RUMP's Review: Novel Red

If you're a reusable's fan, you've probably heard of Novel Red - if you aren't a reusable's fan, you really REALLY should be, and Novel Red is a great place to start!  This shop was even the winner of the first ever Kristy's List Outstanding Customer Service Award - Fancy!

So why is Novel Red so fabulous?  First, let's talk quality.  Novel Red has a wide variety of topper fabrics available, including a line of crushed velvet toppers that I absolutely love and have two of - and I've found that their pads are super thin and comfortable, even at high absorbancy levels.  Plus, I can't say enough about the sewing - spot on without weird wonky edges or huge mistakes.  Below is a breakdown of some of NR's cloth pad options as of the date of this post, along with a few photos - for more info on their products, check out their website @ NovelRed.Com.

Topper Materials: Cotton, Minky, Crushed Velvet

Core Materials: Bamboo & Cotton Flannel or Terry

Backer Materials: WindPro Fleece

Styles Available: Narrow, Curved, Straight

Absorbency: Liner, Moderate, Heavy, XHeavy

Lengths: 7", 9", 11", 13"

So clearly you can probably find something you'd be interested in with all of those options available, but WHY would I recommend Novel Red specifically?  Two words: Customer Service.  While I've never had an especially poor experience with any pad shop, the best experience I've ever had was with Novel Red.  You can't put a price tag on a pleasant experience and the care and attention that you receive as an NR customer is truly fantastic.

Novel Red has a great reputation and it's clear that reputation means a lot to the maker.  She went out of her to make me feel comfortable with a custom order I had placed and the experience only makes me want to order again... soon.

I hope this quick review will encourage you to give Novel Red a try as your build your own Cloth Pad Stash!  If you have any questions on RUMP's (Reusable Menstrual Products) feel free to reach out to me!

Oh... and I have a silly little YouTube channel where I post video reviews on cloth products, including Novel Red (check it out if you haven't already - all the cool kids are doing it).

CLOSED Giveaway! Farmerkids Organics!

It's finally time!  The Cozy Life Cloth Re-Launch!  I'm excited to be re-energizing the blog with such a special giveaway - I have partnered with an eco-friendly clothing brand, Farmerkids Organics, to raise awareness to the benefits of organic clothing for our children... and to get you guys some free stuff!!

Before we get into the specifics of the giveaway, let's talk about Farmerkids for a second - This wonderful brand, created by the fabulous Gabrielle and based in NYC, is a brand of children's clothing and accessories that combines whimsy with ecofriendly - using embroidered designs on 100% organic cotton in a range of goodies for our little ones including t-shirts, bibs, onesies, and hats.

My personal favorites are the personalized products that you can customize specific to your child and family.  I thought the onesie my daughter received, with "C is for Cozy Life" embroidered on the front, was absolutely adorable.  In addition to being high quality and looking fantastic, the organic cotton is super comfy.  My daughter isn't a big fan of clothing in general, but this onesie was so soft that she barely raised a fuss at all when I put it on her.

More so than it's cuteness, this onesie is an automatic favorite of mine because I know that the fabric is organic.  Organic cotton fabric is created using organically grown cotton crops - this cotton isn't treated with chemical pesticides or herbicides and as a result, it uses much, much, MUCH less water during harvesting and processing.  This also means that it's less likely to irritate your child's skin.

Want to learn more about Farmerkids Organics?  Check out their website, and follow them on twitter, facebook, or pinterest! 

... now let's talk about the giveaway

You want one of these personalized onesies or t-shirts now too, don't you?? Okay, here's the scoop on the giveaway. In order to qualify for the giveaway, you'll need to do a few quick things: Below is the fancy entry form - you have FOUR ways to enter.  In order to qualify you must be 18 years or older and live in the United States.

The giveaway will end on August 31st and the winner will be announced on September 1st!  Good luck!

**Giveaway is now closed**

Congrats to Susan D. for winning!

