Top 10 Toys In the First Year

Hi, my name is Gina, and I am addicted to buying cute baby toys.

In my son’s first year I had a space and budget constraints for baby toys, and yet every month I found myself justifying one more thing. Fortunately that slowed down after christmas when I found myself so overwhelmed with gifts in our home from family and friends. There is so much to consume, and admittedly babies really don’t need much. And if I’m really honest, some of the best toys are left over rubbish. Containers and packaging are a huge hit in our house, there is one toothpaste box I am convinced we’ll send Sami off to college with.

To save you from the over consumption and possible decision fatigue of baby trinkets and toys, here are some of the things my son loved the most (each for around $15).

  1. Ball with bell, our favorite ($15) is from his Lalo play gym ($115) and he has loved it since the newborn days (he still plays with it to this day!). He would stare up at it from his tummy time mat and it was one of the first things he ever reached for. It looks worse for wear now but I love that it is machine washable and I know this will be kept in his memory chest forever.

  2. Another toy that has grown with him is this sensory taco ($15).This sensory taco Not only is it a cute and colorful taco, it’s a great developmental toy with diffent textures and sounds including crinkle fabrics and teethers. It’s been great as my son has developed to take things out and put things in one another.

  3. The O-ball ($5) is the perfect first toy because it is so easy to grasp. Its great as baby gets older too as you can hang it form things or stuff soft objects inside (like the next recommendation) for them to play with and remove.

  4. An object you probably have lying in a dresser is a scarf. I repurposed an under used silk scarf for peekaboo and it is one of my sons all time favorite activities. He loves the feeling of it against his face and pulling it off of his and others heads.

  5. These wooden blocks ($15) from IKEA have been a hit ever since Sami started to grab things. The size is perfect for little hands and watching his motor skill develop to begin to stoack them has been astonishing. I love how simple and satisfying they are, and they are versatile and can be used for more than staking and building.

  6. These stacking cups ($15) are another toy that have been a fan favorite. I think they really came into the rotation when Sami started sitting up. He orginally was obsessed with knocking them down, but now he stacks, nests, and uses them as cups. I’m excited for him to use them with a water table this summer too!

  7. When I first bought this wooden ring stacker ($13), I thought I may have made a mistake because the rings were so heavy for him (at first…). We kept it in the rotation though because he loves removing the rings and picked up how to do that effiently very quickly. Then we noticed him tryingt o place the rings and while it took a while to master he learned and was incredibly proud of himself! Again, another toy we’ll keep forever and he still loves to play with to this day.

  8. Another challenge toy our son had to grow into was this object permanence box ($13). We liked this one because it was sturdy enough to be thrown around and the balls are the perfect size for his hands while not being a choking hazard. We use the wooden balls for other games when the box isn’t in current rotation.

  9. This one may come as a bit of a surprise, but this musical hedgehog ($18) is a daily favorite. It was recommended to me during the early days of sleep deprivation, and while it didn’t help put our son to sleep (it vibrates and plays lullabys), he loves playing the music in the background while he’s playing. And we love it because the music isn’t obnoxious!

  10. And last but not least, a basket ($15 for two) with sensory balls ($17 for 10). Great for storage and all sorts of game and play. We have spent hours of our life filling and emptying baskets with balls and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As I am wrapping this up I realize the big theme here are balls which makes sense because my boy is obsessed with balls. Who can blame him, they are pretty amazing and versatile! I hope this list is helpful, and helps you keep your home from becoming a Toy’s ‘R’ Us (at least in the early days!).

Why I Don't Post My Childs Face Online

Posting pictures, and videos on the internet of your children is becoming sucha c topic of conversation it even has a word now, “sharenting.” I get questions occasionally about why exactly I block out my son’s face in pictures. It’s not me trying to be mysterious, and I am definitely not anti-picture. My phone's bursting with blurry close-ups of tiny toes and gummy grins, mostly for my eyes and the “fan club” (aka our family group chat). But the big, wide web? My kid's face stays firmly offline.

