Early Potty Training Through EC [10 Months]

Elimination Communication is something that I read about and researched before I even got pregnant. The concept sounded riveting. By practicing Elimination Communication (EC), I would be on my way to early potty training and no more diapers! However, the price to pay for this would be time. A lot of time and dedication. This point of my early potty training through EC posts is not to tell you about the philosophy and recommended practices of EC, but to share my experience with you. Here is my story so far.

After a few weeks postpartum, I decided to see if I could determine the cues my baby was making when he needed to go potty. The cue for pooping was fairly obvious - straining, red face, grunting. The cue for peeing was non-existent. I held the baby over the toilet a few times, including one pee in the toilet. I got lucky!

After one or two days, I became tired of holding the baby by his legs over the toilet. Doing this many times throughout the day gets tiresome. Plus, I would get so excited about the possibility of having a catch, that running to the bathroom would distract the baby from peeing. Then again, who wants to hold a baby suspended over a toilet for 15 minutes. I had better things to do. So, I quit for several months. I figured I would start again at some point.

Reading Mayim Bialik's Beyond the Sling book peaked my interest in early potty training through EC. After 10 months of getting to know my baby, I feel like I am more in tune with his cues and he has a fairly consistent poop schedule (in the morning, after the first feeding). I researched the best potty seats and picked one out to order. In the meantime, I decided to pay attention to my baby and determine his peeing and pooping patterns and cues.

My realizations so far:

1. The baby pees at the end or right after a feeding. Not sure how you're supposed to potty during a feeding. Will research that.
2. Running to the bathroom with the baby, stripping him down as fast as I can and holding over toilet distracts him from peeing/pooping. Maybe I should try once the weather is warmer and he can go onesie-free? Having a potty seat near might help matters (and my tired arms).
3. The baby wants to play with the toilet seat. A baby moving and rocking back and forth provides extra challenge in holding the baby over the toilet. Need the potty seat!
4. The baby pees about every 15 minutes. Am I ready to make that kind of time commitment? Most of the time, I don't have time to go to the bathroom myself, let alone take the baby to the potty every 15 minutes. 
5. I need to continue to watch for peeing cues. 
6. I need to step up my game with sign language.

I am still trying to decide on whether to call it potty training or not. I'm not big on "training" babies. Maybe I can call it potty learning? :)

>> Have you ever tried early potty training and/or Elimination Communication?? What are you thoughts about it?? Would you ever try it??
  

Eco-Friendly Baby Teething Products [Sponsor Highlights]

All Natural Katie would like to introduce the series of eco-friendly baby teething toys and teething products, including organic teething toys. This series is focused on handmade products sold on Etsy. Etsy is a great marketplace for finding eco-friendly, natural, handmade products that are going to last a long time. Without further adieu, the sponsors are listed below.

_________________________________________________________________
Olives & Pickles

Olives & Pickles offers the most adorable organic teething toys made from the softest velour fabrics. Toys and carrier sucking pads are made from 100% GOTS Certified Organic Cotton. The shop also features untreated beech wood teethers. Natural and 100% organic! I will be reviewing the Carrier Sucking Pads with Fabric Tags and hosting a giveaway.
___________________________________________________________
Teething Couture

Teething Couture is all about teething necklaces! Unfinished wooden beads wrapped in adorable GOTS Certified Organic Cotton with a satin ribbon to tie around your neck. Kayla uses latest designer fabrics to create high quality fabric wrapped teething necklaces that are perfect for any occasion. I will be reviewing the Aqua and Cream Wave Organic Cotton Teething Necklace!

_________________________________________________________________
Janine's Place

Janine's Place is focused on upcycling wool! Wool soakers, wool baby slippers, wool longies, among other fun things. Janine takes great pride in her craftsmanship. I will be reviewing a set of carrier teething pads.

_________________________________________________________________
Made Just For You By Lisa

Made Just For You By Lisa uses adorable, gender neutral, fabrics to create luxury items for babies and moms. Items like reusable zippered snack bags and toy tether/clips will make any mom's life easier. Lisa also sells carrier teething pads/strap covers, which I will be reviewing.

