It seems like even when you have great aspirations (example: launching a new webstore), you’re guaranteed to have projects that take longer than expected. Even four months longer than expected (example: our gift registry).

So here we are, four months past our projected date, with a new registry program finally up and running. We are excited to be partnered with eWish Gift Registry Service, an easy, user-friendly, customizable gift registry program.

If you’re in the market for a gift registry but not sure what to register for, be sure to scope out our Registry Guides, such as the Green Registry Guide, or our Ultimate Registry Guide, our Cloth Diaper Registry Guide, or our Breastfeeding: Back to Work Registry Guide. Or, you can always swing by the store for a Registry Appointment!

Though we’re excited to be able to offer such an easy-to-use, adaptable registry program, be sure to give us your feedback! Since the program is new to us as well, we’re still learning the ropes and working out some of the kinks.

Enjoy!

About the point that I was telling a customer, “I know that raw silk is great for a baby with diaper rash… but I’m not exactly sure why…” it dawned on me that it was time to do some research. What I discovered was even cooler than expected.

In the making of silk, silk worms give off a creamy wax called sericin, which is both soothing and antibacterial, and raw silk retains some of the silk’s naturally occurring sericin. The natural antibacterial and anti-fungal properties of sericin aid in preventing and healing diaper rash and can often keep yeast at bay without creams or lotions. That makes raw silk a 100% natural material that can be used full time for babies with sensitive skin.

Raw silk liners, however under-appreciated they may currently be, are super easy, convenient, and worthwhile to use! Besides being antibacterial and anti-fungal, they are all natural, reusable diaper liners, meaning they’ll prevent stains on your diapers and reduce odors, helping to preserve the longevity of your diapers (and making clean up a breeze!). They also keep your tot’s bottom drier, softer, and healthier.

If you have a baby with a rashy tush, you’re tired of buying disposable diaper liners, or you simply want to give something new a try, check out the raw silk liners for all of your cloth diapering needs. At $2.50 a pop (and, from what I hear, the sericin lasts up to 200 washes), you really can’t go wrong.

–Elissa

With the holidays and the store move, some of our new products have slipped under the radar, but we do have some fun, exciting products to tell you about.

More space means more stuff, and naturally the first place we expanded was diapers. Alongside our cotton Chinese Prefolds, we picked up some unbleached  Cotton Prefolds. Unbleached prefolds are a great option because they’re natural, and they tend to last a bit longer than other prefolds because their fibers haven’t been chemically weakened by bleach. Plus, they cost the same!

We have been searching for a good wool soaker for quite a while, and it seems our search is over. Tiny Tush makes great wool soakers at an affordable price.  But why wool? Well, it’s a natural fiber, for starters. On top of that, it’s water resistant, breathable, and absorbent . Wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture, so even if the diaper is completely saturated, wool will still give an extra bit of absorbency to prevent leaks.  The fact that it’s breathable helps regulate a baby’s temperature, making a wool soaker a great choice for overnight, and it’s great for helping to clear up diaper rash- or avoiding it in the first place! Lastly, since wool is all natural, it doesn’t take many resources to process wool, which is helpful for our environment.

And don’t forget to check out the new Eucalan wool wash, in both lavender and grapefruit!

Another up-and-coming favorite is the Simple Wishes Bustier Hands Free Pumping Bra. I have to admit that the sizing, which runs XS-M and L-XXL threw me off at first- how can one bra fit everyone from a 30 J to a 40 AA (that’s the XS-M size)?! Then I did my research, checked out the bra, and realized it’s mighty adjustable- more adjustable than any piece of clothing I’ve ever come across. Which means that as your body changes in size (which, come on, it inevitably will) or if your bra stretches out, you can adjust it. Cool. I really like the no-nonsense approach to the circular openings as well, which will hold a flange/ shield firmly in place, regardless of which direction your nipples point.

Peruse our website, or visit our location at 4116 Monona Drive to check out our new digs and fun products. We’ll see you there!

Though we bundled up and braved the cold snow, we really wanted to stay warm in our houses this morning.

Because we know the treachery of drudging around in calf-high snow with a tot, we’re making it easy on you guys. Everything* on our website is 15% off, now through the end of Saturday.

