Simply the Best!

We have received so many comments and questions regarding some of our more "unconventional" baby items we are planning on using with Amelia that I thought I would make a post about a few of them. We want "simply the best" for our sweet little daughter, and we've put alot of research into how we want to raise her and what products we want to introduce. I hope you enjoy this post, and please ask any questions you have!!

gDiapers is our chosen solution to diapering. We are soooo excited about this option for Amelia!! Not only is this an enviro-friendly solution, it's also fabulously economical. We currently have purchased enough diaper covers, liners, flushable inserts (for traveling and camping) and hemp/cotton inserts for our everyday use to last us for two years. I would estimate that we spent about $700 total. Based on some calculations, disposable diapering (using Huggies) would cost nearly $1,500 for the first two years and those little poo-holders would sit in a dump, taking decades (even centuries) to decompose!!!

The flushable inserts are what gDiapers originally started selling with their diaper covers. They are biodegradable and can even compost in your garden (well, only the wet ones!). You can literally flush these inserts down the toilet, even on a septic system. They are a little more expensive than using a classic disposable diaper, but the enviromental benefits are wonderful. We have purchased a couple of cases of these inserts to use when we travel or go camping so we aren't carrying around a bag full of dirty cloth diapers needing to be washed!!

Recently, gDiapers came out with their own line of cloth inserts and they are a huge hit... and therefore hard to come by as they are sold out quite frequently online. I purchased our cloth inserts from http://www.cottonwoodbaby.com/. They are made specifically for the gDiapers and have excellent reviews. We plan on using these every day for Amelia to cut down on waste. Even with using the electricity and water on a high-effeciency machine, we will still be saving money by cloth gDiapering. I encourage you to look into their website, http://www.gdiapers.com/, for further information, or just ask me!! I've been researching them for 9 months :)

Next up is our baby carrier, called a "baby hawk". These carriers are made of 100% pre-shrunk cloth with no aluminum or plastic body for shaping. This will allow us to carry Amelia closer to our body. Babies can be carried either in front or on your back, as you can see in the picture above. Our particular choice for baby hawk also has pockets, so we can store small items, such as car keys and a diaper or two.

These carriers get wonderful reviews and are becoming quite the "rage" with celebrities. You can see all of their carriers and fabric options (yes, you get to choose your own, including strap colors!!) at http://www.babyhawk.com/.

I know what you are thinking.... "A food processor, what kind of baby product is this?!" Well, we already have one in our kitchen, and it's probably my most favorite kitchen appliance EVER (sorry stand mixer). After much research into baby food ingredients and the cost of organic jarred baby food, we have decided to make our own baby food!! Of course, there are plenty of food mills on the market today "specifically designed" for making your own baby food, but your trusty processor or blender will work just as well.

For about 2 or 3 cents per serving, Amelia will have the opportunity to eat wonderful, homemade baby food of any variety, but without any type of chemicals or pesticides that can still be found in jarred baby food, even organic. To do this, we take any vegetable, meat, or fruit and lightly steam or boil it prior to processing or blending it into a thick meal. Water or breastmilk can be added to get the desired consistency. You can serve immediately, or freeze and store to eat later!! To store, simply pour the smooth mixture into icecube trays and freeze, then transfer to jars or bags until you are ready to use.

We are thinking avocado or sweet potato for Amelia's first meal... but we have a long way until we have to make that decision!! For now, breast milk only!!!

If you have any questions, comments, concerns or suggestions... speak up!! We love to have baby product discussions and know that we still have alot we can learn.