$100 Gift Certificate Giveaway!

$100 Gift Certificate Giveaway!

Tell us how you heard about us below to be entered to win. Extra entry? Tell a friend about this giveaway and leave an extra comment for an extra entry into the giveaway!

Be sure to leave an email address so we can contact you if you win. Winner announced on Friday.

Good Luck!

Locally Made Muddy Buddy Rain Pants! PVC + Phthalates Free!

Locally Made Rain Pants!

Now In Stock in Blue and Red

Sizes 1 to 4

We had a difficult time finding safe rain gear, at a reasonable price so we had some rain pants locally made with french seams (so they will not let the water in!). 

Many of the commercially available rain suits for children are made from nasty PVC likely softened with Pthalates. 

What's wrong with PVC?

• Generally, the smell is awful and should be your first clue it's not a meterial you want to wrap your child in.
• Health and Environmental Risks are posed by PVC because it releases dioxins (the same chemical found in trace amounts in disposable diapers!), mercury and phthalates into the environment.
• Young children, generally explore the world by mouth, and of course typically chew on many toys (and non toys) so it's particularly  harmful

Source 

The Awesome Wishbone Flip has Arrived!

The Wishbone Flip just arrived at Abby Sprouts!

We all know kid's are always growing out of their clothes, toys, diapers etc so we love that Wishbone designs children's items with longevity in mind. They make our fave 3 in 1 bike that goes from trike to balance bike, and now they've come out with the awesome wishbone flip! Toys designed with multipurpose for different ages and stages are also more environmentally friendly as you're only buying 1 product to last through years of play.

It's perfect for the coming fall as we spend more time indoors too. 

First Rock..

Then Roll!

It’s a rocker.  It’s a ride-on.  It’s your child’s best friend.

With its innovative flipping mechanism, Wishbone Flip transforms from rocker to ride-on in seconds.

Eye-catching and super-functional.

Wishbone Flip is a timeless toy your whole family will love. 

Made from 100% reforested birch plywood.  Meets current European, US and international toy safety standards. Recommended for ages 1 to 5.

Rocker seat height - 8.6 inches

Riding seat height - 10.2 inches

Double bolt holes allow Flip to grow with your child.

Unboxed weight - 8.8 lbs

Boxed weight - 10 lbs

Abby Sprouts in Victoria, BC, Canada is located at 3011 Gosworth Rd. and we've just built the demo if you'd love to let your little one try it out!

What to Pack in your Hospital Bag?

We've had a few moms asking lately what would be good to pack for the hospital so we got some input from moms on our facebook page to make a list of the essentials and luxuries. 

In no particular order:

•  Hair Ties
• Food (for you, support people etc)
• Toothbrush/Tooth Paste
• Diapers
• Receiving blankets (we like aden + anais or Dress Me Up Organic)
• Nipple Cream
• Your own pillow
• Nursing Pillow
• Lip Balm
• Bottom Balm
• Camera
• Extra Batteries
• Flip flop or slippers
• Warm socks
• Water bottle
• Going home outfit for baby
• Baby Clothes
• Clothes for yourself
• Nursing Bra
• Going home outfit for you (comfy, loose fitting, not pre baby clothes)
• Brush/Comb
• Facewash/Shampoo/Conditioner
• Baby Wash 
• Nursing Pads
• Menstrual pads
• Underwear pads fit into
• Something to wear in the shower
• Change of clothes for partner/support person
• Baby Hat(s)
• Something to wear to labour in
• Pajamas
• Family/Friends Phone Numbers
• Cell Phone & Chargers
• Music/Ipod

You can leave the bigger items like a pillow and nursing pillow in the car until you need/want them and just have the rest in a bag to come in with you.

Almost been open a month!

Seems like time is flying twice as fast this June between watching Abby grow up (Miss Independent) and having the store open for nearly the whole first month.

Everyone keeps asking how it is going- to which I'm just saying so far so good because I'm quite pleased with the amount of interest from the neighbourhood crowd and also so thankful for so many familiar faces popping in to check it out and shop (in more space than my spare room!).I'm also so thankful for everyone who has told their friends, baby group moms, grandparents, etc to come see me about overnight diapers, sun hats, or wet bags or baby shower gifts. 