For those of you who live locally, choose in-store pick up, and we’ll pack your order in one of our Happy Bambino canvas totes!

Be sure to check out some of our new items- like the Tiny Tush Wool Soakers, or the Plan Toys Wooden Fruits and Vegetables, all made in Thailand. Or go for something tried and true… favorite cousin to Sophie the Giraffe, try a charming little Chan Pie Gnon rubber teether, combat the long, chilly nights with a Ja*lu Organic Essentials Blanket, or pamper someone you love with the all-natural I Love You Aromatherapy Bubble Bath.

Just use the coupon code CHILLY upon check out to get your 15% off. Happy shopping- stay warm!

*Some restrictions apply. Can not be combined with other offers. Exclusions include:  gift certificates, Happy Bambino Memberships, Classes, Strollers, Drop-Ship Furniture, Breastpumps, or Diaper Packages.

For those of you curious as to just exactly what is going on behind the papered windows at 4116 Monona Drive (otherwise known as the new and improved… and soon to be open… location of Happy Bambino), we’re willing to shed some light.

The 2045 Atwood Ave location of Happy Bambino closed it’s doors.. for good.. on Tuesday, 12/29/09, at 5 pm.

And Tuesday night, we stayed well into the wee hours of the night packing all of our merchandise into bags and boxes.

On Wednesday and Thursday, our entire staff plus some (friends, family, customers, etc) worked alongside plumbers, electricians, and construction workers. While they ironed out the final details of the technical aspects, we packed the old store into a Uhaul and trucked it over to the new location.  Armed with a great playlist (thanks, Damis and Greg!) and a fabulous group of workers, we were able to unpack and set up a good portion of the store, and we’re starting to feel prepared for our re-opening on Saturday, 1/2/10!

Putting up the new sign - love the inclusion of the logo...

And it's up!

Our new view

We love helpers of all ages!!

New fixtures!!

Loving all the new space!!!

And wait til you see the new counter! OMG.

Here’s to a great New Year at Happy Bambino- New babies, new website, and now a new store!

“I give myself very good advice but I very seldom follow it.” — Alice in Wonderland

It’s often much easier to know what we should do to take care of ourselves during the holidays than to actually do it. Self-care needs to be simple and fun or it’s just too hard to do. Mothers of breastfeeding babies are particularly  vulnerable to losing themselves in all the extra holiday demands because everyday life with a young child can be overwhelming — even without the extras. As a constant care-giver it can be easy to slip into overwhelmed guilt trying to meet everyone else’s needs while neglecting your own health.

So I’m suggesting just four things for mamas to focus on for a happy, healthy holiday season (Keeping it simple!). Dr. Tieraona Low Dog (holistic health specialist) listed these during her recent interview on The People’s Pharmacy radio show (great public radio show promoting evidence-based healthy living). I’m adding my own ideas for to making it easy and fun to do these things as a nursing mother. I’d love to hear your ideas as well.

1. Eat well. As a nursing mama, you’re often thinking about providing the most nutritious food for your baby, breastmilk, so it’s easy to expand to thinking about your own nutrition. Knowing that you’re giving your baby the best by feeding yourself well can be a great motivator. To make it simple you can put nutritious but tasty treats by your favorite nursing location — dried fruit, nuts, fruit (how about some juicy Clementines?), dark chocolate, water. Breastfeeding can be a time to read and cookbooks can be great reading material. It’s a chance to check out some new ideas for simple but good meal ideas. I love Deborah Madison’s Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone.  It’s helped me learn how to make veggies taste really yummy. If you surf the web while you’re nursing, the Oldways website talks about using traditional foods to eat well.

2. Exercise. Mamas need exercise but it can seem unattainable in the winter. Breastfed babies are really portable, though. Putting baby in a soft carrier inside an extra big coat, pulling on no-slip boots and going for a walk can keep everyone happy. There are exercise groups that welcome babies with their mamas — yoga, group walks, swim class. Making exercise a priority (must exercise first!) makes it happen. Signing up for a class or telling your friends that you’re going to do it (and then asking them to check up on you) can be a motivator.