I should start by saying, it is so hard not to post my baby’s face online. He is the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in my life, and I MADE him, I am so proud and would love to show him to the world! So suffice it to say, I completely understand the urge to share photos far and wide and do not pass judgement on anyone who does.

But why don’t I? Honestly, it just always felt... strange. Even before I was pregnant I’d scroll through endless timelines, watching strangers' babies morph into toddlers, then teens. I knew their favorite snacks, their pet's name, the weird inside joke from that beach vacation two years back. And then, one day, my partner asks, "Is that your friend's kid?" after I regale him with some random influencer’s child’s birthday party. "No," I say, suddenly aware of how creepy it sounds. "Just a kid on Instagram." That's when it hit me: this whole knowing-a-stranger's-life thing made me a bit uncomfortable.

Then there's the whole tech nightmare. Facial recognition and who-knows-what data-grabbing algorithms are lurking everywhere. The thought of my child’s face in the some digital ether, without him even knowing, makes me uneasy. Who knows how this technology will evolve and how his data will be used by the time he’s old enough to care. I just want to grant him the autonomy and choice to decide for himself. I mean, deep fakes identity theft is already an issue! I can’t imagine him coming of age and realizing someone is out there using his likeness for something without his consent.

And while we are on the topic of consent, my social media accounts are public. I’ve chosen to share parts of my life as a consenting adult, but sharing intimate details of his and his face opens him up to a world of likes and comments, and strangers forming opinions. I just feels too intrusive and inconsiderate for me. I’m not going to lie, I am also a little freaked out by people out there on the web who may not have the best intentions. Just look up “digital kiddnapping” for yourself, and I am not even going to get into predators.

I know some people will think I am paranoid and overthinking things, and maybe I am. But when I put myself in my son’s shoes, I would be uncomfortable with being out there on the internet and have no say in it. It is possible that when he grows up he won’t care. But on the off chance he does, I want to respect hisprovacy as an individual and keep his face just for those in his real, day-to-day life.

Cozy Slipper Round Up

A friend of mine recently asked me about slippers and let’s just say I had way more opinions than probably warranted.

My partner calls me the “queen of cozy” because I take being cozy very seriously, particularly in the winter. Name a clever little book on hygge and I’ve probably read it. Ask me about my tea drawer, I’d love to walk you through it. How many throw blankets is enough? That’s a trick question because there is no such thing as enough throws. So slippers, of course I had a few recommendations and so I thought I’d share them here too!

My current favorite are these Parachute waffle booties and they are currently on sale! These ones are a close second. Not only are these cute and keep your ankles warm, but the insole is memory foam. Simply divine.

If you are feeling spendy then splurge on these shearling Moroccan slippers are it. These are a classic and mine lasted surprisingly long (over 2 years) for being white and having a leather sole!

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Muji offers the best slipper under $15! They may not last season after season, but they truly are comfortable while they last. I like to get these for house guests.

If you are looking for something that could work indoors or outdoors these shearling slides from TKEES are it. These are also good if a super warm bootie isn’t up your alley.

I haven’t tried these but they are on my list for next time I need a pair. I have been very impressed with Quince thus far and have high hopes for their shearling slides. They just look so luxe and I am smitten with the greyish color.

Baby’s First Birthday Party

My baby is a year old and when planning for his first birthday I had one goal, keep it simple. Firstly, because after the marathon of holidays and our anniversary, an elaborate birthday was not in the cards. Secondly, because he’s not going to remember it anyway! So the vision was something simple at home with family only. I still wanted to decorate and decided to go with a subtle ball theme since baby boy is obsessed with them. Think lots of colors, balls, balloons, and bubbles.

