Posts

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…and time to pick out some healthy holiday gifts to kick off the new year in style. I pulled together a list of my favorite wellness items that will appeal to a wide variety of people on your gift list. I love gift giving, especially when it’s something that’s going to support your overall health. You will see a trend that I picked out gifts that are practical, with some extra beautiful ones just for fun.

Some of these sites offer affiliate marketing programs, which means if you make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission which helps pay for all the behind the scenes blog expenses. 

healthy holiday gifts for everyone on your list

Healthy Holiday Gifts for Women

Aroma Globe Diffuser– I’m a huge fan of diffusing our essential oils to help support our everyday routines. Some oils are immunity boosting and others help my kids settle down to do homework. My diffusers are all plastic and I’m looking to switch to the  Aroma Globe option that is made with glass. Young Living also carries the Aria diffuser which is beautiful, but a little more expensive. Order  a starter set of oils to get someone covered from head to toe!

Dry Brush Set– adding dry brushing to your wellness routine helps your body naturally detox. Dry brushing helps stimulate the lymph in the body and get it moving. Toxins can get stuck in the lymph so we want to get it moving and clearing out of the system. I recommend doing this before your shower. You will be amazed at how much better your skin looks once you start a regular routine!

Emily Ley Recipe Binder-collecting your recipes in one place is the first tip I give people when they start meal planning. I like Emily’s planners and the Recipe book is a great match to anyone who is a fan of the Simplicity Planner. {Note-this is currently 40% off at publication}

Plan to Eat– if someone you know doesn’t want “stuff” this is a great alternative! Plan to Eat is a meal planning program. It’s a digital product that allows you to save magazines you read about online (or in my meal plans) and save them to a private database. You then create a weekly meal plan and select the recipes that work for you. Plan to Eat automatically creates a grocery list for you. My favorite part is being able to print the list so I can bring it to the store without getting distracted by my phone. {Currently 50% off Black Friday subscriptions happening!}

Himalayan Salt Lamp-turn these on at night to help quiet the world. The thought is the salt lamps help buffer the EMF (electro magnetic frequencies from wireless signals.) I like to keep these on while we fall asleep, and then also get a wireless shut off timer for our routers. 

Instant Pot-I totally recommend the 8 quart option. I’m using it to cook sweet potatoes, hard boiled eggs, and bone broth super fast. {note: this is currently an Amazon deal of the day}

Healthy Holidays Gifts for Men

Clean Slate Charcoal Duo– did you know our skin detoxes about two pounds of toxins per day?! Isn’t that wild? You can help support your skin with the charcoal soap and mask. Use on a weekly basis. This is a wonderful gift for a husband or a friend.

S’well Tumblers-a fabulous upgrade for your coffee/tea/water to-go!

Air Purifier– this one is actually on my own list. We have a beautiful wood burning fireplace, but I don’t love how the smoke seems to remain in the air. I’m getting one to help clean up the air in our family room.

Healthy Holidays Gifts for the Family

Blue Blocking Glasses-grab a pair of these for your spouse or a friend. The new styles are so much better than the original! This brand even has kid sizes too.

EMF Blocking Blanket– if your kids are getting some form of wireless device for the holidays, I urge you to get one of these EMF blocking blankets. The newest research is showing damaging effects of the EMF. I like this style that’s gender neutral and is perfect if you have a kid that likes to curl up with their device to watch something. (Also, if they are just playing a game, switch it to airplane mode.)

Personal Meal Plan Gift Certificate– I recently sold my personal meal plans as gift certificates at our local marketplace. I thought I would offer you the same opportunity. One customer purchased it to give to her husband as a gift so he can get a personalized meal plan. I’m excited to work on this in the new year. Gift certificates need to be redeemed by March 2018. Click here to purchase one!

Hanna Andersson pajamas– as I learn more about protecting our body from chemicals, I’ve realized our choice of pajamas is very important. I’ve learned to look for GOTS certified clothes, or OEKO-TEX® certification. Both of these mean the clothing is not treated with flame retardants. You can find adorable chemical-free pajamas over at Hanna Andersson.  They have sizes for all ages so you can be coordinated on Christmas morning!

