Mod Mum

Here is our latest and greatest giveaway with Katie from Dibs! We are giving away one baby sling to her readers.  She is an amazing mom who promotes beautiful “Green” products.  I applaud her for her story on how she was able to start a great business, while being home with her kids.  It is such a pleasure to work with her. Here is a little bio on this amazing mom!

I started Dibs! on a whim!   I had about 10 cloth diapering friends on Facebook, and I would find giveaways and tell my friends about them.  I happened to be friends with a retailer, and she thought I was doing a great job of spreading the word.  She asked me if I would be willing to help her do some more advertising for her store.  Dibs! was born! I created the page, posted a few giveaways, and invited my 10 or so friends and asked them to invite their friends.   I just started posting the giveaways that I was finding, and I now have 2,000+ Facebook fans in just over 2 months.  News travels fast about freebies!  Anytime a business asks for help, I tell them to have a giveaway.  Freebies grab attention – when people win something, they tell their friends.  When businesses are generous and donate an item, it creates loyalty!

For those who aren’t familiar with Dibs!, Dibs! is your one stop place to find all of the natural parenting giveaways going on around Facebook!  I am passionate about cloth diapering, baby wearing, and everything else that’s good for you and your family! I will point you in the direction of AWESOME giveaways on Facebook!  I mostly post about cloth diapering giveaways, but I throw in a few other ones that I think are fun!

I have also branched out into hosting giveaways on my blog.  My giveaways have included gift certificates for online natural parenting stores, cloth diapers, nursing covers, wetbags, natural laundry soap, just to name a few!  I have lots more coming up too!  So stay tuned!

I know how hard it is to take the plunge into cloth diapering.  I have been there.  It seems like a huge upfront investment, but it really isn’t that much in the grand scheme of things!  I wanted to make a place online where you can come and seek out free and cheap ways to build your “stash”  I also do reviews, which I think is SO important, so you can actually see a product in use.   Diapers fit babies differently,  it is nice to be able to see one on, instead of just a photo of the diaper.

I love that I get to showcase, promote, and become friends with the businesses.   I also love hearing that someone won a giveaway that I told them about.  I love that my fans come to my wall with questions and we get to discuss things, or help them find a certain product that they are looking for.  Through Dibs!  I have been able to bless so many people.  I just recently had a cloth diapering giveaway with over a dozen sponsors.  (There is one more giveaway on my blog in this series, it is open until Monday)  In the end I will have sent out 7 diapers, lots of wipes, cloth diaper detergent samples, a wetbag, and lots of other goodies!  Not only does it bless the winners, but it gives the sponsors lots of traffic!  Another thing I was able to do was put together a starter stash for a friend.  I gave her quite a few diapers, and all the little things she needs to get started – wipes, a wetbag, cloth diaper friendly cream, and wipe bits!  I am also working on a similar gift for another friend.  My grandma says that I want to  “cloth diaper the world”. 

I have been a cosmetologist for almost 4 years, and I work at a beautiful salon.  My boss is amazing, and lets me work very part time.  The rest of the time I am at home with my beautiful 16 month old daughter.  We want more babies, but are wanting to finish up our home remodeling project before we add any more pitter-pattering little feet!  We have been cloth diapering since she was 3 months old, and we have had a blast with it, and more importantly – have saved lots of money!  My husband loves it too, the other day I overheard him talking to a friend of ours who’s wife really wants to use cloth, but he is scared!  I think my husband convinced him to make the switch!  Speaking of my husband…he is where I got the name “Dibs”.  That’s what he calls me, and it seemed so fitting for what I do!

I would say I am pretty crunchy, and getting crunchier by the minute.  I want to be healthy – I want my family to be healthy.  I want be responsible with our planet.   I don’t know where Dibs! will lead to, but I am hanging on for the ride!  It has been so much fun so far, and I am excited to see what the future holds for my crazy little idea!

Make sure to like her Dibs! facebook page for deals a plenty!  Check out the details for the giveaway on her blog:  Dibs!

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As a mother of young children you may sometimes feel like you are overwhelmed with baby gear.  If you are a new mom or you’ve recently added a new baby to an established family of older children, you probably feel especially overwhelmed with baby items. Is there any relief for families that feel overrun by gear for their kids? How can a mom simplify?

Do not despair! There is hope for relief. There are a few things you can try to help manage the loads of “mommy paraphernalia” piling up around you. Try 3 simple steps to help simplify your life: organize, prioritize, and consolidate.

First, organize.  The old adage is true that there is a place for everything and everything in its place. Part of organizing is getting everything where it should be, or creating a place for homeless items. This means you may need to create some bins or boxes devoted for baby items when they are not in use.  This will keep items from cluttering bedrooms, bathrooms and hallways on off times.

Some examples of baby gear organization could be to use wall space to clear up clutter on the floor. Try hanging your baby’s bathtub on a wall hook next to the shower.  Another idea is to use peg boards in entry ways.  This way you can hang your baby sling, for example, right by the door so it’s accessible on your way out.  These ideas of using wall space will keep your baby baths and baby slings out of the road without having to get rid of them.

Next, work on prioritizing. Prioritizing refers to looking at all your baby gear and determining what is the most important. This step will be different for every mom.  There are some items that you may feel are essential, and others that are just nice to have around every once in a while.  Once you have prioritized, then you can put highly important items in the most convenient places, and lower priority items can be tucked away.