I DIY’ed most of the decor over the course of a week. If I am being honest, the balloon garland did the heavy lifting to make things festive. My cousin and I made one of these for my baby shower, this time I sized down and it was very manageable to make on my own. I also made the cutest garland of his face (ugh I know such a tease) from each month of his first year and a little cake topper to match. And the easiest and most nostalgic of all my crafts were colorful paper chains, oh how fun and I cannot wait to make them with my little guy when he’s a bit older.

The day of I made a little cake and tried out a watercolor frosting technique. This was meant to be a smash cake but as predicted he was not interested in smashing anything. He stuck his little fingers in the frosting and once he realized it was sticky, retreated his hand in disgust, ha! He is in a phase where slimy and sticky textures are lava and I can complain because I was not excited to wash cake out of everything anyway.

We kept food simple and ordered pizza. Honestly after hosting Christmas brunch we felt like we deserved to cheat a little with this event. Plus a pizza party screams childhood to both my partner and our guests loved it!

What I Bought for the Party

Beige “One” Balloon (Amazon)

Balloon Garland Kit (Etsy)

Custom Fabric Crown (Etsy)

Party Hats (Target)

Paper Plates (Target)

Paper Napkins (Target)

Compostable Flatware (Target)

Ball Party Favor (Target)

Bubbles Party Favor (Target)

Et voila, that was it! We sang happy birthday, ate, and played in his playroom. No gifts, no planned activities or schedules. It was low-key and I actually got to be present with everyone! Happy birthday to my baby <3

My Baby is Turning One

It’s been a year, a full revolution around the sun, and a full revolution within myself. My baby is becoming a toddler and he definitely got the memo.

I thought I would be more weepy than I am. I am more in disbelief at how long some days felt, but how fast this year has passed. I feel we, as a family, have live hundreds of lives in this single year. We’re actively evolving into a family unit, and it’s a beautiful (while jarring) experience.

This milestone feels significant but also not so much. Tomorrow we will wake up and run our same routine, take on what comes at us, and keep it moving. “One” feels more like a rest stop to take it all in. An intentional milestone placed on the calendar of days to remind us to appreciate all that we have accomplished. “One” is a chance for us to party and celebrate our little guy, even if he has no idea why.

One, right now, looks like a lot of action; crawling, cruising, and some walking about. Sami is still obsessed with “Ball” and has more than one baby should probably own. Days are filled with music and dancing and you would be surprised by the rhythm he has (gets it from his mama). Opening and closing doors is one of the coolest things on the planet right now, as are drawers. He saying more words and consonant sounds other than “ba.” And he’s started using a few signs, the cutest of which is “milk.” The car seat is still the worst, but is made better with nursery rhymes. And at the top of the list for favorite foods we have pumpkin and crackers. There is so much more about my little dude that can’t be easily summed up in a few sentences. His sweet, precocious, and determined personality is blooming more and more each day. It makes waking up before the sun after a rough night’s sleeping easier because I get to learn something new about this little human who has now existed outside of me for an entire year!

New Year, New Goals

Last week I shared my intentions for the year, and today I have been thinking about concrete goals. There are a few areas I want to focus on this year home, money, hobby, health, and style. Family is notably missing because so much of my life is about my little nuclear family and creating time and memories with extended families that I do t think I need specific goals at the moment. These other areas have been somewhat neglected and I have some concrete things I want to accomplish which I’ll dive into now.

Home

I have the goal of making our rental our own this year. We’ve been here for three years and plan to stay for several more so I want to invest in some cosmetic changes that do more than what furniture and decor can do. First on my list is my en-suite bathroom which is the epitome of builder grade.

Money

Ever since getting pregnant and especially having my son I have paid very little attention to my spending. My shopping is typically pretty intentional, but it exploded with buying things for the baby and I have deeply evaluated how much of that is necessary, convenience, or now frivolous. I want to start with a low buy challenge to slow down a bit. And I plan to reconcile my 2023 budget with my actual expenses to see exactly where my money is going. Fingers crossed!

