July 2015 Promotion!!!

Ends 7/3/2015 - also if your friend purchases with us and drops us your name and e-mail YOU will earn a $10 gift certificate toward a future Buggies and Babies purchase!!

World Breastfeeding Week 2015
In honor of WBW (August 1 - August 7) Buggies and Babies will be hosting "Breastfeeding Mini Sessions" along with Danielle Miranda Photography.
Ms Danielle was also our photographer during our Great Cloth Diaper Change back in April and her work is absolutely beautiful!

I, personally, have participated in the nursing mini sessions in the past and must share that these images are so very precious and timeless. As a nursing mom we do not have the chance to capture us nursing but to have our photo taken professionally and so beautifully is a gift you will treasure forever!

Each session, which will last 10 minutes, will cost $30 and you will receive 5 beautiful digital images. Also Ms Danielle will donate 15% of the fee toward the La Leche League!
You must RSVP to info@buggiesandbabies.com and payment is required upfront to secure to spot.

We are thrilled to announce the
Orbit BabyG3 bassinet promotion
valid June 1st to July 1st!!

Purchase any Orbit G3 items on our site - totaling $940 plus and Orbit will send you a free bassinet in your color choice.

 

 

Raffle Winner for the Great Cloth Diaper Change 2015 giveaway has been selected!!

Amber N...Congrats!!

Tula Baby Carrier Anchors

We will also notify you via email that you have won!! 

Thank you to tall who have donated! Our have been forwarded to the Real Diaper Association!

Dwinguler Play Mat - our review!

The Dwinguler playmat has become one of our hottest selling items at Buggies and Babies! We’ve been carrying these mats for about a year now and our customers continue to rave about these amazing mats! We’ve always had one or two of the mats on display at our store so not only the staff and my own kids enjoy the mats but our customers sure did as well.

Our family recently added a Dwinguler play mat to our own home as our youngest is now at the crawling/sitting stage. We  just could not be happier with our new mat!

Why the Dwinguler playmat is awesome for the babies:

Soft and Thick – gives baby a soft, cushy area for crawling on their knees but also gives baby a safe, soft landing spot when they fall on their head or face

Large - gives baby a great big space to crawl around and play

Colorful – babies love looking at different colors, shapes, characters. It engages their senses and will illicit positive emotions and feelings. 

Educational – most of the mats are reversible with one size featuring the alphabet and/or numbers. When the mat is on this side this will create a handy tool to teach letters and numbers to your little one

Safe -  the material of the mat is safe for little ones (especially if the ill one is teething and will likely gnaw on the edges). Also because it is one large piece the baby cannot grab a small square or circle piece and chew/eat it, throw it, lose it, etc!

Fun -  one side of the mat will feature fun characters, animals, shapes or even texture. Our best selling print "Dinoland" features a fun roller coaster. In our store kids would always "drive" a toy car on the coaster track. It was a great way for the children to use their imaginations.

Why the Dingle play mat is awesome for parents

EASY TO CLEAN!!! Since it’s one large piece (rather than square pieces or little connections) it can be cleaned easily, thoroughly and fast!

Soft – if you’re a parent or grandparent with bad knees (like me) you will appreciate how Dwinguler mat is so squishy and comfy. You could (and probably will) take a nap on the mat!

Fun prints/colors – the Dwinguler play mat is available in various colors and prints. The styles are generally kid finely but in such a classy way that they will look good in your common living area. Hey, we have little ones  - our guests have to understand our flooring choices are in the best interests of our littlest ones at the moment.

EASY TO CLEAN!! I have to repeat this because with babies and toddlers there will be many spills, accidents, vomit etc on your mat. Additionally, if you’re like our family and have furry family members the faster and easier to clean up is a must have. You do not want to mix dirty paws or shredding hair in the play area. Of course this will happen.

Large – the mat is about the size of a standard room size rug (7.5 feet by 4.5 feet) so using this in a playroom or family room is a perfect fit! Other mats tend to run much smaller.

Safe – because of the thick cushy design you do not have to worry about the spills/falls/drops your baby will go through in their “moving” stages. This especially is the case if you have tile or wood floors. I also think this bodes well if you have carpet! Babies put everything in their mouths – I remember one of our older ones would actually eat the carpet, which probably wasn’t yummy!

I truly cannot say enough about the Dwinguler playmat! We’ve enjoyed featuring the product inside our store and are more than pleased to now have one in our home! I would highly recommend the mat to every other household with a ill baby and/or toddler but also preschools, indoor play spaces, day cares should consider this amazing mat!

