How to Save Thousands at The Milky Way

Did you know:

• It costs on average $1,800 to formula feed an infant for one year?
• You can purchase the best breast pump and all the accessories you need to conveniently breastfeed for under $400?
• Even though you burn massive calories breastfeeding, you don't need to spend more on groceries if you eat right?
• Breastfeeding equipment is now tax-deductible?
• The Milky Way sells Medela pumps for $50 under MSRP? That's $50 cheaper than any big box in town.

Breastfeeding = $1,400 or more in savings!

Did you know:

• It costs $3,000 to $4,000 for disposable diapers per child?
• It costs on average $900 to purchase and wash cloth diapers for 3 years?
• Cloth diapers can be used on multiple children, shared or re-sold?
• Cloth diapering is much more eco-friendly than disposables?

Cloth diapering = $2,100 - $3,100 in savings!

We now accept coupons for Babies 'R' Us, Bed Bath & Beyond and Buy, Buy Baby... making your savings potential at The Milky Way even greater.**

** Unfortunately, in an effort to keep our prices low we are not able to discount cloth diapers.

What Do Mommy Hooks, Sponge Bob, Family Budgeting, Toys, Recycling, Dilbert, Boredom & the Internet All Have in Common?

Our first customer today bought a Mommy Hook which, as it's billed, attaches to your stroller or grocery cart and holds diaper bags, shopping bags, camera bags, purses, toys, groceries, athletic accessories and "lots, lots, more." This made me think of...

This great Sponge Bob Square Pants episode in which Squidward is about to throw away a candy wrapper when Sponge Bob asks him over and over and over again if he's absolutely, positively certain he wants to part with such a treasure. Squidward tells him that of course he wants to throw it away because after all it's just rubbish. Sponge Bob is overwhelmed with excitement and immediately grabs the wrapper and proceeds to have a gay old time doing dozens of really cool things with it: He uses it as a parachute, a paper airplane, a telescope, and a beautiful-sounding instrument to name but a few. Squidward is of course jealous and trades his entire house to Sponge Bob for the wrapper only to find that he is unable to do a single thing with it. This made me think of...

A really nice Charlotte Smarty Pants blog by Susan Bowman in which she pointed out the same idea for toys for your tots using everyday throwaway "junk." A mustard container makes a great squirt gun in the tub. Plastic lids, Dixie Cups, Tupperware, wooden spoons, paper towel tubes, a cardboard box and a shoe box all make great playmates as well. Stack them, play the drums with them, hide in them, collect stuff in them and make yourself a cool telescope. In a time when recycling and budgeting are more important than ever, this is a great way to entertain while economizing and reusing. This made me think of...

This article I recently read in the Wall Street Journal by Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, in which he posits that this new age of TV, movies, internet, video games and iEverythings has kept people from being bored and being bored is actually a very good thing because it breeds creativity. People need a healthy dose of boredom to let/force their minds to wander and when they wander they often venture to exciting new lands where anything and everything is possible. He even goes on to suggest that this lack of boredom in our lives has stunted our country's prowess in innovation. After reading this I quickly vowed to completely swear off the World Wide Web every Sunday and just sit around and play with discarded candy wrappers. This made me think of spiders...

Which reminded me how I had become a fly caught in a Web by 10:30 am this last Sunday as I dutifully checked my email. This made me think of...

Making it until at least a quarter 'til eleven next Sunday.

We Need Your Help Building The Milky Way Academy

Instead of surfing the web do you ever feel like you're actually trudging through a seemingly endless junkyard of scrap parts? Sure there are plenty of Cadillac gems but the sifting process can be slow and laborious. We have an idea for a web resource tool for parenting that will be the equivalent of a souped up racing machine that gets 60 mpg...

In addition to a streamlined parenting library there will also be a current events and community guide with updated material, ongoing blogs, local events, class schedules, contests etc. Although an online tool, our hope is that it will be bring people together not only in the cyber world but face-to-face in this community.

But we need drivers, mechanics and a pit crew to pull this off. We want it to be a resource for the people by the people. So please send us your ideas, input, articles, useful links and anything regarding babies and parenting that you would like to share with y/our community.