Hobby

Last year I knew all hobbies would need to go on hold to survive the baby phase but this year I want to start dabbling again. Particularly with more writing (and reflecting). I write a lot for work and want to strengthen my creative writing muscles.

Health

As with many things I mentioned above, fitness was put on a bit of golf last year. In particular this year I want to get back to daily stretching, some strengthening, and a steady and sustainable routine.

Style

The last goal is about clothes and styling what’s already in my closet. My body seems to have normalized a bit and I am fitting back into some of my pre-baby clothes and culling some that not longer serve my needs. I want to have fun with my wardrobe again and rediscover the pieces I have so getting dressed and sharing that is on my list for 2024.

Modern Folk + Other Pretty Things

I think the cottagecore bug finally bit me. I couldn’t resist the cornflower design on our holiday cards this year, and now I’ve just ordered this floral embroidered sweater (no regrets). Before I know it I am going to be ordering ruffled collared shirts and the hyper-trending mary janes!

But in all seriousness, those pieces are cute on many but my take on cottagecore is just enough to satisfy my desire for the cozy, feminine, and wholesome feel it exudes while still fitting into my classic and curated wardrobe. Here are a few cottagey and granola pieces I’ve added in the past year and love.

2024 Intentions

2023 was a year of stretching beyond belief. I decided at the end of 2022 my word would be “Release” and true to form I took it seriously. I released many toxic tendencies such as my incessant self criticism (thank you therapy). With that I released the notion of perfection. Not only did I release it, I have a fondness for and may have even begun to deeply love imperfection. It is in the imperfections of my messy home, ever-changing schedules, and physical appearance that my joy in motherhood was found.

I’ve always prided myself in keeping a tidy and cozy home. It is core priority for me because a messy and cluttered environment triggers my anxiety. But this year I began seeing the little messes, like unfolded laundry, piles of dishes, and strewn about toys differently. The undone laundry meant more time cuddling and playing with my son. The piles of dishes were remnants of meals spent with my husband. The toys all about were evidence of a healthy, active, and curious little boy. My untidy home now housed a family of three living life each and every day. It is our safe place and sanctuary, but that doesn’t mean it must always be perfectly ordered and pristine.

Relinquishing my perfectly timed schedule was a bit harder to let go of. I thrive off of productivity and efficiency (my inner anti-capitalist hates to admit), but those are less possible with an infant in the way I previously understood them. Keeping a schedule was hard, and maximizing my days with many activites/errand/chores as I used to is impossible. Now productivity looks like taking care of my family’s basic needs without loosing my shit. It’s spending hours watching my son master a new skill and swelling with pride over it. Efficiency is hacking my day-to-day so it passes with ease. Gone are the days of being out the door on time and getting all my life admin done in an afternoon. Now I need to triage what is one thing I can accomplish today and feel great if that gets done (and come to peace if it doesn’t).

After a lot of reflection on 2023, my word of 2024 came to me quickly and with very little thought.

I considered what has been lacking in all the new abundance and learning of this year and the first thing that came to mind was romance. Don’t get me wrong, this year has been overflowing with love from myself, my partner, family, and friends. But romance has been in short supply. Romance with my husband, thats a given. Finding time to be just the two of us not exhausted and not discussing the baby is a monumental effort, but one we have been making more and more often. But also romancing myself as been lacking. Being a new mom leaves very little energy and effort for oneself and thats something I must address.

I read a definition of romance that described it as a feeling of excitement or remoteness from everyday life. It made me think of all the small ways I would add romance to my days pre-baby. Like trying a new cafe or treating myself to a massage. Lounging at home doing all the self care things like face masks, manicures, and hair treatments. Buying myself flowers and making arrangements to liven up my home. These are all romantic gestures I can give myself.

