Bringing Home Baby & The Diaper - What You Should Know + Giveaway

There is nothing sweeter than a brand new bundle of joy! I've been lucky enough to bring home five little ones during the last six years and each has brought me a new piece of joy.

When I remember back to bringing home my first baby I was fairly confident. As the oldest of six kids I was lucky to have experience with baby things like changing diapers, baths, and laundry. There were some things however that I wasn't quite ready for like the sleepless nights and the crazy feeling of my body changing drastically and quickly. Thankfully, I was able to have some great friends and family who helped me adjust. Today I am excited to share one of these old friends and their new tool to help you be the best parent possible to your newborn.

Today I am excited to share the our good friend Pampers (yes, the diaper people) have developed some great new tools for new moms to help them adjust to normal during those first few weeks. These include a Pampers Stool Color Cards and Diaper Rash Info that will be distributed at hospitals nationwide to ensure that every mom can bring her baby home with confidence.

The best news is that Pampers isn't going to stop there. They also have a Mommy Memory Match Sweepstakes going on HERE where you can win amazing prizes including six months of diapers and wipes for your little one (running through 1/31/15).

Can't wait until January? Then here's even better news! Pampers has agreed to partner with Kerrific to give one reader a $100 diaper starter set including:

Pampers Wipes 

Pampers Newborn or Size 1 Diapers 

Diaper Genie 

Diaper Genie Refills 

Portable Diaper Caddy

To enter simply use the form below. Congrats on the little one and good luck!

Entry-Form

This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Pampers. 

I was provided product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Are You Ready for the #BabyGotMoves Twitter Party?

Yes, My baby has moves! Does yours?

Come join the party to learn more about how your baby can be ready to move with Pampers.

When: Thursday October 2nd at 9pm EST

Where: Twitter Chat

Who: @DoubleDutyDivas, @BridgetteLA, @CeceliaMecca @AngieKcom @WhatMommiesNeed @RamblingChick, and our sponsor @Pampers

RSVP: http://twtvite.com/BabyGotMoves

Prizes Include:

• 1 Pack of Baby Dry Diapers, a $15 iTunes GC and a VTech Learn and Dance Interactive Zoo 
• 1 Pack of Baby Dry Diapers and a Zoo Tunes Mobile Blue Tooth Speaker
• 1 Pack of Baby Dry Diapers and a $100 Gift Card to Little Gym/ Gymboree/ My Gym 
• 1 Pack of Baby Dry Diapers a $25 iTunes GC and an iPad Mini
• RSVP: 1 Pack of Baby Dry Diapers

This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Pampers. 

I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Diaper Bag Necessities

Diaper bags really are annoying things. They tend to be large and bulky, and if your travels are anything like mine, a big mess. I have to take about an hour every other month to clean out my diaper bag. It's a thankless task to say the least but this time I had some new Zizzy Bee Bags to help me keep it organized. These unique mesh bags are perfect for organizing. They come in two sizes so you don't have a lot of extra bulk and their see through mesh makes them easy to tell what is inside. My favorite use of these bags so far is that I can make one for each child. Then when we go someplace where I need them to sit quietly I can hand them their bag that has a few toys and a snack and I know they will be ok.

Another must have in my diaper bag is at least one bib. After not finding bibs that I liked for my children I finally started making my own. Our Kerrific Bibs feature a fun flannel print on the front with wither a terry cloth or a bamboo fleece on the back. This two layer construction allows for me to use them both to keep the baby clean and then as a wash cloth to wash their face and hands once they are done eating - a must have especially when we are eating out. The size on these bibs is designed to work on both babies who are just learning to eat and toddlers who may need a little extra help staying clean. The last feature that we love is the double snap closure. No, my toddlers can't take this bib of themselves, a mommy life saver.