Cozy Life, Part Deux

I've thinking about my blog a lot lately, and I think that I've lost my way a little.  The excitement of high readership and the opportunity to work with amazing brands and companies has slowly made my blog drift away from what I had intended in to do in the beginning.  A family and parenting focused blog on living an ecofriendly lifestyle.

So, starting today, you're looking at The Cozy Life CLOTH!  Same format, but I'm keeping my content close to my heart - reusables and ecofriendly choices for women, children, and families.  I'm looking forward to revitalizing my content and getting the word out on cloth and it's benefits for our kids - Love you all!  Thank you for your support of this crazy project!

What's coming up?

Review: NewAir AF-1000B Portable Evaporative Cooler

So seriously... It's HOT where I live.  While I'm still a California girl, I left the beaches behind and headed out to the desert climate of the California Central Valley - home of high temperatures and poor air quality.  Air conditioning is expensive and my family is doing everything we can to conserve energy, while still keeping our family comfortable in the 100°F+ weather we're having this summer.

Due to our poor air quality, a lot of times we're stuck inside and it's important, especially with an infant in the house, that we stay cool.  That means that our new evaporative cooler from NewAir (the AF-1000B) is our new best friend.

The cooler uses water and/or ice, in combination with an osculating fan, to cool medium-sized rooms.  As a self-proclaimed "Eco Mom" this fan is a dream because I don't need to worry about weird chemicals that might be present in other portable coolers - it uses WATER!  So on top of this cooler working amazingly well, it's ecofriendly too.

Extra bonuses?  It comes fully assembled (you literally just need to plug it in) and you can use it in "fan only" mode if you'd prefer to not add water.  You also have the option to have the fan stationary or osculating, depending on your needs.  While I feel like a cheesy used car salesman being 100% positive on this thing, I seriously love it.  We keep it next to our TV in the living room and it's allowed us to turn off our air conditioning unit in favor for a less energy-consuming fan.

Here's a few photo's of the cooler- I love that it's black and matches a lot of my furniture... but if you're looking for something more flashy, it also comes in red!

I did quick video to show you guys how easy this amazing cooler is to use.  You'll also hear how quiet it is - I turned it on right next to my dog, who was sleeping (as dog's tend to do) - my dog is a rescue and sudden noise seriously startles him... This fan/cooler?  So quiet, he barely noticed.  Check it out:

Upcycling with Habiliment

Alright, Eco-Moms, it's time to really live up to the "eco" in our Eco-Mom title.  Let me start by bringing up the term Upcycle.  Upcycling is a critical concept when we think about the idea of living an eco-conscious lifestyle - it's the idea that you can take an old thing and make it new.  Re-purpose and re-use the old to make it functional, beautiful, and/or relevant.  In order to be as ecofriendly as possible, us mom's have the responsibility to repurpose items in our homes and give them new life. 

Going out to the mall to buy clothes, shopping online for toys... these are common actions nowadays.  Doing that shopping while also supporting the idea of upcycling?  Not so common.  With that in mind, I want to share a discovery with you - Habiliment.  This company is a way to combine shopping and upcycling, bringing eco-conscious products into our homes and giving them new life.

Made from an old houndstooth coat, this pillow toy in the shape of a bunny rabbit is a new favorite in my daughter's nursery.  It's amazing to see what a sewing machine and an old coat can do!  I don't want to sound like a used car salesman, but this is a seriously exciting concept.  This toy is adorable - I've even found my six year-old carrying it around the house... and to think that it might have been a just dusty coat somewhere in a landfill.

Plus, how cute is the packaging?  When I received my pillow toy in the mail, I almost didn't want to unwrap it!  The obvious time and effort put into every product is another big reason why I'm so supportive of this brand.

One potential misgiving about upcycled materials is always quality - when you're reusing something old to create something new, will this "new" thing be rundown from the start?  Absolutely not the case with our adorable pillow toy.  The sewing is outstanding and the materials selected are vintage, but high quality.  In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if this upcycled toy lasts longer than my daughter's factory made teddy bears.  Here's a close up of the "ears" on our bunny - Does that looked recycled to you?

