Thanks to everyone who entered the Lena Loves… Pampers Gifts to Grow Rewards giveaway. First, I must apologize for my tardiness in posting the results – as mentioned one post below, life has been very hectic! But I’m happy to share some very good news with six (6) lucky winners!

All winners were drawn using Random.org; however, as I don’t want to pollute the esthetics of my blog with a bunch of widget snapshots, you’ll just have to trust me sight unseen. (Please send me an e-mail if you’d like a copy of the winning widgets – I’ll keep them on file for 7 days.)

First up, the GRAND PRIZE: a Gifts to Grow Unsung Heroes prize pack, including a diaper bag autographed by Bethenny Frankel, a package of Pampers diapers, and a Magnetic Tabletop Easel from Alex Toys (just one of the many fabulous rewards you can grab with your points!)

And the winner is… #48 KainsHottie! Congratulations!

Five (5) runners up will receive a Liz Lange diaper clutch, also courtesy of Pampers! And the winners are…

#92 mrsking14
#94 The Palmer Fam
#149 rbailey1958
#233 AmyLynn
#334 esluka

Congratulations all! Please send me an e-mail with your contact details, so that I may have the prize sent to your right away. Thanks again to everyone who participated, and to Pampers!

If you’re a new parent, chances are your little one is in Pampers. Chances are even better that you collect Gifts to Grow rewards points. And if you don’t, I have two words for you:

Tisk. Tisk.

It’s okay, I was once there too. After Ryder was born, I fecklessly through away several packages of diapers – noting the little bar code stickers inside but not giving them much thought. It was only after a night of complete baby-induced insomnia that I actually looked up what “Gifts to Grow” points were all about. Then I quickly did the math; Ryder was destined to be in diapers for at least two years (ahem, going on three) and therefore, there were ample points to collect over the years. And ample points mean ample rewards!

In the past year, I’ve redeemed points for a gift card, trio of baby books, building blocks and even taken my chances in a draw for a year’s worth of Pampers diapers and wipes. And now, I’m THIS CLOSE to grabbing the Radio Flyer Big Flyer! Ryder will have the coolest big wheel on the block!

This year, Pampers has teamed up with celebrity mom Bethenny Frankel to celebrate all the wonderful things parents do each day for their babies and families that make them real, Unsung Heroes! Recognizing parents for all their hard work and dedication to their family, Pampers is unveiling a new year of gifts, incentives and rewards from their Gifts to Grow catalog that families can earn by purchasing Pampers branded products.

“To kick off a new year of Gifts to Grow and celebrate parents everywhere, Pampers and Frankel launched a Facebook contest and other activities to award parents for all they do each and every day. Parents can now visit the Pampers Facebook page to nominate a friend, family member or even themselves to be recognized as a real “Unsung Hero”. Parents will also be able to receive special incentives and rewards from Gifts to Grow, as well as enter to win a signed diaper bag from Frankel.”

Here’s a quick video of Bethenny chatting about Unsung Heroes:

For those Tweetin’ Mamas who LOVE Pampers as much as I do, tune in for a “Twitter Shower” tomorrow night  (Tuesday, December 14th) at 7pm EST.

“We’re looking for expectant parents, family members and friends helping gear up a soon-to-be-mom to join us alongside co-host, Party Stylist Amy Belle Isle (of StemParties and OperationShower) for a Twitter Shower on Tuesday, December 14th. Participants will be privy to creative tips on preparing for a baby shower and parenthood debut, but we also want to hear your personal baby shower and registry must-knows!“

Date: Thursday, December 14th, 2010
Time: 4-5pm PST (7-8pm EST)
Hashtag: #MyBabyRegistry
Host: @TwitterMoms
Co-Host: @operationshower
Sponsor: @pampers

A little bird told me that it’ll be tons of fun with GREAT PRIZES to be won (including Pampers prize packs and iPods!), and participants will be provided a special Pampers “Gifts to Grow” coupon code for joining. Mark your calendars!

It’s Walmart’s Anniversary Sale! You know what that means – insane prices, insane shoppers, and insanely crabby cashiers. Let the festivities begin!

