Christmas Giveaway

Welcome back to the blog! It has been a while since this baby has been updated, but that's okay. Over on our Facebook Page we have alot going on and most of the updates happen there. It really is the best way to keep connected to what is going on, but in case not everyone is on there this is for you too. Just recently we surpassed the goal of 1500 Facebook fans. Now we are at over 1700 fans and I'm sure we can make it to 2000 in no time! What do you think?

Enter below for your chance to win one of TWO $25 gift certificates to our shop. Open to US and Canadian citizens only. Ends 12:01am Saturday December 31, 2011 OR when our Facebook page gets to 2000 fans, so spread the word!!

Happy Green Dryer Balls & a Giveaway

Saving money. Saving the Earth. Saving your health.

Mission: To rid the world of the evil dryer sheets!

How? DRYER BALLS!

Two or more of these balls added to your dryer will make your clothes softer and less static-y as well as save you time and money by cutting drying time. They don't have any harsh chemicals making them completely safe for babies and pets, as well as cloth diapers!

How much will these dryer balls REALLY save me?
It really depends on how many you use - a set of 4 is a good place to start and they will save you between 30% in a small load to 20% in a large load. And it only increases with the more dryer balls you use!


How much are they?
One ball is $9, two are $16, four are $30 and so on... The more you buy the more you save. Please visit the shop page for more info.

Want to win some? Enter our sweepstakes on our facebook page: www.facebook.com/TinyTreeHugger for your chance to win a set of dryer balls! Be sure to share it with your friends and tell them to put your name in the entry box for that extra entry :)

Good luck!

Cloth Diaper Laundry

Cloth Diaper Laundry: The First Six Months (or while your baby is exclusively breast fed) by Sheryl M.

One of the main concerns that people have when they start using coth diapers is that washing them will be gross and that it will take a lot of extra time and effort. These are both false myths. Before reading this, I must make the disclaimer that I was lucky enough to be able to exclusively breast feed. I do not know the cloth diaper "rules" for formula fed babies.

Isn't washing cloth diapers time consuming?

Not at all. You can throw a load of laundry on and then do some other stuff while it is running. Yes, it requries you to be home to add the soap and start the extra cycles, but you will find that you do spend a lot of time at home with the baby anyways.

But isn't it gross to wash a poopy diaper? I don't want to rinse it in the toilet!

You don't have to! When a baby is breast fed, it's poop is water soluable and liquid-ish. This means that you can take the diaper right off the baby, put it directly in the dry diaper pail, and then on laundry day, throw it directly in the washing machine and it will wash right out. With top loaders, it's best to do a cold rinse without soap, a hot wash/rinse with soap, and a final extra cold rinse cycle to make sure the diapers are rinsed well. Front loaders are use much less water than top loaders so instead of doing a cold rinse cycle before and after, do a cold wash cycle before and after so you use more water.

What type of detergent should I use?

There are so many types of different detergents. For the first 6 months, using soap nuts worked well for us. We didn't need the extra strength of specially formulated cloth diaper detergents because the poop easily washed out and she drank and peed so much that it was not concentrated at all. Before you use any detergent, please check to see if it is suitable for cloth diapers. Some say that they are natural but that doesn't mean that they are good for cloth.

Ew! My diapers have a poop stain on them , isn't that bad?

Not at all. As long as you've washed them, the diapers shouldn't have any poop left on them. The stain is just a stain and doesn't mean anything. If you really don't like them, the best way to get rid of them is to put them out in the sun for a few hours and let it bleach those stains out.

Can I use diaper cream?

We were lucky that our baby didn't get a diaper rash at all in her first year.  I don't really have much advice there. We used some cloth diaper safe-ish cream (it wasn't the best that is out there but it didn't cause huge amounts of buildup in the diapers). When we did use cream as a preventative measure, we used a flushable liner to protect the diaper.

My diapers don't work anymore! What do I do?

If you find that your diaper is repelling or leaking, it means you have buildup in your diaper. It means you have to strip the diapers. One of the most common recommendations you will read online is to use a tiny bit of original Dawn to wash the diapers and then rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse until there are no bubbles left. (This is done on the diaper you've already washed because you don't want to strip poopy diapers!). 

