The Itsabelly Blog

Give the Gift of Reading - Check out The Gifted Grasshopper

When I first found The Gifted Grasshopper I was impressed with the organization of their website and totally enamored by their product.  I love books and I especially love books that make my little one's face glow after she flips through the pages and points to the pictures. 

The Gifted Grasshopper is a perfect way to send that special gift of reading to a child if you're a parent, grandparent, relative or friend looking for something educational.  The books can be gift wrapped with a cute stuffed grasshopper and placed in a re-usable book bag for your child to carry his favorite books in.  You can find books for baby through third grade from a hand picked selection of wonderful children's literature.  Customized book bags, gift certificates and even party favor gift bags starting at $7.99 are available.  Gifts under $30 may also fit your needs.  This company was created by two former first grade teachers so you know they'll have your little one's interests at heart!  The Gifted Grasshopper definitely gets a thumbs up from Itsabelly!

Our Special Announcement to Honor Earth Day!

             

Itsabelly's Guide to Going Green with Baby is the first book to provide a simple resource for evaluating eco-friendly baby gear and to learn more about organic and natural family living. We offer mom-tested product reviews and tips to raising a healthy baby and creating a happy planet. The founders of Under the Nile, gDiapers, TheSoftLanding.com and Earth Mama Angel Baby provide insight on why choosing organic and natural baby products is important to creating a healthier lifestyle. Going Green with Baby features personal product recommendations from eco-minded moms Jennifer Lo Prete and Melissa Moog. Jennifer is a writer and mother of two that has long practiced green living. Melissa is mom to a toddler, writer and the founder of Itsabelly Baby Concierge, a premier baby planning agency that specializes in going green with baby.

Going Green with Baby will be released in the Summer of 2008. To pre-order your copy, please send us an email to info@itsa-belly.com or call us at (503)799-5719 with your name and contact information. We will contact you when the book is available for purchase. Wholesale inquiries are also welcome.

A Peek Inside...

• Plan your baby registry with the best mom-tested reviews of over 300 eco-friendly baby products. We cover all your baby’s needs from slings to strollers, non-toxic bottles to safe skin care products, organic baby clothes to eco-friendly diapers and sustainable nursery furniture.
           
• Learn why going green with baby is important for a healthy baby and happy planet. Our panel of eco experts weighs in on the importance of organic apparel, sustainable wood, non-toxic feeding products and natural skin care products.
           
• Discover our simple eco-mom tips to raising a healthy baby and protecting our planet.
           
• Decipher the meaning and standards behind eco-labels. What does organic mean anyway? We make your trip to the store easier with a useful guide to common eco-labels and organic certification standards.
           
• Gain valuable tips on going green on a budget. From our own experience, it may not be financially feasible to turn your household completely organic. We give you tips on how you can make green choices that are right for your family.

      

A Cheat Sheet to a Good Night’s Sleep for Baby

By April Beach, Founder & Consultant of Sweet Pea Baby Planners, www.sweetpeababyplanners.com

Your new baby has arrived, and with her the endless question, “How’s she sleeping?”   Even if your answer is “great”, you soon learn that all newborns sleep well, and this time has passed.   After questioning friends and attempting to read numerous novels on sleep approaches, you realize you’ve dozed off into one of those informative pages at lunch time, and you’re too exhausted to find a cure. 
Before reading, trying, and failing at the next sleep solution, consider this; you will not find sleep success until you adopt an approach that matches your family’s unique lifestyle and individual personalities.  Try writing down what sleep success look likes to you.  What are your goals?  For some it may be a complete night sleep, while others may choose to keep a nightly breastfeeding session, and still others like the idea of a family bed.    Consider whether you would honestly be comfortable letting your baby cry, and if so for how long.  Are you desiring a fast change or are you willing to invest a few weeks in the process. Talk with your partner, compare concerns and goals, and create a united front.   Consistency, patience and unity are the keys to your success.   Finally, hold yourself accountable.  Arrange to call a friend the following morning and share how the coaching went for the previous night.   Be honest about the ways you succeeded, as well as the areas in which you struggled.   Reassess and continue on.

