bit.ly/9uXmv5”

Up to 4 times per day!
Hop on our Facebook page, and tell us what you’d like to see if we were to do 10 days of giveaways again!

Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only. Ends October 17th at 9pm CST.

TODAY ONLY :

use code “Alioop” for 10% off your order of any Alioop Products!!

WAHM Day 8 – Nifty Nappy

2010-10-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to day 8 of our 10 day long spotlight on all our great WAHM’s. Here at Top to Bottom Baby Boutique we pride ourselves on working with WAHM’s and helping them to spread the love for their products. What better way to spread the love than to give something away! We’re also going to have a 5% discount on each of our WAHM products through October 10th. (no code necessary)
Meet our Eighth WAHM run business:

The Mom behind it all: Vilate Thacker
Tell us about yourself: “I got my first introduction to cloth diapers when I was like 7 or 8 and had to change my little brothers diapers. They were prefolds with pins and plastic covers. When we got disposables I was so excited and swore to NEVER use cloth diapers! But when we were first married and in college. With one baby and another on the way we needed to save some money. I found a pattern for a fitted diaper so I made it up with diaper flannel and velcro.... and yes nasty plastic pants!
When I found pocket diapers I thought they were the best thing in the world, and I knew I could make them. I bought some fabrics and an industrial snap press and when to work. I used these for a couple more of my kids. I learned a lot from those first diapers. In my desire to find more information I discovered wool covers, and fell in love. Then with the freedom of Wool covers I found Hemp and Bamboo. I started on a new design of cloth diaper. I took the time to learn the qualities of these new natural fabrics so I could know how best to use them. Now I could have an amazing absorbent fitted cloth diaper and a natural breathable cover. I was overjoyed! My new cloth diapers I made worked great! I couldn’t believe how good they were.
After all this work and effort I decided to make up some cloth diapers and try to sell them. They worked great for my last four kids maybe other people would want a nice diaper too. I started selling my cloth diapers on etsy and eventually I was getting enough business I felt I could justify a website. I played around with a name and decided on Nifty Nappy Cloth Diapers, because these diapers are just so “nifty”. It has just grown from there. I now have active Nifty Nappy retailers and I am adding more all the time.
So you ask, “What do I like most about what I do?”. I love the interaction I have with other mothers. I love that I can help them determine what is best for their families and live a greener lifestyle. "Why do I do it?" I LOVE it! I love my job! It is so fun to be able to love what you do. It has been so fun watching my business grow. I love working with my retailers. The cloth diapering community is amazing and they are all so supportive of one another. In the end though, I think I want to sell my diapers because I think they are: Absorbent, Breathable, very CUTE! The ABC’s of Cloth Diapering.

Products Top to Bottom Baby Boutique Carries:

Snappy SwimEaze, Nifty Nappy Fitteds

Nifty Nappy Woolie Wraps

Other Products you make:

Peachy Keen Pocket Diapers, Bitty Bums Newborn Diapers
______________________

Vilate was nice enough to offer up fitted diaper and a pair of custom longies to one lucky reader!

MANDATORY ENTRY:
Tell us:
What is your favorite wool product?? (Amanda LOVES the Woolie Wraps by Nifty Nappy!)

Extra Entries:
(see complete list of all rules for extra entries here)
Please leave one comment per entry unless noted

Make a purchase from our store (5 entries per item)
Purchase any Nifty Nappy product (10 entries per )
Tweet about this giveaway. “10 days of #WAHM #clothdiapers giveaways from @toptobottombaby . Day 8 is Nifty Nappy enter now! http://bit.ly/9uXmv5”

Up to 4 times per day!
Hop on our Facebook page, and show us your favorite wool piece! TODAY only. (5 extra entries)

Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only. Ends October 17th at 9pm CST.

TODAY ONLY :

use code “NiftyNappy” for 10% off your order of any Nifty Nappy Product!!

WAHM Day 7 - Ella Belly

2010-10-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to day 7 of our 10 day long spotlight on all our great WAHM’s. Here at Top to Bottom Baby Boutique we pride ourselves on working with WAHM’s and helping them to spread the love for their products. What better way to spread the love than to give something away! We’re also going to have a 5% discount on each of our WAHM products through October 10th. (no code necessary)
Meet our Seventh WAHM run business:

The Mom behind it all: Kelly Huges
Tell us about yourself: “After my daughter Ella was born, we started babywearing right away. We tried ring slings, pouch carriers, soft-structured carriers, mei tais, wraps and just about everything in between. My husband was a good sport and tested out all the carriers right along with me. My mom used a ring sling with me and my little brother—and I always knew that I wanted to wear by baby...it was just a matter of finding the right carrier.
With the reality of a new baby, it became an absolute necessity. It can be downright exhausting to hold a baby in your arms all day long. Plus, it’s nearly impossible to get anything done! That’s why I'm so passionate about babywearing. I can keep Ella close and happy while grocery shopping, running errands, doing laundry—all hands-free!
I created the Ella Belly Mei Tai carrier when Ella was a few months old. I just wasn't able to find the PERFECT carrier for us, and I knew that other parents probably felt the same way. After drafting a pattern and testing the product, I found that there was definitely a market for Ella Belly. Customers love the ability to choose two prints on this fully-reversible carrier. The padded shoulder straps provide comfort for hours of babywearing, and the leg padding gives your little one the comfiest ride!
After a number of customer requests, I released the CLICK, a half-buckle version with fold-down headrest. Over the past year, I've loved seeing dozens of Moms and Dads enjoying using the Ella Belly carrier. And with the impending debut of Ella Belly's full-buckle Soft-Structured Carrier, I look forward to many more parents discovering the joys of babywearing.

Products Top to Bottom Baby Boutique Carries:

Ella Belly Mai-Tai, Ella Belly Click
______________________

Kelly was nice enough to offer up kid-sized baby carrier to one lucky reader!

MANDATORY ENTRY:
Tell us:
What is your husbands favorite carrier, if he doesn’t wear baby, what is yours?

Extra Entries:
(see complete list of all rules for extra entries here)
Please leave one comment per entry unless noted

Make a purchase from our store (5 entries per item)
Purchase any Ella Belly Carrier (10 entries per )
Tweet about this giveaway. “10 days of #WAHM #clothdiapers giveaways from @toptobottombaby . Day 7 is Ella Belly enter now! http://bit.ly/9uXmv5”

Up to 4 times per day!
Hop on our Facebook page, and show us your favorite wool piece! TODAY only. (5 extra entries)

Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only. Ends October 17th at 9pm CST.

WAHM Day 6 – CJ’s All Natural

2010-10-06T07:14:00.001-07:00

Welcome to day 6 of our 10 day long spotlight on all our great WAHM’s. Here at Top to Bottom Baby Boutique we pride ourselves on working with WAHM’s and helping them to spread the love for their products. What better way to spread the love than to give something away! REMEBER:We’re also going to have a 5% discount on each of our WAHM products through October 10th. (no code necessary)
Meet our Sixth WAHM run business:

The Mom behind it all: CJ Miller
Tell us about yourself: “I am a married, semi-crunchy momma of 3, working out of my home in Colorado Springs, CO. I am a huge advocate of cloth diapering, and have cloth-diapered all three of my kiddos over the last 5 years. We still cd our special needs 3 year old, as well as our nephew, whom we care for on weekdays.
My business started out on the sewing side of things, hence the name "CJ's Sewing Room, Inc". All of my 'main products' came about as a solution to a problem I encountered and it turned out that other parents shared these problems. Thus the Travel Trench (and CJ's Sewing Room, Inc.) was born.
Our kids also have EXTREMELY sensitive skin. Our oldest could only wear disposable pull-ups to bed because in cloth, he would wake up with a horrible rash in the morning from the wetness. At the time, I couldn't find any cream that was safe for cloth diapers, either. So I set out on a mission to create one for my kids. After much trial and error, I figured out a recipe that kept all my kids in cloth!! Since I already had a website and business, I thought I'd see if others found it as 'miraculous' as I did. It was our miracle cure, and after some tweaking and testing, we discovered that others loved it, too. Our customers are really the ones who have found all the many uses for it! It's always fun when someone reports a new use for CJ's BUTTer. The saying around our house is if there's a problem.....put BUTTer on it!
I love a challenge, and enjoy finding ways to introduce natural and safe products that actually work to the mainstream market! We're so excited to see where this endeavor will take us!”
Products Top to Bottom Baby Boutique Carries:

CJ’s All Natural BUTT-er
Woolie Revitalizer Lanolin spray – Just arrived yesterday

Other products you make:

Creamy Lotion, Body/Wipes wash, Bug Spray, Lip Balm, Sea Salts, Milk Bath, Olive Oil Bar Soap, and All Purpose Cleaner
_________________________
CJ was nice enough to offer up a Spritz o' BUTTer a large stick and a create-your-own sampler
in your choice of scents

MANDATORY ENTRY:
Tell us: What other uses you have for your diaper cream?