All of the items available from Habiliment follow this same idea, or are produced using the Indian handcrafted fabric of Khadi, which is both culturally important to the people of India and also made outside of a sweatshop or factory, as so many fabrics unfortunately are.

I am passionate about being ecofriendly, and I'm extremely supportive of brands that seek to provide consumers with ecofriendly products.  I hope you'll take a look at the different clothes and upcycled products that Habiliment has to offer - they definitely get my stamp of approval!

Habiliment Website

Image (c) Habiliment

Tattooed Mommy: The Struggle is Real

I'm a fan of body art - I have tattoos on both of my arms, one of my legs, and one on my back.  I cover my tattoos up at work, but once I'm at home (and around my children) the long sleeves, pants, and bracelets are traded in for comfy clothes that don't need to cover up my "ink."

When my son was a toddler, I can remember him touching my tattoos with a quizzical look on his face as he proceeded to rub my wrist with his chubby little hand, trying to get my tattoo off of my skin... But as he's gotten older, I don't think my son even notices my tattoos anymore.  My four month-old daughter is just now starting to notice, and she too seems confused - but I know that confusion will soon fade as the tattoos become just another part of mommy.

With my kids, the issue isn't a big deal - I don't associate my tattoos with an "alternate lifestyle" choice, nor do I feel like I'm in some way different from those who choose not to get tattoos... But the unfortunate truth is that a few members of the "Mommy Brigade" don't agree.  It seems okay to them for Dad's to have body art, but us Mom's?  It just doesn't seem as accepted.  

Now I'm not trying to make generalizations - I know I'm not the only mom out there with tattoos and I know that mother's without body art aren't all overly judgmental about it... But there seems to be a view that some people have about the inappropriateness of tattoos on a mother's body that feel completely free to share their negative views with us "tattooed hoodlums" - The view that we need to cover them up around our kids.  That we need to tell our children that tattoos aren't okay.

Screw that.

The stereotype that "tattoos are for criminals and drug addicts" is an irresponsible one that I think motivates a lot of the negative thoughts toward body art... and please don't quote Leviticus - It speaks against the use of body art in pagan rituals, and I can assure you, I've never taken part in any ancient druidic rites of passage. 

Tattoos are a type of personal expression - just like this blog is.  Yes, they're permanent and need to be thought over carefully before committing to them.  But when a tattoo truly means something to you, it becomes as much a part of you as your skin was before the tattoo was put there.  My tattoos stand for my heritage, my desire for truth and joy in life, and my love of fantasy. How can those things corrupt my children?  I've even seen a Facebook group literally titled "Your Tattoos Make You A Horrible Mother" - Seriously??

Source Unknown (Share in Comments if you know!)

As my children grow my husband and I plan to encourage them to be who they truly want to be.  If that means body art, I'm fine with it.  If that means no body art, I'm fine with it.  For those parents out there who view my tattoos as inappropriate and turn their children the other way when the Jabberwocky tattoo on my leg is out for the world to see, know that you've got much bigger fish to fry than a harmless tattoo.  

This world is full of hateful and frightening things that we need to shield our kids from.  Worry about bigotry and teach your child to love others - not about a tattoo that is composed of imagery that neither hurts nor demeans anyone else.

Cozy Life Bonus: WIWTM

Quick bonus post - I started a YouTube Channel!  My first video is a fun WIWTM (What I Wore This Month), showing you guys what makers, lengths, and absorbancy I needed for my cycle this month with my Cloth Pads.

While a lot of the pads I wore are ones I made myself, I did use a lot of different makers as well! Below is a list of the pads I wore, with links out to the shops I bought from, just in case you want to check out those makers!  I don't sell the pads I make myself, but all of the topper material in my stash (at least to this point) is from Joann Fabrics.