If you’ve decided to check out the sale and have a wee one in diapers (size 3-6 Pampers, to be precise), do grab up to four (4) boxes of Pampers Baby Dry Giant Diapers for just $17.97. That’s 140 count for size 4, if you’re calculating cost per diaper.

I’m excited about this sale! I just received a package with $3 off coupons from Pampers last week, so this is perfect timing. Looks like I’ll be schlepping some green boxes tomorrow :)

This should put an end to the debate once and for all…

CINCINNATI (September 2, 2010) — After a comprehensive review, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada announced today that they have found no cause linking Pampers Dry Max diapers and reports of diaper rash and other skin conditions. Pampers has welcomed the Commission’s and Health Canada’s thorough review and cooperated fully with them.

“We are thankful that the U.S. CPSC and Health Canada conducted their thorough reviews and have not identified any cause for concern with Pampers with Dry Max,” said Jodi Allen, Vice President of Pampers. “Our heartfelt mission is always to care for and protect babies, and as such, safety is, and will always be, our number one priority. We hope that today’s announcement will reassure the millions of moms and dads and child caregivers who place their trust in Pampers and Dry Max every day. We thank our customers for their continued support and greatly value and appreciate the trust they place in us.

To help, we are sponsoring the distribution of comprehensive educational materials produced by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that provide detailed information on the care and treatment of infant skin conditions, including diaper rash. These AAP materials are now available as free brochures and in the summer issue of AAP Healthy Children Magazine through many pediatrician offices, online at www.healthychildren.org, and at pampers.com.

We promise that we will always put babies’ health and safety first and we encourage any parent or child caregiver with questions to reach out to us at 800/PAMPERS.”

Reid is in Pampers Swaddlers with Dry Max and he’s the happiest baby alive. So relieved to see that I can continue to diaper him with confidence. PAMPERS 4 LIFE!

*Edit* I just came back from the Loblaws on Glen Erin in Mississauga, and they are NOT enforcing the “Limit 2 Per Customer.”

If you’re a parent of a wee one, chances are you’ve figured out that disposable diapers are EXPENSIVE. Like, I-could-be-spending-this-money-on-kickass-highlights-for-myself expensive. I seriously get on my knees and pray every night that Ryder will get the hang of using the big boy potty – I’m sick of buying Pampers Size 4.

One redeeming fact is that with both Ryder and Reid, I’ve never bought diapers at full price. I stock up when they’re on sale and always save my receipt in case I need to exchange them for a different size down the line. And so I’m exceptionally pleased that RCSS and Loblaws is having a sweet sale on diapers – just $19.99 for Pampers or Huggies Club Size diapers (sizes 3-6). That’s a savings of $19 per box! The sale is on August 6th thru 12th.

If you’re a smart shopper and have signed up for Pampers mailing list, chances are you have a bunch of $3 off coupons as well. When applied to the sale price, it works out to about $0.11 per diaper (for size 4), versus the regular price of $0.25 per diaper.

Sometimes, despite my best efforts, I’m simply not able to get in touch with a winner. When this happens, I re-draw from the previous entrants in order to award a prize.

And that’s just what I’ve had to do with the Lena Loves… Pampers with Dry Max giveaway.

(FYI – Winners must contact me within one (1) week of their name being announced to claim their prize. I’ll usually try to hunt you down after 3 days or so, but if no e-mail address is noted, sometimes I have to jump through hoops to find you!)

Everyone needs diapers! Up for grabs is a pack of the new Cruisers or Swaddlers with Dry Max, plus a Liz Lange diaper clutch.

The new winner is silverbullet71! Congratulations!

Silverbullet71 said: I would love to win some new and improved diapers because my 10 month old is really on the move these days! She’s been crawling, walking (while holding furniture) and climbing whenever she can! I’m exhausted just trying to keep up with her :)

Please send me an e-mail with your full name and contact details, as well as your diaper/size selection. Thanks to everybody who participated, and Pampers!

Thanks to everyone who entered the Lena Loves… Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max giveaway. For my US readers – the diapers were released in stores TODAY! And for the Canadian readers with a Superstore near you, don’t forget to take advantage of this promotion!

