Video Monitor Upgrade

Since day one, we couldn't possibly have lived without a video monitor.  They are seriously the best invention to hit the baby product market...EVER.  Especially for a control-freak like myself.  It just gives us the piece of mind that we need to ensure that Evelina is safe and sound in her crib/bed. In the early months it helped me check if she was still breathing or if she had escaped the swaddle, we caught her moving from lying to sitting via the video monitor for the first time, standing, trying to climb out of the crib and actually succeeding with a bang.  We would have never known these things to have happened with just sound alone. It has also come in very handy to determine if she is just whining or actually awake so we don't go it to get her if we really don't need to.  Seriously...the best invention!! 

Until a few weeks ago, we used the Summer Infant Day and Night Monitor. It has been adequate at meeting our needs but the volume control started malfunctioning months ago and with the impending arrival of Siby, we needed to think about investing in a monitor that could accommodate multiple cameras easily. 

After endless research (you know me), we decided on the Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor with 3.5" Color Screen. Babies R' Us had a great offer for one with 2 cameras which we couldn't pass up.  So far, we are loving it.  Some of our favorite features are: 

• The nice large screen
• The camera has the ability to pan around the room so if Evelina gets out of bed during the night, we can pan the camera and look to see where she is (aka, not in any trouble).  
• Adding the second camera was a breeze and is ready for Siby's arrival.  It can also hold up to 2 other cameras so if we ever wanted to put one in the playroom, we could.  
• It has a scan function that can rotate between cameras automatically.  This should come in handy once Siby arrives.  
• It displays the temperature in the room.  I LOVE this.   
• It has a two-way communication function, which has been invaluable for us.  I thought this would be totally useless, but the first time I used it, Evelina proceeded to do exactly what I said and was back to sleep in minutes.  We continue to use it when she wakes during the night and rarely have to get up to go into her room.  We think she is afraid of it, but not enough to cry or scream.  So until she starts defying the voice in the monitor, we will go with it. 
• It has a music function that you can set to play lullabies in the room, this may come in handy for Siby.

The only negative I see at this point is that the battery power isn't the best, especially if you have the camera on for an extended period.  I think this is common for most video monitors though.  

I clearly have issues or nothing better going on in my life if I'm this excited about a video baby monitor!! Oh well :-)

Music Recommendation :: Carnival Day

I am always on the hunt for fun children's music that Evelina, Chris and I can ALL enjoy.  When a friend of mine told me about Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys a few months ago, I thought I would pick up the CD to add to Evelina's collection.  We have not been disappointed by Carnival Day.  Evelina LOVES it and the tunes are so catchy and fun that Chris and I find ourselves singing (and dancing if you're me) certain tracks all day long.  It is one children's CD that I don't mind listening to over and over and over again, within reason.  I've downloaded the tracks to my iPod and Chris has the CD in his car so fun music is always available on car trips with the little one.  I definitely recommend this CD to all of my mama friends out there who read the blog.   

Oh, and Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkey are going to be in Natick in February, so we just may need to go!!  Evelina's first concert :-) 

Another one of my favorites You are my Little Bird by Elizabeth Mitchell.  Not as upbeat as Carnival Day but still great. 

Cloth Diaper Update

Evelina sportin' her Tot Bot Easy Fit Fruit Diaper

It's been about 8 months since we started cloth diapering Evelina and I still love it!!  We hit some road bumps along the way, but overall it has been a great experience and I highly recommend it to anyone who is remotely considering it.  I think we have finally reached the point where we've broken even with what we spent for disposables initially and the cost of all of the cloth diapers.  It really has been quite nice not having to order/run out to get sposies on a regular bases. 

Our stash includes:  

Grovia All-in-2 Hook and Loop Closure - These are by far one of my favorites.  The organic cotton insert is super absorbent and we rarely have any leaks (unless we wait to long to change her).  They fit Lina's skinny frame very well and they are easy for Chris, Mimi and Lina's teachers to use thanks to the hook and loop closure.  We have 3 shells and 6 inserts so each shell can be used for 2 diaper changes (unless there is a real mess).  You can also buy a disposable insert to use with these shells which work great.  We brought a few with us when we went up north over the Summer.  The only con about this diaper is that the hook and loop is starting to break down slightly so it doesn't hold as well.  

