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Baby Of The Week: Vaughan

Tell us about the sweetest beginning moment you shared with your child?
The sweetest moment was when we both got home from hospital and my family of now, 4 got to sit on family couch together. It was best feeling to be with my husband, daughter and new baby having dinner for 1st time from the comfort of our couch.  
Why do you choose FuzziBunz?
I am considering getting one to send over seas to Armenia. As a donation to a mom to be.  Armenian moms do not have access to disposable diapers and it is so difficult to take care of a baby with minimal access to infant products like diaper creams, disposable diapers, medications, etc. I am donating a care package to a mom to be in Armenia with baby essentials to make her and her new baby's life easier to manage.  
What is your favorite style from the new line?
  • In The Wild
What is your favorite print or solid?
  • Sundance
What is your advice for new moms on their cloth diaper journey?
Talk to moms who have used these diapers.  
Favorite Cloth Diapering Tip?
Check out Facebook pages that are dedicated to cloth diapering!

How to get the most out of your FuzziBunz cloth diapers

FuzziBunz - like any other cloth diaper - will one day wear out. It is inevitable, especially considering the fact that cloth diapers will be the most used and abused clothing article in your household! But how can you make sure you’re getting the longest wear from your FuzziBunz diapers? Here are some of our recommendations: 1) Always follow the manufacturer’s washing instructions. It may be tempting to run the diapers through a heavy duty or sanitary cycle, use bleach, dry on high heat, etc., but these actions can prematurely break down the PUL and elastics in your FuzziBunz! A simple cold pre-rinse, hot wash with gentle detergent and an extra cold rinse is usually the perfect routine for getting them thoroughly clean. 2) Make sure you have the correct fit on your child. If you are using the First Year or One Size diapers, it can seem a little time-consuming to size them all at first. But if you take one diaper and work with it until you get the perfect fit, you will be saving your elastics in the long run! If the elastics are too snug, it will stretch them out and can cause early deterioration. You want the diapers to fit snugly, but not so tight that they leave painful-looking red marks on your child’s skin when the diaper is removed. Light red marks are perfectly normal (think of the markings left behind from your socks or jeans). 3) Line dry whenever possible. If you are able, drying the diapers out in the fresh air as opposed to the dryer can definitely help lengthen the lifespan of your diapers. The air is much gentler than the forced hot air of the dryer - even in summer - and as an added bonus the sun can help lighten or eliminate stains! 4) Let your diapers cool completely before stuffing them. When you try to stuff your diapers while they’re still hot out of the dryer, it can not only be more difficult because the PUL may feel tacky, but also stretching elastics when they are hot is not advisable as it can cause them to wear out prematurely. 5) If you can, collect a large stash! I am chuckling to myself because I know how obsessed passionate cloth diaperers can be about collecting the latest awesome colors and prints from their favorite diaper brands. I have been there. Twice. But in all seriousness, the bigger your stash, the less each diaper will be washed and dried, thus saving the critical components needed for a fully-functioning diaper. These are simple tips to help you keep your FuzziBunz going strong for as long as possible! If you ever have questions about the care of your diapers, please don’t hesitate to contact our awesome customer service team at help@fuzzibunz.com.

10 Items to Make Sure You Have In Your Labor Bag

When you start getting close to your estimated due date, most women start nesting and getting everything ready for their new baby’s arrival. The nursery or sleeping space is cleaned, organized and set up perfectly... All of baby’s clothing is washed, folded and put away... All of baby’s bath items are set up in the bathroom, and you feel ready for the birth to commence!   But what about your Labor bag? Packing what you need and want to take with you when it’s time to birth your baby is just as important as all of the other preparations you have already made. Not only do you want to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible at the hospital or birth center, but there are certain things that you can pack that just may make your labor experience easier and more enjoyable!   Here is a list of something things you might consider putting into your Labor Bag:

  1. Your most comfortable clothing. This may seem obvious (and it is), but it in the mad whirlwind of prepping for your baby’s arrival, it’s easy to overlook things (and let’s not forget the very real Pregnancy Brain). When you have had your baby and can simply rest and enjoy that time to bond with him or her, you are going to want to make yourself as comfortable as possible. Not only will your womb likely be sore, but your breasts may be sensitive, your muscles may ache from the effort of pushing and/or from cesarean, and you may have trouble regulating your temperature for a short while. Bring a robe or over-sized shirt for nighttime/bath time, soft, loose-fitting pants, warm socks, your favorite cozy sweater (in the cold months), and extra underwear.
  2. Clothing for your baby. Your baby may not need much but a simple night gown or a kimono-style shirt and socks or footed pants while in the hospital or birthing center, but you’ll want to make sure to bring a “coming home” outfit for him/her. Especially in the colder months, your baby will need help regulating their body temperature. Make sure you bring a receiving blanket, and a warm hat for cold months or a cotton hat for warmer months.
  3. Your own toiletries. Travel sized shampoo, conditioner, and soap from the hospital may work in a pinch, but the sterile, unfamiliar smell and feel of these products have the potential to make you feel a little anxious about being away from home. Bring your own toiletries: hair products, toothbrush and toothpaste, salves or balms, even your own towel and washcloth if you need to, and you’ll feel a little bit closer to home.
  4. A CD or mp3 player containing some of your favorite songs. Now, I’m not talking about “Cemetery Gates” by Pantera or anything (unless you think that’ll work for you), but songs that make you feel peaceful, uplifted, empowered, and strong. Instrumental music that can help put you in a meditative or trance state are often invaluable tools when moving through the most challenging parts of birthing your baby.
  5. Essential oils or other aromatherapy tools. Essential oils have seemingly become a trend, but with good reason: they contain physically and mentally healing properties that - when used safely - can calm your nerves, uplift your mood, and assist with healing physical wounds caused by birthing. Lavender is a very common calming oil, as is chamomile and Geranium... Helichrysum and Yarrow are very good for minor cuts and bruises, and Peppermint or Lemon can give you a mood boost. *Note: If you are not familiar with how to use essential oils, please ask a certified practitioner and do your research! Essential oils can be dangerous if not used properly.
  6. Artwork, special small items that carry good energy and/or beautiful photos. When I birthed our second daughter, I set up an altar of sorts in our birthing room that contained beautiful stones, small gifts that friends had made, a drawing that I created in a birthing class to help me have something to focus on, and candles for soft lighting. Just knowing that it was there soothed me. As it happened, I barely looked at it because my labor lasted a whopping 2.5 hours from start to finish, but many other women find similar set-ups to assist in getting to that “trance-like” stage of labor.
  7. Your favorite healthy snacks (and maybe some indulgent ones, too). Shimmying down to the nearest vending machine isn’t exactly satisfying - or convenient - when you’re looking for something to nibble on. Homemade baked goods, some dark chocolate, whatever your favorite treats are, bring some just in the off chance that you get a hankering for something other than hospital fare.
  8. Don’t forget important names and numbers! Not only might you want to let everyone know when your Little One is born, but you may also need to call and ask someone to bring you a home-cooked meal if the hospital food happens to be especially awful. ;)
  9. A little cash and some change. Maybe you actually DO want to get something from the vending machine. Or maybe you want to stroll down to the gift shop and pick up a little something for your new bundle (or yourself!). It just feels good to know that if you need cash for something, you’ve got it.
  10. And finally, bring a phone charger! It’s really frustrating to be somewhere and not have a functioning phone.
  Packing for your birth experience does not have to be difficult or very involved, just well planned to make sure you have the essentials, plus a few tools to help you push through (no pun intended... Okay, pun intended) labor and delivery.

