Keep warm with our favorite drink!

I know that we’re “officially” only a few weeks into winter, but this freezing weather that we’ve been having this week has had me and my daughters wishing for spring.  Unfortunately, living in Chicagoland means we’re going to have to endure a few more cold days before our beloved sunshine and warmth returns.

Hot cocoa is a favorite cold weather drink in our family, however my 2nd youngest daughter is dairy free, so we’ve had to compromise and come up with different recipes for our favorite foods.  Here is one of our most recent favorite recipes:

Ingredients

• 2 cups almond milk (or preferred milk alternative)
• 3 cups chocolate chips (oz. or ⅓ semi-sweet dairy free)
• 1 tablespoon chocolate (oz. or 2 dark dairy free, chopped)
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Directions

• Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan.
• Barely bring to a boil and remove from heat.
• Whisk until smooth.
• Pour into coffee mugs and serve with marshmallows.

Enjoy!

Warmly,

Andrea

Top 10 Registry Items

Top 10 Registry Items

By: Cathy Smith

I recently went with my sister to help her register for her baby shower.  I keep pretty up to date with hot ticket items since many of our clients are first time parents. We are always happy to help with registry's.  We are available for an hourly rate if you would like help.  It is overwhelming, to say the least, how many products are in a baby store.  Side note: I barely slept the night before in anticipation for this.  You see, this baby will make me an Auntie.  Excited doesn't even begin to cover my feelings.  I was like a kid the night before Christmas.  So after 5 hours, 1 lunch break, and countless bathroom breaks, here are my recommendations:

1. Britax Car Seat.  This brand gets highest safety crash rating and moms love them too.  They are sleek, sporty, and nicely cushioned.
2. Books- There are so many to choose from.  I try to stick to Caldecott winners for toddlers and up or touch and feel books for babies.  Giving the gift of loving reading is priceless.
3. Breastmilk storage bags.  For the mom who will pump while out and about or at work.  I always seemed to run out of storage bags.
4. A Baby carrier.  My favorites are Tula and Ergo.  They have wonderful inserts for very small babies and can be worn for years.
5. Cloth diapers.  Don't even get me started on all the benefits of these babies.  Cloth diapers are my thing.  They are adorable, save thousands of dollars, are great for the environment, and are super easy to wash.
6. Umbrella stroller.  I know I'm going to catch flack for this.  Everyone loves their $1000 stroller.  But 3 kids and a lot of trips.  I have used my umbrella stroller more than the heavy, awkward expensive one.  You can throw them in the car, set them up/take them down in seconds, and bonus: if it gets a bodily fluid on it and you don't want to clean it, you can recycle it and buy another one for $20.
7. Glider or rocking chair.  You will use this the many times in your day whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding.  This chair is what I use for all those middle of the night wake-ups for years.  Story time, middle of the night nightmares, and holding your feverish angel.  A comfy chair makes all the difference.
8. Tub sponge.  Not the kind you wash baby with.  The kind that baby lays on in the tub or sink.  There are endless possibilities for baby tubs and they all outgrow them.  The sponges keep them warm because it absorbs the warm water, its very cushy, and only $5.  It's great for travel and dries quickly.
9. Outlet covers.  I know, it's not glamorous.  Before you know it, that adorable newborn with become a fun, crawling infant.  Outlet covers are a great safety item and cheap.  You can get a pack of 36 for $3.
10. Last but not least, a travel swing. I'm not a big fan of having every gadget to keep baby entertained and love having a baby in my arms.  But a travel swing can be brought into any room of the house.  Need to cook, take a shower, give your attention to another child who has a boo boo. Just bring the swing into the same room you are going to.  The travel swing is a great way to place baby in a safe spot for a short period of time. 

Cloth Diapering Basics

Cloth Diapering Basics

By Cathy Smith

Cloth diapering has come a long way from flat diapers and pins with rubber pants.  Today’s cloth diapers are easy to use, come in a variety of playful colors, are simple to wash, and are a great option for busy families.  So where to start?  Your first step if you are contemplating using cloth is to find a great resource to help you.  Cloth diapering stores are located around Chicagoland.

