One of the reasons we use cloth diapers is to save money. I've been curious to know how much we've saved in Alleke's first two years, so I crunched the numbers.

Cloth Diaper Costs
Indian Cotton Prefolds (infant size) - $2.25 x 20 = $45
Chinese Cotton Prefolds (premium size) - $2.75 x 20 = $55
Proraps Classic (small) - $8.95 x 4 = $35.80
Proraps Classic (medium) - $8.95 x 4 = $35.80
Bummis Super Whisper Wrap - $12.25 x 4 = $49
Bum Genius 2.0 - $17.95 x 4 = $71.80
Fuzzi Bunz - $19.95
Kissaluvs Fitted - $11.50
Thirsties Hemp Insert - $5.00
Snappi Diaper Fastener - $2.99
Kushies Diaper Liners - $8.99 x 2 = $17.98
Bummis Tote Bag - $6.99
Water - $12.50

Total $369.31

Disposable Diaper Costs
7 disposable diapers x 364 days = 2,548 diapers x $.045 each = $1146.60 a year.

Total: $2293,20 ... read more >>

We recently found out about a reminder service for gits called SomeoneSpoilMe.com. A good idea? Certainly. The site is well put together and features daily gift ideas as well as a reminder service (although the navigation is a bit cumbersome and it seems there are still a few bugs left to tidy up). The site design and imagery is clearly targetting women - which is fine of course. Unfortunately Father's Day (in the US) seems to bring out the worst in stereotypes and generalisations about what fathers like and someonespoilme.com is no different in their approach. So they end up being another site that strengthens the image of fathers as the "dim-witted parent who is really only good for bringing home the bacon (see below)".

Example of the day from someonespoilme.com:

"Cheers to Dad! (Posted Monday 9 June 08) ... read more >>

This week I’m coming to you live from my office like I do every other week, but this week we are talking about learning toys and there are a few out there. Something that we got lots of when Pyper was born it probably seemed the likely choice. It takes into account lots of different learning abilities for the child.

If you are thinking of buying a development toy for your baby then I think you should look at price vs practicality vs size. In this case yes size does matter if it covers the floor then it’s not a learning toy it’s an expensive glorified mat.

Pros:
• They come in all shapes and sized and wonderful colours (make sure your not hung over when operating them, colours may cause confusion)
• Great for developing fine motor skills
• Each toy does a different developmental operation for your baby
• Primarily aimed at babies up to 24months

Cons ... read more >>

This week I tackle an issue that is always growing well to a certain extent – shoes!!

We have been blessed to have been on both sides of the equation from Bobux to Reebok.

Now we live in a world that is huge on image and that we all want to look a certain way, but making sure our babies look and act a certain way seems a little crazy to me.

Now when babies start to walk they have very precious and weak little feet so making sure they wear good shoes is imperative.

We were given some baby Nike shoes of which I must say are very easy to put on and take off, but at the end of the day, she should never walk in them and in fact she should only have them as a way of covering her feet. We have another brand of shoes call Bobux that we use for more practical applications, and they have a very flimsy leather base.

SO let’s put them to the test and see how they go:

Pros:
• Very cute and nice designs ... read more >>

Thanks to Ava's generous Grandfather, we were given a very cool Infant Monitor to monitor our new baby Ava while she sleeps.

Just like any other Infant Monitor we can listen to every sound little Ava makes, sound also displays as flashing lights on the parent monitor. The Parent Monitor is also mobile and has a clip so that it can be attached during the daily routine of hanging out washing or just being about the house.

What sets this monitor apart from others we have seen available in New Zealand of the shelf, is the colour video monitor, and it works at night too using basic night vision technology (no need to keep a light on). And it can be plugged into the TV via the AV Cable how cool is that??? All I need to do is change channel and there is Ava asleep (or not asleep).

Visit www.summerinfant.com for more information. ... read more >>

I’m “stuck on you” – you heard correctly stuck on you, it’s a great children’s labelling system.

Have you had problems with daycare and school and loosing things or people saying that things are theirs and you know bloody well they are aren’t? Well then “stuck on you” is for YOU!!

We had heard about it through our local daycare centre and after a day of losing a couple of Pypers items of clothing decided that we would get it straight away..

Pros:
• Sticks to all types of surfaces – clothes, drink bottles, formula bottles, shoes, bags you name it
• Great value for money with lots of options that don’t cost a bomb!
• Easy to stick on and stays on to the different types of surfaces ... read more >>

Nope that’s correct its Twinkle Toes, and what a cool idea for any new baby.

WE had our naming ceremony on Sunday, and that was fantastic and we decided that we would get one of these portraits of Pypers hands & feet and also a plaque that goes inside with her full name, date of birth, weight at birth and time of birth.

Once I went around to the ladies house and saw them I was hooked, they are just fantastic and they are done in all colours and the quality is where you know they haven’t skimped or saved.

What we also decided to do was give one of these to our parents etc as a gift they could put on the wall, as they just love her to bits.

So what’s behind this – it’s basically “plaster of Paris” with a gold coating over the top of her hands and or feet, in a glass and wooden photo frame, of a particular time – she was 7 months old when we had it done.

Pros ... read more >>

A Podcast hosted on International Dad featuring show hosts Scott Lancaster and co-hosts Eric Mooij and Stefan Korn from DIYFather.com.

Today guest on DIY Father is Author Eric Anderson.



Author Eric Anderson knew what he was looking for and knew he wasn’t finding it. The new father was searching through a local bookstore for stories about fathers and daughters and was disappointed by the lack of books portraying those relationships. Anderson realized that if he wanted to read such a story to his daughter, he was going to have to write it himself. So that’s exactly what he did.

“The humorous books tend to depict fathers as bumbling figures and the sentimental books tend to mythologize the role of the father. I felt neither bumbling nor God-like, so I decided to write about what the relationship means to me,” said Anderson, a busy writer and director who lives in River Forest, Illinois with his wife and daughter. “Of course, I needed a story to write about first…”

Anderson recalls the day he had the idea for the book. “I was carrying Alena back from another fruitless visit to the bookstore. I was holding her close, and she smiled at me and it brought tears to my eyes. I remember feeling ‘that smile is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen.’” ... read more >>

Here is another device which I think I am in love with at this stage! I believe that it’s great for a couple of reasons –

1) My mother brought it so it didnt cost me a cent!

2) Its blue and she is a girl and we are a little over everything being damn pink!

Now its called Bumbo and its a South African seat for feeding your baby to 4 years old in.

It is a lot more stable and seems to fit on all/most surfaces. My mother paid around $60 AUD for it so its a good buy and not a goodbye to your money!!

We have another one which has a table and can be velcroed onto the fronts of chairs and the like – different concept but I understand the appeal of both formats.

It allows for Pyper to sit in it when being fed and therefore she isnt able to get out of it so easily – well at this stage but I have found a couple of things that I will review;

Pros
* Like I said its blue NOT pink ... read more >>

BOXING DAY SALES!!!

"Do you want to go shopping?" says my wife. "NO WAY!!! You have to be joking!" is my stock standard reply for Boxing Day Sales. I don't enjoy shopping with my wife at the best of times, but on BOXING DAY!!! that is just insane!