 

Thanks so much for contributing to the Tiny TreeHugger blog Sheryl! 

If you would like to contribute a post to our blog, please contact us. Topics can vary and are not just limited to cloth diapering!

Events, prints & important news!

This is also posted on the Tiny TreeHugger homepage but for your information...

bums & bling - Saturday June 4th 2-5pm

Come join us in Niverville for an afternoon with custom handmade jewellery
by jolie [on etsy & facebook] and eco-friendly alternatives
like cloth diapers, natural laundry detergent & reusable bags from Tiny TreeHugger!
Please bring a friend &
contact us or visit the facebook event to RSVP.
This is the last open house until the fall!

 Printalicious - An AppleCheeks Event! & Tiny TreeHugger

We are PROUD to announce that we are sponsors for the
BIG print reveal with AppleCheeks!
The REVEAL is June 7th at 11am CST on their YouTube channel.
Printalicious - An AppleCheeks Event - June 8th at 8-9pm CST - livestream
broadcast on Ustream.tv with Amy & Ilana of AppleCheeks,
& sponsored giveaways. Be sure to RSVP on the AppleCheeks blog here.

baby4 is coming soon!!

PamJ is due early July with baby4 so that means
around that time a few things may be affected:
- emails may be delayed in response but will aim to be answered in 48 hours,
if not please send again
- orders will be shipped 1-2 times a week
[instead of same/next business day]
- local pickup will not be available between
June 15th and July 30th [with the odd exception]
Be sure to follow us on Facebook or Twitter for all the latest updates!

and THANKS SO MUCH for understanding :)

The hospital bag

Here I am, sitting at 32 weeks pregnant, just 8 short weeks away from the big due date!  Yes, this is my fourth baby but I have not had to pack a hospital bag for labour in almost NINE years. So I am not sure what was in it, nor did I have to use much out of it either... since my first born was breach. One cesarean, two cesarean, three cesarean. This fourth time, I realized that I DO have a choice of how my baby can be born so the goal is a vba3c.

Here's hoping that my delivery is like Kristin and PamC's! FAST. In case you missed the post on facebook I asked what should be packed in the hospital bag. Here's the list of what was mentioned:

lip balm
pillow & blanket
snacks & drinks/water [for you AND husband]
hard candies
husband and doula [although they may not fit IN the bag but still handy to bring!]
music/ipod
camera & video with extra batteries [or chargers]
massager/tennis balls/pool noodle for massaging
housecoat & slippers/flip flops
toiletries

[Photo Source: lisastickleylondon.com via Deborah on Pinterest]

Also - if there is a Cora's in your area, [there are a few in Winnipeg and more across Canada!] be sure to pop by before the due date to get a coupon for free takeout breakfast for two after the baby arrives!

Thanks for all the great ideas ladies! I know I would definitely have forgotten a few of those important ones :)

I know it is not mandatory but I might sneak in a few tiny cloth diapers to try it from the start in the hospital! I know they provide disposables but I would LOVE to see the reaction when they see a cloth on my new baby...

New & Restocked

This list is shorter than the last one :)

Rocky Mountain One Size Diapers - NEW - Coconut (white) & Lemon
Restocked - Chocolate & Berry, Berry & Lime, Berry & Lemon
Snapping one size diapers with an internal adjustment system that comes with microfiber inserts!

Facebook AppleCheeks 7K Fan Giveaway & TTH 800+ Giveaway!

Tiny TreeHugger has teamed up with AppleCheeks [one of our fab suppliers!] for their Facebook Fan Giveaway! It WAS a 6000 fan celebration, but now has changed to a 7000 fan celebration since they are getting so close to THAT milestone. We have donated a prize for you to win too. You must like OUR facebook page, then go to the AppleCheeks Facebook contest photo album and comment with your email on the photo of Tiny TreeHugger's photo of the KangaSacs & Upcycled Bib [winner chooses which they would like!]. Just a note that this is our fanpage celebration too since we are now OVER 875 Facebook fans! [Thanks by the way, you guys are great...]

PS there are other pages to like and prizes to win in that album too! My faves are the Minky Blanket by My Sugar Lamb, or the Owl Hat by The Hook Up.

What's new?

