Lil Joey Diaper from Pure Earth Baby

I was given a set of Lil Joey Cloth Diaper to review from Pure Earth Baby's (www.pureearthbaby.com) cloth diaper collection. Lil Joeys are an AIO (All in One) Diaper by Kanga Care. They are designed to fit newborns from about 4-12lbs. Lil Joeys are different from all other diapers as they are equipped with the patented leak protection technology of dual inner gussets. These gussets create a double barrier to prevent leakage from the leg openings on the sides of the diaper. The internal soaker is composed of four layers of microfiber that have been permanently attached to the core of the diaper. Another unique feature Lil Joeys offer is an umbilical cord snap down to keep your little one's belly button from becoming irritated. They are waterproof and do not require covers. Lil Joeys are prepped for your convenience. Just wash and wear!

My Experience with Lil Joeys
Upon receipt of my set of cloth diapers, I noticed how different Lil Joeys truly are... most diapers lay flat; these have a natural crescent shape, which makes for an almost custom fit. Previously, I thought of AIO as "lazy diapers." I now think of them as luxury diapers. It is so nice to wash, hang dry, and diaper! No insert to stuff, no mess to touch! We were able to enjoy the Lil Joey until our LO (little one) was about 11 lbs. I would definitely recommend Lil Joeys through Pure Earth Baby to all cloth diapering moms.


The Kanga Care Difference
 Kanga Care is more environmentally friendly as it is not adding more and more chemicals into the earth (through production and since it is not being disposed of in landfills). Lil Joeys and Rumparooz are made with TPU (water resistant polyester), which is solvent-free. It has been laminated with a thermoplastic polyurethane through a heat bonding process, instead of chemical bonding. It is also the other "Eco-friendly..." Economically! Though the initial investment is quite large, it pays off over time. Diaper Decisions has a wonderful breakdown of the true cost of cloth diapering (found here).

Pure Earth Baby is a family owned business that specializes in natural parenting through cloth diapering, baby wearing, breastfeeding, and products for mom. They carry many wonderful products. Some of my favorites include cloth diapers, amber teething necklaces, and sustainable toys!

Beatles/Beetles Day (and bubbles)

My LO and I got an unexpected day together this week, when I found that he had a fever late Thursday night. I kept him home from school and took the day off (thanks to my nothing-short-of-amazing boss). I decided to make it as fun as possible by showing DS one of my all-time favorite bands, The Beatles.

We watched The Beatles Cartoons from the late 60's on YouTube.com.

 One of My Favorites

"This series marked a historical milestone as the first weekly television series to feature animated versions of real, living people. (wiki). The Beatles, of course are only imitated and did not add anything to the cartoon, except for their songs.

While I found many episodes funny, I did find some to be a bit too "trippy" (like I am the Walrus). However, I'm not sure how it could not be, since the lyrics apparently stemmed from Lennon's acid trips. So, I decided to filter a few before showing them to Little.

I also found some more great coloring pages at  www.first-school.ws.
We colored Beetles coloring sheets, together.
He can now say the words "Beatle/beetle."
We talked about the fact that beetles have six legs. 

He also learned to blow bubbles in the bath tub while listening to Strawberry Fields' Pandora Radio Station! 

Even though he was not feeling well, I think he enjoyed our Beatles Mania Day!

Staying Active with Your Family: An Article by Guest Blogger Emily Patterson

Get Your Children and Family Up and Moving 

Submitted by Emily Patterson on behalf of Primrose Schools: the best in preschool education 

• The percentage of obese or overweight children is at or above 30 percent in 30 states. (Source: Trust for America's Health) 
• Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese nationwide.  

(Source: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)  

Experts suggest that young children need to accumulate at least 60 minutes a day of physical activity.  Unfortunately, many children do not even come close to reach this.  It is clear that along with poor diet, physical inactivity has contributed to a large increase in childhood obesity in the United States in the past 20 years.   

[Soft Break]Research has shown that children who develop basic motor skills such as throwing, catching, kicking, jumping, skipping, and balance are more likely to grow into healthy active adults.  Studies have shown that daily physical activity helps children academically as well.   Learning basic physical skills is essential to the healthy growth and development of your child.  But children do not learned this physical skills or behavior on their own…if needs to start from guidance and assistance from adults. 

So, what can parents do to teach their children about the importance of being physically active and help them learn these necessary skills?  Trying the tips below will help you and your family create a fun environment for physical activity and will contribute to everyone’s physical health. 

Tips for Getting Your Family Active: 

Find appropriate, safe spaces for quality physical activity: Provide safe spaces inside and outside for your child to be active.   

Ensure the availability of age-appropriate supplies: Being physically active is like learning to read, write, or do math problems in that each requires proper materials or equipment.   

• Provide abundant supplies of balls, hoops, hockey sticks, bats, racquets, jump ropes, etc.  They need balls of all sizes, shapes, and weights such as beanbags and rubber balls. 
• Equipment should be soft, lightweight, and made for children.    

Be active with your children: Don’t just send your children outside to play--be a role model and join in!  Go outside with them and participate in games and other activities that require physical exertion!  

• Use sidewalk chalk to create your own four-square or hopscotch grids; blow bubbles then chase them around the yard to see who can catch them; go on a walk around the neighborhood or through a park as a family; play music and dance inside or outside; and when the weather is nice put on your bathing suits and run through the sprinklers or take a dip in the pool. 
• Promote a feeling of success when you play with your child.  If your child is not yet able to successfully throw and hit a target, encourage them to move a little closer so they can be successful.  Skills are acquired incrementally.  Children who do not experience success have a tendency to quit and not practice.  

When children come into the world, physical activity is at the very center of their lives.  They have a mission to learn to crawl, walk, run, throw, catch, and kick.  If they are going to enjoy participating in physical activities now and as adults, they need to build on that foundation of success and enjoyment that begins in infancy.  So, grab a ball, badminton racket, or jump rope and set aside time each day to play with your child!  

Primrose Schools: For over 25 years, they have helped individuals achieve higher levels of success by providing them with an AdvancED® accredited, early child care services and education.  Through an accelerated Balanced Learning® curriculum, Primrose Schools students are exposed to a widely diverse range of subject matter giving them a much greater opportunity to develop mentally, physically and socially. Emily has written a number of articles on topics varying from bilingual learning to teaching the importance of volunteering.