What is a Butipod? It is an awesome travel wipes container that zips closed and keeps your wipes moist and ready to use all the time. The fun part is creating custom covers for your Butipod to match or coordinate with your diaper bag. You can also color code your wipes if you have different kinds (ie. Diapering wipes, hand/face wipes, cleaning wipes, etc.)



Today I’m going to show you how easy it is to create your own Butipod cover. I am using the latest version of the Butipod (4.0), but the older 3.0 version of the Butipod will fit in them as well.

Let’s get started.

So, as a mommy of four kiddos (oldest 8 and youngest 10 months) I've had a lot of experience carrying babies. Of course, I always figure out how to do it the right way with my last baby. Oh well, at least I won't break my back with my last little guy. LOL!

How am I going to do it!? With my new Beco Soleil Carrier. I watched almost every YouTube video about Tula and Beco carriers so I could decide which one to spend the moolah on (and they are not cheap)! After comparing blogger reviews, reading specs online, and watching the videos I chose the Beco Soleil.

If you have ever felt or owned anything by Aden and Anais you know how fantastic their products are. My first experience with them was about 2 years ago when baby #3 was born. I splurged and bought a package of their swaddle blankets. My daughter lived in them for several months!!! We still use them today (she's almost 20 months old). Well, one purchase led to another and so on until we now have a couple crib sheets and a couple changing pad covers. BUT, they can be pretty pricey {even when using coupons or shopping the clearance section -- which I do frequently!}.

This time around I am planning ahead. I tried my hand at making my own sheets and changing pad covers using the same soft muslin that Aden and Anais uses. The difference!?!? It only comes in solid colors... and it's WAY CHEAPER! It is also not called Muslin here in the US... that's an entirely different kind of fabric. Here it is known as cotton gauze... but it's exactly the same stuff!

I bought mine here at fabric.com. There are lots of colors to choose from and it is soft and easy to work with. Plus at less than $4 a yard it's totally worth experimenting with if you are looking to save some money! As always if you have at least $35 in your cart your fabric ships for free!

Here is how my changing pad cover turned out. I used the gauze in turquoise for this one.

I have been feverishly researching and gathering up all my baby basics for baby #4 that is on the way! If there are any new mommies out there... congrats! If you are expecting.. then I hope your pregnancy, delivery, and recovery go very well! I have been lucky with my last three kiddos not to have any major complications.

First off, I thought I would share a couple fun facts about my pregnancies...

Labor stats:
first pregnancy - Woke up in labor at 4am and it lasted about 16 hours from start to finish.
second pregnancy - I didn't know I was in labor -- and it was only about 4 hours from the time I realized it until he was born.
third pregnancy - I was induced. Once they started pitocin it was only about 6 hours until she was born.

Funny stories:
first pregnancy -
I was a big advocate for laboring at home! My husband and I went to Costco and to Target while I was in labor stocking up on last minute essentials and getting me out walking to keep labor going! I checked into the hospital around 4:30pm. Around 7 I was in excruciating pain {as we all know labor is} and decided to turn on my all-time favorite show at the time to try and distract me -- Jeopardy! While I cried and my sweet hubby fed me ice chips, I told the nurses how much pain I was in. Their response "Well, you can't be in that much pain if you are watching tv!" Ummm... okay, an hour later my little girl was born. So... take that nurses! She was born completely naturally... not epidural at all! OUCH!