As a reminder, up for grabs are two (2) prizes of a pack of the new Cruisers or Swaddlers with Dry Max, plus a Liz Lange diaper clutch.

Congratulations to Laura and Mami2jcn!

Laura wrote: I would love to win because I have a two year old and a newborn in diapers. Any extra FREE diapers are amazing! Especially if they will not leak through the night.

Mami2jcn wrote: What intrigues me is the fact that these diapers are 20% thinner yet can hold up for 12 hours!

Please send me an e-mail with your full name and contact details, as well as your diaper/size selection. Thanks to everybody who participated, and Pampers!

What a perfect time for this promotion – ties in quite nicely with my current giveaway, if I do say so myself.

Beginning tomorrow at Real Canadian Superstores in Ontario, when you purchase any Pampers Club Size diapers ($34.99) you’ll receive a FREE Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max Jumbo Pack (max. value $12.49).

What a great opportunity to try the diapers for yourself! The sale runs until March 18th, and you’ll need to present the coupon on the second page of the flyer (shouldn’t be a problem to find a copy of the flyer in-store).

I tried checking the RCSS website to see if the promo is available in other provinces, but only Ontario flyers have been updated so far. If Canucks outside Ontario spot this deal too, please leave a comment to let everyone know!

When I was first approached by PTPA to evaluate the new Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max, I jumped at the opportunity. First and foremost, I was excited because Ryder has been a Pampers baby since Day #1, and I had nothing but love for the brand. Secondly, I’m all for thinner, more absorbent diapers (who isn’t?) And last but not least – I had this special inkling that I would be part of a revolution of sorts; one of the first people to test the new and improved diapers, which would somehow make a huge impact on many lives.

I wasn’t far from the mark. The new Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max are spectacular! They have the soft, flexible grips of the standard Pampers Cruisers, and mimic your infant’s movements to a tee. And, of course, they just happen to be 20% thinner and a heck of a lot more absorbent – revolutionary!

Here’s a fun video I found on Pampers’ YouTube page:

Even the experts agree – Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max are a touchdown!

Now I hate shortcuts, so you can bet that I put these diapers to the test. Daily wear proved to be comparable to my current stash of Pampers Cruisers, with a little less diaper-induced waddle (thanks largely to the thinner design). So I focused on Ryder’s overnight experience. And I set up my own little test environment that was sure to push the limits of Dry Max.

First, I prepared my little guy for bed with his PJs and a fresh diaper. Then I rewarded a very happy Ryder with a sippy cup full of diluted juice just before bedtime (yes, he did brush his teeth afterwards – I’m not out to rot his little chompers). After about 9 oz of liquid goodness, I sang his favourite lullabies and wished him a good night, full of sweet dreams and lots of pee.

In the morning, I was happy to see that my faith in Pampers was legit – Ryder awoke fresh faced and content with – you guessed it – an extremely heavy diaper but no leaks. I was thrilled that the diapers came through for us. Pampers 4 Life!

Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max are PTPA Award Winning! Our parent evaluators (including myself) love that they are the thinnest diaper on the market able to deliver such stellar results. There was literally nothing negative to say about them – they rock!

The new Dry Max diapers launched in stores March 1st, so what are you waiting for? Thick, leaky diapers are sooo 2009!

Ready for a fab giveaway? Win Pampers here!

Pampers has generously offered two (2) Listen to Lena! readers the chance to win a pack of their new Cruisers or Swaddlers with Dry Max, plus a limited edition Liz Lange diaper clutch. The clutch retails for $50 and is 100% polyester with a genuine leather trim. Pretty nifty!

To enter, simply leave a comment to let us know what intrigues you about the new Dry Max diapers, or simply why you’d like to win! I’ll draw for a winner on Sunday. Thanks to Pampers for sponsoring the giveaway, and good luck everybody!

Since we’re on the subject of diapers, why not grab a free sample of Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max? They’re 20% thinner than regular Pampers, and promise to be their driest diaper ever!

You’ll have a choice of size 3, 4 or 5 – and you’ll need to allow 6-8 weeks for the sample to arrive.

Click here to grab your free sample of Pampers Cruisers w/ Dry Max.

