Wednesday, August 4, 2010

It's a FOOD RAISER!

So EXCITED!

Took kids to church food pantry to give canned goods and veggies from the garden. So many patrons, but VERY little food. We want to help. This weekend Cutie Tooties is having a drawing for a lifetime supply of cloth diapers--basically a whole stash for baby, newborn to potty training.This will be a SUPER package to win! You register by coming to the store and donating healthy foods, dried, canned or fresh. For every item donated, you get an entry.

It's on the honor system. Please consider printing labels with name, phone, email on them to you can stick on entry cards swiftly. We are partnering with several diaper manufacturers to get items together.THIS WILL BE FUN! PLUS--we are serving Magpies cake starting around lunch Saturday.
Store is Open Friday & Saturday 10a-7pm.

Cloth diapers and green/natural lunch supplies will be tax free!

List of constant needs in link below.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

SALE!!!

Fuzzi Bunz Old Colors:
Perfect Size $15.95 EACH
One-Size $16.95 EACH
While supplies last!
New Fuzzi Bunz colors shipped yesterday! Look for them at Cutie Tooties in the next week!
GroBaby & DreamEze Products all 20% Off!
In case you missed it, GroBaby Products are changing to GroVia, with a few tweaks to current products and some new products on the way. So, we are clearing out the old to make room for the new! Take advantage of these great prices before they are all gone!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Warning Label for Slings? What's up?


CSPC Warning on use of SOME baby Slings/Carriers

In case you missed this news, here is a link. I think the critical point to take away from this is to be certain that your child is in an appropriate position. I am personally not a fan of bag slings such as the ones described for safety and lack of comfort for mom and baby. Carriers like Ergo Baby Carrier & Moby Wrap both offer upright positions for baby that helps prevent the dangerous C-shape body position that lead to suffocation for some of these babies. Please view page 2 of this pdf file by Moby Wrap. It shows what NOT to do, and I think it is beneficial for any babywearing mom to check this out to be sure you are keeping your baby safe. Moms have been safely babywearing for centuries. Hopefully people will be able to glean wisdom from this without throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Cloth Diaper Class

Cloth Diapering 101 Class

Thursday April 8, 2010

6:30 P.M.
Cost- $10/person or $15/couple

We will go over all different types, styles & brands of cloth diapers. I will show you how to fold prefolds and use Snappi fasteners. We will discuss Sized vs. One-size diapers, and benefits of each. We will go over washing instructions and cloth diapering accessories as well. Questions are welcome and helpful. Feel free to take notes as we will cover a LOT of material in a short time. Seating is limited. Email me to reserve your place in the class.

Diaper Rash is Not Normal!

Diaper Rash is NOT Normal

It may be common, but that does not make it normal. There are a few things that can cause diaper rash, and cloth-diaper-safe treatments that worked for my children that I want to share.
Yeast Rash
Yeast rash is usually marked with red, elevated bumps and sometimes baby will scratch it. Bumps can have fluid under them. Yeast is contagious, and treatment is important. According to emedicinehealth.com, "A Candida skin infection can come from the upper gastrointestinal tract, the lower gastrointestinal tract, or exposure from a care provider." Since yeast is often born in the intestines, or gut, it has been my experience that treating the source is most effective in killing yeast. For my kids, Probiotics coupled with a topical anti-fungal is the best treatment. It is also important that you sanitize your cloth diapers. There are a few ways to go about this. You can soak them in vinegar, or use 1/4 a cup of bleach in the wash, and/or use Grapefuit Seed Extract. You can use 10 drops of GSE in every diaper wash. Some people use it topically to actually treat the infection.

Sensitivity to Detergent

If your child has an all over red "rash" that almost looks like a burn, there is a good chance your detergent, or detergent buildup is the culprit. VERY few (1 customer in 3+ years) children are allergic to a fabric. So, if your babe's bottom looks burned, strip those diapers, and start fresh.

Wipes Irritation

Simply put, some babies can not tolerate the chemicals found in disposable baby wipes. Even the fragrance free wipes can have chemicals that are harsh for baby skin. Check this link for more information. Solution? Go with washable wipes. You can use water only or other natural, non-toxic wipes solutions that do not offer the same irritation.

Food Allergies/Sensitivities/Eczema

If your baby has a persistent bullseye, red rash around the anus, this is often indicative of a food allergy. Be sure to show your doctor and check into this, as no cream will fix an internal issue.

One of the most common times for a baby to experience diaper rash is during the 4-6 months age as this is when parents commonly introduce solid foods. If you have ruled out the previously mentioned causes of diaper rash, then I would take a look at your child's diet.

This is a GREAT article that explains food allergies vs. Food Sensitivities. And she also discusses the Food/Eczema connection.

Sometimes the rash may be food related, though not a true allergy or sensitivity.

Sometimes frequency of stools and/or acidic content can cause diaper rash. Foods that cause frequent stooling and foods (or juices) that are naturally acidic can be the culprits.

See list of Foods That Cause Diarrhea.

See list of Common Acidic Foods.