This is where we are: 3011 Gosworth Rd at the corner of Cedar Hill

The owner of the building and the Gosworth Fish and Chip shop next door (great fries!) has been handing out cards to every mom and pregnant mom he sees- I can't believe some are actually coming in! So nice to have him be so supportive as well.

I'm spending quite a bit of time researching new products from toothbrushes to lunch kits to eco friendly shoes- not that there is a ton of space but I'm enjoying being able to bring in new products. A line of organic cotton nursing bras just arrived today actually!

It's also been tough to watch Tall Tales Books struggle to keep their business going and it's an unfortunate reality check for many small, locally owned business that it's not easy! It's been amazing to see the community support for them as well. I hope people and families will consciously make the choice to shop locally as there is so many fantastic locally owned business in Victoria, BC counting on community support to keep going.

So in about mid-May I put the deposit down for the store, the new Onyx Stainless steel kitchenware arrived in shortly after, then we had a wonderful first day open, the cloth diaper subsidy petition for the CRD is climbing over to over 200 signatures!

Getting ready for our '2nd annual' made in Canada sale for Canada Day! I'm so pleased with the amount of products that are made in Canada at Abby Sprouts- it's awesome but not so easy to find!


So... So far, So good! Thank you all so much for your support and continuing to shop at the store but also spread the word- it so amazing of you all!

New Store is open in Victoria, BC- Let's Celebrate with a GIVEAWAY!

All you have to do is come into the shop or browse our online store and find a product that is NEW to Abby Sprouts and then leave a comment here telling us what it is!

You'll be entered to win a $25 Gift Certificate!

Comments Close June 20, 2011

Cute Newborn Cloth Diapers on the Cheap

Cloth Diapering a Newborn is really the best way to go because cloth diapering parents report far less blowouts than disposable diapering parents- who wants to clean liquid poop up at 4am? Of course, cloth diapers are better for the environment, baby's health and your wallet. 

Buying newborn cloth diapers at $20 or $25 each can add up quickly. 24 diapers * $20 = $480. Seems expensive but in the long run you'd still be coming out ahead of disposables when cloth diapering with a 2 size system for over 2 years for cost + health + the environment.

However, there's a way to do newborn cloth diapering less expensively and just as effective. 

Bummis recently came out with the ever popular Newborn pack- it's popular for a reason!

The Bummis Newborn Pack includes: 2 Super Brite Covers with leg gussets + 12 Organic Cotton Prefold Diapers (A Newborn Pack costs $43.95 and 2 packs will be all you need to get into one size diapers).

Another option- Rent your newborn diapers!

Right now, I'm working on putting together a Newborn Rental Kit- which I'm loving because it's like building my own ideal newborn stash without the labour or c-section!

The basics: 

I want to have 24 diapers or more to allow for less laundry 

A few different styles so families can get an idea of what works best for them

So far, my ideal newborn stash aka the rental will be:

A couple All in one cloth diapers for the diaper bag/grandma/sleepless nights

2 AMP All in one diapers for ease of use and good fit 

(I describe these as a cloth version of a disposable)

1 Tots Bots Tini Fit  (5-12 lbs)

Now some fitteds:

2 AMP Small Hemp Fitteds

1 Bamboozle (Size 1 6-18 lbs) Fitted Diaper 

Diaper Covers for the fitted cloth diapers:

1 Super Brite Size Small Diaper Cover

1 Super Whisper Wrap Diaper Cover Size Small

1 Super Snap (basically a 'Super Whisper Wrap' with snaps)

A Bummis Newborn pack:

12- Organic Cotton Prefolds (fit 4-9 lbs)

2- Super Brite Diaper Covers Newborn Size

Pocket Diapers:

3- AMP Small Duo Cloth Diapers

2- Fuzzibunz Perfect Fit Pocket Diaper Size Small

1- AMP All in 2 Cloth Diaper Cover

3- Bamboo Inserts (For use with AMP Duo diapers or All in 2)

4- Two Layer Hemp Inserts (For use with AMP Duo diapers or All in 2)

One-Size Diapers:

1- AMP One-Size Duo Cloth Diaper

1- Tots Bots Easy Fit All in one(8-35 lbs)

1- Fuzzibunz One-Size (8-35 lbs)

Essentials:

FuzziBunz Hanging Diaper Pail (for storing soiled diapers)

Bummis Medium Wet Bag (for storing soiled diapers out and about)

The cost will be about $19/week with a deposit refunded upon return of diapers.