The last, and most obvious, must have in my diaper bag is the diapers. Right now I have a Wonderful Bambino Diaper in my bag. I love these simple fitted diapers because they fit both of my children currently in diapers - this is a must for the diaper bag. I also love that they are soft, simple to use, and super absorbent. Wonderful Bambino makes their diapers from 100% bamboo which means when we are out and about this is a diaper that is on my side in preventing leaks and keeping my child comfortable.

What is your diaper bag must have? How do you keep your bag organized? Tell us, we're adding another child and would love to use your tips to help keep us organized.

Halo SleepSack - A #1 Baby Gift

I have the opportunity to tell you about lots of amazing products here at Kerrific but there are just a select few that actually make their way into everyday use in our home. HALO's SleepSack is one of those items. It is also an item that I love to give for baby showers whenever I have the chance to attend.



What do we love about HALO? Here are just a few of the highlights:

• HALO offers a 2-in-1 adjustable swaddle option that is perfect for newborns.
• Recognized as “Hip Healthy” by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.
• Inverted zipper (zips from the bottom) for easier diaper changes.
• Machine Washable - enough said!

For Baby G I am excited to have a Pink Swaddle and a Striped Hearts Wearable Blanket to add to my HALO collection. That means my baby will be able to sleep safely and be adorable, I just wish I could have all the fun styles! The hardest part is deciding which one to add to my collection next. Which is your favorite?

Great Baby Shower Gifts for Planning Ahead

Although it can be very fun to get items for your itti bitti baby at your baby shower, I have found that it is also very nice to get some things that your baby can grow into. I love to give outfits in larger sizes, sippy cups, and toys for young toddlers because I know that they too will be put to good use.



My favorite sippy cups to give are from Tommee Tippee. Their Truly Spill Proof Cups are an amazing addition for any baby shower gift list. They have various styles for children of different ages but they all have the same unique valves in them that really are spill proof! In fact, I regularly have one of these cups of water in my diaper bag and I don't have to worry which direction it's pointing because I know it won't spill. As a bonus, our cups are on kids #3 & 4 and still work great. Here's to a long lasting spill proof friendship!

For toys, some of my very favorites come from Green Toys. They have a great selection for kids of all ages. The majority of their toys are classics made from recycled materials which means that they also make great gifts. My kids have a few of the toys and they have proven to be sturdy and kid friendly (I know, it seems like those should be givens when we talk about toys but they aren't). My kids' current favorite is the Dish Set that is the perfect size for my toddlers to play together.


What is your favorite thing to give at a baby shower? Let us know in the comments below!

Nighttime Necessities for a New Baby

When we think about putting a nursery together many of us think about the obvious things, crib, changing table, dresser, blankets, paint. The things we forget about are lesser noticed items but still just as important to make sure you have handy.

The big thing that I had to make a midnight run to the store for with my first was a humidifier. It was something I hadn't even considered when buying baby items but now I'm not sure how I missed that detail. I keep a Crane Cool Mist Humidifier in each of our bedrooms because we never know when we're going to need them, oh and they are adorable! Humidifiers are very important, especially here in this Idaho desert. They help my kids by preventing bloody noses, lessening asthma attacks, and having great "smoke" for them to practice blowing during therapy to make their lungs stronger.

The other item that I'm not sure how I lived without is our KinderGlo nightlight. Again, we have tried a few various nightlights but this one is my favorite. The number one reason is because my potty training kids can pick it up and take it with them to the bathroom, thus eliminating the need for lights the whole way down the hall. The KinderGlo is special because it is cool to the touch, rechargeable, and of course, super cute.

What is your nighttime must have? Did you know from the beginning or were you like me and had to figure it out the hard way? Let us know in a comment.

aden + anais - The Best Blankets For Your Baby Registry

It's summer time, even here in Idaho, but just because it's warm doesn't mean that our babies like to be swaddled any less. That is why I will be using aden + anais classic swaddles with my summer baby this year.

aden + anais makes lots of great items for newborns and small babies. My favorites are the swaddle blankets but my kids have also loved their sleeping bags and toys. The best part for me is that the swaddles are made of a natural muslin that helps reduce the risk of overheating and their signature prints keep your baby looking adorable.