Please help by shooting anything our way to info@amilkyway.com, call us at 704-374-9200, post on our blog or Facebook page or come in and chat with us in person. Or just email to let us know you'd like to join the Academy and receive Academy-related news.

The Big Latch On

On Saturday August 6th 2011 at 10:30am local time in locations across the USA, nursing mothers will gather to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week and try to break the record for the most women breastfeeding simultaneously!

We are proud to announce that we'll be hosting "The Big Latch On," La Leche League's special event promoting World Breastfeeding Week. Please join us (and tell your friends!) as we try to break the record. Please arrive at 10:00 a.m. and let's bring the noise Charlotte!

Organized by La Leche League USA.

Link to national event info.

Zutano "Virtual" Trunk Show

Shop before everyone else and be sure you get just what you want at 10% off. Come in and order from our look book. Orders to arrive in Fall.

Zutano "Virtual" Trunk Show

Shop before everyone else and be sure you get just what you want at 10% off. Come in and order from our look book. Orders to arrive in Fall. Prepayment only please.

Coming Soon to Charlotte... We Hope!

There's a big pink bus cruising America's highways this summer, and it's not like any tour bus you've ever seen. It's the Latch on America Tour Bus and it's carrying a message: Breastfeeding is awesome! What's more, it's driven by a 27-year-old single guy who started one the coolest breastfeeding blogs ever. The tour started in San Diego and ends (as far as we know) in Washington, D.C. on August 4. Wouldn't it be cool if it came to Charlotte? If not this year, we can at least hope for next. Read on and write in to ask for the bus to stop here!!!!

Check This Out!

Peep This!

Whose the Cutest Staff Member at The Milky Way?

Sarah "The Bomb" Baum______________Wooten "Woot Woot" Schmitz___________Adam "Pretty Girl" Schmitz

Things I Wish I'd Done Before Having a Baby

According to Bump.com, some recurring things moms blogged that they wish they had done before popping out Junior:

1. Travel
2. Buy a house
3. Get finances in order
4. Being "married" to my husband more
5. Redone the house
6. Made loads of cash
7. See more movies
8. Go on a honeymoon

There are always regrets because Junior is an anchor, a time sucker and a big commitment. But as Junior is far better than any of the above-mentioned activities, I say let Junior come when Junior wants to come. Now that our Juniors are 9 and 7 we can manage all of the above...except making loads of cash which prevents us from traveling, paying the mortgage, getting our finances in order, redoing our house, having more date nights to see movies or going on a second honeymoon. But our Juniors are priceless. Wouldn't change a thing.

Point is, once Junior comes you have this big miracle that does take sacrifice. But they do grow up and give you more freedom. Having a 9 and 7 year old is the greatest. They are little people and we get to do fun things together. They are still demanding but so is anything that's worth anything in life. Think about it: Things that don't demand attention aren't really that valuable are they? Sure a diamond is valuable and stunning and a girl's best friend and all that but how rewarding is it really? Okay, bad analogy.

Proper Car Seat Safety Often Overlooked

We are very fortunate to have Erika Gebhardt, a local Child Passenger Safety Tech, as a guest blogger. Below is her tips for car seat safety.

An alarming percentage of small infants we see come in the store are not properly strapped into their car seats. The straps are often way too loose and the chest clip is often all the way down. Some parents think that their babies might be uncomfortable if they are strapped in tight, but that is a myth. Babies spend nine months swaddled tightly in the womb, and they must be securely buckled into their car seat. In the event of a collision, a loosely buckled child could be seriously injured or even ejected from his seat. Here are some tips for child passenger safety from Erika Gebhardt, a local Child Passenger Safety Technician.

RULE OF THUMB #1: Keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children stay rear-facing until they are two years old. Rear-facing reduces traumatic injury to the head and neck in the event of a crash, because the back of the car seat absorbs most of the impact. When your baby outgrows an infant seat, choose a convertible car seat with a high weight-limit for rear-facing, like 40lbs or 45lbs.