Day One

12 inch Heavy, Flannel top, Fleece back - Lucha Libre: Self-made

10 inch Heavy, Cotton top, Fleece back - Paris: Self-made

13 inch, Overnight, Flannel top, Windpro back - Foxes: Eco Alternatives

Day Two

12 inch Heavy, Flannel top, Fleece back - Cake Plate: Self-made

12 inch Heavy, Cotton top, Fleece back - Star Trek: Self-made

12 inch Heavy, Cotton top, Fleece back - Paris: Self-made

12 inch Heavy, Flannel top, Upcycled Fleece back - Mermaid: Self-made

10 inch Heavy, Cotton top, Fleece back - Sugar Skulls: Self-made

10 inch Heavy, Flannel top, Fleece back - Superhero: Craftynook

13 inch, Overnight, Flannel top, Windpro back - Ninjas: Eco Alternatives

Day Three

9 inch Heavy, Flannel top, Fleece back - Wonder Woman: Craftynook

9.25 inch Heavy, Cotton top, Windpro back - Kokeshi: Yurtcraft
12 inch Heavy, Cotton top, Fleece back - Tula Pink: Mother Moon Pads
10.5 inch Heavy, Flannel top, Windpro back - Owls: Yurtcraft
10 inch Heavy, Flannel top, Upcycled Fleece back - Pink Floral: Self-made
10 inch Heavy, Flannel top, Fleece back - Mermaid: Self-made
13 inch Heavy, Cotton top, Windpro back - Koi Fish: Beach Bottom

Day Four

9 inch Moderate, Cotton top, Windpro back - London: Annybell's Essentials
9 inch Moderate, Cotton top, Windpro back - Retro Mermaid: Beach Bottom
10 inch Moderate, Cotton top, Fleece back - Retro: Mother Moon Pads
10 inch Moderate, Cotton top, Fleece back - Matryoshka Dolls: Self-Made
10 inch Liner, Cotton top, Fleece back - Cute Woodland: Self-Made

Raising an Independent Child

One of the things that I knew, from the minute I found out I was pregnant with my first child, was that I wanted to raise children who would be independent.  I wanted my child to be self sufficient and a problem solver.  I didn't want my child leaning on me for everything - I want to raise my kids knowing that they are powerful enough to solve their own problems, and that I'd be there to back them up if they need extra help.

But that's easier said than done.  As a parent, it's hard to watch your child struggle through an issue - You want to step in and solve it for them.  Our children are the joy of our lives and it KILLS us to think that our children will need to face challenges alone.

When our children are younger, we have an opportunity to build internal strength in them.  In approaching the small challenges in the pre-school and kindergarten years with an empowering outlook, we can help our children learn a nature self sufficiency that they will carry with them as they grow... Here's what I mean:

What do you think?

Don't offer up solutions and advice to your child's problems at the beginning of any struggle.  Ask them what THEY think they should do.  Get their thoughts and ideas - help them brainstorm their own solutions.  Once they've decided on a course of action, help them to either follow through or adjust their plan if you think they need more support.  

Tell them you understand

We've all been there.  We've been in a class without friends and been scared that no one will ever like us.  We've been made fun of or bullied.  Children may encounter their first episodes of social rejection at a very young age.  Let them know that you've been there.  Let them know that it gets better.  Support them and step in if the situation is severe enough - But most of all, empower them.

  

Get outside & make friends

It's really easy nowadays to have kids indoors on the computer or playing video games more often than not - The culture of the "two income household" is upon us and we parents are often so exhausted by the end of the week that we can forget how important it is to get our kids outside.  Meeting other children and playing at the local park helps to build a child's social skills, which can help them become more independent.  Be sure that you encourage building friendships so that your children have consistent interaction with other kids their age.

Let them do it alone

If you aide/assist/help your child do every little thing, they'll never feel empowered to accomplish anything alone.  Teach your child to tie their shoes and then leave them to it.  You don't need to help your child dress once they've figured out the mechanics themselves.  Establish boundaries on both sides - let your child know that they have things that they can accomplish alone, and that some things aren't safe yet (for example, reaching a top shelf in the kitchen for a glass), so they should ask you for help in those areas.