Retail prices for the mats are $179 and Buggies and Babies offers free shipping within the US contiguous states.

Available now on our site!

Great Cloth Diaper Change Giveaway!!

 

April raffle giveaway! **ENDED**

For the month of April and in conjunction with the Great Cloth Diaper Change event we are hosting, April 18^th, 2015, we will be raffling off a Tula Baby Carrier (standard size) in the popular spring/summer print “Anchors.”

This raffle is available to all! You do not need to be an attendee of our GCDC event to participate. 

Each $5 donated by you will earn you an entry to win the Tula carrier. All proceeds will be given to the Real Diaper Association (RDA),a non-profit organization whose mission it is to bring awareness through advocacy and support the benefits of cloth diapering. The RDA is also the group that helps us hosts to produce the Great Cloth Diaper Change each year. This year the GCDC is celebrating its 5^th anniversary, and this will be Buggies and Babies 4th year hosting!

To donate/earn an entry to win the Tula please click on PayPal button below. You will be re-directed to PayPal where you can donate in increments of $5. You do not a PayPal account to donate – you will be able to use any credit card OR PayPal account. 

If you're planning on joining our location for the Great Cloth Diaper Change, visit this link to register as well as submit your donation for the raffle.

We will accept the last donation at 3 PM PST April 18^th, 2015. The winner will then be selected that evening at 6 PM PST. The selected winner of the Tula Baby carrier will be notified by email, which will have been collected at the time of your donation.

April raffle details: Each $5 donation will also earn you an entry to win the prize(s) Buggies and Babies has donated.  We will select an entry at random. The winner of the raffle will be notified by the e-mail collected at the time you donate via our PayPal "Donate" button.  The winner must reply back to us within 24 hours, otherwise a new raffle winner will be selected. Buggies and Babies LLC is not responsible for any technical failures or for lost, broken, damaged or stolen prizes. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of prize, unless otherwise noted. Unless otherwise specified, open to U.S only, ages 18+. Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are in no way associated with this giveaway. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Buggies and Babies LLC reserves the right to publish winner’s first name and last initial. Buggies and Babies LLC also reserves the right to choose a different winner in the case that the randomly chosen winner acts in bad faith, refuses to co-operate with rules, reply to winning email in 24 hour time period or does not have verifiable entries. Contact information for sponsor(s), if applicable, can be found in the review text via website links. This promotion is subject to the laws of the state of California. Taxes due, if any, on prize winnings, are the sole responsibility of the winner. Void where prohibited by law.

Great Cloth Diaper Change 2015 - registration now open!!

The Great Cloth Diaper Change 2015 is happening this year on April 18th Saturday. This year GCDC is celebrating its 5th anniversary and this will be Buggies and Babies 4th year hosting!! We are thrilled once again to be hosting and hope many of you will join us to surpassing last year's record of 8400 + participants.

This year we will be hosting the event at the indoor, family fun play space "Kid Ventures Eastlake"!! We are so excited to be able to bring the GCDC to you in such a fun venue equipped with its own cafe!

Check in begins as early as 9:30 AM which will allow you and your guests to enjoy the play space for a bit before the actual count begins. We do ask that our participants arrive no later than 10:30 am so we can ensure we are all gathered and prepared for the change promptly by 10:55 am.

This year there are 3 ticket options when you register:
1) RSVP only - free ticket. Registers you and one child to participate in our GCDC event and includes your entry to Kid Ventures
2) $5 donation. Registers you and one child to participate in our GCDC event and includes your entry to Kid Ventures. Also for each $5 donation you will earn an entry to win a Tula Baby Carrier. You're welcome to donate multiple times.
3) $17 ticket registration. Registers you and one child to participate in our GCDC event and includes your entry to Kid Ventures. You will also receive a GCDC t-shirt, 1 entry to the Tula Baby giveaway, and a guaranteed gift bag.

**please follow this event on our Facebook event page as well to get up to date details** 

Event registration for Buggies and Babies Great Cloth Diaper Change '15 powered by Eventbrite

FAQs

Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?

Each participant (adult over the age of 18) must be paired with ONE child 39 inches or shorter. When you check in to the event you will be provided an identification sticker that provides you and your child an entry to the event. Also PLEASE BRING SOCKS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD.

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

Kid Ventures has a large parking lot available to everyone.