A cheat sheet to finding your approach:

- If you’re looking for a consistent daily routine, set nap and feeding times, and don’t mind some crying, these two approaches do a great job at ensuring a full night’s sleep.     “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child” by  Marc Weissbluth, M.D.  And “Baby Wise” by Robert Bucknam,  M.D.

- If you want to continue night nursing in or out of a family bed, you don’t want to let your child cry,  and you still seek a good night’s sleep, try “The No -Cry Sleep Solution” by Elizabeth Pantley www.pantley.com

- If want your baby sleeping in her own bed, can’t handle the crying, and are willing to invest a few weeks in the process, try “Good Night, Sleep Tight” by Kim West, licensed  practicing child therapist  www.sleeplady.com

- If you don’t mind lots of crying and want a quick solution, and if your baby is over one and you have allowed poor associations to interfere with healthy sleep, try “Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems”  by Richard Ferber, M.D.  www.childrenshospital.org/views/june06/sleep.html

Consult with your child’s Pediatrician before beginning any sleep coaching to rule out illness, injury or medical conditions that can interfere with normal healthy sleep. 

Love at First Flush :)

Last Friday, I had an opportunity to meet with gDiapers and their VP of Marketing (Kate) at their headquarters here in Portland.  It was such a neat experience for me because I've followed gDiapers story since I moved here and have now become a fan of their product.  Isabella is just starting to use them now and also on the verge of being potty trained (that's a whole separate blog entry).

gDiapers headquarters is in a huge Victorian home on a corner lot near our famous "Trendy Third" (23rd street) and totally inconspicuous.  Not even a company sign infront to be found.  I really got the feeling of being at the grass roots level of the company because it wasn't at all what your typical "corporate" headquarters office feels like.  I should know  because I used to work at Intel (hundreds of grey colored cubes in a sterile environment).

While I was there I very briefly met with Jason Graham-Nye, the founder and  shook his hand politely :)  He's an Aussie so he had a nice accent and was pretty tall.  All I know of him is from his "about" page and what I've read on his blog.  I think what he and his wife have done with their company has been amazing and inspiring!  I like to give props to entrepreneurs who work hard to get their business off the ground and have become successful because as a new entrepreneur myself it is darn hard work!!!!!

And did you know that...

*50 million disposable diapers go into landfills every day in the US, where they sit for up to 500 years.

*Disposable diapers are made of petroleum based plastic, which is why they don’t break down.  It’s also the reason diaper rash is so common.  Diaper rash is caused by moisture trapped by heat. Disposables are ultra absorbent, but they don’t breathe.

Here's what I know about gDiapers so far and I'll have to post about my personal experience using them with Isabella later...

Overview of gDiapers

*gDiapers are the best of cloth and disposable in an earth-friendly hybrid diaper

*gDiapers consist of a reusable, cloth outer pant—a little g— and a plastic-free refill that you can flush, compost or toss

*gDiapers break down in about 3 months as opposed to plastic disposable diapers that take up to 500 years

*gDiapers are breathable, just like sports clothing, so babies stay dry and are far less likely to get diaper rash

a few key points comparing gDiapers to cloth

*gDiapers are more convenient than cloth and require much less washing, therefore less energy

*They’re also more absorbent than cloth and there’s less mess

*gDiapers are breathable, just like sports clothing, which means less diaper rash

*And they’re really cute!

compared to disposables

*gDiapers are radically better for the environment than traditional disposable diapers

*gDiapers are cradle to cradle certified which means that everything that goes into a gDiapers refill is reabsorbed by the planet in a neutral or helpful way

*gDiapers are plastic-free, so the break down in about 3 months instead of 500 years

*gDiapers can be flushed, so they don’t have to go into the landfill (they can also be home composted - wet ones only)

*gDiapers flushable refills contain :no plastic, no elemental chlorine, no perfumes, no inks or dyes, no latex, no guilt

If you use or have used gDiapers please comment here with your feedback and also be entered in our drawing to win Earth Mama Angel Baby's Organic I Love My Mama Gift Basket AND Organic Angel Baby Shampoo (perfect for Mother's Day) value over $50!

So, What the Heck Does an Itsabelly Baby Concierge Do Anyway?

I hope this blog entry will give you a good idea of what a day in the life of a Baby Planner is like while providing consultation to an expectant couple.

