> thanks to Kelly at SpainDad.com!

We’ve all heard about the benefits of using cloth diapers compared to chemical-covered disposables, but how do you change them? You might be surprised to find that cloth diapers aren’t very different thanks to recent design improvements. Don’t believe me? Check

out this great “how to” video and let me know what you think.

Are you considering using cloth diapers, or does the thought of dirty diapers in your laundry keep you from making the switch? Leave a comment for your favorite moose M.D. in the text box below!

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

Lil Baby Cakes offers themed based diaper cakes designed to match popular baby shower or baby nursery themes and this is your chance to win an adorable Safari Giraffe Theme 4-Tier Diaper Cake worth $94 retail! Each Lil’ Baby Cake comes beautifully wrapped with

premium ribbon, bow & white tulle ready for giving. Details below:

• To Enter: Leave a comment with your favorite baby name by Jan. 5th, 2010 at noon PST.
• Rules: Due to shipping restrictions, shipping is only valid in the contiguous 48 states. One winner will be chosen randomly using the random number generator Random.org and will be contacted using the provided email address.
• Multiple Entries: Increase your chances by (1) blog or tweet about the giveaway include a link in a second comment, or (2) enter a second time at Dr.MOZ’s New Facebook Fan Page!

Diaper cakes make perfect baby shower centerpieces, not to mention unique baby gifts for expectant parents. Either way, this diaper cake by Lil Baby Cakes is a gift the new parents on your gift list are sure to use and remember for years to come.!

Good luck everyone!
Dr.MOZ

> Update: Giveaway deadline extended to Jan 5th to accommodate those affected by the baby blog comment bug of ’09.

I ran into Hûske by Jurjen van Hulzen on a favorite design blog and automatically thought…public diaper changing station! Designed to be a whimsical hiding/resting place at work, I think they would be just as useful to parents in need of a good place to change a diaper in a mall or other public place. On the other hand, many businesses in the US are

still in the dark ages when it comes to breastfeeding. The Hûske might also prove to be a useful breastfeeding box for those corporations preferring slightly dorky boxes on wheels to unsightly babies and partially exposed breasts. What’s your vote America? Do you think that the  Hûske would make a better diaper changing station or breastfeeding box?

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> thanks to MoCo Loco

I was doing a little window shopping at the Birth Boutique today and ran across a product I’ve never heard of before called the Diaper Bridge. I’m not sure how long the Diaper Bridge has been on the market, but it’s a portable changing table designed to fit over sinks for

changing in public locations. The baby (up to 40 lbs) is strapped to the board which secured to the sink handle with a nylon belt.

Does anyone out there in Mozville own a Diaper Bridge?  I can see how it would be useful for bathrooms without changing tables, but strapping a fussy baby onto the board could be more trouble than finding a bench and a changing pad. It doesn’t look particularly portable, but perhaps it’s something you keep in your car. I can’t find the manufacturer, so I’m left wondering what this mystery baby product is all about. Fill me in and share your Diaper Bridge review by clicking on the comments bubble above if you own one because it seems like a strange invention to me.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

::: This Contest is Now Closed :::

This week’s baby blog giveaway is a 3 Tier diaper cake by Diaper Cake Walk! Those of you new to diaper cakes will be amazed by the towers of diapers and baby accessories artfully designed to look like actual cakes. Not only do they look great, but they’ll be the

most useful gift given at the baby shower because they are made of actual size 1 and size 2 diapers! Here’s how you can enter to win this Dr.MOZ giveaway worth over $80:

• Choose a Favorite Diaper Cake: Visit the “Bestsellers” section at DiaperCakewalk.com and choose your favorite 3 Tier Cake.
• Comment: Include the 3 Tier cake style you would like to win within your comment below. The winner will be contacted through the provided email address, so be sure to avoid typos!
• For a Double Entry: Let us know in your comment if you posted about the contest or provided a link to the Dear Dr.MOZ baby blog (http://www.deardrmoz.com) from your blog or website and your chances of winning will double.

This is a US giveaway due to shipping restrictions. Enter by 6pm PST on Sunday, March 1st. Dear Dr.MOZ is moderated throughout the day, so don’t worry if your entry isn’t instantly viewable.