Here’s to more romance in the big and small ways in 2024. Wishing you so much love and joy in the new year as well <3

2023 Reflections

2023 Reflections

My first year of motherhood has been the most surprising year of my life. I have surprised myself time and time again. I always knew I was resilient, but I didn’t know how patient and flexible I could be. I am a typical Virgo, I like things the way I like them, typically tidy and predictable. Two words not often associated with life with a baby. From Sami’s exit out of the womb to now, nothing has been as I planned or idealized. And yet it has all unfolded in an utterly perfect way. This venture into raising a human has stretched me in ways that impress myself. I have realized that the truth I held about myself is malleable, that I am malleable. And that a different reality than the one I envisioned doesn’t feel like a compromise or sacrifice.

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Baby Wearing: Carriers I Love

Parenthood is a crazy experience where you suddenly become deeply familiar, of not expertly, with things that you never even knew existed prior to your child’s existence. Baby wearing is one of those things. If you told me 8 months ago I would be a able to wrangle a 20 pound wiggle worm into a fro facing carrier and check for proper hip placement all in the the 90 seconds he’ll give me I wouldn’t have believed you.

I have become a huge fan of baby wearing over these past months. When my son was just several weeks old putting him in a wrap and layering us both in my puffer jacket to walk around our neighborhood was one of the only ways to settle him for a nap. Now I take a carrier with me when we are out because he inevitably tires of his stroller and it’s just easier and more fun to have him on me.

After trying several types of carriers and a variety of brands, these are my favorites…

Baby Wrap

A baby wrap is an extra long piece of fabric that is wrapped around the wearer's body to create a secure and comfortable pouch for the baby. When you first use it you’ll think the fabric is excessive, but trust me there is a method to this madness. You can wear a wrap on the front, back, or hip but I only did front carry with my boy facing me. I actually made my first wrap out of jersey fabric I had on hand but it was too thick and warm so I bought a lighter weight one from Ergobaby once I know I wanted to use wraps.

A wrap may seem intimidating to tie at first but after a few practices (there are so many videos online) it become second nature. I started using a wrap from week one and loved it while Sami was smaller with very little neck control. As soon as he could hold his own neck I would use my other carriers far more.

Ring Sling

A ring sling is what I consider the simplest carrier (in theory). It is one long pieces of woven fabric with two rings at one end. Its worn in a simple loop and the rings are used to adjust so you create a secure pouch for the baby. I love how lightweight and easy (with practice) it is to put on and get Sami comfortable. It’s also easy to get him down which has become more of a priority as he’s started moving and wants to be independent at a moments notice! This is my go to carrier in the house when he’s feeling a little clingy. I love to wear it when I’m in the kitchen (with the extra fabric tucked away for safety) and Sami loves watching what I am doining.

Wildbird linen ring sling

Soft Structured Carriers

I have tried a few structured carriers, some I have sold and two that I still use a love: the Ergobaby Embrace amd the Ergobaby Aerloom. I use structured carriers when I am out of the house for longer errands (target runs, park visits, grocery shopping, etc.). As Sami has gotten bigger I’ve wanted more support ans structure to avoid back pain so we graduated from the Embrace to the Aerloom and I love it so much. It has a variety of carry positions, including front facing in, front facing our, and back carry. I prefer a soft structured carrier over more structured ones for my comfort and ease of use. I have found the more structured complex carriers with too many adjustment buckles cumbersome to use.

All in all, babywearing is a part of my life I never knew I’d have so many opinions on but here we are! It’s wonderful wearing my baby, letting him see the world from my perspective, and holding him close while having my hands free.

The last thing I want to mention is that it’s important to babywear properly and ensure you child is safe and comfortable. I’ve learned a lot about hip health for Sami and my own ergonomics by exploring the babywearing subreddit r/babywearing. There you can get loads of carrier recommendations and even post photos for “fit checks.”

Let me know if you have questions below and I can share my experience or thoughts! I am by no means an expert but my friend, Farai, totally is so check out her blog too!

7 Things I've Learned About Newborns

I first drafted this post when Baby Sami was a month and a half and I just rediscovered it. Those first six weeks were SO TOUGH so I am unsurprised I didn’t post it then, but now that time feels so far away. Here are seven things brand new mama Gina wishes she knew about newborns and the postpartum experience sooner!

