The EcoChic

A few weeks ago I worked with Vilate from Nifty Nappy on launching her new website with a Twitter Party (over at Eco Chic Parties). I was a little intimidated because I don’t use wool or fitted diapers – until now. Vilate gladly sent me a Nifty Nappy fitted along with their nappy inserts (made of organic bamboo and hemp). I don’t however have a wool soaker or any other wool covers/longies/etc. I’ve been pairing our fitted along with a Flip or EconoBum cover for now.

Fit: I love how nicely (and trim) the Nifty Nappy fits and I absolutely love the adorable pattern (Pretty Paisley). The pattern was so cute I hated to put a cover over it – I wanted to show it off.

TIP: Fitteds need diaper covers because they don’t have any PUL and aren’t water-proof.

Fabric: The other key feature that I really liked about our Nifty Nappy is the softness of the fabric and the insert. The outer layers are cotton knit, there is a layer of hemp on the inside, and the inside is a soft microfleece that helps to wick the moisture away from your baby. The inserts again are made of organic bamboo velour and hemp fleece – both superior in absorbing moisture.

Closure: The Nifty Nappy has cross over snap closure so it will fit a skinny baby or a chubby baby quite well. The snaps are color coordinated to match the fabrics and are very durable.

More about Nifty Nappy – Vilate is very active online offering support and guidance to the cloth diapering community. She is a regular on Twitter chats and parties @MyNiftyNappy and is also on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/niftynappy). The new website if amazing – there is a new video tutorial section that provides tips and tricks for using cloth diapers and wool. My favorite is “How to lanolize a wool cover” – especially since I’m still intimidated by wool.

After working with Vilate on her Twitter Party and talking with her about wool I’m a little less intimated by the idea. So much that my next purchase is going to be a wool cover or longie for Lil’ B. I’ll be sure to share my experience with wool once I take the leap.

Interact with me – leave your comment below. Do you use wool? What are your favorite features?

Giveaway alert!  Win your very own Bumbino reusable cloth diaper – details following the review. Eco-ngratulations @Squirrel083!  

Have you heard?  There’s a new kid on the block – and it’s not those 5 teen rock stars from the 80′s – it’s Bum Essentials!  Bum Essentials is the newest line of cloth diapers and accessories to hit the market and I had the honor to review the complete product line;the Bumbino, the Bum Pad, and the Bum Bag.

Bumbino – a reuseable cloth diaper
Features:
-Waterproof PUL outer liner
-Soft micro-fleece inner liner
-Aplix (Velcro) cross over closure (perfect for the tiny babies all the way to toddlers)
-Adjustable snap rise makes it a one-size diaper (8-34 lbs recommended)
-Elastic front and back!!!  *This is one of my FAVORITE features because Lil’ B sleeps on her belly and always leaks out the top where most diapers are prone to gap.
-Snap in soaker inserts; available in Classic or Terry Towel versions
-Front snaps for soakers – the placement of the snap makes changing the dirty diapers easier (no touching the poo while unsnapping the soakers)

Bum Pad – the snap in soakers for the Bumbino diaper
-The Classic: a blend of organic cotton and super soft bamboo (feels like a cotton t-shirt)
-The Terry Towel:a blend of organic cotton and bamboo with a hint of polyster and the feel of a terry cloth towel

Bum Bag – a wet bag for travel or home
-Available in 2 sizes (travel and laundry)
-Made of the same materials as the diapers
-Double layer to prevent leakage
-Drawstring closure
-Reversible!!!

My thoughts:  Like I’ve said numerous times before; I’m a Velcro girl!  Between daddy and our sitter I don’t really have much choice – Velcro is easier for the novice.  There aren’t many cloth diapers on the market that have the front elastic and you can be sure that you won’t see the front diaper gap.  We’ve only tried it with our toddler but the adjustable rise snaps and cross over front closure would make this diaper another favorite for the youngest of infants.  The Bumbino is similar in function to GroBaby and SoftBums where you can replace the Bum Pad and reuse the clean shell; this helps stretch your wallet and reduce the amount of diapers you need to wash.  Each Bumbino comes with a small and large Bum Pad in Terry Towel.  The smaller Bum Pad is perfect for infants or as a doubler on toddlers.  It’s worth the extra money to order The Classic Bum Pad for a little extra absorbency - great if you have a heavy wetter.  My most raved about product is the Bum Bag!  I L-O-V-E this wet bag!  It’s large enough to hold a few days worth of diapers and sturdy enough that I can toss it to the garage for laundry day.  Our sitter even commented on how nice this bag was.  An extra special feature is the reversibility of the bag – you can color coordinate it with your outfit or your babies diaper!