Good luck!
Dr.MOZ

This week’s Dear Dr.MOZ giveaway is a fantastic daddy diaper gift pack that will almost make your new or expecting father excited to change diapers! Well, “excited” might be pushing it…but he’ll definitely be prepared because this prize pack includes everything but the baby:

• Stork Tools Daddy Diaper Bag: This modern daddy diaper bag by Dr.MOZ easily separates baby gear from dad’s gizmos with three main section dividers, two bottle holders, slash and zippered pockets, a thick/adjustable shoulder strap, a gripped handle, and an mp3 player pocket with side port!
• The First Years Diaper Kit: This portable fold-out changing pad makes diaper changing a breeze with a moisture resistant surface and multiple pockets for small baby items. It’s cushioned for comfort, and equipped with a wipes case for easy diaper duty.
• Seventh Generation Chlorine-Free Diapers: These popular, super-soft non-toxic diapers by Seventh Generation are non-irritating to a baby’s sensitive skin. Your favorite size listed below will be packed inside the diaper bag ready for gifting if you win! Choose from these sizes : Stage 1 (newborn to 10 pounds), Stage 2 (12-18 pounds), Stage 3 (16-28 pounds), or Stage 4 (22-37 pounds).
• How to Enter: In your entry/comment, tell me what color combo you would like your daddy diaper bag to be (see three Stork Tools color options), along with the size of diapers you would like packed inside. See sizes in diaper section above.

One winner will be randomly selected for this global giveaway on Sunday, October 12th at 5:00 pm PST!  Those including a link to this giveaway or to the Dear Dr.MOZ Baby Blog at www.DearDrMOZ.com will automatically receive two entries! Comments are moderated throughout the day, so only one post per family please.

Good luck everyone!
Dr.MOZ

I’ve seen a few great comments regarding g Diaper inserts hitting the baby blog lately, so I wanted to highlight a few that I think many of you may have been wondering about as

well. Recent comments from an older post include:

• Julia (on biodegradability): “I’m composting my g diapers because (1) it seems the least wasteful, (2) to complete the food web cycle, and (3) I think my soil will benefit from the rich fertility offered from human waste. I’m still evaluating how well they compost, anyone have experience with this?”

• Scott (on using cloth inserts): “…I also recently learned you can use cloth inserts instead of the disposables. That would help balance the cost of the disposable inserts, only using them while out and about.”

So let’s hear it from the g Diaper aficionados out there! The folks at g Diapers have a great collection of composting FAQs and related resources on their site, so I’ll leave a few useful links in the comments section for Julia and others interested in the topic.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

This Wednesday’s prescription is a double dose of diaper blogs featuring The Diaper Jungle and Cloth Diaper $ale!

The Diaper Jungle Blog:

• Who: Tiffany heads The Diaper Jungle along with a collection of other useful blogs and online resources like Nature Moms Blog focused on healthy living and eco-friendly parenting.
• What: The Diaper Jungle Blog is growing archive of most everything you’ll want to know about cloth diapers from brand reviews, to news on diaper sales.
• Special Features: A great introduction to the pros and cons of cloth diapering and specific brands of diapers. Read related information about eco-friendly laundry, or visit her cloth diaper directory in a spin-off resource.

Cloth Diaper $ale:

• Who: Heather is a cloth diaper guru, blogger, and overall techie with a variety of online projects in motion. See her personal blog Oh My Stinkin Heck for more.
• What: As you may have guessed, Cloth Diaper $ale focuses on cloth diaper sales. You’ll definitely want to bookmark this blog if you or anyone you know is the market for cloth diapers.
• Special Features: A huge list of up-to-date cloth diaper sales and discount news. You’ll also find a nice collection of cloth diaper forms listed in the sidebar.

Enjoy today’s featured blogs moose fans and don’t forget to tell us about your favorite family blogs in the comments bubble above.

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

Dear Dr.MOZ,

I was given a diaper bag as a new dad gift and so I thought I’d check in with the GoodFather and his crew to see what should go in it. I’m guessing that diapers and a bottle will be involved, but the rest is Greek to me. We still have a few weeks to go before the big day, so just tell me what to do and I’ll take care of it. Thanks GoodFather, I’ll owe you one!

