Top 3 More Natural Disposable Diaper Brands

 When I became a parent, I was suddenly super conscious of all the bad things in our environment - and I wanted to do everything I could as a parent to spare my child from some of those bad things. I'm talking harsh chemicals that can harm skin, organs, and more. Have you ever wondered why cancer is so prevalent today? Why it seems like everyone has SOME type of illness? Why there are so many allergies? 

I'm sure that there is a LOT more to those questions than just the chemicals we expose our bodies to, but in regards to my babies, and diapers, I knew that was an easy thing I could research. When O was born, the hospital gave us Pampers, which sounds great because they've been around FOREVER - right? Surely they're safe because people have used them for generations upon generations. Except that he had consistent diaper rashes. All. The. Time. Despite being changed frequently and despite powders and creams. (Expect a blog post about diaper creams soon, too!) I tried a few different diaper brands and a few of them caused him to break out, which led me down a rabbit-hole searching for WHAT EXACTLY is in diapers and what components of diapers were causing my son to have rashes and allergic reactions. 

I started on my search to find a natural diaper brand that was 1) fully disclosing the ingredients used to create their diapers 2) Actually able to withstand a baby blowout and hold a decent amount of pee. 

When you think about going natural with diapers, your first thought may be expense. While some natural diaper brands do cost a small fortune, other brands have actually been able to compete with major marketers like Pampers and Huggies on price point AND quality. 

At first, I thought I just needed to search for an organic, all natural diaper. So I just googled natural diaper brands - and I got inundated with a ton of different products. Some of those products were legitimate and some of them had a single "natural" ingredient in them and were able to slap the "natural" label on themselves while still containing harsh chemicals like bleach, chlorine, fragrances, or even chemicals that produce formaldehyde gases. Yes, you read that right. Here's a red flag: diaper companies do NOT have to disclose the ingredients in their products publicly. It's literally not required. So when researching diapers for O, I wanted a company that chose to be transparent - and even then, I double checked their validity through EWG.org. If you've never heard of EWG.org (Environmental Working Group) it's a great website for verifying the safety of chemicals and they have even branched out to do full product reviews after thoroughly testing each one.

I tried a few different natural diaper brands and I can speak to each of these brands with confidence.  Each of these brands are safe from harmful dyes, phthalates, unregulated fragrances, chlorines, and bleaches. 

So save yourself the overwhelm, and save yourself the hours of research! Below you will find the TOP natural diaper brands. These brands are proven to work, verified to use natural, safe ingredients in their diapers (no bleach here!), and hold up in similar performance to major diaper brands. 

Disclaimer: Every baby is different. Every baby's bottom is different. The natural diaper brand that works for one baby, may not perform as successfully for another. Keep this in mind - and expect to have to experiment a bit to find what works best for your baby!

1) Hello Bello Diapers -  I am a huge fan of these diapers for many reasons! One reason is their availability. They are sold exclusively through the major retailer Walmart, so they're readily accessible when I am doing my grocery shopping. Another reason I love these diapers is their price point. They are comparable in price to Huggies - without the chemical load that Huggies have. They're very transparent on their website about what goes into the creation of their diapers. The cute patterns are a plus, too! I also have to say, personally speaking, they appear way softer and more comfortable than Huggies or Pampers. In comparison, when holding a Hello Bello Diaper and a Huggies Diaper, it makes the Huggies diaper feel more like trash bag material - NO JOKE.

 Hello Bello also offers a diaper subscription box straight from their website that has made worrying about diapers nearly non-existent. You can choose how frequently you want them to send diapers - and they always include wipes as well. You can add other products to your subscription box too, if you choose. I like the subscription because I have it timed to where they show up just as I'm on my last package of diapers - WIN! 

2) Honest Brand Diapers -  Honest diapers are similar to Hello Bello diapers in that they also offer a diaper subscription. Honest Brand diapers are a little on the pricier side, but you're paying for quality: no latex, parabens, fragrances, bleach, and chlorine-free filler. They also have super cute designs - which just make changing diapers a little more fun...if that's possible. For my son, I had a little more success with Honest Brand diapers holding more of the "stuff" than Hello Bello, but I don't enjoy leaving my little ones in a dirty diaper long, so this was never a huge concern for me unless we were out and weren't able to change him for a while.