RULE OF THUMB #2: Use the “pinch test” for strap tightness. Tighten the straps, and then put your thumb and finger on the shoulder strap. Try to pinch the fabric – if your fingers slide off, it’s tight enough. If you can pinch fabric, tighten until you cannot pinch.

RULE OF THUMB #3: A car seat is for cars. Please do not use your seat as a carrier or a crib. Although many “travel systems” make it easy to move a baby while she remains safely bucked into her infant seat, try to avoid too much car seat time. Try a baby carrier such as a wrap or a sling or a pouch if you are going grocery shopping or going to be out of your car for longer than 15 minutes.

RULE OF THUMB #4: There is no “best” car seat. The best seat is the one that fits your child and your car, and that you can install properly each time you use it. A car seat need not be expensive with fancy bells and whistles in order to keep your child safe.

RULE OF THUMB #5: Use LATCH or seatbelts to install car seats. Do not use both. LATCH is no safer than seatbelts – the safest installation is a tight installation, and some car and seat combinations work better with seatbelts than with LATCH.

Get your car seat installation checked by a Child Passenger Safety Technician. If you are near Matthews, the police department there checks seats twice a month; Britax checks seats (not just Britax seats) one Friday a month.

Check the local Char-Meck Safe Kids calendar.

For more information about child passenger safety, check out the Car Seat Basics information.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
Erika Gebhardt, Child Passenger Safety Tech (T675815)

Ouch...Aaaahhh! 10 Sunburn Remedies

No need to run out and buy that oddly beautiful fake aqua colored sun burn relief goop. Most of what you need is right there in your home. Simple, easy, healthy and, for all intents and purposes, free.

1. Aloe Vera Gel

Well known as a skin soother, aloe is one of the most commonly recommended and effective sunburn remedies. “Aloe, Aloe, aloe, and more aloe,” Jennifer M. recommends, and Kellie T. agrees: “Aloe vera gel would be the best!”

2. Vinegar

Vinegar for sunburn? Absolutely! Numerous Circle of Moms members recommend applying a vinegar-soaked cloth (often apple-cider vinegar) to sunburned skin to ease the heat and sting. As Jodi K. shares: “I swear by vinegar! I know it sounds nasty and painful, but every time I've gotten a sunburn I dab on white vinegar with a washcloth, it takes the sting off the burn — the heat of the burn — right out of your skin! It will also keep you from blistering or peeling if you haven't already. Seriously, give it a try!"

3. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is an easy at-home remedy for sunburn, as Cara S. shares: “When my husband had a really bad sun burn I sponged him down with a washcloth filled with oatmeal. The oatmeal soothed the pain and stopped the itch.” Rori C. adds: “If you have any Aveeno Oatmeal Bath Packets on hand, those are great.”

4. Vitamin E

“You might want to try some Vitamin E,” recommends Jessica K., one of several moms who advised that Vitamin E in various forms can aid your skin’s healing process. Either pop open a Vitamin E gel cap and apply it to the area, or find a cream with Vitamin E at the drugstore.

5. Baking Soda

Yet another of baking soda’s many household uses is relieving itchy skin caused by a sunburn. As Corena U. relays: “A bath with baking soda and/or [a] cold shower can be helpful when the itching starts.”

6. Yogurt

Who knew that your favorite cheap snack could double as a sunburn soother? Elaine E. explains: “Plaster it on and let it dry, and then wash off with warm water. The yogurt draws the heat of the burn. It does work and it’s cheaper than lotions.”

7. Noxema

“I found Noxzema works the best for sunburns,” says Iris H., one of many mom who recommend this trusty face cream for sunburn relief. “Just put it on and let it dry, wash it off and do it again,” advises Ashleigh L. “It saved me from second degree sunburn when nothing else would."
8. Cornstarch

Cornstarch is yet another sunburn remedy you probably have right in your cupboard. "Cornstarch feels great on sunburned skin,” shares Jenna B. “It dries the moisture [and also] cools it and soothes it.”

9. Cucumber

Another natural remedy for sunburn is cucumber. As Bethany E. advises: “Keep a cucumber in the fridge, and keep slicing bits off and smoothing over your burns with the cool slices. Get some more once it warms up.”