Do I need to pay for admission to Kid Ventures?
No - KV has kindly offered our guests free entry to their venue! The Spring Fair event happening concurrently as the GCDC is opened to the public which requires a $5 entry fee. You, as a GCDC participant, will only need to check in at our table so we can provide you and your guests entry. You and your guests will be required to sign the KV waiver priot to entry.
Is my partner/another child allowed to the event?
Yes, you and your guests are welcome to the event free. PLEASE NOTE at the official count only you and your child will be allowed into the designated count area. Your other child will be inside the play area where they can play and/or view the count occuring. The count is about 5 - 10 minutes so please accout for this if you will be bringing other children.

What can/can't I bring to the event?

PLEASE BRING SOCKS FOR YOU YOUR CHILD TO WEAR.

Bring the cloth diaper to change into. Each child must be changed into a cloth, reusable diaper that can be purchased online, at a brick & mortar store, or is offered through a diaper service. Make sure to bring this diaper. It does not matter what type of diaper a child arrives in.

Water is OK to bring but OUTSIDE OTHER BEVERAGES/FOOD IS NOT PERMITTED.

Who benefits from  the the donation and/or ticket proceeds?

All net proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Real Diaper Association, a non-profit organization that works to advocate for and support the use of cloth diapers. The RDA also uses the funds to research through science and evidence base studies the benefits of using cloth. The RDA also collects funds to organize diaper circles throughout the world as well as launch the Great Cloth Diaper Change event each year.

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Please email the event host melissa@buggiesandbabies.com or call 866.502.1004 ext 4

Is my registration/ticket transferable?

YES! Please email the event host to let us know who the ticket will be transferred to.

 Can I update my registration information?

Yes, please email the event host to update your registration information.

 Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No, we will have your ticket information on file. We will look your entry up by name and/or ID.

What is the refund policy?

There are no refunds. If you do not make it the event your ticket payment, if any, will be donated to the Real Diaper Association.

If my name is selected for the raffle do I need to be present at the event?

For our Tula Baby carrier giveaway, no you do not need to be present. The winner of that raffle will be selected that evening April 18, 2015 after 6 PM PDT.
All other giveaways, yes, you will be required to be present.  
Are pictures allowed?
During the count no other photography or videography is allowed other than our official photographer and/or videographer. Otherwise, before and after the event photos and videos can be taken by you.

Fundraiser and Raffle Giveaway!!

ENDED!! 


Each month Buggies and Babies will be having a fundraiser/donation raffle!! Proceeds for our monthly raffles will be going to a different charity group.

This month we will be donating the following items :
a Ju Ju Be Be Have as well as a matching Be Quick!!
This perfect duo pair is great for a mom whether she uses the two for her little ones or for herself! 

Also for our February fundraiser we have decided that the winner of the raffle will select the charity where all proceeds will go!

Your donation of $5 will earn you a ticket to win the prizes! You may donate as often as you would like.  To pay, please click on the PayPal link below to submit your $5 donation. You can pay with a PayPal account or any credit card. You do not need a PayPal account to participate. Fundraiser starts now and ends Saturday March 7th at 11:59 PM PDT.

February raffle details: $5 donation will also earn you an entry to win the prizes we have donated.  We will select an entry at random. The winner of the raffle will be asked to provide information on their favorite charity. Said charity will then be named as the sole beneficiary of the proceeds. The winner must reply back to us within 24 hours, otherwise a new raffle winner will be selected. Buggies and Babies LLC is not responsible for any technical failures or for lost, broken, damaged or stolen prizes. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of prize, unless otherwise noted. Unless otherwise specified, open to U.S only, ages 18+. Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are in no way associated with this giveaway. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Buggies and Babies LLC reserves the right to publish winner’s first name and last initial. Buggies and Babies LLC also reserves the right to choose a different winner in the case that the randomly chosen winner acts in bad faith, refuses to co-operate with rules, reply to winning email in 24 hour time period or does not have verifiable entries. Contact information for sponsor(s), if applicable, can be found in the review text via website links. This promotion is subject to the laws of the state of California. Taxes due, if any, on prize winnings, are the sole responsibility of the winner. Void where prohibited by law.

 

Enter today to win a Bumbleride Flite Stroller!

Buggies and Babies is giving away one of our favorite strollers - the Bumbleride Flite!


You'll have different options to earn more entries, which only increases your chances to win! You can enter each day by sharing the raffle, tweeting about the giveaway, and/or leaving a comment on this post.

Please review the terms and conditions of the giveaway. If the winner is unable to pick up the prize at our retail location, we are able to ship to you for $9.95.

Raffle begins today 10/19 12 pm and ends 10/24 at 12 PM.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bumbleride Flite Giveaway!!