3. Meditate. There are lots of ways to find little bits of quiet time for focusing on being peaceful and present. One mother that I talked to told me that she used some of the times that she was nursing her little one to just focus on being there in the moment with her baby, experiencing this time together. While  women should be free to nurse wherever they want, sometimes nursing is a socially acceptable excuse to retreat from the craziness of a holiday household for a while.

4. Stay connected to people. Holidays can be great for this but they can also be stressful if it means too much connection to  friends and family that don’t support your mothering choices. Rather than just withdrawing, nursing mamas can find supportive interactions at new mother groups. There are tons in Madison (my favs are at Happy Bambino and La Leche League). At the Nursing Mamas’ Resource Station (our drop-in breastfeeding clinic) mamas will often stay just to talk with each other.

I think the most important motivation that mamas can have to take care of themselves is knowing that they need to do this for their babies. On airplanes they always say to put your own oxygen mask on before helping others. It’s the same thing for mothers in every day life. It’s really hard to take care of our children if we aren’t physically and mentally healthy ourselves.

Wishing you a joyful December with lots of hugs and happy babies! — Adria

To read more about taking care of ourselves during the holicays on the December Carnival of Breastfeeding visit these sites:

http://mamaknowsbreast.com/2009/12/a_breastfeeding_holiday_poem_1.php

http://fabnaima.blogspot.com/2009/12/dont-forget-pump.html

http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/breastfeeding-and-dehydration/

http://accidentalpharmacist.blogspot.com/2009/12/motherhood-statement.html

http://www.hobomama.com/2009/12/breastfeeding-and-holidays-how-to-take.html

http://mommynewsblog.com/the-holidays-and-being-a-breastfeeding-mom/

http://theadventuresoflactatinggirl.com/2009/12/21/breastfeeding-and-holidays/

http://breastfeeding.blog.motherwear.com/2009/12/taking-care-of-yourself-and-your-baby-during-the-holidays.html

http://www.breastfeedingmomsunite.com/2009/12/caring-for-a-high-needs-baby-during-the-holidays/

http://blacktating.blogspot.com/2009/12/december-carnival-of-breastfeeding.html

We are having an unbeatable gift card sale right now- both on our website and in our store. When you buy a $100 Happy Bambino gift card, you get a $25 gift card for free. When you buy a $75 gift card, you get a $10 gift card for free. And when you buy a $50 gift card, you get a $5 gift card free. Now that’s Happy Holidays! The only tough decision is… do you give the extra away? Or keep it for yourself…

We’re also having a huge sale on Green Toys items- because they’re just the coolest, most earth-conscious and earth-friendly toy company! All of their toys (from the Chef Set to the Dump Truck to the Tea Set to the EcoSaucer Frisbee... and more..) are made from 100% recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials. This helps reduce fossil fuel use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improving the overall health and happiness of the planet. Um, nice! When did a big business last quote that as their mantra?

Anything from Green Toys is 30% off through 12/18- so get them while they’re good!

I am totally in awe of these hip mamas. If you ever wondered just how much babywearing could free you up to have fun, take a look at this video.

In our store, for years “big kids” referred to bigger-than-babies, ie toddlers. Now that there are big big kids around (Ma’iingan will soon be eight, and Liam is 6) it’s tricky to use the big kid/BIG kid language.  For the purposes of this blog, let’s say big kids are in the toddler-preschool age.

Goodbyn’s Lunchboxes.  Can’t say enough good things about these lunchboxes.  They are definitely more of a preschoolers/gradeschooler sort of item.  But oh are they ever cool!  BPA-free, recyclable plastic.  Made in the US.  And just smart.  We use a quarter of the baggies and tinfoil that we used to.  This lunchbox is a bento box of sorts – with individual self-sealing compartments.  And kiddos get to decorate it themselves.  With the hundreds of stickers they give you.  And it’s dishwasher safe.  This is a seriously useful/fun item.  ($29.95)

 

Svan Youth Chair.  Toddlers and preschoolers outgrow high chairs, but they’re not quite ready for a grown-up seat yet.  Svan youth chairs allow the big kids a seat at the table that’s just right.  The seat and footrest are both adjustable to give the most ergonomic fit possible; the Swedish design, with its bent wood and beautiful graceful lines makes for an attractive piece of furniture that people will love to have around for years to come.  And this seat supports up to 250lbs.  So it really will be around for years – such a smart investment! ($199.95)