10. Pain Reliever

If you or your child is badly burned, you may want to supplement other natural remedies with a pain reliever for more comfort. As Dawn K. advised: “Give her some Tylenol or Motrin to help her pain at bedtime so she can sleep.”

Reprinted from Circle of Moms. Click title to see link.

Twilight Turtle, New Pink Ladybug

Twilight Turtle projects a complete starry night sky onto the walls and ceiling of any room. Choose from three soothing color options – blue, green, and amber – to create magical, tranquil environments that are ideal for helping children of all ages ease into a restful sleep.

Parents can also sit with their children and identify 8 major constellations within Twilight’s star pattern using the wonderfully illustrated Star Guide.

Twilight Turtle is individually hand painted and includes a battery saving time out function, push button reactivating, easy color selection, and 3 AAA batteries. A perfect gift for all ages.

Looking for Baby Names? How 'bout Shrimp & Barbie?

Shrimp if it's a boy and Barbie if it's a girl. Ran across this this morning and thought I just had to share. It's a hootenanny hoot.

Baby Names and Barbecue Season? On the surface there does not seem to be much in common, but there actually is a strong connection. It seems that summer brings Barbecue Season and Baby’s names are actually inspired by Barbecue Season. Cole, Olive, Dill, Blaze, Barbie, Pepper (now in the top 1,000 names for girls), Coleman, Colby, and Jack all seem to have a higher “hit rate” with babies born in the summer months.

Having a Feb birthday I'm wondering why my parents didn't go with Valentine. Or to put a saucy Euro spin on it, Valentino.

Water Slings & Wraps Just In!

Any parent who has ever tried to work with an infant in the water will quickly to see the benefits of a water baby sling or wrap. And when I say work I mean work. You can now relax. Your child will feel secure and close to you. You can easily navigate in the water or even hold a drink. Rest your arms and rest assured that baby is safe and sound.

Attachment Parenting Seminar

Dr. Sears once said that the only way to spoil a child is to put them on the shelf. I would agree. It's pretty traumatic going from womb to world and all babies want is to be fed, to sleep and to be loved, hugged and held. Skin-to-skin. Instead of spoiling them you are building a foundation of trust and bonding upon which they can build a beautiful hi-rise later in life. Healthy emotional and psychological development!

Holding baby a lot, skin-to-skin, baby-wearing are all a part of attachment parenting. Picking up and trying to soothe baby or answer baby's need when s/he cries.

There is a cool seminar at Carolinas Maternity Center in a couple of weeks. Even if you aren't convinced that you can't spoil a baby in the first year of his/her life, come check it out.

The following is reprinted info regarding this event:

We’ve heard it, but is it really true? Join us as we welcome guest speaker Dr. Peter Haiman who, for more than four decades, has met with parents to resolve child and adolescent rearing problems. His work in this area has received national recognition. Articles by him have been published in The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, Young Children, Contemporary Pediatrics, the Journal of Psychohistory, Mothering Magazine, New Beginnings, Working Mother and other national and foreign publications. They can also be read on several websites.
Dr. Haiman will be hosting two FREE sessions at the Carolina Community Maternity Center in June! He will present information on attachment parenting and the long term effects on infant and child brain development. Most of the session will be in an open question and answer format, so come ready to ask your questions and get some answers!
Space is limited, so call ahead and reserve your seat.
(803) 802-9494

Thursday, June 23rd 6:00 – 8:30 PM

Saturday, June 25th 2:00 – 4:30 PM

Light refreshments will be served. Babes in arms and nursing infants are welcome to attend, but due to limited space we ask that childcare arrangements be made for toddlers and children.

East Blvd. Sidewalk Sale - Neighbor Store Deals

SLOAN & STEP will have a rack of hot stuff at 60% off and the entire store will be 10% off for the day. Including STEP. And including Sloan's jewelry. 1419 East Blvd., Shops at Twin Oaks.