_________________________________________________________________
The Bird and Elephant

The Bird & Elephant features cuddly baby blocks, natural wood teethers and bibdanas that not only look modern and pretty, but enhance baby's learning and growing, and keep them stylish, too. Beth is updating her designs and stocking up on new fabrics (her old fabrics are gorgeous also). New collections are coming soon! I will be reviewing an Organic Teething Baby Block.
_________________________________________________________________

All Natural Katie would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the sponsors! Reviews of the baby teething products will be coming soon. In the mean time, I encourage you to check out their shops and like your favorite items.

>> What is your favorite baby teething product??

Do You Know What You Are Eating? [#CTWW]

This week's challenge:

FIRST ... Please visit Organic Consumers Association and read "Tell the FDA: No Watered-Down, Voluntary Federal GMO Labeling Rules!". You can also visit this PAGE for recent articles. Read through the information to lean about the GMO issue.

THEN ... If you live in the US and agree, sign the mandatory GMO labeling petition.

I was reminded, during a recent chat with my husband, that everyone has their "thing" that they focus on. We choose our own "things" to care about. Our "things" might be different from someone else's "things," but that is what makes each of us special and unique. That's how we make collective progress in this world. One of my big "things" is GMO labeling. While breeding plants to achieve desired characteristics keeps in line with nature and the environment (breeding has been done since the beginning of human civilization), genetically modifying living organisms by inserting genes that usually come from other species should be looked at with great scrutiny. I avoid GMO foods for three reasons: 

1) GMOs are not natural,
2) short and long term side effects are not known, and
3) heirloom qualities and varieties are lost.

I try to be open to new ideas. I am all for making the world a better place, but in the right way. Cows are meant to eat grass, plants are meant to be watered, and food should grow from seeds that have been naturally bred, harvested, and saved. I believe that GMO foods are not natural. Therefore, I avoid them. As a consumer, I do not know what genes have been inserted into the GMO food nor do I know how the alteration of genes affects the nutrition and health of the food. A zucchini might look like a zucchini, but the way the body processes it might be completely different.

This leads me to the second point. The general population does not know the short and long term side effects of growing and consuming GMO foods. Some large corporations might know the short term side effects, but long terms side effects will only show up in future generations. Let's assume that GMO foods are not safe for us. If they are proven safe after enough years of research and consumption by consumers, then I might reconsider. Eating a food that has been genetically modified could pose risks to our body because the body might break it down in a different way. The nutrients might be different. The cell structure itself could be toxic to our bodies. We just do not know. Although we do not know the internal changes caused by genetic modification to the food itself, we do know that the seeds of these foods are not viable.

GMO seeds cannot be saved and reused. Laws and regulations prevent the farmer from saving GMO seeds and replanting next year. Every year, the farmer who chooses to plant GMO seeds might acquire new seeds. For thousands of years, farmers have been harvesting and saving seeds, preserving the qualities of the foods that we eat. Since GMO seeds have been genetically modified, using them might yield a completely different food than expected. Farmers having to rely on large corporations to provide them with seeds is getting away from the art and science of farming. Some might say that they are just seeds. I say that a seed grows into a bush/plant/tree that supplies us with the foods to keep us alive. The quality of those seeds is of utmost importance.

If you are curious about the GMO labeling debate, read the article above. If you feel strongly about knowing exactly what you are eating, sign the GMO labeling petition.

Remember, buying Certified Organic produce and shopping at farmers markets are the best ways to avoid GMO foods. Certifications like GMO Verified Project are also helpful.

>> Would you like to know if the foods you buy are genetically modified? Why or why not??    