Expand their minds

Reading.  I can't say it enough.  Make sure that you are empowering your child's fascination with the world around them.  Books are a window into the larger world and can help your child develop critical thinking skills which will help them in their problem solving.  I've done an entire post on the importance of reading, which you can read here.

Talk to them

One of the things that I wish my parents had done more with me as a child was just talking to me.  It's hard to feel supported and empowered when you feel like your parents don't know or understand you.  Ask your child how their day went.  Ask your child what they want to do this weekend.  Ask you child what makes them feel happy.  Get to know your child.

EcoMom: Recycle Your Breast Pump!

Breast is best, right?  But what happens once you've transitioned your baby over to solid foods and you no longer need your breast pump?  Do you shove your pump away in a dark closet never to see it again?  Maybe you have no idea what to do with it?  Here's a breakdown for us mom's with Medela Breast Pumps and the process of recycling our pumps once we're done with them.

Medela Recycles

If you're like me and you opted to buy a Medela breast pump, there's a really cool program that you NEED to know about.  It's called Medela Recycles.  This is a program where you can send off your old electric breast pump to be recycled at zero cost to you.  Added bonus?  Each month Medela sends a donation of two Symphony Preemie+ Breastpumps the Ronald McDonald House Charity thanks to the mom's that are recycling their old pumps through Medela Recycles - FANTASTIC! 

Many of these mom's have babies in the NICU and the only option to get breast milk to their little ones is through pumping on a daily basis.  Getting a free pump can take away just one of the added stresses that these mother's face during such a difficult time.  

Fun Fact: Medela began this recycling campaign through learning of a Change.Org petition started by a regular EcoMom looking for a way to recycle her old pump in a way that was ecofriendly.  It just goes to show that us mom's CAN make a difference!

Get more details on the program by clicking the image below!  So far, they've received almost 3,000 donations.

What if I have a Manual Pump?

Not everyone is going to have an electric pump, though, so what can you do if you'd still like to recycle your pump, but don't qualify for Medela Recycles?  If you have a manual Medela pump, you need to know that they aren't "closed system" pumps - so, essentially, they aren't really made to be used my multiple moms.

However, the good news is that Medela does make their pumps out of recyclable materials for the most part, so all you need to do is take your pump to your local recycling center and Ta-Da!  You've sent you pump to breast-pump-heaven without hurting the environment.

That's great, but my pump isn't Medela...

There are so many brands of breast pumps out there and I'm sure a few readers might not have gone with Medela as their pump choice - But it's important to empower yourself with knowledge!  Check the materials your non-Medela pump is made from and see if they're recyclable.  Go to the manufacturer's website and see if their pumps are suitable for multiple mom's - you may be able to give your pump to a friend or family member for sterilization and re-use.

Baby Bib Tutorial (0-3 Months)

I feel like there's a "newborn" version readily available in just about EVERYTHING... but I've noticed that it's really hard to find bibs that are made for smaller babies.  With both of my children, I would put a "one size" bib to contain their "spit up" and they'd end up with a ring of dampness around the neck line of their clothing before anything even touched the bib... Annoying.

My solution?  Make my own bibs!  While I will definitely NOT claim to be an expert seamstress (very far from it, actually),  bibs are super easy to put together, even for a novice.  You can "upcycle" bibs using materials already in your home (ecofriendly!), and nothing but a simple straight stitch on the most basic of sewing machines will do!

You'll need a few things to put this together, so we'll start there:

• Sewing Machine, threaded and ready to go
• Scissors (preferably fabric scissors)
• Paper & Washable marker or fabric pen
• Cotton fabric & Water resistant or absorbent fabric
• Pins or clamps to hold your fabric together
• 0-3 Month Bib Pattern

Pattern 

I've uploaded my 0-3 Month Bib Pattern in PDF format.  You can access it at the link below.  I recommend testing the pattern by holding it up to your child before cutting your fabric.  Remember that this is a scaled down bib - if you have older children, they'll need something a little larger.