ICLondon, next to Sloan, will have a sidewalk sale selection at 75% off and will take 15% off everything else in the store, Saturday only (not in combo w/any other offers). 1419 East Blvd., Shops at Twin Oaks.

Laura James Jewelry upstairs at 1419 East Blvd is opening at 9:00 am with an early bird discount of 25% off everything between 9am to 1pm. From 1pm-5pm, shoppers will get 15% off. 1419 East Blvd., Shops at Twin Oaks.

COTTAGE CHIC (1232 East) will open at 9:00 am with 50%-70% off items throughout the store, plus a $5 and $10 table. Details on their flyer here.

monarch consignment boutique, two doors down from Cottage Chic at 1222 East, will open early at 9:00 am with 25%-75% off a broad selection of spring & summer clothing and accessories.

Their duplex neighbor Revolve Upscale Men's Consignment will have a rack of men's at 60% off rack and a clearance rack of $5 & $10 items. (revolve opens at 11 am).

Petal Boutique at 1315 East also opens at 9am Saturday, and will give 20% off the entire store to their first 20 customers. All day, shoppers get an extra 50% off Petal's sale items, and they're having a $100 gift card giveaway for customers spending $50 or more.

CORAL, the newest boutique in Dilworth at 1405 East, will have 30% percent off of spring & summer including clothing, swimwear, shoes and handbags.

Block Party, People!

50% - 75% Off All Sidewalk Merchandise - Loads of Goodies

30% Off Kids & Mom Clothing

20% Off Petunia Pickle Bottom Bags

BIG DRAWS

KIDS CLOTHING
** Zutano
** Le Top
** Decaf Plush,
** Select Kissy Kissy
** Mayoral
** Kids a Gogo
** Zu

NURSING SLEEP & OUTER WEAR
** Olian
** Majamas
** Japanese Weekend
** Dote

BATH & BODY CARE
** Mustela
** MD Moms

CLOTH DIAPERS
** Babee Greens

AND MUCH MORE

Blast Off for Nursing Mothers in the Workplace

10 There is a room
9 There is a hospital-grade pump
8 It is clean
7 There is a microwave
6 There is a sink
5 There is a chair
4 It is private
3 It is comfortable
2 My employer is supportive
1 Blast off to successful nursing at the workplace

Breastfeeding mom at NASA makes breastfeeding fly.

Don't think that just because you have a crazy schedule or odd working situation that you don't can't make breastfeeding and career work together. You have the right to have a clean, private room, access to a breast pump and the time you need to express milk. It takes a supportive work environment and a supportive employer to make this happen. And there is a new Breastfeeding Provision Act that requires companies which employ more than 50 employees to provide you that room and the time you need to continue your breastfeeding after you go back to work. The Act specifically refers to hourly employees but when creating a healthy working environment for nursing women why not create an environment for success for all working women?

Employers should know that research shows that supporting breastfeeding by implementing workplace lactation rooms/programs can:

• Show a $3-$1 return on investment
• Lower health care costs
• Lower insurance costs
  
• Lower absenteeism due to sick days to attend to doctors visits
  
• Improve worker productivity
• Help retain not retrain employees, which is very expensive and time consuming and disruptive to the work flow
• Help attract better talent
• Improve company morale

If you are a working and breastfeeding mom share this info with your employer. If you are an employer or work in HR think about what this could mean for your company and your employees. It is a win-win situation.

If you or your employer need help or information regarding these types of programs, need access to reduced pricing on breast pump equipment and supplies or need access to lactation consultation and eduction, please reach out to us. If you need further assistance check out the National Business Group on Health or contact your local La Leche League.

Gift With Purchase - Free 3 Marthas Bib

Get a free 3 Marthas bib ($17.95 value) for free when you buy a 3 Marthas hooded towel.

