EcoBabies Newborn Cloth Diaper Rental Info & Diaperaps Starter Pack Giveaway (CLOSED 11/3)

Oct 27,2011 / By Maria / 9 Comments

Eco Babies is an online cloth diaper retailer that offers cloth diapers, accessories, detergent, training pants, swim diapers, eco-friendly toys, baby grooming/skin care products, baby carriers, eco-friendly feeding products and breastfeeding products.

Eco Babies ships internationally, and offers free shipping on orders over $50 to the domestic United States. There are a few things that really make Eco Babies stand out. One is the cloth diaper workshops they offer in the Maryland, D.C./Virginia area (Prince George’s, Montgomery, Howard, Anne Arundel, Charles, St. Mary’s, Arlington & Fairfax Counties & Washington DC.) They will soon be offering baby wearing workshops as well! If you can’t make one of the workshops, Eco Babies offers in-home consults. For a small $25 fee, Lee-Ann will come to your home and go over cloth diaper basics, helping you determine what would work best for your family. She will travel within 50 miles of zip code 20720, if you live in this area (or have a friend/family member who is expecting & lives in the area) I think an in-home consult and a gift certificate would be an amazing gift. Eco Babies has a gift registry as well.

The other unique thing Eco Babies offers is their newborn cloth diaper rental. Newborn diapers can get expensive, and depending on your baby’s size, they may not be in them long. When you purchase a newborn rental/trial package, you pay $220 up front which includes a rental fee of $35/month (minimum rental period is 60 days, you just let Eco Babies know by 45 days if you need an additional month) as well as $20 worth of bio liners and cloth diaper detergent (this fee is non-refundable.) The remainder of the fee ($130) is a deposit, which will be refunded upon return of the items (less any items you decide to keep, or items that are lost or damaged beyond normal wear & tear.) You will receive your cash refund within 30 days of returning the items, or if you elect to receive store credit instead, you will get a 10% bonus, and have $143 to spend!

The package includes:

6ea. OsoCozy Indian Unbleached Prefolds – Preemie Size (4-10lbs)
12ea. OsoCozy Indian Unbleached Prefolds – Infant Size (7-15lbs)
3ea. Bummis Super Brite Covers – XS (4-9lbs)
3ea. Bummis Super Brite Covers – S (8-16lbs)
2 ea. Fuzzi Bunz XS Pocket Diapers – XS (4-12lbs)
2ea. GroVia Newborn AIOs (5-12lbs) OR Rumparooz Lil’ Joeys AIOs (4-12lbs)
2ea. Imse Vimse Newborn Contour Flanelette Diapers (4.5-18lbs) OR Bummis Bamboozle Fitted Diapers (5-18lbs)
1ea. Snappi – Infant Sized
1ea. Roll of Bummis Bio-Liners – S
1ea. Bag of Classic Rock Rockin’ Green Detergent

The package is structured in such a way that a new mom can go for 1-2 days before having to wash diapers. Items can be used or new, and used items are sanitized by a professional cloth diaper service before being sent out to another customer.

Eco Babies is offering my readers a 5% discount on their orders. Just enter coupon code CHA5DIA at checkout. (One use per customer, expires 11/30/11.)

Be sure to follow Eco Babies on Twitter, “like” Eco Babies on Facebook and follow the Eco Babies Blog.

Giveaway: One lucky winner will receive a Diaperaps starter pack including one newborn organic cotton cover (6-11 lbs), two infant size 16″ x 12″ (fits up to 16 lbs) easy fold diapers (prefolds), three biodegradable diaper liners and a cloth diapering guide in a cute box. (ARV $20) Entries go in the Rafflecopter form below.

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Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted Cloth Diaper & Duo Wrap Giveaway (CLOSED 11/2) US/Canada

Oct 26,2011 / By Maria / 9 Comments

This is the last of the fabulous Thirsties giveaways in the Virtual Baby Shower Event! In the interest of brevity, I won’t go into too many details about the diaper & cover, but please check out my Thirsties Duo Wrap review, my post comparing the Thirsties Duo Wrap vs Sized Diaper Cover, and my Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted Review & Comparison to the sized Fab Fitted! Each of those posts has tons of detailed photos, measurements, and all the info!

The Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted is the improved version of the much loved fab fitted diaper. It comes in six colors and your choice of aplix or snap closures. Like the duo diaper and duo wrap, each size has three snap down rise settings to fit from birth to potty training in just two sizes. Size 1 fits 6-18 lbs and size 2 fits 18-40 lbs! The duo fab fitted is also improved in that it has a “tunnel” style soaker that allows you to add additional absorbency underneath, and also makes for more thorough washing & faster drying than a fully sewn in soaker! Each Duo Fab Fitted diaper retails for $17.00.

Naturally, the Duo Fab Fitted goes hand in hand with the Duo Wrap! The wrap has the same duo sizing, comes in 9 colors, 5 fantastic prints, and snap or aplix closures! The PUL cover has double gussets to contain messes (just like the duo diaper) and you can wipe and reuse it. The wraps are free of VOC’s, PVC, phthalates, lead, and latex! Each duo wrap retails for $12.75 for solid colors, or $13.75 for prints.