How to Get Kids to Eats Vegetables and Fruits [Review]

Even before getting pregnant, I had goals and visions of a child who would eat and try everything. I swore that I would do everything possible not to have a picky eater. Following the Baby Led Weaning (aka Baby Led Solids) philosophy will hopefully decrease the chances of a picky eater. If appropriate, I offer the baby the same table food we are eating. Setting an example for my child by offering him the same foods that we eat is a good way to ensure healthy eating habits. Of course, not all children are made the same and not all children will try what you offer them (I have been offering avocado for weeks now...he is not taking to it). Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables is a great resource and innovative tool for parents who would like for their children to learn to enjoy eating fruits and vegetables.

Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables       ($19.99, free shipping)
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Award winning
Equal focus on vegetables and fruits
Suitable for ages 6 months - 5 years

The concept of Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables is simple. Children copy what other children are doing. If a child sees another child eating a vegetable or a fruit, they will do the same. This concept was discovered by the creator of the DVD after she realized that her daughter was more willing to try a new fruits and vegetables when she observed another child eating the new fruit or vegetable. There must be something about watching a person your own size versus an adult. Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables is broken up into twelve chapters, each 6-8 minutes long, that focus on twelve fruits and vegetables. Each chapter shows a child eating the fruit/vegetable in a similar setting as you would at home. (You wouldn't put a big plate of broccoli florets in front of your kid?!? :) )

Subject: 10 month old baby boy

Background: We have been using Baby Led Weaning, offering appropriately sized and prepared table foods to our baby. While he can munch on most things, hard fruits and vegetables like raw carrots are avoided because of the potential choking hazard. He has two bottom teeth.

Results:
First, I watched a chapter of the DVD with my baby in my lap. I wanted to see what the DVD was all about before I sat the baby down to eat. The baby was intrigued by the DVD for a couple of minutes and then lost interest.

Second, I brought the laptop into the kitchen so he could see the other kids eating while he had the food in front of him. I placed a couple slices of avocado on his tray. When we started on solid foods, we offered avocado and he tried it, but he has not been as keen on it over the past couple of months. No biggie here. We will keep offering. Maybe he does not like it now, but he might in the future. Back to the DVD. I played the Avocado chapter. Again, he watched for a minute or two, touched the avocado, put it in his mouth, and then pushed it around or dropped it on the floor.

I realized that watching Copy-Kids and offering the same fruit/vegetable will probably work better when he is a little older. Although babies younger than 10 months understand what is going on around them to some degree, they do not really take in and process what they are seeing. Furthermore, continuing to watch the DVD and offer the same food will help the baby understand what is going on and copy the kids on the DVD. Be aware that it might take a few times of watching the DVD before your child mimics the behavior of Copy-Kids. Repetition is key.

If your children are picky eaters or you would like for them to try new fruits and vegetables, Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables could be a great tool for you to try. The DVD is simple, straight-forward, and could be effective in the right setting.

Disclosure: Please remember to supervise your children, especially babies, when they are eating foods. The DVD is not a replacement for adult supervision. I received one or more of the products mentioned to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.

Easy Vegan Cupcakes and Frosting [Recipe]

Whether or not you follow a vegan diet, vegan cooking offers some amazing recipes that I make from time to time. Due to a dairy and nut allergy in some family members, I decided to make vegan cupcakes for a recent celebration event.

The cupcake recipe comes from 1000 Vegan Recipes, an excellent cookbook highly recommended by a vegan friend. The recipe is easy to make because of simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store. Of course, cupcakes require frosting! The easy vegan frosting recipe comes from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World cookbook. The beauty of the cupcakes is that they can be adapted to make a vegan cake with vegan frosting (perfect for a vegan birthday party!).

Note: Remember to purchase organic, natural, non-GMO verified products. Canola oil and vegan baking substitutes can contain GMO ingredients and synthetic additives that you should avoid. When in doubt, purchase Certified Organic products.

Vegan Cupcakes

Yield: 12 cupcakes

Prep time: 10 minutes

Baking time: 20 minutes
Source: 1000 Vegan Recipes

Ingredients:

3/4 cup plain or vanilla soy milk (I used Eden Organics unflavored)
1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup canola oil or other neutral oil
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350. 
2. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper or foil cupcake liners and set aside.
3. In a small bowl, combine soy milk and vinegar and set aside. 
4. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix to combine.
5. In a large bowl (or stand mixer), combine the sugar, oil, and vanilla. Stir in the soy milk mixture. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until smooth.
6. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans, about two-thirds full, and bake until a toothpick in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
7. Cool completely before frosting.
   