Buggies and Babies Giveaway!!

This Sunday October 19 2014 follow our blog here or on our Facebook page to enter in our giveaway for a Bumbleride Flite stroller! Contest begins Sunday October 19 and ends Friday October 24 2014!

Our family loves the Bumbleride Flite! Since it was released in 2010 we've owned 2 and now we want to give one away to one of our lucky followers!

The Bumbleride Flite is a very lightweight umbrella type stroller that is well known for its smooth ride, smart functions, and stylish looks. You will really appreciate how well this Flite maneuvers around town  - smooth and easy! We recently took our Flite to the Pumpkin Patch here in San Diego with our kiddos. At our local pumpkin patch the ground is full of gravel and hay - its everywhere! Despite the bumpy road our stroller moved along amazingly. The suspension in the Flite wheels is something you would find in a jogger or all-terrain stroller - it's great for all types of terrains.

As you can see I had our 9 week old as well as our 2.5 year old riding in our Flite. The Bumbleride Flite like other Bumbleride models is great for newborns. Whether you want to use the car seat adapter and attach a compatible car seat or have your lil one lie flat in the seat, the Flite will be comfortable for your baby and you too.

Another favorite feature of the Flite is the very small compact fold! We have a big minivan so we can fit a big stroller in it. However, with all the other kids' items we have to pack for an outing backpacks, bags, blankets, clothes, baby carriers, diaper bags, lunches I don't have space for our everyday stroller! This makes the Flite perfect for those who are looking for a high quality stroller but don't have the space to pack a lot - whether you have a small trunk space or just overpacked.

The Flite is also great for traveling as it holds a lot - up to 50 pounds. Then when its time to board the plane, hop in a taxi, or catch a ride on a trolley the Flite folds up small. 

If you're looking for a stroller that's lightweight, great for everyday use and accommodates a newborn yet will grow with your child the Flite is for you! If you've got an amazing everyday stroller but are looking for a lightweight, umbrella stroller with high quality design and function the Flite is for you too! 

Here's a breakdown of just some of the Flite's awesome features:

• Large canopy that can be pulled down for more sun coverage
• Near flat recline - great for nap time and diaper changes
• Large seat that accommodates newborns to tall/big kids up to 50 pounds
• Adjustable 5 point harness that fits a small newborn as well as bigger kids
• Adjustable footrest great to keep little legs from hanging, especially during naps
• Fun, stylish colors - it comes in 7 awesome colors
• Sturdy design - it can hold up to 50 pounds!
• Weighs 13 pounds
• Small, compact fold
• Decent size understorage basket that you can access front - allows for a wide opening

The Flite comes standard with the following accessories:

• carrying strap
• car seat adapter to securely attach your favorite infant car seat
• parent cup holder

Ready to get started with cloth diapering?!

Let us point you in the right direction! Check out our cost saving cloth diaper packages!!

http://www.buggiesandbabies.com/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=197


 I recall when I began learning about cloth diapers it was overwhelming and very confusing understanding the different terms and the cloth diaper lingo. What was a pocket, an insert, and a prefold? How may did I need or how do I wash? What did I do with the really dirty diapers? These were just a few of the many, many questions I had when I was pregnant with my 2nd.  I wish I had the local resources and support to understand all I needed to get started. Buggies and Babies offers each month two free Cloth Diaper 101 classes a month – we introduce all the different systems, ways to use, how to wash and maintain, and answer your questions as well as clear up any misconceptions you may have. We have attendees who are either new to cloth as well as experience cloth diapering families who come together to support and encourage our cloth diapering ways.

To help families get started with their cloth diapering journey Buggies and Babies has created several cloth diaper packages based on products that are not only great for your budget but also help to make cloth diapering easy! We have packages available for those starting out on baby’s first day or those who want to start with an older baby such as 3 months 1 year or even a toddler. At whichever stage you’re in and based on your budget we have a package for you!

Check out our packages here! Each package will save you 20% off plus the retail prices. We offer as a base prefolds and covers. Prefold diapers are a great choice for cloth diapering because as a 100% natural cotton they are safe against baby’s skin but are also very easy to maintain. I have some prefolds in my stash that are over 2 years with proper cleaning mine have absolutely no stains and are still just as soft and absorbent as they were from day 1. Our packages include covers (also known as wraps), which are used to go over the prefolds – to ensure a dry baby. At each diaper change if there is no stain to the cover or it still feels dry to the touch simply replace the prefold and reuse the same cover. This is why covers and prefolds are easy on the budget – you can reuse the same cover 2 to 3 times.
Additionally you’re able to add extra covers to each package as well as pocket diapers. We also feature an essential add on which includes “essentials” you really need for cloth diapering – cloth diaper safe detergent, cloth diaper safe diaper cream, a diaper pail liner, and a wet bag.
If you’re a local family please visit us during our Cloth Diapering 101 events. We’re happy to answer all your questions and help you feel comfortable with cloth diapering. Every staff member that works at Buggies and Babies cloth diapers so as moms we’re happy to share our experiences and assist you!