Why are muslin blankets the perfect choice for your baby registry? Muslin swaddles work as stroller covers, tummy time blankets, nursing covers, burp cloths and more. That means that you'll want to make sure you have not one, but two, four packs of aden + anais classic swaddles on your registry.

Nothing swaddles better than muslin! What is your favorite muslin print from aden + anais?

My Ready For Baby To Do List and Mom to Mom Diapers

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mom to Mom.

Ahh! It's almost time for the new baby. Yes, technicly I still have twelve more weeks but anyone who knows me well knows I proably have six or less left. That means it's time for me to start preping the nursery.

There is so much to do to get ready for a new baby. My to do list still includes painting, lots of baby laundry, assembling the bassinet, preparing the big brothers and sister shirts, getting the diapers ready, and of course our big baby gift guide event coming soon here on Kerrific. E keeps laughing at me and my to do lists but it is really what gets me through this third trimester. Besides, it always feels good to check things off as done!

Unfortunatly, the doctor says I need to have someone else do the painting (E, that's your cue to step in) but everything else I think I should be able to do mostly on my own. I know my favorite part of the prep will probably be the laundry. It's about the only time I enjoy laundry but there is just something about those tiny preemie and newborn sized clothes that make me smile.

This time around our diaper stash for the first two weeks or so is being helped out by some great deals on newborn sized Mom to Mom diapers from Safeway! I can't wait to try these diapers with my newborn. They look awesome! I love that they have Vitamin E and Aloe inside the diaper to help keep baby's skin super soft and that the diapers feautre a Perfect Fit Waist so the dirties stay where they belong even on my skinny kids.

Now that I have made my list and am checking it off, what am I forgetting? If you're reading this post I'm assuming that you understand when I say that I have pregnancy brain syndrome so help me out please. Leave a comment and let me know what is on your ready for baby to do list. Let's see what I am forgetting before it's too late!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mom to Mom.

Lucky Little Ones Giveaway

Welcome to the Lucky Little Ones giveaway hop brought to you by Irresistibly Green, Just Add Cloth, Our Piece of Earth, and more top bloggers. 

Here at Kerrific we have put together an amazing prize package including:

• a MAM Learn to Drink cup, pacifier and pacifier clip package - Review
• Svan Totseat - Review
• one pair Pediped shoes - Review
• Baby K'tan Carrier - Review

With a total value of up to $172 (depending on styles chosen). 

To enter, use the form below. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Now that you've entered here make sure you hope along to all the other blogs participating. Each is offering a baby or toddler related prize for you to win for your lucky little one! 

Then check out the grand prize offering over $240 worth of eco-friendly baby gear for one lucky winner including: 

• 3 WAHMies ine size picket diapers
• 2 WAHMies pail liner
• 1 large WAHMies wet bag 
• 1 medium WAHMies wet bag 
• 1 tube Grandma El's Diaper Rash Remedy and Prevention 
• 1 tube CJ's BUTTer 
• 1 small Planet Wise wet bag 
• 3 Fuzzibunz Perfect size pocket diapers
• 1 pack of fleece liners
• 1 Jellystone Troika teething necklace 

Disclosure: Prizes ship directly from sponsor unless otherwise noted. Irresistibly Green bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Please contact the blogger through whom you won a prize should issues occur. Grand prize is fulfilled via Irresistibly Green and is available to U.S. entrants only. All prize winners are chosen randomly and notified via email.

Mothers En Vogue Flamenco Wrap Maternity & Nursing Dress Reivew

Guess what ... I'm finally getting a visible belly! Now this may not seem like a huge deal to some of you but if I'm not going to fit in my preferred size then, in my opinion, I better have a pregnant belly that you can tell is pregnant. I'm so glad to finally be out of that "she looks like she's gaining weight" stage and onto something that is better.