second pregnancy -
I had been having contractions on and off for weeks so it wasn't alarming at all to me that I was having them again. By 11:30 pm as I was getting ready to go to bed I realized that these were more than the simple braxton hicks contractions. I woke up my husband and said, "I think we need to go to the hospital." His response, "You're fine, just go to bed and they will go away!" I repeated again... that we needed to go... NOW! The hospital was about 30 minutes away and we had to drop my daughter off at my parents house... Thankfully our bags were packed. We got to the hospital around 12:30am and begged for the epidural. It was in place a little less than an hour before my little guy was ready to be born. At least it took the edge off the pain a little. The midwife told me to start pushing ... but my husband had gone out to the lobby to talk to him mom. As I start pushing a ask a nurse "politely" to please go find my husband!!!! He walked in just as our little guy was being born. Yah... he will never live that one down! Talking to his mom instead of being with me... :/


third pregnancy -
I had major sciatic pain with this one because I carried her so low! At times I thought she would pop out when I sneezed or coughed! Seriously. I was past my due date and so uncomfortable that I was induced. The flabotomists (sp?) had a tough time with IV's and I came out like a pin cushion. They even got me in a nerve in my hand ... that was fun...
My husband working on his computer for all but the last hour of my labor. I got an epidural with this one but it wasn't in full effect when she was born. She was crowning and the Dr. wasn't even at the hospital yet. As much as I wanted to freak out I couldn't.. and the nurses kept reassuring me that they could deliver the baby if they needed to. At that point I didn't really care, because baby was coming no matter what! The Dr. showed up just in time to catch our little girl. While being stitched up I said, "ouch!" The Dr. looked at me, puzzled, and said, "I thought you had an epidural?" The nurses told her that it was hardly in effect... so she numbed me up. Thanks doc!




Okay... now for the fun part... getting ready for baby! As an experienced mom of 3.5 ♥ I have had lots of time to experiment with baby products out there. In my 7 years of having babies in the home I have seen a lot of products come and go.. some good, some not so good... but I have compiled a list of my BABY MUST HAVES. It doesn't include everything but these are some of the goodies I have that I LOVE!!! 



1. Ergo Carrier - I used a Baby Bjorn with my first two... and it never really felt comfortable. With my third I did some more research and wised up to Ergo. I took the plunge and bought one at Target and I never regretted the money spent! My little one was so snug and comfy in there and it has so much back support that you almost don't know you are wearing it! It has a hood that tucks into the front pocket so that you can keep the sun off baby's face. It also lets you nurse while wearing it -- though I never really got the hang of that. I bought the newborn insert and ended up not using it very much. I have big babies so it didn't take long for her to be able to use the carrier as is. In short... LOVE IT!! 

2. Solly Baby Wrap - This is new to me this pregnancy... but I'm already in love! Once baby is here I will keep you updated on baby wearing. I wish these had been around as much when my second was born because I think he would have LIVED in it! This wrap is super soft, all organic, very lightweight, holds up to 25 lbs. of baby, and comes in super cute colors!! It is designed to work for you and baby all year round -- because it is light weight -- so that you don't sweat in the summer wearing it!

3. Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover - After attempting to make some of my own, I bought one of these with a coupon at Babies R Us. The ones I would make covered me up just fine, but I couldn't get the size of the neck opening just the right size so that I could still see baby. This one is PERFECT! I love that it folds up nice and small in my diaper bag so that I can take it everywhere with me. It is also machine washable.... BIG PLUS for this mama!! It is plenty big to cover everything too! Love, LOVE, LOVE!!!

4. Boppy Nursing Pillow - I know there are lots of different pillows out there... and really any good nursing pillow is a must have.. I just happen to have this one. It is small enough to not take up tons of space in the house/bedroom and you can make or buy slipcovers to make it easier if you have a particularly spitty-uppy baby (as one of mine was). I have bought a waterproof cover for mine that I keep on the pillow all the time. Then the cute slipcover goes on top of that. It protects the pillow from any spit up so that it only gets on the cover and doesn't soak into the pillow itself! MUST HAVE!!!