3) Dyper - This brand also offers subscription services. Personally, I did not use this brand for long. I loved the way it fit, felt, and how it held the smell in, but I definitely fell more for the diapers with cute patterns on them. Dyper prides themselves in being both chemical safe and eco safe. They do not use any dyes in their diapers, so they are plain white. These diapers are made of bamboo and are Standard 100 certified by OEKO TEX. 

I hope these suggestions (reviews really) help narrow your decision-making when it comes to diapers. Just go to any store and you will see that there are SO.MANY.DIAPER brands. It's easy to feel overwhelmed. So, from one mama to another, happy diapering! 

Why You Should Let Your Kids Make Messes

 We live in a world of creativity and curiosity, and yet, kids are becoming less and less creative and curious. As a teacher, I look at students in their current life, and I picture them as a successful adult: What are they doing? How successful are they? What can I be doing NOW to help them be successful in the future?

Most employers today are looking for creative thinkers. Those who can problem solve and think outside the box are highly sought out by employers today. Companies are constantly reaching for innovation - and in reality, our entire society is constantly thirsty for innovation, the latest and greatest thing! 

I go on that long explanation of the future employers because it all starts now. That sweet little babe staring up at you with drool running down their chin is the future of our world. It is our job as parents (and teachers) to mold our children's minds....and it doesn't have to be rocket science! All we really have to do is give our children the opportunity to explore and MAKE MESSES. Sometimes, it can be as simple as giving an infant old enough to sit up a lid, bowl, and spoon and letting them just explore it. 

I have been known on more than one occasion to put uncooked noodles or uncooked dry beans into a bowl with a spoon and let my son have at it. This not only sparks their creativity, encourages hand/eye coordination, and works on those kinesthetic/tactile skills. And I mean really - does it really take us THAT long to clean it up? 

How often are we preventing our children from blossoming their creativity because we don't want to be inconvenienced? REAL TALK MAMAS. 

Once your kiddos get older and are able, this can also be a great opportunity to teach them cleaning skills. You allow them to make the mess, and you make a game of cleaning it up! 

Can I be frank for a minute? Screen time does the EXACT OPPOSITE of sparking creativity. It does the exact opposite of teaching clean up skills and hand/eye coordination skills. While there are definitely some great educational videos out there for children to watch, they simply CANNOT replace putting real materials in kids hands and letting them explore. Exploring kinesthetically/tactile-y (yes, I just made up a word!) is entirely different from only exploring mentally. Screen time totally has its place - but don't rely on your children's educational TV programs to spark creativity, curiosity, and problem solving abilities in your children. Place real things in front of them, too! 

Lessons Kids Learn through Making Messes:

1) Hand/Eye Coordination

2) Clean Up Skills

3) Creativity 

4) Curiosity 

5) Problem Solving Skills

So...as crazy as it may sound....get to making messes and sparking that creativity! Just remember not to lose your mind in the process :)

Stay tuned for a few blog posts about IDEAS involving controlled messes....or not so controlled messes. 

Apps you're going to want for Pregnancy & Beyond!

 Admittedly, when I became a mom, I had ZERO ideas of what I was doing. But boy did I put on a good front. I faked it until I made it. No joke. Thankfully my son turned out okay so far. I suppose I'll update in the future if that changes. Ha. 

One of the things the hospital told me is that at least for a while I would want to track baby's milk intake (via timing breastfeeds or ounces of formula) and track baby's wet diapers. In the hospital they give you this ridiculous chart you have to fill out. Literally a piece of paper and a pencil. If you've had a baby, you know that NO ONE HAS TIME FOR THAT NONSENSE. I tried. I really did. But I needed something quicker, something I wasn't likely to misplace....like my phone! So I set out to find a baby tracker app. 

I also used apps during my pregnancy to track symptoms, baby kicks, and once the time came, contractions. These apps also offer fun week-by-week updates on baby's growth and development which I found fun! 

