Several of my mommy friends have already started on the potty training with their kiddos, something I keep thinking is a long way off, but then realize is right around the corner with an almost 20 month old. For the past month or so, H tells us when he has a wet or dirty diaper, but it is still usually after the fact. Because he’s being vocal about it, I want to take advantage of his awareness and at least start broaching the subject of potty learning.
Have you searched on Google or Pinterest for information on potty training / learning?
Yeah.
Overwhelming is an understatement.
I would consider myself someone that enjoys learning newer parenting techniques. This wild and crazy journey I’ve signed myself up for is hard. There are a multitude of opposing suggestions and it’s so hard to know what the ‘best’ option is, so any time I find something that makes my journey a little easier it feels like I’ve discovered a gold mine.
Sometimes you stumble onto something amazing by pure luck, and is exactly how I discovered M.W Poplin. Started by Linnéa, a wife and mother to an almost three year old, M.W. Poplin is a company that “specializes in creating high quality, functional products for infants and toddlers”.
Two things made Linnéa start M.W. Poplin:
1. She wasn’t able to find pants that supported elimination communication / pottying. Linnéa loved the split pants she had seen in China but they were just too open in the front and back to work for her family in Brooklyn and here in the States.
2. She loved working with manufacturing and wanted to work with the full value chain, from idea to design, materials, sewing, logistics, connecting with other parents and creating solutions that empowered both parents and kids.
Intrigued? It gets even better! Make sure you keep reading along to the end to learn a little more about Linnéa and M.W. Poplin, and enter to win a Roam Free set in your choice of color!
I’ve been keeping H home a lot lately, for more than just air quality reasonings. When we’re home, I can keep him in his birthday suit, which is a huge help with Elimination Communication (EC). The only downside is I’ve been having to be super mindful of the inside temperature of our home, as I don’t want him to freeze on the random chilly mornings we’ve been surprised with. Keeping him comfortable is just one of the ways that M.W. Poplin’s Roam Free vest and pant set helps put my mama mind at ease! Especially now that the seasons are changing and the weather is cooling down, H’s adorable EC Pants and vest help keep him warm and cozy while also making EC easier for all of us.
M.W Poplin’s Roam Free EC Pants are “discreet yet functional split pants that support with elimination communication. They allow your child to use the potty without having to wait for help with buttons, pants or underwear. At the same time, [the] vest will keep your child snug even on cooler days”. Both the elimination communication friendly Roam Free pants and vest are made of organic cotton with non-chaffing seams and the pants have foldable cuffs, which means they can grow with your child. Both are incredibly warm and soft and incredibly durable. H has put them through the wringer with his crazy crawling / climbing / falling over everything and they still look amazing. The set comes in two color options (or are also available separately), The pants are available with blue or red dots with coordinating dots and subtle bird-like images, and the vests come in both a beautiful turquoise or a gorgeous coral red.
Linnéa was “born in Sweden and grew up in the city of Malmö. When she was in high school her family moved to Hong Kong, and she says that move had a huge impact on her. It was an “incredibly stimulating and exciting city to live in” and she loved everything about it! Her horizons shifted, the world got both bigger and smaller all at once and it profoundly changed how she thought about herself and the world. Linnéa returned to Asia after graduating from college in New York, working in purchasing and retail management. She actually met her husband Chris while working in Tokyo, on the 7:20am commuter train of all places! Today they have a soon-to-be three year old and live in the old Scandinavian neighborhood of Ballard, in Seattle.
The name M.W. Poplin has a special meaning for Linnéa. The M is for Maria, her middle name, and the W is for William, her son’s middle name. She love sewing and fabrics and “wanted to connect the name in a more tangible way to textiles and the creation of a garment. Poplin describes a type of weave. It’s durable, uncomplicated, very light yet strong, and beautiful in its simplicity and versatility. Those are all things [she] strive[s] for when making [her] products, and it has provided a great guiding principle”. For Linnéa, finding ways to empower kids is one of her biggest driving forces and inspirations, and also happens to be a huge part of elimination communication (along with listening to and enabling them).
Balance. Balance is hard. Linnéa admits some days she doesn’t have it all figured out, and that’s ok! “Some days will be completely absorbed by work, others by family or friends or errands or the multitude of the little things that make up life”. Both her and her husband realized early on that they do really well with predictable routines. They “have a big white board in [their] kitchen, with two weeks drawn up and everything outlined that relates to [their] family; who is picking up or dropping off: who is doing bedtime: who is cooking (and what!): friends we’re seeing: things to celebrate etc. It’s wonderful! Once the week starts, [they] don’t have to think about all those things that make the days come together – they just work“. With this system in place, Linnéa and Chris can focus on more exciting or rewarding things. They also try to go get out in the woods every Saturday morning since regardless of how crazy things sometimes get or how much [they] are juggling, that always helps them recenter. That all said though, Linnéa still wishes “there were a couple of more hours to the day…”!
