bumGenius Littles 2.0 Review – An Already Good Diaper Redesigned to Create Something GREAT.

Read all about the bumGenius newborn diaper, Littles 2.0 in this review. Featured

Did you know that bumGenius, the cloth diaper that really put modern cloth diapering on the forefront of parents’ minds starting in 2005, has redesigned their popular newborn diaper? Seeing that there’s always ways to improve a product the bumGenius team took it upon themselves to look at their Littles diaper and see what they could to do make an already good diaper work better. When I heard that they had redesigned their newborn diaper I jumped at the chance to review it and since my friend, Rhiana, has recently had a sweet little boy, what better time than the present?!

We’ve partnered with bumGenius to bring this review to you. We haven’t received any monetary compensation for this review and all opinions are our own.

bumGenius Littles 2.0 – An Already Good Infant Cloth Diaper Redesigned

What changed? They redesigned the waistband so that it fits below the naval so baby’s healing umbilical cord isn’t irritated. They’ve also added organic cotton lining so that the diaper provides perfect absorbency and they’ve included an extra doubler with and organic cotton side and a stay-dry side to provide even more absorbency if needed. Let’s see what Rhiana thought about the Littles 2.0.

bum Genius Littles 2.0 – Rhiana’s Infant Cloth Diaper Review

Hi! Rhiana here. I’m what you might call a semi-experienced cloth diapering mama. I started cloth diapering with my third child when he was around 6 weeks old. I was initially overwhelmed with all of the options out there, and started with All-In-Ones (no extra parts or pieces, essentially the cloth version of a disposable, also referred to in the cloth diaper world as AIOs). They were simple: just choose snaps or hook and loop (aka Velcro), a brand, color, etc.

With my new little man here, I knew I wanted to start using infant cloth diapers from the beginning. I had a few wise mamas encourage me to try pre-folds with a cover, which work well, but let’s face it- as the mama of a newborn, with 3 other kids – that’s a decent amount of folding, covering, snapping, etc. I MISSED my AIOs. Desperately. But the one size diapers I had saved were simply too big and too bulky for my 7 pounder.

How trim are the bum Genius Littles 2.0 infant cloth diapers?

These are the trimmest, softest diapers I’ve ever laid my hands on. And they are simple to use! My older kids love to help and these are straightforward, with nice, tight snap closures. Even my hubby can change these sweet little diapers – which is a bonus since he was a little hesitant about cloth diapering!

A few things that I really loved:

Low rise hits below the belly button/umbilical cord stump
No snap down rise (less confusion for diaper change helpers)
Soft, but snug elastic. My newbie has tiny little legs, and these seem to fit snugly without irritation.
Bonus doubler included-organic cotton/stay dry material.
ADORABLE prints and colors- so vibrant and cute, who needs pants?

Is the bumGenius Littles 2.0 a good overnight cloth diaper?

This is probably not an overnight diaper (Not that many newborns are sleeping ALL that long anyway) I’d say two hours or less for a heavy wetter is the max absorbency on these cuties. But with so many sweet prints and colors, I’m always ready to grab another one to put on the bum!

If you’re interested in purchasing the newest best newborn diaper, Littles 2.0, you can buy them directly from Cotton Babies, the makers of bumGenius, along with other fine baby products. Just click the image below and shop to your heart’s content. The price point for the Littles 2.0 is really reasonable, $11.99, which in comparison to other organic newborn diapers is a steal.

Read all about the bumGenius newborn diaper, Littles 2.0 in this review. What's new with the redesign. What did we love about the diaper and what could we live without?

Bert A.

As the creator of the lifestyle blog and book, Me Before Mom, Bert supports millennial moms facing the challenges and changes of motherhood. Me Before Mom is an online community that offers support through real life stories, encouraging advice, and answers to questions about how a woman maintains herself during this self-sacrificial time of parenthood. Stories from Bert Anderson have helped women across the globe through the Huffington Post, Today’s Parent, and on the Harry show. Whether weathering the first year of motherhood or walking through the later stages of motherhood, Bert has helped many continue to find herself while still in the throes of motherhood. Purchase your copy of Me Before Mom: Putting Your Oxygen Mask on First today!

April 4, 2017June 27, 2017

How to make an in-home baby spa and change up your bath routine

This post was written in partnership with Macy’s. All opinions are my own.

Baby spas, yes, spas where you can bring your baby to relax and do those things that babies do. Baby Spa Perth in Australia made headlines this week with their luxurious and relaxing spa for infants. I mean look at these babies getting their relaxation on!