1) BabyCenter App - This is probably one of the most popular apps for pregnancy and child-rearing. It's free (my favorite part) and offers a ton of encouragement, information, and research in all things pregnancy through childhood. The app has features such as the "Birth Club". The Birth Club is essentially a monitored chat room for each birth month where you can ask all the questions to other moms due the same month as you. I would be lying if I said I hadn't utilized this a few times! The app also has a tools feature which includes: a widget to take pictures of your bump progress with fun graphics to place on the photos, a file dedicated solely to safety in pregnancy, a kick tracker, a registry checklist, a baby name calculator, birth class videos, a birth preferences document creator, and a contraction timer. Lots built into this free app!

2) What to Expect Pregnancy and Baby Tracker - An equally popular app like BabyCenter, it has all the same features listed above PLUS a feeding and development tracker for once baby is born. For any momma's reading this who are currently trying to conceive, there is also a portion of the app dedicated to that!

3) Pregnancy + App - This app is unique from BabyCenter and What to Expect in that it is more personalized. The detailed images of the baby inside your womb are inclusive of all skin types. It also tracks your personal health throughout pregnancy, such as weight tracking. 

4) SPROUT Baby - This is a free app that offers tools to track feeding times, diapers, and even sleep tracking. The cool thing is, you don't have to log and keep track of feeding times. If you're breastfeeding, simply open the app, designate which side you're feeding on and it times the rest! If you're formula/bottle feeding, click the bottle button and you can time that as well as track the number of ounces baby ate. You can also track solid food intake. 

In addition to feeding, this app tracks sleep, pumping times and amount, dirty diapers, activity, and even baby's mood. 

5) The Wonder Weeks - This app, I will admit I was skeptical of. This app does have a fee to purchase. It is not free. However, the Wonder Weeks app is great for new moms because it identifies common fussy periods in baby's life and explains them. They call them "leaps" where you've probably heard the term "4 month sleep regression." This app details WHY those fussy periods and WHY those sleep regressions occur and goes into scientific detail about the development of your child's brain and body during that time that causes the "leap." The reason I was skeptical was because my baby wasn't always on target with when the app said a storm would be coming - but I came to realize quickly that every baby is different and this app is still incredibly useful after a day of a screaming baby or a sleepless night. Unfortunately it doesn't offer a solution to those sleepless nights, but in my eyes, it makes them a LITTLE more bearable knowing WHY they're happening and that my baby doesn't just hate me. 

6) Huckleberry: Baby and Child - The Huckleberry App is very similar to Sprout Baby. It has features for tracking feedings, diapers, sleep patterns, and pumping. It also tracks baby growth and milestones then displays that data in a super easy to read, user friendly graph...if you're a data nerd like me! 

All of these apps are designed to make life easier for you as a mom. Let's be honest, Mom-Brain is a real thing. Scientists need to jump on that diagnosis train because for real. At 3 am, you will not remember which side babe nursed on or how many ounces they ate. These apps take care of all of that so when morning time comes, you're night is tracked - without having to use any of your own brain power....WIN WIN in my eyes!

10 Things Nobody Tells You About Having a Baby

If you're here because you're pregnant, congrats!

If you're here because you're thinking about having a baby, welcome!

 

Becoming a Mommy is one of the best things ever and there is so much to it! It's also one of the most important jobs in the entire world. So whether you are already pregnant, or wanting to be, you deserve to know the facts!

When you get that BFP (Big Fat Positive in the Baby Center world) and you've just experienced your first "What now?" moment, a billion thoughts are probably swirling through your head. I remember wanting to start on the nursery the very day after I told my husband. I remember reading every blog, every website, every self-help book on what I would need to do (and become) in order to prepare for baby. There are SO MANY THINGS they do NOT tell you in those super fun books, articles, and doctors offices. There were so many things about having a baby I had to learn on my own with my son. There were so many tidbits of advice from seasoned moms I thought I would never need. It's amazing how many things people leave out when sharing their own personal wisdom on having a baby. I'm not sure if that's because it's just taboo to talk about, if they're afraid of scaring a new mom, or what! So here you will find 10+ things that nobody tells you about having a baby. This list is by no means, I mean NOT EVEN SLIGHTLY, exhaustive. Also, like all things in life, not every experience is the same for each individual. So, take it with a grain of salt. Here it is: the good, the bad, the ugly!