Note: This recipe can be adapted to a vegan cake with vegan frosting. To make two 8 or 9 inch cakes, increase the recipe by 1.5 times. Oil the cake pans. Split evenly between the two pans. Bake for up to 30-35 minutes; start checking after 20 minutes.

Vegan Frosting

If you have a stand mixer, I would highly recommending using it with the paddle attachment for this recipe as it simplifies and speeds up the time. This recipe makes about 4-5 cups of frosting, which is enough for 36-48 cupcakes depending on how much frosting you put on each cupcake. Leftover frosting can be frozen.

Note: You can adjust the ratio of the shortening to the margarine depending on what you have on hand. For example, I used 3/4 cup of Organic Palm Oil Shortening and 1/4 cup of Melt Organic Buttery Spread (does contain a small amount of ghee).

Yield: 4-5 cups, enough for 36-48 cupcakes

Prep time: 10 minutes
Source: Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World

Ingredients:

1/2 cup non hydrogenated shortening (I used Tropical Traditions Organic Palm Oil Shortening)
1/2 cup non hydrogenated margarine (ex: Earth Balance)
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar (sift if clumpy)
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup plain soy milk (I used Eden Organics unflavored)

Directions:

1. Beat the shortening and margarine together until well combined and fluffy.
2. Add the sugar and beat for about 3 minutes.
3. Add the vanilla and soy milk and beat for 5-7 minutes until fluffy.
4. For chocolate frosting, add 3-4 tbsp of cocoa powder. Can add more or less depending on your preference. 
5. If frosting a cake and you would like stiffer frosting, add a little more powdered sugar until you get the right consistency. Consistency will also depend on the type of vegan shortening and margarine that you use.
   

Disclaimer: This post contains an affiliate link to where I usually shop. Your purchases support this blog at no additional cost to you. Regardless, I feature and recommend only brands and products that I myself would use.

Dairy Fairy to Increase Low Milk Supply [Review + Giveaway]

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I remember talking with our Doula about our biggest fears for pregnancy and childbirth. At the top of my list was my fear of not being able to breastfeed. My mom and my grandma both had issues with low to no milk supply. After a lot of reading and research, I firmly believe that neither family history nor small breast size impact a woman's ability to breastfeed. My challenges with low milk supply were a combination of several environmental factors that presented themselves at the same time. I have talked to lactation consultations/doctors, other mothers, and read a lot of other women's experiences. I tried supplements, foods, rest, and relaxation. While some things work for some women, most of those did not work for me. When Euphoric Herbals offered an opportunity to review the Dairy Fairy supplement for low milk supply, I jumped on the opportunity. Euphoric Herbals Dairy Fairy is a daily supplement of USDA Certified Organic herbs to help boost low milk supply.

Dairy Fairy (120 Capsules)                              ($38)
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
USDA Certified Organic herbs
Easy to swallow capsules
Hand made and hand crafted

Dairy Fairy is a compound herbal formula specifically targeted at nursing mothers that are struggling with low milk supply, little breast change prenatally or are looking for an extra boost in their milk supply. Ingredients: Goats Rue, Fenugreek, Alfalfa, Blessed Thistle, Fennel and Marshmallow Root. All ingredients are USDA Certified Organic so that you can feel confident that you are limiting your exposure to pesticides and toxic chemicals during breastfeeding. Two capsules are taken twice a daily. If there is no increase in milk supply after 72 hours, then you increase to two capsules taken three times a day.

I found the supplements easy to take. The size of capsules is not too big. I did have a little bit of taste of some of the herbs after taking the supplement, but it went away within one hour. Since the Dairy Fairy compound herbal formula includes Fenugreek, I did notice that smell of maple syrup that you often hear about. Then again, if the supplements do increase your milk supply, smelling like maple syrup is probably better than other alternatives. A little deodorant or essential oil will cover the smell right up.