Fuzzibunz All-in-One Pocket Snap Closure - Unfortunately, these make up the majority of our stash.  When we first started cloth diapering, this was the go-to diaper, I LOVED them!!  Well, now I wish I hadn't purchased so many of them.  They worked well for the first few months, but all of a sudden they just started leaking constantly.  I tried modifying the fit, stripping the diapers since I wasn't sure if they had build-up causing them to not be as absorbent, and I even purchased some new inserts, but nothing solved our problem.  There are still a few in our rotation but I only put them on Evelina when I know we will be home and I don't care if she has a leak.  I'm disappointed in these dipes.  I think the sizing mechanisms may be too complicated so getting the perfect fit isn't easy. There are many websites that cater to selling used cloth diapers, so I may post these and see if I get any hits. 

Charlie Banana One-Size Snap Closure -  Very similar to Fuzzibunz and we had the same issues with these diapers that we experienced with the Fuzzibunz.  Currently, we don't use these dipes which is a bummer since I LOVE the butterfly pattern. 


bumGenius All-in-One Pocket Snap Closure - Originally, I wasn't a big fan of this diaper but the more we used it, the more I liked it.  We still only have 1 in our stash but it is a great go-to diaper.  We've never had a leak with this one and it fits her a lot better now then when she was a smaller baby.     

Rumperooz All-in-One Pocket Snap Closure - A great diaper and super absorbent.  The fit is similar to the bumGenius pocket diaper but the inside of the diaper has gussets which help prevent leaks and the fleece lining is so soft. So much more comfortable than a disposable.  We have 2 of these in our diaper supply and I love the owl and kangaroo designs...too cute.  

Flip Diaper System with Organic Cotton Inserts Snap Closure - GREAT diaper!!  Similar to the bumGenius, I hated didn't really like this diaper in the beginning since the fit was awkward. When the Fuzzibunz diapers started leaking I decided to give this diaper another try and it didn't disappoint.  The organic cotton inserts are incredibly absorbent and unless the diapers isn't snapped correctly, we haven't experienced any leaks.  We have 2 shells and 6 inserts so each shell can be used for 3 diaper changes. 

Tot Bots Easy Fit Diaper Hook and Loop Closure - This is another one of my favorites.  It is a pocket diaper but has an interesting tongue design so the insert is always attached to the diaper which makes it easy to stuff.  The hook and loop is super strong, the fit is trim and the diaper is super absorbent.  It doesn't hurt that they have some cute designs as well.  We currently have 3 of these nappies and would probably have more if they weren't so pricey.  

Soft Bums Echo with Super Dry Touch Pods Hook and Loop Closure - This diaper is just okay.  When our Fuzzibunz diapers started leaking I researched other diaper options and a lot of people seemed to like these.  They are very absorbent and we haven't had any leaks, but the fit is kind of strange since the super dry touch pods are kind of bulky. The good news is that we can use the super dry touch pods in the Flip diaper shells and the Thirsties Duo Wrap as well.   

Thirsties Duo Wrap Hook and Loop Closure - I purchased one of these to be used as an additional cover over the Flip diaper organic insert and the Soft Bums super dry touch pods.  It is an okay cover.  The pattern is cute but the fit just isn't great on Evelina.  We only use this as a last resort. 

Many people who cloth diaper use a diaper sprayer to clean up any dirty diaper mess.  Instead of using a diaper sprayer, we use flushable diaper liners. They have worked great for us.  Whenever Lina has a dirty diaper, we just remove the messy liner from the diaper and flush it. It really isn't THAT gross.  I would much rather flush the mess then lock it up in the Diaper Genie only to be blasted with the stench during the next diaper change. 

We still use disposables in certain situations: 

1. At night - I tried a few different cloth options for night-time but Evelina would always leak.  I don't think she is necessarily a heavy wetter but either way, she would leak and I wasn't able to sleep at night wondering if she was leaking!!  So we use a night-time disposable with a cloth diaper cover over top.  This helps curb any disposable leaks and reduces the number of sheet changes.  
2. In the morning (on school days) - Chris isn't as much of a fan of cloth diapering as I am so I give him a free pass on school day mornings.  We use Target brand disposables.  They are cheap, absorbent, and don't let off any weird chemical smell like we noticed other disposables do.  We only buy one package every month or so.   
3. If Evelina has a bad case of diaper rash - Most diaper creams aren't cloth diaper friendly so in the event of a bad diaper rash (which is infrequent these days), we've found only Triple Paste to really do the job, in addition to a mixture of Lotrimin, Hydrocortisone and antibiotic ointment with a disposable.  If she has a little rash or redness, we will continue to use a cloth diaper with CJ's BUTTer.  It is great stuff!!
4. Vacation
5. If I behind on diaper laundry :-o 

Here is a re-post of Evelina's first time in a cloth diaper.  Her "chubby" face was too cute.  