Every piece is a favorite for Linnéa.
She loved the Carrier Blanket when her son was still in his BabyBjörn carrier. It allowed her to get out and about in a really easy way, and it helped ensure that he was snug without ever getting too hot.
She also loved the RoamFree pants when they were doing elimination communication. The split pants were a big reason she started her company and she loved how helpful they were. When her son started walking, “it meant he could himself go over to the potty and sit down and [she] didn’t have to scramble with buttons or pants or underwear. It was great!”
Today Linnéa’s favorite is probably the RoamFree vest. They have been using it for cooler days, especially when out hiking. It keeps her son warm without getting in the way, and she loves having a vest that goes down further in the back, which is also one of my most favorite features of the set for H!
Along with everything else I’ve mentioned, one of my very favorite things about M.W. Poplin is that their pants and vest, as well as the lining of the Carrier Blanket, “are all made with organic cotton and sewn right here in the States”! So not only am I supporting Linnéa and her sweet family by purchasing from her shop, I’m also supporting the American economy.
If Linnéa were to try out for The Voice, she says “a Hej allesammans är ni redo” might be what she would sing, because “one of [her] favorite things from back home is that dinners and festivities are always filled with song. Someone will break into song mid-dinner and everyone else joins in. It’s incredibly festive! The songs are folksy, often a bit raunchy and just hilarious.”
This soft and sweet duo is definitely on high rotation in our house, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon! Even if you’re not planning on establishing an elimination communication school of thought in your household, the Roam Free vest and pants are completely interchangeable, and the split pants look super adorable with cloth diapers as well. The pair has already gotten softer in the wash, and the vest will be an easy, and beautiful, layer as the weather cools down.
After you enter the Rafflecopter below, head over to my Instagram and look for the giveaway image for even more ways to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. We hereby release Facebook, et all of any liability. By entering, participants agree that they are at least 18 years of age, and have a mailing address in the United States.
I think i like the blue best. This is such an interesting idea too. Thanks for blogging about it!
It is such a beautiful color!
He is too cute! I love all of his new little duds.
Thank you 🙂
This is such a neat idea with potty training! I am about to potty train my toddler, and I think this would be perfect to enter into! Thanks!
We are just starting and they are SO great with not having to worry about a diaper!
He is so cute!!! And I love the blue vest!
Thank you Ana!
Awe, what a cutie pie. I love that trendy outfit. Such a baby doll!
Thank you Daisy!
My fav color combo is the turquoise one featured here!
That's a great choice!
These look like VERY well made and designed clothes for little ones. Your sweetie is so adorable too! Little ones need clothing that will stand up to their rambunctiousness!
You are so right, Joely, and these roam free pants totally keep up with H and all his craziness!
Thanks for a great giveaway! Your kid is so adorable..
==== RIKA ===
How cute are those jammies! I love the colors as it matches the fall. Awesome giveaway too.
Very cute – the baby and the outfits! My daughter would be interested in these.
I just find it amazing how we can always innovate even the simpliest of things. Keep it up. I know this will look good on my toddler!
I am working on potty training my youngest. I think we may completed the task.
This is such a great idea for toddlers. I like the colors.
He is so cute! These are perfect for toddlers. I love the colors and they look like they will last a long time.
Those little vests are super adorable and so soft looking.
That is a great clothing line for toddlers. Your son is adorable!
This is such a great idea for potty training. My twins are a little behind, so we could definitely use these. I especially love the vests! So cute! And your son looks adorable modeling them!
Omg what a cutie!!! Just loving his outfit!
I am yet to reach that time in my life lol but I think if and when you find something that works for your baby then go for it there are too many opinions out there lol.
It's completely adorable! You can tell from looking at the outfit that it's super comfy! It's fun to hear about the product back story too!
Sounds like a great product line! My girls are too big for these, but will definitely share to other parents we know that have toddlers!
He is so cute! The outfit is adorable too and looks so comfy for the little ones!
xoxo Bree
http://bree-west.com
What a great clothing line! I'll have to look into that. I've just started the basics with my 14 month old. Super simple, I just sit him on the potty first thing in the morning and he's learned to go. He says "p…p…p…" and that's how I know he has to go. He's started telling me during the day too, slowly it's catching on. I mean, he still uses his diaper and will for a while, but the foundation is there. With my first, I waited until he was two before I tried anything. It was such a process. This feels much easier. Thanks for the info.
awesome giveaway..I entered and I hope I win! Thanks for sharing.
I think I like the red set the best !