Here are several more tips I wish someone had shared with me when I started cloth diapering:
1) Make sure to put on the cloth diaper just right. Putting on a disposable diaper is much different than a cloth diaper. If the cloth diaper is not on right you will have leaking. Also the right fit will ensure the cloth diaper fits until toddler stage, whether you have a petite or above average size baby.
2) Sunning your diapers is the #1 best way to get rid of stains and smells. A clothes hanger rack can hold a load of diapers – just hang your just washed diapers on the rack or on your clothes line and let the UV rays from the sun do its job. Don’t have a yard? UV rays can go through most windows, place the rack along a window and watch the stains disappear.
3) You do not need a lot of cloth diapers – 24 to 30 total is a good amount. Any more you tend to wash less. Any less than you’ll be washing more frequently or need disposables to supplement.
4) Cloth diapering is not expensive. If you buy the right system from quality manufacturers you will not have to invest hundreds! You can cloth diaper full time with quality cloth products for under $200. Our packages are all under $200.
5) There are manufacturers that offer $5 cloth diapers – these can save you money. However many of our customers and friends who have bought these have had many problems with sewing quality, absorbency, and fit. They then have to return or sell then re-buy – at the end of the day they end up paying much more. Stick with vendors whose products are made in the USA or at USA based.

My Economical Choice of cloth diapering!

I started cloth diapering when I had by 2^nd daughter who was born September 2008. I had used many cloth diapering brands and systems with her. Overtime, I found that the most affordable for me were the prefolds and the covers. Fast forward three and half years later, now I have my third baby who I’m cloth diapering and am loving the prefolds and covers again. I was not sure about doing the prefolds at first so I did buy about a dozen XS Fuzzi Bunz which have been great! My son is about 10 pounds (or more) now at 4 weeks old and fits perfectly in the XS Fuzzi Bunz. (SIDE NOTE – my daughter fit in her size Small Fuzzi Bunz until she was 18 months.)

However, a dozen XS Fuzzi Bunz are not enough so I started on my prefolds when my lil guy was 2 weeks. We use the Bumkins Indian Unbleached Cotton Prefolds, which, of course, we carry at Buggies and Babies :) Why Indian Unbleached Cotton versus the other prefold type known as Chinese Unbleached cotton? Because they’re

• soft and very absorbent
• take less washing time to get soft and absorbent
• unbleached cotton because it retains much of their natural cotton  and are softer and more durable than bleached prefolds
•  bleached prefolds which are white tend to be less absorbent as the bleach weakens the fiber of the cotton

Keep in mind that to get the Indian Unbleached Prefolds ready for cloth diapering you do have to wash/dry the prefolds at least 3 – 5 times. I washed mine with each load of regular clothes laundry rather than washing alone and wasting all that water and energy. Also note that after the many washes and dries the prefolds will shrink to 95% of its original size. Thus, if you’re planning on folding your prefold like a diaper than the infant size is best for a newborn. I will post pics soon! My new camera is acting up on me!

My all time favorite cover is the Thirties Wrap. When I was diapering my daughter over 3 years ago Thirsties did not have the Duo Sizes. I thought the Duo Cover Size 1 would be too big for my newborn but it fits perfectly!

Anway, back to my point, how is this economical? Well in one day I am able to use one Duo Cover for the 10 – 12 changes we do in one day. Here is how the numbers break down:

One Thirsties Cover = $12.75
Two Packages of 6 Infant Size Prefolds is $13.95 x 2 = $27.90
So…for one day of diapering you could do it for only $40.65. If you wanted to have 3 days of worth of covers and prefolds you would be spending about $125. Wow, on a budget someone could spend only $125 for 1 year+ worth of cloth diapers?

Compare this total to 1 box of disposables which at Costco are about $41 for only a 3 week supply or $710+ for a year supply – OUCH!! For me, switching to cloth was an environmental choice. Of course, I needed to be economical about it as well!! I also love how much cuter cloth diapers are than disposables.