That, my friends, is where we are at with cloth diapering.  It is just the normal for us now and I'm much more confident with it than I was in the first few weeks (and so are Evelina's teachers and maybe Chris).  Hopefully it will aid with potty training since Evelina will feel wetness more than if she were wearing a disposible.  One can hope. 

Fave Baby Product :: Zoli

I am constantly reading baby product reviews because I feel like I am always in the market for some type of baby product.  Recently, I came across the Zoli BOT Straw Sippy Cup and decided we had to try it.  It arrived last week and has quickly become one of my favorite baby product. This is by far the best straw sippy that we've tried to date.  The best thing about it is that it has little flaps over the top of the straw so Evelina can easily suck liquid out but she can't backwash.  Hallelujah!!  The other GREAT innovation?  A weight at the bottom of the straw. It doesn't matter what angle she holds the cup, the straw will always move toward the liquid and she can continue to have productive sucks.  It is awesome!! 

We also have the Zoli on-the-go, and it is the bomb.  The top section holds her formula and the other 3 sections hold snacks, fruit and/or other meal options.  So convenient to slip right into the diaper bag.  Once she starts eating larger meals, I am definitely going to scoop up the SUMO Snack Stacker.

Childproofing

Since Evelina isn't a speedy "crawler", we haven't spent much time childproofing. The extent of our efforts have focused on covering outlets that are located near her designated play areas, moving the monitor video camera from the back of her crib and mounting it out of her reach, and swapping out our previously rectangular coffee table complete with glass top (so not childproof in anyway) with an upholstered storage ottoman.  

Up next on the childproofing list:  covering additional outlets and securing cabinet doors and drawers.  We can already tell she is going to LOVE opening cabinet doors considering when we're holding her in the kitchen she immediately leans toward the knobs and opens and closes the door after inspecting the dishes.

The BEST Crib Sheet

When I first started to decorate Evelina's nursery, I knew I couldn't live without the Brooke crib sheet, it was part of my inspiration since the colors along with the cute owls and trees where perfect for my vision of the room.  For the first 6 months of Evelina's life, she was swaddled. She had imited blowouts/leaks during the night, but since she didn't really move around much and her hands weren't free to grab anything in fear of her smothering herself, we felt safe having a multi-use pad underneath her to protect the sheet from any messes (or spit-up mishaps).  Changing the crib sheet proved to be a difficult process and not easily done alone, especially with a bulky bumper impacting the mattress from being lifted out, so the pad saved us from having to deal with any mess in the middle of the night.  We could just swap out the pad and be back on our way to dreamland.    

Fast forward to a couple of months ago when Evelina started to prefer sleeping on her tummy.  Come to find out disposable diapers are designed with more protection in the back and middle, not the front. Even in a night-time disposable (I still haven't found a cloth option I'm in love with for night-time), the front of the diaper just doesn't have enough absorption for Evelina to accommodate 11-12 hours of slumber.  This results in Evelina's PJs being wet in the morning and many times, her sheet getting soiled as well.  It doesn't help that she likes to "unload" a big one as soon as she wakes up either.  Because of the increased frequency of leaks, changing her crib sheet was starting to become quite a hassle.  

After receiving a recommendation from my friend JoEllen (mom of the cutest Ruby), I decided to try the Clouds and Stars Quickzip Sheet. This has seriously got to be one of the BEST inventions...ever.  It has a fitted section that goes around the mattress and a separate sheet that attaches to the fitted section via a zipper.  If the sheet gets soiled, just unzip it and attach a clean one.  No lifting of the mattress required.  It takes about a minute, if that, to replace the sheet.   I LOVE IT!! Now, I wouldn't have traded it for the whimsical sheet we used originally and that we'll most likely use when Evelina transitions to a toddler bed, but for this stage, it is PERFECT.   