1) It will not go as planned - and that is OKAY. 

Of course it is a great idea to have a birth plan. You need to know in advance how you want things to go throughout the course of your labor and delivery (and beyond that...yeah, you don't go home right away!). Try not to get so caught up in following your plan that if something doesn't go your way, it crushes you. Understand that the plans you write up and provide to hospital staff can only be followed when it is safe to do so. Also, it is OKAY to take the epidural you swore up and down you'd never need. Take it. You'll thank me later. 

2) When your water breaks, or they break your water, it is NOT like the movies. 

So, maybe I'm the only person on the planet who did not know this, but when the nurses come to break your water, it's not just one big gush and done. You heard me. When they break your water, it's like peeing yourself over and over again. TMI. Maybe. But you're about to be a mom. You need to know this stuff! 

3) You will not be in control of your hormones. Not even in the slightest bit. 

If someone had told me that I would be an absolute basket case after having my son, I would've laughed at them, because I totally have it all together, you know? I'm pretty sure I cried the first few weeks straight after he was born. Every little thing set me off. Everyone knows that you're hormonal during pregnancy, but no one tells you that it actually gets worse after delivery! Add in the crazy sleep deprivation and you've got yourself a one-way ticket on the ultimate emotional roller coaster. Give yourself some grace, you just had a baby and that takes a huge toll on your body - not just physically, but mentally as well. It takes a while for those pregnancy hormones to regulate in your body. And if you're breastfeeding? Plan on it taking a little while longer.

THE BIG BUT: If you feel like your emotions are totally all over the place and your 100% out of control, or you are consistently feeling sad or having sad thoughts, or thoughts of harm - talk with your doctor. Postpartum Depression is very real and very serious. It's not a joke and should not be taken lightly. Reach out to your doctor about how you're feeling and let them help! 

4) The nurses do not leave you alone for long.

So you've just had this beautiful baby and all you want to do is snuggle and love on that baby. Be prepared for those snuggles to be consistently interrupted - for at least the first day. Nurses will still be coming by frequently to check vitals, check baby's vitals and to see if you need anything. If you're breastfeeding, you'll likely see a lactation consultant at some point during your stay (or frequently if you want the help) if you choose to deliver at a hospital or birthing center. I remember being incredibly frustrated when they'd come in the middle of the night. Just be prepared to be annoyed after delivering  - and remember that it doesn't hurt to politely ask for a few hours of peace with your new little babe. 

5) Breastfeeding is hard.

If you choose to breastfeed, expect it to take time to learn. I remember taking a breastfeeding class and thinking, easy-peasy! You just grab baby, they latch on, eat and done. The reality is, most babies have to be taught how to breastfeed. If this is your first baby, even holding them in a position to breastfeed will feel awkward. I remember the nurse teaching me the "football hold" and thinking, this just does not feel right. Do what works for you. Use the lactation consultants while you have them readily available in the hospital. Join a local breastfeeding group for support. Just know, while those first few days and weeks may seem impossible, it DOES get better.

6)  After the birth.

Maybe I just lived in a blissful pre-baby bubble, but I honestly thought contractions were done once you delivered. Nope. Expect to still have "contractions" for several hours - to maybe even days - after baby is born. This is your uterus shrinking back down to normal. If you're breastfeeding, it enhances the contracting. When I had little O, for at least an hour after every time he nursed I would get painful contractions. To add insult to injury? The nurses come in frequently to push all around on that sore, contracting uterus to make sure that it is shrinking appropriately. I'll just tell you now, it's not very comfortable. The good news? All things must come to an end, and it includes those awful after-birth cramps. 

7) Babies poop. A LOT.

At first, I thought there was something wrong with my sweet baby O, because that kid could fill a diaper like nobody's business. I remember talking to his pediatrician at our first visit about how every single diaper I changed was a poo diaper. Turns out, especially in breastfed babies, pooping frequently is normal. Changing a poopy diaper 10+ times a day is actually normal. On the flip side, constipated babies (while totally not fun) are also normal. Basically, babies are brand-spanking-new. This includes their internal organs. Baby's digestive tract is just learning how to work outside of the womb. It needs time to adjust. So whether you're changing 25 poopy diapers a day, or none at all, rest assured, baby's digestive tract will catch up. If you have a constipated baby, make sure to reach out to your pediatrician so they can get baby some relief! 