If you do opt for disposables or prefer to do part time cloth then I highly recommend Seventh Generation Cloth Diapers. They do not have any of those artificial absorbent bubble or bead things in their diapers. (What are those things?) I haven’t done too much research on the Seventh Generation Brand but they do seem less harmful than other disposables. What are your thoughts on disposables? Does anyone recommend a particular brand for us parents who may need to do the occasional disposable?

2011 Holiday Gift Ideas at Buggies and Babies!

Here are just a few Gift giving ideas that you can find at Buggies and Babies! You can always purchase gift certificates which help to make shopping quick and easy!

Personal gift ideas
•   Happy Blankie "One to love, one to give." Happy Blankie are cute, animal print blankies and are perfect for little ones! They make fun comfort blankets especially for nap times! The Happy Blankie company was built on their foundation of gifting a blanket to a child in need for every blanket purchased. Not only is this a great way to help another little one but their blankets make wonderful gifts as each are really soft, comfy, and cute! Buggies and Babies will host a Happy Blankie event on Friday November 25, 2011 from 1 pm - 3 pm click here for more details about Happy Blankie
•    Designs by Janessa Charm Prints – have your baby’s thumb or toe print engraved forever on a charm that you can gift to a family member or friend. The print kits are only $10 at Buggies and Babies then you forward the mold to Designs by Janessa, select your charm, and Janessa will mail your gift directly to you. Also the price of the kit will be taken off your final charm costs.
•    Doodlebug Designs Ceramic plates – these plates will feature your lil one’s hands and/or feet on a plate. You choose the plate size, shape, color as well as the inscription on the plate. You can also include other siblings or your own hands and/or feet. For our Christmas in store event Sunday December 4th 12 – 2 PM Doodlebug Designs will also have holiday ornaments, mugs, picture frames to choose from. These make great personal, timeless keepsakes.
•    Design Me Chalkboard Cross – these 8.5” x 11” wooden crosses are painted with Black chalkboard paint and include chalk which lets you or child write their own message on the cross. Great for Baby’s 1st Christmas or babies being born or baptized around the holiday time.
•    Holiday photo shoot – our family does this every year. It’s a great time of the year to get our family together for a photography session. This year we did it outside my parent’s house in the pouring rain, it was beautiful but COLD! Also the professional pictures make great additions to your holiday greeting cards. We really suggest local photographers Photos by Leyna or Stills by Hill. We've worked with both companies and love their work! Book them soon!

Holiday Gift ideas
•    Mud Pie Holiday Attire and accessories are always hit every Holiday season. Their adorable bloomers, tights, legwarmers are to DIE FOR! Also, for Boys the Santa Longalls, knit hats, knit booties, or holiday socks are cool and practical.
•    Baby Legs leg warmers are great stocking stuffers and will come in handy during our cold nights. Buggies and Babies carries newborn sizes and one size fits most, which really do fit most (even past 5 years old!)
•    Buggies and Babies features many custom made products of local vendors such as custom baby blankets, beanies, booties, hair accessories, and much more! Custom made gifts are always unique and thoughtful gifts
•    Ju Ju Be wallets and accessories – such as the Be Quick, Mighty Be, Be Major, Be Light are smart practical bags that are not pricey but will make any Mom very pleased. The Be Quick can be used for light diaper bag essentials (wipes and a couple diapers) or for Moms own personal things (like how I use my Be Quick’s).
•    Aden and Anais slumber packs or sleeping bags are a popular gift year round, so, of course you can’t go wrong with their products for Holiday gifts. The muslin weave of Aden and Anais products make their material breathable and provide just the right amount of warmth. If you opt for the Bamboo fabric you’ll get extra softness and comfort. The Aden and Anais cozy sleep sacks are great for bed time – with 4 layers of muslin babies will be sure to sleep soundly and warmly.


Buggies and Babies certainly hopes this guide helps you come up with great gift ideas. Our family, each year, creates a list of who we are giving gifts to, which is sorted by age. This helps me to know which stores I should check out and which gift ideas I can select from. Anything to minimize the time I spend in a busy mall is great for me!
The Otay Ranch Town Center in East Chula Vista will have great Black Friday specials. The mall is also not as crazy busy as other malls so come check us out!

Happy Halloween! My DIY Costume!