Let’s use our baby sling example again.   You know how much use your baby sling gets.  If it’s used for your daily walk, then have it close at hand (i.e. hanging on a hat rack, or on a mud room hook). If you only use your sling for the convenience of your weekly grocery shopping trip, then you are safe to hang it in a coat closet, or the like.

Now let’s talk consolidation.  This is the step that can get difficult! Once you’ve organized and prioritized, you may want to look into consolidating your gear, or in other words ditching your unused items.

Take for instance our baby sling example above. Since a sling does the same job that an infant stroller does, consider consolidating. Infant strollers are only used for a few months anyway, and they sure take up loads of space. Consider donating big bulky items that are unnecessary.  You will do yourself a favor by clearing clutter from your life, and someone else will be thankful to receive a baby item that perhaps they always needed.

Wintertime normally brings a lot of flu’s, bugs, and colds. This year, however, I find myself faced with worries about the H1N1 Flu, or the Swine Flu. With young babies it is important to protect your family from getting sick if you can help it.

Make sure you wash your hands. Washing hands will prevent spreading an illness if you have it. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water, or antibacterial lotion, every time you cough or sneeze.

Try not to touch your eyes and mouth around a baby. These two places are main transmitters for germs. If you have a habit of biting your fingernails be sure to wash your hands after.

Cough or sneeze in to a tissue or elbow. If you do it in a tissue you can throw it away and get rid of the germs. Try not to cough in to your hand.

If you know someone is sick, don’t go around them. If your friends want to have a play date but their kids are sick ask to reschedule. Even a runny nose with out a fever can be harmful to a baby.

When you go out in public wear baby in a baby carrier. A baby carrier allows you to be close to your baby and you can turn your back to people who sneeze more readily than you can a stroller. You will also be less likely to have a stranger go up to see your baby if you are carrying her close to you in a baby carrier or wrap than you would a baby in a car seat or stroller.

Clean your toys. Take out your toys and keep them clean. Sanitize them right after an ill child plays with them especially. You don’t want to spread the old germs, and you also do not want to spread the new ones.

If your child comes home from school or church sick do your best to keep them away from your baby. You can wear your baby in a baby carrier around the home to avoid them playing with the same items. Try to keep them away from each other at least one full day after the sick child’s fever breaks or flu-like symptoms end.

Reflux, or spitting up, is very common among babies. Many people assume that it is a part of life and eventually babies will outgrow it. While it is true that most babies outgrow it, it is not true that there is nothing parents can do about it.

Many people feel that wearing your baby close to you helps with reflux. Positioning your baby in an upright position in a baby wrap or sling helps relieve your baby of reflux symptoms. Baby wearing provides an excellent way to comfort babies that have symptoms of reflux as well, such as crying for a long amount of time.

Medical professionals agree that keeping babies upright for thirty minutes right after the baby eats helps them not spit up. Using a baby sling or baby wrap helps parents accomplish this. The added bonus with the baby wrap is that parents do not need to compromise their time simply holding the baby, but they can have their hands free to get work done.

A baby sling is calmer for your baby than a baby swing. Baby seats and baby bouncers also do not help with reflux because they add pressure to the stomach. Carrying your baby, on the other hand, keeps baby calm and relaxed while you move about.

Babywearing can accomplish a lot in regards to your baby. When walking around with your baby make sure you do not bounce baby the first half hour after he eats. Bouncing baby can cause acid to build up around baby and cause your baby irritation.

If your baby is suffering from acid reflux wearing your baby in a baby wrap or sling can help baby have better digestion. A wrap also allows for discreet feeding. Giving your baby frequent, small feedings help promote less reflux as well.

Babywearing also helps babies sleep. Reflux often makes babies cranky and sad. Wearing baby in a baby sling can help baby sleep longer and more peacefully.

If your baby has reflux speak to your doctor about solutions. You do not have to deal with constant reflux all day long. There are ways you can help.

The last few weeks of pregnancy seem to drag on for many mothers. It is hard to wait for the baby when that is the one thing you are hoping for, and is made even worse when your due date comes and goes and no baby arrives. Here are a few activities you can do to keep yourself busy while you wait for baby to finally arrive:

1. Clean your home. The nesting instinct may already have set in. Usually, if that is the case, cleaning your home will not only make you feel happier, but it will be a fun activity for you to help keep your mind off your baby that has not decided to come yet.

2. Go baby shopping. Get out of the house and buy something fun for the baby. A good choice is to buy a baby sling or baby carrier. Baby slings are a good choice to have before the baby comes because you will be able to use them when the baby is a newborn. Baby slings are very convenient too when you have another child at home. Your hands will be full taking care of two or more children, and a baby sling can be help keep your hands free while you get meals ready or get children out the door for school.

3. Take the opportunity to go out with your husband. Spend some quality time with him while you have the chance. Things get pretty exhausting and busy once the baby arrives, so spending quality time with your husband, and children if you already have some, is a good idea.

4. Take time to pamper yourself. Your new baby is going to be demanding a lot from you, especially in the first few months of his life. Go to a salon and get your nails and hair done. Many day spas offer great prenatal massages too.

5. Write down your feelings. Waiting for your baby to arrive is one emotional journey. Keep a journal about your pregnancy and share how you spent your last days before becoming a mother.

6. Read a good book. Great books are a great way to keep your mind off of dealing with the “waiting” game that comes the last few weeks of pregnancy. Books offer you hours of entertainment and distraction, rather than a good movie. Ask friends or family members to recommend good books that you might enjoy to read.

7. Exercise. Exercise is good for the baby and good for you. It also releases natural endorphins in your body, which can help with the late-pregnancy moodiness.