Let's talk about the results. Did my milk supply increase? A little bit. Stress affects my milk supply, so after the holiday travel with a 9 month old, my milk supply decreased a little (size of breasts and volume from the night pumping session). Without supplements, it usually takes me at least one week to get back to the normal level after holidays or stressful periods. While taking the Dairy Fairy supplements, I felt that I returned to my normal milk supply levels a lot quicker.

Although taking the Dairy Fairy supplements did not quite increase my milk supply in the ways that I had hoped, I would still recommend Euphoric Herbals Dairy Fairy to any other mom who is looking to increase her low milk supply or just get an extra boost. Remember that supplements work differently on everyone. What might not work for me might work for you. Effectiveness will vary greatly depending on how old your nursing baby is, if your are exclusively nursing, supplementing, pumping, etc. Choosing Certified Organic supplements with natural ingredients is a smart choice for your body and your baby. Europhic Herbals is here to support your breastfeeding needs!

Euphoric Herbals 15% Off Coupon Code: All Natural Katie. Applies to anything in the store. Expires February 15, 2014.

Giveaway

Euphoric Herbals $20 Store Credit

Please use the Rafflecopter entry form below. Open to the US. All entries will be verified. Duplicate and invalid entries will be deleted. 

UPDATE: This giveaway ended a few days earlier than originally planned due to the need to submit a winner by the sponsor's deadline. My apologies for misreading the deadline for submitting winners. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own. Please consult your physician before starting on any supplements .All Natural Katie is not responsible for prize fulfillment or shipping. The sponsor will be responsible for shipping the product to the winner of the giveaway.

Win an 8x10 Easy Canvas Prints [Giveaway]

To me, there is something unique about printing your special memories on canvas. Easy Canvas Prints offers high quality, gallery-ready prints at affordable prices. The ordering process is quick and easy. The prices are a lot cheaper than at comparable companies, plus Easy Canvas Prints frequently offers sales and discounts to make printing your memories on canvas even more affordable. Check out my Easy Canvas Prints review.

Enter below to win an 8"x10" Canvas Print, including Free Shipping to the Continental US. Alaska and Hawaii will have to pay extra to ship the product.

Please use the Rafflecopter entry form below. Open to the US. All entries will be verified. Duplicate and invalid entries will be deleted. 

Giveaway

8"x10" Canvas Print - $44.71 value

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: All Natural Katie is not responsible for prize fulfillment or shipping. The sponsor will be responsible for shipping the product to the winner of this giveaway.

High Quality Affordable Canvas Prints [Review]

I am slightly obsessed with photography. Currently, one of the top items on my wish list is a DSLR camera. My smartphone takes great photographs, but as my baby has become more mobile, I need something better to take beautiful photographs that I can print and put on my wall. Although I love a big print in a frame, I tend to prefer the look of canvas prints. Canvas printing is now easier than ever with Easy Canvas Prints, which allows me to quickly order professional looking canvas prints online.

8x10 Canvas Print (.75" Wrap)                              ($44.71)
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Easy ordering process	Limited customization options
High quality canvas prints
Ready to hang

Easy Canvas Prints offers high quality, gallery-ready prints at affordable prices. The ordering process is quick and easy. The prices are a lot cheaper than at comparable companies. Easy Canvas Prints frequently offers sales and discounts to make printing your memories on canvas even more affordable. To me, there is something unique about printing your special memories on canvas.

I chose to print an 8x10 canvas print with 1.5" border wrap (gallery-style wrap) ready to hang on the wall with a standard brass hanger and a Mirror Wrap border. Since my canvas print is hanging in a high-traffic location, I wanted the border to match the image as opposed to having a colored border. I decided against the Image Wrap option because the ordering wizard would zoom in to the photo and then wrap it around. I did not want to cut off any of the people, so I chose the Mirror Wrap. I am pleased with the Mirror Wrap.