Extra Entries:
(see complete list of all rules for extra entries here)
Please leave one comment per entry unless noted

Make a purchase from our store (5 entries per item)
Preorder any Bunky Fluff Diaper (10 entries per )
Tweet about this giveaway. “10 days of #WAHM #clothdiapers giveaways from @toptobottombaby . Day 6 is CJ's All Natural BUTTer, enter now! http://bit.ly/bXPVqU” Up to 4 times per day!
Hop on our Facebook page, and post a picture of your little one in the bath! (please make them appropriate!)
TODAY only. (5 extra entries)

Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only. Ends October 17th at 9pm CST.

TODAY ONLY :

use code “CJDiaperCream” for 10% off your order of diaper cream from CJ’s All Natural!

WAHM Day 5 – Bunky Fluff

2010-10-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to day 5 of our 10 day long spotlight on all our great WAHM’s. Here at Top to Bottom Baby Boutique we pride ourselves on working with WAHM’s and helping them to spread the love for their products. What better way to spread the love than to give something away! We’re also going to have a 5% discount on each of our WAHM products through October 10th. (no code necessary)
Meet our Fifth WAHM run business:
*Bunky Fluff is our newest WAHM retailer, in fact so new, that our order is still in the mail! We were so excited when we added them, that it got us thinking about our huge celebration. We will do another blog post on them in the near future!*
The Mom behind it all: Caroline Hoffman
Tell us about yourself: “My cloth diaper making adventure all started when I was about 6 months pregnant, which about October 2009. I had already decided I was going to cloth diaper and had a pretty good stash built up. I then started researching on how I could make my own. Funny thing is I didn't even own a sewing machine! So lucky me my husband bought me one for Christmas and I started to make my own diapers.

I announced to all my co-workers of my dream of making and selling them online. Most of them laughed at me and took bets on how long I would last at cloth diapering to begin with. So I began to sew, it was a lot of trial and error, about 2 months worth and before I knew it February came and so did my little one. I took a break from sewing and focused on my new arrival. While I was on maternity from my full time job I received a phone call from work with bad news. The company decided to layoff 300 people in my building and I was one of them. I actually really enjoyed my job, but on the other hand the timing was kind of good because deep down I also wanted to stay home and enjoy my son. So with no job to go back to I decided to start back up on making diapers in hopes to sell them.

I started out making them for my son, then I invested in a serger to be able to make soakers for AI2's and fitteds, and from there it took off. I finally had a product I was proud of, and sent out to testers for approval. Everyone seemed to like them so I started making more of them and just selling them as I go. I also have started to make fleece soakers, upcycled wool soakers and pockets. Right now my main focus is Fitteds, AI2's, and babylegs. I am also a consultant for Tastefully Simple, which is another job I do on the side. My goal in the end is to be able to be a work at home mom selling cloth diapers.
Products Top to Bottom Baby Boutique Carries:

Bunky Fluff Fitteds – Arriving Soon!
__________________

Caroline was nice enough to offer up a fleece soaker and some Halloween baby legs to one lucky reader!

MANDATORY ENTRY:
Tell us:
When using fitteds, do you prefer to let your little one run around without a cover to show off the cuteness, or do you buy cute covers to cover them in?

Extra Entries:
(see complete list of all rules for extra entries here)
Please leave one comment per entry unless noted

Make a purchase from our store (5 entries per item)
Preorder any Bunky Fluff Diaper (10 entries per )
Tweet about this giveaway. “10 days of #WAHM #clothdiapers giveaways from @toptobottombaby . Day 5 is a new retailer Bunky Fluff, enter now! http://bit.ly/cOwCDr” Up to 4 times per day!
Hop on our Facebook page, and tell us the reason why you love fitted diapers. TODAY only. (5 extra entries)

Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only. Ends October 17th at 9pm CST.

*We are currently taking preorders. Our order is in the mail, and should be arriving any day!! So please email us if you would like to see pictures of the prints we have in stock, and get your hands on these new cute fitteds!*

TODAY ONLY :

use code “BunkyFluff” for 10% off your pre-order of a new fitted from

Bunky Fluff!