I recently traveled to Arizona for business and pleasure.  While I was there I met with The Bump's Managing Editor, Kira and her husband Jeff Krieger.  We planned a few hours to head over to the baby store and check out products they were considering for their registry.  

Many people wonder what a "Baby Concierge or Baby Planner" does exactly because it is a new and growing field.  When I first launched Itsabelly 1 year ago I would explain that I was like a wedding planner but instead of planning for the big wedding day I'm helping parents plan for baby's arrival and the first year after.  This could mean doing research to figure out the best baby products to place on a couple's registry or designing the baby's nursery with a personal touch by assisting parents in picking out furniture and decor.  There are many concierge and consulting services a baby planner can offer and it's just a matter of what an expectant or new parent needs help with.  Itsabelly takes care of pre-natal needs before baby is born and services new parents 12 months after baby is born (e.g. helping parents choose the best car seat as the infant grows out of the infant seat or learning how to make organic baby food). 

For Kira and Jeff, it was a breeze because they already had a clear idea of what their budget, space and lifestyle needs entailed.  I also provided a simple set of questions for Kira and Jeff to review prior to meeting with them so that we could spend our time efficiently at the baby store.

Kira and Jeff had a middle of the road budget and didn't want to clutter their home with too many baby gadgets and gizmos.  They wanted to go the simple but sophisticated route when choosing their baby gear.  They also wanted to go organic in certain areas so I advised them to consider going green on items that would touch baby's skin or placed in baby's mouth.  Products such as baby clothing, swaddle blankets, crib sheets, baby bottles and pacifiers were items I recommended they go green in.

Jeff was a great expectant dad to work with because he asked some very good questions and really wanted to be involved in deciding on big ticket baby items (like the crib, stroller and infant seat as most new dads do).  Kira beamed as she watched Jeff get into the baby registry experience.  Kira was able to push, pull and touch baby gear in the store while listening to my consultation on what to look for in items like a stroller or crib.  It alleviated many of her questions and allowed the baby registry experience to be much less overwhelming.  We already know being pregnant and going through labor is stressful and challenging enough! 

I'm grateful to be part of Kira and Jeff's very special time by helping them ease into parenthood.  I know that they will absolutely be wonderful parents!  Thank you to Kira and Jeff for making my job as a baby planner a real treat!

The Non-toxic Feeding Series Review - Part 3 - Cabo Trip & How the Foogo and Sigg Saved Our Travels with Baby

We just returned from our vacation in Cabo San Lucas and had a wonderful time but when traveling with baby I'm always going through a long list of things I need to make sure to pack.  One very important thing I make sure to have handy is the precious white liquid called milk.  Our 19 month old LOVES her milk!  I was also chatting with a friend about traveling with our babies and sharing different tips on how to make our travels easier.  She mentioned that Trader Joe's carries small milk cartons that don't need refrigeration so she takes these on the plane with her.  I thought that was a great idea as long as security decides to let you keep the cartons.  Personally, I haven't had a problem at all with carrying milk through but I've only traveled  within the US and MX so far with our toddler.  I wanted to offer some tips for parents wondering how they can have that precious white liquid on hand.

Special Notes About Travel to Cabo:  I decided to add this blurb in for those parents interested in learning more about what to expect when traveling to Cabo with their baby.  Cabo is an Americanized and modern town due to tons of tourism with lots of options for feeding your baby.  We fed Isabella milk which we bought on site at our resort in their general market.  We also ate at credible restaurants that offered rice, beans, chicken etc.  We even shopped at the local market and bought veggies and fruit which were fine.  Drinking bottled water with an American label or a local label that is credible (ask your hotel receptionist) is usually fine.  We had no problem.  We had a shuttle pick us up at the airport called Transcabo and they offer car seats for an extra charge.  Our car seat straps weren't working properly though so beware and if you're paranoid about this then bring your own and be prepared to carry it!  There were no laws enforcing car seats there and drivers didn't seem to care. We did share a shuttle to avoid the expensive cost and it was a bit of a bumpy ride sitting in the back of the van.  Note that there are two terminals in the Cabo airport which are about 1-2 miles away fr each other and walking with luggage and kids if you get dropped off at the wrong one is totally inconvenient - this happened to us!  So, make sure you ask the taxi or shuttle driver if the terminal you are dropped off at has your airline!