Well.ca, my favourite online drugstore with FREE shipping across Canada, now sells diapers!

And to celebrate, here’s a hot little promo for you – simply enter code DIAPERMOM10 at checkout, and you’ll receive $10 off your first order! There is no minimum purchase, and the promo is valid through Monday, February 22nd.

Now before you say it, of course this little deal-seeker knows that they’re more expensive than Walmart. At about $5 more per package, you may not be making bulk purchases anytime soon. BUT, consider this – if you place just one order, you’ll save $5 off Walmart’s price, making it a pretty nice deal indeed! And, while you’re online, why not check out some of the other sales and specials at Well.ca – from the comfort of your own home. They’ve got elite and hard-to-find brands that you won’t find anywhere else! (Two words: Salon Selectives)

They’re currently expanding their inventory, so if your favourite brand/size is not available at the moment, sit tight and check back soon.

Click here to buy diapers from Well.ca.

Before (and shortly after) we welcomed Ryder, I couldn’t get enough advice on just about everything baby-related. I joined chat groups, searched the Internet like a woman possessed, and asked fellow moms (the experts!) about their do’s and don’ts.

And now, since I’ve been there and back, I feel somewhat qualified to lend a few of my own words of wisdom:

1. If you wonder whether you’ll be a good mom – the answer is yes. Never forget that. The fact that you care at all makes you a-okay. A bad mom wouldn’t give a fig whether she was good or not.

2. There are two things in this world that you can catch up on: your favourite recorded TV shows and sleep. It seems bad now, but the body has an amazing ability to recuperate all that shuteye you missed out on in the first 6 months. You’ve got the rest of your life to sleep. Your child will fit snugly in your arms for only a limited time.

3. There’s a special place in hell for people who hurt puppies and moms who judge other moms. Never forget that. To quote John 8:7 ~ “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

(If this seems helpful to you, drop me a line. I’m full of insightful wisdom!)

And that’s why I’m happy to participate in the “Pampers: A Parent is Born” project. Pampers has joined with Mom Central to create insightful, community-driven tip sheets for new and expectant parents to download and share in their own mommy circles. As a mom, you inevitably find yourself filled with experience and knowledge that new parents need, and this is a wonderful opportunity to share valued information.

To join in the fun, simply visit Mom Central and share your number one parenting tip on one or both of the following subjects:

How to Cope with Going Back To Work: Ways mom can prepare for the big day and ways to soothe the unease.

Baby/Mommy Sleep Tips: Tips on helping both Baby and mom sleep through the night.

Pampers and Mom Central will be judging which tips to share with the new parent community and January 2010 will see the unveiling of the tips sheet online at http://www.pampers.ca/. Twenty-five randomly selected tips will receive a $20 gift card, while one grand prize winner will receive $500!

Here’s my best tip:

Sleep Tip: In good faith, I can’t take the credit for this one, as my darling husband came up with it all on his own – but I’d love to share. We had an ongoing problem with being able to put our then 14-month old to bed. No matter the routine – bath, snuggle time, reading, etc – he refused to go down until well after 10pm. We knew it was too late for a child his age, and tried sabotaging his naps, giving him warm milk – anything to make him sleepy. Finally, my husband reasoned that perhaps he didn’t want to go down because we weren’t going to sleep, and the prospect of missing out was too much to bear. So here’s what he did: before we put our son down to sleep at 8:30pm, we went in the hall and turned off all the lights. Then, after we put him down, we huddled in our room and pretended to be asleep. Through the monitor, we could hear him thumping around in his crib – but the darkness and silence seemed to fool him – he simply went to sleep! A bonus – my husband and I used that time to catch up, talk about our day, etc. After 10 minutes we resumed what we were doing and didn’t hear a peep out of him again. For the first week, we used this system, and it quickly became a tradition for my husband and me to huddle in the dark, chatting away. And now, even though we no longer need to impose a blackout to get our son to sleep, we still hold a quick “mommy and daddy time” conference for a few minutes after he goes to bed!

Fingers crossed :) Click here to enter your own special tip for new moms and moms-to-be! Contest ends December 10th. Good luck!