This year, now that both our girls our older, we decided to do a theme for our Halloween costumes. In the past our girls were always princesses and my husband and I would put on whatever old clothes we can put together OR not dress up at all. This year we decided on the Toy Story theme – fun! We bought our girls’ costumes last month at a Halloween store. Our 5 year old will be Jessie and our 3 year old is Little Bo Beep – cute! Our girls opted for the female characters, so I do hope others will understand our theme since we don’t have a Woody or Buzz. Maybe we can find Woody and Buzz Light Year costumes for our dogs (although our Lab is a female – oh well!)
For hubby and me, we will be Mr and Mrs Potato Head. Since, I’m 5 months preggo being Mr and Mrs Potato Head seems much more comfortable than doing Ken and Barbie. Anyhow, to save money I decided to make our own costumes. I figured it couldn’t be too hard for me to sew the brown “potato” dress, and the cut outs could also easily be traced and copied. Well, here are the results – our costumes didn’t turn out to bad, right?? I’m excited I finished them – in one day too! It helped big time that my brother is a great artist who helped me trace out the face parts.

Click here to see more images of my work and our costumes (will post more soon!!)

Here are the details of what I spent and used to make our costumes:

• 3 yards of brown cotton fabric (I know my dress is darker than the actual Potato Head characters but I liked this color of brown)



• ¼ to ½ yard each of the following felt colors: black, white, red, pink, and purple
  


• Total spent $24.04 at yardage town
  
  
  
  
  
  

Sign4Baby Classes hosted by Buggies and Babies

Buggies and Babies has had the honor of hosting Sign4Baby classes taught by certified Signing Time instructor, Ms Joann W. since January 2011. Since then, we've enjoyed one 6 week session after another! Sign4Baby is a all-around fun, educational, social, and energetic class. It's a great time to enjoy one-on-one time with your child plus you'll get to meet other families with their little ones. Sign4Baby is intended for babies 5 months to toddlers up to 20 months. This class is designed to build an early communication for your little one and will jump start their verbal skills as well. We offer this class every 6 weeks on Wednesdays at 9:30 AM in our store. For more info on our class visit our website events page under Categories or ask one of our associates whenever you come to visit us at the Otay Ranch Town Center.

Here's a great review from one of our families who has taken 2 session of the Sign4Baby class with us:

"My daughter and I started attending Joann's Sign4Baby classes at Buggies and Babies when she was 10 months old. I think registering for baby sign language class was one of the best decisions we have made. The weekly classes were so much fun, integrating play, song and learning to sign. My little one loved it, and would always get excited about going every week. During class it seemed as if her attention was focused on learning only part of the time, but when she hit 12 months old, the signs began to flow! She is quite a signing chatterbox! Everything from the usual 'more', 'all done', and 'milk' to fun signs including 'flower', 'monkey', 'butterfly', and 'apple'. One of her favorite activities is pointing to objects or pictures in books, signing the item and having me tell her the word and repeat the sign. She is such a fast learner, so it seems like she is learning a new sign everyday. It's amazing and very exciting watching her and being able to communicate. I am so grateful to Sign4Baby and Buggies and Babies for making this available to our community."

ERGObaby Carrier Giveaway

We are starting off the new year with an ERGObaby Carrier!! ERGObaby carriers are one of the best carriers available! Buggies and Babies loves the ERGObaby for it's ease of use, comfort, and safety. You will truly save your back and your arms. My mom has used our ERGO to carry our lil one and she was even surprised how simple and safe it was. We can't tell everyone enough how much an ERGO is worth it but hopefully this contest will help spread the word :)

Contest details:
Earn 5 entries for every $25 spent
Earn 1 entry for each of the following:
Join our Facebook page
Follow us on Twitter
Join our Mailing List
Refer a friend to our Facebook page, Twitter account, or Mailing List
When you or friend join any of our social media accounts make sure to comment "I'm entering to win the ERGO" - it'll serve as a reminder for us :)
WE will select one entry on January 17, 2011 Monday. The winner will be notified and will have their choice of a Cranberry, Camel, or Black ERGObaby carrier. If you're not local, we will ship the carrier to you.
Contest ends Sunday January 16 2011 at midnight.

Good luck everyone!!

Buggies and Babies Birthday!

One year ago this same time, we added a new addition to our family! Our store, Buggies and Babies, was born! Well, a year ago we were known as San Diego Baby Gear Exchange. Just a quick story on our name - we wanted something fun and catchy, but just like when you name your child...it's hard! We went with a web friendly, searchable name and that's how we came up with our former name. However, I wasn't pleased with the name but we had to come up with something fast. A few months later, I thought of our current name but we weren't a 100% sure. Anyhow, we asked our close friend and family and our oldest daughter what they thought. They all voted on Buggies and Babies and so when we moved to our new location this past February we decided it was the right time to make the change.
So, now, a year later our store is triple the size (our 1st space was really small! some of you know!) We carry many more great products and essentials. We are growing slowly for surely and hope we can continue to grow and expand. We love being a part of this community and offering our resources, producs, and experiences with our customers.
If you haven't done so already, please join our mailing list for updates of our products, new products, and upcoming promiations. This month we have a great speical going on in honor our Buggies and Babies 1st birthday!