LOTS going on in the Tiny TreeHugger World!!

Many products have been restocked lately including:

Knickernappies Ovulation Strips
Knickernappies Midstream Pregnancy Tests
Knickernappies Diaper Sprayers
and NEW from Knickernappies are the Detergent Scoops.
The Pregnancy Test Strips have been sold out for a while [with us and the supplier] but I will be keeping an eye out for when they are back in stock!

FuzziBunz - FULLY stocked of the One Sizes.
We are not going to be stocking larges in the perfect size anymore [just XS, small & medium] and all old colors are on sale for $17.95.

Also restocked are the FuzziBunz Hanging Wet Pail. These are also great for lugging around the swim gear, including the wet towels, bathing suits etc... I have two that I rotate for our diapers, one hangs on the door with dirty diapers while the other gets washed and clean ready for the next rotation!

Baby Kangas One Size diaper colors are restocked now too! You now have the option to add a One Size Hemp Stuffer for $1 off.

KangaSac snack & sandwich bags are fully stocked now too! I make our 8 year old's lunch litter free putting his sandwich in a KangaSac each day, and he chooses what to have in his reusable snack bag :) Watch for more prints of the Sling Sisters Snack & Sandwich Bags on the website soon [also wetbags & wipes!].

Be sure to check out the AppleCheeks products, lots are restocked after the Spring Sale that ended this week. And a few things are no longer special order like the Extender tabs and Starter Kits since they are now IN STOCK items!

Don't forget about the GREAT Cloth Diaper Change we are hosting! Saturday April 23rd, at 11am CST at the Louis Riel Library we are getting babies and parents together to set a Guinness World Record for changing the most cloth diapers simultaneously! Blog post coming about that soon. To pre-register and for more information go to http://winnipegclothdiapers.weebly.com!! Be sure to check out our lovely sponsors too! The first 30 pre-registered will get a swag bag and just by attending you get a chance to win one of the door prizes.

Have a good weekend all!! And hope to see some of you NEXT Saturday to set a WORLD RECORD :)

Amber Necklace Winner

And random.org chooses number....

and then random.org declares the winner is...

Congrats! Check your inbox :)
You have 48 hours to respond with the necklace of your choice.

New entry option for the giveaway...

Check out the newest entry option for the Baltic Amber Necklace giveaway! Click to see how :)

Baltic Amber & a Giveaway!

Our something NEW this week is Baltic Amber! Now available in baby bracelets, teething necklaces and also mommy sized versions of bracelets and necklaces too.

What does amber do?
It reduces red inflamed cheeks and stimulates the thyroid glands to reduce drooling. Amber is associated with sunlight and warmth and reputed to boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, accelerates the healing of wounds, reduce inflammation of the throat, ear and stomach infections and respiratory disease. There are no tablets, medications or pastes that can compete with this amber teething necklace, the necklace is unique and has amazing results which are all natural.

Is it safe?
Of course! We do recommend you to take precautions such as not leaving a child unattended with it on. As a safety feature there is a knot before and after each bead, so that even in the extremely unlikely event of the string being torn, no beads are lost and there is no risk of choking. Amber teething necklaces are secured with a traditional screw clasp.

Find out more facts here.

Gift it! These are a perfect baby gift for a shower or a birthday present, also a christening or baptism and can be passed on from generation to generation.

Buy it! This week only we are giving you 5% off your purchase of a Baltic Amber Bracelet or Necklace! Use the code 'amber' for 5% off your order.
Baby Bracelets [5-6 inches long] are $12.49.
Teething Necklaces [11-13.5 inches long] are $16.99.
Mommy Bracelets [7 inches long] are $13.99.
Mommy Necklaces [17- 18 inches long] $26.99.

Win it!
For your chance to win a Teething Necklace simply follow the Tiny TreeHugger blog via Google Friend connect and head over to the Baltic Amber page to tell us something else about amber that wasn't already mentioned here! [You must do both to qualify for the mandatory entry.]

Extra entries: [leave a separate comment for each]
Follow Tiny TreeHugger on Facebook.
Follow Tiny TreeHugger on Twitter.
Subscribe to the blog via email [on the sidebar].
Tweet - 'Win a #natural healing Baltic Amber necklace with @tiny_treehugger Win a #natural healing Baltic Amber necklace with @tiny_treehugger http://bit.ly/edHTKj'
Blog about the giveaway and leave the link in your comment.