8) Take all the photos and videos, because you probably won't remember a lot of it.

Realistically, the first few months of baby's life are a fog. You're caught between new-mom-bliss hormones and sleep deprivation. Not to mention, when's the last time you ate? Among all of those things, your body is still healing from the trauma it endured to bring that sweet little bundle into this world. Give yourself grace, momma. Sure you'll remember highlights, like the first time your baby poo'ed all the way to their hairline, or the first time they smiled at you or laughed. Momma, you're not going to remember all-the-things. I have spent a lot of time straining my brain to remember things from O's birth and then beating myself up for not. Don't do it. Just take all the pictures and videos and have a place to store them for you to reference back to. I love using Google Photos because I can share my album with family members, too. But tread carefully through those sweet first few month albums, baby fever is real....and dangerous!

9) You'll forget most of the pain.

One plus side to the "fog" that comes with being a new mom and living with a newborn, is that you forget what most of that pain felt like. I fully believe that this is a coping mechanism God placed in women's brains so that they would continue to reproduce. I can honestly say I do not fully remember what contractions felt like. My body does not remember any of the pain. And of course I want more babies! 

10) You'll become the biggest hypocrite ever.

"I'm never going to let my kid...." 

"We will never do...blah blah blah." 

Don't be me. I was 100% that person who said that I would never let my child do this or that. I was 100% that person who watched what other parents did and made an oath to do different. I was so sure I'd be the mom who had it all put together. I will NEVER forget a single thing in the diaper bag and it will always be organized. My child's hair will always be perfect. My children will never eat in my car. I will always look presentable. My children will not eat hot dogs and chicken nuggets. They will not watch television or play on tablets/phones. Well, I'm living proof that it's impossible to maintain all the things you say you're NOT going to do with your child. Having babies is a totally humbling experience. It makes you realize how selfish and hypocritical you truly are. I owe some apologies to some totally amazing parents! #Momlife is also sometimes about survival. And sometimes survival means sacrificing some of those high standards you set for yourself in order to save your sanity. 

*Side note, slightly kidding about TV. I vowed not to give my kiddos lots of screen time because I'm a teacher and daily I am witness to the effects of sitting in front of a screen. It's not pretty and it's not great for their little developing brains. Little O gets screen time one day a week, so its a compromise! 

Just One More.....

11) Enjoy every moment. 

Babies are only babies for a short while. They grow up so fast. Enjoy those snuggles. Enjoy the dependent feeding. Even enjoy that tiny baby cry because it all changes so fast. Before you know it they are sitting up, then crawling, then walking and talking. Every precious phase is both a joy to witness and a heartbreak knowing they are growing up! So above all else, enjoy it momma. Put the dishes down. Put the vacuum away. Let others who offer to help clean for you. You'll never regret an ounce of time spent with your babies. 

5 Things You can Start TODAY to Build Confidence in Your Kids

I am by no means a counselor, but I AM a teacher. I see 20-30 sweet, young, new faces come into my classroom every year. I get to spend the better part of 10 months with these faces and learn SO MUCH about them. I get to teach them new things. I get to show them how amazing they are. I get to build up that shy kiddo who may be struggling to make friends. It's truly an honor. But building confidence in your kids doesn't just happen inside the school building. Sure, your child sits in a classroom for 7+ hours a day, but the small amount of time Monday-Friday that they do get to spend with YOU actually makes a big difference. So whether your kiddo is shy or already taking the world by the reins, there are many things you can do as a parent (or a teacher if you're here from that standpoint) to help foster confidence in your children. My advice is to START YOUNG. Sure all of these strategies work on older kids, too, but you'll get a better return from implementing these strategies while your children are still little. Like, toddlers. 