Happy Valentines Day | The Look of Love ???????? @babyspaperth #babymilly #babyspaperth #newborns #westernaustralia #babybonding #secureattachment #parentchild

A post shared by Baby Spa Perth, AUSTRALIA (@babyspaperth) on Feb 13, 2017 at 10:36pm PST

Depending on where you live in the US finding a local baby spa may prove to be challenging so I thought why not try to create your own!!! Here’s how you can make your own baby spa, right in your home, change up your bathroom routine and make those mundane personal care tasks a little more fun.

How to make an in-home baby spa

Buy one of those baby tubs or use your laundry room’s deep sink

I don’t have a nice deep soaking tub. In fact I can’t even use my tub so I don’t know how effective and relaxing it would be for my baby to use it either but don’t worry, there are special tubs to help with that, such as the Summer Infant Lil’ Luxuries Whirlpool, Bubbling Spa & Shower, Fisher-Price® Soothing River Luxury Calming Vibrations Tub or Puj Tub – The Soft, Foldable Baby Bathtub. You could also use the deep sink in your laundry room. After cleaning your deep sink thoroughly with safe cleaning supplies, fill the sink so that baby can easily relax and splash around.

Think about purchasing an Otteroo Tub

One of the things that stands out in the Baby Spa Perth coverage are the floatation devices that the babies have around their necks. Now, let me start by saying that the Otteroo should never ever be used without adult supervision. You can’t put it around your baby’s neck and then leave the area. Don’t be stupid; if you can’t adhere to this then do not use the product. Also, you should test it out before putting it to use by inflating it and then seeing if there is a leak. Again, be smart, you’re a parent, in charge of another human being’s life and well being, don’t take that lightly. The only place you can purchase an Otteroo is from their website and they actually don’t recommend purchasing it elsewhere. This is one product you really don’t want to use secondhand due to the possibility of tiny holes or other things.

How to make an in-home baby spa and change up your bath routine — From otteroo.com

Get some gentle and relaxing baby shampoo and body wash.

It should come as no surprise that one of the most important things when putting together your in-home baby spa, is taking it up a notch and using baby shampoo and body wash that is not only gentle and natural but also smells fabulously relaxing. I personally love Balm Baby’s FRESH OUT OF THE TUB Natural Organic Baby Shampoo & Body Wash. I know the woman behind this fantastic brand and trust me, she knows her stuff when it comes to what you’re putting on your skin.

Soft, heated towels

When I think about spas the first thing that pops into my mind are luxurious, big, soft, fluffy towels. Place them in the dryer on low heat and get them nice and toasty warm before wrapping baby up. I personally love Macy’s Micro Cotton Hotel Collection Premier Bath Towel Collection (retailing for $16 – $39). They’re so incredibly soft and plush, they just scream spa to me every time I use them. Actually the first time I washed them the amount of fluff that I found in the lint trap was unbelievable! Don’t worry, that was a one time thing; they don’t shed every time you wash and dry them but I just had to tell you that so you grasped how soft and luxurious they are. I just tell myself that I’m buying them for my little baby spa but really who doesn’t want to change up their boring bath time routine?

They are available in an assortment of sizes – Bath towel – 30”x56”, Hand towel – 16”x30”, Wash cloth – 13”x13”, and come in an array of colors. You can purchase them at Macys.com.

Baby lotion and soothing oils

Learn a little baby massage and after you’ve dried baby off, bring them into their nursery and give them a little baby massage while the lights are low and you’ve put some relaxing music on. I love the way Burt’s Bees Baby 100% Natural Multipurpose Ointment smells and how easily it glides onto the skin, creating this moisturizing and soft lather that sinks into the skin. I also really love Shea Moisture Skin Therapy Baby Raw Shea as well as Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Baby Oil Rub. If you have no idea how to massage a baby check out the following tutorials, Baby Chick: How to do Infant Massage and the video below.

The point of a baby spa experience is to create a relaxing environment that’s soothing and enjoyable both for the parent as for the baby. Change up your bathroom routine and add a little relaxation into your baby’s day. Do you have any ways you’ve change your bathroom routine and made it more relaxing?

Now to help you get into the relaxation mode as well as to help change up your bathroom routine, Macy’s is giving away a set of their MicoCotton Hotel Premier Collection (ARV $84) to one First Time Mom reader! All you need to do is fill out the giveaway form below and you’ll be entered.

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Pin It for inspiration later!

How to make an in-home baby spa and change up your bath routine. Pin now for inspiration and create your own in-home baby spa! No need to head across the ocean to Australia

Disclosure: All opinions are 100% mine. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. All opinions and experiences are First Time Mom’s. Open to US residents only , must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted through email and have 24 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor will be responsible for product fulfillment to winner(s) of the giveaway. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions or to see your product featured in an event you can contact Elizabeth at First Time Mom. Just so you know, there are affiliate links in this blog post; it won’t cost you anything extra, however, should you make a purchase from one of the links I’ll receive a small commission for your purchase. Thank you for supporting my family!