5. KdBuggie Chenille Burp Cloths - Yes, I know I'm a little biased here because I make and sell these... but I have tried just about every kind of burp cloth out there: cloth diapers, flannel, terry cloth, cotton, muslin, my shirt.... anyways, these are the VERY BEST when it comes to burp cloths. They are 100% cotton, preshrunk so they don't get any smaller, and come in so many cute prints. They can even be customized with the fabric of your choice or personalized with baby's name on them. They are machine washable and can go in the dryer. They get softer with each washing but stay super absorbent!!! You can message me on Etsy or send me an email {kdbuggieboutique@yahoo.com} if you have any questions about them or want to get your hands on a few. ♥

6. Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets - I make my own flannel receiving blankets for the winter, but my last baby was born in July in 100ºF plus weather... so flannel wasn't really an option. A friend of mine turned me on to these and I was sad I didn't find out about them until then! They are made from the softest cotton muslin and are HUGE! Even now at 18 months, my little one still snuggles with hers. We also use one to drape over the stroller while out at Disneyland to keep the sun off of her ... especially when she naps. I used them as nursing blankets when I forgot my cover and they are lightweight enough to let baby breath easy and not get to warm. They are also a little stretchy which makes it perfect for swaddling! If you have a large baby or one that wants to stay swaddled for many months... these swaddle blankets are perfect because they are so large! They can be a little pricey, but you can get good deals with coupons at Babies R Us or online through various retailers.

{for one burp cloth}
Time: about 30 minutes
Materials: cotton fabric (at least a fat quarter)
                   cotton chenille fabric (at least a fat quarter)
                   sewing machine and thread
                   rotary cutter and cutting mat
                   pins and scissors
Experience Level: Easy

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A new mom can never have too man burp cloths... like. ever. That's why burp cloths make great gifts for new mommies. After having 3 kids of my own, babysitting, and talking to LOTS of other moms, I have come to a couple of conclusions when it comes to burp cloths.


1. The absolute best burp cloths are handmade. WHY? Not only are they way cuter, but they are generally easier to clean, and last longer. No one wants to replace their burp cloths every month or so because they are falling apart or look gross after tons of washings. With so many fabric prints out there, you could have a burp cloth for every mood you are in! ♥

2. Bigger isn't ALWAYS better. Some people may disagree on this one, but in all honesty... when you are carrying around a diaper bag full of half your baby's room {because we have all been there and know it happens} the last thing you want is a bulky burp cloth or two to lug around too. A burp cloth should be big enough to cover your shoulder and drape off a little and be long enough to catch all the spit and drool that can go down both sides of your shoulder.

3. Cotton is so  more ABSORBENT than anything other material. We all know absorbency is key to keeping our own clothes clean! Everyone knows you are a new mommy... they don't have to see and smell it too! Some people swear by minky material for burp cloths -- the only reason I can figure is because it is so soft on baby's skin. Minky is polyester... it does not absorb anything. That's why people use it to line cloth diapers, LINE cloth diapers. The liquids pass right through it to the soaker pads on the inside. Cotton on the other hand soaks up liquids like a sponge. So, if you have an especially spitty-uppy baby... cotton is a must!

As an Etsy shop owner that both sells fabric and creates handmade baby gifts, I know the importance of making every bit of your fabric count when you sit down to sew. Over the last several years I have come up with a fool-proof system to get the most out of a yard of fabric. This is perfect if you are looking to sew a baby gift for a friend who is expecting, or if you want to make some fun little things for your own bundle of joy.


A yard of cotton fabric can cost you anywhere from $5-$15 depending on whether you buy from a discount store (JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, etc.), a quilting store, or online. If you are purchasing organic fabric it can get even more pricey! No matter how much you spend on your fabric, you definitely want to get more bang for your buck, right!?! Here is how I cut my fabric to make 1 baby blanket and 2 burp cloths out of one yard (36"x43/44") of cotton fabric.

I used to make a bunch of them and sell that at wholesale prices to a couple of distributors, but with my new little one I just don't have the time I once did to sit and sew as much as I would like... which makes me sad, but I LOVE spending time with my kids!

So, now that I only make them for craft shows, boutiques, for my own kids, and occasionally for my Etsy shop, I figured I would share my pattern with you guys! The only thing I ask is that you respect my time and willingness to share this with you and only use it for personal projects. If you are interested in using my pattern in your Etsy shop or to sell your products just shoot me an email {kdbuggieboutique@yahoo.com} for permission. Thanks!!!

