Bummis Training Pants are an excellent tool in active toilet training.  Like any new skill, children need teaching, guidance and repetition to master it.  Using smart  tools to help with achieving success will make toilet training a more positive and enjoyable experience.

Here is a bit about the trainers and some tips and ideas for using and washing them:

• Bummis Trainers are not meant to replace diapers; they are simply intended to provide an “underwear” experience for the child with the bonus of having some absorbency built in along with a waterproof outer layer.  These trainers will hold one to two toddler pees if needed.
• Bummis Trainers feature a cotton inner layer and terry absorbent core.  The advantage to this is that your toddler will receive immediate feedback when he/she begins to pee.  The wetness is a means in which to restore and/or reinforce the association between the feeling and process of peeing with the goal of eventually being able to recognize the feeling of needing to pee with the knowledge of what to do when you have this feeling.
• Bummis Trainers have a waterproof outer layer; the same fabric that is used with their industry gold standard diaper covers.
• Bummis Trainers are generously cut so may appear poofy but are excellent at supporting the self care aspect of undressing and dressing during toileting.  Toddlers will have a greater success if the trainers are not too tight and they are able to pull them down and up without too much strength and motor planning.  When wearing the trainers under pants, they compact down nicely, losing the poofy appearance.
• Before use, for optimal performance, the trainers should be washed inside out 3-5 times on hot with a additive-free (no extras) detergent.  This will help the cotton become absorbent by stripping the natural oils from the fabric and plumping up the fibres.  Some examples include:

• Nature Clean – available locally at Save on Foods Natural foods section
• Nellies Laundry Soda – available at London Drugs
• Tide
• Sunlight
• Cheer
• Country Save – in Canada at London Drugs

• Washing routine – for wet and soiled trainers, run a cold soak/rinse cycle followed by a hot wash with an approved detergent.  If using a conventional detergent, reduce the amount recommended by half.  Dry in dryer or line dry.  Recommend washing inside out for best results and faster drying time.  For wet only trainers, you can skip the rinse cycle.

And lastly, some general info on toilet training.  There are a couple of threads of commonality woven throughout today’s common philosophies:

• The process of helping your child to learn how to eliminate in the toilet needs to be a positive experience; your child should never be pressured into using the toilet
• A parent’s job is to observe their child’s behavioural cues to determine if there are any consistent cues related to when the child wets or has a poop in their diaper
• A parent must provide opportunities to try and use the potty/toilet at appropriate times
• A child is often more successful with learning to use the potty when he becomes aware of the association of peeing and becoming wet.

Bummis Training Pants are one essential piece of “equipment” that you’ll need to assist your child in this transition.  Training pants signal a change from “what babies wear” to “what big kids wear” and also give parents and children easier access/ability to get clothing/underwear off to quickly use the potty.

Enjoy the process.  Remember every child is different and it can feel tricky at times but in the end, well worth the effort when your child learns that she has mastered using the toilet!

With the end of December approaching, I always feel compelled to look back on the year past and reflect about many things, two of them being what I am grateful for and what I have learned.

It’s been a fabulous year here at New & Green, adding to our testing department with little Clare (born November 16th, 08) at the end of last year, seeing more than 300 wonderful parents through our Cloth Diaper 101 Workshops and being able to meet with our key manufacturing partners this fall in Vegas.

All of this has helped us to grow as a company and be able to serve you better with a continually evolving knowledge of cloth diapering as well as the ability to bring in the best products to suit your needs.

This growth was also fueled and supported by the wonderful mamas I work with here at New & Green.  These are the mamas that pack and ship your orders to you (they are fast, aren’t they?!) and make sure that they look beautiful as they arrive in your waiting hands, the mamas that meet you when you pick up your order and answer your last minute questions with kindness and expertise, the mamas that drop off and receive your Diaper Tester Kits and congratulate you with a twinkle in her eye when you tell her “it really wasn’t that hard!” and the mamas who so eloquently lead the Cloth Diaper Workshops, guiding you through what can seem like a myraid of jargon, choices and systems.  Well these women have taught me many, many things and each bring something different to New & Green.

I wanted to share one thing that I’ve learned from each of the New & Green mamas this past year that has inspired me:

Dear Bonnie: You have taught me that mothering, while messy at times, is joyful and being a domestic goddess is darned hard work!  You have helped me to connect with the earth around me and enjoy the “local fruits” of my labours.  Thank you.

Dear Jessi: You have taught me that you can rise up to any challenge (looking after the boys on your own!) when you and your family are working towards a goal.  And, you have taught me that most moms are in the same boat and benefit from being around each other, no matter their background or current situation. Thank you.

Dear Kristin: You have taught me that nurturing my creative side can bring much joy.  You have also taught me that fashion may be something that I can embrace, and should (though I’ll never pull it off like you!)!  Thank you.

Dear Kresha: You have taught me that above all comes family and I have been honoured to observe how you protect your time with your family.  I have also learned much from the example you set of resourcefulness and resilience.  Thank you.

To B, J, K & K – here is to another great year, learning & growing together with our New & Green Family Community!

What have you learned this past year from the people who surround you?

Back in November, we announced the arrival of our newest line, the Flip Organic Diaper System.  It’s been very well received by New & Green Families and this is great news because for every Flip Diaper purchased until yesterday, we donated $1 of the proceeds to the Christmas Hamper we put together for the Christmas Bureau right here in North Vancouver.