Jan Ellen Brown's Top 10 List for Prenatal Prep

Jan Ellen Brown
*BS, IBCLC
*LactSpeak Official Professional Speaker
*Charlotte Pediatric Clinic Lactation Consultant
*Co-author with Kathleen Huggins 25 Things Every Breastfeeding Mother Needs to Know
*Blog meister at Hygeia.com, a dynamic new breastfeeding and breast pump company

This is a reprint of her Hygeia blog of the 10 list of breastfeeding tips for expectant mothers:

Education before lactation. Get a good primer on breastfeeding. “The Nursing Mother’s Companion” by Kathleen Huggins has guided mothers from pregnancy to weaning for over 25 years. It is updated, sequential, succinct and practical. If you still have time left, enroll in a breastfeeding class with your partner. Attend a La Leche League meeting, a must, IMHO. Have a look at www.kellymom.com.

Build your team. Like anything else, planning is key. Identify your support people from labor to homecoming. Surrounding yourself with individuals who know you and your personality and respect your mothering style makes a huge difference. Consider hiring a doula for labor and/or post-partum. Have the phone number of a lactation consultant on your speed-dial.

Early and often. This LLL adage says it all. Offer your breast soon after delivery and do it often thereafter. Babies are alert and ready after birth and later will slip in to a longer sleep, so take advantage of the magical first hours. Your first milk, colostrum, builds your baby’s immune system and stimulates meconium stool passage (you’ll see!) Plus the oxytocin released will contract your uterus (like crunches!), minimizing bleeding. Early, frequent nursing tells your body to step up and start the process. If early latch is not an option, have your nurse or LC teach hand expression or pumping ASAP; research suggests a lag in breast stimulation can slow and hamper milk production.

Skin to skin. STS is the buzzword you will hear once baby is born. We have known for years that babies do best in their parent’s arms but STS is mainstream now….holding your newborn to your bare chest enhances baby’s temperature, respiratory , heart and arousal rate. And you are flooded with hormones for maternal well-being and milk-making. But the biggest STS advantage is your baby can give subtle cues for breastfeeding readiness and is right in the ‘breastaurant,’ not swaddled up in a bassinet.

Help in the hospital. When you are birthing at a hospital or birthing center, your stay will usually be 2-3 days. These are the crucial days to get nursing know-how. Fortunately, many hospitals are getting on board and prioritizing breastfeeding. Be a squeaky wheel and ask for repeated help with latch and positioning. Try to sit in a chair and simulate how you will be sitting or lying down at home.

Rooming in 24/7. Avoid sending the baby “down to the nursery” so you can “get some rest.” Studies show this is not the case anyway. Kick visitors out so you can rest and recover and focus on your baby. There are tons of interruptions and your retention will be limited; ask your partner or a family member to advocate on your behalf when needed. Set up an appointment now with your baby’s doctor and/or a lactation consultant after discharge.

Learn the latch. While babies are born to breastfeed, it takes some practice to latch with comfort and efficacy! If you are experiencing pain or poor feedings, get help fast. Remember the ‘early and often’ part…if your baby is not latching well or you are separated, express or pump your milk. You can use this milk to give to baby, avoid formula and initiate/protect your supply in the meantime.

Home sweet home? Most mothers arrive home just as adrenaline wears off and sleep deprivation and hormones kick in. Ask a friend or family member to spruce up before your return and limit or discourage an onslaught of visitors and houseguests as you transition (unless they clean, cook and cater to you!) Baby’s first night home can be a real deal-breaker….frequent feedings, resisting sleep, gas, sneezes and hiccups…all normal and necessary. NAP WHEN BABY NAPS! No one seems to heed this, but it makes a huge difference.

Schedule, what schedule? Are you a Type A, organized, detail-oriented, multi-tasking gal? Well, fasten your seatbelt because a baby can blow all that to bits, except for the multi-tasking part. The sooner you surrender to your baby’s early needs, the less conflicted you will be. Many babies do adopt an eventual ‘schedule’ of sorts but do not expect this or impose a ‘feeding program’ with a newborn. Expect feedings clustered together and sketchy sleeping. They are not “using you as a pacifier” but instead prompting milk supply and enjoying the closeness and comfort nursing affords. Delegate and vegetate so you can rest and enjoy your random newborn.