• 0-3 Month Bib Pattern, PDF

Fabric Choices

Bibs serve a simple purpose for infants of this age - Keeping your baby's clothing clear of spit up and drool.  But they can also be a fashion statement!  For the top layer, or "topper," see if you have anything laying around that's bright and fun for your baby - I used an adorable 100% cotton woodland animal fabric. You can also use old flannel receiving blankets.

The bottom layer, or "backer," needs to be more functional though - This means you'll need fabric that will either resist/absorb the wet stuff, or block it all together.  I picked fleece, which is water resistant, and added an inner "hidden" layer of PUL, a synthetic material that is waterproof - but that's optional and not everyone will have PUL laying around.  You can use old towels and washcloths as backers and it will work just fine.

Stacking & Pinning

Once you've got your fabric together, use the pattern to create your template for the bib and cut out your topper and backer.  Stack them up with the "right sides" facing.  We'll be sewing this together inside-out, so whatever your want showing once you're done should be on the inside of this fabric sandwich.

Once you've lined up your fabric, pin it into place.  I used fabric pins, but you can even use paperclips if you need too - just something to hold the pieces in line while you sew.  Use as many pins/clips as you need to hold everything together.  You want to make sure that the fabric is even and that nothing is bunched up.  It should look something like this:

Sew it Together

Now it's time to get sewing!  Use a quarter inch seam allowance and sew around the shape of the bib as evenly as you can - go slow if you're new at this!  Because we are turning and top stitching the bib, remember to leave a space or "hole" of at least one inch so that you can turn the bib.  Note for you newbies: As you reach any of your pins/clips, remove them so that the needle doesn't go over them (that could break the needle and is dangerous!)

Turning

This is where it can be a struggle if you aren't careful.  Because you are making the fabric "right side out" again, you need to pull the entire bib through that tiny little gap you left open.  The first hint I have for you is to "miter" your corners - Use your fabric scissors to trim down the quarter inch seam along your curves, without cutting your stitches - trust me, this is a life saver!  

The second hint for turning your bib is be sure to pull fabric from the opposite side of the bib FIRST.  It makes things a lot easier.  Try to be as gentle as you can with the fabric.  Once you've got things right side out, use a pencil or stick to gently poke at the inside of the fabric to make sure that everything has been fully turned.  It should look something like this when you're done:

Top Stitching & Closure

Now that you've got your bib fully turned, we want to top stitch the entire thing.  This will seal the one inch hole you used for your turn space, and it will make your bib retain it's shape through use and washing.  I pin the turn space during this process - make sure that you fully close that up with your top stitch!  The goal of your seam allowance on this one should be 1/8 of an inch.  Even mine was a little off in places, so take your time and go as slow as you need too!

Once your top stitch is done, the last step is your closure.  This really depends on you - I used snaps which are so easy to do that I didn't even bother taking a photo - But you can sew on a button, or sew on velcro.  Test the bib around your baby's neck first to make sure that you don't make it too snug - remember, this pattern is already scaled down for smaller babies!

You're Done!

Once the top stitching and closure are done, you're ready to use your bib!  If you're interested in my patterns for bibs made for larger babies and toddlers, let me know.  My little girl is about to grow out of this size, so I'll be retiring my collection - But they were fun and inexpensive to make!

My kid hates reading... Now what?

I have always, always LOVED to read.  I was that kid who memorized Berenstain Bear books when I was four and had a Lord of the Rings book under my belt at age ten (Fellowship of the Ring, if you care to know).  But not all kids are like that... in fact, a lot of children out there would go as far as to say they "hate" to read.  Why?  Reading, at the beginning, is hard.  Sometimes, if the topic of the book isn't interesting to you, reading is also boring.

How can we as parents encourage a love of reading?  

Why is it important to try?

Reading = Success

Perhaps it's a slight over-simplification to say that being a strong reader will make you more successful, but it isn't completely misleading.  Study after study shows that adults who were strong readers as children have better communication skills, are creative thinkers, and are more successful in college.   Why wouldn't us parents want those things for our kids?

Reading opens the mind up to new ideas, alternative perspectives, and gets our children asking questions about the world around them.  This process helps our children to have active minds - to gain awareness of the larger world.