  Here at A Joyful Journey, all our doulas have cloth diapered and are happy to help.  We are actually hosting a Swap & Sell this Sunday at our home office in New Lenox. This event will feature demonstrations and Q &A time.  Anyone is welcome to come.  Admission is free, but donations are graciously appreciated.  Sellers can “buy” a table for $10 and sell their gently used cloth.  Think of it as an indoor yard sale just for cloth diapers.

So let’s start with the basics.  Besides the different varieties and styles, there are also different fabric materials such as natural and organic. So…  what types of cloth diapers are available?

Pocket Diapers: pocket diapers have an opening between the waterproof shell and the soft interior. This allows an insert to be placed inside.  This is the most popular style.  They are easy and don’t require an outer cover.  I usually stuff the insert in all my pocket diapers right out of the dryer to save time later on.

All-in-One Diapers:  These diapers explain themselves.  There is no separate insert.  The absorbable insert is a apart of the diaper and outer cover.  I can get an all-in-one diaper on just as quick as a disposable.

One Size Diapers:  These come in pocket and all-in-one variety.  The name says it all.  These little beauties will fit a baby from birth all the way through potty training.  There are various snaps to adjust for height and weight changes.

Prefold or Flat Diapers:  This is what many generations were diapered with;  A flat absorbable material that is the most economical.   You still can use pins or a lovely Snappi fastener.  The Snappi fastener is T-shaped and its ends are similar to Ace bandage clips.  You need an outer waterproof shell with these diapers.

Fitted Diapers: look like a disposable diaper and have snaps to fasten onto baby.   They are soft and absorbable and very popular.  They are known as the most leak proof and absorbent.   They require an outer shell or cover. 

Let’s look at covers!

One Size covers: Easy to use and has multiple snaps for changes in height/weight. They have a  soft lining on the inside so it won’t irritate babies’ skin and they come in hundreds of colors.

Wool Covers: A lot of people shy away from these but they are truly remarkable.  They are a little pricier but worth it.  They are ridiculously soft.  They keep babies cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  Stylish and come in different lengths.  Some are as short as underpants and can be as long as leggings.  People love these for their absorbency.  Wool covers need to be washed separate with a special lanolin soap but because they are only washed once a month or longer, it doesn’t add a significant amount of time in the long run.

Rinse and Wipe Covers:  look a lot like one size covers but the difference is in the lining.  There is none.  If baby has an extreme amount of urine or poop, you can wipe them down until you are ready to wash them.  These are great for people who want to do a bit less laundry.

In addition to these types of cloth and covers there are also hybrid diapers, swim diapers, and training diapers.  Ask us if you want more information. 

Now let’s get into washing.  Wool covers have a slightly different way to be washed but all the other covers and diapers are fairly simple.  If your baby is exclusively breastfed, there is no reason to scrape poop off before you wash or do an extra wash.  For babies/toddlers that are formula fed or have started solids you will want to wipe, scrape, or do an extra wash first to get off any bm residue.

To Launder Diapers:

1.       Wash on cool on a short setting without detergent.

2.       Wash on hot on a heavy duty setting with detergent.

3.       1 extra rinse cycle.

4.       Throw them in the dryer or hang them in the sun to remove stains.

If you have hard water you may need to use a water softener or detergent specific to hard water washings.  I also use ¼ cup of bleach once per month but please know that it can deteriorate natural fabrics. I live in a place that has very hard water so the bleach helps to remove mineral and urine buildup.  Make sure to do an extra rinse cycle if using bleach.

So now that you know the basics, we hope you come visit us at one of our Swap & Sell events.We are always happy to help you and answer any questions you may have. This is an economical way to start cloth diapering and get to learn some tips and tricks from other families who have crossed over to the fluffy side.