Bert A.

March 17, 2017March 19, 2017

Can my child see Disney’s BEAUTY & THE BEAST?

Today the world got to experience the newest live action feature film from Disney, BEAUTY & THE BEAST, opened everywhere. I’m hopeful that the box office reports will convey the magic that the film makers did in the film but in case you’re sitting on the fence, I thought I’d write up my review for you. As usual, I watch these kinds of movies through the lens of a mom. That means I’m paying extra attention to scary scenes, explicit sexual scenes, violence, etc. As with any review that I write I want to disclaim that every child is different and every family is different. What one child can tolerate another may not be able to. You need to use your parental gut when it comes to TV and movies. If you aren’t sure whether or not BEAUTY & THE BEAST is for your child see the movie first. I wasn’t sure if some of the scenes with the wolves would be too intense for my almost six-year-old daughter who is dying to see the movie. When I had the opportunity to screen the film on Monday my husband and I chose to see it first.

Can my child see Disney’s BEAUTY & THE BEAST?

Can my child see BEAUTY & THE BEAST — Courtesy of Disney

Scary Scenes – Minimal; I would call them intense.

The scenes where Belle’s father Maurice and then later Belle are in the forest fighting off wolves are intense. These scenes were intense in the animated film though. Both of my older children saw THE JUNGLE BOOK last year and I would say that this film is no more intense than some of the animal fight scenes were in THE JUNGLE BOOK. At the end of the film the fight scene between Gaston and the Beast was more tame in the live action movie compared to the animated film. My two oldest kids are going to be seeing the film but I’m going to wait until the film is released on Blu-Ray for my 3-year-old to see it. I want to be able to watch the film at home with her rather than have her scared in a movie theater.

Romantic Scenes – Not wildly inappropriate.

BEAUTY & THE BEAST is a love story. There are going to be hints of romance in the live action film just like there was in the original animated film. Is it inappropriate? Not in my opinion. Again and this is a touchy subject for some parents, you have to go with your gut and when in doubt see the movie first before you bring your child. There’s minimal kissing scenes, certainly no love making happening and the sexual innuendos that are in the film are not something my 8-year-old and 6-year-old would pick up on.

Moral Compass – A surprising twist from the original animated film

One of the most pleasant surprises of the film to me was the relationship between LeFou and Gaston. In the animated film LeFou is Gaston’s shadow, doing pretty much anything Gaston decides to do. That includes lying about Belle’s father’s sanity, going after an enchanted beast with the entire village as well as turning the village against Belle’s father. In the animated film LeFou goes along with Gaston’s plans, even when they’re downright cruel, he’s as much to blame as Gaston when it comes to the damage they inflict on those around them. In the live action film, however, LeFou has a mind of his own. You’ll have to see the film to understand what I’m referring to but it was a welcomed surprise.

…but it’s not the animated film! Ah, but there are things to appreciate about the live-action film.

Have you ever wondered how it was possible that there was this enormous castle located close enough to the village that both Belle and her father ran into yet none of the villagers had any idea it existed? That actually was something that really bothered me as I watched the animated film with my three children months ago. Why did NO ONE know about this huge castle?! Well, that’s explained in the live action film and I so appreciated it. They also dove into the relationship between Belle’s mother and father and gave us a backstory that didn’t exist in the animated film. Why was the Prince so cruel? Yes, you’ll learn as well in the live action film.

So what you’re saying is…

I’m saying that we are taking our older children (again they’re 8-years-old and almost 6-years-old) to see the film in the theater this weekend. Our almost three-year-old is going to stay home and when the film comes out on Blu-Ray we’ll let her watch it from our home. It’s really up to you to know what your child can handle visually as well as emotionally. I couldn’t handle THE HARRY POTTER movies as a young teen but my sister, who is two years younger than me, saw all of them when they originally came out in theaters. Every person is different and every child is different which is why it’s your responsibility to know what you think your kids can see.

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the film. He said he liked it better than both CINDERELLA and THE JUNGLE BOOK. Emma Watson being cast as “Belle” was brilliant and while her voice isn’t Broadway material she can certainly sing better than I can. And Dan Stevens as “The Beast”? The only problem with that was the fact that we didn’t get to gaze at Matthew Crawley the entire film….er, I mean Dan Stevens. The guy can sing and so can the rest of the cast.

Go out and see BEAUTY & THE BEAST this weekend; you won’t regret it!