But my kid doesn't like to read!

It's all well and good to talk about why a child should be encouraged to read, but it's another thing altogether to talk about how to foster a love of reading.  Because of the "hard" and "boring" elements that often make reading a struggle for younger children, us parents need to get creative.  I'll bet that your child who "hates" reading is being exposed to books that are either too challenging for them or are about something they aren't interested in.

So here are three tips for you, the parent with the anti-reader child, to convince your little one to give reading another chance...

1. Pick books that your child WANTS to read.

What movies or games does your child enjoy?  My son is obsessed with Minecraft - so I bought him Minecraft books.  My son loves Disney and Pixar movies - so I bought him books about his favorite characters.  If you know your child, which I'm assuming you do, you'll know what books will be a good fit for them... and try to avoid forcing your childhood favorites on them.

Kids nowadays are very different from the way we were back in the 70's and 80's (or, dare I say it, the 90's... I feel so old sometimes).  While the occasional Dr. Seuss book might be fun, the kids of today have shorter attention spans than we did - they are a product of the technology age and some older books are really outdated, despite our love of them.  Be selective and if your child doesn't like a book, don't make them read it over and over again.  Donate it.  Give it to your neighbor.  Let that book find it's way to the hands of a child that will love it.

2. Find books that are "reading level" appropriate.

Once you've determined the kind of books your child will love, be sure that they are appropriate for your child's reading level.  Every child learns at a different pace, so you'll want to find books that will challenge them to a certain point, but will still be fun for them.  Putting a chapter book in front of most kindergarteners would be a disaster.  But, if your little reader is advanced, maybe they're ready for something a bit longer and more complex.

Sit with your child and read a few books with them to figure out exactly where your child is at if you aren't sure.  My son, for example, is a little bit behind the average kindergartener when it comes to reading - so we're still focused on getting him up to kindergarten level this summer, rather than frustrating him with books that he simply cannot read yet. Accept your child where they're at and introduce the occasional challenge to get them progressing.

3. Read with them.

Above all else, you need to read with your child - even if they're strong readers and naturally love to sit down with a book, we parents MUST make time to read with our kids.  Just sitting them down with a book doesn't help them.  Read with them.  Have them read to you.  Do it every day.

I'm a working mom and we have a three month-old, so I'm often exhausted by the time my son is ready for bed and wants "story time" - so my husband is usually the one who reads with him.  But, whoever is doing it, it's done every single day.  Despite his reading challenges, my son has progressed immensely over the last year... and I feel it's because we made reading a priority for ourselves as much as we made it a priority for him.

Reading is important, and it isn't a chore.  Let your child see the joy in it, and if you haven't found that joy for yourself, perhaps you will through the exercise of helping your child.

Why Cloth? An Opinion Piece.

Outside of my blog, cloth diapers and cloth pads really don't come up in conversation all that much.  It's just my "normal" - I don't expect those using disposables to scream it from the rooftops, so why should I?  I'm an advocate for this "lifestyle choice," but I advocate for cloth through this medium - a blog - not sandwich boards and flyers to my friends, family, and co-workers.

But when it does come up, my friends and family recoil.  Laugh.  Grimace.  I get responses like "Eww," "How gross," and "Why????"  Oddly enough, my husband and father - two manly men - have been the only ones to not be "grossed out" by my decision to pursue reusable products.  Even my sisters and mother have been weirded out by the concept of RUMP's (reusable menstrual products) and cloth diapers.

So, out of frustration, I'm writing this.  I feel, somewhere deep down, like this choice needs to be JUSTIFIED.  Why?  I don't know - perhaps society's view that anything outside of the "norm" is in some way threatening to peace and prosperity?  The world around me seems to think I'm some sort of crack-pot who sunbathes naked in my backyard and eats insects for breakfast, all because I don't buy into highly processed, chemically laden,  plastic diapers and pads.

Why am I against disposables?