1) Words of Affirmation

I don't know a single adult who doesn't enjoy a "good job" every now and again. Children, even tiny ones, need to hear this, too! They need to know that they are appreciated. Even if your child refuses to clean their room, smarts off daily, and doesn't help around the house, you can find SOMETHING to encourage them in. Maybe they rock at drawing. Maybe they do a great job of getting themselves up and ready for school every morning, making your life easier. Maybe they take good care of their animals. Whatever it may be, I challenge you to find ONE thing to compliment your child on each week and watch to see if their attitude towards things changes...

2) Make them a part of daily activities

This one truly should be started young. There's nothing wrong with letting a 1 year old help with dishes and sweeping. Encourage them to be helpful and compliment them when they are. Try not to get too frustrated if they don't do it correctly. Even my husband can't fold towels the way I prefer, but I'm still going to take a deep breath and compliment him for helping! Let them help you make dinner. If they ask to help with things, let them! This will teach them to be helpful as adults. It is a serious confidence booster to kids when they know you appreciate their help. Most kids, especially when young, have the desire to please you. Channel that desire!

3) Allow them to make their own decisions (within reason)

This one is tough for parents who love to be in control (i.e. me). But giving children the power to make decisions about their lives instills the confidence they'll need later in life to be confident in the choices they make. It's truly better for them to make mistakes while they are young and learn from them, than to prevent them. Knocking down roadblocks in your child's path actually can hinder them from being successful as an adult. As hard as it is to watch as a parent, you have to let them struggle and make their own mistakes. Just make sure when you do, you're there to help them pick up the pieces. Don't drop them when they need the support most. 

4) Make the big things to them big to you, too

There's nothing more discouraging than being excited about something and someone coming along to pop your balloon. I think that kids experience this more often than adults, because adults are often too busy to share in their children's excitement. One time I witnessed a child running to their dad to show them a picture they'd drawn. They were extremely excited and their little body ran so fast. The child's,  "look dad! I drew you a picture" was met with a harsh ,"Stop running!" That poor little boys face fell so fast. Now, I'm not saying you don't correct your child when they're doing something they shouldn't be. But imagine how much more respected that command would have been if the dialog went like this: 

"Oh I love that drawing! You did such a great job! Thank you. I know you were excited, but next time you need to walk instead of run, okay?" 

Now even as an adult, I feel like that would be much better received than completely ignoring the excitement and going straight to correction. I use this strategy in my class, too. I *TRY* to always give a compliment on something before I tell a student something they are doing wrong. I'm not perfect at it, and not all situations can even be implemented this way (i.e. major safety concerns), but the more you do it, the better and easier positivity will roll off your tongue. 

Take the time and MAKE the time to share in your child's excitement about something. If you don't make the big things big when they're little, they won't come to you with the big things when they're older. 

5) Validate their feelings

I can't tell you how many times I come across an adult just brushing a child off with "you're fine!" Now, in some (okay, MANY) circumstances, your child IS actually fine. But when sweet little Suzy comes to you and is upset about how her drawing got torn up by the dog, its our job as parents and teachers to help Suzy understand that it is okay for her to be upset and that she has a right to be upset. Always brushing a child's feelings under the rug actually can cause them to harbor big emotions when they get older, which is totally unhealthy. As with everything in life, there's a fine line. We need to teach our children that it is okay to have big feelings (because if you're being honest with yourself, you do too!) but we also need to teach them how to handle those big feelings! .....Blog Post coming soon about that, so stay tuned.

Language like "I see that you are upset," and "I can tell that your feelings are hurt," are validating to a child. It teaches them that their feelings are important - and they ARE! Don't ignore your child's feelings, no matter how tempting it may be - or how annoying, if we are being totally honest.

6 Toddler Indoor Activities for when You're Snowed In!

Stuck indoors? Kids going stir crazy?

If you're in the United States, you likely have or will see snow soon. As I am writing this, we are roughly 6-ish inches in to a 3 day snowstorm. We've been "snowed in" for almost a week already! As a teacher, I enjoyed the first several snow days. They came as a welcome break from the day in and day out. This week, we will be diving in to virtual learning during our snow days (thanks a lot, Covid). If you're anything like me, you're starting to go a little stir crazy - and the kiddos are, too! I've had to get pretty creative with activities for my toddler lately so that he isn't bored to tears. If you're anything like me, you hate the idea of sitting your kids in front of a screen for entertainment. Looking for indoor activities to do during a snow storm? These are tried and true methods to beat the snowed-in blues. Some of the indoor activities for kids listed below are classics, because who says you have to reinvent the wheel, right? 