Ordering the print took me less than 10 minutes the first time and would take me less than 5 on subsequent orders. I like that I can quickly order with the Easy Canvas Prints ordering wizard and feel confident in the product that I am going to receive. I would like to see more customization options like portrait orientation. I wanted to print a portrait photo and did not see an option to change the photo orientation on the ordering wizard. Therefore, I had to manually rotate the photo before uploading. I would like to see an option to select the orientation that I want printed.

*Update Regarding Photo Orientation: If ordering a photo in the landscape orientation, select "custom size" and choose 10x8 (or the size of the print that you would like) to make the image landscape. Basically, flip the two numbers and select that size. The ability to rotate photos after they are uploaded will be available from Easy Canvas Prints in the future.

The print arrived in a sturdy cardboard box, well protected inside a plastic bag, and a Fragile sticker on the outside. I like all of the protection to ensure that the canvas print does not get damaged during shipping. The print was ready to be hung as soon as I took it out of the package. The canvas print was on the wall within a few minutes. Since I printed the photo in the portrait orientation, the hanging bracket was hung on the landscape orientation side. My husband removed the hanging bracket and attached it to the adjacent side to remedy this issue. The canvas print hangs flush with the wall and is easy to remove and hang.

Easy Canvas Prints offers a quick and easy process to order high quality, affordable canvas prints delivered right to your door. With the frequent discounts and sales, I will look to Easy Canvas Prints for any of my future canvas printing needs.

Easy Canvas Prints is offering a 50% off coupon code plus Free Shipping to the US (excluding Alaska and Hawaii)! You will not be disappointed!

Enter to win an 8x10 canvas print with Free Shipping to the US.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.

Not Losing Yourself as a First Time Mom

Welcome to the January 2014 Carnival of Natural Parenting: The More Things Stay the Same

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have talked about the continuity and constancy in their lives. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.
—–

Last year, my world was turned upside down (in a good way). I went from being pregnant and sleeping 9 hours a night, to holding a brand new baby and feeding around-the-clock. I went into the office in the morning not knowing that it was going to be my last day of work. Long before I gave birth, I knew that I wanted to stay at home and raise my child. I had made up my mind 90% and finalized the decision within 2 weeks of giving birth. No more pencil skirt suits, black heels, and daily Starbucks trips.

Becoming a mom and leaving the corporate world to raise a child has meant that I need continuity to prevent myself from losing my identify. Continuity means stability to me. Keeping some things the same, but letting myself evolve with the changing times. I would like to share some ways that I have tried to keep my identity as an individual, in addition to my new role as a mom.

Working Out

Working out means time for myself. Time to get my body and blood moving. Time to reflect on the past and think about the future. Time to reconnect with myself. Physical fitness is very important to me. I feel better and I am able to be a better parent. I ran up until a couple of weeks before giving birth and I was out running again 6 weeks postpartum. I define myself as a runner. Even though I was tired, I had to get back into running as soon as possible for my sanity.

Cooking and Baking

I had to take a few months off from cooking and baking. Even with my husband being at home in the evenings and on the weekends, it was just too much with a newborn. I could no longer spend 2-3 hours cooking and baking. I decreased the complexity of recipes so that I could still enjoy this hobby, but not wear myself out completely. I knew that this period would be temporary and I would get back to doing the cooking and the baking that I love. It was important for me not to give it up completely.

Gardening

I remember telling a coworker that I'll just strap a baby to my back and get out in the garden. Ha! Even though we managed to get plants in the ground, once they grew to full size, there was hardly any room in the garden for me, let alone a baby in a carrier. I did do as much as I could have with the garden this summer, but I made sure to keep it watered and pick the vegetables.

Before becoming pregnant, I always knew that having a baby changes everything. I did not want to change everything about myself. I have embraced my new role as a mother, but I do not want to ever give up the Katie that I knew before birth. I wanted to continue to have fun and do all of the things that I love. I did not want to change my life to accommodate a baby. I wanted to welcome the baby into my life. Continuity during times of big change is important to stay grounded and sane.