Date Night After Your Baby Is Born

Date Night After Your Baby Is Born

Do you remember how you and your partner were before you had children? Did you go out regularly? Did you talk deep into the night? Was your romance spontaneous, passion-filled, and... regular? There is no denying that bringing a child into your life will change your relationship with your partner in some way. Not only have you chosen to devote much of your time and attention to this new Life, but the hormonal shifts that happen during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum can have a huge impact on your desire for intimacy. Even so, it is important that you and your partner make time to be with one another without children present, so that you can re-connect and begin to re-cultivate your relationship. Understand that this does not mean that your time together has to involve sex (although it certainly can if you're ready for it)! Many women do not crave sexual connection for months, even years after childbirth due to decreased levels of estrogen and testosterone and increased levels of prolactin (especially if they are breastfeeding), which reduce libido. So what do you do to re-kindle the flame? Try to make a regular date night. Set up a flexible schedule with someone you know and trust who can come and watch your baby for a couple of hours once every week or so to give you and your partner the time you need (and deserve) to connect. Understandably it can be hard to leave your baby with someone for the first time. Realize that there is no specific timeframe for when to begin implementing date nights into your life, so if you feel at some point that you aren't ready, don't force yourself. If it makes you feel too afraid or emotional to do so, then be okay with that and try again at a later date. After all, the point of date night is to relax and enjoy yourself! The first few times you go out, you do not have to venture too far from home. Take a walk around your neighborhood, sit and talk at your local coffee shop or park, or even just hang out in your own backyard while your baby and caregiver bond inside. If you are comfortable leaving for longer periods of time, go see a movie, have a leisure dinner at your favorite restaurant, or visit an attraction you've been longing to see. There are no rules for date night! When the time comes where you would like to be intimate, try to arrange for your baby's caregiver to take him/her out for a little while so you can stay home and settle in to familiar surroundings. Breathe in the gratitidue for being given this time to bond with your loving partner, and breathe out your intentions to create a stronger, more unified connection. Do you and your partner go out regularly? What do you do? How long after having your child(ren) did you feel comfortable leaving for a couple of hours?

Raising the Bar, Not the Price

Way back yonder in the olden days when the modern pocket diaper was just invented the insert of choice was a regular old pre-folded diaper. As you can imagine, this made for an awfully bulky diaper and a big diaper booty. Fitting clothing over those diapers was impossible.

It All Started With FuzziBunz®

As FuzziBunz gained in popularity I started looking for alternatives to pre-fold diapers. I knew I needed something that would absorb a lot of liquid and yet be trim as well. FuzziBunz was the first diaper brand to introduce “Microfiber” inserts. The term “insert” did not even exist prior. Inserts of microfiber have been the standard for many pocket diapers on the market since then.

Going All Natural

When it came time to rebrand FuzziBunz I didn’t want to change what was working, but wanted to accentuate what was. After listening to an overwhelming majority of our cloth diapering parents ask for organic or more natural materials as well as offer their distain for microfiber I decided to go ahead and look at the hemp/cotton option as a standard feature for FuzziBunz. Admittingly, I hated microfiber too.

Better Quality, Same Price

Initially I was a bit concerned that the price would have to be higher as organic fibers are not cheap. I was also concerned that they would not absorb as well as microfiber. But after a lot of due diligence, testing and fabric sourcing it was decided that an ORGANIC HEMP / COTTON BLEND would be the perfect addition to FuzziBunz. Why?
  • Less odor
  • Naturally anti-microbial
  • Less compression leaking (liquid squeezing out of the insert under compression)
  • Trimmer under clothing
  • Absorbs an incredible amount of liquid (yes, I was surprised)
  • Even when doubled there is not much added bulk
Did it cost more? Yes, a little bit. But we did not want to nickel and dime our customers so we decided to keep our pricing the same as it has always been, only the VALUE of the product has been increased. We hope you like the positive changes we have made to pocket diapers - I know I do.