Mini Trampoline– we had grandparents get one for our kids last Christmas and it was a huge hit. I love that there is somewhere for the kids to burn off energy all winter long. We got the Pure Fun version with the handrail so the littlest one had a safety bar. After our move they took it off and it’s even better!

Healthy Holiday Gifts for Bakers

Beautiful measuring cups-having two sets is super helpful for holiday baking. These make a great hostess gift too.

Marble Cookbook Stand-this elevates the home cook’s work space just a bit. This works great for tablets and magazines best.

Healthy Holiday Gifts for Gardeners

Heirloom seed kit-this one from Williams Sonoma is ideal for small spaces. Start some seeds in the winter to help keep spirits up during the dark, cold days.

Garden jar Kitchen Herb kit-mason jars just call to me! This is one of the Oprah healthy holiday gift selections. It’s cute and functional. Modern Sprouts also has a grow house that is one of the prettiest greenhouses I’ve seen on the market.

 

Alright, that was a lot. Tell me which is your favorite healthy holiday gift? Happy shopping.

 

It’s officially fall and time to embrace the change in seasons. Cooler days and darker nights are not my favorite part of fall, but it does give us an excuse to settle in and get cozy. Today I’m sharing some of my favorite things that get me excited about the fall season. Add to this all the pumpkin things, like my pumpkin pie smoothie, and I’m ready for falling leaves and cooler temps.
Fall uniform, check. (which is a vest, jeans and tall boots. Thank you Joanna for solidifying the uniform name!) Happy rain boots, check. New kitchenware for cozy stews, check.
Fall Fashion Favorites
 Sources…

What’s on your must have list for Fall?

8 Ways to Make Stitch Fix Work Better for You

Over the past year, Stitch Fix has become part of the busy woman’s vocabulary. No time to shop? Stitch Fix will do it for you. Looking to update your wardrobe post baby? Stitch Fix can do that too. Yet despite how amazing the program is, many women are still struggling to make it work for them. When I’m wearing a fun novelty sweater, my friends will now say, “That’s a Stitch Fix isn’t it? Why don’t I get stuff like that?” Everyone loves the idea of it, but some need to guidance of how to work for them.

Stitch Fix has given me a closet I love. I walk in and it takes me very little time to get dressed. I have options for dressier gatherings, but also chic everyday clothes. I truly enjoy each piece I have decided to keep and they bring me joy. (yes, I have read this book, and now reading her second.)

Today I’m going to share some tips on how to make Stitch Fix work better for you. It’s still a fairly new company so things continue to be updated and allow for more communication with the stylists. There are lots of different places where you can make your opinions known, loud and clear.

Take the time to fully update your StitchFix Profile to make it work for you.

Take some time to fill out your Style Profile, but remember to come back to it occasionally to see if it still makes sense.

 

1. Style Profile: spend some time filling this out. I think it should take no less than 10 minutes to fill it out for the first time. This is where you fill out the info for your size, style preference (based on image collages) and needs.

2. Style Profile: for returning customers, continue to go back into your Profile. New questions get added by the company, including ones regarding Petite sizing and are you are Pregnant.

3. If you really want more clothes to choose from, select the jewelry from the list of items you do not want them to send you. I have never received any bracelets/earrings/necklaces and instead get a lot more clothing items to choose from. (my accessory exceptions are handbags and scarves)

The note to Stylist is the best place to give specific feedback for your next StitchFix box.

4. Note for your Stylist. This is a fun place to be specific about what you want to see in your next Fix. You can always get to this by signing in to your account if you have a fix scheduled. Go to your Home tab and enter details of what you need in the note. This is the place to remind the stylist that you don’t want sleeveless, have a long torso, looking for cardigans, hate cardigans, etc. I am specific here about what is appropriate seasonally. Living in the Boston area and still looking at snow, I don’t need anything too summery yet. I share that I need transitional items that lend themselves to layering. Living down South, you may be ready for sleeveless tops and cute dresses.