My New Favorite Diaper Bag

My Favorite New Diaper Bag!
Of course, I am Ju-Ju-Be loyal – why not they have all the features a Mom or Dad needs from a diaper bag. In fact, Ju-Ju-Be bags have features I did not even think I needed or wanted! Anyhow, my new favorite is the BeTween. As a retailer I first thought the bag was too small especially for its price. Anyhow, over the past few months I have noticed more and more Moms with a BeTween. I even talked to a Mom that had 2 little ones and she said she loved her BeTween. I was not sure it would work for me because I carry SO many things with me – often, I have 2 – 3 bags wherever I go! At the same time I am a babywearer (for convenience and comfort) and carry my little one on my back with the ERGObaby Carrier all the time. For that reason, I need a light, messenger style bag so it’s doesn’t add more weight to my back AND is out of my daughter’s way…the BeTween is the PERFECT match!! Surprisingly, just like other Ju-Ju-Be bags the BeTween holds a ton of things. I was able to fit a change of clothes for both girls, 4 diapers, wipes, socks, sun block, and their sunglasses AS WELL AS have a zippered front pocket for ALL of my essentials. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Oh, on top of all this, I got the new pattern in Marvelous Mums that matches perfectly with my Bumbleride Seagrass Flite.
Think price is too much? Bring in your used baby gear product(s) to sell or trade-in. We love quality, gently used products and offer consignment or store credit towards our new products.

BOB Gear Revolution are in!

After 4 months of being on backorder we got in just a few Single Revolutions today. If anyone is in the market for a single BOB Gear Revolution, Buggies and Babies is your source. Please call or email to reserve yours. Remaining in stock now is Black, Navy, and Mesa Orange - they're going fast! We should be getting other colors and doubles in by mid July.

http://www.buggiesandbabies.com/category_5/BOB-Gear.htm

Breastfeeding Facts - actual stats and my own

For expecting moms that plan or are not sure of nursing their baby’s here are some facts and some of my own personal experiences :)
• Studies show that women who breastfeed are 50% less likely to develop breast cancer
• Worldwide, the average age that babies stop breastfeeding is 3 to 4 years
(my oldest stopped at 15 months and my little one dtill nurses at 19 months)
• The average cost of breastfeeding per year is about $300 – which I assume is for the cost of nursing bras, nursing pads, a good pump, nursing cover, etc
• The average cost of formulate feeding per year is between $1000 and $2000
• Research has shown that breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS as well as child’s likelihood to develop allergies, ear infections and asthma

Here are a few other personal facts that I experienced:
*You burn over 500 calories every time you nurse – you will lose your baby weight fast! Of course, you still need to eat healthy. Nursing makes you hungry AND very thirsty. Definitely drink tons of water – we had to invest in water delivery after I started nursing because I drank so much water and was tired of buying all the bottled waters. Plus bottles = not eco-friendly :)
You get hungry – I honestly ate more as a nursing mom than an expecting mom. You need to eat a lot but make sure you eat a LOT of healthy food – you still need all the good nutrients so they can be passed on to your little one.
*Your hubby never has to get up in the middle of the night to heat up a bottle – they’ll love that. In fact, you never have to get out of bed either. Well maybe for a few minutes to pick up baby or put them back to their bed after nursing. Unless you co-sleep like we did – I fall asleep while nursing…I need my sleep!
*One of my downsides – I am a modest person and am self-conscious. I was totally embarrassed to nurse in public or even pump in a public area. I used to prefer nursing in my car than at a booth in a restaurant even with a shawl! If you feel the same way – it’s okay. I realized that really no one is looking at me if anything they probably just think my baby is sleeping under a blanket. Right?? Remember it is the LAW for a mother to breastfeed her child in ANY location, public or private California Civil Code 43.3
Now with our 2nd one I’m okay but I still use my shawl – of course!
If you are nursing and/or are having troubles attend local breastfeeding support groups. They have meetings everywhere and they’re fun - you can share your fears, concerns, or advice. I’ve attended a few La Leche Leage meetings – they’re very welcoming and supportive. Good luck to you!!