For the next few months I will be showing off my baby bump with the fun Flamenco Wrap Dress from Mothers En Vogue. I received this dress last week and couldn't help but wear it to church on Sunday. It was great! My favorite thing about Mothers En Vogue's products is the amazingly soft fabric that so many of them are made of. Not only is it soft but it also washes up amazingly well (the tunic I received last fall still looks brand new), and this is because the fabric is 95% bamboo! Serious luxury here!

There are so many other things I love about the Flamenco Wrap Dress I don't know how I will list them all. For me it is my new favorite! I love the length, just below the knee, which is perfect with my boots or flats.

The most important thing to love about this dress is that I am going to be able to use it long after baby arrives. That's right, this dress is completely nursing friendly! The dress itself has a built in undershirt that allows neckline access for nursing without showing off to the world. I am so excited to use this as it is amazingly hard to find dresses that allow for easy nursing so this is a one and only in my closet.

I'm so excited to be sharing this dress with you and I'm even more excited that Mothers En Vogue has agreed to allow me to give one lucky reader their very own Flamenco Wrap Dress during Spring Fashionista so stay tuned for an awesome giveaway starting in just a few short days! You won't want to miss out! In the meantime, make sure you head over to Mothers En Vogue and check out all the other great maternity and nursing items they have available!

Bella Materna Sexy T-Shrit Nursing Bra Review - Fashionista!

So I have to admit, with baby #5 on the way there are some things that I'm finding I really need. One of those things is some new nursing bras. Yes, I have a whole drawer full of nursing bras but after four kids they are looking a little sad and need to be retired.

Recently I have had the chance to try a NEW Sexy T-Shirt Nursing Bra from Bella Materna and I am loving it! Not only am I loving having a bra that actually fits and isn't all stretched out, but i also love the figure that this bra gives my pregnant self.

The bra is available in two color options, rose or black, and sizes 32-38 B-G. WOW! The bra does have a wire but it is a "flexy" wire and as the name suggests I have found it much more forgiving than a traditional underwire bra. The material of the Sexy T-Shirt Bra is also certified to be toxin free which is an added bonus when it comes to making clothing choices.

Not nursing but love the look of this bra? Have no fear, this Bella Materna bra can be easily converted into a regular bra. You can learn more at their website.

Ready to try out the Sexy T-Shirt Nursing Bra? It's a great choice! Plus the customer service is awesome over at Bella Materna so you'll have a great shopping experience.

Plus, stick around and be ready to enter to win a Sexy T-Shirt Nursing Bra of your very own during Spring Fashionista 2014 here at Kerrific! We're so excited to share!

Willow Store Diaper Review

As we have continued to cloth diaper we have enjoyed becoming more diverse in the types of diapers we use. One brand we were recently able to try was from the Willow Store. They sent us a starter set in CherryBerry to try and we are enjoying it.
These diapers are super simple to use. You have a shell and an insert and you simply lay the insert inside the shell and put it on. My favorite part about these diapers is their extra large inserts. I have to fold them for my 2 year old but that means I can put the extra right where I need it most. These inserts do not fit in my pocket diapers but that is ok by me.
The shell of this diaper is fully reversible which makes it kinda fun. These covers are also one size. Adjusting them takes a little more work than some because you actually adjust it with elastic inside the cover but they also get a more secure fit than one size snap covers.
Last but not least I will tell you that I love all the bright colors these diaper sets come in! There are so many combos to choose from you'll have a hard time picking just one.

LilyPadz Review

I don't often express my strong opinions but I'm assuming by now you have realized that I am a somewhat crunchy mama. I am after all a cloth diapering, baby wearing, breastfeeding mom and proud of it. There are some necessary evils that come with being a crunchy mom however and one of those is breast pads. Or at least I thought they were necessary, until I was introduced to LilyPadz.