Create a Pinterest board to help your StitchFix stylist

5. Creating a Pinterest board to help guide your Stylist. I had one started long before Stitch Fix arrived at my doorstep and had hundreds of pins to help share my style with my stylist. (Thank you Michelle!) Start your own and see what outfits make you smile. You can search Pinterest for ideas, head to the women’s fashion section, or pin directly from J. Crew or other shopping site. You can follow my Pinterest board below and scroll through to take a peek at what I’m saving to share with my stylist.

 

Use the StitchFix checkout area to give specific feedback about your box.

6. When you checkout your box, be very specific in the feedback. This is your chance to say if you have a long torso and need longer length tops. Same for bottoms. Got something you really didn’t like? Tell them what it is? The shape, the print, the feel of the fabric, the color, the length? There are so many things that make a piece of clothing work for someone, but it may not work for you. Let your stylist know.

7. Share Stitch Fix with your friends and if they purchase a box, you get $25 in free clothes. Lovely, right. This is my affiliate link and I have been able to get a few credits to help update my closet the past 18 months of using Stitch Fix. It’s no cost to you either and is easy to share online with friends and family once you have a profile.

8. Stick with the same stylist once you find one that gets your style. I’ve had the same one for 7 of my 10 fixes. She knows I’m partial to navy and green and novelty printed tops. Is it always 100% keep? No, but I’ve had at least 4 100% keep boxes, which is great because you get an additional 25% off. I have friends that will keep item #5 and then barter with friends to trade! This may not always be accommodated, but it’s great when you find a match.

Declutter your closet with Stitch Fix

Are you ready to streamline your closet so you only see items you love? Head here.

Stitch Fix has been great for this busy mom. Not only do I save time by not having to shop around for clothes, but I can try them on at home and then drop anything I don’t want to keep on my doorstep for the mailman to return. So easy. I also recommend keeping the styling cards that come with each item. Over time, it is helpful to go back and relook at how an item can be repurposed for different occasions.

Head over to Stitch Fix and schedule your box today! This month I coordinated my delivery with a friend so we can trade items if something doesn’t work for us. It’s a Stitch Fix Swap!

p.s. Have you seen my favorite picks for fun Fall Fashion? Head over here to check it out. And now the Winter Survival Guide is live too!

If you have already finished your holiday shopping, lucky you. For everyone else, here’s some great gift ideas for kids if you are still on the holiday hunt for the perfect present. After a recent trip to Magic Beans, at Linden Square in Wellesley, I got a sneak peek some of the bestselling toys this year.

Top Holiday Toy Picks

 

 

1. Sands Alive!: made of crushed seashells and mineral oil. It doesn’t dry out and doesn’t make a mess. Plus I love that it’s antibacterial.

2.Goldie Blox  Starring the lovely inventor Goldie, these sets build on spatial skills, basic engineering principles and problem solving confidence.

3.MindWare Contraptions 50 Plank Set: for ages 7+. Perfect for the tinkerers in your life.

4.MindWare Q-BA-MAZE 2.0  Great for ages 6+. Lots of fine motor skill development. I look forward to the day when marbles are acceptable in our house!

5.Battle Sheep Game: the board game is new every time you play. Reminds me a little of our favorite grown up game Carcassonne .

6. Two games that encourage working together:Feed the Woozle and The Great Cheese Chase. No more sibling squabbles.

7.SmartMax Set : I can picture all three of my kids playing with this. It grows with your child and offers a bunch of different building ideas. 

The top bestseller according to Magic Beans is….Super Stadium Baseball Game
super stadium baseball game

 

One last shout out for some PBS Kids toys on the shelves this season. PBS KIDS and Whole Foods Market announced a partnership that will bring PBS KIDS’ line of educational and earth-friendly toys exclusively to the supermarket’s customers this holiday season. PBS KIDS’ new line of products is designed to inspire creative curiosity, while supporting the development of healthy, happy kids. 100% of PBS KIDS’ net proceeds will benefit the media brand’s mission of empowering children through knowledge, critical thinking and imagination, while Whole Foods Market will donate one percent of total sales, up to $25,000, to Whole Kids Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving children’s nutrition and wellness.