New entry method:
'Share' Tiny TreeHugger with your friends on Facebook, either by inviting your friends or posting on your wall about the giveaway!


Open to US and Canadian residents. Closes Friday April 8, 10pm CST. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new one will be chosen!

Announcements, New & Restocked March 30th

Hey new blog followers!! Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by and following the Tiny TreeHugger blog. Our total is 50 and that means a GIVEAWAY soon! Keep your eye out for an announcement.

In other news:

NEW to Tiny TreeHugger
Dancing Mouse Designs Soother Clips! Krista has put together a wonderful array of soother clips. We know some of you prefer velcro and some prefer a loop and this was taken into consideration! Each clip is $5 [plus PST if you are in Manitoba!] and is made with a great fabric or ribbon print. Can be used to keep toys within reach as well. Made in Manitoba, Canada. What is YOUR favorite print?

Also restocked is Kaley's Soap Nuts in the 225g and 500g sizes. This is a natural cleaning product, great for cleaning cloth diapers, and other laundry. You can also add the small satchel of soap nuts into your cutlery tray in the dishwasher to clean your dishes or boil them in water to make a cleaning solution! More info on how to do that here.

Have you heard?

The Great Cloth Diaper Change is coming to Winnipeg! Mark your calendars for Saturday April 23rd. Help us set a Guinness World Record and change your baby into a cloth diaper at 11am CST. More details & pre-registration to come SOON. There will be swag bags for the first 30 to pre-register and many great door prizes. Please contact us if you would like to help sponsor the event.

Spring AppleCheeks Sale

Until April 14th, 2011 take 10% off your purchase of all AppleCheeks products.
[All AppleCheeks packages are 5% off!]
Not eligible for bulk discounts or valid with any other offers.

Also note that Mrs Robinson is now discontinued so get yours while quantities last!!

It is being removed to make room for the NEWEST addition to the AppleCheeks line of colors. 

Check out Ilana's blog post here and see how YOU could win your very own :)

PS we are TWO blog followers away from our very own giveaway!! If you read but don't follow the blog yet, please do - it will launch the giveaway... Thanks!

Confessions of a Babywearing Convert

I have to admit, I'm a recent convert to babywearing.  I didn't do it much with my first child.  Oh, I tried - I must've tried out 5 or 6 different carriers, but none seemed to really work for us, so I just gave up on the idea.  However, with my second, I was determined to give it another go, and find something that worked.  After all, with 2 little ones, I'd definitely need my hands free!

I started off with a Rockin' Baby pouch sling, because I loved the concept of an adjustable sling and the beautiful patterns.  However, it quickly became apparent that no matter how much I liked the sling, my son did not.  He hated the cradle position for newborns, so that was a no-go.  Hopefully as he gets bigger, and can sit upright in the sling, he'll like it more - I'm not giving up on it yet!

Next we tried a wrap.  These had always intimidated me (what do you do with all that fabric!?!), but after a few tries, I got the hang of it.  Tying it in front of a mirror really helped!  I found it to be very comfortable - no straps or buckles digging into me, and his weight was evenly distributed.  And my son - he loved it.  He could be upright and close to me - just what he wanted.  So we found success with the Sleepy Wrap.

Recently we took a vacation to Florida, and it came in so handy.  We don't have a double stroller, so we put our 2-year old daughter in the stroller, and I carried our son in the wrap while we were running around the airport.  I kept him in there for the flight, and he was so content that he barely made a peep.  *Side note - carrying your baby in a wrap gets you lots of attention!!  I couldn't believe the number of people who commented on it.