If you are traveling to Cabo and you want more tips from Itsabelly I'd be happy to help you.  So, just shoot me a comment through this blog entry or email me at info@itsa-belly.com and I'd be happy to share my experience and give you some valuable info to make your trip even more fun!

Here's what I do when traveling with milk:

• I take the Foogo sippy cup and fill it with milk.  The Foogo is insulated and keeps milk cold for several hours.  It's also a non-toxic container which is plus!  It also fits nicely in the side pocket of our backpack.
• I take a Sigg bottle and fill it with extra milk.  The Sigg is a non-toxic container as well! 
• Here's some Info on how long you can keep milk at room temp - It depends on the temperature that the milk is stored at. To be safe here are some general guidelines for time and temperature for milk:
  - At room temperature of 60 degrees F milk will stay safe for 24 hours.
  - At room temperature of 66-72 degrees F milk will stay safe for 10 hours.
  - At room temperature of 79 degrees F milk will stay safe for 4-6 hours.
  
• If for some reason security asks me to dump the milk I don't worry because I can also purchase milk from the coffee shops or cafes after passing through security.
• If for some reason you don't find a coffee shop or cafe to purchase milk you can always asks your flight attendant while she's serving your drink to give you a glass of milk.  Voila, you can fill your child's sippy cup with the precious white liquid!

These options should help you avoid bursting your ear drums from a screaming toddler who knows milk does her body good!  At least until her sippy cup is sucked dry again :)

Overall, from Itsabelly's review based on form, functionality and frugal-ness (is it worth the money I spent) we give Foogo and Sigg 4 out of 5 bellies (5 being excellent). 

How Not to Break the Bank When Budgeting for a New Baby

As seen on AM Northwest's Television Program

See Video Link: AM Northwest TV (Budgeting for Baby, 1/31/08)

You're excited about the bundle of joy that's going to join you in nine months.  Now, you want to make sure you don't break the bank by doing all of the right things to budget for baby's arrival.  Based on an exclusive survey of 1,000 new moms from Babycenter.com in 2007 they estimated it would cost $7,542 on average for baby's first year.  This amount does not include medical costs which is another $7,600 on average according to the Federal Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality.  No doubt that you want to spend your dollars wisely once baby's here!

TIPS ON HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR FINANCES:

• Build your budget, track expenses & revise as needed - make sure you know what funds are coming in and what is being spent so you can budget for baby accordingly
• Find out what your health insurance covers - review your health coverage including deductible and determine what your hospital bills will be when baby is born
• Get out of debt (credit cards first) - credit cards with a high interest rate are worst at draining your funds so pay them off!
• Determine if a stay at home parent vs. daycare is feasible - sometimes staying at home with baby verses paying for daycare is less expensive
• Check to see if your employer offers a healthcare or dependent care flexible spending account - you can save money on a pre-tax basis and reduce your taxable income
  
• Start a college savings plan - 529 plans allow you to save money now toward college costs and the earnings will not be taxed as long as it's spent on college related expenses.  Check out College Savings Plans  for more information.
  
• Meet with your accountant to see if you qualify for child & dependent-care tax credits.  Adjust your tax withholding to show a dependent child which will give you a larger paycheck
• Draw up a will (name your baby as the beneficiary and also name a guardian) and make sure your life insurance coverage is adequate (two-three times your family's annual gross income)
• Make sure you have an emergency fund set aside - financial experts say you should have at least three to six months in cash incase you lose your job or the unexpected happens
• Don't overspend your budget on "nice-to-have" baby gear - be wise and don't waste money on the extras but focus on the necessities like diapers and a car seat
• Buy consignment or recycled baby items & use coupons - save money & recycle by purchasing second hand baby items like a stroller or baby clothing. Use coupons to save money on diapers or baby's toiletries.  

Great Budgeting Website Resources:

Baby Center
Practical Money Skills
College Savings Plan

Health Insurance Consumer Assistance:

• National Insurance Consumer Helpline (800) 942-4242
• National Insurance Consumer Organization (703) 549-8050

Bisphenol-A Free Sampler Baby Bottle Kits Available at The Soft Landing

The Soft Landing has done a great job at meeting the needs of parents wanting to go BPA free with baby feeding gear.  Their new baby bottle sampler kit is such a great idea!  It gives parents a chance to try out the best brands of non-toxic baby bottles out in the market so they can figure out what works best for their baby's needs.