It take 800 years for a disposable sanitary pad or diaper to decompose in a landfill.  800 YEARS.  The diapers that I used as a baby are sitting somewhere, right now... Still.  That's disgusting.  In fact, some studies suggest that a pad (much smaller than a diaper) contains the same amount of plastic that is in FOUR plastic grocery bags.

What are disposables made of, you ask?  Here's the interesting thing: Major producers like Always and Kotex don't disclose the contents of their sanitary products because in the United States they are classified as "medical devices" and can get away with a lack in transparency.  They will admit that their products have patented synthetic absorbent materials (Always, for example, will admit to having Infinicel in their pads... what that is, I have no clue), but that's it.

Through the investigation of those like me who are frightened by the lack of information on disposable products, it's been determined that disposable sanitary napkins and tampons contain things like dioxins, synthetic fibers and petrochemical additives.  Do you know what those things are?  Probably not.

Here's the simple explanation: The contents of feminine hygiene products include small amounts of chemicals that can cause skin irritation, embryonic development issues, reproductive problems, heart disease, and organ damage.  Disposable diapers treated with chlorine can also have trace amounts of dioxins as well, which are classified as a "likely human carcinogen" ... and to those of you that don't know, carcinogen = cancer causing.  Now, to be fair, many of these chemicals are present in TINY amounts so the chances of getting an illness is exceptionally minimal.

However... TSS, Toxic Shock Syndrome, is a concern that I just can't ignore relating to the use of disposables.  This sometimes deadly disease is frightening and 100% preventable - While rare, this illness has frightening consequences.  Get more details on TSS by clicking here.

Have I "converted" anyone to cloth?

Yes, I have.  A coworker of mine just ordered her first cloth pad last week.  My father has bought me so many cloth diapers that I barely had to invest in my daughter's stash.  My husband is a SAHD and he deals with more cloth diapers than I do.

Here's the thing though - "converting" people to cloth isn't a sign that cloth use is accepted by the general public and I'm not collecting a headcount of "conversions" to prove my point.  The majority of people that I talk to aren't open to cloth - plain and simple.  They would rather not deal with IT.  "It" being blood, feces, and urine... The idea of reusable products is distasteful to people because it means greater contact with bloody fluids that our society has deemed shameful or gross.

Those of us that use cloth are a minority.  While I will mention these types of products to the people I love and trust, it's not something that most of them are willing, even in the hypothetical, to consider.  This concept of reusable cloth products will be new to the vast majority of the people I talk too - so I explain it if they're open to it, and hopefully it will get them thinking.

But cloth products are SO expensive!

For the cost of 2 cloth diapers, I could buy 60-100 disposables.  For the cost of 1 cloth pad, I could buy a pack of 45-60 disposables... But here's what you need to keep in mind when first buying reusable products.  THEY ARE REUSABLE.  In less than a month, all of those disposable diapers and pads I mentioned above?  Gone.  The 2 cloth diapers and 1 cloth pad?  Years from now, they'll still be here and still be working just as well as they did the day that I bought them.

Reusables are an investment.  Don't let the sticker shock stop you - Buy slowly if you need to.  I spent most of my pregnancy stocking up on cloth diapers & accessories.  Can you sew?  Make your own cloth products!  There are so many tutorials on blogs and YouTube to walk you through the basics, and DIY'ing can save you tons of money.

Do your research & Don't knock it 'till you try it

If you're reading this and you've never tried a cloth product, get over the "gross" factor and do your research.  Get on YouTube and watch a tutorial on how to clean a cloth pad.  Read one of my posts on cloth diapering and what you need to give it a shot.  

Bottom line: reusable cloth products are safer for your family - that's the honest truth.  Don't knock it 'till you try it.  I have loved the experience with both my daughter and myself.  Cloth diapering is FUN.  The prints are beautiful and she's had so few diaper rashes that I'm angry I didn't do this with my son.  Cloth pads have made a formerly miserable experience (having a period) exciting - I can't wait to try my new Yurtcraft pads this month!  I'm also a lot more "in tune" with my body now, which is a priceless and empowering thing, don't you think?