Buy It Now!  In addition to shopping directly at Bum Essentials; Kelly’s Closetnow sells the entire Bum Essentials line of products.  The Bumbino sells for $19.99, the extra Bum Pads are $9.50, and the Bum Bags are $8.99-15.99.  The best bargain is the A-Z Starter Kit which includes 2 shells, 2 Terry Towel combo inserts, 1 Classic combo insert, and 1 travel bag for only $47.99! 

Win It!  One lucky reader will get their very own Bumbino cloth diaper.  Visit Bum Essentials store and tell me which color you would like to win – be sure to use the proper color name!  Leave your comment below for entry into the giveaway.  

Extra Entries: (leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
- Register for Eco Mom Media’s ‘Introducing Bum Essentials’ Twitter party this Thursday night then come back here and leave a comment with your Twitter name.
- Follow @BumEssentials, @TheEcoChic and @EcoMomMedia on Twitter.
- Like Bum Essentials, The Eco Chic and Eco Mom Media on their Facebook Fan Pages
- Tweet about this giveaway (complete with link to this post and @TheEcoChic/@BumEssentials in your tweet) up to twice daily.  Leave your comment below for each tweet along with a link to your tweet.
- Subscribe to the Bum Essentials newsletter.  

Giveaway ends on May 18th, 2010 at midnight (ET).  Open to residents of both the US and Canada. 
Good Luck and thanks for helping us Save the Planet 1 Diaper at a Time!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

Excuse my fuzzy quality image of Lil’ B sporting her Bumbino.  It’s the only picture where she was actually smiling and not trying to run away from the camera this week.

Disclosure: I received the materials reviewed in this post in a partnership with Bum Essentials.  If you purchase their products at Kelly’s Closet I earn a very small affiliate commission that helps to pay my hosting fees and maintenance on my blog.  Thanks in advance for clicking on my Affiliate Link in my sidebar when making purchases at Kelly’s Closet. 

Giveaway alert! One lucky reader will win a BabyKicks Bumboo Pocket Diaper and a Premium Duz-it-All. Details following post.  Closed! Eco-ngratulations to DebbieLG @MSU_MOM_TO_2 you are the winner!

Despite how lame I know this is going to sound…I got a total KICK out of BabyKicks newest diaper, the Bumboo pocket. I mean seriously, look how adorable it is when it arrives in the mail.

BabyKicks is a small family owned business that hand makes about 90% of their products in Maryland. In addition to their new Bumboo pocket diaper they also sell fitted diapers, pre-folds, nursing pads, burp pads, and blankets.

When the Bumboo first arrived I was in love with the softness of the inside and the interesting leg gussets. The Bumboo is a one-sized diaper that fits babies from 7lbs to 30lbs (comparable to most one-sized diapers). As you can tell from the picture above it has snaps but they are side snapping. Side snapping simply means you don’t snap the diaper by pulling the side tabs to the front…instead you pull the front snaps to the side. It actually takes a little while to get use to it but I like it. Although I fear that if you had a very hefty baby or toddler that it might be snug around the middle. (updated 2/23/09…BabyKicks is working on a new wing design to correct this potential issue with size!). One advantage of the side snap is that it prevents tab droop. The snaps are available in green (as shown here), blue or multi-colored.

I mentioned the interesting leg gussets. They are soft bamboo/fleece like the inside barrier but there is no PUL. It’s amazingly soft on their little legs but I feared that it would leak….guess what? It didn’t! The leg gussets were designed like this for 2 reasons: 1) to reduce rubbing on your babies legs, and 2) for better air flow (thus reducing the possibility of rash).

The Bumboo is a front loading pocket which allows for a more trim fit and helps to prevent that extra fluff in the rear. It comes with one Joey-Bunz 100% hemp insert. I love hemp inserts….they are so trim and so absorbent. My only other hemp insert came with our GADBaby diaper which Lil’ B recently outgrew (boo!). Why hemp? Hemp is super absorbent and anti-microbial (no bacteria or mildew here). Look at this pic of Lil’ B and you can tell that the Bumboo pocket really does have a nice trim fit.