WAHM Day 4 – Bee by Me Couture

2010-10-04T07:51:00.001-07:00

Welcome to day 4 of our 10 day long spotlight on all our great WAHM’s. Here at Top to Bottom Baby Boutique we pride ourselves on working with WAHM’s and helping them to spread the love for their products. What better way to spread the love than to give something away! We’re also going to have a 5% discount on each of our WAHM products through October 10th. (no code necessary)
Meet our Fourth WAHM run business:

The Mom behind it all: Holly VanAckeren Sutter
Tell us about yourself: “After our son Owen was born, I was so excited to use the baby carriers I had gotten as gifts. While doing my normal everyday chores and errand running, I quickly learned they were not as functional nor comfortable and Owen was flopping around with little head support. My husband and I decided to do some research to find another carrier that fit my needs better. We came across baby wearing using fabric that tied around my body to carry Owen. This concept looked very comfortable but I wanted something with flare! With little luck finding a fun carrier, I began experimenting with my own ideas.
That's when we created the very first Bee By Me wrap. I started wearing it everywhere I went and as people saw Owen and I, we would get many compliments and questions about our wrap.Bee By Me Couture began because of our love for the wrap and also its comfort and versatility! Designed with today's mom in mind they are a great way to carry your baby while showing off your personality!

*Yes, Holly’s picture is bigger than the rest….but you see we had to push back this post a couple days. Holly is now holding Jocelyn in her arms instead of in her belly! Jocelyn was born October 1st weighing in at 9lbs 7.8 oz and was 22 in long! AND Holly did it all natural!*

We have extended our products to include matching nursing covers, burp cloths, pacifier clips, and blankets for car seats or your child's Lovey. Bee By Me Couture is sure that you will get practical use, comfort and versatility out of our products, while showing off your flare for fashion.”

Products Top to Bottom Baby Boutique Carries: Bee By Me Couture Wraps

Other Products you make:

Minky burp cloths, Pacifier Clips
Minky Blankets
_______________________________

Holly was nice enough to offer up a minky burp cloth and pacifier clip to one lucky reader!

MANDATORY ENTRY:
Tell us:
When do you wear your baby the most? (outings, during naps, cleaning the house, ect.)

Extra Entries:
(see complete list of all rules for extra entries here)
Please leave one comment per entry unless noted

Make a purchase from our store (5 entries per item)
Purchase any Bee By Me Couture Wrap (10 entries per )
Tweet about this giveaway. “10 days of #WAHM #clothdiapers giveaways from @toptobottombaby . Day 4 is Bee By Me Couture enter now! http://bit.ly/cFh3jJ” Up to 4 times per day!
Hop on our Facebook page, and upload a picture of you wearing your little one. TODAY only. (5 extra entries)

Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only. Ends October 17th at 9pm CST.

WAHM Day 3 – Wee Essentials

2010-10-03T09:44:00.001-07:00

Welcome to day 3 of our 10 day long spotlight on all our great WAHM’s. Here at Top to Bottom Baby Boutique we pride ourselves on working with WAHM’s and helping them to spread the love for their products. What better way to spread the love than to give something away! We’re also going to have a 5% discount on each of our WAHM products through October 10th. (no code necessary)

Meet our third WAHM run business:

The Mom Behind it All: Candice Mangum

Tell us about yourself: “I actually got started in this business quite by accident. I was making soap to sell at craft fairs and at the same time, I had just started cloth diapering my first son, who was 2. I had some extra soap left over after pouring it in the molds, and threw the extra in an empty container. I realized I could cut them in bits for wipe solution cubes, and when they didn't sell at the craft fairs, I put them on etsy just to fill up my shop. My first sale on Etsy was those soap bits!

Since then, I've also designed my own cloth menstrual pad line, incorporating what I thought was the best of all the other lines I've purchased in the past, and then several other lines of washable, reusable items. My biggest seller is my soap bit line, but I also sell many other lines dedicated to all things cloth - cloth wipes, wet bags, wool wash bars, lanolin, cloth menstrual pads and my popular Ultrathin panty liners, cloth nursing pads, and more! It's fun, and the variety keeps things interesting!

As a business, I know my primary goal should be to make money, and that's certainly one of my goals. ;) But more than anything, I'd like to share my products with others because I know they have raised my quality of life while saving money. Reusable products, like my menstrual pads, are more comfortable, while being free of chemicals I have found have had negative side effects on my body and my children's bodies. If I can convince someone to switch to a cloth, reusable product rather than use a disposable product - even if they go somewhere else to buy it - I have met my goal!”

Products Top to Bottom Baby Boutique Carries :

Wipes Cubes, COMMING SOON: Wool Wash Bars

Other Products you make:

Custom Wipes, Solid Lanolin

Custom Nursing Pads, Custom Menstrual Pads
Soothing Sinus Relief Balm, Triple Pocket Wet Bags

*If there is any product you see that we do not carry, email us and we can get it for you! :) *
_____________________________________

Candice was nice enough to offer up a medium jar of soap bits with a set of 10 of new surged 6" by 6" flannel/terry wipes.