Scoots

 

Disclosure: You can find a number of these toys at your local Magic Beans or online at mbeans.com or via Amazon. Links in this post are to Amazon, if you purchase through them you help support this website at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

 

 

The magic of the holiday season can get lost when we stress about buying gifts. As we get caught up in the frenzy of generosity, it can be a challenge to slow down and find meaningful gifts. This week I had the opportunity to stroll through the variety of shops in Wellesley’s Linden Square. What a delight it was to talk to shop owners, get some personal attention and NOT fight for parking. Plus there is even a holiday gift guide to help figure out those holes on your list.

I had shopped Linden Square before, but usually it was due to a trip to Roche Brothers or The Cottage Restaurant. (best birthday brunch ever there!) On the shopping stroll, I got to check out a bunch of stores I had never been into, plus some old favorites.

Roosters: Upscale men’s grooming center. I could see my husband visiting here and really appreciate that Roosters is open on Sundays. For the holidays, check out their father and son package. They are also located in MA on Tremont Street in Boston and also in Lynnfield.

Shop Linden Square

Salon Maleah: a salon that focuses on hair only, with some excellent colorists. I loved getting my hair done into the “holiday twist.” The stylist taught us the bobby pins should be positioned so the bumpy side is against the scalp. Turns out I’ve been using them wrong my whole life! Salon Maleah is offering a holiday blow dry bundle special for the holidays!
Magic Beans shopping Linen Square
Magic Beans: toy store and so much more. I used to shop Magic Beans when I was first having babies and relied on some of their stroller experts to help me find the right ones. I really thought of it as a store for infants and toddler needs. I was happy to discover Magic Beans has a huge assortment of games for kids up to age 14!  They have GoldieBlox for ages 4-12, depending on the kit. Board games, building sets, arts and crafts and classic Brio trains. I got a crash course on the holiday hot list and hope to share some ideas if you are still in shopping mode! Don’t forget they offer gift wrap year round too.
 Shop Linden Square Shop Linden Square
Kenzie: the place to shop when your daughter doesn’t want to shop a “kids” store. They offer a tween line, but now added a women’s line due to popular demand. What started as baby and kids clothing 28 yrs ago in Coolidge Corner has turned into a focused assortment for girls ages 7-14. I really enjoyed this store and look forward to bringing Madison there when she is a little older. The holiday dress assortment was just lovely, and the sportswear was full of pop colors and fun silhouettes. (p.s. Kenzie is carrying the skiwear line Bogner if you are in the market!)
Shop Linden Square
Step to the next store over and you will find yourself in Tiny Hanger. Clothes, adorable shoes (oh, the shoes) and select toys for kids, infant through 6x. For the special little ones on your holiday shopping list, you can find some unique gift items that both mom and kids will enjoy.
Shop Linden Square
Sara Campbell: my surprise favorite shop. I always love a good assortment of cashmere for the holidays in a rainbow of colors and Sara Campbell delivered. From their versatile ruanas, to a beautiful pullover, there are plenty of gift options for that wow factor under the tree. Aside from the cashmere, my favorite item there was the charcoal grey scarf trimmed with rabbit fur. Just gorgeous.
Shop Linden Square at Bonsoir
Bonsoir: time to make your home shine for the holidays. There was a lot of beautiful, and delicate items in the store. Thankfully the staff at Bonsoir showed me some kid-proof ideas for holiday decorating. Two new fabrics for dressing the table are coated cloth and the French Green Sweet. Spilled drinks will be your enemy no more. Dress it up with a rhinestone runner and your table is good to go.
Bella Sante: Lovely spa for all your relaxation needs. Need to give your husband a gift idea? Try the 5 Elements Treatment. Two hours of bliss. Sign me up. Plus you can get $25 spa dollars to spend on products for every $200 gift card.
Shop Linden Square
Tobey Grey: 13 denim lines for your shopping pleasure. They even have denim for your guy! Tobey Grey had some fun holiday tops too if you haven’t picked on out for parties this month.
Have you shopped Wellesley’s Linden Square? Happy holiday shopping!
Disclosure: I attended a media shopping event to help facilitate this story. All opinions shared here are my own. 