Did you know that hemp is better for the environment than cotton? Hemp does not deplete the soil and actually adds rich nitrogen back into the soil. This allows growers to use less fertilizers and reduces the need for crop rotation.

But it now! The Bumboo pocket diaper sells for an amazingly low $18.50…this is incredibly LOW for a diaper of this quality! It’s very difficult to find a diaper with organic cotton and bamboo for less than $20-25 each. You can buy the Bumboo pocket diapers directly on their website or at many cloth diaper retailers nationwide.

Win it now! Visit the BabyKicks website and leave a comment below telling me one interesting fact about hemp. This is a mandatory entry.

Extra entries: (Leave an individual comment for each extra entry.)
1. Follow me on Google Friend Connect.
2. Follow both @TheEcoChic and @BabyKicksUSA on Twitter. Tweet about this giveaway a maximum of 2 times per day. **Be sure to include @TheEcoChic and @BabyKicksUSA along with a link back to this post in your tweet.
3. Subscribe to have The Eco Chic blog delivered to your inbox via Feedburner.
4. Add The Eco Chic blog to your Google Feed Reader or other RSS reader.
5. Add my button to your blog and/or blog about this giveaway.

Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Must be over 18yrs old to enter. Contest will end on March 8th at midnight (EST).

Good luck!

ECO-ngratulations DebbieLG @MSU_MOM_TO_2 You are the winner! Watch your email for details on claiming your diaper!

Giveaway Alert! One reader will receive a Softbums Cloth Diaper of their choice.  For details keep reading.  Giveaway has ended and the winner is Khrys! @momof3dolls! ECO-ngratulations! Continue reading to learn more about SoftBums cloth diapers!

As we enter our second year of cloth diapering I’m excited to try new brands.  We recently added a Blazing Orange Softbums to our stash and I wish I would have found this one early on.  I can honestly see why they claim to have the “Perfect Fit.” 

Softbums is an all-in-two cloth diaper with a snap in insert.  The inserts are available in dry touch (a micro-fleece/micro-terry combination) and also in bamboo.  Each diaper also comes with a doubler for those heavy wetters.  One great advantage to an all-in-two is that you can reuse the cover a few times just by snapping in a new insert.  There is no need to wash the cover each time unless it’s soiled.  This will extend the life of your cover and save you time in the laundry room.

Softbums are available in both Velcro and with snaps.  As my regular readers already know; I’m a huge fan of Velcro.  The Softbums tabs are similar to the Happy Heiny’s and fold over on themselves for washing. 

What makes the Softbum such a ‘perfect fit’ is the unique tiny snuggler system that is hidden inside.  This unique toggle system allows you to truly adjust the leg gussets without the use of snaps.  When this diaper arrives it is set to the smallest setting.  My husband actually laughed when he saw it because he didn’t think it would fit Lil’ B.  If only we had found Softbums when she was first born.  Most one sized diapers really don’t fit infants until they are about 11-14 pounds.  The Softbums cloth diapers will honestly fit a baby as small as 6 pounds.  Softbums will also fit the larger baby up to about 35 pounds.  Lil’ B is currently right at 20 pounds and it fits nicely.  The only item I will note is that the Softbums seems more narrow in the middle than most one sized diapers (not a problem for Lil’ B but might be a concern with an overly chunky baby).

Sarah, the owner of Softbums, provided me with 2 extra tips to ensure success with our Softbums.  1) Be sure you wash your Softbum several times to maximize the absorbency.  2) Adjust the leg gusset slightly tighter than you think you need to since the elastic is so stretchy.  I didn’t have a problem with either one.  Our Softbums cloth diaper is not a leaker and I don’t normally add the doubler.  I’ve adjusted the leg gusset one time in 2 months and haven’t needed to readjust yet. 

Buy it now!  A solo Softbums pack sells for $25.95 and includes one cover, 1 insert and one doubler.  The basic pack sells for $36.95 and includes one cover, 3 inserts and 1 doubler.  If you buy a six pack (or larger) of Softbums you can save 10% using coupon code ECOCHIC.  Don’t forget that you can reuse the cover a few times before having to wash it making it a great value. 