1) SNOW CREAM

When it's too cold to venture out but there's plenty of snow to go around, grab a bowl and some boots and collect some snow! Just make sure to collect snow from a deep area, safe from animals and other critters....no one likes yellow or brown snow. BLEGH. Snow cream is a tried and true classic. If you like ice cream, you'll enjoy this easy-peasy indoor snow activity that brings the snow to you! This recipe is super simple and only uses ingredients you likely already have in your pantry! The best part? This recipe is so versatile, you can adjust each ingredient based on how sweet you want your snow cream to taste!

Snow Cream:

2-4 cups of snow

2-4 tablespoons of sugar

1-2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

1/4 cup of milk

Mix together and enjoy!

2) SNOW Sensory Play

Another stupid simple snow day activity is snow sensory play. I am a huge advocate of sensory play for the littles. Give them random things and let. them. explore. The best way for a child to learn is to be left to their own devices (with adult supervision of course!). For snow sensory play, all you need is a bowl and snow. You can add in cups, scoops, spoons, play kitchen tools, shapes for molding, ect. The possibilities are endless! I plop my son down in his highchair, give him a bowl of snow and some "tool" and let him have at it! It's tons of fun and minimal mess...until the snow melts of course!

3) Snow Painting

This is another ridiculously easy (but slightly messy) activity for your littles to do. Simply go outside and get a bowl of snow. Flatten the snow on a plate or inside a tub. Then, fill a few small cups with water and add 1-2 drops of liquid food coloring. Give your little a paintbrush and let them go! Pro-Tip: Cover whatever surface you're going to put the snow in with aluminum foil or clear wrap because you know, food coloring stains...Don't learn the hard way!

4) Obstacle Course

Do you have tape, paper plates, and blankets? Then you have everything you need to create an obstacle course for your kiddos to burn off energy in! This indoor snow activity requires some prep on your part, but ends in hours of fun! Use tape to create a "laser run" or make shapes on the floor that they have to jump to. Use paper plates as stopping points. Hang up blankets for them to climb under. With this indoor snow activity, the possibilities are endless! 

5) Ice Globes

This is more of a craftivity than just a snow day activity, but it is still fun none the less. All you need is balloons, water, and food coloring for this creative and pretty activity. All you have to do is fill the balloon with water and add a few drops of food coloring. Then, if it's cold enough outside, just stick the balloon outside! These make fun, easy decorations to break up the plain white sheets of ice outside.

6) Make Homemade Play-Dough

This is an activity almost any age group can do (with adult supervision and help of course!) Playdough is so versatile - you can use it for all different types of imaginative play. Making playdough on a cold, snow day is a great indoor activity. Why buy store bought playdough when you can kill extra time at home with your kiddos by making it yourself? The best part is that it's made with ingredients you likely already have in your home - or if you're like me, you're neighbor has them and you can borrow. Heh. I am completely okay with my toddler playing with this homemade playdough because if he puts it in his mouth 1) he's going to be sorely mistaken when he tastes all that salt and 2) I don't have to worry about him getting sick from it. Although I obviously do not recommend you let your child eat this playdough due to the sodium content and as always you should supervise your child while playing with the playdough. Here's a super simple (and non-toxic) recipe:

Homemade Playdough Recipe

2 1/2 cups of flour

3 tablespoons of vegetable oil (or olive or coconut) 

3 tablespoons cream of tartar

3/4 cup of salt

1-1 1/2 cups of warm water

gel food coloring (optional)

Homemade DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent

Have you ever tried homemade laundry soap? 

I have tried several different formulas for making my own laundry soap. When I got pregnant with my son, I started doing a lot of research on different chemicals and found that conventional laundry detergents that you can purchase at most major retailers are actually TERRIBLE for your body - and hard on our environment.