Be sure to request a Thirsties print catalog, “like” Thirsties on Facebook and follow Thirsties on Twitter!

Giveaway: Thirsties is offering one of my readers a Duo Fab Fitted and Duo Wrap in his/her choice of size, color and closure! Entries go in the Rafflecopter form.

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Maya Wrap Ring Sling Review & $30 Eco Mom Gift Certificate Giveaway (CLOSED 11/1)

Oct 25,2011 / By Maria / 5 Comments

EcoMom sells eco-friendly and organic products for moms, kids and babies. I received a $30 gift certificate to spend on a review item for the virtual baby shower, and I had a hard time choosing. I felt like a kid in a candy store with a pocket full of money! EcoMom sells organic food, cloth diapers, natural/organic bath and skincare products, wooden and organic toys and way more eco-friendly gear than I could possibly list.

EcoMom is offering free shipping on all U.S. orders for a limited time. If you buy an Ecopass, you get free shipping all the time, plus 15% on all your orders! They have my favorite…a sale section! All products EcoMom sells are EcoMom approved, and their customer service is excellent!

EcoMom has quite a few slings and carriers, and I finally decided to put my $30 gift certificate towards a Maya Wrap Ring Sling. I love the plum and olive colors, but I decided on the neutral chocolate. The slings retail for $74.95 and are available in small, medium and large sizes. There’s a 6″ length difference between sling sizes, and the small is recommended for people under 5′ 2″ and/or who are slender. Even though I’m not exactly slender right now at 34 weeks pregnant, I am petite and small framed, so I went with the size small so I don’t have to worry about tripping on, or getting tangled up in the sling’s tail!

The slings are recommended for babies from 8-35 pounds, and the strong, light anodized aluminum rings are smooth, weld free and tested to 250 pounds. The 100% hand loomed cotton is soft, cool, breathable, durable and gives without stretching, for support and comfort. The shoulder is padded for comfort, and the unpadded tail can be used as a nursing coverup. The sling came with an instructional DVD, and it also has a zippered pocket to store keys, phone, burp cloths etc.

I was a little overwhelmed when I first opened the sling, but I was determined to figure it out before the baby came! I took lots of photos and videos to share with you. I’m sure I made mistakes and some seasoned ring sling’ers will point them out for me. 😉 I think it will be easier with a real baby vs. a teeny, squishy bear too.

To get your sling ready to use the first time, hold each end of the sling with the tags facing each other. Gather the edges of the tail to the middle.

Put the rings over your wrist to make this next step easier, then bring the tail through the rings.

Then you bring the the tail over the closest ring and under the other ring, then spread the fabric over the rings, making sure it isn’t twisted.

Hold the ring at your shoulder and pull the tail through the rings until the bottom of the pouch is around your hip bone.

Quick video demo (and yes I know my videos aren’t very good! They look so darn dark now, but they didn’t look that way on the camera or my computer. I need to find time to edit them more (just added fill light in YouTube!), but I’m hoping to do this better after I’ve used it with the new baby!):

Once you have done this, you’re pretty much ready to use it every time.

Put your arm through the sling, then bring it over your head.

You will make a pocket for the baby, then support the baby’s weight while you place them in the pocket.

Continue to support your baby’s weight while you tighten the ring sling. Make sure you have read all about babywearing safety! The material that came with the sling had lots of good info about using the sling safely. You want to make sure the baby is positioned correctly, is snug & secure, has his/her face/airway clear and head supported

Again, I’m sure I didn’t do this perfectly!

It wasn’t nearly as difficult as I thought it would be though!

The zippered pocket on the tail is really convenient.

Here’s another terrible video, this time of me putting the sling on:

One reason I really wanted a ring sling is that it’s really easy to take it off without disturbing/waking the baby.

Just support the baby’s weight while you pull the rings away from yourself to loosen the sling. Then lift the fabric over baby (while still supporting the baby’s weight of course!) and you’re done. Then it’s just as easy to put it back on again!

Be sure to follow the EcoMom blog, EcoMom on Twitter and “like” EcoMom on Facebook!

~~Giveaway: One winner will receive a $30 Gift Certificate code to spend towards anything you want from Ecomom. Entries go in the Rafflecopter form.~~

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Bumgenius 4.0 Cloth Diapers in the NEW Colors Mirror, Dazzle & Sassy!

Oct 24,2011 / By Maria / 4 Comments

When Cottonbabies announced the new Flip Trainers and Freetime AIO cloth diapers, I was excited for the new products, but I was especially excited for the new colors Mirror, Dazzle & Sassy, and the new prints, Albert & Lovelace. Somehow, I was under the impression that the existing Bumgenius (4.0, Elemental, Newborn AIO) and Flip products would be available in the colors/prints after the new products came out. In hindsight, I remember hearing “Fall 2011” as well as “early 2012” thrown around so who knows. I blame pregnancy brain.