Win it!  To register to win your very own Softbums cloth diaper you MUST visit Softbums and tell me which color you would try if you win.  Leave your response in the comments section below and don’t forget to leave your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner.  (email (at) xxx (dot) com format for your safety)

Extra Entries:  *Be sure to leave an individual comment for each extra entry.

1.  Make a purchase from Softbums during the contest period and earn 5 extra entries.

2.  Follow The Eco Chic on Google Friend Connect by clicking on the Join This Site button in the sidebar.

3.  Subscribe to The Eco Chic by email using the Feedburner button in the sidebar.  You must confirm your subscription for your entry to be valid.

4.  Follow @TheEcoChic on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway.  (Maximum of 5 extra entries for tweeting)

5.  Add my button to your blog.

Contest is open to residents in the United States and Canada over the age of 18 yrs.  All entries must be in by January 25th at midnight (EST).  Good Luck!

ECO-gratulations Khrys @momof3dolls!

For a complete review of my disclosure and privacy policy click here.

Giveaway Alert!  Bamboo Bums is giving away $25 Bum Bucks (e-gift certificate) to one lucky reader! All readers win with a coupon code good until Dec. 15th! Details at the end of post!

I’m quickly learning that in the world of cloth diapers the possibilities are endless!  You can have your prefolds, flat folds, pockets, all in ones, all in twos, one size, sized, velcro, aplix, snaps, loopy doos, microsuede, bamboo, hemp, organic, cotton….well you get the picture!  It can be a little overwhelming for the newbies but it’s actually quite exciting for the seasoned cloth diapering mamma (or pappa!).  I was just reading an article today about using receiving blankets and t-shirts as diapers! 

I have also come to realize that cloth diapering parents can differ in what they prefer.  Some parents are really after the most economical cloth diapers that are out there while others are looking for the easiest options available.  If there is one thing I’ve learned it’s that there is no perfect diaper and no perfect system…you really have to do what’s best for you…and only you know what that is! 

Our newest fluff is a deep red Bamboo Bum!  I decided on red because it was fall, which means football, and that’s our team colors.  When our new fluff arrived I had two initial thoughts…1) OMG this is soft, and 2) what the hell am I suppose to do with all these snaps!  Every Saturday this fall Lil B has been sporting her red Bamboo Bum Utility Diaper under her UGA attire!  During the week I’ve tried it for day and for night.  Laura (the genius behind Bamboo Bums) told me I should also try it as a swim diaper and for a potty trainer too…but I haven’t gotten around to either of those yet!  (Mostly because it’s fall and the water is too cold…and Lil’ B is only 10mo!!)  But rest assured we’ve tried our Bamboo Bum solid for 2 months.

Let’s start with my first impression…bamboo is SOFT!  It seriously feels like a really nice stuffed animal.  I absolutely love putting the bamboo next to Lil B’s bum.  The material is actually a blend of viscose made from organically grown bamboo, organic cotton, and polyester.  It also has the traditional PUL waterproof outer layer to keep your little bear dry.  Bamboo is one of the most environmentally friendly fabrics because it replenishes itself rapidly…growing at a rate of up to 4 feet per day!   

And my second impression…since the majority of my stash is made up of velcro I struggle with snaps.  I have a few other snap diapers and I’ve learned to love them…so I wasn’t too scared….but there are A LOT of snaps!  I’m counting 34 snaps right now and that can be a little intimidating for a velcro mamma!  But I haven’t let this one beat me.  The first time I used it I was ready to send it back to Laura and admit my defeat…but she was very supportive and linked me to her tutorials.  She also gave me some tips on making sure I had the best fit for Lil B.  The first time we had some leaks but that was because I didn’t have the snaps adjusted properly.  I am happy to announce that we have had no more leaks since that first day! 

Unfortunately for me…I tried Bamboo Bums at THE worst time…Lil B is 10 months old and is EXTREMELY WIGGLY!  She never sits still and I can barely put a velcro diaper on her…let alone a snap! 

I like the fact that the soaker pad snaps into the diaper cover.  It saves so much time from having to stuff my pocket diapers.  The Bamboo Bum is said to fit babies from 8-40lbs and with the amount of snaps I can see how this would be possible.  This diaper comes with one infant soaker and one large soaker.  For nighttime I use both soakers for the maximum absorbency!  It may be a little bulky but it works. 