Antibiotics/Teething/Diarrhea

I lumped these all together because often they do go together. We all know that anti-biotics cause runny stools--see yeast info above. According to Dr. Jay Gordon M.D., "Another cause of malabsorption in the intestines can be teething. The profuse saliva of a teething baby can cause irritation in the intestines interfering with proper absorption. When babies teethe, we can see lots of drooling. Large quantities of saliva is swallowed which can irritate the intestines causing runny, acidic stools. This can also cause a rash in the diaper area. " Old Fashioned diarrhea from a virus can cause diaper rash as well. So what do you do with that? I have found the following options to be the best treatments for my children.

1. If you are breastfeeding, express some milk and apply directly to baby's bare bum and let it air dry. This is truly the best natural remedy for diaper rash.

2. Baking Soda bath/soak (can use wash tub) after bowel movements, or at least 3 times per day. Let bottom air dry.

3. Naked time. This can prove messy, but air is great for this type of diaper rash.

4. Healing Salve. Stay away from anti-bacterial ointments as you may end up causing a yeast flare up which will only complicate your problems. I like Northern Essence, Punkin Butt, Magic Stick, and Earth Mama Angel Baby. It is important to note that these salves are healing salves, as opposed to a zinc based cream that simply forms a barrier against wetness. These will actually help the broken skin heal. But if you want to form that barrier as well, without ruining your diapers, use one of the salves and add #5.

5. Cornstarch. Be sure NOT to use talc or normal baby powder. Talc is toxic. If you want to form a barrier for baby's broken skin, apply a good amount of healing salve to skin and the put a cornstarch layer over top and pat. You can also use cornstarch alone on a regular basis, in place of baby powder, but it usually isn't necessary. Be sure to skip the brand name baby cornstarch that has fragrance added.

6. Browned Flour. If there are no food allergies, you can take regular flour and cook it in a skillet until it turns a golden brown. Then place it in container and in freezer. Apply to baby's bare bottom or on top of healing salve to help with rash. Will also form barrier, and will not harm diapers. *Warning* Baby's bottom will smell like a burned biscuit.

These are a few common causes of diaper rash and remedies that have worked for my children. Obviously I am just a mom without a medical degree, so take this information as such. Just my personal experiences, not the gospel.

New Products!




New Products at Cutie Tooties!

Thirsties Duo Cover with Snaps!



Same great cover you have come to love, with a snap closure option!



Happy Heiny's "Beta" Organic One-Size Diaper

This pocket diaper's inside is made of organic hemp, making it a super absorbent option for night time for even the heaviest of wetters.

For the "BETA"model Happy Heiny's is taking any and all input and suggestions both good and constructive. They are also in the search for a name for this diaper. This contest is for customers only and the winning name submitter will receive a $50 gift certificate. So come in and give the diaper a try. Who knows? Maybe you can name that diaper!

New Prints from Babylegs!




MANY more! Come see them!


New Candy for Easter!









Organic & Natural Jelly Beans, Gummy Swirls, & Fruity Bears!

Made with Organic fruit juice and sweeteners100% Vitamin C per serving95% OrganicNo corn syrup or GMOsGluten Free and Casein FreeMade in a Nut-Free facility
Vegan and vegetarian

Trukid Products Now In Stock!!


Cutie Tooties currently has Trukid Shampoo, Conditioner, Bubbly Body Wash, & Detangler IN STOCK! Sunscreen is shipping at the end of March!!

Trukids is a Gluten Free, Paraben & BPA Free line of skin care for kids. I personally love these products! They have great scores on the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database.

Preggie Pop Drops Now in Stock!



Drybees Fleece Night Times & Hybrid AIO's

Back by popular demand!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Stinky Diapers

I feel like I just wrote and article about this, but it seems to be a recurring problem, so I want to address it again en masse.

First thing:
Cloth Diapers SHOULD NOT STINK!

If your child's diaper stink even when clean, there is a problem. This is not normal. If your child's diapers stink strongly of ammonia (knock you over stench) after your child urinates once, there is a problem.

What causes odor in cloth diapers?

A few things can cause odor in cloth diapers, but in my experience the most common problem is detergent related. If you are using a "FREE" or "Free & Clear" or "Sensitive Skin" detergent on your diapers STOP immediately. Often these detergents will cause burn-like rashes on a baby's bottom, but even when this is not the case traditional free and clear detergents will cause buildup on your diapers as a result of optical brighteners. This buildup is no visible. You will simply find that one day your diapers start stinking or leaking, or both out of the blue and no amount of washing fixes the problem. The solution is to strip your diapers, which is not fun. Here is one method of stripping: replace your regular detergent with 1/4 cup Calgon® water softener (found at your local grocers) or 1-2 Tbs Dawn® or Ivory® dish soap. Strip your diapers as often as needed, but not at every wash as it is a bit harsh for your diapers and your baby's skin. Once you have stripped them, PLEASE change detergent, or you will be back in this shape again. When I was using a Free and Clear detergent, I had to strip my diapers once a month.


Other Possibilities:

Diapers simply aren't getting clean.