Anyhoo, a week or two ago I started hearing things about “new colors shipping soon” so I was thinking that maybe the new products were releasing earlier than expected. Then I got with the program and realized that some retailers were receiving 4.0s and Elementals in the new colors already!! As of the time I’m writing this, Kelly’s Closet (affiliate link) has the new colors in stock, in snap-closure 4.0s!

I knew that having two in diapers (at least for a while) soon would mean that I’d need a few more diapers, if I didn’t want to start having to wash more often (I don’t.) I had wished I could take advantage of the buy 5 get 1 free sale that is ending this week, but since I don’t know if I need pink or blue, I didn’t want to end up with a whole mess of yellow diapers. Well shiver me timbers when I found out the new colors were available and part of the buy 5 get 1 sale!! $14.48 per diaper and new colors? Yes, please!

All 3 are really gorgeous, vivid, bright colors. Mirror (blue-ish), dazzle (orchid purple) and sassy (red-orange.) Dazzle is maybe a little more pink than I expected, and sassy was a bit more orange, but I’d still put either on a boy or a girl.

I didn’t have any of the artist series prints since I wasn’t exactly wild about them, but I did love the solid blue in the retail therapy print. I wondered how close the mirror color was to that blue, so I chose that as my free diaper.

I actually like the mirror better than the blue in the retail therapy print. It’s gorgeous. Just a hint of green to the blue and such a beautiful, gender neutral color.

Some people say they think Bumgenius are kind of boring because they don’t have the prints that other brands do, but my hubby and I both think that Bumgenius are some of the cutest diapers we have, despite being so simple. The solid colors contrasting with the white aplix and a hint of the white inner at the waist & legs make them classically cute in my opinion! My favorites are Twilight, Moonbeam & Ribbit, along with Blossom & Zinnia if I had a girl, and now Mirror as well!

I hope Bumgenius continues to come out with more solid colors. On the other hand, maybe not…how many more diapers can I justify buying? Tee-hee!

Looking at the Bumgenius site it appears that the new colors and prints will eventually be available in the newborn AIO diapers as well!

FTC compliance: I purchased the pictured items at normal retail prices. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. This post contains a single, labeled affiliate link.

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Thirsties Fab Wipes & Booty Luster Giveaway (CLOSED 10/27)

Oct 20,2011 / By Maria / 10 Comments

Thirsties makes more than just fantastic cloth diapers & covers. They also sell wonderful cloth diaper accessories including the fab wipes and booty luster.

You may have missed my Thirsties Fab Wipes & Booty Luster review, since I posted it a year and a half ago! Those wipes are still in my rotation and holding up wonderfully. They are two-sided; one side is 85% cotton 15% polyester velour, the other side is 100% polyester microfleece. They come in 6-packs of assorted boy or girl colors, for $10.75 per pack. Though cloth wipes seem pricey at first, they pay off in no time. I would stock up on disposable wipes when they were around 2.5 cents per wipe, but I often had to use 3-5 wipes per change! I rarely have to use more than one cloth wipe at a time, and in no time flat, you will recoup your investment.

The wipes are 8″ x 8″, the perfect size to fold to pop up in a wipes case or warmer!

The Booty Luster is a pre-mixed wipe spray that retails for $6.25 for a 4 ounce bottle, or $11.00 for an 8 ounce bottle. It’s biodegradable, non-toxic and non irritating. A couple squirts on baby’s bottom (or the wipe if you prefer) removes messes without leaving residue. Booty luster does not contain: petroleum, alcohols, animal products, parabens, sulfates, DPGs or dilutants, and isn’t tested on animals.

Ingredients: Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, water-based Extract of Coconut, Honey, Grapeseed Extract, traces of Glycerin, Avocado Oil, Humectant Moisturizers, and other Organic Ingredients.

The bottles are also well made and sturdy. When I was mixing up my own solution, I bought enough dollar store/travel section bottles to pay for several bottles of booty luster (and I ended up doing just that…buying several bottles of booty luster!) The bottles spray and spray, and continue to work long after the solution is gone. Other spray bottles I bought got stuck or stopped spraying quickly, and couldn’t withstand being dropped (which means you won’t survive long in this household!) A little goes a long way, so a bottle will last you quite a while.

I’m getting ready to buy another bottle or two for the new baby’s stash!

Be sure to request a Thirsties print catalog, “like” Thirsties on Facebook and follow Thirsties on Twitter!

Giveaway: Thirsties is offering one of my readers a 4 oz bottle of Booty Luster (ARV $6.25) and a 6-pack of fab wipes (ARV $10.75) in “boy” or “girl” colors. Combined ARV $17. Entries go in the Rafflecopter form.

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Category : Cloth Diapers

EcoBabies Newborn Cloth Diaper Rental Info & Diaperaps Starter Pack Giveaway (CLOSED 11/3)

Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted Cloth Diaper & Duo Wrap Giveaway (CLOSED 11/2) US/Canada

Maya Wrap Ring Sling Review & $30 Eco Mom Gift Certificate Giveaway (CLOSED 11/1)

Bumgenius 4.0 Cloth Diapers in the NEW Colors Mirror, Dazzle & Sassy!

Thirsties Fab Wipes & Booty Luster Giveaway (CLOSED 10/27)

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