  1. Babies are incredibly noisy sleepers! It’s alarming at first, and then it’s just disruptive 😆

  2. So much of the day is spent on regulating gases, and the rest of the day on fluids. Learn all the tummy massages and get familiar with your babies discomfort cues. A probiotic may also help if baby has chronic digestive issues.

  3. Laundry is as bad as folks say but you still can’t fathom the amount you’ll need to do. Create a system, quick!

  4. Now is not the time to be minimalist. Buy all the burp cloths you can store and anything that adds a little extra convenience.

  5. Sleep when the baby is sleeping is the best advice, let the house go to hell and clean up when they’re no longer a newborn.

  6. Lean on your mom/parent friends, they know what you’re going through and get it without much explanation. Don’t hesitate to reach out, you’re only doing yourself a disservice if you don’t.

  7. And finally, trust your intuition. Caregivers and especially mothers have evolved to care for their babies. You know more than you think you do.

A Bittersweet Goodbye

Today I sent this email to my Two Days Off email list and it has me all in my feelings.

Hi friend, today I am writing you with some bittersweet albeit unsurprising news. Two Days Off is closing up shop.

I am sure you've noticed the significant decrease in mail and shop activity from TDO over the past year. That is because of all the life changes I have been navigating personally. If you follow my personal accounts already, you may know that I gave birth to a sweet little boy in January. The nine months preceding that were more challenging than anything I prepared for and because of that I had to ease up on TDO. Now that I am settled into life as a working parent (yes, I have a day job in the climate space too), I have come to realize my plate is too full for the new phase I am in and I have decided to close this chapter that has meant so much to me.

If you've been here from the beginning you know that Two Days Off began organically with a lot of inspiration and support from people like you. I wanted to do business differently and create a values driven company and that I did and will always be proud of. Over the course of my five years in business I have made life long friends, grown in ways I never would have without becoming an entrepreneur, lost someone very dear to who has left a gaping hole, and found deep fulfillment in motherhood. I personally transformed, and hope that in that process I was able to add value to your life in some small way.

With that said, I will be clearing out remaining inventory and wrapping up before the end of the year. Everything in the shop is currently 50% off, no code needed.

This may be the end of Two Days Off in its current iteration, but it certainly won't be the end of my creative pursuits.

Thank you for five beautiful years.

This Gina had no idea she’d be closing up shop anytime soon, but thats how life goes sometimes.

The biggest feeling I feel is relief. I haven’t been putting the effort Two Days Off deserves into it for a while now and it has been hard for me. Closing this chapter feels like good timing as I have entered a brand new one. While I know I could try to juggle motherhood, my relationship, my career, and this business I built with my blood, sweat, and tears (literally), I just don’t want to. I don’t want to juggle, I want to do less and enjoy as much of this time with my little one as I can.

10 Years Later

As August comes to a close I enter my most reflective time of year. September has always been my favorite month, partly because it’s my birthday month, but also because it traditionally signaled a new school year and a fresh start. As a big nerd growing up I loved the start of school and the impending new things I was certain to learn.

As I’ve grown up this rhythm has remained and so here I am, today reflecting on where I was at this time 10 years ago. It just so happens I was on plane leaving Europe and heading back to the states to start school… grad school that is.

Late July, 2013 I packed up my cubicle, returned to my nearly empty apartment, and prepared for a month abroad. I saved up all summer, selling a massive part of my vintage wardrobe on Etsy. Not going to lie, some of those pieces I still think about occasionally. But nonetheless I was in a purge state of mind. I was 25, in the thick of my minimalist phase, and looking to feel free. And free I felt.

Over a month I bopped from Iceland, England, Italy, and France. I stopped in cities where I had friends of a deep desire to explore. Traveling solo was just the appetizer. I got into my dream school, and was about to attend my dream program.