My daughter (aka the little mommy) has also been converted to babywearing.  She sees me carrying around her brother, and asks to carry her baby like that too.  It's very cute. :)

So, I encourage you to give babywearing a try - or even a second try!  It may take some time to find out what works for you, but when you find it, it can be so rewarding.  If you're unsure of where to start, contact Pam J and she can help you determine which style of carrier could be right for you and your baby. 

new&restocked Feb2011

Restocked Feb 25 2011

Applecheeks

• Flushable Liners - makes clean up easier, especially when out and about.
• Envelope Covers & 2 layer bamboo inserts - buy as a combo to save! Now with the option of buying 2 inserts with a cover to save more!![see link for more details]
• Washable Swim Diapers - GREAT for swimming lessons or being prepared for a pool outing
• Storage Sacs - Size 1 - Both St Lucia & Chocolate Brown now in stock!
• Nursing Pads - with a bamboo/cotton blend for maximum absorbency.

A sad farewell

The time has come to say farewell to a very important part of our team. PamC has decided to 'retire.' Here she says a few words:

It was just over 2 years ago that Pam J and I decided to take the leap and start our own business selling cloth diapers.  Over the past 2 years, I have learned so much, not only about running a business but also about diapers and baby carriers and all the environmentally-friendly options that are available to us as parents.  It’s been quite a journey, but the time has come for it to end for me.    With the arrival of my second child, I find it too difficult to find that happy balance between work and family, and I don’t like to see either suffer for lack of attention.  So, I have decided to step down from Tiny TreeHugger to spend more time with my family.  Pam J will continue on with the business.  I’d like to thank her for all her dedication and hard work, and wish her much success in the future.  I’d also like to thank you, our customers.  I have enjoyed getting to know you, meeting your little ones, and helping you with making “greener” choices for your own families. 

~PamC 

So sad to see you go PamC but we know it's the best decision for you and your family right now!  I really appreciate all the hard work you put into Tiny TreeHugger the last few years & helping to get it off the ground.

With PamC's decision, will of course come some change. Since she is the Winnipeg contact for Tiny TreeHugger, local pickups will become only once a week [on average] & may not be the same day each week, unless otherwise arranged of course! All orders will now be shipped from Niverville. There will be one last pickup morning at PamC's before the month is over as well!

Bear with us as the change over happens and we smooth out any wrinkles that may occur! Thanks so much...

Applecheeks Tutorial Video

Below you will find an AppleCheeks Tutorial Video
English is the first 3:30 and the French version starts after that.
Enjoy!

Photo contest

Enter our photo contest!! It is open to EVERYONE. Simply take a photo of how you use any of the products we carry [cloth diapers, baby carriers, reusable bags, bibs, leggings etc...] or how you WOULD use them if you won one. Get creative. Use your imagination! Or just submit a photo from your archives.

Finalists will be chosen after Monday January 31st, 6pm CST. Then we will post them on our Facebook page for you to vote for the winner of a gift certificate to our shop!

Good luck and can't wait to see your entries!

new&restocked Jan 22 - 2011

~ AMP One Size Diapers
~ AMP 2 layer hemp inserts
~ AMP bamboo inserts

& NEW to Tiny TreeHugger - AMP hemp wipes

ALSO NEW is the Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted in Size 1 & Size 2! They are great paired with a Thirsties Diaper Cover or Duo Wrap for the perfect adjustable fit and unstoppable performance.

Only the best components come together to make Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted diapers. The internal soaker is composed of spongy microfiber terry that can absorb up to seven times its weight in liquid! A maximum absorbency of 18 oz. makes this diaper appropriate for both light and heavy wetters alike. There is a tunnel behind the soaker which allows for stuffing additional absorbency, and for better washing and quicker drying. Touching your baby's skin is an entirely unique microfleece that is oh-so-soft to the touch and works to keep your baby feeling dry, thereby helping to prevent diaper rash. Finally, the velvety cotton velour outer layer comes in a variety of fresh, fun color options (plus white).

Also re-stocked Thirsties Duo Diapers &  Fab Wipes

New & Restocked - Jan4/11

Restocked today -
FuzziBunz One Size

also recently restocked:
Laundry Tarts - with a NEW to Tiny TreeHugger scent Gingerbread Cookies!
We have sample sizes too, so for as little as $0.75 you can try any scent. This all natural laundry detergent isn't just for cloth diapers either. You can use it on any laundry :)
**Canadian made**

FuzziBunz Perfect Size Diapers


And on the way:
more Thirsties Size Two Duo Diapers & Fab Wipes

as well as the Thirsties NEW Duo Fitted Diapers with snaps & velcro options!!