***Exclusively Breastfed Baby's Poop can go into the washer IF AND ONLY IF the washer is a top-loader (not high efficiency) AND you soak all diapers in the washer for 20 minutes before closing the lid on the initial rinse cycle. Then do hot wash, plus extra rinse.****

If baby gets even a drop of formula or solid food (cereal included) all bets are off, and ALL POOP MUST GO IN TOILET.

If you have an HE (High Efficiency/Front Loading) washer, ALL POOP MUST GO IN TOILET.

Leaving any poop on diapers in these circumstances will likely result in odor and significant staining.

How you get the poop into the toilet in these situations is up to you. Some people simply dunk the diapers in the toilet. Other people scrape the poop off with tissue or a dedicated spatula. Many of our customers use flushable liners to ease in the removal of poop from diapers. The last option though is my favorite and really is the best choice for those with an HE washer. It is the Diaper Sprayer. Using the diaper sprayer after a diaper change will allow you to skip the pre-rinse cycle, and go straight to the hot wash followed by a cool rinse. Saving the pre-rinse step will also mean saving water as well.

Maybe your detergent is just too mild.

It has been my experience that using some of the milder, more Eco-friendly detergents such as Seventh Generation on cloth diapers over a length of time can lead to odor. Other "Laundry Soaps" such as some homemade laundry powders and Charlie's Soap can have a similar effect, AND cause some serious rashes. I am not against any of these products, but if you find that your diapers are smelly, just realize the diaper is not likely the problem. It's what you are washing it in. Again, your diapers need to be stripped and detergent changed.

Detergent Suggestions:
Mainstream: Tide (regular, not FREE or Mtn. Spring) or Arm & Hammer Essentials (Green Liquid-not Sensitive Skin)

Eco-Conscious & Widely Available-Biokleen with Grapefruit Seed Extract. (Warning: Enzymes in this detergent can irritate skin for some)

Scent Free & Eco Conscious: Bumgenius, Tiny Bubbles & Thirsties Pre-wash & Super Wash detergents. All of these detergent options are available at Cutie Tooties.

Could Be Your Washer
It has been my experience that customers with HE washers, especially those who use AIO cloth diapers, tend to have more odor issues than people who use top-loading washers. The reason? The sewn-in soakers in AIO's get ALOT less water, agitation and exposure to detergent in an HE than they do in a regular washer. The result? Stink. The solution? There are a few. As I mentioned above, a diaper sprayer is a huge help. It allows your washer to simply sanitize the diapers, which an HE is very capable of. You can also add a couple of towels to your cloth diaper load in order to trick the washer into filing with more water. In addition, you can add a pre-soak option to your wash routine. This would mean pre-soak/hot wash/ extra rinse, then dry. Another option is to use the Thirsties Pre-wash, which addresses bacterial and odor issues.

I've done all of this and my diapers still stink!

A few questions for you. Did you buy your diapers used? If so, you may have inherited someone else's stinky problem. Buying used diapers means that often you don't know what they were or weren't washed in. If the previous owner washed with bleach, fabric softener or a free and clear detergent, she may have ruined the diapers before you ever got them. To compound this problem, the diapers may have been boxed up and put in a hot attic for a time. This simply bakes the odors in and makes them almost impossible to remove.

Are you getting the poop out of the diapers as soon as you can after changing baby?
If you allow the poop to sit in the diaper for a long period of time before getting it out, you are more likely to get odor and staining. Be sure to get solids out as soon as you can.

How often are you washing your diapers?
If you aren't washing your diapers every other day, you may run into more odor. Every third day for washing is my absolute limit. If you go 4 days or longer, expect odor, mold, mildew, fungus and heaven only knows what else. At this point you have a science fair project growing in your pail, and truly it is a sanitary problem. SO please, wash AT LEAST every 3rd day.

What kind of diaper cream/salve are you using?
If you answered: Desitin, Boudreaux's, A & D, Aquafor, or any other petrolatum or Zinc based ointment, that may be your problem. These ointments will ruin your diapers. They are likely to be leaking/repelling soon if not already. Attempt to strip them (good luck). Sometimes that stuff won't come off at all. If you are able to get them back to even, PLEASE use a salve that is meant for cloth diapers. You want something that is Olive oil or Grapeseed oil based. We carry several options: Magic Stick, Angel Baby Bottom Balm, Northern Essence, & Punkin Butt.

Do you have well water or hard water?
Some customers have reported more odor and diaper wear and tear with hard water and/or well water. A few have reported that using Calgon water softener in the wash helps. Vinegar is also an option.

Last Few Tips
**Try laying your diapers out in the sun for an afternoon to allow the sun and fresh air to freshen them.

**Try adding 1/2 cup Vinegar to your rinse cycle.

**Consider adding Pail Powder to your pail after tossing each dirty diaper in. Pail powder makes your pail smell better and gives your detergent a boost too.

Hopefully this will offer some help for your stinkies. Please know you can call or email me anytime. I am happy to help you troubleshoot. Cloth diapering should be easy.