  

—–
Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

• Always an Artist — Some kids take longer than others to come into themselves, so you have to stick with them, as a parent, long after everyone else has given up, writes Douglas at Friendly Encounters.
• Not Losing Yourself as a First Time Mom — Katie at All Natural Katie continues to stay true to herself after becoming a new mom.
• Using Continuity to Help Change {Carnival of Natural Parenting} — Meegs from A New Day talks about how she is using continuity in certain areas of her life to help promote change and growth in others.
• Staying the Same : Security — Life changes all the time with growing children but Mother Goutte realised that there are other ways to 'stay the same' and feel secure, maybe a bit too much so!
• Harmony is What I'm After — Tribal Mama gushes about how constant change is really staying the same and staying the same brings powerful change.
• A Primal Need For Order and Predictability – And How I Let That Go — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama shares how she overcame her primal need for order and predictability once her awareness shifted, opening her eyes to the impact this had on her young daughter. Take a short journey with Jennifer and she bares her soul, exposes her weaknesses and celebrates her new outlook and approach to living life, even in the face of total chaos.
• Breastfeeding Before and After — Breastfeeding has come and gone, but Issa Waters at LoveLiveGrow finds that her relationship with her son is still just the same and just as good.
• A Real Job — Back in high school That Mama Gretchen had a simple, but worthwhile career aspiration and today she is living her dream … is it what you think?
• Comforting — sustainablemum never thought she would want things always being the same, but she explains why it is exactly what her family wants and needs.
• 'The Other Mums' and The Great Illusion — Marija Smits reflects on the 'great big magic show of life' and wonders if it will continue to remain a constant in our lives.
• Unschooling: Learning doesn't change when a child turns four — Charlotte at Winegums & Watermelons talks about the pressure of home education when everyone else's children are starting school.
• Finding Priorities in Changing Environments — Moving from Maine to a rural Alaskan island for her husband's military service, Amy at Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work found that keeping consistent with her priorities in changing environments can take some work, but is vital to continuous health and happiness.
• Keeping it "Normal" — Kellie at Our Mindful Life has moved several times in the last two years, while doing her best to keep things stable for her kids.
• The Evolution Of Our Homeschool Journey — Angela at Earth Mama's World reflects on her homeschooling journey. Homeschooling is a constant in the life of her family but the way in which they learn has been an evolution.
• Sneaking in Snuggles: Using Nurturing Touch with Older Children — When Dionna at Code Name: Mama's son was a toddler and preschooler, he was the most loving, affectionate kiddo ever. But during the course of his 5th year, he drastically reduced how often he showed affection. Dionna shares how she is mindfully nurturing moments of affection with her son.
• Steady State — Zoie at TouchstoneZ writes a letter to her partner about his constancy through the rough sailing of parenting.
• A Love You Can Depend On — Over at True Confessions of a Real Mommy, Jennifer has a sweet little poem reminding us where unconditional love really lies, so it can remain a constant for us and our children.
• Same S#!*, Different Day — Struggling against the medical current can certainly get exhausting, especially as the hunt for answers drags on like it has for Jorje of Momma Jorje.
• New Year, Still Me — Mommy Bee at Little Green Giraffe writes about how a year of change helped her rediscover something inside herself that had been the same all along.
• One Little Word for 2014 — Christy at Eco Journey In The Burbs has decided to focus on making things this year, which is what she is loves, as long as she doesn't kill herself in the process.
• The Beauty of Using Montessori Principles of Freedom and Consistency — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now shares the continuity of her teaching, parenting, and grandparenting philosophy using a combination of freedom and consistency.
• My Husband's Mini — Crunchy Con Mom shares which of her sons looks more like her husband's baby pictures — and the answer might surprise you!
• Growth Happens When You Aren't Looking — Lori at TEACH through Love is treasuring these fleeting moments of her daughter's early adolescence by embracing the NOW.
• A New Reality Now - Poem — As Luschka from Diary of a First Child struggles to come to terms with the loss of her mother, she shares a simple poem, at a loss for more words to say.
• Making a family bedroom — Lauren at Hobo Mama has decided to be intentional about her family's default cosleeping arrangements and find a way to keep everyone comfortable.
• New Year, Same Constants — Ana at Panda & Ananaso takes a look at some of the things that will stay the same this year as a myriad of other changes come.
• I Support You: Breastfeeding and Society — Despite how many strides we've taken to promote "breast is best," Amy at Natural Parents Network talks about how far we still have to go to normalize breastfeeding in our society.
    