As much as I love the Quickzip sheet, ideally, I would like to avoid tummy leaks all together.  A couple of methods I plan to try are:  

• Putting the diaper on backwards so the more absorbent back is in the front - I wouldn't be surprised if Evelina decided to sleep on her back or side that night!! 
• Putting on two diapers - This just seems like a waste
• Using a Flip or Grovia diaper cover over her disposable - I may try this method tonight.  
• Use a fitted cloth diaper with a wool cover - I've heard this is bulletproof thanks to the wool, I just need to pull the trigger and find the perfect combination for the right price. 

Oh, in case you were wondering, safety first in the Ciano household.  Once Evelina was no longer swaddled and became quite the mover in her crib, we switched out her beloved Brooke crib bumper and replaced it with a breathable bumper. A great invention (since traditional bumpers aren't recommended anyway) that keeps the crib cozy while protecting arms and legs from going through the rails.  It certainly makes me feel better knowing that if she happens to stuff her face into the bumper, she will still be able to breathe.  Although, one of her favorite activities during the night is to untie the bows that hold it in place, but I like knowing she enjoys exploring.  Too cute. 

Dinnertime Fun

During Evelina's dinnertime last night, a couple of exciting things happened. 

• She officially waved hello for the first time!! Over the past couple of months, she had appeared to be waving by lifting her arms and pivoting her wrists but last night it was an actual wave and it was so very cute.  I had just started feeding her dinner and Chris was on his way downstairs.  As he was approaching, I said to Evelina, "Where's your Dada? Here he comes!", and when he came into sight, Chris and I both waved to her saying "Hi Lina".  She proceeded to lift her right hand and open and shut her fingers in the wave motion.  The cutest part being that her hand was facing her so it looked like she was actually waving to herself.  Gotta love mimicking.  So adorable.   
• She drank from a straw for the first time!! We've been giving her a sippy cup with water since she was about 6 months and had also attempted giving her a straw sippy (easier to hold, don't have to tip back, and from what I've read, better for oral and speech development) but she just couldn't figure out that she had to suck on the straw to get the water, instead she would chew on it/play with it.  After a little bit of research, I came across the Lil' Gripper Straw Trainer.  The great thing about this sippy is that you can squeeze water out of the straw teaching the baby that there is something in the cup and if they suck, they will be rewarded with liquid.  I presented this cup to Evelina last night at dinner and she immediately started sucking...and I didn't even need to squeeze the water out for her. So awesome!!  Granted, she did some back-washing and would take a little too much and cough but she did it!! Yay!!

And, because you all know I'm sentimental, a year ago on St. Patty's Day, I wrote about this....what a difference a year makes!!

Enjoy the beautiful Spring day. 

A Weekend of Cloth Diapering

Before I got pregnant, if someone told me they were using cloth diapers or were considering using cloth diapers on their children, I thought to myself, these people have GOT to be crazy!! Who wants to deal with messy #2 in the wash? Just use a disposable, it seems so much easier and cleaner. I had visions of white diapers being loosely draped over babies secured with big diapers pins, leaks everywhere.   

Then, I got pregnant and within days, I began to research anything and everything related to pregnancy, in addition to all I could about baby gear and baby care essentials.  Throughout my research, I kept coming across articles and blog posts about cloth diapering and the benefits of using cloth over disposables. I mentioned cloth diapers to Chris and he looked at me like the crazy pregnant lady that I was and secretly hoped that I would forget about the option.   

The options related to cloth diapering are endless and the more research I did, the more overwhelmed I became.  Considering I had my hands full focusing on the rest of my pregnancy and ultimately taking care of a newborn, I put my thoughts about cloth diapering on the back burner and embraced disposables. Most likely for the better since Evelina was tiny (and I'd read that many cloth diapers don't work as well on smaller babies) and we went through 12+ diaper changes a day for weeks...the laundry would have been never ending.  

As Evelina grew, I would say to Chris that I really wanted to research cloth diapers again and visit the Somerville Diaper Lab for a trial, and again, he looked at me like the crazy sleep deprived new mom that I was and secretly hoped that I would forget about the option.  

Then, a few weeks ago, I was reading a couple of my favorite blogs and they were both raving about their love of Fuzzibunz.  I thought, what the heck, maybe we should give them a shot (since the likelihood of actually finding time to visit the Diaper Lab was a pipe dream). I focused my research on Fuzzibunz and comparable diapers and decided to pull the trigger and buy a few to try, which is exactly what we did over the weekend (against Chris's will...haha).  