LilyPadz has given me an whole new outlook on breastfeeding and I haven't even used them for their intended purpose yet. They are simply a piece of thin silicone that PREVENTS breast leakage by maintaining pressure on your breast. They are super easy to apply and you only need one set! That is a big bonus in my mind!
Since I'm not currently nursing I can't vouch for how well these work but having tried them on I think they are going to be an awesome solution to an unfortunate problem. I should also tell you that even if you aren't nursing you may want to invest in a set of LilyPadz. They are also great for days when it's a little colder than you thought it was going to be but you want to wear your favorite bra that just doesn't have quite enough padding. That's right, LilyPadz are a great solution to this problem too.
I love my LilyPadz! They are super user friendly and I just know you'll love them too!

Belly Buttons & Babies Review

With it being summer and my ever growing pregnant body our household has been going through an amazing amount of lotion. I was super excited when Belly Buttons & Babies send me some of their organic lotions to review.
For me they sent some Natural Lavender & Chamomile Body Cream that I am absolutely in love with. Sometimes I feel that lavender and chamomile products have much too strong of a scent but this product is not at all that way. I love using it on my growing belly because it is great at helping to stop the continual itching that seems to be happening these days. Because this is a thicker cream I also really love it for my feet that get lots of abuse during the summer when I love to run outside barefoot.
The second product they sent me is their Calming Massage Lotion For Baby. I love this lotion for everyday use. It is just the right thickness to keep your skin moist without feeling greasy which is awesome. This lotion is also made with 100% baby safe ingredients so I love knowing that it is ok to use on my kids.
If you're looking for some great organic products than Belly Buttons & Babies is a place you should stop. They have lots of great products to choose from and they sell them at very reasonable prices. I know I am impressed!

Smart Snugs Diaper Review

Like most moms who cloth diaper I like my kids diapers to be cute. Recently I found a unique diaper that we are loving! It is a MultiColor diaper from SmartSnugs. Like most of our diapers this is a one-size pocket diaper. Besides the fun colors on the outside one of my very favorite things about this diaper is the dark colored inside. I can't tell you how much time I spend trying to get stains out of our white diapers. Not that it really matters on how they function but they don't look very nice. I love the dark insides because then I simply don't have to worry about staining. It looks nice no matter what.

Our SmartSnugs diaper came with two inserts. One regular insert that works wonderfully. We have had a small problem with the stitching coming undone with this insert but it hasn't hurt the absorbency any. The second insert they sent is a night time booster. This insert is two layers of bamboo and three layers of microfiber. It is an awesome insert and certainly holds a lot. We love using it overnight or sometimes even for our big boys during the day.

SmartSnugs also carries some awesome wet bags. They are one pocket wet bags that are just the right size for the diaper bag (hold 3-4 diapers). I love that they have a little handle so I can easily attach them to a stroller if needed.

I have been very pleased with both SmartSnugs products and their customer service. If you're looking for a great diaper be sure to check them out!

SewEco Sandwich Wrap Review

I don't know about the rest of you pregnant women but when I am pregnant I eat all the time. It's never a lot but if I don't have some sort of a snack with me I go crazy. Keeping health snacks can be a challenge but one thing that makes it easier is not to have to worry about plastic bags. It seems that when we use plastic bags we are always running out and that makes it frustrating to try to take sandwiches and other snacks with you.
Recently I received a Food Wrap from SewEco to review and I am really enjoying using it for my snacks. I had never used a snack wrap before but I am enjoying its versatility. I have used this wrap for everything from pretzels to a taco and it works fairly well.
Cleaning is super easy. I wipe the wrap clean each night when it gets home and then wash and hang dry about once a week. So much easier than making an emergency trip to the store because we ran out of bags.

I have really enjoyed having this wrap around and I know it will get even more use with E and the kids at school this fall. In fact, if you have kids in school, or someone who takes their lunch to work I highly suggest you head over to SewEco and stock up on their awesome wraps and bags.