We are so grateful for your support.  We were very pleased that this little diaper helped us to give a family of four – Mom, Dad and two girls a holiday to remember!

{the humble Flip, leaning up against the gifts that we were able to put together with the donated proceeds from the Flip sales}

A review of the Flip from one Cloth Diapering Mama:

AMAZING, these diapers are amazing.  The re-use of the cover cuts down on laundry.  I love the snaps.  The fit around the legs and waist is snug.  The organic cotton inserts that come with them are soft, absorbent and don’t take a long time to dry.  I also bought the extra insert and love those too.  No leaks and I can easily refit the diaper to put on my day trained preschooler at night in a pinch.  I am definitely purchasing more of these diapers.  I am very happy with all the cloth diapers I have but I must admit this is one of my favorites. ~Michelle, Mama to 2 (baby and preschooler)

There seems to be some trends emerging in cloth diapering these days.  And it’s making me smile.  Why?  Well really we are coming back to basics, back to what we know works all with the conveninece and technology of today’s textiles.

What is emerging as the top priorities?

1. Organic and natural textiles next to baby’s skin.  Parents are simply getting bowled over by toxicity in toys (have you seen all the recalls coming out these days) and frankly our heads are starting to spin with all the info about what is safe to feed our children, what is safe to wash our children…and it goes on.  And for that reason, parents are opting for what they know is safe – certified organic.
2. Ease of use.  This one never falls off the top three list.  Plain and simple.  We all need more of that in our lives.
3. Easy to wash and fast to dry. With energy use also a consideration, families want diapers that are fast to dry.

Where does this leave us?  Well the trend is moving us towards a diapering system with a reliable, velcro closure cover and an organic cotton absorbent diaper that is easy to fold and lay inside the cover.  A combo that will always win out for absorbency and meeting that top three list.

Amongst our favourite solutions in this category is a Canadian made diaper cover and an organic cotton diaper.

Introducing the Bummis SuperBrite and the Organic Cotton Prefold!  With over 20 years in the diaper cover industry, Bummis is a tried and true design.  The prefolds are soft, absorbent, easy to wash and fast to dry as they open up and become flat in the dryer.  No trying to dry through layers and layers and layers of absorbency!

With the new preemie size prefold and newborn size cover, you have a perfect combo that is easy, organic, Canadian made and will fit your brand new baby!

Have a look – starting at $1.67 per {organic} diaper, you really can’t go wrong!

One of the resounding things we heard from our survey is that people love getting diapers in the mail.  Who wouldn’t?  It’s so much more exciting than a bill!  Along with that, people said that the speed at which they received their orders was fab and that they liked having a tracking number to refer to.  And lastly, folks said it would be great to have a break on shipping.

So here we go folks – FREE SHIPPING!

We launched this last weekend to our newsletter community and, so far, lots of families are taking advantage of this great deal.  Only 33 days left in the year to shop with this deal in mind!

Our heartfelt thanks to the more than 220 New & Green families who took the time to share their thoughts.  We were so happy to hear what we were doing right and have already started to put your requests into action!

Survey says:

The reasons families choose to pick up their order are not only to save money, but to have the opportunity to chat with a New & Green Mama and ask those last minute questions.

Folks love the option of having fabulous mail arrive at their door – quickly!  A lot of folks said a break on shipping costs would help – so that’s what we have done – Free Shipping Fridays (that carry on through the weekend) have started.  If you didn’t catch the details in our last newsletter, check back here later in the week and we’ll have the details for you.

Selection of diapers and information available at New & Green was also a highly valued reason for families to work with New & Green.

Over and above all, families told us they felt well supported in their decision making and along their diapering journey. We are truly just an email away and always willing to help you through what ever challenge you are having, be it rashes, washing routines, achieving a better fit or just choosing the best diaper based on your lifestyle.

And lastly, folks said they wanted to save a little more money.  So watch for our sales – we have lots lined up for the rest of the year to help you stretch your holiday dollars.

Thank you again; we truly appreciate your time and your loyalty to New & Green.  We love what we do and couldn’t do it with out you!

Now – we have some winners to announce!

Our Grand Prize winner of the three One Size Diapers including the Brand New FLIP diaper, an out and about bag and a Monkey Doodlez Wet Bag is (drumroll, please):

Sandra Y!

(Sandra, watch your inbox – you’ll be receiving an email from us shortly.)

And our three other participant winners are:

Kerith S.

Nicole G.

Corina F.

You have won a Green Zebra Coupon Book!  A great thing to have with the season of shopping upon us!

Please watch for an email to arrive in your inbox shortly.

All prizewinners – please contact us within 10 days of today’s date to arrange to collect your prize.

Flexible.  Organic. One Size. Durable.

And now a cloth system with a disposable option…for the times when you just need it!

Come on over, and read about what could easily become our new favourite diaper, the Flip!

We ran a short contest for the folks that joined us at the Bellies to Babies Celebration at the end of September.  As a thank you for sharing your thoughts, we offered up a $20 Gift Certificate to New & Green.

iamrobinpeirce@yahoo.com – you are our Winner!

Thanks everyone who participated.  We got some great feedback.  Watch for exciting new additions to our show booth at next year’s round of shows, the first one being Birth Fest on April 10th!