Miscellaneous Facts About Bamboo:
1.  Bamboo is 60% more absorbent than cotton.
2.  Bamboo is naturally anti-microbial.
3.  Bamboo is naturally anti-fungal.
4.  Bamboo is naturally anti-bacterial.
5.  Bamboo is biodegradable. 

Buy It Now!  Want to try a Bamboo Bum at a discounted price?  Use the coupon code ecochic for a 15% off savings from now until Dec. 15, 2009.

Win It!  One lucky reader will win $25 Bum Bucks (like an e-gift certificate).  In addition to their Utility Diaper Bamboo Bums also sells bum cloths (bamboo wipes), wet bags, and prefolds.  To enter you must visit Bamboo Bums and tell me one reason why Laura prefers snaps over velcro!  Leave your comments below and then you can enter the bonus entries!

Bonus Entries:
1.  Follow Bamboo Bums and The Eco Chic on Twitter.
2.  Become a Fan of Bamboo Bums and The Eco Chic on Facebook.
3.  Tweet about this giveaway.  Must include @TheEcoChic, @BambooBums, and link back here in your tweet. (Max of 5 tweets per giveaway!)
4.  Subscribe to The Eco Chic via Feedburner, Google Reader, or other feed reader. 
5.  Add my button to your blog.
6.  Blog about this giveaway.
7.  Enter one of my other giveaways.

Leave a seperate comment for each entry (and link if applicable) and be sure to leave your email address in your entry somewhere. 

Contest ends on November 23, 2009 at noon (EST).  I will announce the winner around 8pm EST during the cloth diaper chat on Twitter!

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY!

Bamboo Bums is also an Extreme Sponsor in the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt!  During the month of November you too can search for little pink owl/diaper icons on sponsor sites for a chance to win some amazing prizes!  I’ve actually enjoyed visiting the sponsor pages and learning about all of the fun products that are available online.  I now know what Hyena Cart is! LOL!

This post is sponsored by Bamboo Bums who sent us a Utility Diaper for review.  Bamboo Bums is providing the giveaway.  The opinions in this post are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Don’t forget to enter my Blogiversary Celebration Giveways!  These wonderful giveways all close on Sept. 23, 2009 at midnight (EST). 

Tonight I’m feeling rather ‘fancy’ and ‘trendy’ so I thought I would share with you a new online green clothing store I was recently introduced to.  We Care Clothing!  This great little clothing store features beautiful designer clothing and accessories for women, mens, and kids.  Their clothing is made from organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp fabrics. 

Why should you choose organic clothing?  We often choose organic foods because they are healthier for us.  Organic fabrics are made from plants that were grown without the use of fertilizers.  These fertilizers contain a lot of nutrients that help the plants grow bigger and faster but they are inefficient.  The majority of the nutrients from fertilizers are washed away and not taken in by the plants at all.  All of those nutrients seep into our groundwater, our streams, rivers, and eventually into our oceans.  Nitrates are the primary nutrient that are wasted from fertilizers and can cause detrimental effects to the environment and our health.  Nitrates can lead to algal blooms in rivers and oceans that can cause devastating fish kills.  Now that might sound bad but you may be thinking…it’s just a fish!  We eat fish and they tend to store these nutrients in their flesh.  This is why some fish are recommended to eat in moderation.  I bet you never thought that choosing organic clothing (and food) could make such a difference in the world did you? 

Now back to We Care Clothing (sorry…as you may know by now my college studies included lots of stream and fish studies!!) and their beautiful clothing.  A few of my favorite pieces are the organic Blue Sky T-shirt for women; the Of the Earth Kids Sugar Too organic top; the Nixxi Mens Button Downorganic shirt; and the luxe Bamboo Dreams Sheet Sets.  Ohh Mama, would we be one sharp dressed family in these clothes! 

Want another reason to shop We Care Clothing?  For every purchase you make, We Care Clothing will plant a tree.  Their program has helped to replace trees that were lost during Hurricane Katrina and the California wildfires.  If you would like to learn more about organics and the organic fashion industry be sure to visit the Why Organic section at We Care Clothing; you will find a wealth of information! 

Now…which item do you like the best?  I really like the ANGelRoX Wrap…one piece worn as a skirt, dress, cape or shrug!