Sick Child Note

I had all the good intentions of posting the last of the awesome Ready for Baby reviews and giveaways today but I woke up to sick children and it's not going to get done. To ALL my awesome readers and sponsors, I will get back on this tomorrow (provided more kids don't get sick) so watch for our super ending to take place tomorrow! Thanks for your understanding and please know that I am thinking of all of you as I clean up this mess!
A

Baby Button Review & Giveaway

Today I am here to tell you about another product I'm not sure how I lived without. That would be a nursing cover. With B I simply did without because I never went anywhere. Once C was born I had to get creative with a blanket which did ok sometimes but I was exposed more than I would have liked to be. When D was born I was gifted my first Nursing Cover and now I have to have multiple so I can always have one with me.
That may seem silly but especially as my boys get older I feel that it is important to teach them modesty and the best way to do that is by example. That is why I am super excited about my new Baby Button Nursing cover. It is not only cute but also very user friendly and I can't wait to try it out!
Probably my favorite feature of this cover is the buckle. I've never seen a cover with a buckle on the neck strap before but I think it's a wonderful idea. I can't tell you how many times I have ruined my hair or had to deal with a hat and it has made using my covers frustrating. Now I don't have to worry about any of that. Simply undo the buckle, put the strap around your neck, and do it back up. No more messy hair for me!

Baby Button has these covers in lots of fun prints so make sure you check them out. And while you're there you should stop and look at some of their other great products including bibs, blankets, burp cloths, and gift sets.



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Hipkiddo Review

Today I am super excited to tell you about one of my new favorite cloth diapers. It is the Naturally Hip by Hipkiddo. There are so many reasons I love this diaper but before I get all excited I do want to mention that this diaper does run slightly smaller than some one size diapers I have used. It still fits both my boys easily (see pictures) but I felt I should give you fair warning.
Now, on to all the reasons I love this diaper. The biggest reason is that it holds a lot! This is one of the few diapers that C does not wet out of overnight. I love it for this purpose and regularly hold it in my stash so that he can wear it when I know we're going to be out of the house for a few hours or if they are having a babysitter. It is super nice to know that I have a diaper that I can rely on.
There are two big reasons this diaper holds so much. One is because it is made of 60% bamboo, 30% cotton and 10% coolplus. I have never heard of coolplus before but now that I have used this combo I will tell you that it is awesome! The other great thing about this diaper is that the inserts are made of not 3, but 4 layers of this awesome material. They do take slightly longer to dry than a standard insert but the extra ten minutes is well worth the wait.

Hipkiddo also sent me one of their Pail Bags which I am also getting a lot of use out of. It holds about 25 diapers which makes it the perfect size to take on a day trip with my kids. I love the draw string closure as it helps keep the dirty smell inside but makes it easy to put more diapers inside too.
I can't tell you how pleased I am with these Hipkiddo diapers. They are working great for my family and I highly encourage you to try them out too!

Bee All Natural Review & Giveaway

Finding the perfect skin care products for your children can be difficult. There are lots of different options available depending on your price range, location, scent preferences, and a whole slew of other factors. To make things even more interesting it seems like each child needs their own skin care items as different items work better on different children (at least at my house). Recently we have had the chance to try some products from Bee All Natural and have found that they work well for D and I.
My favorite product was the Baby Diaper Rash Salve. We have used it on a couple of minor breakouts on D and it has worked really well. It didn't seem to have as good of an effect on C but it did help a little. We were sent the natural scent to try and I really like it for D. One of my favorite things about this salve is that it is completely cloth diaper safe. This saves us a lot of hassle as D is prone to diaper rashes and now we don't have to worry about a liner or using disposables.
For me I have been thoroughly enjoying the lip balm Bee All Natural sent us. This has been a big help with our dry weather, heat and my pregnancy. My lips are always cracking and bleeding and this lip balm helps sooth, heal, and prevent the problem.
I have come to love these products and look forward to continuing to use them. I love that they are all natural and that they are made by a mom in Michigan. For a chance to try your very own products from Bee All Natural enter using the form below. While you're here make sure to enter all the other great giveaways during our Ready for Baby event. You can find a complete list on the right side of this page.

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