MANDATORY ENTRY:
Tell us:
How do use your cloth wipes? Or what’s holding you back from trying cloth wipes?

Extra Entries:
(see complete list of all rules for extra entries here)
Please leave one comment per entry unless noted

Make a purchase from our store (5 entries per item)
Purchase any Wee Essentials (10 entries per item)
Tweet about this giveaway. “10 days of #WAHM #clothdiapers giveaways from @toptobottombaby . Day 3 is Wee Essentials wipes cubes! enter now! http://bit.ly/98RUqm” Up to 4 times per day!

Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only. Ends October 17th at 9pm CST.

WAHM Day 2 – Monkey Snuggles

2010-10-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to day 2 of our 10 day long spotlight on all our great WAHM’s. Here at Top to Bottom Baby Boutique we pride ourselves on working with WAHM’s and helping them to spread the love for their products. What better way to spread the love than to give something away!
Meet our Second WAHM run business:

The Mom behind it all: ReneeTowers
Tell us about yourself: “I started cloth diapering when I became pregnant with my youngest child, facing the prospect of having two babies in diapers. I happened to see a cloth diaper cover on Etsy one day and a light bulb went off. Cloth diapers . . . I'm not sure why it hadn't occurred to me sooner. We switched to cloth soon after and with my mother as my business partner we started Monkey Snuggles and sold our first diaper on Etsy less than a month before Jack was born. When we were first starting out I asked my grandmother if she wanted to help us make wool diaper covers since she's constantly knitting. She said "oh, like the ones we used in the fifties?" and she's knit well over a hundred of them in the past few years. Now my sister helps out as well.

We of course carry our fabulous bamboo/cotton fitteds in regular and overnight absorbency as well as our Super Stretch one-size-fits-most wool soakers, cloth wipes, and wetbags. We also have an assortment of longies and shorties and other one of a kind woolies and will soon be introducing some basic PUL diaper covers. We are preparing to discontinue our sized pocket diapers, but will continue to carry the one-size pockets for the time being.

Our goal is to provide practical - and cute - diapers to families all over the world (we have shipped diapers to 6 continents!) and to help raise awareness for cloth diapering in general. It now seems crazy to me that in the first year of my daughter's life I never once considered cloth.”

Top to Bottom Baby Boutique is also Monkey Snuggles top U.S. Retailer. Which means you’ll find the biggest selection right here!

Products Top to Bottom Baby Boutique Carries:

Overnight Fitted Diapers , Fitted Diapers

COMING SOON : Wool Longies, Wool Super Stretch Soaker

Wipes (package of 5), One Size Pocket Diaper

Other things you make:

Wet Bags in Small, Medium, and Large

*If there is any product you see that we do not carry, email us and we can get it for you! :) *
_________________________________________

Renee was gracious enough to offer up a Monkey Snuggles Overnight Fitted!!

MANDATORY ENTRY:
Tell us: What is your favorite print/color to put on your baby’s bum? Jess loves OOGA’s, and Amanda loves Fun girly colors/prints.

Extra Entries:
(see complete list of all rules for extra entries here)
Please leave one comment per entry unless noted

Make a purchase from our store (5 entries per item)
Purchase any Monkey Snuggles (10 entries per item)
Tweet about this giveaway. 10 days of #WAHM #clothdiapers giveaways from @toptobottombaby . Day 2 is Monkey Snuggles, OVERNIGHT fitted! enter now! http://bit.ly/9293xk Up to 4 times per day!

Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only. Ends October 17th at 9pm CST.

WAHM Day 1 – Green Belle Shoppe

2010-10-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our 10 day long spotlight on all our great WAHM’s. Here at Top to Bottom Baby Boutique we pride ourselves on working with WAHM’s and helping them to spread the love for their products. What better way to spread the love than to give something away! We’re also going to have a 5% discount on each of our WAHM products through October 10th. (no code necessary)

Meet our first WAHM run business:

The Mom behind it all: Michelle Cook

Tell us about yourself: “I've been crocheting/x-stitch since I was about 7 and fell in love with yarn ever since. My mom taught me how to hand crochet a single chain when I was 7 and I would make yards and yards of single chains. Then my step-mom would take me and my sister and step sisters out about 2-3 times a month to each get a skein of yarn or some other craft and she really taught me the stitches then and I started making blankets, pot holders...and then I made barbie dresses! So much fun
I got into quilting after working at a craft store when I was going to college and then fell in love with fabric. When I started having babies it was too hard to use the sewing machine and took too long to finish a quilt (I still have about 5-7 unfinished quilts in my attic/craft space) so I started making hand bags. I made so many my wonderful husband said...hey, why don't you sell those. So...I found Etsy through my cousin who makes the cutest handbags (29 cherryblossoms by melanie) and started there. Well...once again I had to put my sewing machine up as my youngest baby was trying to play with it and it was clogging up our dining room table:). So I got my crochet hooks back out and started on that. I ran across dryer balls on Etsy and saw that there wasn't a huge market yet (January of last year) and made a couple...and they sold right away (so exciting).
I am excited to offer people a greener option and I am glad to rid myself of dryer sheets as well! I am currently working on more baby blankets and use cotton and wool primarily in all my products as I am trying to be as green as possible. I have 3 baby blankets in the works for x-mas presents as a special order and I am also working on making more scarfs and cowls out of wool! I would like to expand a bit, add a few more retailers...and continue to craft and come up with new and pretty creations.“

Products Top to Bottom Baby Boutique Carries :
We carry 8” as well as larger 10” dryer balls. (shown are 10”)

Other Products you Make:

Snugglie Crochet Baby Blankets, Cotton Crochet Face Cloths

Cotton Crochet Wash Cloths, Scarf's in all sorts of sizes & colors

*If there is any product you see that we do not carry, email us and we can get it for you! :) *
__________________________________

Michelle was gracious enough to offer up Pair of 10” Dryer Balls in Green & Purple to giveaway. AND another scented dryer ball to another lucky winner! So we’ll have 2 lucky winners this giveaway!

MANDATORY ENTRY:
Since this is a MOM event, why not tell us:
What is your favorite thing your mom does for you? If your mom isn’t part of your life, tell us something you enjoy doing for your kids.

Extra Entries:
(see complete list of all rules for extra entries here)
Please leave one comment per entry unless noted

Make a purchase from our store (5 entries per item)
Purchase any Green Belle Dryer Ball (10 entries per item)
Tweet about this giveaway. “10 days of #WAHM #clothdiapers giveaways from @toptobottombaby . Day 1 is Green Belle Designs enter now! http://bit.ly/abHs9j” Up to 4 times per day!

Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only. Ends October 17th at 9pm CST.

1000 Fans / WAHM Celebration

2010-09-30T20:19:00.001-07:00

Here are the basic guidelines for our giveaways going on from October 1, – October 10th, 2010.

Giveaways will begin on October 1st, at 9am CST and run through October 10th, with the last one being posted that day at 9am CST. They will all remain open until October 17th at 9PM CST. You will have until then to get all entries completed and comments posted.

To complete an entry you first need to complete the task (example “like” us on Facebook) and then come back to our blog and leave a comment (stating you completed it) on EACH post/giveaway you’d like to enter. So if you’d like to enter each giveaway, you need to comment on each post.

Mandatory Entry must be completed before all extra entries for them to count. If you fail to complete (and comment) the MANDATORY Entry, all other comments will be disqualified. After completing the Mandatory Entry, you are free to complete as many or as little Extra Entries as you prefer.

For all order entries, you must leave one comment per entry and please include your order number for reference. Only valid on new orders.

All winners will be notified via Email, and will have 48 hours to respond before we choose another winner. So this means, be sure there is an email address attached to your profile, or leave it in your comments. I will not search for your email address if you just left it in one comment, it needs to be on EVERY comment if you don’t have it attached to your profile.

Please note that all products that are being given away during this event, were donated and other than the product giveaway we are not being compensated in any other form.

1000 Fans Celebration

2010-09-27T16:32:00.001-07:00

A couple days ago we realized we were dangerously close to reaching 1000 fans on our Facebook Page. Around the same time we added our 10th WAHM (work at home mom) to our store’s retailer line-up.

We thought what better way to celebrate than to have a grand celebration! We also decided that since we LOVE working with WAHM’s, what better thing to do than to celebrate them.

Starting October 1st we will feature one of our great WAHM’s a day for 10 days. Along with highlighting the products we carry to the ones that we don’t. As well as getting to know our retailers just a little bit more. What better way to get their products known and out there than to give them away. Yes, you heard me right, we’re going to have 10 days of giveaways!

We’re so excited to share this with you! And we want you to tell your friends/fans/the world! Here’s the deal. Add our event button to your blog, come back here, and let me know you did. Pretty simple. If you do it by Midnight CST on Sept. 30th, and leave us a comment we’ll give you 10 extra entries into EACH giveaway!

Great Cloth Diaper Hunt

2010-09-25T18:33:00.001-07:00

We’re super excited to announce that we will be a Sponsor for Diaper Decisions Great Cloth Diaper Hunt!