Personally, when I had my baby I was stuck with 12 of the same bottles from a gift set I received at our baby shower.  I didn't even know if I liked the bottles because I hadn't tried them with our baby yet but I was stuck with them anyways.  The Soft Landing's kit allows you to try each brand of bottle and makes it so easy because it's in ONE kit.  No wasteful packaging, no separate shipments (if you're buying from various vendors) and no driving from store to store (wasting expensive gas) trying to find a specific bottle brand!  How smart is that?!

Here's what The Soft Landing has to say about their cool, new kit!

"We’ve gathered the best in BPA free bottles so you can try before buying your full stash of bottles. It also makes the perfect baby shower gift with its gender neutral colors!

The Sampler Kit includes a variety of non-toxic plastic and glass bottles, regular neck and wide neck, as well as vented and non-vented bottles:

• One 4oz Siliskin Glass baby bottle with silicone cover
• One 5oz Regular Neck Green to Grow bottle
• One 5oz Think Baby wide neck bottle with anti-colic nipple
• One 5oz Born Free wide neck bottle with air vent

You won’t find this combination of bottles anywhere else. All bottles in the kit have been confirmed with each manufacturer to be Bisphenol-a, Phthalate, and PVC free."

The Non-toxic Feeding Series Review - Part 2 - Bumkins Bibs Keep Baby Clean and Chemicals Off

Note:  This is not a sponsored review.  The feedback below is purely based on my personal review and sticky hands from a curious toddler.

I wouldn't call myself totally anal retentive but my husband would probably beg to differ.  I'm fairly anal about keeping Isabella clean especially during feedings so I don't have to worry about scrubbing spaghetti stains out of her clothing.  Toddlers love to throw toys around and food isn't an exception!

So, I purchased a few Bumkins Waterproof SuperBibs ($7.95) from The Soft Landing and love them.  I love the happy color palette with Dr. Seuss Designs (they offer various patterns), I love that their waterproof, I love that they have a pouch that catches run away food particles and I LOVE the fact they have always been FREE OF PVC AND PHTHALATES and made in the good old USA.

The cool thing is I can hand wash them right after each feeding and they air dry quickly or I can wipe them off clean.  And if we're on the road I just fold it up and slip it into our backpack of goodies.  There are 6 different sizes and styles to choose from.  Next on my list is an art smock also made of the same non-toxic material, paint stains - be gone!  From Itsabelly's review based on form, functionality and frugal-ness (is it worth the money I spent).  Itsabelly gives Bumkins Bibs 4 out of 5 bellies (5 being excellent).

BabyGanics - A Non-toxic All Purpose Cleaner that's Safe for Baby & Fido too!

NOTE:  This product review is not sponsored and is purely based on feedback from a concerned mom's perspective.

When Isabella started to crawl on our tile and hardwood floors I was really concerned with how toxic chemicals from the conventional cleaners would affect her.  So, I started to use my own homemade potion of water and vinegar but the smell was pretty potent for about a 1/2 hour after cleaning.  It smelled like a salad dressing gone bad but I was happy with how it cleaned and it was safe for my baby.

As for a store bought household cleaner, I formerly used the standard 409 bottle but recently I was introduced to Babyganics All Purpose Cleaner in lavender scent. I use it on my counter tops, tile and kitchen appliances.  Grimey food stains and sticky handprints wipe off clean.  The scent is also pleasant if you like lavender and they have an unscented version.  Most of all, it's made of all natural/organic ingredients.  The cleaner is made of a natural soybean and palm kernel oils base. So you're not using a product that contains hazardous ingredients like ammonia, phosphates, petroleum distillates, chlorine, limonene, terpene products and animal by-products.  Additionally, it's safe for children and pets.  You can purchase BabyGanics at Babies R Us, Wal Mart and Bed, Bath & Beyond as well as other stores.

There are definitely many different types of all natural, non-toxic products out there in the household cleaning category but if you're interested in trying BabyGanics I would definitely recommend it. I'm glad we're seeing more and more companies like BabyGanics developing non-toxic products that keep families in the forefront.  Check out their website and free cleaning tips.