Our weekend stash included:  

FuzziBunz One-Size - So far, these are my favorite.  They are super adjustable and fit Lina's long skinny body well.  It was tricky to figure out which row of snaps would be the best for her waist but I think I figured it out. 

bumGenius 4.0 One-Size - I like these but they are not as trim between the legs and made Lina more bow-legged. They are easier to put on then the Fuzzibunz since the snaps aren't as complicated.  
 

GroVia All in 2 - I like the concept of these since you can just remove the insert, put in a new one and reuse the shell (less laundry) but the shell still seemed to get wet which kind if defeats the purpose in my opinion.  I got the hook and loop closure in this style and it was definitely easier than the snaps of the other diapers but I've heard that the snaps are more durable and child-proof.  I am going to give Flip diapers a try and see if these may be a better hybrid option. 

Evelina experienced no leaks or blowouts in any of the diaper styles. I was wary to try a cloth diaper for nighttime in fear of leaks but picked up a few hemp liners and tried one in a Fuzzibunz.  She didn't have any leaks after about 9 hours (I usually don't change her diaper at night but on this particular night she was in belly hell-y so I thought I would be kind and change her).  The diaper was just so big and bulky with 2 inserts and I can't imagine it was very comfortable for her so I'm not sure if we will keep up with nighttime cloth diapering. Perhaps the bumGenius would be better fitting at night.  I may give it a try. 

In addition to all of the styles being super cute and soft, they didn't give Evelina as big of a Kim Kardashian badonkadonk as I thought they would, and she was still able to fit into her outfits comfortably.  So cute!! She even had a mild case of diaper rash prior to Friday and it was pretty much gone yesterday without the use of any Desitin.

Chris (and my family) think I am a loon for wanting to give cloth diapering a shot but the pros definitely seems to outweigh the cons.  It isn't that much more work then putting on a disposable once you get the hang of it. Granted, I will have to do a few more loads of laundry a week but it really isn't so bad.  The only clincher may be our top loading HE washer....it doesn't get the best reviews because it uses less water but I'm hoping it won't be a problem.  So far so good but only time will tell.

I must say that each time I put a cloth diaper on Evelina over the past few days, it just made me feel good. Happy to be doing my part to protect a little piece of the environment, happy to put something soft and non-toxic against her sensitive bum, happy to know that it was one less disposable that we had to purchase.  I even came across this challenge over the weekend as well and it made me feel even better about the 14 or so disposables I saved in 3 days.

Evelina's daycare supports the use of cloth diapers but currently, none of her "friends" are cloth diapered.  I am sure her teachers are going to hate me for changing their diapering process with her but we will just have to see.  I am certainly not against using any disposables but if we could avoid it, I would be happier (for now)...especially since we started putting her in size 3 Pampers Sensitives and they release the most funky chemical scent. Not pleasant. 
 

Let's Practice Standing

Our schedule was all out of whack today so Evelina is down for a nap at the moment...it could end up biting us me in the ass at bedtime but we shall see. Another nasty storm hit today and on top of worrying if I would make it home in one piece, the heat at Lina's daycare failed this afternoon so I had to fetch her early, which in turn messed with her typical napping routine. Let's hope it is fixed by tomorrow, because I need to get some serious work done at the office and can't afford to be home again for the 3rd time in two'ish weeks while attempting to work from home with an infant.  

But, the real purpose of this post is to share a photo of Lina practicing her standing skills.  She is far from pulling herself up on her own but she can stand up and balance while holding on to her fun Zany Zoo.  Don't you worry safety police, I will be childproofing those outlets in due time.  

PS:  What you don't see is Lina falling seconds after I took the photo.  Oops...she was okay, just a couple of tears :-( 

A Few of My Favorite Things

We are starting to accumulate more and more baby stuff and I fear that baby items will begin to explode from each window after Evelina's first Christmas.  I am just as guilty as family when it comes to spoiling the child.  I come across so many cute toys, toys that look like they would be a blast, toys that would be perfect for when she is teething, toys that I think would help her learn, and the list goes on and on.  Don't even get me started on clothes, bibs and burp clothes.  I'm the one that needs a new wardrobe but I still go crazy for baby apparel, and with Winter approaching the cuteness that is baby hats is overwhelming.

This week we added the newest baby necessity to 19 BHL.  A high chair.  Someone doesn't really dig it much so photos will be coming soon. 
 