Like BEAUTY AND THE BEAST on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyBeautyAndTheBeast

Follow BEAUTY AND THE BEAST on Twitter: https://twitter.com/beourguest

Follow BEAUTY AND THE BEAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautyandthebeast/

Visit the official BEAUTY AND THE BEAST website here: http://movies.disney.com/beauty-and-the-beast-2017

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST opens in theatres everywhere on March 17th, 2017!

Just so you know, there are affiliate links in this blog post; it won’t cost you anything extra, however, should you make a purchase from one of the links I’ll receive a small commission for your purchase. Thank you for supporting my family!

Bert A.

January 30, 2017July 7, 2017

A JORD Wood Watch for my Detail-Oriented Love

Ben is sometimes impossible to shop for. The guy’s an accountant and not only does he frequently check our bank account to make spreadsheets of our budget but he’s very practical when it comes to gifts. I mean this is the man who told me when we were newlyweds and I lamented over not having cable, “You don’t NEED cable, you WANT cable. There’ s a big difference.” Every once and a while it’s nice to be able to surprise him with a gift that’s not really a necessity but still fulfills a need. When the brand JORD® contacted me asking if I’d like to give him one of their wood watches I jumped at the chance and here’s why:

A unique men’s watch is a necessity because everyone needs to know the time; especially if you’re a detail-oriented person.

Candy gets eaten and flowers eventually die, plus they aren’t really a “guy” thing (at least they aren’t my guy’s thing) but a watch, a watch is something that needs to be worn every day. It’s a necessity and even more of a necessity than a new shirt or a new gadget. It’s timeless and because JORD watches are made of wood, it sets someone apart from the crowd. That’s a positive benefit in my book; I mean my name is “Bert” after all and I have been known to have a blue streak in my hair. Uniqueness is something I value in a world of trends and commonality.

Ben chose the Dover Series Zebrawood and Dark Sandalwood watch which features two different kinds of wood, I’ll let you guess the two kinds of wood (hint: it’s in the name of the watch). It measures 24 mm in thickness and 202 mm in length. When you order your watch you’re given instructions on how to measure your wrist so that your watch is sized specifically for you. Ben felt that the watch was a little too loose for his liking so he took a few links out because he likes a tighter fit. He is very handy and has the right tools to do this, I don’t recommend doing this on your own unless you’ve got the right kind of tools and know what you’re doing. A simple visit to the jeweler will do the job or you can keep the looseness factor in mind when you’re measuring your wrist for the watch. Ben suggested rounding down after you’ve measured. The watch also comes in its own wooden box that acts as both gift wrap (hello, one less thing on your to-do list) and as storage for the watch. JORD recommends storing the watch in the box when not in use and using Boveda® Humidity Packs in the bottom drawer that’s in the box. The watch comes with one humidity pack and will last four to six months depending on climate and temperature. You can purchase more Boveda packs on the JORD website. Ben really likes his wooden watch and has mentioned to me that unlike other watches, it has yet to pull on his arm hair. Who knew that was a problem?

JORD wants for you to have the chance to get $100 off a wood watch of your own! Maybe you’re going to gift a JORD watch to your love too like I did, or maybe you’re going to treat yourself, whatever you end up doing be sure to enter the giveaway by clicking this link! The giveaway ends on 2/26 and no worries if you don’t win, you’ll receive a complimentary $25 towards a purchase on JORD!

Click here to enter the giveaway!

Luxury Wooden Watch

Disclosure: I received a JORD watch in exchange for this review. All opinions are 100% mine. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. All opinions and experiences are First Time Mom’s. Open worldwide, must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted through email and have 24 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor will be responsible for product fulfillment to winner(s) of the giveaway. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions or to see your product featured in an event you can contact Elizabeth at First Time Mom.

Bert A.

July 14, 2016August 12, 2016

All Moms Need Sleep: Nite&Day Sleep Coaching Review & A Major Giveaway

Sleep. It’s one of those things that new parents are completely unaware of until they’re thrust into the trenches of parenthood. Sure, people try to warn you when you’re pregnant to sleep now before the baby comes but it’s always said with this slight tone of sarcasm that you never really believe it until you experience it. I remember when Laura, my little sister, was a first time mom and sleep deprived she was weeping to me on the phone about how she just was so tired and didn’t know what to do. Then she started in on the mom guilt saying, “What’s wrong with me? It’s just sleep?!” I reminded her that sleep deprivation is a form of torture; there’s a reason she feels horrendous because she isn’t sleeping. What if I told you that you could get a little help for your child who isn’t sleeping? You can, right here in the Twin Cities, with Elizabeth Sarles, Certified Gentle Sleep Coach, and owner of Nite&Day Sleep Coaching.

