Diaper sprayers rock. Yup, they really do! These nifty devices hook right up to your toilet plumbing. Featuring the convenience of an adjustable spray level they are one of the easiest ways to handle poopy cloth diapers. Just hold your cloth diaper over the toilet, spray it down, and then toss it in your cloth diaper pail. We often find that there are two camps: the folks who loves the flushable liners and the folks who love diaper sprayers. Both are great options, and ultimately it just comes down to a matter of personal preference. The AMP Diaper Sprayer is a new product at New & Green and is proving to be a popular choice for its price point combined with the quality we know and love from AMP (a fantastic Canadian company).   AMP Diapers, Diaper Sprayer, Cloth Diaper Sprayer

Flats. They were the original cloth diaper. They were what our parents most often used with us. And they are making a big comeback. Why? Because of their simplicity. For sure, all in ones are 'easy' in their own way, but flats are super simplistic. Just wrap them on your baby or fold them in a rectangle and lay them in a diaper cover. Fasten and you're ready to go. They sound daunting to some, and to others their simplicity is delightful. One of the other loves? These flat diapers dry FAST. We love the unbleached cotton flats from Blueberry. They are a great size and feature a square shape. These flat diapers just arrived at New & Green and they are already flying off the shelf. Go on, give them a try! Sometimes simple really can be great when it comes to cloth diapers.   flat diapers, blueberry flats, swaddlebees flats, birdseye flats

Wool, wool, wool. Many parents are skeptical, if not a bit fearful when they hear the words "wool diaper cover." We know, we you know, you might think itchy and you might think wow, that will be a lot of work. Believe it or not, however, wool covers are easy to use and they are an amazing option. Why? First, wool is fully breathable as it is a natural fiber. This means better air circulation for baby. Second, wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling wet. That means a wool diaper cover can boost the absorbency of the cloth diaper system you are using. This is particularly helpful at nighttime when your little one may be sleeping for long stretches. There is no question that the best night time solution is a fitted cloth diaper like the Sloomb Overnight Bamboo Fitted Diaper or the Sloomb Snapless Multi diaper, with a wool cover on top. Still worried about the effort on the care side? Easy peasy. Really! All you need to do is wash it once every 2-3 weeks unless it is soiled. Just air it out between uses. When it's time to wash, use Eucalan wool wash to quickly and easily soak it in a sink, then just roll it in a towel and lay flat to dry. You may want to add a touch of lanolin as well, but it's not hard. Wool diaper covers are great and if you haven't tried them yet, you might be surprised at how much you fall in love... The Woollybottoms Wool Soakers are adorable and affordable. They are made from up-cycled wool sweaters, and finished with super soft edging around the waist and legs. They are one of a kind and made in the USA. Available in sizes small, medium and large, they are a great choice for any baby. wool covers, wool diaper covers, woollybottoms wool covers, woollybottoms wool soakers

We love, love, love Planet Wise products and a new one has just hit the shelves at New & Green. The Planet Wise diaper pail liner is a must-have accessory if you use a diaper pail as your storage system for your cloth diapers. Featuring an elastic top, and anti-microbial treatment it will work well in almost any pail. How well? It can fit any pail up to 54 quarts or 14 gallons and of course, any size of diaper pail smaller than that. With a wick and leak proof design, the Planet Wise diaper pail liner is great solution for your cloth diaper storage needs. Did we mention it's PVC free as well? You can check out the cute color and print options as well right here. Happy Diapering!   cloth diapers, cloth diaper accessories, cloth diaper storage

We would like to introduce you to Crystal Di Domizio, this month's contributor to our N&G Expert Panel. Crystal kindly took the time to answer a few questions regarding the introduction of solid foods into baby's diet. We love her knowledgable and holistic approach to making the transition from liquids to solids. If you have additional tips or information you would like to share, please share in the comments section. N&G: In the early months, what is the best way that a family can prepare a baby to begin to take solid foods? Crystal: There is no special attention or advanced preparation needed to prepare your baby for solid food. Babies are unique so you’ll need to look to them for signs of readiness, rather than a date on the calendar! The World Health Organization states that exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way of feeding infants (without any additional food or drink, not even water.) After 6 months they recommend breastfeeding for up to 2 years or beyond, along with the introduction of solid food. N&G: What are the top three readiness signs that tell you your baby is ready to eat something other than breast milk or formula? Crystal: Babies become developmentally ready to eat solid foods around 6-8 months. Look for the following signs:

1. Baby can sit up well without support.
2. Baby is ready and willing to chew and doesn’t automatically push solid food out of his mouth with his tongue.
3. Baby picks up food or other objects between her thumb and forefinger and is eager to participate in mealtime and may even try to grab food and put it in her mouth.

N&G: Many families are seriously looking into the foods that they eat and provide for their children and I'm seeing a shift toward "whole food" nutrition. If parents would like to start their babies with whole foods, what are some good options to consider for first foods? Crystal: I highly recommend beginning solid food introduction with real food, rather than processed cereals that are hard for baby to digest and devoid of natural nutrients. You’ll want to introduce new foods one at a time, continuing to feed that same food for at least 4 days before moving on to another so you are aware of any negative reactions. Nutrient dense first foods, introduced between 6-8 months include: • Cooked Egg Yolk – preferably organic, from pasture-raised chickens • Pureed Meats – preferably organic, grass-fed beef, lamb, turkey, chicken • Raw Mashed Fruits - banana, avocado • Cooked Pureed Fruits – pears, apples • Cooked Vegetables – squash, sweet potato, carrots Since we’ve only covered the basics of this important and lengthy topic here are some resources for further reading: World Health Organization Exclusive Breastfeeding Is My Baby Ready For Solid Food? Nourishing a Growing Baby *note from N&G: The introduction of solid foods will result more solid poops. One of the most effective tools we recommend for 'poop management' is Bummi's Bio-Soft Flushable liners. About Crystal Di Domizio: Crystal is a Vancouver based Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Prenatal Coach and Hypnobabies Childbirth Educator. She offers a comprehensive 6-week prenatal course that teaches women how to use self-hypnosis for an easier, more comfortable childbirth experience. When she’s not teaching you can find her blogging about her first pregnancy at www.prenatalcoach.com Find out more: http://cultivateyourhealth.com