September has always marked new beginnings for me, and this year is no different. This month I will officially enter my late 30s and I can honestly say this period of life, while the hardest I’ve ever experienced, is my absolute favorite.

And it seems only fitting that today I announced the closing of my business, the business that I launched exactly 5 years ago today. It’s time for a fresh start and a new chapter in the new phase of life I am in. I would say it is bittersweet, but knowing what I know now about fresh starts and the great adventures they can bring, I am actually more excited for what’s next than what has been.

Ten years later and September is still living up to the hype.

I Still Miss You

Three years somehow feels like a significant amount of time for you to be gone. I almost feel ashamed that so much time can pass and somehow I am still moving along. But of course that is silly and precisely what I should be doing (insert your sarcastic joke about being a loser who gives up on life here).

I miss you everyday and still can’t believe you aren’t on this earth with me some many miles away gardening, walking your dogs, watching NHK too loud, or studying up for your next Buddhist meeting where you will inevitably inspire someone with your sincerity and life experience.

I can’t believe I’ll never sit silently in a room with you reading or watching something for one of us to break the silence with a random thought that’s will eventually lead to laughter.

I can’t believe you will never meet my son, the sweetest little human who I know you would have said looks exactly like you (just like all of your great grandchildren 😆) but in this case you would be right. The number of times someone has said “he looks just like grandma in that pic” prompting me to do a double take and smile with glee is too many to count.

I can’t believe I won’t get to call you when I am struggling in motherhood, or when I have run out of ideas for dinner, or when he has a school project we need inspiration for (you will always be the queen of crafts to me).

I can’t believe you did this 8 times, and raised 7 children. I now understand why your heart was so big and how it could fit the problems of the world and still have room for more.

I will always have a slight amount of pity for my son who did get to meet you, but I will spend my life making sure that he knows you. His middle name honors you and this side of our family, and I hope it ignites his curiosity to know more.

I love you always.

Coterie Diaper Review 2023

When we were first preparing for Sami’s arrival I was shocked by the sheer number of diaper options and opinions about said options that were online and held by the parents in my life! These ones are too wide, those ones have a scent, that one isn’t absorbant enough, and that other one hasn’t got the magic back flap to prevent blow-outs. I thought once we ruled out cloth diapering (my husband was adamantly against for a slew of reasons the biggest being we don’t have a washer and dryer in our unit!), the decision would be easier, but oh was I wrong!

We tried no less than four diaper brands by the time Sami was a couple month old. It wasn’t until a friend gifted us Coterie that we finally found the combination of features that worked for our little guy.

Coterie is a relatively new brand that offers a range of baby products, including diapers, wipes, and skin care items. According to their website, Coterie diapers are made with high-quality, eco-friendly materials and designed for comfort and performance. The diapers are free from harmful chemicals and fragrances and are hypoallergenic, making them suitable for sensitive skin. This was a huge plus for us as it seems Sami is taking after his dad and is a bit sensitive.

What struck me first about these diapers is how soft they are and I think that plays directly into their absorbency. I appreciate they can hold a lot because of Sami is finally getting a decent stretch of sleep the last thing I want to do is wake him for a diaper change in the middle of the night. I also think the softness makes them extra comfortable as I don’t see the impressions in his thighs that other brand would sometimes leave. And as far as leaks I won’t say they never happen, but the do happen far less than in one brand I won’t mention here but will say rhymes with campers…

Lastly, I had my heart set on cloth diapering for a number of reasons but in life and relationships Choy’ve got to compromise sometimes. It assuages my guilt a bit that Coterie uses sustainable, biodegradable and compostable materials.

Overall, Coterie diapers have been a favorite in my household. Their wipes are good too, primarily made up of water and very large and thick. We’re still trying them out but no major complaints this far although the thickness may be too much for us, we’ll see.

Since becoming a Coterie convert I have partnered up with them! If you want to try out Coterie for yourself use my link and discount code (GINA) for 20% off!