Peapod grocery delivery.

Grocery shopping takes on new meaning once you have a child. You have to plan your trips around naps and you may not be able to go as often as you once did. You also need a lot more stuff. Switching to home delivery of your groceries can free up so much time, and money. No more buying incidental items, no more adding things the kids are asking for. I have used Peapod grocery delivery for a long time, going back to my Boston College days. We had a dorm room with a kitchen, but no one had a car. I still remember getting groceries delivered and I thought it was the coolest thing.

Peapod is actually turning 25 this year. They were ahead of the trend on home delivery. New this year is the expanded Pick-Up Service, which means you can order groceries and pick them up at the store when you are out and about. No need to stay home during the delivery window. You can learn more about my experience with the Stop and Shop/Peapod pick-up service here.

As you head into the holiday baking season, here’s a quick tip. There are huge sales on staple baking ingredients coming up the weeks before Thanksgiving. It’s the best time of year to stock up on flours, sugars and baking supplies. Even spices that never go on sale can be found at a discount. Getting a large ordered delivered is so much easier than trying to do it with multiple children in tow. I also remember to add in other heavy items when I do online orders, like seltzer cans and distilled water.

Peapod 25th Anniversary Celebration. Switch to getting groceries delivered to your door step!

Want to try out online ordering? Peapod is offering one of my readers a $25 gift card. Who doesn’t like free groceries?! Did you know they have over 15,000 items in their online shopping site?

Please use the Rafflecopter to enter below. Contest will close November 21st at midnight. US Residents only. Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to claim their prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy shopping!

Disclosure: Peapod provided gift cards to me to facilitate this review. All opinions shared here are my own.

Beat the Boredom. Tips for packing a healthy school lunch

As back to school season arrives, the discussion about school lunches is in full swing. How to get it done faster? What should we pack? Will they eat it? All of these questions can make it challenging to pack a healthy, kid-friendly lunch for your child. Today I want to share a couple of ideas to help make packing lunches a little easier, while inspiring your kids to make some healthy choices.

1. Tap into the Rainbow

Studies show that kids often eat more food if they are presented with more colors. Presentation really does matter when it comes to food. Do you need to get every color in? No, but try to get a mix of those blues, oranges, reds and white. Start with a goal of three colors and see if you can later add in one more.

2. Move Beyond the Paper Bag

The number of choices of reusable lunch bags is awesome. Once you narrow down your choice to one that is BPA and phthalate free, let your child pick the print. Including them in the process is the first step in getting them excited about sitting down for lunch.

3. Do the Little Finger Test

The big push towards bento boxes and small plastic storage containers allows for some beautiful lunch presentations. However, I have found some that are really hard for little fingers to open (even big fingers!) Let your kids test out new containers in the store or upon delivery to make sure they can easily manage at school. Independence is a key factor in creating a relaxed environment during your child’s lunch.

4. Introduce New Foods During “Non-Nag” Time

When our kids are away from their parents during lunch, most educators are not sitting with them telling the class what to eat. Kids are allowed the time and space to make their own choices. It can be a great time to introduce a new fruit or veggie, without pressuring the child to try it. Will it come home untouched? Yes, there is a very good chance that will happen. But try again and maybe they will surprise you. Or maybe they will eat it the first time and now you have a new lunch idea.

5. Add in a bit of Whimsy

Draw fun faces on oranges in the kids school lunch.

Another parent once said her daughter came home asking for a “kitty orange” after she saw Madison with one. The parent was so thankful as her daughter never ate oranges before!