Seek professional help Launch a preemptive strike to breastfeeding issues. Addressing early issues will make you more comfortable and offset long-term problems in many cases. If nursing is painful or not going well for you and baby then find a lactation professional to assess and guide you. You will be surprised how a few tweaks can help with positioning. Identification of what might be causing poor latch, weight loss or pain can get you on track. I have never heard a mother say “this has been a waste of time” (at least not to my face!) after a lactation consultation.

Follow all of Jan Ellen Brown's Hygeia blogs.

Hygieababy.com

Belevation Woot Woots The Milky Way

A blog entry regarding this last weekend's Fort Mill Pregnancy Expo written by a Belevation mom:

It was a gorgeous South Carolina weekend morning and Belevation Maternity Support participated in the 2011 Fort Mill Pregnancy Expo which has held in the beautiful Anne Close Greenway here in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

Co-Sponsored by ACE Wellness Studio and the Carolina Community Maternity Center this 2nd annual, free-to-the-public Pregnancy Expo provided extremely helpful information about wellness during pregnancy, chiropractic care, lactation and breastfeeding, as well as natural childbirth options.

The morning was organized so that expecting families had time to visit the tables of vendors who shared resources relevant to new parents.

Speaker presentations were given under the shade of the Rush Pavilion, with lots of useful information offered such as the economic advantages to using cloth diapers and much more….

Wooten Schmitz, one of the mornings presenters, owner of the Milky Way, a unique parenting store in the historic Dilworth section of Charlotte, is an awesome local resource.

Be sure to check-out the her online store A Milky Way, for all sorts of wonderful breastfeeding and new mom tools and tips!

It was a great day for sharing lots of essential pregnancy information, although to be more successful next year, I think the events sponsors should rethink the outdoor location due to local heat and weather considerations. Otherwise it’s too hard on vendors and guests alike.

We Need Your Help Finding Good Doulas & Baby Nurses

Customers often ask us for doula and baby nurse referrals. We have found doula lists but we don't have personal recommendations. There really aren't reviews so we'd love it if you would pass along your recommendations so we can compile a list and feel confident that we are referring new parents to a good doula or night nurse.

Here are some links we've found for doulas in the area:

Doulas of the Charlotte Area
Charlotte Doulas

And for baby nurses:

Baby Nurses

Please let us know if you've had a great or not so great experience.

Thanks!

Nobody is Giving Blueberry Diapers the Raspberries!

We're very excited to have added Blueberries and Swaddlebees to our cloth diaper collection. Luxurious minky. Fabby prints. Glowing reviews across the board from mom blog sites, diaper guide sites, etc. Recommended to us by dozens of customers.

Moses Baskets by 3 Marthas Just In

Moses Baskets are just the right size for keeping infants close. By the bed for easy baby care and restful nights. Easily portable for keeping baby near while going where you want. Moses Basket portability makes them a smart and cute alternative to bassinets. Easy to travel with. The set includes a bumper pad, mattress with coordinating cover and receiving blanket. The entire set is washable and measures 9"H x 30"L x 12"W.

List price = $158
Our price = $149

New Zutano Shipment

We just got a new shipment of Zutano. Lots of cute separates in the season's new prints and fresh summer solids in 0-24 months. We also got re-stocked on the most popular item of all -- 0-6 snap booties!

Easier Said Than Swallowed

Look not at what's behind you but at what's in front of you. Literally, in front of your face. What you see with your eyes, hear with your ears, touch with your hands, taste with your tongue and smell with your nose. And if you do look behind, look not at what you've lost but at what you've gained. Everybody knows this. But easier said than swallowed. Thoughts?

Public Pools Usually Require Reusable Swim Diapers

If you plan to visit public pools this summer you'll need to ditch the disposable swim diapers and get a reusable swim diaper. Pool rules usually require the reuseable plastic covered diapers. And you can rest easier knowing your child won't be weighed down by a super absorbent disposable.

Padalily Takes the Load Off

That car seat feelin' heavy, girls? Cuttin' in to your arm? Even a seven pound newborn feels like you're carrying around Paul Bunyon's new bowling ball. Imagine whose bowling ball it's going to feel like when you're hauling around a 20-plus pounder. Godzilla's? Solution: The stylish PADALILY by local inventor Lily Winnail.