Be sure to wash and dry your fabric before you start cutting or sewing. If you forget it won't be the end of the world, it just might shrink a little.

MATERIALS: So, what materials should you use for your bib. Personally I like to use a cotton print and a cotton chenille. However, chenille can be hard to come by and can be a little pricey... so any terry cloth or flannel would work just fine. I know some people use fleece or minky for their bibs also. In my opinion the minky and fleece are kind of tough for bibs because they don't absorb well. If you choose to use one of those for the back of you bib I suggest using a flannel or terry cloth layer (adding an extra third layer to your bib) on the inside so that there is a little extra fabric to collect those messes that we all know kids can make.

As far as the snaps verses velcro debate ... you have already read why I use snaps. That doesn't mean you can't use velcro because you absolutely can! If you have a little one who has no desire to take their bib off then by all means stick with the velcro (no pun intended, lol) because it is easier to work with.

You will need:
• 1/2 yard of your front and back materials (enough for 4 bibs)
• metal snaps or velcro
• a sewing machine, thread, scissors or pinking shears, and an iron
• a pen or chalk marker
• the bib pattern (found at the bottom of the post)


SEWING THE BIB:
Print out the pattern. It comes as a PDF file with two pages. Simply cut out the pattern and tape the two piece together. The pattern comes in two sizes as well, a long toddler size and a smaller infant size.


Cut out a rectangle piece from your two fabrics that is 17"x10". Then on one of your fabrics, trace your pattern on the WRONG side -- the one without the print on it {aka not the pretty side}. You will want to find the approximate center of your fabric. You can do this really easy by folding it in half along the width (hot dog style) and pressing it with your finger. Line up the center of the bib -- where it says "place on fold" -- with the crease in your fabric. Then using either a chalk marker or a regular pen trace around the outside of your pattern. Flip your pattern over, line up the the center again and trace around the outside of your pattern.


This is where my bib pattern differs from a lot of others. Instead of painstakingly cutting out the top piece for my bib and then tracing and cutting out the bottom piece... and hoping that they line up okay, I opt for a much easier method... DO NOT CUT IT OUT! Yep, that's it. Just don't cut it out. Take this piece with your traced bib on it, place it on top of your bottom bib fabric {right sides together} and pin them together.

No need to retrace your pattern. Be sure when you pin to mark a starting a stopping place. You need to leave about a 2 inch opening when you sew to be able to turn the bib right side out. I always leave the opening on a straight edge where possible because it makes it a lot easier to close it up after turning the fabric.

Take your fabric over to your sewing machine. If you have a 1/4" sewing foot great! If not, you will want to have a 1/4" inseam. With a 1/4" foot simply line up the edge of your foot with the traced line and follow it all the way around being sure to include the hole for the neck. By sewing on either side of the line you drew for the neck strap and hole you will create the two neck straps.



Now is the time to cut! Using pinking shears trim your sewn bib close to the traced line you drew. If you don't have pinking shears {the scissors that cut the zigzag lines} you can use regular scissors. Just be sure to clip the fabric around the curved edges so that it will lay flat after flipping it right side out.



After trimming off the fabric turn your bib right side out. You may need to use something to help get the corners of the neck straps completely turned. My go to tool is actually a crochet hook. It is small and it's not sharp so for me it is the perfect turning tool. Once your bib is all turned take it to your iron and press it out nice and flat. Good ironing is the key to a crisp look. Fold the fabric from the opening under so that it is inside the bib. Line up your two fabrics and pin them in place. This is also a good time to attach one of your tags.






*** The actual pattern piece that I use to create my bibs is in between the toddler and infant size. I traced mine onto a file folder, lining up the "place fold here" edge with the folded edge on the folder. Then I cut out the bib shape including the neck hole. Now I can trace the entire bib pattern onto my fabric without lining it up in the center and flipping it over to trace the other half.