Cheers,
NY Daddy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hello NY Daddy,

You already have your own diaper bag, so you’re a step ahead of most new dads. I wouldn’t worry about having this bag packed and ready at the hospital (you won’t need it for the ride home), but here’s what you’ll need handy for an average short trip about town.

1. Diapers and bottle (you knew this, but for the record)
2. Changing pad for unpredictable changing in random locations (padded preferred)
3. Wipes (as many as you can carry, you’ll use them all)

4. Diaper Rash Cream
5. Burp Cloth (you’ll need it if you use the bottle)
6. Bib
7. Plastic Bags (2 disposable, 2 watertight for wet clothing)
8. Sunscreen for daytime (hypoallergenic for baby’s sensitive skin)
9. Changes of clothes (trust me, you’ll need these too)
10. Small blanket
11. Hat
12. Washcloth
13. A few small toys and books

I know what you are thinking…this is a lot of baby junk isn’t it? The list might even get a little bigger based on unknowns like the weather and medication, but you’ll survive short trips with the provided list. You might also want to add water and a snack for yourself so you don’t have to make any extra stops from point A to point B. Being a GoodFather is a tough job, but you’re going to love every bit of it!

Your favorite family man,
The GoodFather

(to my home on DrMOZ.com)

As many of you already know (and some of you are already practicing), Elimination Communication “EC” is the practice of recognizing one’s baby’s signs and signals before they need to relieve themselves. When a baby needs to go to the bathroom, mom or dad notices the signs and promptly takes baby to the potty. To help “get things moving” a parent will often place baby into position and make a series of clicking and/or blowing sounds to signal that it is time to go. After a little practice, parents and babies using EC methods are usually able to go about their lives diaper-free.

Although the very thought of a baby crawling around without a diaper is enough to put most American grandmothers into an instant coma, EC is practiced worldwide and appears to be gaining steam in the US. Believe it or not, there are Elimination Communication groups located across the country and there just might be group near you. There is even a non-profit organization DiaperFreeBaby.org dedicated to educating the public about the practice and benefits of Elimination Communication. Visit their US groups directory to find a local group organized by state, or their international EC links to learn more outside of the US. The organization also has an online event calendar which helps you locate and plan for a local EC group meeting or event near you.

So what do you think moose fans? Do we have any readers out there practicing EC? If so, we would love to learn more about your day-to-day life with a diaper-free baby. Post your thoughts on the subject by clicking on the comment bubble above.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

Dear Dr.MOZ,

We’re expecting a baby in early October and we could use a little cloth diaper advice from you and your readers. I’m leaning towards “Fuzzi Buns” or “bum genius”…any preferences out there?

Thanks!
New NY Mommy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hi New NY Mommy,

Both are great cloth diapers packed full of modern design features, so you really can’t go wrong with either choice. I’ll provide a summary of each, but we’ll rely on our readers to click on the comments bubble at the top of this post to tell about which cloth diaper they like best.

Fuzzi Bunz: cloth diaper features

• The waterproof outer barrier is 100% polyurethane laminated outer poly knit to contain wetness

• polyester micro fleece inner for pulling away moisture

• pocket-style opening enables parents to customize the absorbency to fit their baby’s needs

• the elastic is encased inside the diaper to eliminate rubbing

• adjustable snap settings grow with baby

• variety of sizes, colors, and print design choices
• more information available at www.fuzzibunz.com

bumGenius: one-size cloth diapers features

• three by three snap-downs on the front of the diaper adjust the rise as your baby grows

• PUL version (non-nylon outer) may now be washed in hot water

• new laminated outer material has a soft, cloth-like feel

• double-crossover tabs for added durability

• “insert stopper” topstitch helps keep clothes dry

• one-size cloth diapers fit babies from 8 to 35 pounds

• Cotton Babies Microfiber Insert. (Note: Microfiber insert diaper doublers suggested by manufacturer for babies under 10 pounds)
• more information available at www.bumgenius.com

Thanks for the question NY Mommy, and special thanks to our readers for helping her out with your feedback and diapering advice!

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