Buttons OS Diaper Cover and Insert [Review]

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

After cloth diapering for about 9 months, I have my preferences for types of cloth diapers. I keep reading about parents preferring one type of cloth diapers over another. While I do have my preferences, I do not mind stuffing or snapping. I do not mind changing diapers every 2-3 hours (trying to avoid diaper rash here!). My preferences are geared toward the fit of the cloth diaper. Good fit equals no leaks. Good absorbency also helps during those play dates, lunches, and shopping trips. Buttons One Size Cloth Diaper Cover and Inserts provide great absorbency and a customized fit.

Buttons OS Diaper Cover                              ($11.00)
Buttons Large Daytime Insert               ($3.50)
Buttons Large Nighttime Doubler        ($5.00)
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Very absorbent	Bulky with insert and doubler
Reusable cover	Cover did not lay flat against belly
Stretchy cover for better fit
Affordable cost

*Cloth diaper model: 9 month boy, ~19 lbs, on the longer and skinnier side.
*All photos show the Buttons One Size Cover with a Large Daytime Insert.

Buttons One Size (OS) Cover fits most babies from 9-35 lbs. Snaps allow you to customize the rise and elastics at the belly and the back help to prevent leaks. The cover is made from two layers of heavy duty PUL. The fabric has a little bit of stretch to it. The stretch allows for a better fit, especially for babies and toddler who are on the move. The cover has gussets, which are a great feature to prevent leaks. Now that my 9 month old is crawling and walking around furniture and the playpen, the fit is of the utmost importance to prevent leaks. Although I did get a great fit on my baby, the wings pulled and looked like the cover could unsnap at any point in time. Do not worry, the cover never came off. If you are wearing the diaper under a onesie or pants, it might not matter what the diaper looks like.

Bottons OS Cover is to be used with the Large Daytime Insert. The Large Daytime Insert is made from microfiber and topped with a layer of moisture-wicking fleece. The layer of fleece goes against the baby's bum. These Inserts come in two sizes, Small (9-20 lbs) and Large (20-35 lbs). The snaps on each end help to keep the insert in place. Also a plus for babies on the go to help keep the insert in place. Buttons Large Daytime Insert is very absorbent and would be perfect for nap, trips, or long outings. I have been using this combination without worrying about forgetting to change the baby's diaper (it happens to the best of us).

For heavy wetters, naps, overnight, and super absorbency, Buttons Large Nighttime Doubler is the answer. The Large Nighttime Doubler is made from 6 layers of microfiber. The Large Nighttime Doubler should only be used with the Large Daytime Insert on top of it since the Nighttime Doubler does not have a fleece layer. You should not put microfiber directly against baby's skin as it is drying and harsh. The Nighttime Doubler also comes in two sizes, Small (9-20 lbs) and Large (20-35 lbs). I have not been using the Nighttime Doubler with the Daytime Insert because it is too bulky for my 9 month old. Although I love that there are a lot of absorbency layers and I would actually consider using this diaper for nighttime, there was a huge gap in the back of the diaper. I might try using this combination again in the future once my baby grows a little, but for now, I will stick with the Daytime Insert only.

Buttons covers and inserts are an affordable way to start and amend your cloth diaper stash. The covers and options are customizable. I have to admit that I have been using the Buttons Large Nighttime Doubler with a pocket diaper and I love the absorbency. If you are looking to try something new, Buttons cloth diapers are well made, functional, and affordable.

Follow Buttons on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to learn more about their products.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.