In any case, in the midst of all of our baby gear, there are a few things that I thank the high heavens for each day:   

  

Summer Infant Video Monitor - This has to be one of my favorite things.  It just give us so much piece of mind each time Evelina is sleeping in her crib. We can check on her as often as we like (perfect for my OCD fix) but don't have to disturb her by going into her nursery.  If she makes any peeps we can quickly turn on the monitor to see if she is awake or just transitioning between sleep cycles (I've actually learned a lot about how she sleeps just from eavesdropping on her so much!!).  Even when we have to let her cry it out on occasion, it is nice to see that she is safe and hasn't gotten herself into any trouble in her crib.  Once she starts rolling, sitting up and standing, this device will become even more valuable.    

Miracle Blanket - What else can I say other than this truly is a miracle.  For a baby houdini like Evelina, this has been a savior.  We were able to use the super swaddle technique in early weeks but once Evelina bypassed the 10lb mark and grew more in length, the Miracle Blanket really became the star.  In fact, it works so well that we have a 5 month old swaddle addict on our hands who gets very mad if she gets put down for a nap/sleep unswaddled.   

Itzbeen Baby Care Timer - These days, I would forget my head if it wasn't attached so this has been a god send. It the early days I could easily keep track of when I last fed Evelina, how long she had been napping/sleeping and even how long since I had last pumped.  I found a fancy Droid app but at least with this timer Chris could keep updated as well.  She is on a schedule now but even so, this is still helpful and used everyday in our house (OCD again).   

Pump In-Style Advanced - For an exclusively pumping mama like myself, I couldn't live without this.  Although I would have preferred to actually breastfeed, Lina had other ideas, so I am just thankful that this pump has allowed me to keep up my supply for 5+ months, works quickly and isn't too much of a pain to lug around. And, considering the amount of time I've pump, I'm surprised the motor hasn't started smoking yet!!

Nuk Pacifiers - As soon as we made the decision, for my sanity, that I would exclusively pump and not breastfeed Evelina, the Lactation-Consultant-recommended Soothies went out the window and were replaced with these lovely binkies.  Evelina much prefers them and if she goes to bed with one, it will still be happily in her mouth for hours (as can be viewed by the video monitor). They work perfectly during car trips when she is unhappy in the car seat or to lull her back to sleep during nighttime wake-ups. Even though I am at a point where I would rather her not need a pacifier, these have been faboo. 

Exercise Ball - I had no idea that bouncing on an exercise ball was a baby soothing technique until the first mom and baby class I attended.  As soon as Lina started to fuss, I took my position on the ball and voila, a happy, quiet baby. Ever since that day, the ball has been a fixture in our living room and works at soothing our sweet daughter about 99% of the time.  I must have really bounced a lot while she was in utero because she is addicted to the ball just as much as being swaddled.  The only downside is that it can sometimes be a struggle when we aren't near the ball and she needs to be soothed.  I am hoping one day soon I will actually be able to use the ball for exercise instead of just bouncing a baby :-) 

Zip-Up Sleepers/Footed One Pieces - Dealing with all of the snaps of traditional sleepers can be quite annoying with a baby with ants in her pants (especially for Papa), and I can imagine that once Lina is no longer swaddled at night, we won't be wanting to fuss with snaps in the event of night time diaper changes.  In comes the zip-up sleepers/footed one pieces.  My faves are from The Children's Place, Baby Gap and Gymboree (hint hint for any one shopping for Evelina out there).  

Angel Dear Blankie - Evelina just loves blankies and this one is at the top of the list.  It is soooo soft and the perfect size for a lovie.  She snuggles with it in her car seat and during naps (when we are successful with one arm out of the swaddle).  It is very cute.  I know "they" say no blankets/stuffed animals/pilows/etc. in the crib for safety reasons but we may have to bend the rules for this blankie. 

Bibs - 'Nough said from this mama of a spitter. And it certainly helps that such cute prints exist thanks to many an Etsy seller.  

Aden and Anais Burp Clothes - See bibs.  Plus, the muslin is nice and soft, the patterns are adorable, they are nice and absorbent, and they fit nicely over the shoulder since they contour around the neck.  They can even be used as bibs which I just realized this week...yeah, I'm slow sometimes.    

Maybe I should write a post about what we DON'T use!! Ha!! If we have another babe, I will seriously be an expert.