Have you participated in the past? Or are you wondering what the heck I’m talking about? Either way I’m here to give you some great information, and help you get just as excited as we are!

Basically what the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt is is a scavenger hunt where you follow the clues in search of a simple icon. Much like the one below, although we do not have the official icon yet.

Once you find the icon, you will copy/paste the URL onto a form on Diaper Decisions website. It’s all pretty simple in a sense, but there are a few sites that can be tricky. What do I do then?

Well you head on over to the Diaper Decisions Forum and ask for hints! Pretty simple huh?

I know you’re all probably really lost right now. It’s okay. I just wanted to share a little info now, and get you all excited. When I have more specific links to this fall’s hunt I will share them as soon as possible!

Here’s the Info I CAN tell you:

Great Cloth Diaper Hunt (or GCDH) starts November 1st

There will be AMAZING prizes

It’s a Month Full of Fun

*Watch for a fully loaded blog post coming soon, with updated links*

Omaha’s Biggest Baby Shower

2010-09-16T13:47:00.001-07:00

Brought to you by the Omaha Children’s Museum.

“Join us for a fun, interactive, free and open to the public event designed to “shower” expectant moms (and dads) with useful information, items and resources for parenthood along with plenty of pampering!”

Omaha's Biggest Baby Shower
September 25, 2010
8-11 a.m.

Classes and workshops by Methodist Health System
Great door prizes
Free parking

This is going to be an AWESOME event and we at Top to Bottom Baby Boutique are proud to be a part of it. There are tons of things planned for expectant parents at all stages of pregnancy.

We will have our table set up to help inform parents of the choices available to them today. As well has have a special demonstration featuring Rump-a-Rooz Little Joey’s. Along with a giveaway for both Mommy & Baby. And even a coupon code for those who attend!

So be sure to tell all the pregnant mommies and daddies you know in the Omaha area. If they make a purchase and mention your name, you’ll get referral points as well!

So make plans to meet us at the Omaha Children’s Museum on September 25th for Omaha’s Biggest Baby Shower!

Two in Cloth

2010-09-12T19:14:00.001-07:00

Means twice as many cute fluffy bottoms!

When I was pregnant with my first daughter Grace I decided to cloth diaper. When she was first born I used disposables until she was big enough to fit into her diapers. I love cloth diapering so much that when I was pregnant with my second daughter I decided to cloth diaper her right from the beginning!

My daughters are only 20 months apart so I knew that I would have two in diapers. Not too much has changed from cloth diapering one to cloth diapering two. I had to invest in a few more diapers so that I didn't have to do laundry more than every other day. I got a second laundry pail and pail liner so that I could have a pail in each of their bedrooms. I got a few more cloth wipes. Mostly just small changes. And depending on your budget, changes that you don't necessarily have to make.

My washing routine is pretty much the same for two as it was with one. I just grab the second bag of diapers on the way down to the laundry room. Sometimes I wash more frequently because the pails just seem to fill a little faster!

One of the great things about cloth diapering two as opposed to using disposable diapers is that they can share diapers! All of the cloth diapers I use are one-size diapers, meaning they adjust to grow with your child. If Grace is out of diapers, I can just go grab one of Molly's and adjust it larger to fit Grace. How convenient!

As I started the post, the best thing about cloth diapering two is twice as many cute fluffy bottoms! There are some many different styles, brands, colors and patterns to try. I've had so much fun trying out diapers and finding what works best for our family. Cloth diapering can be addictive and now I have two bottoms to feed my habit!

By: Jessica – Follow her blog: The Rabbit Hutch

HE washing routine

2010-09-10T20:36:00.001-07:00

When I started using cloth diapers, the amount of differences in wash routines was a little overwhelming!! I have a front-load washer (or HE machine) and discovered (after the fact) that it would become rather difficult to achieve the ultimate goal of clean (not stinky) diapers. So here is the routine that has worked for me and my washer (a Whirlpool Duet).

I did a lot of research on washing with a front loader and I think the best piece of advice I found was to wash less diapers more often. This allows for a much higher ratio of water to diapers. I have found that by adding water to the wash and doing it more often (every 1-1.5 days), I am able to keep everything clean, absorbent, and stink free.

I should also caution that the majority of my diapers are pockets and the inserts are primarily microfiber (as I have heard that different materials wash differently). We unstuff the pockets prior to dropping them in the pail and I do think we have more stink issues when they sit in a bag for a day with the inserts still inside the pockets. Things gotta air out sometimes!!