 

Putumayo Dreamland CDs. Talk to most any parent about their child’s sleep habits and we all have to cop to having problems, at least occasionally.  And calming music really does do something for the soul, doesn’t it?  Kiddos might not realize that this is something they need – but they’ll love it.  It’ll be the parents who understand who needed it is some nights – and they’ll love you for giving it! ($16.50)

 

Moon and Stars Table and Chairs Set.  We’ve had one of these sets in our store since we opened.  They are beautifully made, and have lasted through the years!  For a child, having their own space to play, to organize, and to “work” is really amazing.  And when that space is kids-sized, so much more comfortable too! ($160)

 

Eco Kids Drinking Bottle.  It’s reuseable.  It’s BPA free.  It’s stainless steel.  And they’re really really cute and fun.  There’s really no way to go wrong with this one. ($14.95)

 

 

Learning Tower. This saved my sanity when Ma’iingan was young.  Having her underfoot in the kitchen drove me bonkers – listening to her clamor to be “UP!” just got to be too much.  And having her sit on the counter was a dangerous endeavor (ask her about the scar millimeters from her eye sometime!).  So when I had the chance to get a Learning Tower, I jumped all over it.  This amazing….contraption (there has to be a better word, but I’m lacking the skills to think of it!) allows a kiddo (or two, maybe even three) to get to counter height safely.  They can help (or “help”) with dishes, mixing, blending – or just watch.    ($199.99)

 

Kitchen Helper. So, the one issue I had with the Learning Tower, was that it was a bit bulky.  I still made it work, even in a teeny tiny kitchen.  But my one complaint was that there was no way to really put it away.  And then came the Kitchen Helper.  Very much the same concept, but it folds closed.  It’s a little less sturdy feeling, and lighterweight – but the trade-off for someone with a small kitchen might be worth it!  ($150)

 

Leave us a comment, letting us know what your favorite present was as a child, and we’ll pick a random commenter to win a Goodbyn lunchbox.  Because we <3 them so much we have to share the love!

We’re doing a series this month featuring gift ideas that fulfill that fabulous combination of meeting a need in truly delightful ways.

Last week we focused on the treat-y items that mamas and babes need, as well as gifts under $30 for mamas and babes.

This time we’ll feature some products for parents – a few that have papa’s in mind too – since we neglected them last week!

Ju-Ju-Be strikes again! This messenger bag has all the features of the rest of the Ju-Ju-Be collection but in what perhaps could be called a less-bodacious packaging. Now we have some papa-customers who enjoy/love/put-up-with all of the bright and beautiful – but for those who don’t the Messenger Bag might be just right. ($125)

 

Mom’s Yoga. Who doesn’t need a little stress relief?  Mamas in this class keep telling us what a relief it is to come to yoga each week for a bit of “me-time”.  This class is appropriate for both novices and experienced yoga-aficionados.  For those of you buying for mamas in Madison – this is definitely a gift to consider! ($100)

 

Ergo Sport. A carrier that distributes the weight down through a person’s hips makes for a carrier folks can and will use for years. Ergo’s new carrier, the Ergo Sport, is a lighterweight version of the original Ergo – made of twill rather than canvas with a wee bit less expensive of a pricetag. ($102)

 

Bravado’s tanks. Oh what a difference it makes to start with a bra and make a tank out of it! Take one supportive fantastic nursing bra, drop a tank over it, size it both in the cup and band, and you’ve got a fantastic creation! The colors are fabulous, the support and fit is fabulous, and the fact that you’ve both a nursing bra and nursing shirt all in one makes this one nearly invaluable. ($104.95)

 

iBert. If you’ve got a biker on your hands (of the two-wheeled non-motorized variety), having the means for transporting a kiddo via bike is a bit of a necessity. Enter the iBert – a bike seat that is front mounted, keeping babe in front of you. Babe has a better view, the biker and the babe (hehe) can be in communication. Plus they’re made in the US and the feedback we’ve gotten from parents has been fantastic! ($105)

A snow day has officially been called. And so – be sure to check in on our FB Fan Page and/or sign up for our newsletter for some web-specials we’re doing to honor the fact that we’re all hunkered home with our kiddos!