So I sought out to find a more natural, cost-effective, and chemically safe option for my family. After lots of trial-and-error, I finally switched to a liquid version of laundry soap that I've come to L-O-V-E. If you've never used a homemade, natural laundry soap before, after several uses you'll start to notice how strong other people's clothing smells. It may even burn your nose! There are so many strong, harsh, artificial fragrances in big name, box store brand laundry detergents. This homemade laundry soap simply cleans clothes, leaving a fresh, light scent depending on what essential oils you choose to use and how much. 

Tips for Making Natural Laundry Soap Work for You:

Use hot water and don't use your eco setting. There's a bit of a tradeoff with homemade laundry soaps. The oils and castile soaps that you put in your homemade laundry soap require a good amount of water to really wash out of clothing. Hot water dissolves solutions better than cold water, so that's why warm or hot water is best to use with homemade laundry soaps. A good amount of baking soda and washing soda not only deodorizes and cleans clothing, but softens the water you use. So while you're not necessarily helping energy efficiency in your home, you still have a great tradeoff: you're no longer putting harsh, unsafe, ailment-causing chemicals on your body through your clothing! 

Think about this: you are in clothing ALL. THE. TIME. You're going to want to make sure that what you wash that clothing in is actually safe for your skin - because your skin is your largest (and most absorbent) organ. It takes in and filters most of what you put on your body. Don't you want to be sure that what you are putting on (and ultimately in) your body is safe - and not known for toxicity?  Did I also mention cost? This laundry soap recipe will (overtime, not in one mixing session) make AT LEAST 6 two-gallon jars of laundry soap before you run out of supplies if you buy a bulk bag of baking soda. If you total up the cost of all ingredients, combined with the amount of laundry soap it makes, it is way cheaper than anything you'll buy in a store - and it lasts so much longer.

No Grating Soap, No Borax!

This liquid homemade soap is made with natural castile soap, baking soda, super washing soda, and essential oils. I opted not to use borax - an ingredient common in homemade laundry soaps and a well-known cleaner due to its controversy in the natural world. Borax is actually a known toxin - and especially dangerous for littles. It has known health effects: irritation to skin and potential hormone disruption, according to the EWG (more info on them below).

Every ingredient in this homemade natural laundry soap receives an A rating with the Environmental Working Group. EWG.com is an amazing website to help you dive deep into the toxic chemical offenders in products you use daily. You know, those crazy long unpronounceable names on ingredient labels? Not all "chemicals" are bad. H2O is the *chemical* compound for water. CO2 is the chemical compound carbon dioxide - also known as the air that we breathe. So like I said, the term "chemical" is not automatically a dirty word! 

So whether this is your first time making a homemade laundry soap, or your 100th time and you're simply looking for an easy, effective solution, this DIY homemade laundry soap will fit your needs!

Homemade Laundry Soap 

1 5 gallon bucket

1 large wooden spoon (to stir)

Measuring Cup

Funnel

Glass Jar for storage

2 Gallons HOT water 

2/3 cup Super Washing Soda (or 1 cup if you have crazy hard water, like me!)

2/3 cup Baking Soda (or 1 cup if you have crazy hard water, like me!)

2/3 cup of liquid Castile Soap

15-25 drops of Essential Oils (I use Tumble and Tidy from Revive Oils!)

How to make it:

There are TWO ways to make this recipe. If you prefer a thicker consistency similar to that of store-bought laundry detergent, boil your water first then add dry ingredients to 1 1/2 of the gallons of water one at a time, stirring before adding the next ingredient. Add the castile soap and essential oils next. Finish off with the last half gallon of boiled water. Wait until cooled to place into storage jar. If you prefer the thicker formula, make sure to put it directly into the drum and not into the tray of your washing machine. 

The other way, the simple way, to make this recipe is to add all of your dry ingredients to the bucket first. Then, add the castile soap. Add your 2 gallons of water next and finish off with your essential oils. Stir all together well. 

With either of these methods, your laundry soap will settle over time. Just give the jar a good shake before using and you're good to go! 

Let me know if you enjoy this laundry soap as much as I do. The simple knowledge that I'm not putting toxic chemicals on my family's skin is reason enough for me to continue in this natural journey. Even if it means more work! 

Happy Natural DIY-ing!

XO, Megan