I know some parents really dread making lunches, while others truly love it. If you are in the first camp, let those in the second inspire you. There are fun ways to add in a little surprise to your kids lunch, without losing your mind trying to pack it up while you are rushing in the morning. The bento box is a great first step in pulling off a fun presentation. It’s still the same lunch, but in a pretty container, you already check off on of your “colors” in the rainbow. My little guy loves pirates so I plan to include this pirate cake topper on occasion, which will surely delight him. You can find inexpensive accessories for your kids lunches online, or just include a silly joke on a paper for older kids who can read.

6. Don’t Get Stuck in a Rut

Use your cookie cutters to create fun sandwiches.

There are tons of inspiring ideas on Pinterest and Instagram when it comes to school lunch. I’ve learned a lot of fun lunch ideas from Weelicious Lunches, both the cookbook and by following #weelunches on Instagram. She doesn’t spend time on cutting up sandwiches into cute shapes, but does offer a ton of variety of foods. If you and your kids are tired of sandwiches, check out this recipe book full of non-sandwich lunch ideas.  This ebook is 35% off until 9/7 with code: NOSTRESSLUNCH.

 7. Include the Kids in Packing Lunch

My daughter wants to stay up “late.” We have talked about how we will use that time in the fall to pack her lunch the night before. I’m hopeful she will enjoy making some of the choices of what to include in her lunch the next day. It gives the child a little more control over a small piece of their day.

8. Don’t Forget about Snack Time

This year we have to pack two snacks for our kindergartener. We choose the dual Pottery Barn Kids lunch box so I could have a separate place to keep snacks ready to go. Another option one parent suggested is placing snacks in a front pocket of a backpack so they are easily accessible. I pulled together some of my favorite snack ideas in my “Snack Break” Pinterest board if you need some inspiration.

9. Milk or Water?

milk or water

This is a hot topic among friends and while we like the idea of milk in the lunch box, the reality is it often comes back unfinished or worse, all over the lunch tote. Pack what your kids will drink, and make sure you have a water bottle that fits easily in their tote or backpack.

10. What else helps you make packing lunches a little easier? Leave a comment to help other parents!

Thank you to Pottery Barn Kids for providing these lunch totes and accessories to demonstrate the tips in this story. You can find their full assortment of lunch boxes and food storage containers at Pottery Barn Kids.

25 Non Toy Gift Ideas

As the holiday season quickly approaches, I have been pulling together some of my reader’s favorite non-toy gift ideas. The list is great for a variety of ages, from children in preschool to teenagers in high school. I know a lot of parents are working hard to make the holidays less about “stuff.” Others want to limit the influx of “stuff” coming into their home. Our family falls into both camps, so I’m using this list as a starting point when family and friends ask about what to get the kids for Christmas.

  1. Sleeping bags
  2. Art supplies
  3. Magazine subscriptions (see ideas at the bottom of this post)
  4. Books
  5. Museum memberships
  6. Monogram bags
  7. Lunch box (Planetbox for older kids, Yumbox for younger ones)
  8. Personalized plates, water bottles, snack bags
  9. Lessons and the needed uniform or supplies
  10. Tickets to an event or zoo
  11. Ski passes and a new pair of ski equipment
  12. Bean bag chairs or child size furniture
  13. Forts
  14. Easel
  15. Nightlight
  16. Craft box subscription (Kiwi Crate or Wummelbox)
  17. Beach towel
  18. Bird feeder
  19. Play rug
  20. Instrument
  21. Science kit
  22. Alarm Clock
  23. Bike and/or bike accessories
  24. Popsicle molds
  25. Back pack

 

What other ideas do you have? Please share them in the comments!

Here are some of the magazine subscription ideas. These are affiliate links through Amazon (and others in this post), which means if you make a purchase, a s.m.a.l.l. percentage comes back to this site at no cost to you. Thank you!