Sarles says,

We believe there’s no wrong way to teach your child to sleep. Many parents ask “Are you a cry-it-out proponent or family bed advocate? Do I have to stop breastfeeding to sleep coach my child?” You don’t have to pick a camp. The only right answer is what works for your family. The fact is, rules that make you feel guilty aren’t good for anyone.

I practice the Gentle Sleep Coach Philosophy advocated by Kim West LCSW-C, The Sleep Lady^®. She developed the program after finding many parents didn’t follow through with traditional sleep coaching, worried they would damage their child emotionally. GSC is a gentler approach where you offer physical and verbal reassurance as you teach your child the vital life skill of putting themselves to sleep.

We decided to put Nite&Day Sleep Coaching to the test with one of our readers, Kaylie, and her family. Kaylie went through the program and we’re pretty excited for her and the results she got.

Kaylie’s Experience with “Nite&Day Sleep Coaching”: A Review

When I was offered the chance to work with Elizabeth for sleep coaching, my first thought was “why not?” Nothing could hurt at this point. You see, my 2 year old had literally never slept through the night and often ended up in our bed so he could wake us all up multiple times per night. Something had to change; I will admit though that I was skeptical that this would offer anything we hadn’t already tried!

My email exchange with Elizabeth was pleasant and I looked forward to our first meeting. When we met that first day, I went into the meeting feeling like I might be judged for the way we were doing things or, even worse, be told we couldn’t be helped! We spent over an hour together; discussing my son’s whole life and what our goals were for sleep. Elizabeth was kind, organized, and extremely easy to work with. To my surprise, I left our meeting feeling extremely hopeful that we all might get some good sleep soon, as well as excited to get started!

Elizabeth delivered the documents with our plan right on time and set up a meeting to discuss what this would look like. She went over every detail and both my husband and I felt extremely prepared when our actual “sleep training” started. She not only gave us an individualized plan that gave us step by step instructions, but also gave us a “back-up” plan and tips for common problems we might face.

The first night came and I quickly realized this would be harder than I thought. Our original plan was NOT working- but then I remembered our “back-up” plan! Success. That first night it took a bit longer to get my son to bed but he slept through the night! Elizabeth had scheduled a phone call for the morning after our first night and I SO appreciated that. She not only was able to troubleshoot the issues we were having but she also helped me to keep my eyes on the prize so I wouldn’t give up when it got hard. She continued to be available by phone or text throughout the 2 week process.

My son was sleeping through the night with a very reasonable night time routine by day 2. He even got sick around day 4 and we still were able to see progress. As a true test of our success, we left for a family vacation which included 2 nights in a hotel only 3 weeks after we started sleep training. I was extremely worried that after he was able to sleep with us again for 2 nights in the hotel we would have to start all over. But thanks to Elizabeth’s suggestions and an extremely thorough night time routine, he jumped right back in when we got home with very little regression.

I cannot emphasize enough how grateful we are that we did this. I went from never having any time to myself after the kids were in bed and waking multiple times a night, to having my son go down without a fight and in a reasonable amount of time; this program is priceless. Not to mention he is a MUCH happier kid with a good night’s sleep every night! I feel like we have our life back! I will gladly recommend this to ANYONE that is having any sleep issues with their children.

Nite&Day Sleep Coaching offers three kinds of sleep coaching to parents:

Expecting parents to four month old infants
Four and a half month old infants to six month old infants
Six month old infants to six-years-old

To get in touch with Nite&Day you can visit their website by clicking here.

And because Bamboobies wants for every mother in America to get a good night’s rest they’ve decided to create the perfect New Mom’s Better Sleep Prize Pack! This amazing prize includes:

A one-hour phone consultation with Elizabeth Sarles, local sleep expert, certified gentle sleep coach and owner of Nite&Day.
bamboobies Nursing Pads Multi-Pack (3 pairs regular and 1 pair overnight)
bamboobies’ boob-ease® 100% Organic Nipple Balm
Mommy’s Bliss Nighttime Gripe Water (one 4 oz. bottle)
Birds and Bees Calm Nights Tea (one tin)
Rumparooz Cloth Diapers (one diaper – Clyde or Peacock pattern)

Simply complete the Giveaway Tools form below to enter! Here’s to better sleep!

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Disclosure: All opinions are 100% mine. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. All opinions and experiences are First Time Mom’s. Open to US residents only , must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted through email and have 24 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor will be responsible for product fulfillment to winner(s) of the giveaway. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions or to see your product featured in an event you can contact Elizabeth at First Time Mom.

Bert A.