Alright, enough disclaimers...here is my actual wash routine. The diapers/covers/wet bags/pail liners all go into the washing machine. I used to put in a wet towel, but later discovered that it was consuming much of the water I wanted my diapers to be floating around in and did not weigh enough to actually cause the washer to add enough water.

I start with a "soak" cycle. I believe it is also be called a "prewash" cycle. This is set on cold water with no spin and do NOT add soap to this cycle. If your washer does not have a "soak" setting you can simply set it to a "normal wash" with cold water and press (or hold) the pause/stop button once the water is in. If you hold that button a second time it will drain the water with no spin. (This is also how to do an overnight soak with an HE machine!) This cycle defaults to 30mins on my machine, but if you select the "more/less soiled" option the time will be longer/shorter. For a while I was using 35mins, but have since backed down and have not had any issues.

Next comes the issue of getting enough water into the wash. Back to the less diapers, more water statement from before. Ideally you want the diapers to be floating loosely to allow the water to dissolve the contents of the diaper. Accomplishing that in an HE machine can be a little tricky since they are designed to use less water. If you open the soap dispenser during the wash cycle, you can add water directly into the drum. I started by adding the water with an old milk jug but after a few gallons it became clear I was going to have to get a new plan!! We have a sink right next to the washer making this much easier.

I simply sent my husband to the hardware store and he picked up a hose adapter and a few feet of plastic hose to rig up a better system. The only thing I will caution about this is to get a durable hose (mine is a clear plastic and when adding hot water I have to be careful that it doesn't kink off due to how pliable it gets with the heat).

When adding water to any cycle, I simply watch through the door until the water is just above the break in the door. I did try and add more water a few times on days when I was lazy and had way too many diapers to wash and discovered that the washer will simply drain the water right back out.

After the soak cycle has finished, I don't even open the door and just turn the controls right back on. I am then able to add the soap (oh yeah, that's a whole different issue) and start the wash. I use the "whitest whites" cycle on my washer. You should never use the "sanitize" cycle as the water is so hot it will in fact cause breakdown in your diapers (especially the PUL). If you feel they need to be cleaned that deeply you can just send the inserts through a sanitize cycle. The whitest whites is a hot/cold wash with an extra rinse. However, if I simply run a normal cycle and add the extra rinse, it is a shorter wash (I have no idea why). You are again able to adjust the soil level if you find you need more wash time. I also add water to this cycle in the same manner as before. The extra rinse is what allows all of the detergent residue to rinse clean, so you will need to have that in whatever cycle you are using.

OK, back to the detergent issue. I started with Country Save and had some major stink issues. Not sure if it was the detergent or that I didn't have the routine down yet. I then switched to Rockin Green and have had no issues since!! I add 1 Tablespoon to the wash cycle and so far it seems to be working great (I am two bags in already). They also have a different formula for hard water if that is a problem for you. We have a water softener, so I use the classic :)

After the wash cycle has finished, I simply throw all of the diapers into the dryer on Med heat and let them go. Do NOT use dryer sheets or fabric softeners with your diapers as they are designed to make your clothes repel water (the opposite of what you want the diapers to do)! You can add dryer balls to help speed up the drying time instead. I do put them in the sun to dry on occasion just to keep them nice and white, but the PUL actually does well to go through the dryer once in a while.

By: Maia

Maia joined the TTBBB family “officially” about 2 months ago as our baby wearing consultant and helps teach our Cloth Diapering 101 classes. She is the mother of two sweet little boys Cole, 3, and Easton, 11 months. Easton is also one of our super cute diaper testers! You can follow Maia and her family on their blog: Poutre Family Happenings . Help us to give Maia a warm welcome!

Baltic Amber Teething Necklace Winner

2010-09-07T07:38:00.001-07:00

Sarah, you have 24 hours to respond to my email!

Extending Giveaway!

2010-09-04T10:49:00.001-07:00

I’ve been quite scarce around the Top to Bottom scene lately. My computer crashed, and now that I’m back up and running it’s time to catch up.

Since I wasn’t around for much of the time the Baltic Amber Teething Necklace giveaway was going on, I’ve decided to extend the deadline. Giveaway now ends Monday September 6th at 6pm CST, with the winner announced during #clothdiapers chat on twitter!

Also for extra entries, come up with a tweet to tell your friends! You can tweet up to 4 times per day, and must include @knickernappies and @toptobottombaby.

And well just because we’ve got another giveaway going on, head over to Silent Storm’s blog and enter her giveaway as well. Come back here and let us know you did for another entry!

I’ve lost count at how many ways you can enter our giveaway. There are lots that’s for sure!! Good luck!

-Amanda