Planning a party when you have little kids is no small feat. Whether the party is for 10 or 30, it still requires cooking, coordinating, and cleaning. This past weekend we baptized Connor and hosted a party for twenty. I’ve learned a thing or two about planning an easy menu, utilizing the slow cooker and taking the appropriate short cuts to make life a little easier. As I prepared for the party, I decided to take the opportunity to test out the Peapod curbside delivery service. We are big fans of grocery home delivery so I was curious to see how the curbside pick up would stack up.

 Peapod Pick Up at Stop and Shop

Here is what I experienced during the Peapod pick-up experience.

PROS

  • Free service with no minimum order. My order was under $100 and it was still free.
  • I pulled in to a covered area and an attendant came right out to the car so I didn’t have to get out with the three kids in the car.
  • Groceries were loaded into the car while JJ slept…awesome.
  • I could get the groceries while out and about doing all the other shopping. I didn’t have to stay home for a three hour window.
  • Cold items were already packed together so I could easily put them into a cooler as I continued my party prep shopping.
  • Attendant gave me a heads up on an item that was out of stock so I could deal with it before I got all the way home. (although I wish they had called to let me choose a substitution.)
  • Staying out of the store means no impulse buying so you can save money.
  • Done in about 5 minutes total.

Peapod pick up

CONS

  • Not as easy as home delivery. I could be in my PJ’s and get my groceries.
  • My closest location is 7 miles away so it’s really not super convenient.
  • Wish there was an option for same day pickup. Delivery times start the next day, but it is open 7 days a week.

Overall it was a positive experience. For Moms who have a pick-up option at their local Stop and Shop, this is a great time saver. It does take some planning to make it work, but in the long run, this can save you time and money. I did receive a gift card to test out the service, but all opinions shared here are my own.

Flip Cloth Diaper Review

It’s no secret that we are a mostly cloth diapering family. Yes, it is a little extra work but it’s just a normal part of our routine now. The one thing that always drives me crazy is having to stuff the diapers once they are clean. The Bum Genius diapers have been the only ones we used for the past four years. They just came out with a new hybrid diapering system called Flip. We tested out the Flip diapers for the past two weeks and I am excited to keep them as part of my diaper stash. (We got the diapers as part of a promotional program with Flip™ and MomSelect.)

Flip Diapers for babies and toddlers

Flip Diapers fit both a 14 week old and a 2 1/2 year old.

The best part of cloth diapering infants is you really get your money back when it comes to investing in cloth diapers. The Flip diapers will fit babies from 8 lb- 35 lb. I tested it out on our 14 week old 12 lb. infant and our two-year old toddler weighing 30 lb. They wore the same diaper and it fit well on both of them.

Hands down the best part about the diaper is how easy they are to wash, and there is no need to stuff! Well, minor stuffing where you just lay the insert into the cover. Nothing like trying to get the insert into the pocket diapers and trying to avoid damaging the inner waterproof lining with your wedding ring. Also, after the baby has used the diaper, there is no need to try to “unstuff” the diaper. This is rather handy after those epic blowouts.

My favorite diapers for babies are still the Bum Genius sized diapers. The size small diapers are much less bulky than the one-size-fits-all diapers (a.k.a. All in Ones). What I do like about the Flip diaper is the insert has a new fold over design that is softer and contoured better to the baby’s body. Plus it’s super soft, even after washing it a few times.

Flip Diaper sized insert

With the two-year old, we are in that transitional stage of diaper wearing and potty training. We used the outer diaper covers over underwear to control any possible leaks. I like knowing I can use the covers for both kids when we were out for a day trip.

The hybrid part of the system is handy when you are on the go, but probably not as useful for our family right now. The insert is fairly large and the waste would be more than an infant sized diaper. There were not any leaks when either boy used them, so the idea is you can reuse the covers and then put in a disposable insert. I am so trained to put the entire diaper into the wash it will take a look to get me to make this kind of switch!

Head over to their website to learn more about the Flip diapers. I tried out the velcro (hook and loop) closure, but I also found the snap Flip diapers over on Amazon. Snaps will hold up better over time, but the velcro is very easy to use.

Thanks to Mom Select and Flip for sharing the diapers with us! All opinions shared here are my own.